Real Good Day

Wandering the streets trying to find a place to catch the match I decided that I needed to at least get a glimpse of the stadium. Camp Nou as it is called is the Largest stadium in Europe and ranks 12th worldwide in terms of max capacity. I had given up trying to get a ticket because of the prices I have been hearing. So I was just walking down the crowded street, feeling the electricity and excitement in the air when I was passed a man who to said to me ticket? Preparing him to give me some absurd number I asked how much? To my surprise it wasn't 600 or 400 Euros as I had heard many times before, he was only asking 200 Euros (which was in the ballpark of what i was originally willing to pay). So after a minute of trying to converse with this man who spoke less English than I did spanish, trying to determine whether he was legit or not I said Yes I will take it, take me to the nearest ATM. and with that I was headed to el classico, a Match up between the two most prolific clubs in spain and possibly the world.


Two things I knew were about to happen. I was going to have one of the greatest experiences of my entire life and that i was gonna have to cheer for the opposite team rather than my own. For those of you who understand football on the world stage you will know why i could spend the night Cheering on Real Madrid especially a certain #7. But for those of you who dont i will explain... no that will take to long, i will sum up. (princess bride anyone?). Football in the world stage is taken very seriously, people eat breathe and live their home club. Cheering for the opposing team gets you mugged beaten or killed, not things on my list to do for this trip. So I tried to learn the chants and cheered when Barcelona scored... all five times. I died a little inside but it was worth it just to be at the game and having the opportunity to see Ronaldo play live. He really was amazing, as was Messi, the superstar for Barcelona. Watching them live was absolutely the coolest. 


The Game


From the opening Kick-off it seemed that Barcelona put the petal to the floor and never let up for a minute. Real seemed to be put on their heels allowing a goal just 9 minutes into the game and then it felt like they never had a chance to recover and get on their game. In the beginning Barcelona had double coverage on Ronaldo but as the game drew on they realized they had taken the wind out of his and the whole teams sails and just concentrated on dominating the midfield. It really was the Messi show, although he did not tally a goal he put on some amazing moves. Barcelona seemed to pick apart the defence of Real Madrid and have their way scoring a total of 5 highlight reel goals.


The atmosphere inside the building was absolutely electric. numerous different chants coming from the crowd along with the whistling, taunting and obscene gestures directed towards the opposing squad and especially Ronaldo. Also can you imagine 99000 people doing the wave? it was ridiculous. Everyone got a coloured piece of plastic to hold up and different sections formed parts of the barcelona colors, soo cool.


The whole experience made me feel two things. Number one was obviously ecstatic, being able to go to a football game of this magnitude to see two great teams and my favorite player play. The second feeling was a little disappointment. mainly of the state of soccer in Canada. all though it is a constantly growing sport with Canadian teams joining the MLS and a new team beginning to form in Edmonton the quality and fandom of the sport is very much lacking. I am a patient man, I see the end goal in sight and I realize that we are working towards soccer being a major sport in Canada. That day is no where near, some experts predict we will have a team that is competitive enough to participate in the 2018 world cup. that would be nice, both for Canadians who love soccer and the furthering of the sport itself. With more money being put into it and superstars (albiet ones at the tail of their career) signing up to play in the MLS North America is slowly moving in the right direction and i look forward to the day where soccer will be the talk of the town and hooliganism runs rampant in the streets. 


I couldn't think of a better way to end off Spain. The road trip is basically done, I start the trek back to Paris tomorrow. I still have an extra day other than my relax stop, i dunno what ill do, maybe find a cathedral or something to see.


No Theme song today, just a suggestion.


Go find something you've always wanted to do and GO DO IT! People who say "someday" often end up saying "wish I would have".


Olé!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.

The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives. 
-- Albert Einstein


Greetings Readers! I am in high spirits! today was a good day. It was also quite an authentic day if i may say so myself. Saw some classic spanish architecture buy the famous and practically worshiped Antoni Gaudi. Ate some tradition spanish tapas and saw a flamenco show in the evening and walked up and down the most famous street in Barcelona "La Rambla". All together a very good and interesting day. Definitely full of many different kinds of beauty.

Lots of these guys on La Rambla. This was the best one.

The Sagrada Familia is the crowning achievement of a lifetime of great works from the man known as Antoni Gaudi. With many great works scattered within the city of Barcelona and others spread out across Spain. He is what you would call a legend within this city. The Sagrada Familia is basically a church, and despite the fact that it is still unfinished It may just be the most beautiful building i have been in thus far. It has been under construction for well over a hundred years. The proposed finish date is 2025 but conspiracy theorists suggest that they might never finish it simply to keep people coming back. That would be a smart move, I for one will definitely want to come back and see the finished product. Definitely the coolest part of the building are the facades. Only two of the three have been finished and they are amazing. The main entrance facade contains sculptures depicting the Nativity, everything from the angels to shepherds to the three wise-men. The facade at the rear entrance portrays the passion of Christ, and the carvings are simply amazing. The third facade which is no where near even being started will be the Glory of Christ, which will definitely be interesting to see.

Food: I have realized that in the last four weeks i have not ingested nearly as much grease as I would living in Canada. This really is a positive thing until you start to try some of the spanish dishes that are dripping with it. It really wreaks havoc on my stomach. Really cant get enough Chorizo though.


In the evening i took part in a cool little outing i saw on the billboard at my hostel. It was basically the equivalent to dinner and a show. We went to a bar and ate Tapas and Paella, then proceeded to a theatre where we watched a legit Flamenco show. It was really cool to not only to hear the music but also to see the dancing. I didn't realize how much Flamenco made use of rhythm with the feet. The woman's feet were going like crazy, it was really cool to watch. The musicians were crazy talented too, I really wish i understood Spanish because it sounded like they were quite the characters.

Tomorrow will be filled with more Gaudi. There is so much to see i dont know what i will do. I think Guell Park will be one stop for sure. And Then The Football Match. Talking with some people i think I will not go to the stadium and try for a ticket. The price seems ridiculous and it will be the biggest gong show ever. I think will just try to meet some people and go watch it somewhere fun.


