It was often a flat sort of melancholy feeling I felt on the boat. I really wasn't thinking about getting back together with Unicorn as a solution to anything, but I kept thinking that I didn't want to be with anyone else, either.
***
Aside from Unicorn, music and writing was very much on my mind that boat ride:
I am feeling political at the moment as I wait for the boat to leave Nexus to head to Paros then Piraeus (the name of Athens's port) and have been conjuring some imagery that would make good music video fodder for a political record.
"This is not a Castle, and You are not a King"
In this song the White House would be torn down to reveal perhaps Bush in his underwear looking scared and Cheney scolding him than running for perhaps a helicopter or underground bunker. Would focus on Bush's declaration of his will over that of the Constitution and American people.
I also jotted down a brief inspiration based on Kucinich's raising of the articles of impeachment against Bush:
"The Articles have been Raised"
Perhaps start with a clip of Kucinich's lengthy impeachment speech.
Following these musings for music videos that I was so proud of then but feel less sure about now (although a song OR video featuring Kucinich's raising of the Articles of Impeachment would still be baddass) are some lyrics.
"Operation Enduring Imperialism"
The guns are useless
Against the will
Of the self-proclaimed martyrs
Who give their lives to destroy ours...
And how can we say
That we think we know
What lie going through our minds
Is better than his
We are imposing
What our founders opposed
We are struggling to hold on
To what we know
Because if their faces
Were our sons' and daughters'
Our brothers' and sisters'
Our mothers' and fathers'
Then this war would
be impossible
Impossible.
(clips of Iraqi children here could be potentially effective)
How can you say
That you know
That are values are better
than those of the dead, when the blood is on our hands?
I met a few interesting folks on the trip, many of whom played my guitar, but the man I am most thankful to as a fellow whose name I cannot remember at the moment that allowed me to use his computer to try and track down Unicorn, whom I had gotten the romantic notion of trying go to Eurodisney with...as friends.
I was able to send her some e-mails, but I never heard back from her. Here is what I wrote afterward:
16:30
I fail to see how it will be remotely possible for me to make it to Paris before Unicorn departs now...
Perhaps I can meet her in Amsterdam...if she is even stopping there...
---
What do I want to say to Unicorn? As the loudspeaker plays, I don't feel like I mind being alone, need to be with anyone, need a change
yet
something else thinks I should hold on to this, because
for so many reasons
I know
it could be
I think
it could
akj;lasje
fla;kwejf;lajkwef;ajwefkljawe'ljflak;wejf;alwjef;ajwefjawe;lfkawe;lfa;lwjef;lajw;flkjalw;kfjlkwa;jf;lakjflk;awjf;lkawjfl;kajf
so I wrote this in my journal, after realizing I would not be able to get to Paris in time and my last hope was somehow getting to Amsterdam:
(afer 16:30, Greek time) What do I want to say to Justine?> As the loudspeaker plays emergency instructions and we finally depart from out last stop before Piraeus in Athens, I realize I truly have no idea except that I want to tell her I love her "there is no other girl like you and I don't want to lose yo; I want to marry you someday, when everything makes more sense. In the meantime, I don't think any other woman can truly make me happy for the simple reason that they are not you. I don't want to be without you, I do not want to throw the beauty of our colliding spirits away somewhere I will not see it
What I am trying to say is I want you, if you will have me...
What I want to ask is
Will you marry me?"
***
I made it to Amsterdam by spending the last of my money flying from Athens (about $1000), Money that could have financed a few more weeks of exploring. I was afraid I would not catch her, and after waiting for her to show at the cafe I requested her presence at over an e-mail, I finally went twoards her gate, with no idea how I would get past security since that wasn't my gate.
I finally decided to pretend like I was simply going that way and put forth energy suggesting nothing out of the ordinary, like I was not at a gate in which I was flying through. I had no idea if I could make it, but told myself to use my energy in such a way to suggest I had every right to be there, and hope for the best.
I hoped for the best, I kept a straight face, and I made it through.
I strained my nek looking for her and hoped she hadn't boarded, waited what seemed like forever and irritated airport staff by asking for her but not giving too much information, like who I was, and what flight I was on...
waiting
took so
long
.
.
.
Then I saw her.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Ferries, trains, airplanes, Athens, Ios, Santorini and Amsterdam: Part 3 - Santorini
I am rolling out my sleeping bag, listening to the kids in the "restaurant" that still seems more like a front patio hangout spot than a restaurant playing fussball and talking. After putting the sleeping bag out on a lounge chair in a darker, more quiet area by the bathroom, I slide in and go to sleep.
The next day I have the man who owns the restaurant purchase me a ticket for the ferry, since he also doubles as a part-time traveling agent for those wishing to get off the island. I talk a bit with J., the restaurant owner and J.'s friend, then lug my luggage (backpack filled with clothes, guitar and sleeping bag) to the bus stop and go back to the ferry.
I am glad to be free of J. since there was so much weird tension between us, but know I will never forget him. He was what I suppose could be called an essential character in my trip, and I still think about him from time to time.
Wherever you are, J., I hope you are happy, hope you are taking it "one day at a time," like you always told me to.
***
The ferry trip to Santorini was quiet, and I spent most of the time curled up on one of the cushioned restaurant-style bench-like chairs set into the wall trying to sleep.
Santorini is beautiful (thank you Josh and Herr Neuber for the tip) as I was told. After looking around a bit, I locate the bus going to my hostel. The land is very dry, like Ios, and while there are a few trees here and there most of the vegetation seem to be grape plants for wine. Being alone feels fine, although I feel a bit of a disconnect and have since Ios. Maybe it has something to do with Unicorn. Maybe not.
***
It has been over four months since Santorini now. Instead of recounting the memories anymore, here is what I wrote in my handwritten journal:
In my hostel's common area on Santorini at Perissa and just returned home from a walk with 6 girls I randomly met. We walked along famous black sand beach up to bar where we received free shots and I then ordered toast and paid for the drinks of the four remaining girls
I was a pimp, one man with six girls on the beach...oh yeah.
(no, nothing happened...)
Here's some from the next day:
I compulsively decided to pay 25 Euros to go on a tour by bus and boat that includes the volcano...
*
The volcano was cool, although whatever this thing in my throat is has been sore (I got sick after leaving Ios, presumably from whatever J. had as I shared a waterbottle with him). Just had lunch on one of Santorini's Islandswith Laura and Tammy after deciding not to make the long climb to the small village at the top. After having Gyros we conversed about Batman and Superhero movies among other things. They just saw "Dark Knight" and Tammy .in particular refused to give anything away.
*
We are now sitting in a ruined castle preparing to watch the sunset...
*
The Veranda is a hub of late night activity as men attempt to pick up women and women indulge them, alcohol is consumed and casual stories are exchanged. Many stories center on traveling and predictable non-essential but tried and true biographical information (Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do?)
Today I went to the bank in Fira, random island towns and Perissa Beach by ATV, a ten-hour excursion that cost 25 Euros. The Throat feels a tad better although I am coughing a bit more.
That ATV ride was tons of fun! I went all over the island. It didn't really go over 50 unless the ground was either flat or headed down hill, but it was a lot of fun and I hope to go back and take my fiance soon...
*
My Fiance. Well, you will find out more about that if you read on...
The next day I have the man who owns the restaurant purchase me a ticket for the ferry, since he also doubles as a part-time traveling agent for those wishing to get off the island. I talk a bit with J., the restaurant owner and J.'s friend, then lug my luggage (backpack filled with clothes, guitar and sleeping bag) to the bus stop and go back to the ferry.
I am glad to be free of J. since there was so much weird tension between us, but know I will never forget him. He was what I suppose could be called an essential character in my trip, and I still think about him from time to time.
Wherever you are, J., I hope you are happy, hope you are taking it "one day at a time," like you always told me to.
***
The ferry trip to Santorini was quiet, and I spent most of the time curled up on one of the cushioned restaurant-style bench-like chairs set into the wall trying to sleep.
Santorini is beautiful (thank you Josh and Herr Neuber for the tip) as I was told. After looking around a bit, I locate the bus going to my hostel. The land is very dry, like Ios, and while there are a few trees here and there most of the vegetation seem to be grape plants for wine. Being alone feels fine, although I feel a bit of a disconnect and have since Ios. Maybe it has something to do with Unicorn. Maybe not.
