July 21-28

I am in Prague, the Czech republic and will have a couple days rest so am going to get my blog done up...am going to include some pictures

July 21, 2009

Today is going to be a recovery day or a t least not so much do day….but Milan is not a big tourist place anyway….
Breakfast consisted of a cup of Cappucino and a Croissant….but at least it got you off with a buzz…
Tried to get on the internet….no such luck…..I had been on theirs for about an hour last night trying to get some things done…so today, I got on again and what do you know

JENNIFER HAD HER BABY ABOUT A MONTH EARLY….MARINA WAS ON SOME SORT OF YAHOO MESSENGER AND I JUST TRIED IT…..so the wait is over….I bet she is relieved and happy…will get on Facebook and have a look at the tyke
So today I went over to the local laundromat and washed some clothes….there was an attendant there so he did it all…all I had to do was come back in about an hour……one down….
Found an internet place where I could hook in my computer and get the stuff that I wanted done….all the letters on this computer and all my blogs for the last 10 or so days…took about an hour……went back and picked up my clothes….folded and all for 10 Euros…ok as my clothes were ready to walk by themselves…..
Back to the hostel….not open and no one at the front desk….had to wait 15 minutes outside and finally someone came out so that I could get in….so in I go and put my stuff in the suitcase and then off to the InterMilan football stadium…about 15 minute walk from here……took some good photos but did not bother to go on the tour…noticed that their turf was being replaced….so maybe summer is the turf time for all the fields…..saw two young English lads…asked them about Wembley and Old Trafford….Wembley in London and Old Trafford in Manchester……may make a trip up to Manchester after the wedding on the 15th to see that one …..aw well as spend a day in Liverpool…home of you know who…..then take a night train back to London and will be ready to depart for home….

Got back put the camera away and the manager was here…..got him to log in for me….finally…..did a few minor things and then Vivian called me……she was a little emotional and we talked for about an hour and a half……she wondered how I could leave someone that I love and go on a tour by myself…..hard to explain that but there were mitigating circumstances….. anyway, I think we have accepted this and will deal with it when I get back…I think I will pay for it …one way or another
Then went out for some supper…..except I stopped at a cocktail bar and had a Bailey’s … went to a place for some spaghetti… Italy=spaghetti …right…..was ok…bought a few munchies and came back…
Tried to get back on the internet and couldn’t …really spotty service here….am typing this so that I can put it on my blog…
Talked to the manager and he is getting me another bed near the railway station for tomorrow as he is full up here…..so I will be moving…and I will be checking out the trip to Zurich and getting some more information on the marathon….think I might only do the ½ as I haven’t been able to do much training…only walking all over hell’s half acre….
Signing out for now….whew

July 22, 2009

After the regular breakfast of a croissant ( which I supplemented with a pear) , at the bar below that is associated with the hostel, I went down to check out and was able to get the directions to the other hostel. I had 3 magnum bars left from last night so I shared them…. one with the night staff and the other with another hosteler who was going over to the same place. Rachid ( 30 years old)and I became friends for a day…well a little more than a day…but we hung out together.

He is 30 years old and has a business or two and has been traveling for some fun and adventure…..he is from Atlanta, Georgia.

We easily found our way over to Hotel Beem, but had to wait for the sister to get there to open up. The place is better than the other…brighter, cleaner, newer and in a much better location. We could only put our bags in at the time and so we left them there and said we would come back at about 1400 to put them away.
Rachid and I headed off to take pictures of a cathedral and were also going to try to find a castle…we got there easily…he knows his way around quite well and doesn’t mind heading off in wrong directions….we did some tourist shots and then headed for the plaza…there were some real Louis Vitton and Prada shops there so we both went in to see….no prices on them but at the counter one lady was bringing out about 200 Euros for a purse…we weren’t buying, that was for sure…..and really, the ones that I send back are damn good copies….right beside…a MacDonald’s restaurant….tastefully done!!!!!
We decided to have something to eat and couldn’t find anything under 10 Euros so we headed back to our old hostel area where we had a kebab sandwich for 650 including drinks …a good meal to get us by as , later we will be going to a bar that gives free eats if you buy the cocktails or beer. Tried to find the castle and got lost on bus number 54.

It was now around 1700 so we thought it might be a good idea to go back and check our luggage in…..I had left a small bottle of milk in the luggage and thought it might have spoiled by then…. I was also able to talk with Vivian again as we did have skype connection……the best reception I found was in the bathroom….so we chatted for about 30 minutes…she insisted I talk to Jennifer and then we would talk again so I did…..in the mean time she got tired and went to bed….
In talking to Jennifer, I found out that all was well with the family except that JJ would not drink…so they were off today to get a breast pump and also some clothes and diapers that would fit him as he was a little smaller than what they had anticipated. So except for the early date all seems to be going well.

Showers done, we found another guy from the bottom floors, we were on the first, and headed to the bars for happy hours as they called it…I bought a Sex on the Beach and the others had equally good ones…and Richad filled up like he was starving ..the fellow from Japan was average and I for some reason could not eat a lot….too damn hot maybe…

Finished there after about an hour and decide to try to find the castle again….well we took bus 54 and got lost again….it now became a standing joke….we tried a couple of subway trips and all this without a pass for Richad as he had left it at the hostel….
Finally at about 2100 we found the castle…it closed at 1800 …looks like a well kept and/or restored castle…..we took a couple of photos and then headed home…took a couple pictures of a bus 54.
Downloaded all the pictures as Richad wanted some of the ones that my camera had taken of him….he took a lot of photo-op pictures that he wanted for posterity….did some emailing and checking out hostels…..can’t get one in Switzerland so I decided to head to Munich in Germany since Milan was only supposed to be a bridge to the Swiss marathon….don’t think I will get there…..too bad. Got one day booked at a hostel in Munich and will go from there…..one of my favourite secretaries has quit back at Beijing, heard from Mark Graham’s Australia/Canada vacation
Off to bed at about 130. Richad flies out at 630 so he will have to get up early….
Couple of Notes…..Richad flew with Ryan Air from Frankfurt Germany to Milan Italy for 5 Euros…..he bought a drink on the plane that cost 5.5 Euros….go figure
The coffee is very strong here…at least the ones I have had …need about 3 spoons of sugar so I can even drink it
Richad…even he didn’t like how American girls talk…..”oh, my god,”….’like, …like’’…like” he said, she said, he said,….,like,…” we laughed as we sat with a group of 4…it was hilarious
Man a lot of women smoke here……well I guess to be fair, a lot of people smoke here. I sure notice this at the bars….
Small coke in a glass bottle as they used to be in Canada…2.5 Euros
Got a couple of compliments about looking young again…… vanity thy name is Darryl.
Noticed a lot of corn growing and a lot of dairy farming….along with the grapes of course….