Theme Song of the day.


"New Day" By Kate Havnevik


Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.
Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.
-- Ludwig van Beethoven


afinado.

Life is a Highway...

Its was weird to go a whole day and not take single photo. Ill try to make up for that tomorrow.

It was sad to leave Granada, such a nice city in which i had made a couple friends. The good news is that i got to the hostel in Barcelona with no Hassle! Man that was a relief. They had room for my car (even though i still had to pay a little). Now i can relax, see the city, and enjoy the Football Match. The drive was dumb, around the seven hour mark i was getting a bit hazy but then i downed some Cola and powered through. Now the seven and a half hour drive on the way back to Paris should be a breeze.

I really dont know what else to talk about today. Im in the midst of organizing the final leg of my trip. Its hard to judge how much time i will need in Rome so im not booking everything yet. The hostel is pretty quiet which is a shame, but i hear the hostel i booked in Rome is pretty legit, i look forward to that. Tomorrow there is much i can see, depends on how i feel. The only thing thats on my list here is the Sagrada Familia, but there are other cool things i might take a look at. I really am looking forward to the Real/Barcelona match even if i dont get in. Should be a lot of fun. I have three nights here and then its the long road home to Paris. I still have a spare day left thats unplanned but i dont want to add more driving so i dunno what ill do.

Theme Song of the day. One thing i love is finding that sweet song and getting lost in it for hours. Some people find it odd that i can do that but i thoroughly enjoy it. There were many songs on the journey today, all quite good so it was hard to narrow it down.

"Closer" By Kings Of Leon.

Sorry if Im not very interesting today, I thought about doing another reflection but its too soon. Ill do one on the way back to Paris.

Come Back tomorrow?

Arabian Nights

I wanna run, I want to hide, I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside

I wanna reach out, and touch the flame, where the streets have no name.

Today was truly one of those days that I didn’t want to end. The Alhambra was really cool. It was different than any other palace or cathedral I have seen yet on this trip. It was like something from another world, which I guess technically it is. Granada was one of he last Muslim strongholds in Europe before it was recaptured by the Catholics. The Nasrid Sultans built the Palaces we now call Alhambra as their places of residents separate form the common people of Granada. Not only was the architecture something to gawk at but it provides the visitors with two amazing contrasting views. On one side of the mountain lies the old city of Granada still glowing with its historic architecture all glazed in white. On the other side is the new Granada which is a beautiful city even without the classic white buildings. I did the Alhambra tour through the hostel I am staying at and met up with a bunch of other people. It was cool because it was an English only tour so there were a a bunch of people to talk to and stuff.

I Love it that God is in control and knows me. After Alhambra I went back to the hostel to rest before going out for dinner (because they eat so stinkin late here). I really was tired of being alone, having so much fun in Lisbon a few days ago made me realize how much it does suck. So I took to the streets looking to find the most crowded and upbeat restaurant I could find. I walked around for about half an hour before I happened upon this place that looked cool and had a few people in it. I sat down and ordered Seafood Pailla, it was unreal. I had just started my meal when in walk these two people that had been on my tour. I recognized the brother and sister, proceeded to invite them to my table and the rest of the night was a blast.

After dinner we went to an Arabic Bath House that was just down the street. Not only was it one of the coolest things ever but I had been wanting to swim for a couple weeks now and this was perfect. They had hot, cold, and warm pools, heated floors, a steam room, and free tea. I think it was peppermint Chai, so good. Me and my new friends Emily and Evan connected during our almost two hour soak and then went on our separate ways as relaxed as anyone could be. Granada is beautiful, it’s a shame to leave.

Theme Song of the day. If you couldn’t already tell by the opening lines of the blog then ill lay it out straight for you.

“Where The Streets Have No Name” By U2

Tomorrow I embark on the longest leg of my drive. Just over 8 hours to Barcelona. Gross. Though I am really excited to go there. I really hope I don’t have a hard time finding my hostel with this dumb car.

P.S. I found a new favorite food, Its like poor mans Fondue. Chorizo en el Fuego. Sooo Good.

Namaste

el centro

As I pass the beautiful valleys and rolling hills, even an hour into my journey when i know it is not yet time she beckons my name. I hear my first love calling to me. Heading into portugal i could sense in my bones that i was approaching the Ocean. Hilltop after hilltop would come and go and i would eagerly anticipate the horizon i was desperately seeking, the one with the view of the Ocean. I had a brief glimpse of it when i was travelling to Bilbao but was really looking forward to standing on the edge of it in Portugal.  Also on a side note, I really want to swim but I dont think that will happen this trip.

So many things to blog about. I missed a day... so sue me. The interwebs was being a bum at the hostel I was at so i was not really able to do much. Its hump day, the exact middle of my trip, 21 days have passed and 21 lie ahead of me. Some part of me looks forward to the end but I know that once i get moving again in Italy I will wish i had all the time in the world. So todays issue of Nathans Travel diaries will provide you descriptions of my brief stints in Madrid and Portugal.

Madrid was merely a stopover on the way to Portugal from Bilbao. Nothing in particular resided in the city that i wanted to see. In the morning I decided to take a walk and maybe do some shopping. There some cool stores with some pretty stylish clothing in them. I realized I dont really need to spend money on clothes and proceeded to go shop for something much more interesting. Since I was in Madrid home of The soccer team Real Madrid i had to get something. I was satisfied with my walk, sat done and had a lunch before a promptly headed out of the city in which Ronaldo plays and headed for the country for which he represents on the international stage.

I had originally intended on staying 2 nights in portugal. Again i was greeted to my hostel with no place to park and once again i ended up having to pay quite a bit to have my car safe and sound through the night. I think I regret not staying two nights. There was nothing in particular i wanted to see in Portugal but there were some cool things I noticed. However thats not really why I wanted to stay. The hostel Stayed at was my favorite so far. It really was a conduit for social activity, having a large and happening common room and providing a dinner service with a tradition Portugal meal which many people partook. I met some really cool people there and that is why i wish i would have stayed.