***
It has been over four months since Santorini now. Instead of recounting the memories anymore, here is what I wrote in my handwritten journal:
In my hostel's common area on Santorini at Perissa and just returned home from a walk with 6 girls I randomly met. We walked along famous black sand beach up to bar where we received free shots and I then ordered toast and paid for the drinks of the four remaining girls
I was a pimp, one man with six girls on the beach...oh yeah.
(no, nothing happened...)
Here's some from the next day:
I compulsively decided to pay 25 Euros to go on a tour by bus and boat that includes the volcano...
*
The volcano was cool, although whatever this thing in my throat is has been sore (I got sick after leaving Ios, presumably from whatever J. had as I shared a waterbottle with him). Just had lunch on one of Santorini's Islandswith Laura and Tammy after deciding not to make the long climb to the small village at the top. After having Gyros we conversed about Batman and Superhero movies among other things. They just saw "Dark Knight" and Tammy .in particular refused to give anything away.
*
We are now sitting in a ruined castle preparing to watch the sunset...
*
The Veranda is a hub of late night activity as men attempt to pick up women and women indulge them, alcohol is consumed and casual stories are exchanged. Many stories center on traveling and predictable non-essential but tried and true biographical information (Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do?)
Today I went to the bank in Fira, random island towns and Perissa Beach by ATV, a ten-hour excursion that cost 25 Euros. The Throat feels a tad better although I am coughing a bit more.
That ATV ride was tons of fun! I went all over the island. It didn't really go over 50 unless the ground was either flat or headed down hill, but it was a lot of fun and I hope to go back and take my fiance soon...
*
My Fiance. Well, you will find out more about that if you read on...
An explanation, a sincere embarkment
I have more to do. More to write. A new role for myself, or an old role that I have accepted with the keenness of someone who is finally accepting the purpose of his life.
It is time.
It is time.
It
is
inspiration that I must not ignore, a muse whom is used to an undue lack of expression.
___
Part 3, as i remember it now almost three months later.
It is time.
It is time.
It
is
inspiration that I must not ignore, a muse whom is used to an undue lack of expression.
___
Part 3, as i remember it now almost three months later.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Ferries, trains, airplanes, Athens, Ios, Santorini and Amsterdam: Part 2 - Ios
Obtaining a ferry to Santorini was not difficult, and after riding the newly renovated underground (redone for the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics) to the port of Piraeus, I had my reservations ready on another overnighter. After scouting out my gate, I headed back to Hotel Lozanni for my last night.
Waiting at the gate for the ferry to begin boarding I met a few people; the one who turned out to be consequential enough for me to remember was an Irishman named J. who was flirting with another passenger in a sickeningly sentimental and capricious manner with a hint of what may have been despondency but I did not quite identify.
I mentioned that I was going to get some food during this episode of flirting, where he semi-goodnaturedly accused me of trying to get in her pants myself (I really wasn't; she was a bit too old and not terribly attractive, although younger than J. and not unattractive either, to be fair. Since he bought me dinner, I offered to get him something from the nearby kiosk (Athens is filled with snack, news and cigarette kiosks, where indeed I did the bulk of my shopping), and he asked me to get him a few beers, which surprised me but I did it anyway, figuring it was about as much as he spent on me.
That proved to be the first of a few beer runs I engaged upon on his behalf.
The second was on the boat, and he gave me money this time. We got to talking, and he told me a bit about himself, and the conversation seemed pretty normal until he invited me to his restaurant on Ios (an Island near Santorini), and assured me that he never told a lie and that I would get to meet "my heroes" like Shane Macgowan of the Pogues and Bono. While I never actually mentioned either of these men as being my heroes, he seemed together that they were after I mentioned that I loved Irish music (although I was specifically talking about the kind of traditional Irish music that Irish bands play in Irish bars, which as much as I do indeed like I know very little about). he mad increasingly extravagant claims such as this one that I had trouble fully believing, but he was an interesting fellow and didn't seem to have any ulterior motives; indeed his only motive seemed to be to keep a steady flow of alcohol going through his system; so I figured what the hell and went to his restaurant with him.
Due to the fact that I did not sleep more than a half hour and other factors which I will not mention here, I was red-eyed and a little stressed the next day. After being slightly embarrassing for asking a group of girls at the Ios port bus-stop where the nearest toilet was (they erupted into a storm of giggles as if it was the quaintest thing they had ever heard, a man asking after a toilet), I found a low wall where I could duck behind and relieve my bladder nearby then sat down at the bus stop and read a bit more of my Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Omnibus Edition.
The bus ride was as beautiful as the small island itself, surrounded by the sparkling blue Aegean (within the Mediterranean) Sea. There was only one road connecting the port side of the Island to the "strip" where J.'s Restaurant along with many others and places of lodging competed for the attention of the mostly young tourists.
When we arrived at the restaurant I met a few other characters, one of which was a girl a few years older than I that I had alternately been warned "not to touch!" and "not to hurt," although I could "have her." I resolved to make no attempt at pursuing anything of the sort with her, especially after I met her and discovered that she was already in a relationship with somebody else, in addition to being pregnant.
After I watched with some surprise as she drank a little bit of beer, convinced that this is apparently okay to do in moderation in the first trimester (my words weren't able to disincline her of this notion), I was happy to see she did not drink a full beer, only a little.
The other character I met was a Greek who J. and his female friend both referred to as "Uncle," although I saw no evidence of a familial connection, they certainly treated each other like family. "Uncle" was the primary owner and chef of the restaurant where J. and I lounged in hammocks during the hottest part of the day and I slept the night on a lounge chair in a sleeping bag. It seemed more like a messy front porch where people paid for food and occasionally to get ferries booked, as he also acted as a travel agent for people looking to get around the Islands and other nearby areas (he indeed bought my ticket to get to Santorini the next day, where I was happy to be off to due to some strange conversation with J. that I will get to momentarily and because I had a hostel booked for me there).
The morning was spent napping and then going to lounge in the sun on a nearby cliff. I took some pictures with the €5 disposable camera I bought because Unicorn had mine and after being satisfied with a few great shots, carelessly tossed the camera aside.
I then watched it inevitably bounce down the cliff, landing instead of in the cranny which I had tossed it at into the water below the nearly vertical cliff we sat upon.
Despite admonishments warning me to stay where I was, I was feeling adventurous so I made my way down the cliff to where I thought the camera might be. It was a slightly fearful expedition, but left me feeling accomplished with myself when I was standing at the bottom. While I did not se what I recognized as my camera, just when I was turning back I saw something that looked like my camera with some of the casing stripped, and grabbed it.
After making my way back up, They expressed some admiration at my nimbleness then poked fun at me for going all the way down to get a camera that wasn't mine. I wasn't so sure and though it could have been mine, but I will never know unless J. Happens to send me the camera or develop the pictures and send them to me, if that is even possible since it was recovered from an area in the rocks where water washed back in forth.
After sitting there a bit, J.'s female friend had to go to the bathroom, so we moved to higher ground, but had some trouble getting there. J. Left his pack and beer behind, and asked me to bring the former up. As he stood watching me mke my way up the sheer cliff, which he and the girl had slipped on several times, leading me to take a different route, he told me to forget about the beer, which I was also attempting to bring. I was feeling stubborn for some reason, and managed to get the beer and pack up to him, where he was waiting at the top and refused to take the beer but instead took the wrist holding it and dragged me up, saying it was me he cared about, not the beer.
J. apparently took it into his head after we sat some more that I was looking depressed and angrily told me repeatedly just to cheer up. I wasn't feeling particularly depressed, but apparently I wasn't smiling enough to satisfy him, so he increasingly repeated that I needed to just smile until he sounded like he was frothing at the mouth with his anger at my lack of displaying enough smiles. I was feeling at the moment not so much depressed but more like a stone with no emotion to display at all, and didn't see any particular reason to change from that frame of mind.
After some silence, he asked me if I knew any good stories or jokes, and none came to mind, except some dead baby jokes. I started to tell one, and then realized that Jimmy's friend, who was still sitting with us, was pregnant and it might be a bit insensitive so I stopped. When I explained I could only think of dead baby jokes, which probably weren't appropriate, J. got infuriated and asked me if I I wanted to be "thrown off the cliff" for making suggestions like that. I said as patiently as I could, for by this time I was growing quite impatient with his drunken egotistical tirades, that this is why I abstained, and was merely explaining. Then I flashed a toothy grin at him, so he could have the smile he kept complaining about, and a bit of ugly energy and dialogue ensued which resulted in the two of them taking a walk and me staying where I was.