July 22, 2009

After the regular breakfast of a croissant ( which I supplemented with a pear) , at the bar below that is associated with the hostel, I went down to check out and was able to get the directions to the other hostel. I had 3 magnum bars left from last night so I shared them…. one with the night staff and the other with another hosteler who was going over to the same place. Rachid ( 30 years old)and I became friends for a day…well a little more than a day…but we hung out together.

He is 30 years old and has a business or two and has been traveling for some fun and adventure…..he is from Atlanta, Georgia.

We easily found our way over to Hotel Beem, but had to wait for the sister to get there to open up. The place is better than the other…brighter, cleaner, newer and in a much better location. We could only put our bags in at the time and so we left them there and said we would come back at about 1400 to put them away.
Rachid and I headed off to take pictures of a cathedral and were also going to try to find a castle…we got there easily…he knows his way around quite well and doesn’t mind heading off in wrong directions….we did some tourist shots and then headed for the plaza…there were some real Louis Vitton and Prada shops there so we both went in to see….no prices on them but at the counter one lady was bringing out about 200 Euros for a purse…we weren’t buying, that was for sure…..and really, the ones that I send back are damn good copies….right beside…a MacDonald’s restaurant….tastefully done!!!!!
We decided to have something to eat and couldn’t find anything under 10 Euros so we headed back to our old hostel area where we had a kebab sandwich for 650 including drinks …a good meal to get us by as , later we will be going to a bar that gives free eats if you buy the cocktails or beer. Tried to find the castle and got lost on bus number 54.

It was now around 1700 so we thought it might be a good idea to go back and check our luggage in…..I had left a small bottle of milk in the luggage and thought it might have spoiled by then…. I was also able to talk with Vivian again as we did have skype connection……the best reception I found was in the bathroom….so we chatted for about 30 minutes…she insisted I talk to Jennifer and then we would talk again so I did…..in the mean time she got tired and went to bed….
In talking to Jennifer, I found out that all was well with the family except that JJ would not drink…so they were off today to get a breast pump and also some clothes and diapers that would fit him as he was a little smaller than what they had anticipated. So except for the early date all seems to be going well.

Showers done, we found another guy from the bottom floors, we were on the first, and headed to the bars for happy hours as they called it…I bought a Sex on the Beach and the others had equally good ones…and Richad filled up like he was starving ..the fellow from Japan was average and I for some reason could not eat a lot….too damn hot maybe…

Finished there after about an hour and decide to try to find the castle again….well we took bus 54 and got lost again….it now became a standing joke….we tried a couple of subway trips and all this without a pass for Richad as he had left it at the hostel….
Finally at about 2100 we found the castle…it closed at 1800 …looks like a well kept and/or restored castle…..we took a couple of photos and then headed home…took a couple pictures of a bus 54.
Downloaded all the pictures as Richad wanted some of the ones that my camera had taken of him….he took a lot of photo-op pictures that he wanted for posterity….did some emailing and checking out hostels…..can’t get one in Switzerland so I decided to head to Munich in Germany since Milan was only supposed to be a bridge to the Swiss marathon….don’t think I will get there…..too bad. Got one day booked at a hostel in Munich and will go from there…..one of my favourite secretaries has quit back at Beijing, heard from Mark Graham’s Australia/Canada vacation
Off to bed at about 130. Richad flies out at 630 so he will have to get up early….
Couple of Notes…..Richad flew with Ryan Air from Frankfurt Germany to Milan Italy for 5 Euros…..he bought a drink on the plane that cost 5.5 Euros….go figure
The coffee is very strong here…at least the ones I have had …need about 3 spoons of sugar so I can even drink it
Richad…even he didn’t like how American girls talk…..”oh, my god,”….’like, …like’’…like” he said, she said, he said,….,like,…” we laughed as we sat with a group of 4…it was hilarious
Man a lot of women smoke here……well I guess to be fair, a lot of people smoke here. I sure notice this at the bars….
Small coke in a glass bottle as they used to be in Canada…2.5 Euros
Got a couple of compliments about looking young again…… vanity thy name is Darryl.
Noticed a lot of corn growing and a lot of dairy farming….along with the grapes of course….

July24, 2009

Got up at 800 and went to the tourist info place to check on how to get to a few places….then went and tried to get my tickets to Vienna…well not so much…the fellow gave me some times and I tried to book it but he sloughed me off….and I thought I had something but no money changed hands nor did he look at my Eurail pass…..so I went back to the tourist guy who basically told me it was just your possible time…….

So I went back to the ticket lineup again and waited for another 30 minutes to get ticket to Vienna at night ….leave a 1230 and get there at about 730…..I had asked about tickets to Prague but the first guy told me I get them in Vienna….so I guess you can’t book too far ahead…
Had a fruit cocktail drink and a croissant with something like apples but only sour inside and a couple of fruits and I was off to the Glockenspiel….then to the Englishear Gardens….they are a huge park and I mean huge….I walked for a bout 1 and ½ hours and didn’t make it to the end….then I came back….even sat down for a few minutes and I think I fell asleep because the people opposite me left and I couldn’t see where they had gone too so I must have been sleeping for about 5 minutes….
Came back and went into a beer hall…the Oktoberfest kind….it was quite full…some costumed people and an Oompah band playing…..didn’t want to stay as it was smoky and humid…..went to another market garden type area…bought a sausage and potatoes combination and a beer…although I am not taking too kindly to the beer…I get a little headache from them I think…..took a few pictures during the day
Got my stuff from the luggage storage in the hotel and headed out to what I thought was a fairly close hostel…..not….about 6 blocks later and I was getting tired…made a left instead of right turn and had to double back and then finally got to the new place…a better place but a poorer location….
Internet access 1 Euro for 1 hour or 24 hours for 2 Euro…now that is a math problem
Talked with Vivian who was so excited about Jennifer and Doug’s pictures of JJ and Kenzie…that she almost didn’t need to speak to me…..she is funny about that….
Was able to get an extension for a couple of days on my ticket back to Beijing……I leave on the 22nd of August….. which basically gives me 2 full days in Saskatchewan….not much….don’t know the reason for the quick return……may have something to do with the swine flu…..