After my wonderful night in Lisbon i decided that it would be best to move on. However seen as the next stint of driving was a rugged seven and a half hour one i though maybe i would break it up by using my extra night at some town in between. I quickly used the googled to do some research and found Tavira. Tavira is a small coastal town which is known for its architectural beauty and its delicious seafood, it was about halfway to i headed there to make camp for the night. However once i got there i realized that there was no point in wasting any time. I really wanted to get to Granada because of some of the things i have heard from people. So I went to a restaurant and Had some delicious Prawns Piri Piri and then headed out to Granada.



I must say I am getting tired of this little road trip of mine. There are some great benefits to having a car, not having to wait for trains or plains or relying on other schedules. I really would not have been able to see so much in so many places without it. but there are two sides to every coin and the pitfalls of having a car are mighty frustrating. I dont mind the long stints of driving, its quite relaxing and sometimes fun. However when it comes to being in the cities its another story. finding a place to park is the worst thing ever. I really am looking forward to heading back into France and having some relax time in some small towns before my final leg of the trip.

Theme Song of the Day. Somewhat Ironic because the last few days are the ones that have been the sunniest and nicest.

"The Rain" By Peter Lutz

After a few days of not seeing anything on my list I return to it by going to see the Alhambra tomorrow. Im excited.

Keep in Touch

Happy Valley

And all was quiet in the town of Happy Valley. In case you are not overtly familiar with Disney Movies ill fill you in. Happy valley is the small little town which is the setting for the Disney version of Jack and the beanstalk with such characters as Mickey Goofy and Donald. Anyway before the giant came and stole the princess Happy Valley was one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth.

Well my friends, I have found happy Valley. A little town 45 minutes north of Madrid called San Lorenzo. This town would not really be on anyone’s radar were it not for the fact that it houses one of the largest Spanish palaces ever built, El Escoral.

I really am running out of words that accurately describe the greatness of these buildings. I will say this, so far this is the most spectacular building I have been in. The Mausoleum where the kings are buried is the most intriguing and beautiful room I have ever been in. I wish I could have taken pictures but sadly they were not allowed. Imagine if you will a room cast entirely in Two different colors of Marble. Inside this room lie the bodies of 12 rulers and their wives. The Coffins where the remains are held are also made out of marble and detailed in bronze. This room is one floor underneath the rest of the building and to get to it you go down a stairwell, which is also cast entirely in Marble. The entire underground which houses the remains of the kings, their wives and children is something I have never seen before. Totally amazing.

There were multiple moments on this tour where I stood with my jar open taken aback by artistry contained in this palace. Not only was the burial room spectacular but equally as amazing was the Basilica which is the main feature of the Palace. A Grand Cathedral highlighted by Life sized Frescos on the ceiling and an altar with bronze statues that was 23 meters high. I would say that it matches and exceeds the quality and artistry of Versailles but I think that this Palace has way more class.

Tonight I spend the night in Madrid, sadly I have found hostelling in big cities is not car traveling friendly and there fore it will cost me more money to house my car then myself for the night. Oh well, I still really appreciate the freedom the car gives me and I would never be able to fit in all the sights I desire to see with out it. Tomorrow morning I will visit a market that is close by and then take the long trek into Portugal

Theme Song for the day. I promised myself I wouldn’t double dip so I wont. But ill let you know I wanted to really bad. Anyways, I am surprised it took me this long to get into some Coldplay but the time has finally arrived.

“Fix You” By Coldplay

Portugal wont find many significant sights so I hope to relax, although I probably wont, don’t want to waste any time.

Forever Yours

Nathan

Yeah... I use the googles all the time!

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Im talking about My English, My French, and My Spanish, I didn't realize how much i could get by in France until i entered spain. Maybe its because i am in a city which is not a major tourist attraction compared to others. But I think its because i dont speak a lick of Spanish. I never though i would say this but so far i like France better. Carcassonne was pretty cool to walk around in, its just how castles look like in my imagination.

I Cheated

How you say? Today i was in a foul mood. Biboa is a beautiful city thats amazing to look at but to drive around looking for stuff in... not so much. The guggenheim was closed so that means i will have to alter my travel plans so i can go tomorrow. Not only that the hostel i was supposed to stay in wasn't open plus in other hostels there is no where to park my car. So how did i cheat? I am comfortably sitting in my own hotel room. dont worry i didn't break the bank, it was not to bad. I am glad i did though. I am showered and relaxed and comfortable... and i used a Bidet.

The Googles

Like i said, it was closed... ON A FREAKIN MONDAY. So for today i guess the outside of the Guggenheim was pretty legit. It really was as spectacular as all the book have said. Hopefully The inside will be fun tomorrow.

Song Of The Day

I recently watched an interview with this guy and he is one of the most humble and down to earth guys ever. Not only does he make good music with the band he is a part of (The Killers) but his solo album to too legit. Check out his album called Flamingo, you wont regret it.

"Crossfire" By Brandon Flowers

So I hope tomorrow goes better than today and that the rest of spain turns out to be better.

Good Night

Such Great Heights!

Left Switzerland this morning. It was quite a shame to leave such a peaceful place, and a hostel with such nice showers. Oh well, the show must go on. Today was the day i visit the Millau Viaduct, which is pretty much the main reason for this two week excursion of mine. The Millau Viaduct is the tallest bridge in the world and a modern architectural wonder. Let me tell you it did not disappoint. Other than the fact that it cost me a lot of money to cross it the couple of times that i did it was a splendiferous occasion.

Today was a lot of driving. almost nine hours. I decided that instead of staying in Millau and further enjoying the bridge i would move on. Mostly because there was no cheap hostel to stay in. Which brings me to my next stop over, Carcassonne. I am actually sleeping in a hostel that is inside a castle, its pretty cool and the people are pretty chill. I was welcomed with free dinner and wine with the best apple tart dessert thing i have ever had.