Later, J. Took a nap, and I got to know the girl a little better, who had told me earlier "you really had no idea what you were getting into with him, did you?" which of course, I didn't other than he seemed like an alright fellow.
I still think he is a fine guy, our energies just didn't mix pleasantly that morning, and I am not sure if they could be relied upon to mix pleasantly in the future.
Next time I saw him awake, we played a game of chess, which I was happier than I should have been to beat him handily at. After a bit more awkward conversation, he suggested a walk on the beach with the girl and I, and things were alright from there.
°°°
That evening, we watched a South American gentleman play songs in Spanish as well as a few English classics and a couple other languages (notable was his two word song with not many more chords that somehow lasted a good ten minutes and was definitely beneath his admirable skills but awesomely delivered "Welcome to Tijuana-would you like to have sex with my Iguana" sung in Spanglish). There were more girls met there, and more interesting conversation, and J. very surprised that I didn't take what he saw as a golden opportunity to hit on a Canadian girl and try and get some perhaps, but I just didn't care. Besides, as fun as she would have been to fuck, as I explained to J. and his female friend later, I wasn't in any way desperate to get laid.
This eventually prompted the question: when was the last time you got laid? I told him: ten days. I did not tell him that it would have been sooner had the person I was with not been on her period. He seemed surprised, and this drew me into a conversation about my entire relationship, the second intimate conversation that I somehow got engaged with that day, and this one a longer one that found me revealing way more than I ever thought I would to anyone, let alone a random Irishman at a restaurant he claimed as his own along with his young female friend.
One might say this conversation changed the course of my entire trip, as well as well as my life.
Waiting at the gate for the ferry to begin boarding I met a few people; the one who turned out to be consequential enough for me to remember was an Irishman named J. who was flirting with another passenger in a sickeningly sentimental and capricious manner with a hint of what may have been despondency but I did not quite identify.
I mentioned that I was going to get some food during this episode of flirting, where he semi-goodnaturedly accused me of trying to get in her pants myself (I really wasn't; she was a bit too old and not terribly attractive, although younger than J. and not unattractive either, to be fair. Since he bought me dinner, I offered to get him something from the nearby kiosk (Athens is filled with snack, news and cigarette kiosks, where indeed I did the bulk of my shopping), and he asked me to get him a few beers, which surprised me but I did it anyway, figuring it was about as much as he spent on me.
That proved to be the first of a few beer runs I engaged upon on his behalf.
The second was on the boat, and he gave me money this time. We got to talking, and he told me a bit about himself, and the conversation seemed pretty normal until he invited me to his restaurant on Ios (an Island near Santorini), and assured me that he never told a lie and that I would get to meet "my heroes" like Shane Macgowan of the Pogues and Bono. While I never actually mentioned either of these men as being my heroes, he seemed together that they were after I mentioned that I loved Irish music (although I was specifically talking about the kind of traditional Irish music that Irish bands play in Irish bars, which as much as I do indeed like I know very little about). he mad increasingly extravagant claims such as this one that I had trouble fully believing, but he was an interesting fellow and didn't seem to have any ulterior motives; indeed his only motive seemed to be to keep a steady flow of alcohol going through his system; so I figured what the hell and went to his restaurant with him.
Due to the fact that I did not sleep more than a half hour and other factors which I will not mention here, I was red-eyed and a little stressed the next day. After being slightly embarrassing for asking a group of girls at the Ios port bus-stop where the nearest toilet was (they erupted into a storm of giggles as if it was the quaintest thing they had ever heard, a man asking after a toilet), I found a low wall where I could duck behind and relieve my bladder nearby then sat down at the bus stop and read a bit more of my Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy Omnibus Edition.
The bus ride was as beautiful as the small island itself, surrounded by the sparkling blue Aegean (within the Mediterranean) Sea. There was only one road connecting the port side of the Island to the "strip" where J.'s Restaurant along with many others and places of lodging competed for the attention of the mostly young tourists.
When we arrived at the restaurant I met a few other characters, one of which was a girl a few years older than I that I had alternately been warned "not to touch!" and "not to hurt," although I could "have her." I resolved to make no attempt at pursuing anything of the sort with her, especially after I met her and discovered that she was already in a relationship with somebody else, in addition to being pregnant.
After I watched with some surprise as she drank a little bit of beer, convinced that this is apparently okay to do in moderation in the first trimester (my words weren't able to disincline her of this notion), I was happy to see she did not drink a full beer, only a little.
The other character I met was a Greek who J. and his female friend both referred to as "Uncle," although I saw no evidence of a familial connection, they certainly treated each other like family. "Uncle" was the primary owner and chef of the restaurant where J. and I lounged in hammocks during the hottest part of the day and I slept the night on a lounge chair in a sleeping bag. It seemed more like a messy front porch where people paid for food and occasionally to get ferries booked, as he also acted as a travel agent for people looking to get around the Islands and other nearby areas (he indeed bought my ticket to get to Santorini the next day, where I was happy to be off to due to some strange conversation with J. that I will get to momentarily and because I had a hostel booked for me there).
The morning was spent napping and then going to lounge in the sun on a nearby cliff. I took some pictures with the €5 disposable camera I bought because Unicorn had mine and after being satisfied with a few great shots, carelessly tossed the camera aside.
I then watched it inevitably bounce down the cliff, landing instead of in the cranny which I had tossed it at into the water below the nearly vertical cliff we sat upon.
Despite admonishments warning me to stay where I was, I was feeling adventurous so I made my way down the cliff to where I thought the camera might be. It was a slightly fearful expedition, but left me feeling accomplished with myself when I was standing at the bottom. While I did not se what I recognized as my camera, just when I was turning back I saw something that looked like my camera with some of the casing stripped, and grabbed it.
After making my way back up, They expressed some admiration at my nimbleness then poked fun at me for going all the way down to get a camera that wasn't mine. I wasn't so sure and though it could have been mine, but I will never know unless J. Happens to send me the camera or develop the pictures and send them to me, if that is even possible since it was recovered from an area in the rocks where water washed back in forth.
After sitting there a bit, J.'s female friend had to go to the bathroom, so we moved to higher ground, but had some trouble getting there. J. Left his pack and beer behind, and asked me to bring the former up. As he stood watching me mke my way up the sheer cliff, which he and the girl had slipped on several times, leading me to take a different route, he told me to forget about the beer, which I was also attempting to bring. I was feeling stubborn for some reason, and managed to get the beer and pack up to him, where he was waiting at the top and refused to take the beer but instead took the wrist holding it and dragged me up, saying it was me he cared about, not the beer.
J. apparently took it into his head after we sat some more that I was looking depressed and angrily told me repeatedly just to cheer up. I wasn't feeling particularly depressed, but apparently I wasn't smiling enough to satisfy him, so he increasingly repeated that I needed to just smile until he sounded like he was frothing at the mouth with his anger at my lack of displaying enough smiles. I was feeling at the moment not so much depressed but more like a stone with no emotion to display at all, and didn't see any particular reason to change from that frame of mind.
After some silence, he asked me if I knew any good stories or jokes, and none came to mind, except some dead baby jokes. I started to tell one, and then realized that Jimmy's friend, who was still sitting with us, was pregnant and it might be a bit insensitive so I stopped. When I explained I could only think of dead baby jokes, which probably weren't appropriate, J. got infuriated and asked me if I I wanted to be "thrown off the cliff" for making suggestions like that. I said as patiently as I could, for by this time I was growing quite impatient with his drunken egotistical tirades, that this is why I abstained, and was merely explaining. Then I flashed a toothy grin at him, so he could have the smile he kept complaining about, and a bit of ugly energy and dialogue ensued which resulted in the two of them taking a walk and me staying where I was.
Later, J. Took a nap, and I got to know the girl a little better, who had told me earlier "you really had no idea what you were getting into with him, did you?" which of course, I didn't other than he seemed like an alright fellow.
I still think he is a fine guy, our energies just didn't mix pleasantly that morning, and I am not sure if they could be relied upon to mix pleasantly in the future.
Next time I saw him awake, we played a game of chess, which I was happier than I should have been to beat him handily at. After a bit more awkward conversation, he suggested a walk on the beach with the girl and I, and things were alright from there.