July 25, 2009
Got up at about 830 and made my own breakfast after getting a few groceries…..then put the extra in my backpack for another day….I checked out and left my luggage and headed for Salzburg.
It is a two hour trip…in a good train…..the landscape is really nice and it rained off and on….really green and surprisingly flat for what I thought….lots of dairy farming and haying…..
The typical little village was on the hillsides as we went by in the train……I took some pictures…it is a postcard kind of vie with green hillsides, villages, mountains in the background…..the last 10 minutes of the train ride, you are in Austria.
I took a few pictures of the castle and it was a long way up…thought I would climb to it but changed my mind…..then took some pictures of their church and it was impressive…a picture in front of a Mozart statue…..and a few more shots and I was on my way back to Munich……
For the second time I had someone tossed out of the first class train and sent to the second…..AND…two derelicts got on first class and made it to another stop before they were asked, in a very direct manner to get off the train at the next stop….
Munich again and I wanted a picture of the Olympic stadium…I headed there by the metro and it was quite busy….I got off the train and everyone was heading there….wondered why……the only day I am there, there is a concert that ends with a fireworks that night…..decided to go in anyway….got some good shots of the stadium and it was like an Exhibition Day in Regina except no rides…lots of beer and pretzels and eats….I even bought a bratwurst and beer and also had some of those little doughnuts…..stayed for a while but had to get back to the centre so that I could get my stuff out of storage and then walk back to the station……did so along with a nasty comment on the internet…they had asked for honest opinions….
Met two ladies in the station from Alberta who were going to Vienna tonight and would also be going to Prague in the next few days…..we had only a little time to talk….one was studying for an EMS and the other had been let go from a bakery that was closing down…..
Got onto the train at 2340 only to find that someone was sitting in my seat…..had to kick em out…….they didn’t have a ticket for the seat…thought they could just sit there until the conductor came …the ones left were good…..2 Mormons who were traveling after some college…talked a while with them and then tried to go to sleep….I had to get off the train by 545 …gnite

July 26, 2009
We got off at the right station according to our ticket but not according to getting another one to Prague….so the 3 of us waited for the next train to come and we caught it….used the Eurail pass….then I waited in the station until about 8 oclock and went to find the A and O Hostel….took the subways as they said and got out only to find I had no idea which direction….so I called the place and the lady on the end of the phone told me to go south….OK….well then told me to go back the direction I had been traveling on the subway….not necessarily an easy task…..only said 2 minutes….I walked right by it…..the sign was not too large…so I had to call again and be guided back…..once there well, it is easy to find…left my backpack there after waiting about ½ hour while others checked out…..room not available until about 3 or 4…so I gathered some stuff (camera, money and a map) and asked where the information booth was……way the heck in….I walked….to save money and to see some of Vienna……lots of museums…holy Toledo…..still no info booth….asked several people for directions….nope……not sure….see what I mean by planned ignorance…..eventually found it and asked to show me how to get to the Lippizanner stallions…showed me that and their football stadium location….will try to get to all of them….
Did the stallions…but the stallions are on holiday…..apparently they get 2 months off just to go romp around free and wild…even while on holidays, they are watched for their character….only 4 or so horses get selected each year and there are a total of 34 that are able to show…..takes about 12 years to make the show and they last until they are 25…quite a regimen of training or so it seems… even for the rider…over 100 applied last year to become a rider 4 were accepted….several points to become a rider….should not be that well educated as a rider as then it is harder to un-train you from different habits, size ( you actually need to be shorter with long legs)…
Found the subway and made it back to the g=hostel at 3 …no check in until 4 so I started this….got that done and then bought the internet package…1 Euro, 1 hour 1.5 Euro 2 hours…now that is more like a rate you would usually see but yesterday’s was unusual….
Had a chance to email some stuff and clean up some other emails…then had a chance to talk with Vivian…it was quite late there…got another hostel booked in Prague…Prague Plus…has a pool and a sauna but is not centrally located…no worries…I am a veteran of the subway systems!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
Decided to see and hear some music while here…Duh Vienna, Waltzes, operas, music…so took in on of the shows….about 12 people playing in a room that holds about 1000 people, it was packed…approximate cost was 40Euros….so each show they are making about 40 000 Euros…and they do it right....they play the popular stuff…music that people have heard and can associate with….the ones the Disneys and the cartoon guys made popular as well as just plain good listening……if the symphonies would play that stuff as will as their unknown works in Canada, I think more people would go to the classical music ….
Finished at about 2200 so took the subway back towards the hostel got off a couple of stops early but there were hardly any restaurants open….backup was a Burger King…
Got back at about 2300 and did some writing before the only girl that is staying in our room (from Ottawa) came back…..I was in bed quite quickly and fell asleep just as fast….the train ride last night didn’t let me catch much sleep…..tonight’s will be a little better…..


July 27, 2009
Had 4 people come in at about 300 in the morning…they had to be a bit noisy as they even woke me up…but after about 10 minutes I was back to sleep.