The south of France is amazing. The Drive although long is absolutely gorgeous. it really is like driving through a never ending movie set. With the red dirt and the small towns nestled in quiet valleys it really is a picturesque experience.

I have decided to  switch up the next part of my journey. the next stop was supposed to be Barcelona with chillin time and a crazy Cathedral. but i have looked over the route and i feel like its better to go to Bilboa Spain next. The main reason for the switch is that on November 28 Real Madrid plays Barcelona. These are two of the most prolific soccer clubs in the world. People keep telling me to forget about it i wont get a ticket or i will have to pay oodles for it. I am clinging to the hope i will get lucky. Anyway, I shall tour Carcassonne briefly tomorrow morning and then head to Bilboa to see the Mighty Guggenheim. dont know what that is? Stay tuned or go look it up.

Theme Song For Today, You would think I would pick the song linked to my clever title, But i didn't.

"Grenade" By Bruno Mars.

Caio!

Reflection Number 1

One Thing I forgot to mention yesterday is how hilarious it was to cross the border in to Switzerland. There was no gate or security check, no passport needed. Just an old man on a chair waiving me through this three stall parking lot.

Since I did not have much to do today I think I will do more of a personal blog. Switzerland is my relaxation and Laundry time, like a vacation within a vacation, I went for a walk today, it was really beautiful.

Six weeks seems like a monumental amount of time to be gone. Don’t misinterpret the statement, there is heaps of things to see here in Europe, I would go so far to say that even a lifetime of discovery would not be long enough in order to properly uncover all of the treasures, mysteries and culture that is Europe. I think that being alone and away for six weeks is something only certain people are built for. I knew this going in, I also was keenly aware that I have never been a person who enjoys or chooses to be alone. I knew that it was inside me to be by myself and I really wanted to discover that part of my personality for a number of reasons.

For only being just over a third into the trip I find my self already highly reflective on the experience. It is undoubtedly because of the amount of time that is available to me to ponder things. Whether it is time driving, trying to sleep, or waiting in line for a Museum or to take the Metro. I feel like going a month without a job somewhat prepared me for this. There was much alone time doing next to nothing. This led me to believe that a journey away for this length of time would be easy. As much of a trip of a lifetime this is and I am thoroughly enjoying it I find it far from easy.

I’m not necessarily home sick, I don’t miss any one thing or person. I have come to a realization over this past year and the trips that I have taken. When I am gone for so long I really miss significant human contact and meaningful relationship. Its not that this is some new discovery because I have always known that relationships are one of my strengths in life, I just never thought that the lack of significant ones would leave me with such a weird feeling.

I am reminded of a movie; “Up In The Air”, with George Clooney, and how he defines the relationships he has in his life of travel for work. He calls them portioned sized like airplane food and just right for him. He goes through this whole “motivational speech” about how your life is a backpack and how relationships take up so much room there is generally nowhere left to put anything else. I am exactly the opposite of this; relationships were the one thing I wish I could actually carry in my bag with me. These portioned sized quick fix relationships are not for me, I long for something deeper. What can learn from this? Not much I haven’t already, I love and cherish all my relationships and I will go home and continue to do the same.

Not to be so overly dramatic but I think What Clooney describes in the movie is a warped representation of what hell may be like. Surrounded by people yet eternally alone. This reminds me of the one relationship I cherish most, my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I know I am never alone and will never be alone. I don’t know who all reads this blog, but maybe someone out in the World Wide Web stumbled upon this lowly travel bio needs to hear this and realize that you never have to be alone.

Of all the churches and cathedrals I have been in so far not one of them has disappointed, they are beyond spectacular. Yet, They are just buildings, they are monuments to a corrupt society piously reminding the generation of today what religion has cost people in the past. They are just buildings, people are the church, don’t loose hope in people. Don’t seek a church, don’t look to Christians seek Christ and you will find that Christianity isn’t some phony religion that gathers in over priced buildings it is a truly great relationship that you will never regret making. Forget what’s happened in the past. Today is a new day.

Theme Song – “Via Dolorosa” By Leeland *GO LISTEN TO THIS ONE*

Take a moment; Chew on that, Digest it, and Go Live Your Life!

If you feel like you know someone who needs to hear this pass it along.

Don’t be ashamed shy.

Love.

And The Beat Goes On...

 Toll roads suck end of story. This two-week road trip of mine is going to cost me more than expected, yikes. Oh well. Spend now, Pay Later, Regret Never! I forgot how much i love driving stick. Gangster beats blaring waiting for a break in the music and then down shifting when the beat kicks in... Marvelous!

Today I completed my second hot spot in France. A little town nestles in a valley in the middle of no where called Ronchamp. Located in the east of France Ronchamp doesn’t really have much to offer except this crazy little Church called the Chapel of Notre Dame Du Haut or the Chapel of Light. This stop came from the architect book I bought and I am really glad I made the detour out to see it. It was magnificent. Something that really is one of a kind. Its like nothing I have ever seen in France or anywhere else for that matter. A crazy design with lots of cool modern curves and shapes everywhere. The stained glass inside was equally as awesome. Seemingly random odd shaped windows with scattered pieces of stained glass. Once again no pictures were allowed inside but I managed to sneak one or two. I hope you can tell from them how cool it was to be inside.

Snow! Driving through the mountains I saw snow. I was quite excited, then laughed at the plight of those back home dealing with heaps of it.

That is all for today, there was lots of driving. I am currently in Geneva, Switzerland and will stay here for two nights, get this, only to do laundry, haha. I have been putting it off because of the maddening pace I have been sightseeing. In Switzerland I will do laundry and relax because there is not to much to see here in Geneva. I might not blog tomorrow just because there is nothing much that I will do tomorrow, but who knows, anything could happen.