°°°
That evening, we watched a South American gentleman play songs in Spanish as well as a few English classics and a couple other languages (notable was his two word song with not many more chords that somehow lasted a good ten minutes and was definitely beneath his admirable skills but awesomely delivered "Welcome to Tijuana-would you like to have sex with my Iguana" sung in Spanglish). There were more girls met there, and more interesting conversation, and J. very surprised that I didn't take what he saw as a golden opportunity to hit on a Canadian girl and try and get some perhaps, but I just didn't care. Besides, as fun as she would have been to fuck, as I explained to J. and his female friend later, I wasn't in any way desperate to get laid.
This eventually prompted the question: when was the last time you got laid? I told him: ten days. I did not tell him that it would have been sooner had the person I was with not been on her period. He seemed surprised, and this drew me into a conversation about my entire relationship, the second intimate conversation that I somehow got engaged with that day, and this one a longer one that found me revealing way more than I ever thought I would to anyone, let alone a random Irishman at a restaurant he claimed as his own along with his young female friend.
One might say this conversation changed the course of my entire trip, as well as well as my life.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Ferries, trains, airplanes, Athens, Ios, Santorini and Amsterdam: Part 1 - Athens
...And Now I am in Frankfurt, chilling here for five days before going home from here.
My friends, so much has happened again that a simple blog is inadequate.
The last thing worth mentioning that I did before leaving Rome was breaking up with Justine, thinking this is my time to be single, alone, independent, and so on and so forth.
Brindisi-Patras Ferry
I met women almost immediately on the Ferry the next day, notably a fifteen year-old pretending to be 18 that wrote romantic song lyrics in my journal when I was acquiring e-mails (this habit of collecting contact information has since left my journal filled with e-mails and Facebook information from a large cross section of people).
I also met two awesome Turkish guys named Levent and Sevar whom I played Scrabble and cards with (the highligh of the latter being a game of bullshit with the 15 year-old and her friends, which I won handily) and hung out with throughout the ferry ride. The last I heard they saw a Metallica concert in Istanbul and it rocked.
I met a number of other people on the ride whose names I have forgot, but one interesting person was an American a bit younger than me who played blackjack at the casino and won a bit of money at it. I later hung out with his dad, a musician who exchanged Myspace music pages with me, and his sister, an aspiring special needs teacher (very attractive girl).
These are just a few of the many people I met.
When I awoke the next day after sleeping about two hours in a makeshift fort I made using chairs (I slept on the floor while the chairs blocked the hallway) it was time to get up. For breakfast I had some cold fried eggs and loads of bread because it was free and played another game of cards with the people from the night before.
I was quite happy to win at a game of speed, which my adversary was extremely good at and had previously beat me at a good five times.
---
Athens
After the ferry I arrived in Greece at Patras, and took two trains to get to Athens. These are probably the jankiest trains I have ridden yet. A notable observation I made was the final resting place of one's bodily waste: as I looked into the toilet bowl, I saw something speeding by at the same rate as the train, and was slightly amused to to realize that my urine was going straight to the tracks beneath the train.
I fortunately met people on the train to help me make sense of which trains to take, and was again indebted to the help of travellers.
It really makes me want to pay it forward and do the same for as many people as possible, at home and abroad.
I got a cab to Hotel Lozanni, and told the driver I didn't have enough for the journey upon arrival (I tried to discuss the amount of funds I had on me before we went anywhere, but the language barrier aside from the fact it was brushed aside in a very Greek way of worrying about payment after the service has been rendered made my previous comments obsolete), but he accepted what I had. After issuing a grateful "Epharisto!" I got out and went to my hostel.
Hotel Lozanni was a good, inexpensive place to stay and three nights was about all I could handle in Athens, a polluted, dirty and crowded city. I made a lot more friends at Lozanni, notably including a French Canadian girl who looked almost like she was cut from the cast of a typical attractive party girl with too-perfect breasts and a beautiful face and body, although not skinny. She helped me with my French a bit before going on to play dealer in a drinking game behind the hostel bar.
The bar was a great place to meet travellers and be blasted by American Rock standards like "Hotel California," "Save Tonight," "Highway to Hell," and other popular rock from the 70's to the late 90's plus the indispensable Bob Marley. They occasionally played Greek muisic, but usually only after it was requested by somebody.
I met a few other interesting folks whose e-mails and signatures now adorn my journal, including a Dutchman that looks like Robert Downey Junior and works in the bar, some fellow Americans who chilled with me while one played my guitar, a gaggle of Irish women, a girl whose country of origin escapes me (it's in the journal, which isn't near me at the moment) but I was slightly disappointed to learn had a boyfriend because of her attractiveness and our connection over politics (a connection that comes easily for me here, to be sure) and she seemed disappointed in me for breaking up with Unicorn when I told ter the whole story, and an Irish guy who forever immortalized himself writing these four words in my journal "Fuck you rich boy!"
The first sight I saw on my first night was the outside of the Acropolis, which was closed by the time I got there so I did not see the whole thing. Afterwards I wondered about until I was completely by coincedence in front of the remains of some old pillars, many of which lay on the ground. This area was also closed but visible through a fence. I later learned it was the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
I decided at that point to rest a bit, so I lay on the ground attempting unsuccessfully to make my backpack a comfortable pillow, and was almost asleep before I met a Greek man who was dressed in a business suit and emanated an aura of misery. He told me that he worked in the petrol-chemical business, and asked me about where I was from, what did my parents do, etcetera. Somehow the conversation switched to women, and he said something to the effect of no woman would have him. As the conversation went on, I felt a very deep urge not to trust him, although I did not have a logical reason to think that. Since I trust my feelings, I declined as politely as I could when he invited me to go to a club with him with "drinks" and "women," saying I had business back at the hotel.
In all lielihood he was just a lonely middle-aged guy looking to shoot the shit with a traveller, but I'll never know.
The next day I headed to the Acropolis, but decided this time to walk all the way there so I could pass through the marketplace to get some food. I bought a motley but tasty collection of nuts and a hunk of cheese, which I snacked on for the next few days
(at this point I should mention I decided to become a vegetarian on the train to Barcelona, and had eaten my last piece of meat in Barcelona).
Eventually I made my way up what was apprently a back way towards the Acropolis, and met some Californians whom I shared some nuts and water with. I also came to a small rock which was apparently where Ancient Athenians came to discuss the administration of justice on murderers and others, and got a great but unshaded from the hot sun view of the city.
I got my next great view from the Acropolis itself, which is situated on a plateau surrounded in all directions by the city, which is bordered by hills all around except for the Mediterranean, which is also visible from there.
Definitely a postcard view, almost as good as I got from Lekkivitos the next day.
T the Acropolis I met one of the guys I met in Brindisi who also rode the ferry to Athens, who was honeymooning with his wife and reminded me very much of Ray Liotta in the Untouchables. I also met an exotically beautiful Brazillian woman who told me of Brazil and recommeded a few places for me to see there. While talking ot her, I had the hill of Lekkivitos in my sights, and was thinking it might be a fun climb.
The next and final day in Athens found me making that climb. It was just as hard getting to the foot of the trail by scaling the steep streets surrounding the lower section of the hill, and the many steps it took just to get there. When I went to the office for the air tram, I decided I did not want to pay for the tram when the woman behind the counter said was a twenty minute hike, so I headed up the paved trail.
On my way to the trail, I met a pregnant woman whom I briefly converesed with, learning the name of her unborn child (I predictably forgot) before coninuing the hike.
Shortly after starting, an image of a poster I used to have showing a path through woods with Robert Frost's "The Road Less Travelled" superimposed on it (my mom bought it for me when I was a young teenager), I decided to make my own trail. Taking me through thickets of cacti and dead bushes which left numerous slivers in hands arms and legs, it also took me near some interesting life, including birds, some sort of cricket-like creatures that apparently lived there in swarms and made a lot of noise, a homeless-appearing man sleeping on a pallet propped between sections of a rock cliff's bottom littered with trash, and a big yellow spider (like the size of a tarantula) hanging out and waiting for something to pierce his web. I walked through a part of it, but luckily it was a big web and I only walked through a connecting thread from the main part oto a nearby bush.
I would not have been happy to find her crawling on me.
The most noteworthy part of the climb ius when I came to a rock wall barring the way to the trail, which was near the summit. Instead of going around, I decided to climb it, and felt like a pure badass when I made it to the top and climbed over the fence. Again faced with the choice of taking the paved trail to the top, I decided to again make my own trail, and earned more slivers for my choice. I also earned a spot atop a rock at the top of the hill which had a deserted and beaurtiful view of the city. I took off my shirt, drank some water and ate some cheese, and attempted unsuccessfully to meditate.
