So lucky

Yesterday evening i arrived in Cordoba, stupidly without a reservation. Most of the hostels are in the same area...so i tried literally 25 hostels...each one: "Completo". I finally found one that had one room available...only because it was in reparations throughout the day (so they couldn´t give it to anyone). Lesson learned.

This city is beautiful, white buildings with flowers. Old Moorish ruins everywhere (the biggest attraction being the Mezquita). Last night i took some great pictures of the sunset over the city.

El Greco

Yesterday i spent the day in Toledo with the two girls i met in madrid. This is the town that was designed by El Greco...very nice. We saw all the sights in the morning and spent a few hours in the afternoon lying next to the river (at the base of the town) surrounded by old ruins. It was probably the most relaxing, stress-free day of my trip so far. The temperature has been increasing everyday (it was about 26). Today we parted, they´re off to barcelona and im continuing further south to cordoba.

Esta calor

Hola everyone. Today is my second day in Madrid. I arrived in Spain yesterday morning and spent the whole day walking around and seeing the sights. I met some nice gals from boston inside the Placio real, met up with them later that night along with a couple others from mexico and serbia...we all went bar hoping, quite fun. Theres also a really nice central park in madrid, so i spend an hour each day just sleeping under a tree enjoying the nice weather and practicing my spanish (on my ipod).

Today, i visited both the Prado and Reina Sofia museums. By far, my favorite painting in the Prado was Saturn by Goya. I was a little disappointed by the Dali exhibit in the Sofia, picasso was...picasso, and some of the modern stuff was complete garbage in my professional artistic opinion. But overall, both museums were pretty cool.


Saturn

Napoleon

Instead of visiting the Louvre today (the exhibits i wanted to see were closed), i decided to visit the Musee de L'Armee (the french military museum) and the tomb of Napoleon I and his son, Napoleon II. Lots of really cool armor, guns and swords in the museum. The tomb itself is pretty cool, right in the center of the Dome des Invalides. Well that's it for Paris, i've had a great time, met lots of really nice people, ate lots of excellent food. Tonight im taking the night train to spain.

Mission Complete

The wedding is complete, igor and elodie are officially married. The wedding was a blast filled with song, dance, delicious food and plenty of alcohol. The guests stayed overnight in a chateau overlooking the french countryside. This morning we visited the house of Monet (which includes his famous garden that he painted on many occasions).


Mr & Ms Lovich

The previous night, i had the pleasure of staying at perrine's parent's place...it's a huge house built on top of the remains of a 12th century castle. A large piece of the dungeon still exists next to the house. Her father gave us a tour of their wine cellar...only about 3000 bottles...some from the 1800s valued about $4000 each.

Ok, tomorrow is my final day in paris, im going to the Louvre a second time.

Pictures & Food

Today was an exceptionably nice day in Paris. I had been waiting for the perfect weather to make another pass at all the sites and get some good pictures...got some. I also visited sacre coeur for the first time which was real cool. Inside, there was a group of nuns singing hymns.


Sacre Coeur

Yesterday, i spent most of the day eating and drinking....really. After buying some new underwear (for reasons i don't want to dive into), i came back home with a bottle of red wine, polish sausage, pickles and a whole bunch of french cheeses that perrine helped me select and i sat down and ate. A few hours later (im still at the table), dinner was served...we had guests over, about 8 of us, and then cheese after dinner again. Witold was afraid that my non-french stomach may not be able to handle the unpasturized cheese...but no problem. Oh, and after dinner last night, james and i took igor out for his bachelor party. Nothing crazy, just like igor wanted it. Tonight im heading out to the suburbs for dinner at elodie's place and the wedding is tomorrow.


Cheese please

Pictures, yay!

I've uploaded a few pictures to spice up the blog. Im staying with elodie's friends, Perrine and Witold in Paris. I have my own apartment one floor above theirs...if i had to guess, it's about 80 square feet. Very cool. Today i visited the museum d'orsay, another fantastic gallery in paris. I also found a polish deli, so my lunch consisted of a french baguette, a tomato, a banana, a couple polish pickles and a stick of kabanos. For dinner, we had a variety of french cheeses, wine and some indian food. I spent the evening writing/practicing a verse for a song that we're going to sing for Igor and Elodie's wedding.

£3 left and 1 day to go

Today was a very cheap day for me. Apple, bread, cream cheese and nutella. For dinner i cooked up some english sausage (what a treat). I spent most of the day at the national gallery, and in the afternoon taking more pictures of the city (the weather was perfect for photography, blue sky with little white clouds). Tomorrow im going to the British Museum; i've been anxiously waiting to see this place ever since i planned my trip to London...it has lots of cool things such as the Rosetta Stone.