Song of the day. Don’t you just love it when you have a song stuck in your head and the next moment it pops on the Radio! I know I do. How much more awesome is it when you are perusing through French radio stations and the song happens to come on. Unreal. Judge me if you must. 

“Only Girl” By Rihanna

I usually try to change up how I sign of however since I am currently residing in a historically neutral country my customary farewell seems highly appropriate.

Peace

The Beginning of The Middle

For the next two weeks my inseparable partner will be my classy new Silver Peugeot 207. I am really excited about this part of my trip for it puts total control into my hands. There are a number of different cool things i wish to see all over France and Spain. So undoubtably by logs will be shorter because i will be doing a fair amount of driving and only seeing one thing per day. For those of you interested in my route here it is

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Paris+France&daddr=Chartres,+France+to:Ronchamp,+France+to:Geneva,+Switzerland+to:Millau,+France+to:Barcelona,+Spain+to:Granada,+Spain+to:Lisboa,+Portugal+to:Bilbao,+Spain+to:Gare+du+Nord,+Paris,+France&geocode=FVt-6QIdi98jACkPt-IGH27mRzFglIxow4ILBA%3BFbIy4wIdF6MWACmL4fEkRAzkRzEp7cdTSIhjeA%3BFW3Z1wIdAjFlACkT3XuRFkaSRzHg_A6zNM4JBA%3BFUQLwQIdmbZdACnr4tCTBmWMRzE5vAt7NZW2oA%3BFf7noAIdNAQvACmt914WGEuyEjE-_DSlZILJFw%3BFY2HdwIdPxwhACn1KO0mcZikEjEwA6Qh4PoABA%3BFadENwIdlxnJ_ymP3nGTvvxxDTG1O01AAFj5Ig%3BFW6fTgIdgJp0_yk78-RhGjMZDTHQNpDkvesABA%3BFYMMlAIdT2TT_ympDhhmK05ODTHQnstzgvUEBA%3BFcbb6QIdLO8jACmhnqPWbW7mRzHUkfai7ubmRg&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=43.036776,0.922852&sspn=17.912897,37.96875&ie=UTF8&z=5

I might make some small changes but i think i will stick to that route.

Anyways, today my first stop was in a small town in France not far from Paris called Chartres. The reason for this stop was to see another architectural wonder the Chartres Cathedral. This thing was crazy huge, resting in the centre of the town on the top of a hill it can be seen as soon as you enter the town from any direction. Im super stoked that i was allowed to take pictures inside this one however there was not a whole lot of artificial light in the cathedral and because it was an overcast day the lighting inside the Cathedral was not Ideal, oh well. The general tour of the cathedral was free but i decided to shell out and tour the top (My new motto for the trip: Spend now, Pay Later, Regret Never). The view was superb.

I  am quite glad that the price of things is significantly cheaper than in the city. Tonight i will have a bed for only 13 Euros. eventually i think i will try to sleep in my car, ill let you know how that goes.

Song of the Day - As if you didn't see this coming for my first day of cruising in my new ride.

"Like A G6" - Far East Movement featuring the Cataracts & Dev

Part of me wishes that i was with my friends going to see Harry Potter tonight, oh well, i will see it when i return home. While they are watching it i will be driving towards Switzerland, more than a fair trade.

Expelliamus!

So Dark The Con Of Man

Le Grande Finale

I Apologize, both the title and subtitle of this blog are deceiving. For those of you who are familiar with the movie/novel the Da Vinci Code you will recognize the title and the reason for it. The subtitle is just e trying to be clever, today was my last day in Paris but there was nothing grand about it, i kept it simple today. 


I am actually glad i got all the major stuff done in the beginning because i am le tired.My first and only real goal today was to visit a specific church from the movie the Da Vinci Code. well actually Ron Howard was refused entry so the one in the movie was a designed replica. Never the less as a movie buff i wanted to get a glimpse of the place behind the myths. 


Not only is this church the object of some of the myth in the Da Vinci code but it also has played its part in some real life adventure in the history of France. Over the years it has hidden famous politicains and ruler on the run such as Napoleon Bonaparte himself. but anyway, back to the Da Vinci code. 


In the movie there is talk about how this church is part of a cult called the Priory of Sion and that the Key to the Holy Grail was hidden in one of the tiles by the Obelisk. If you want to learn more its really quite fascinating (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Saint-Sulpice,_Paris). Its not like the Da Vinci code makes me question what the church is saying, but it does lead me to wonder what they could be hiding. why is there so much secrecy? Why are many of these old cathedrals shrouded in so much Mystery. The Catholic Church wasnt always on the up and up, and there is usually some morsel of truth hidden within some of these myths. Thats just the conspiracy theorist in me talking, take it how you will. The Cathedral was pretty sweet, second largest in Paris next to Notre Dame.

Lunch was pretty cool, I have been trying to search for a pretty legit French cafe to dine in and i finally found a great one! Cafe Du Metro was founded in 1920, that means its 90 years old which is pretty cool in and of itself. It served quite a few traditional French dishes including that one where the ground beef is raw, i forget the name. I wasn't quite that adventurous. The coolest part of the cafe was that the food came up from the kitchen on a little elevator, it was pretty wicked to watch.


For the rest of the day I just walked around different parts of town, i have completed everything i wanted to do and although there was a few things left i could have done i just took it easy. Leg two of the journey completes tomorrow as i head out of Paris. Whats next you say? Well im glad you asked. I am renting a car and driving around France into Spain and Portugal. Sadly internet access may be hard to find somedays, but i will still write every day and upload them when i can. So my friends, stay tuned for more European adventures. There are exciting French Landmarks that i will be visiting that most of you may not have heard of. Trust me its gonna be good.


Themes Songs of the Day


"When They Come For Me" By Linkin Park
"Love The Way You Lie Part 2" By Rihanna featuring Eminem
"Fire in Your New Shoes" By Kaskade featuring Dragonette


Enjoy The Pics!

"The Rose Line"

"The Mysterious Obelisk"

"The Priory Of Sion"

Very Versailles.