***
I was eventually joined by a cat, whom I tried to make friends with but did not succeed in doing so. As I walked towards him, I came upon some pretty unnecessary barbed wire blocking the point where I was at from what looked like a service building near the restaraunts and landmark church which you will see if you look at postcards of Lekkivitos. Faced with going through the barbed wire to get to the church area to watch the rest of the sunset or going back down then going back up the normal way, I went through the wire very carefully and thankfully drew no blood.
I felt the effect of entering normal touristy life again as I came upon the crowded patio veranda where groups of people were watching the sunset.
My friends, so much has happened again that a simple blog is inadequate.
The last thing worth mentioning that I did before leaving Rome was breaking up with Justine, thinking this is my time to be single, alone, independent, and so on and so forth.
Brindisi-Patras Ferry
I met women almost immediately on the Ferry the next day, notably a fifteen year-old pretending to be 18 that wrote romantic song lyrics in my journal when I was acquiring e-mails (this habit of collecting contact information has since left my journal filled with e-mails and Facebook information from a large cross section of people).
I also met two awesome Turkish guys named Levent and Sevar whom I played Scrabble and cards with (the highligh of the latter being a game of bullshit with the 15 year-old and her friends, which I won handily) and hung out with throughout the ferry ride. The last I heard they saw a Metallica concert in Istanbul and it rocked.
I met a number of other people on the ride whose names I have forgot, but one interesting person was an American a bit younger than me who played blackjack at the casino and won a bit of money at it. I later hung out with his dad, a musician who exchanged Myspace music pages with me, and his sister, an aspiring special needs teacher (very attractive girl).
These are just a few of the many people I met.
When I awoke the next day after sleeping about two hours in a makeshift fort I made using chairs (I slept on the floor while the chairs blocked the hallway) it was time to get up. For breakfast I had some cold fried eggs and loads of bread because it was free and played another game of cards with the people from the night before.
I was quite happy to win at a game of speed, which my adversary was extremely good at and had previously beat me at a good five times.
---
Athens
After the ferry I arrived in Greece at Patras, and took two trains to get to Athens. These are probably the jankiest trains I have ridden yet. A notable observation I made was the final resting place of one's bodily waste: as I looked into the toilet bowl, I saw something speeding by at the same rate as the train, and was slightly amused to to realize that my urine was going straight to the tracks beneath the train.
I fortunately met people on the train to help me make sense of which trains to take, and was again indebted to the help of travellers.
It really makes me want to pay it forward and do the same for as many people as possible, at home and abroad.
I got a cab to Hotel Lozanni, and told the driver I didn't have enough for the journey upon arrival (I tried to discuss the amount of funds I had on me before we went anywhere, but the language barrier aside from the fact it was brushed aside in a very Greek way of worrying about payment after the service has been rendered made my previous comments obsolete), but he accepted what I had. After issuing a grateful "Epharisto!" I got out and went to my hostel.
Hotel Lozanni was a good, inexpensive place to stay and three nights was about all I could handle in Athens, a polluted, dirty and crowded city. I made a lot more friends at Lozanni, notably including a French Canadian girl who looked almost like she was cut from the cast of a typical attractive party girl with too-perfect breasts and a beautiful face and body, although not skinny. She helped me with my French a bit before going on to play dealer in a drinking game behind the hostel bar.
The bar was a great place to meet travellers and be blasted by American Rock standards like "Hotel California," "Save Tonight," "Highway to Hell," and other popular rock from the 70's to the late 90's plus the indispensable Bob Marley. They occasionally played Greek muisic, but usually only after it was requested by somebody.
I met a few other interesting folks whose e-mails and signatures now adorn my journal, including a Dutchman that looks like Robert Downey Junior and works in the bar, some fellow Americans who chilled with me while one played my guitar, a gaggle of Irish women, a girl whose country of origin escapes me (it's in the journal, which isn't near me at the moment) but I was slightly disappointed to learn had a boyfriend because of her attractiveness and our connection over politics (a connection that comes easily for me here, to be sure) and she seemed disappointed in me for breaking up with Unicorn when I told ter the whole story, and an Irish guy who forever immortalized himself writing these four words in my journal "Fuck you rich boy!"
The first sight I saw on my first night was the outside of the Acropolis, which was closed by the time I got there so I did not see the whole thing. Afterwards I wondered about until I was completely by coincedence in front of the remains of some old pillars, many of which lay on the ground. This area was also closed but visible through a fence. I later learned it was the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
I decided at that point to rest a bit, so I lay on the ground attempting unsuccessfully to make my backpack a comfortable pillow, and was almost asleep before I met a Greek man who was dressed in a business suit and emanated an aura of misery. He told me that he worked in the petrol-chemical business, and asked me about where I was from, what did my parents do, etcetera. Somehow the conversation switched to women, and he said something to the effect of no woman would have him. As the conversation went on, I felt a very deep urge not to trust him, although I did not have a logical reason to think that. Since I trust my feelings, I declined as politely as I could when he invited me to go to a club with him with "drinks" and "women," saying I had business back at the hotel.
In all lielihood he was just a lonely middle-aged guy looking to shoot the shit with a traveller, but I'll never know.
The next day I headed to the Acropolis, but decided this time to walk all the way there so I could pass through the marketplace to get some food. I bought a motley but tasty collection of nuts and a hunk of cheese, which I snacked on for the next few days
(at this point I should mention I decided to become a vegetarian on the train to Barcelona, and had eaten my last piece of meat in Barcelona).
Eventually I made my way up what was apprently a back way towards the Acropolis, and met some Californians whom I shared some nuts and water with. I also came to a small rock which was apparently where Ancient Athenians came to discuss the administration of justice on murderers and others, and got a great but unshaded from the hot sun view of the city.
I got my next great view from the Acropolis itself, which is situated on a plateau surrounded in all directions by the city, which is bordered by hills all around except for the Mediterranean, which is also visible from there.
Definitely a postcard view, almost as good as I got from Lekkivitos the next day.
T the Acropolis I met one of the guys I met in Brindisi who also rode the ferry to Athens, who was honeymooning with his wife and reminded me very much of Ray Liotta in the Untouchables. I also met an exotically beautiful Brazillian woman who told me of Brazil and recommeded a few places for me to see there. While talking ot her, I had the hill of Lekkivitos in my sights, and was thinking it might be a fun climb.
The next and final day in Athens found me making that climb. It was just as hard getting to the foot of the trail by scaling the steep streets surrounding the lower section of the hill, and the many steps it took just to get there. When I went to the office for the air tram, I decided I did not want to pay for the tram when the woman behind the counter said was a twenty minute hike, so I headed up the paved trail.
On my way to the trail, I met a pregnant woman whom I briefly converesed with, learning the name of her unborn child (I predictably forgot) before coninuing the hike.
Shortly after starting, an image of a poster I used to have showing a path through woods with Robert Frost's "The Road Less Travelled" superimposed on it (my mom bought it for me when I was a young teenager), I decided to make my own trail. Taking me through thickets of cacti and dead bushes which left numerous slivers in hands arms and legs, it also took me near some interesting life, including birds, some sort of cricket-like creatures that apparently lived there in swarms and made a lot of noise, a homeless-appearing man sleeping on a pallet propped between sections of a rock cliff's bottom littered with trash, and a big yellow spider (like the size of a tarantula) hanging out and waiting for something to pierce his web. I walked through a part of it, but luckily it was a big web and I only walked through a connecting thread from the main part oto a nearby bush.
I would not have been happy to find her crawling on me.
The most noteworthy part of the climb ius when I came to a rock wall barring the way to the trail, which was near the summit. Instead of going around, I decided to climb it, and felt like a pure badass when I made it to the top and climbed over the fence. Again faced with the choice of taking the paved trail to the top, I decided to again make my own trail, and earned more slivers for my choice. I also earned a spot atop a rock at the top of the hill which had a deserted and beaurtiful view of the city. I took off my shirt, drank some water and ate some cheese, and attempted unsuccessfully to meditate.
***
I was eventually joined by a cat, whom I tried to make friends with but did not succeed in doing so. As I walked towards him, I came upon some pretty unnecessary barbed wire blocking the point where I was at from what looked like a service building near the restaraunts and landmark church which you will see if you look at postcards of Lekkivitos. Faced with going through the barbed wire to get to the church area to watch the rest of the sunset or going back down then going back up the normal way, I went through the wire very carefully and thankfully drew no blood.