Productive day
Went to get some breakfast …bought some stuff at a grocery store…apple juice…I litre and some fruit…good stuff…was stopped by the Austrian police who asked for my id……guess I must have looked suspicious…then bought another day ticket and off I went….went to their football stadium first and the maintenance guy there let me I to take some pictures but not on the field or in the stands just below…but grass was in …he said it was the Austrian national team’s stadium…. Impressive......not sure how many seats…right beside it was 6 soccer fields and also an athletic/tennis field….
Walked back one subway stop…this looks like a sort of normal part of the city…..lots of trees…they had a shopping mall….newer part of town….
Back to tourist center and I took lots of pictures of cathedral and parks and opera houses and then found this really tall cathedral/church with 343 steps to the top…cost 7 Euros to go…so I did….and you get a fabulous view of the city from there…..took several photos as well as one down to show how high we were…..67 metres apparently….doesn’t sound high but it is…..also took tram number one and it looped around all the major attractions so I was able to see what and where they were so that I could take some photos….went to their high class shop area again…just for a laugh…took a picture of a Ferragamo outfit for a man…..consisted of a jacket, shirt , shoes, pants and maybe the vest …total cost 6,200 Euros or about 10 000 dollars….just to look good…mmmmmmm….I also saw some prices of purses…..1 200 Euros…….Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana, etc….and I can get some similar ones in China for $10 -$16….unbelievable…..hmmmm
Saw their parliament building and city hall…they do have one thing on us….history….I don’t think these buildings could ever be built like this again….too much time to do it and too expensive…..but they are impressive…..
Headed back to my hostel to pick up my luggage…got onto the internet for 1 hour to check the email and to find out how to get to my next hostel…..that would be important wouldn’t it….was able to do it and also check out the news from Sask….sent a let to Vivian and Janet….
Went to the train station early and was able to rest a little…. met an Australian mother and daughter who also are going to Prague….they hadn’t booked a bed and were wondering….we laughed a little about the trains in Europe and the Eurail pass….I got on first and had my room …..asked if I wanted an upgrade to 1st class ..said no…only difference was a bathroom in your room …..found out there are 4 people on the train…..the two Aussies and the roommate from Korea…..the rest of the train was empty…..the conductor wouldn’t move us as he said we had paid only for a 3 bed compartment so we were not able to have our own…..sounds like good bureaucracy to me….no others and yet you have to sleep with another person in the room……are all the others first class…no…..but then you would be getting more than you paid for….except if I was the only one and not the Korean, I would almost have had first class….the bathroom was at the end of the train….and only two of us used it…..it had a shower……and was well kept…..so I showered and brushed the teeth and now am on the bottom bunk…..going to go to bed so that I can be woken up at 6:45…in the Czech Republic…where everything has to be paid in Kronins?????


July 28, 2009
Got in 3 hours late……I guess I shouldn’t be surprised….but had a decent sleep…had about ½ km to walk from the train to the station….and what I thought were the best directions yet…..weren’t…yep you guessed it lost in Prague….about 10 minutes in , I realized something was up so I stopped at a tourist information place and she directed me to the metro and then to the stations and then I got to the stop and had to ask about 3 more times before I made it here…….not much of a orienteering guy I guess and I thought I wasn’t too bad…Plus Prague Hostel and it is very clean very spacious and very affordable with lots of extras……even the spa and swimming pool….which I may get to yet…..it is 2300 and I have just returned from night out…I didn’t get here until about noon and then had along shower and shave and then free internet in the lobby so that helps…Vivian phoned as soon as I latched on to the skype…she is getting lonely and would really like to be here…she said there isn’t much to do….she is learning to play the piano better with Kuan Kuan her teacher…but the days are going slowly for her.
What turned out to be a almost do nothing day became ok as I ventured out after supper { Lasagna for 170 crons ($10)} on my own looking for their football stadium….seemed to be a few people going my way….found out it was game night…Sparta versus Cosmos….both Prague teams I think…at least that what the fellow next to me tried to tell me….. the game ended in a 3-1 score for the home team Sparta …I can see why they make such a big deal about a goal…they are few an far between and there may be a lot of action but nothing seems to happen for long stretches at a time…..but they were loyal and loud enough….12 058 official attendance….in a stadium of about 20 000…
I had purchased a ticket for the to the stadium that a kind gentleman told me about…but I didn’t need it…as they had an express bus…got there about 45 minutes before game time to see the crowd and take a few pictures and watch warm up….not really much…they run ad stretch and then have a couple of drills…I am really not sure why these guys get the big dollars for soccer….more power to them…..oh the ticket cost 250 crons ($15)…or so I think…not Euros as Czech is not part of the EU…even my Eurail pass doesn’t work here….
Got back on the bus and got off at the original stop…now the test can I get back home the same way….nope…..but I did make it to within 2 blocks before I had to ask for directions……from another hotel…..oh well, it is an adventure some time…..back in my room now and no one else here….but a few have moved in…there are bus loads of them come in so I think that schools and universities and groups use this place a lot……I think I will take the free tour tomorrow at 1000 to see some of the main sites…..I also have to phone Beat Patliewicz….a teacher from our school who is in Poland now and had asked me to stop in if I was in the area….well I am so I will….
Need to make my train arrangements and hostel for the next couple of places….so it is good night from me today…I am usually the first in bed but also the first out in the morning….the young guys and dolls go till all hours of the night…

Europe July 7 to 20

Hey I finally got on a computer so I will get his posted...not sure if the picture will make it

July 7, 2009

Woke up at 8:30 and checked in….the manager had a startled look on his face….until I explained I was the guy who got in late last night and didn’t disturb anyone …hahahaha
Had breakfast of coffee and croissants and some sort of bun with butter and jam and then topped that off with yoghurt….no flavour so I added some sugar…..the manager was very polite and helpful….checkout was between 11 and 12 so that gave me time to visit a little of Bordeaux…I think this is a lot better than Paris….more slow paced and the people seem friendlier….the tram was cool and up to date….the place was clean and the building looked in better shape…..my only real purpose for stopping here was to buy some wine…..so I bought a small bottle that I will trek around Europe with and celebrate with someone, somewhere….
The hotel had WiFi so I was able to get all my emails answered and some information updates…what the heck did we do without this…..hope to get a whole bunch of picture on here before I am in Spain…that way I can make just a blog with lots of pictures but no comments….I haven’t quite mastered that description with the pictures yet…..a work in progress……am listening to music as I type…multi tasking…..am going to be a seasoned traveler after this summer or be dead…but I prefer the former….I did bet a blog off with all my travels to date…so if you got it great…..I hope to keep about a week at a time on the blog…..
Off to the tram….the machine did not work…had to go to the info desk and get the ticket…ok….then off to the station…I didn’t want to be late so I got there an hour early…. Watching the departure board and beginning to get the hang of it….also able to read the tickets now…I am in first class, 2nd car and seat 52….and when you get onto the track they and a picture of the train so you had some idea as to where you were located….even though I had to walk about 100 metres because the train failed to stop in front of me…don’t they know that they are dealing with a Canadian celebrity!!!!!!!….found my car…..better than some French people and had to uncouple my bag as it wouldn’t fit anywhere as it was….now I have two pieces of luggage that I will put back together when I get to IRUN….the next station…..sitting with 3 old ladies…. hmmmmmmaybe they are sitting with one old man…..and a dirty one at that…hahahaha…. …just passing through an area that looks as though they are deforesting it for farmland…. anyway it is quiet and I am finished typing…..for now….