[ this blog posting has been possible due to the generosity of one of the staff members who gave me his employee internet smart card ]


"My name's Ben, Big Ben"

Low on dough

After getting some advice from Mukkul's cousins (who live in london), we started off last night at a Polish vodka bar. What a great idea, maybe i'll open one of these some day. After the trendy vodka bar, we spent the rest of the night in Soho.

Today was t-shirt weather in london, and with the London marathon running throughout the city...it was pretty crazy. We spent the majority of the day in Greenwich (think GMT). They have a nice market, park...but the coolest thing is the observatory. Zero longitude goes right through it (i got to stand on the line). Famous people such as Haley have worked there in the past. After a a bit more sightseeing in london, we ended up in Westmister Abbey for an organ recital.

According to my budget, i have about £6 remaining for my final 2 days here, so for the next couple of days i'll be visited the National Gallery and British Museum (both free). Also, no email or blogging. Paris, round-2 will start late tuesday night.

God save the queen

First day in London has been pretty good, weather is partly cloudy (good for London). Mukkul and i visited all the major sights, had some fish'n chips & beer at lunch while watching some football on TV. The plan is to party tonight, bar hoping until 11 and then back to the hostel (we have a pretty happenin' bar that stays open until 4). Tomorrow, is the London marathon, so we may stop by to check it out and im also hoping to attend mass in westminster abbey (free when compared to the 11£ entrance fee you have to pay when you go at other times).


Waterloo

Christiania

Copenhagen got some warm spring weather on my last day. I spent the day walking around the city; this place in unbelievably clean, all the homes are painted in bright colors. Just like in Amsterdam, everyone rides bikes...While talking on their cell phones and smoking cigarettes. The highlight of my day was going to Christiania. This is a district of Copenhagen that is a lawless society (well kinda). Back in the '70, the government decided to try a social experiment...the blocked off a section of land and let people (ie hippies) live on their own without any government influence (no taxes, no roads, no health benefits, no police...you get the picture). This of course degenerated into a haven for hard drugs and in 2004 the government had enough and raided the place. Now it's a little tamer...only soft drugs. Anyway, it's like stepping into another world...very dirty, junk everywhere, all the walls are spray painted with trippy designs, dogs running around and plenty of hippies. I wasn't allowed to take pictures...but i did get a couple shots of the cool spray paint designs.


Trippy

Oh partying kinda sucks here cause the booze is so expensive (roughly 6 euros a beer). But mukkul and I wouldn't let that spoil our fun, so we bribed a 7-11 clerk to sell us a 12-pack (after the legal buying time) and we did some heavy pre-drinking before going out last night.

My final note for today, on the train to the airport I met the worlds number 2 ranked, female water ski jumper. Danish gal with a cute australian accent. She was even so nice as to offer to take me water skiing the next time im in demark. Her name's June Fladborg. Being in the presence of celebrity...i had to get a picture with her.


June & I

Vikings

Spent the day walking around copenhagen. I visited their national museum that has a large collection of viking artifacts, very cool. Last night mukkul and i hit a nightclub...got in for free cause we walked in with a group of VIPs. The drinks were crazy expensive...about 7 euros for a beer, hence we didnt drink much, hence not such a good time. We're heading out again tonight, hopefuly to a cheaper destination. Tomorrow im spending the whole day here and flying out to London in the evening.


Copenhagen

Cotton towels

After backpacking for just over a week, im beginning to really appreciate the simple things in life. Tonight im staying in a four-star hotel (thanks mukkul & MS)...really one of the nicest hotels i've ever been to...just last night i was sleeping in a hot, stinky room with 12 other drifters and tonight i had a beautiful danish hotel hostess call me 'sir'. The hotel even has their own ambient house music playing in the background...and every once in a while you hear a seductive voice in the song that says something along the lines of 'If you need any kind of assistance feel free to ask any of the hotel staff they will be happy to help you'. Anyway, back to the simple things in life...today i took a shower and used a large, white, cotton towel...felt so good. Ive been using a really little, synthetic, quick-drying towel...not the same. Oh right, i forgot to mention im in Copenhagen.

My last night in amsterdam was great. I met a super nice (not to mention gorgeous) dutch girl, Marjolein, at a coffee shop (she was the bartender). Did i mention how much i like the dutch? Anyway, we partied until 3...and i woke up for the plane at 6:30, ouch.