I felt the effect of entering normal touristy life again as I came upon the crowded patio veranda where groups of people were watching the sunset.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Rome to Athens (no pictures!)
Fuckin too much has happened to do justice to it, but we saw Rome and frankly Barcelona is cooler and more laid back, despite the fact that more Italians spoke English to us.
The Colloseum, Vatican and Ancient CIty were predictably awesome, including the Sistine Chapel and a huge collection of art and sculptures from the founding of the Roman empire and before.
Pompei was also cool, although my taking a dump at the bathroom there was possibly the worst public restroom experience of my life (no toilet seat, nothing to hold on to, no soap...)
These tiny sentences of course do no justice to the majesty of any of it, and that is something that some of you may just have to wait until I type up my complete journals, which have been keeping track of all day to day activities.
I unfortunately left my camera with Justine when we parted ways (another interesting story), so I have no pictures of the beautiful boat ride from Brindisi to Athens, or all the wild and crazy people I met (i have the e-mails to prove it though, and all I can say is...damn, I love making friends in foreigin countries).
And now I am in Athens at my hostel Hotel Lozanni, which you can find on google earth by simply putting in its address, which you can also find by googling because I have somebody waiting to use the computer so I must go!
Kalinichta,
Jadon
P.S. There are several pidgeons whom I am sure I could punch did I feel like it.
The Colloseum, Vatican and Ancient CIty were predictably awesome, including the Sistine Chapel and a huge collection of art and sculptures from the founding of the Roman empire and before.
Pompei was also cool, although my taking a dump at the bathroom there was possibly the worst public restroom experience of my life (no toilet seat, nothing to hold on to, no soap...)
These tiny sentences of course do no justice to the majesty of any of it, and that is something that some of you may just have to wait until I type up my complete journals, which have been keeping track of all day to day activities.
I unfortunately left my camera with Justine when we parted ways (another interesting story), so I have no pictures of the beautiful boat ride from Brindisi to Athens, or all the wild and crazy people I met (i have the e-mails to prove it though, and all I can say is...damn, I love making friends in foreigin countries).
And now I am in Athens at my hostel Hotel Lozanni, which you can find on google earth by simply putting in its address, which you can also find by googling because I have somebody waiting to use the computer so I must go!
Kalinichta,
Jadon
P.S. There are several pidgeons whom I am sure I could punch did I feel like it.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Barcelona to Rome
Our final train ride to Barcelona took us on our first night train (we just got off our second this morning arriving in Rome) and it was an interesting experience. We met more awesome people who helped us with language and told us a little about themselves and their and others' culture, including Diego from Austria (Ich gesprecht Deutsch mit er), Fareed from Dubai originally from Iran (who genuinely loves the United States more than I do and speaks better English than many Americans) and one of Justine's cabin mates who helped us with our French as the train went through France to reach Barcelona.
Arriving there, wescorned our packrat mentality after dragging our unnecessarily overpacked luggage across Barcelona to her hotel (we eventually called a cab when we were very close, the cab driver refused our attempts to pay him; he was the first of two awesome cab drivers we met, the second of which brought back my guitar that was left in the backseat).
The good news is the hotel was full, and she got upgraded to a four-star hotel with a pool on the roof, where I met girls from Australia whom I partied with the following night, along with New Zealanders and Norwegians (I had a great conversation with the Norwegians, and jammed with one of the New Zealanders who proceeded to rap over a "Hotel California"-like riff he taught me...
It was possibly more gangster than a large percentage of the shit I have heard coming from actual gangsters.
Anyway, among the things we did and ate in Spain:
Swam in the Mediterranean (narrowly avoided jellyfish!)
Met a guy at the beach who invited us to go to Egypt with him; I might do it, he is a cool guy from California who has a Business degree but is opting to see the world and occupy himself doing things like teaching scuba-diving to tourists in Guam (he assured us the jellyfish in the Mediterranean are harmless and it is the ones you can't see you need to worry about).
Saw a good portion of nicely rounded and toned naked female upper bnodies on display at the beach, although sadly the majority had their tops on
Saw the Arc de Triumph
Explored a museum complex including a geology, zoology and murder investigation museum, the last of which invites you to investigate a murder that has been set up for the purpose of your analysis using all sorts of forensic tools to identify the culprit (Justine and I were both wrong, although I still maintain that my chosen suspect had the largest motive).
Ate Pizza that used a mild salsa instead of tomato paste with mozzarrella and green olives; delicious!
Ate Salmon and squid rings at a boardwalk restaraunt after our last trip to the Mediterranean
Saw a giant phallic building that was lit up in blue and red
Ran through a torrential downpour with thunder crashing and lightning flashing to get to the foot of that building, which unfortunately was not open to tourists (I was hoping we could get drinks!)
We instead ordered French Fries and "Uno Cerveza" at a tiny little bar near our hotel which had a jukebox that we played Frank Sinatra, the Beatles and Jethro Tull on, respectively
Accidenttally ran into a Harley Davidson festival near the Expo Center and at the foot of Barcelona's gorgeous historic art museum which rises like a palace on the hill above the center
---
And after riding four trains at about four hours each (seven hours and forty-five minutes for the night train which we departed this morning) we are now in Rome.
We met interesting people on these trains as well; I met a couple Danish girls who gave me some useful information on what to see in Denmark and a couple of Italian gentlemen, one of whom taught us a little Italian using Deutsch, since it was the only language either of us understood very well.
We got very lucky on the train in between these two, which required reservations that we didn't have!
---
Rome is Beautiful, to no one's surprise I am sure. Today we saw the colloseum, which I toured then played my guitar in ode to a few of the tragedies and heros I imagined thye games spawned (Justine got me on video singing about a hippo; this relates to the Colloseum because Hippos were sometimes brought in for men to fight!). After touring the colloseum Justine bought twenty postcard for €1 and we walked around the old town and the ruins some more, including the former residence of Augustus.
And now, we will eat Dinner at a nearby African restaurant! My stomach has been a little irritated the last couple days, so I am going to try and stick to vegetables for tonight.
arrivederci, au revoir, adios, tschuss and Good bye!
Arriving there, wescorned our packrat mentality after dragging our unnecessarily overpacked luggage across Barcelona to her hotel (we eventually called a cab when we were very close, the cab driver refused our attempts to pay him; he was the first of two awesome cab drivers we met, the second of which brought back my guitar that was left in the backseat).
The good news is the hotel was full, and she got upgraded to a four-star hotel with a pool on the roof, where I met girls from Australia whom I partied with the following night, along with New Zealanders and Norwegians (I had a great conversation with the Norwegians, and jammed with one of the New Zealanders who proceeded to rap over a "Hotel California"-like riff he taught me...
It was possibly more gangster than a large percentage of the shit I have heard coming from actual gangsters.
Anyway, among the things we did and ate in Spain:
Swam in the Mediterranean (narrowly avoided jellyfish!)
Met a guy at the beach who invited us to go to Egypt with him; I might do it, he is a cool guy from California who has a Business degree but is opting to see the world and occupy himself doing things like teaching scuba-diving to tourists in Guam (he assured us the jellyfish in the Mediterranean are harmless and it is the ones you can't see you need to worry about).
Saw a good portion of nicely rounded and toned naked female upper bnodies on display at the beach, although sadly the majority had their tops on
Saw the Arc de Triumph
Explored a museum complex including a geology, zoology and murder investigation museum, the last of which invites you to investigate a murder that has been set up for the purpose of your analysis using all sorts of forensic tools to identify the culprit (Justine and I were both wrong, although I still maintain that my chosen suspect had the largest motive).
Ate Pizza that used a mild salsa instead of tomato paste with mozzarrella and green olives; delicious!
Ate Salmon and squid rings at a boardwalk restaraunt after our last trip to the Mediterranean
Saw a giant phallic building that was lit up in blue and red
Ran through a torrential downpour with thunder crashing and lightning flashing to get to the foot of that building, which unfortunately was not open to tourists (I was hoping we could get drinks!)
We instead ordered French Fries and "Uno Cerveza" at a tiny little bar near our hotel which had a jukebox that we played Frank Sinatra, the Beatles and Jethro Tull on, respectively
Accidenttally ran into a Harley Davidson festival near the Expo Center and at the foot of Barcelona's gorgeous historic art museum which rises like a palace on the hill above the center
---
And after riding four trains at about four hours each (seven hours and forty-five minutes for the night train which we departed this morning) we are now in Rome.