Well it had to happen…our train started off 10 minutes late and there was only 19 minutes between trains…..well we were even later…what is this with high speed trains …can’t they speed up….anyway, the train to San Sebastian was already gone when we got there…..so now what….well follow the crowd to the nearest ticket booth…there was some confusion over whether a bus was going or another train…I chose the bus (wrong choice)…it cost me 1.3 Euros and the guy sent me back to the train where I joined up with people who had just come from the late train…..so I spent 1.3 Euros on nothing…..this is what I was trying to get across before…there seems to be some built in design flaws or something to extract unnecessary money from people…or I am just stupid…I think the latter is coming to the fore…..anyway, we got there a little late and I started off to my Hostel…wrong direction for about 100 metres as I talked to a local who turned me around and I made it to the hostel.

Two Aussies and 3 Mexican…..the Mexicans had just come from Pamplona and the Aussies were going tonight …the bulls run in the morning and if you don’t get there, you don’t get to see or run in the action…something for next time….I tried to get a bus there but could not…so I will not make it to Pamplona but had a good time and a great dinner here…somewhat different from France and they do not speak French and English is not very common…..a nice beach….and lots of surfers….wouldn’t be a bad place to stay….had WiFi so I did some work on my emails and decided to go on Facebook …don’t know quite what to do but that seems to be my way of learning….Stumble and Bumble through it….a visual??? hands on….don’t listen ..make mistakes type of learner…. Got to skype J and was able to talk for about an hour…the Aussies were gone, the Mexicans went out until 5 or 6 in the morning (they said they would wake me up for a run) so talked for a bit…she reminded me to get her something from the Bruce Springsteen concert…totally had forgotten????
Had a good nights sleep.

, 2009
Well…today I left Bordeaux…but not after a good meal on the hostel…it was provided as this was more of a bed and breakfast than a hostel……spent a part of the morning getting my San Sebastian details figured out and some email done and then went out for a walk as my train didn’t leave until afternoon… Bordeaux actually impressed me with its modern feel…the trams and buses are new and the city looks attractive….took a couple of pictures and then bought my Bordeaux wine that I will have to carry all over Europe but too bad…suck it up…
No problems with the train


July 8th, 2009
Got up at 8 and went out for a 45 minute run….this will be another kind of ketchup day….got checked out at 1030 and left my bags at another hostel…for 3 Euros….then headed out for morning breakfast…this time 3 different type of croissants and orange juice and a banana….cost about 3.5 Euros total…went down to the beach and ate there.

Then just toured about…found the library and checked email…the ticket guys said that they have sent my ticket out already…hope they got the message to send them to the place in Rome….so I emailed the Rome hostel to be aware and sign for it…geez wouldn’t that be a pissoff…
Also went to the San Sebastian stadium….no one lets you in these places (Aussies told me you can get into Real Madrid’s for a tour with 15 Euros so I will do that)…there was a soccer tournament for young and teenage teams in the practice field next to the big one…..I believe it is called ministadios….so I will spend part of the day there…..and this is where I am typing this out….it is between games and I have found a shady bench so here I am…..

Was a recovery day and I spent a lot of time just walking around….didn’t take a lot of picutres…..a lot of window shopping…went back down to the beach today…and spent a lot of time just sitting there…I know that would be hard to believe but I did…was watching the surfers as they are a breed in themselves…..youngsters, oldsters and all in between….eves saw a couple of young ladies…..
Now for the different part…it is not a nude beach but there were a few people who were…seemed rather strange that a fellow would be wandering around stark naked with all others clothed or partially clad anyway but there he was…and there were young kids on the beach… I don’t think it is common place because there were a few people giving odd glances… also some topless women and a couple of nudes but they stayed on their towels and did not wander around….so this is the liberalism of Spain…..then headed off to the wharf and the breakwater area…..two young ladies in an obvious loving relationship as the were holding on to each other and were very affectionate….so not and entire day without some new sightseeing activities…..had another good supper of what I don’t know….just went and pick up what you thought was good and some sort of port I think …..was ok lots of fish I think but tasty and it filled the bill about 12 Euros….went and waited for the traind
I leave tonight at 2225 and arrive in Lisbon tomorrow morning at about 1000. That was one way to not have to pay for a hostel and make travel time as well….looking forward to it… …



uly 9th, 2009
Well like I said was looking forward to it….stayed at the railroad station and had another incident as in Paris…one fellow monopolized the line for about 1 and ½ hours and people were getting a little pissed….they need to fix this…it is a little aggravating…thank god it wasn’t me in line…..3 Chinese had their train cancelled and were scrambling to make arrangements so that they could make their connection…then I hear that there had been a broken rail and our train was now a bus and we had a 5 hour bus ride to the next stop…or so we thought….5 hours later we were boarding the train after picking up some more passengers…..
I was able to locate my bed fairly easily…I think I am as good as the locals…flashlight came in handy tonight….slept in a compartment with a family of 3 and a elderly lady for a while…the 3 were gone when I woke up…and then about 1100 we rolled into Lisbon…Portugal is mountainous in most places but not rugged as Rockies….enough I need to get some sleep…I had a headache so I signed off early..
Found the tourism station and was told to get on bus 28 to get to the Station Apolonia which is close to where the hostel was and then they could direct me there…..well it took another 20 minutes to find the bus 28 but got on and an older fellow told me where to get off…went to anther tourism centre and the young lady told me how to get there…sort of…..lots of twisting and turning she said but gave me a rough idea….it was a lot of twisting and turning but it was also all up hill with my loaded back pack….felt like a pack mule and was tuckered out when I got to the hostel…again after about 5 “can you tell me how to get to’s”…..got there and wanted a shower badly…actually neede one…
I am having a good time in Lisbon ..the hostel is very good the best so far…the people at the front desk were great …told you all about what they offered and it was a lot…one screw up….I was supposed to be here last night…I got my dates mixed up…at least I think it was my fault….didn’t matter…was lucky that they had another bed for another night….whew…..I am the oldest bugger at all the hostels….all young and staying out late usually…..but that is ok….
Got a picture of their football stadium here….from the outside…..then I walked around, and saw an open door…I went in and upstairs so that I was in the VIP lounge!!!!!!.......took some pictures there and left…..guess I was lucky…there was a tour going through the place and I got a first hand look…
Their subway system was easy and they have a day card that lets you travel the tram the subway and the buses for about 4 Euros….a good deal…..lost mine last night but it had expired…..think I left my running pants….from Running room in San Sebastian as I couldn’t find them in my luggage….hope that is all that I lose….am washing clothes here 7 Euros….for the whole thing…they are letting me keep my luggage here for free…..had a breakfast….and will spend the day touring around on the tram….taking some typical tourist pictures…..all my batteries are charged….had a good talk with Vivian on skype and she is doing ok…..we miss each other very much and it would have been nice to have another pair of eyes to see some of the stuff that I am seeing but am not sure anyone could keep up with me and all my meanderings and mistaken directions!!!!!...had another expensive meal here…..will have to smarten up and go to MacDonalds…..not!!!!!!!...didn’t travel the world to eat at MacDs!!!!