Today I decided to take the train to tour the Palace of Versailles. Which is more like a city that is a palace. I know i have talked about the extravagance of many buildings in Europe but this is by far the most extravagant building I have ever seen. The sheer arrogance of the French Royalty in the reign of the kings just amazes me. I shelled out some extra bucks this time to take the guided tour. i figure it would be worth it because of the rich history behind Versailles. Im really glad i did, not only was the tour very informative but i happened to be the only person who booked it for that time and got a private tour.

In school we learn about the history of france and some of the background behind the revolution and stuff like that. It really is something different to see it with my own eyes. The Palace can show you exactly why the peasants who couldn't even afford bread overthrow the monarchy. It is crazy the extravagant frivolity displayed by the Royal Family. Louis the 14th called himself the Sun king, why? because he believed he was as close to deity as it gets and that everything revolves around him. I cant believe it took three generations of Kings like this before something actually happened to stop it.

The gardens of Versailles were completely picturesque. 800 acres of sheer beauty, from fountains to shrubbery that have been maintained in the strictest fashion. it was a typical French Garden in that it was all very symmetrical and everything was defined and organized. Unreal scenery from the back of the Palace.

The train ride in to Versailles was really cool. once again it provided me with a great view of Paris. This time though the ride showed a different side of Paris. No more relics and stone but it looked much more like a modern normal city. I got to see something i totally forgot about, the original Statue of Liberty, which was pretty killer, not the same size though.

I only ventured out to do two things today, the second wasn't on my list until i got here. The Basilica Sacre Coeur. Its this crazy cool Basilica on the top of the tallest hill within the city of Paris. This was actually the first place I've been escorted out of on the trip, mostly because i saw the no photos signs and ignored them anyway.

Only a couple more things to see tomorrow on my last day in Paris, they are less popular tourist attractions so I hope they will be less busy. I think this may make them hard to find, oh well its always an adventure.

Again there was a ton of music involved in today so it was hard to choose one... and since its my blog I have decided I don't have to. Its a fairly eclectic selection so enjoy.

Rant Of The Day:

You know what i love so much much about music? let me tell you. Music is universal, by that i mean any song at any time can mean something to anyone. Music crosses boundaries of age, sex, culture, language and social status. Thats the beauty of music, so if at any time you find your self hating on my song selections go away and never come back. That is all.

Todays Themes Songs

"Alors On Danse" - By Stromae ( The French go nuts over this song, most of them can do the dance, its hilarious)
"Tears of the Saints" - By Leeland
"There are Some Remedies Worst Than The Disease" - By This Will Destroy You

Viva La France!

Living La Vida Louvre.

Elaborate, Overwhelming, Extravagant, Sobering. Leave it to the French to construct something that can encompass all of these vastly different Ideas. Yesterday I had the misfortune of leaving the hostel without my beloved Ipod, today... not so! Today I enjoyed getting lost in my music. Gazing at art, most of which i know nothing about, oblivious to the happenings around me. Yes Ladies and Gentlemen i am in fact talking about the Louvre, The great Museum of Paris. I can not efficiently put my Louvre experience into words that would do it justice.

I've never been an art enthusiast and im not pretending to be now, but i can sure appreciate it. I found myself getting lost for hours longer than planned just looking at the paintings and sculptures, some of my favorites being pictures painted of Biblical events. I have to admit even though it might be cheesy and cliche my favorite part of the museum was the Mona Lisa. I still am speechless now hours later sitting in my hostel. Throughout the day i found myself being drawn over and over again back to this work of art. It really did captivate and inspire me. I not only enjoyed seeing the works of art but also getting lost in my music writing in my journal and gazing at some more the of spectacular view that is Paris. Today i learned that paintings aren't as simple as they seem. there is so much more than meets the original glance. I found i was discovering more intricacies to each piece the second or third time i would see them. I really do wish there were more cool museums and such closer to home. I think when i get home i will make some sort of attempt to discover Edmonton.

The Louvre and surrounding area held most of my day hostage. This meant that by the time I would arrive at the other things i had planned for the day they would be closed to visitors. I decided this would be acceptable for the next two things on my list were on my architectural wonders list, plus it would save me some money if i didn't have to pay to get in. My next stop was not too far away so it was still daylight when i got there. The Paris National Opera House in all of its splendor, it was really cool to look at. Unfortunately the front of the building was under reconstruction. I did however get some nice pictures of the back of the building which displayed stone carved images of some of my favorite classical composers.

The final stop of my day almost didn't happen. I was headed to the Pantheon when my eye caught the sign of a store that was having a huge sale, so i popped into the store for a few minutes. after perusing the coats and deciding i didn't really need one due to the fact that the climate was going to get warmer as my trip progresses to nicer countries i went to head back on my journey. BOOM! Torrential downpour like crazy. I had a few more blocks to go and i did not want to get soaked so i decided to shop a little more and then grab a quite bite to eat next door. Thankfully the rain stopped before i finished my dinner and I headed to the Pantheon. It was fantastic, im really glad my camera takes good night pictures because it was dark out and the building was a an incredible sight!



I cant get over how beautiful Paris is, i have decided i will extend my stay here a day, there are some things i want to see that weren't on my original list. And i feel like tomorrows tour of Versailles will take up most of the day and all of my energy.

There were many songs on the list today, I do have a funny one to suggest for your listening but i didn't not listen to it today therefore it will have to wait. for todays selection i recall my time in China scaling the great wall and the song i used to pump myself up when i didn't have the energy to keep going. If you have never heard of him before, do some research, hes a pretty interesting guy.

"Smash Lies" By Matisyahu

Only one month left until i return home, I fell like i may have been a crazy person going away for this length of time. It feels looong, yet, the more i do the more i realize the more there is to do and i need to get moving.

Peace

 (*All Pics on this blog come from my camera in case you are wondering*)

SANCTUARY!!!! SANCTUARY!!!!