We met interesting people on these trains as well; I met a couple Danish girls who gave me some useful information on what to see in Denmark and a couple of Italian gentlemen, one of whom taught us a little Italian using Deutsch, since it was the only language either of us understood very well.
We got very lucky on the train in between these two, which required reservations that we didn't have!
---
Rome is Beautiful, to no one's surprise I am sure. Today we saw the colloseum, which I toured then played my guitar in ode to a few of the tragedies and heros I imagined thye games spawned (Justine got me on video singing about a hippo; this relates to the Colloseum because Hippos were sometimes brought in for men to fight!). After touring the colloseum Justine bought twenty postcard for €1 and we walked around the old town and the ruins some more, including the former residence of Augustus.
And now, we will eat Dinner at a nearby African restaurant! My stomach has been a little irritated the last couple days, so I am going to try and stick to vegetables for tonight.
arrivederci, au revoir, adios, tschuss and Good bye!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Cheap internet means I will come back and upload photos when I can!
only 1 Euro an hour at this little Asian/Spanish owned internet hub, compared to 2 Euro for an hour at the train station in Hannover and 2 Euro for ten minutes at the hotel!
But right now I have other things on my mind, like shipping home a good portion of this stuff that my packrat materialistic mind so naively insisted on bringing!
A quick update *PART1
Took the train from Deutschland to Switzerland, Switzerland trough France and Spain to Barcelona on the southeast coast. Could not have made the trains and accomplished all that I accomplished without the help of all the people I met, and a little luck!
After our four hour train ride to the edge of Germany to go to Switzerland, our train was late so we were not able to make our next train, but because of the help of a very nice German and another very nice Swiss lady, we were abe to find the necessary schedules to take another train to our night train, which we COULD NOT MISS, and we made it with ten minutes to spare because of their help!
Before getting on this connectin train to the night train, I decided to get my Eurorail pass validated since I neglected to do it previously (I didn't realize Eurorail needed to be validated, let alone in person), but to my chagrin found that there was a DMV/like number system, and there was no way I would make my train.
Again, I was helped twice by very nice people--the first time I was given a ticket that was two far away, but I was later given another ticket that just in the nick of time got my pass validated! This was a very good thing, because while the first ticket checker on the train from Hannover did not check to see if my pass was validated (while I very carefully projected an energy of inoccuousness and a right to be there) the second one did, and I would have been forced to buy another ticket had it not been validated.
Met a very interesting young guy on the train to Switzerland who was originally from Italy and actually tooks some notes on his account of Italy's history. Interesting quote//politicians can be "bought for a bag of spaghetti." Another Italian on the train heard this conversation and became very offeneded, and they started arguing in Italian, but the guy on the train said that he was "From Northern Italy" where what he was referring to is less ubiquitous.
But right now I have other things on my mind, like shipping home a good portion of this stuff that my packrat materialistic mind so naively insisted on bringing!
A quick update *PART1
Took the train from Deutschland to Switzerland, Switzerland trough France and Spain to Barcelona on the southeast coast. Could not have made the trains and accomplished all that I accomplished without the help of all the people I met, and a little luck!
After our four hour train ride to the edge of Germany to go to Switzerland, our train was late so we were not able to make our next train, but because of the help of a very nice German and another very nice Swiss lady, we were abe to find the necessary schedules to take another train to our night train, which we COULD NOT MISS, and we made it with ten minutes to spare because of their help!
Before getting on this connectin train to the night train, I decided to get my Eurorail pass validated since I neglected to do it previously (I didn't realize Eurorail needed to be validated, let alone in person), but to my chagrin found that there was a DMV/like number system, and there was no way I would make my train.
Again, I was helped twice by very nice people--the first time I was given a ticket that was two far away, but I was later given another ticket that just in the nick of time got my pass validated! This was a very good thing, because while the first ticket checker on the train from Hannover did not check to see if my pass was validated (while I very carefully projected an energy of inoccuousness and a right to be there) the second one did, and I would have been forced to buy another ticket had it not been validated.
Met a very interesting young guy on the train to Switzerland who was originally from Italy and actually tooks some notes on his account of Italy's history. Interesting quote//politicians can be "bought for a bag of spaghetti." Another Italian on the train heard this conversation and became very offeneded, and they started arguing in Italian, but the guy on the train said that he was "From Northern Italy" where what he was referring to is less ubiquitous.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Leaving Hannover, arriving in Barcelona at 9:01 a.m.
This post has to be quick, but I arrive in Barcelona on the 10th, and will take four trains including a night train to get there!
I still ahve to update my deutschland timelin, Ich Weiß (I know)!
I will connec with all ya'll very soon, next internet chance I get (Unicorn's hotel has, among other places). I plan to stay with her for part of the trip then at a hostel for another part, so we will be close together for the next ten days.
Viel liebe (much love)!
I still ahve to update my deutschland timelin, Ich Weiß (I know)!
I will connec with all ya'll very soon, next internet chance I get (Unicorn's hotel has, among other places). I plan to stay with her for part of the trip then at a hostel for another part, so we will be close together for the next ten days.
Viel liebe (much love)!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Mein letzter tag in Deutschland!
I have little time as I am at the school and about to leave to view Hannover's baroque gardens with Justine, Heidi, Anna and Herr Neuber, but here is a quick update and to do list!
Last night I drank with Robin's Grandparents and listened to old American, German and other Jazz on vinyl and listened to stories from both of them. They can all hold their liquor, even Helga, Robin's Oma!
And now we are about to depart, so ich muss meinen tee austrinken und gehen! My timeline will be presented and updated with a sampling of photos after I make my Jugendherbergen reservations tonight!
Last night I drank with Robin's Grandparents and listened to old American, German and other Jazz on vinyl and listened to stories from both of them. They can all hold their liquor, even Helga, Robin's Oma!
And now we are about to depart, so ich muss meinen tee austrinken und gehen! My timeline will be presented and updated with a sampling of photos after I make my Jugendherbergen reservations tonight!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Lifecycle
I walked to die flühmarkt (open air market) in Rinteln this morning; it was a good thirty-forty minute walk and meditated a little on a park bench, enjoying the crowd making crowd noises all around me, the sounds of biciyle wheels turning, the occasional breeze against my face that was so appreciated as the very warm sun shined on me, leavng my upper back damp with sweat.
Here is a poem about the changes that I fel coming, want to come, and am actively encouraging inside me.
Oh the phoenix must die to rise
The words that created the fires inside
mark an inevitable end
Not of this man but of everything that created him...
and only the essence can remain
the best and the most meaningful aspects of him
the sun is marked with a cross
like the story of Jesus is promised to rise again
Every time I go down,
I must rise again
There is nothing that can stop me
Except for the man writing these words
These words
These words
These words
(These words)~I am nothing if not something that we call nothing
(These words)~Paradox is a word heavily used in theory
(These words)~But get too scientific and you risk losing it
(These words)~My god is not a quantifiable entity so keep searching but the best way is to
Just breathe
°°°
Here is a poem about the changes that I fel coming, want to come, and am actively encouraging inside me.
Oh the phoenix must die to rise
The words that created the fires inside
mark an inevitable end
Not of this man but of everything that created him...
and only the essence can remain
the best and the most meaningful aspects of him
the sun is marked with a cross
like the story of Jesus is promised to rise again
Every time I go down,
I must rise again
There is nothing that can stop me
Except for the man writing these words
These words
These words
These words
(These words)~I am nothing if not something that we call nothing
(These words)~Paradox is a word heavily used in theory
(These words)~But get too scientific and you risk losing it
(These words)~My god is not a quantifiable entity so keep searching but the best way is to
Just breathe
°°°
Friday, July 4, 2008
The timeline
So I just watched Judas Priest live on dvd at the urging of my host Robin's father Heiner, who promised that after he got off the phone we would jam. Before this, I watched him rock out on several songs, and it was radcore. As he is ina cover band that plays mostly American rock songs, I knew several, such as "Wherever I may Roam," "Enter Sandman" and "Seek and Destroy" By Metallica, "American Idiot" and "Basket Case" by Green Day, and "Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. He is an excellent guitar player.
He is still on the phone, so I am going to use this time to give you a timeline so you can have a rough idea of where I have been and what I have done since That long ago blog entry from the Friday night welcome party.