Was going to go out on the town with a group from the hostel but got a bit of a headaches so decided to stay in and rest…got my stuff ready for the wash tomorrow and will at least have a couple of pairs of socks and some shirts….nice beds…..nice sheets…this is a great hostel.
All for now…


July 10, 2009
Got up at 730 and had a breakfast here at the hostel…good one too…cereal juice….toast if you wanted….and even had a coffee… met a young guy from Kansas at breakfast who is studying politics and economics…..has been here since Jan studying in England….brief chat…. had the wash for the washer and paid my money…got off to an early start…went down to the centre of town and bought my pass again…then hopped on their trams (we would call them trolleys)…they have to be good because this place is hilly as all get out…went all the way to the end of the line and they had a cathedral there….on the other side a park and a good one too…..I think this might be an all right place to stay for a while….the people are very friendly….will help lost travelers like me and are not snooty….I think the prices would be better if you were buying locally and at markets…..saw many of them so it is obvious that there are some savings to be had…..took another line out to another part of the city where they have one heck of a big monastery….biggest in Europe I think…and a park and another monument to Portugal….it had a cinema in it and I got a private showing of their PR movie…it was good….didn’t realize that they had an earthquake that almost completely destroyed the city….also see why there are such diverse people here…..took a couple of photos from there…high up…had their popular cake called belel and they are good…sort of a custard cake……had a couple more later that day….came back an met the workers at the hostel on the tram…told them a couple of my stories and that this hostel was the standard that I will be using for comparing others….came back and put my clothes back in my luggage and talked with the lady working there….to my surprise, Vivian was able to get on skype and we talked for a while…..then I had to go and it was late…..got some stuff done and was checking emails….who came on again Vivian…she is checking up on me…not really she just couldn’t get to sleep…so we talked for about an hour…..
Left her at about 130 as she was tired and I needed to get something to eat…did so then headed for the trains stations about 2 hours before it leaves as I like to be ahead of the game….tomorrow may be a tough transfer as I only have 57 minutes and it looks like I have to get to another station…so we shall see…am typing this as I sit on Platform one waiting for the train to leave….to my surprise another train arrived on Platform 1 and all the people are getting off…..maybe it is a run to Madrid and back…however, I should be on a couchette which means I should be able to sleep …..

Am signing out for now and will finish this up tomorrow.

Well it is tomorrow….platform number one did not prove to be the one that was going to Madrid…it was changed to number 3 about 20 minutes before departure…got to keep your wits about you…..the train was older but still good…was seated with a bit of a slide on the seat for sleeping….but I didn’t sleep much….so long for July 10th.


July 11th, 2009

The train was long and rocking as it always is. Funny thing….there were only about 10 people in the train of 24 seats and they put 4 of them together in the centre me and 3 Russians…all the rest were either couples or singles with their own seats….I will get smarter and change seats after the train leaves when the next time comes around (if it does)…but it arrived on time about 3 minutes late…
Took a transfer train to the next station as there are three in Madrid…..looks like a clean city…and arrived on time fro the transfer…had about 15 minutes to spare….had about 45 minutes to transfer from Chambartin to Atocha…the trains to Seville are awesome…8 people on brand new trains that are high speed …tvs/stereo channels….free orange juice and peanuts….people to actual tell you what is going on …outlets for your computers…they hand out earphones…comfortable seats…clean windows to take pictures out of…I think I am in first class…didn’t know that I had booked that…..but a good respite….I am typing this on my computer as we travel……getting fed right now so will have to leave for a bit…just like the airlines…..must be first class…wonder how much I paid for this???
The land reminds me a little of southern Alberta…some rolling hills like around Suffield and Ralston…looks pretty dry…maybe needs some water sources…..looks like olives and /or grapes…also a selection of grain farming….noticed groups of solar collectors…looks like they are trying that for alternative power sources….also saw some wind turbines …a very smooth ride
Arrived on time in Seville and am getting experienced….. headed directly to the tourism agency and asked directions and cost of the bus, etc….took C1 bus and was supposed to get off at Prado San Sebastian…didn’t so decided to make a loop as I had noticed that it was a circular route…..had a 45 minute tour of Seville and made sure I got off at San Sebastian….it was about 34 out and I had a little walk to Picasso hostel…got there checked in and had a shower….unpacked and went on my own tour…another cathedral and a palace…sometimes it is hard to tell which is which…both made for very privileged people…..you see with all the churches, cathedrals, monasteries, etc how the church had so much influence in all of the people’s lives…..and how it can be divisive as well…lavish surrounding for all the high class and the rest lived in poverty….hmm…..asked for a place to have tapas….and was given a place from Hostelworld…a great meal with Chicken and bread for less that 10 Euros…so I gave a tip…..10 Euros …..oh you big spender you….then went back and saw the Riders were playing on Slingbox…..against Toronto….we won…46-36…will have to get an email off to number one son who is an Argos fan…then missed a 1800 free tour of the area….so off I go again…took pictures of the opera house (The barbers of Seville???) and the bullfighting arena…..they don’t let you inside but you can get a tour…..I will go to Madrid for that..some sort of a protestor demonstration going on today…libra Sahara…whatever that means…was going to go out on a pub crawl at 2240 but there wasn’t one…damn….really wanted to see the pub area…..so off I go again…picked a couple for 1 beer each….first one was just a small one and had a beer on the outside on a standup table…quiet sort of residential…then off to another where there were mannequins hanging from the roof…..had read about this on in the Hostelworld or Frommer’s ….was a BAR….then to another for some little snacks (I should know better) beer and snacks (12 Euros)…then a little more sightseeing at about 0030 and then off to bed…..4 in a room and there is air conditioning….when I got there a young couple were just getting ready to go out…guess I don’t know the customs here…but there were a lot of people out eating at about 2300 so what is up with that…