London was like being able to look through a window into a past civilization. So rich in the culture of another era. Not only did I expect to encounter this in Paris but I expected Paris to somewhat exceed it. In France however things are a little different. I feel as though the need to advance forward and become modern had been entrenched in French culture. Whereas England is steeped forever will be so. Therefore in France you get this fantastic juxtaposition of cultures, the ancient and the modern. On one end of the street you have the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral with hundreds of years of history beheld in the eyes of the Gargoyles perched upon its walls. On the other end of the street lies the Centre Pompidou,  a bustling hub of French Culture and the arts housed in a modern architectural wonder. It is said that this single building was responsible for the revitalization of that particular area of Paris.

SANCTUARY!!!!!!

Ever since i saw the Hunchback of Notre Dame as a kid i wanted to see the Cathedral. Seeing Quasimodo hold up Esmeralda over his head and scream sanctuary at the top of his longs was by far my favorite part. Let me tell you my friends that i was tempted to go to the top and scream at the top of my lungs. Sadly i am not so bold, The experience however was just as epic. The view of overlooking paris and the Gargoyles towering over the sides of the Cathedral were quite breathtaking.

I have to admit that when i was in London I bought a book, something to do in my relax time. Now dont get your hopes up it wasn't real novel or anything like that. It was a book on some of the architectural wonders around the world. As if im not inspired to travel enough already, the book has furthered my hunger for world travel. I really want to see every single thing in that book. So for the rest of my Europe trip i am going to try to get as many in as I can.

The first one is the Centre Pompidou. As i have already mentioned before this center houses a great deal of French culture. It contains many things from a Museum, Art Galleries, Cinemas, Cafes and as all popular Parisian buildings, a spectacular panoramic view of the city, not free of charge of course. To see why its such a cool building please check the pics on Facebook, i really enjoyed just spending time in the building and chillin in the cafe.

Three main sights today, man am i exhausted, I really am glad my pace will slow down significantly after Paris. I think i will need the break to help me regain some energy for Rome in a few weeks time. But last but not least on the list today was the Eiffel Tower. I really wanted to do this one at night because i though it would make it all the more enjoyable... and i was correct. Every hour on the hour there was a flashing light show throughout the whole tower, i was there so long i saw it three times. I did fork over the cash to go all the way to the top and it was worth it. The night view of all of Paris was astounding, I especially enjoyed viewing the Arch de Triomphe from the tower.

Theme song of the day, i have no idea why but it just popped into my head today. (on a sad note i forgot my ipod at the room so was music-less the whole day, it actually wasn't so bad.

"California" By Phantom Planet

Tomorrow is another full day, where i will bask in the architectural wonder that is Paris, so i will try to get a good night sleep.

Bonsoir!

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Je suis arrivé! So that is about the extent of my french, i know quite impressive. I have no fear i think people know enough English for me to be able to get by. Plus using my swiftly evolving array of travel skills i mastered the Metro all by myself. I am somewhat saddened that my jaunt here in Paris is a short one because i have found such a good hostel. In London it was not the greatest to say the least. My first hostel was super nice but you definitely paid for it and it was a bit out of the way. The second hostel was prime real estate in the middle of Piccadilly Circus and it was dirt cheap to boot. however it was not the greatest. Currently i am staying the Square Caulaincourt Hostel and although i have yet to spend the night i really like it.

Dear readers, i would like you to contemplate the common cliche larger than life. What does this mean to you? Besides the timeless classic by the backstreet boys the saying did not hold much meaning more me, maybe other than describing Bono. However i truly came to terms with this cliche as i gazed upon the Arc de Triumphe! I have seen pictures before but the true size and splendor of it hit me as soon as i laid eyes upon it. It was friggin huge!

So 284 steps later and i was at the top gazing at an amazing view of Paris and getting soaked to the bone in the rain. Thankfully it is a little warmer here than in London so the rain was horrible, just really wet. Todays adventure was actually an accident, I was taking the Metro on my way to the Eiffel Tower and at one of the stations that i was to transfer at i saw a sign that said Arc de Triumphe. I chose to see this on my first night instead. I think i am glad because the rain was coming down hard. I believe tomorrows weather calls for more of the same so i think i will try to hit up something indoors, perhaps Notre Dame. There are more things here to see than i remember, maybe four days isnt enough... we will see.

Today I will suggest not only a song for you to listen to but also a movie to go and watch, because i feel like it.

Song - "God of this City" - By Bluetree

Movie - "Crash" Made in 2004 directed by Paul Haggis, Phenomenal Film.

Until Next Time...

I See London, I See France!

Leaving London is a weird feeling for a number of reasons. I was ready to leave for one, I had seen most of what there is to see and done everything I had set out to do. Had I stayed any longer I may have wound up being bored or spending more money on a tour or something. The other part in being ready to leave was that I am eager to get on with the adventure. London will be the only metropolis where I spend that much time in one place, a total of 9 nights in and around the city of London. Although technically I never spent more than three nights in the same spot.

Something funny happened to me last night, well you might not think so but it made me laugh for sure. I was sitting in the computer lounge in the hostel minding my own business when some guy taps me on the shoulder and ask, are you White Power? I almost burst out laughing on the spot but I controlled myself and replies yes. White Power is the name of my Lap Top. He told me he was listening to some of my music on the network and was wondering if he could have some of it. I then transferred some of my music to his computer and we were friends! I learned he was from Canada as well and was in London trying to find work as a graphic Designer. So there you have it, my funny encounter of London. I will forever remember Slava and the computer lounge.

I am currently writing this blog while I am on the train from London to Paris, we have just finished going through the Chunnel, which was one more thing I can now cross off of my life goal list! I will arrive in Paris with enough time to do some sightseeing in the afternoon and evening. (side note: if Paris is not warmer than London I might have to buy a coat). I must cram as much as I can into these next few days because I am only staying in Paris for a total of four nights and then it is off again. I have something quite epic planned for after Paris. Something I did not expect to happen when I planned the trip but looking at things online it seems then best way to continue. Not sure what I mean? That’s ok, keep up to date with the blog and you will find out soon enough.