...
Change of plans: He is still on the phone und ich habe eine kopfschmerzen, so I am going to lie down. My next words will house the timeline.
He is still on the phone, so I am going to use this time to give you a timeline so you can have a rough idea of where I have been and what I have done since That long ago blog entry from the Friday night welcome party.
...
Change of plans: He is still on the phone und ich habe eine kopfschmerzen, so I am going to lie down. My next words will house the timeline.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
A quick update
I have visite many towns, and have been keeping a written record of my travels, but every time I sit down with the intention of chronicling them in very great detail, it does not work very well because I am so worn out from what I have been doing.
I am writing this to let you know that despite my lack of updates, I am sitll breathing and hope to spare some time to really delve into each day soon as I will have som free time.
Otherwise, I love you all and hope that your lives are going well! I WILL UPDATE SOON!
I am writing this to let you know that despite my lack of updates, I am sitll breathing and hope to spare some time to really delve into each day soon as I will have som free time.
Otherwise, I love you all and hope that your lives are going well! I WILL UPDATE SOON!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Fotos!
I have posted many of my photos from the trip on here, but more are available at my Photobucket site:
http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn303/potatopunker/
http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn303/potatopunker/
Kitten
The Deutsch enjoy animals as much as Americans, including kittens, the following are pictures of the Robin's schwester's kitten:
Fußball!
Unfortunately, this blog seems doomed to skip around between the psat and present as today is now Thursday and I still have photos and stories from the last five days to post, but that is okay; blogs are not ocnfined to strictly linear chronological organization!
Last night Germany won the European Football (soccer) quarterfinals, and will play the winner of today's Spain-Russia game. Unfortunately I was feeling sick so I stayed home from the biergarten, but did watch the last 45 minutes here at the house with Robin's father. It was an intense game and Turkey played quite well, but Germany prevailed 3-2.
To give you an idea of the enthusiasm for Soccer in this country, HERE IS VIDEO of the celebration on the streets of Germany's victory in the semifinals against Portugal one week ago (keep in mind this is in Rinteln, a small town in Germany, the celebration in bigger towns like Hamburg and Berlin are bound to hav ebeen many times larger, especiually for last night's game).
Last night Germany won the European Football (soccer) quarterfinals, and will play the winner of today's Spain-Russia game. Unfortunately I was feeling sick so I stayed home from the biergarten, but did watch the last 45 minutes here at the house with Robin's father. It was an intense game and Turkey played quite well, but Germany prevailed 3-2.
To give you an idea of the enthusiasm for Soccer in this country, HERE IS VIDEO of the celebration on the streets of Germany's victory in the semifinals against Portugal one week ago (keep in mind this is in Rinteln, a small town in Germany, the celebration in bigger towns like Hamburg and Berlin are bound to hav ebeen many times larger, especiually for last night's game).
Evening of Friday, June 20: party!
The concentration camp toured earlier was forgotten as most of us students (aside from Larry and Linda) relaxed and drank alcohol with our hosts.
Here is a link to the Facebook photo album of Timm Ender, who hosted the partyy and posted 22 pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000332&id=1367851297
Heidi and I enjoyed going down the slide:
Eventually, I got tired and fell asleep on Timm's couch, where Unicorn joined me for a nap (picture on Timm's Facebook). When I woke up, Robin told me we were going to go to another party. I thought he was joking, but found out how wrong I was when we we ended up a dance club, where I was handed a Vodka and Red Bull and was told to dance by Kami quite authorititavely. I eventually did, because everybody in Europe dances like white guys, so I was in good company.
By the time we finally left, it was morning, and I was ready to pass out. I took a picture of the sky above Robin's house before hitting the sack:
Here is a link to the Facebook photo album of Timm Ender, who hosted the partyy and posted 22 pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000332&id=1367851297
Heidi and I enjoyed going down the slide:
Eventually, I got tired and fell asleep on Timm's couch, where Unicorn joined me for a nap (picture on Timm's Facebook). When I woke up, Robin told me we were going to go to another party. I thought he was joking, but found out how wrong I was when we we ended up a dance club, where I was handed a Vodka and Red Bull and was told to dance by Kami quite authorititavely. I eventually did, because everybody in Europe dances like white guys, so I was in good company.
By the time we finally left, it was morning, and I was ready to pass out. I took a picture of the sky above Robin's house before hitting the sack:
Bergen-Belson
The concentration camp of Anne Frank and site of the deaths of 2,000,000 Jews, Soviets, communists, gays and other prisoners is a beautiful place now filled with fields, trees and monuments that were it not for the presence of, it would be impossible to tell the horrors of what went on there.
The stone main building is built of harsh cold concrete that radiates totalitarian authority (others took pictures which I hope to post eventaully, but for now, my words will have to suffice).
I have German in my blood. This is part of my heritage as much as slavery, capitalism, the Iraq War, the genocide of Native Americans, and every other horror. An infinite moment of silence is not long enough to reflect upon and truly appreciate the terrible things humans are capable of.
The stone main building is built of harsh cold concrete that radiates totalitarian authority (others took pictures which I hope to post eventaully, but for now, my words will have to suffice).
I have German in my blood. This is part of my heritage as much as slavery, capitalism, the Iraq War, the genocide of Native Americans, and every other horror. An infinite moment of silence is not long enough to reflect upon and truly appreciate the terrible things humans are capable of.
Lyrics to a german Song I am learning on theguitar about Footbal
Dieses Jahr geht das Fußballwunder weiter
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Es geht wieder los zieh das Trikot an
Wir stehen hinter euch wie der 12. Mann
Wir wollen den Pokal glauben fest daran
Jetzt sind wir und nich die Ander'n dran
Wir stehen auf und wollen euch kämpfen sehen
Egal was kommt wir können alles drehen
Der Fußballgott wird uns zur Seite stehen.
Dieses Jahr geht das Fußballwunder weiter
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Nanananananana
Wir geh'n zusammen in die Geschichte ein
Nanananananana
Lasst uns einnmal alle Helden sein
Dieses Jahr steht unterm Fußballstern
Das Stadion kocht das Ziel ist nicht mehr fern
Ihr schafft das Jungs
Wie beim Wunder von Bern
Dieses Jahr geht das Fußballwunder weiter
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Nanananananana
Wir geh'n zusammen in die Geschichte ein
Nanananananana
Lasst uns einnmal alle Helden sein
Dieses Jahr geht das Fußballwunder weiter
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Nanananananana
Wir geh'n zusammen in die Geschichte ein
Nanananananana
Lasst uns einnmal alle Helden sein
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Es geht wieder los zieh das Trikot an
Wir stehen hinter euch wie der 12. Mann
Wir wollen den Pokal glauben fest daran
Jetzt sind wir und nich die Ander'n dran
Wir stehen auf und wollen euch kämpfen sehen
Egal was kommt wir können alles drehen
Der Fußballgott wird uns zur Seite stehen.
Dieses Jahr geht das Fußballwunder weiter
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Nanananananana
Wir geh'n zusammen in die Geschichte ein
Nanananananana
Lasst uns einnmal alle Helden sein
Dieses Jahr steht unterm Fußballstern
Das Stadion kocht das Ziel ist nicht mehr fern
Ihr schafft das Jungs
Wie beim Wunder von Bern
Dieses Jahr geht das Fußballwunder weiter
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Nanananananana
Wir geh'n zusammen in die Geschichte ein
Nanananananana
Lasst uns einnmal alle Helden sein
Dieses Jahr geht das Fußballwunder weiter
Wir sind da und wir werden Europameister
Nanananananana
Wir geh'n zusammen in die Geschichte ein
Nanananananana
Lasst uns einnmal alle Helden sein
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Stadthagen
After leaving Die Schule, we walked directly to old town Statdhagen, passing many interesting buildings, including houses, a castle, a cathedral.
I wish I could have taken pictures of the inside of this cathedral. I had a strong feeling of spirituality in the place, despite the fact that I am not Catholic or Christian. I felt something like a pull on my legs in front of the altar, and after everybody left, I sank to my knees and prayed for something indescribable aside from its positive energy and hope for a more peaceful world.
I wish I could have taken pictures of the inside of this cathedral. I had a strong feeling of spirituality in the place, despite the fact that I am not Catholic or Christian. I felt something like a pull on my legs in front of the altar, and after everybody left, I sank to my knees and prayed for something indescribable aside from its positive energy and hope for a more peaceful world.
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