Jul y 12, 2009
Got up early 0730 and went for a 45 minute jog….in my push ups (90) had a nose bleed…it happens from time to time….off and there was hardly anyone out…taxi drivers and some cleaners….ran by a couple of stadiums….they have and Olympic and another stadium…not sure why the two…don’t think Seville is big enough for two….they held the Olympics I think….not sure when…..back for a shower and then was going to have breakfast but saw that it was 902 and my train left at 953 so though I better get my butt in gear…saw a gay couple on the park bench……yep you see it all….tracked down the C2 bus and made it to the station with about 15 minutes to spare …first class again…..same movie …What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas….but only in Spanish this time…tried a different drink with my breakfast…a tonic water but should know better…..the meal was ok but had a tough time with the water….then was given a jelly bean served in an individual wrapper…now that is special treatment hahahaha….can see how the rich get spoiled…silliness…no electrical outlet on this train so will have to wait until Madrid to find out why my phone won’t take a charge….if I can’t figure that out my Nokia 95 will be useless for the rest of the trip…..will be sending this out today I hope…after my first day in Madrid…..

Off the train and trying to find my way around…..first tourist booth gave me some good information about the city….was able to find the subway and got off right at the Gran Via station…a couple of passersby and I was able to find the street I was to walk to and then took about 10 minutes of backpacking to get there…..I was a little tired….got in …..the fellow who was looking after the place was 60…he noticed my birth date from the passport…same as mine….grandson 6 and ½ …..had a shower…..and spent a few minutes on the computer….then to my surprise, Vivian was on Skype so we chatted for a while….went and got something to munch….found out that there was a free tour….which of course wasn’t…but thought I would do that here…..at 1600 met under the Bear for what they call a Tapas Tour…some eating and drinking (I chose Sangri…as the drink….a combination of Red wine and juice and fruits…and others)…it was interesting…some local history by the guide and we visited 4 pubs and sampled some local foods…it was worth it…also told us of some flamenco dancing later on that night at 2230….wanted to go to the bullfighting ring as well since there was supposed to be some kind of show on there at 2030……according to the tourism lady…….finished our Tapas at about 2000…..and decided to try to see the bullfighting stadium…..got on the subway and actually made it there……to my surprise there was an actual bull fight that evening……scalpers were asking for 10 Euros a ticket and I thought that was ok…not sure what the real price was but I bought one and headed in…..just in time as the introductions were finished…..you could buy pillows for the seats as they are concrete…took lots of pictures…interesting atmosphere at the ring as you know the bull is going to die…..courage to be in the ring…..there are 6 of them trying to tire out the bull and a horseman with blinds on the eyes…the bull will charge it and I think it gets stabbed a couple of times….also the small sticks get put into the shoulders….you can see that the bull is tiring…..the matador basically finished him off…but with flair….turning his back….standing directly in front……walking like a proud peacock in front of him……then, they bring out the real sword and a few charges later, the sword is stuck into the bull’s shoulder and he goes down…but this guy got up defiantly, then fell on his front legs still with the hind ones in the air, finally falling over….another matador then sticks a knife into the head…a certain spot and it is over…….3 horses come out and pull the carcass away and then the ring is cleaned up…..like dragging the bases in softball…..for the next round…..as I said interesting…I heard a couple of stories…..ask me about them sometimes…..(idiot who took off his shirt and went into the ring…with the bull…..bull that wasn’t worthy and the cow”s owner)…..left there, bought a hat…then tried to find the flamenco dancing bar but couldn’t so return home and went to bed……..was one of 4 in the room and 2 American, 1 Danish


July 13, 2009

Not a productive day…too darn hot…got up 9 ish and had a shower and cleaned up some stuff on the computer and then put my bags in storage and headed for Real Madrid stadium…a huge stadium….seats about 80,000 and a complete entity…. They have their own trophy room, and they do have a lot of trophies but I am not sure how you get them all, they have league champions, then Cup champions and European Cup champions and so on until you get to the World Cup….which they won ….and I did actually have my picture taken…not computer enhanced…however, you pay for it…either 9 or 11 Euros…after your initial tour fee of 15 Euros and they don’t let you take a picture of the cup yourself….a money making affair no doubt…..got to see the locker rooms and sit in the lower seats…leather covered no less…a couple of rooms where you would have a group of people ….never found out the cost of the tickets….and the stadium was being returfed so that we did not see it in green….could have your picture taken with one of the stars but it was not real as they used computers to show you that....


July 14th, 2009
Got into Barcelona at 8:00 and wanted to get my trip set up to Rome….but the lady and man at the info station said I would have better luck if I just hopped on a train to Cerebes, in France and then try to work my way through France and into Italy as they have more regional trains….ok….was able to find my Hostel with no problem….didn’t even make one wrong turn….big room …very clean…very well run….6 to a room..…tried to find a hostel in Nice …..nothing available under $128 as there were no hostels, just hotels left…may have to skip the French Riviera….
Left the hostel and walked to Barcelona stadium for some pictures…wasn’t interested in the tour….and it was more expensive than Real Madrid…go figure…..anyway a few pictures




and then back to the hostel where I made 2 ham and cheese and tomato sandwiches after I had visited a local grocery store….then off to take some pictures of buildings designed by a fellow named Gaudi….first to get some tickets for the subway, another experience getting them from a machine that you cannot read….then bought a charger for my phone and it was the charger that was buggered….so now I can have my Nokia back….I hadn’t heard of Gaudi but he is famous….and now I can see why…..some weird shapes and ideas…..in Canada we probably would have not done much with them…..here, they called them treasures…..

balconies with railings of left over scrap metal….all sorts of different shapes……curves, angles, poles sticking out all over the place…..could only imagine what the inside was like








…..did not bother to find out…..spent aa few hours walking around the area and photographed a few more buildings….,,another hot day but it also was somewhat humid…we are on the Mediterranean sea….got lost in the subway a couple of times…..then finally made it to the sea….it was well populated….surfing, volleyball, but no tanning as the sun was not out and it was a little later…..actually started raining a little but not for very long…..picked up some sand for Jan……not much….would have a heck of a load if I keep doing this….got back to the hostel about 1000 ….I phoned Mom and Janet …took about 30 minutes on skype…..everything is well with mom as far as she is concerned…. Costs me about 60 cents…woo hooo and then went out for a beer at a local pub…it was run by Chinese…..bought another beer and some cashews at a store and sat on the steps of the hostel until midnight sipping and watching people go by and listening to the neighbourhood…… no one in bed yet….I was the first …checked the computer …. Plugged it in to charge it and then went to sleep