For those of you visiting London I will list the top 5 must see attractions. Be sure to write these down and remember to pay them a visit if you choose to make London one of your future destinations.

1. Westminster Abbey (Audio Guide by Actor Jeremy Irons)
2. The London Eye (At Night)
3. A City-wide Bus Tour (The Original Tour)
4. Camden Market
5. Tate Modern Art Museum

Song Choice of the day is dedicated to the city of London. I heard this song in a restaurant and had to ask the girl beside me what it was. They are a Brit-Pop band who just released their latest CD.

“All Time Low” – The Wanted

I will probably Double Blog Today depending on what happens this evening, but until then I bid you Adieu.

Everything from a Fountain Pen to an Elephant!

This my friends is the unofficial slogan for the larger than life department store Harrods. Today I did the dangerous thing of entering into this store to do some shopping. The minute I stepped inside this store I was amazed. It had every high-end brand name you could ever dream of all under one roof. This place had a food court a supermarket, an electronics store and cafes on all five levels. I had to constantly remind myself that this trip was expensive enough and I had to watch my money. Believe me it was harder than it sounds. The central escalators were Egyptian themed and were more extravagant than necessary, but really when you look at the price tags of some of the items within the store you realize it’s the right amount of extravagant. Versace beds, Rolex Watches, and Diamond necklaces as far as the eye can see. I barely made it out alive with my wallet in tact.

I then decided that department store shopping was out of my price range for now and went to Covent station where there were small shops, street performers, and a tiny little knick knack market that was calling my name. It was fun to see guys make there way out of straight jackets as I dined Italian style on an indoor patio. They really wanted my money for watching… to bad for them.

The final stop on my short day of shopping was completely by accident. After I had finished the market spending my last few dollars in London as it were I happened to stumble upon the most spectacular Apple store I have ever seen. Three floors of Ipods, Laptops, Gadgets and all sorts of cool Mac products that I have never seen anywhere else. Naturally I had to pick something up as I snapped a few photos to remember the cool factor of this old brick building housing a trendy new store, fully furnished with a glass elevator and winding glass staircase. Long Live Macs!

Theme Songs for the Day – A Little Something For Everyone

“Love the way You Lie” – Eminem ft. Rihanna

“Nights in White Satin” – IL Divo

“Just The Way You Are” – Bruno Mars

I will call it an early day today, I shall return to the hostel to get all my gear together, get packed up and relax. For tomorrow I leave London and begin my next adventure in Paris.

And Away We Go...

Stonehenge and Bath

Elated: very happy or proud; jubilant; in high spirits.

Surreal: having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic.

Two words that have been permanently etched in my current vocabulary. How perfectly they describe my feelings as of late yet somehow fail to do justice to my experience. I am still jittery from being blown away at the Linkin Park concert last night. i really cant explain the emotional high from the experience, that would be the Elated part. First of all 1000 points must be awarded to my friend Bretton for correctly guessing Stonehenge. Surreal. I have wanted to visit stonehenge for years, ever since i was a child completing my first map of the word puzzle at home with my mom and brothers. without getting to cheesy or mystical i would say that to me this is one of the most magical places i have ever been to. Such a Simple landmark shrouded in so much mystery it simply is, a one of a kind place. Besides the disturbance of high flying winds coming at your face it is a great place to stand in awe and ponder the great mysteries on not only the landmark itself but also lifes great mysteries. As i have learned today it is really no longer a mystery of where the stones come from or the original purpose of the landmark but the real questions that emerge are why and how. I imagine that one day i will get to heaven and stand before God asking him what is up with stonehenge. I fully expect his reply to be: oh that thing? i whipped it up while no one was looking just to mess with people... cuz im funny like that.

I will stop in between events to say that today I took a bus tour to see stonehenge and bath and discovered that i really like tours. We first stopped for lunch at this quaint hotel in the middle of some no name town and had a great traditional english lunch and amazing dessert with custard, boy i love custard. Anyway, its fun to have short little conversations with random people from all over the globe. I have to be honest and say that for the most part in my travels so far i have kept to myself and really quite like it that way. I find i am more focused and efficient in my goals. Also, the tour guide was quite good. he was actually funny and full of knowledge, like someone out of a movie, and he kind of looked like Cilian Murphy (Scarecrow from Batman Begins). Anyway, on to Bath.

So I have to admit that before this trip I always thought that the city of Bath was located in Italy. Having learned the history of this cool place i then excused myself because technically it was settled and built my the Romans. The museum-ish place we visited much to my disappointment did not have actual hot springs in which we could soak. Bollocks. Oh well, the experience was pretty cool anyways. It was really interesting to see a building that had been built on a building that had been built on a building. confusing? yeah a little, check my pics on the FB and you might get a glimpse of what im referring to. The coolest part is that the whole city is a World Heritage sight. Part of this means that every single building in the town is made from the same kind of limestone. It really does look fantastic. There was a station where you could drink some filtered hot spring water, it didn't taste to bad so i proceded to order a strawberryade made with the Water under the presumption that it would be delicious. It was not. I didn't not let it sour my experience, i simply walked over to starbucks and washed it down with an eggnog latte, what a great way to end the tour. On the way home i got my first taste of a London Traffic Jam, like any other kind it was not fun and delayed us getting into the city and my getting to the washroom... not cool.

So I am afraid that the Linkin Park concert only fueled my obsession and i will be listening to a lot of them for the duration of this trip. I dont really apologize for this, but it may effect some of my song of the day choices. Dont worry i will try to post two and continue to be eclectic as possible... but no promises.

Song of The Day - "Lying From You" Linkin Park

So tomorrow is my final day in London, it promises to be uneventful and relaxing, because i have done everything i wanted to do. So there wont be much to blog about. I imagine I will return for a short one because I think I have become addicted.

Sincerely:

Batman