Guns & Roses fans...

i think i know where they came up with the lyrics to Paradise City: "Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty...". I made this connection when i heard the song on the way to amsterdam and a couple times at various cafes. Well this city has been a great experience, very chill. The weather has been sunny and warm both days so i've been walking miles and miles each day. Last night i walked through the famous red-light district...very narrow streets with ladies behind glass doors on either side. Of all things, i was very impressed with their reaction times. I'm a fairly fast walker, so when i passed by a window, i was quite amazed to find that they could sneak in a wink. I guess it's a key part of their skill-set: "Wink reaction time".

Tomorrow im altering my initial plans (ie the map at the bottom of the blog) and flying to meet up with Mukkul (friend from MS).

Amster-

-dam this place is great! I've only been in Amsterdam for a few hours and it's my favorite city thus far. The weather is warm and sunny, i just finished a heineken at an outdoor cafe. Complete stangers are very friendly when asked for directions, cafes everywhere, and beautiful girls riding bikes in every direction (my head is spinning). A dude named Bart Smith owns a whole bunch of businesses all over town: "Bart Smith Records", "Bart's Bakery", etc. Im gonna take some pics in front of the shops. Ok, next im off to find the "Stone's Cafe"...a cafe dedicated to the Rolling Stones (how cool is that?).


My Store

L'Economist s'il vous plait

All this french is getting to me, so today i went out and purchased the current issue of the economist for late night reading to keep my sanity. The weather is still pretty muggy, but im still managing a good time. This morning i attended church (of all places)...first time in a really long time, but it was nice to see a european church in action. After spending some time at a cafe i visited Brussels art museum. Although very nice, after the louvre i was not impressed. The food has been fantastic, i just can't get enough of the waffles...beer very good as well. Anyway, this french keyboard is driving me nuts...tomorrow morning i depart for amsterdam...sunshine is in the forecast :)


Brussels at night

Sticky Fingers

Damn the Belgians for making their caramel-cream waffles so sticky. You guessed it, im in Brussels. Haven't done much other than eaten my waffle in front of the grand palace. Im staying here until monday morning, so more about Belgium later.

My last day in Paris was interesting. I spent the first half of the day at the Louvre...Managed to get through an entire floor (there are 4 floors). So mostly Ancient, Greek, Roman, Italian art ...plus of couse i saw the mona lisa. Afterwards, igor and i walking around the city again, this time seeing the arc de triumph among other sites. Oh and i get shat on by a french bird. Im not sure if it was a pigeon cause its dumpster was a little too large...very green. It fell 5cm shy of my head and landed on my backpack. Thank you o lovely french bird.


Venus

Yesterday, i was in Luxembourg. Cute little town, the interesting parts can be seen in roughly 1 hour. The city is built a top of a hill with valleys all around...very impressive. Although the city was disarmed a while back, many of the fortifying walls still exist all around the city. cool.

As im typing this, the radio is playing 'snappy the crocodile'...amazonians...ask matt smith for this song...get a little taste of europe :)

Le ville d'amour

Aside from the somewhat rainy weather and jet-lag, my first day on the trip finally came to an end. My initial impression of Paris is "wow". Igor and I spent the day walking around the city, stopping in many churches, many of which where holding masses for PJPII (including Notre Dame). We also went inside the Pantheon, all though very impressive, not as cool as the one in Rome. Apart from these attractions, I also went on a personal search to find the smokiest, busiest cafe in the Latin Quarter so that i could enjoy a Cafe Latte in typical Parisian style (wasn't very hard to find). At the end of the night, we met up with Elodie and Iban, drank some French beer at a pub and then went out for some late-night fondue!

Im just about to head out to the Louvre.

Last day in North America

The adventure begins tomorrow in Paris. Since i expect this blog to grow fairly large, I'll be bolding various cities and countries whenever im currently in them just to make navigation easier...for example see the next sentance. I fly out of Toronto tonight, April 05 2005 at 8:10pm.

Im all packed...my backpack weighs in at 41.5lb. That's not too bad considering im bringing loads of camera equipment. In addition to my pack, im bringing a small suitcase with all my nice clothing for the wedding. Oh, for those who don't know, a good friend of mine from university is getting married to a Parisian belle near the end of April.

The near term plan is to spend a couple days in Paris, then onto: Luxembourg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London and then back to Paris for the wedding. Yes, yes, the map i posted doesn't exactly reflect that...sorry things change!

Here we go!