July 15th,2009
Got up at 800 and had a shower….just to start the day off right….breakfast was included in the price and I had corn flakes, juice and a banana and peach which I had purchased yesterday……packed all my bags again….am starting to get a system….left my key and card ( a hotel like card) and left the hostel…a well run establishment…secure and clean and worth the price…was told to get on the train at platform 14 and that it was going to Cerebes…so I got on ….was just told something by the conductor about it but could not understand it…maybe have to get off at the next stop and then I can get on another .....has given me a card that says 1355…what the heck is that….
Am typing this on the train so will get back to you after this hectic day…
Well..yes I did have to get off this train…and then get on another at 1355 for about a five minute train ride to the Cerebes and then I needed to get my tickets…bureaucracy…. ….needed to show my passport to get into France but at least I was at the front of the line…tried to book an overnight to Nice……nothing doing…so looks like I will be sleeping in the train station as I have no accommodation there….another experience…..so got on the train that was supposed to be going to Nice and via a place called Nimes and then to Marseilles and finally to Nice….well the trip to Nimes was way late so I actually got off the train at Montpelier….was told to get on the train from here to Marseilles….it was a nicer train…..then realized I was bout 1 hour late on the previous train…then was going to be late on the new one as I had only a ½ hour layover in Marseilles…no frigging wonder some of the countries seem like they are chaotic….they are……almost every frigging train I have been on has been late……since Paris ….so got into Marseille and was late…(of course)…looked at the departure board…..the train to Nice was 25 minutes late…so we arrived about 15 minutes late and the train to Nice is 25 minutes late…well we finally left 45 minutes later than the schedule said…..I had talked to a guy (Italian) on the first train…he said things are better in Italy…I hope so….still haven’t eaten much as I was in a rush to get on every damn train…..and now could use a steak !!!!!!!.......oh well …it’s what keeps me in the shape I am in……right…

So now I am sitting in first class…which isn’t like the first class I had before….with 2 other guys who are trying to sleep sitting up as this is not a night train…expecting to get into Nice after midnight and will be trying to find something to eat and a place to rest so that in the morning I can find a trip to Rome….maybe through Milan or Genoa…so the fella said…..I hope I can get a night train somewhere but I certainly am not holding my breath…..hope my concert ticket has arrived ….may stay an extra day in Rome if I can swing it so that I recover?????
Signing out for now as my battery is getting low…..I will certainly blog this in Rome….and another adventure awaits tomorrow I am sure!!!!!!


uly 16th, 2009
Well, I got my 5 hours sleep ( outside the station along with about 30 others) and was first in line for tickets……there aren’t any to Rome at all today…the only thing the ticket agent could do was to tell me to get to the border of Italy where they may have more options……but I have heard that before in Spain where they said to go to the border where there are more options and this is the predicament I got into….note to self….book in advance….as far ahead as you know….from the looks of things, I will not be making it to Rome today or maybe even tomorrow…..I think there is a reason why Europe is called the “old World”…..they don’t tell you these kinds of things when you are getting your Eurail Passes…..just how easy it is…..and it is if you don’t want to go anywhere significant…. And there is no night train into Rome….I wonder why…..afraid there would not be enough work for those in the outlying areas…hotels wouldn’t fill, restaurants all go broke, bus companies shut down…….
I think I am getting a little cynical…..no actually a lot cynical….. beginning to not like these places at all…..crap they put the electrical outlets right behind the sets in first class so that you can hardly plug in your electrical equipment……had to move into 2nd class and there are 3 people on this part of the train……they say that the trains are full all the time and yet when I have traveled, there have always been open seats or beds……they need to study China’s rail system……it moves more people and more efficiently and they tell you what you have to do….they don’t leave a whole lot of pissed off people around…..
Wow….something efficient….no passport into Italy and the fellow told me to get on the train on platform number one and it takes me to Rome ….just like that…..by the way, on most trains I have not been asked to show that I even belong on it…..I guess they just trust that everyone has purchased a ticket and that they get on the right train……I will take this to Rome and see if I can stay the extra night at the Hostel I am presently booked into now….not an awful lot of talking goes on in the compartments….maybe everyone is afraid to break the ice… and the language problem is always there…I am presently sitting with two people who have an accent that I would say is Slovakian and so I don’t initiate any conversation……people have been getting on and off almost at every station and we are stopping at a lot of stations…kind of like the milk run that buses do in Sask
Got off in Rome and was able to easily find my hostel AND THEY HAVE A ROOM FOR ME TONIGHT….YESSSSSSSS
Went and had something to eat …another 20 Euro touch…what the heck is this…I am not going to eat at restaurants anymore …they sting you…unless you are trying to impress someone with how much money you can spend ….was not able to get in until1600….then did so and met two fine young men from Turkey…..we decided to go see the Roman coliseum….spent about an hour and ½ doing that and then came back to a spaghetti meal for 2 Euros at the hostel…talked with a fellow from China and my bunkmate beside me is from Alberta ….Yes my Bruce Springsteen ticket is here and yes it is being closely guarded…..the lady at the front desk said if she knew it was the ticket, she would have told me that it did not arrive……just kidding ….had an interesting talk with the folks in the spaghetti meal….just some information sharing…about China, Turkey, Canada, Germany……a good evening…..made plans to see the Vatican city tomorrow with the young Turks so will have to get up early tomorrow…I am kinda bushed so I think this evening will be an early one….we shall see….I will punish you!!!!!!
Tomorrow also, I will get my next several days planned out and I think one of the days will be spent on the beach of the Mediterranean sea….just to relax….over and out.

July 17,2009

First real day in Rome…..got up at about 900 and had a breakfast here on the rooftop…..already it was hot …the two boys from Turkey and I had sort of mapped out a plan over breakfast…we went to several sites as shown in the Hostelworld literature…the only one I knew was the fountain made famous by the movie Three Coins in a Fountain


….and I don’t ever remember watching it…anyway we took several picture of some more tourist things that I certainly will forget but can look them up in the book again to find out if I am right or not…..this is my downfall…… I take pictures but it really doesn’t sink in…..by about 1300 I had decided to do different things than the guys so I left….and went back home…..I had hoped to get my next week or so planned on the internet but cannot find a Wireless site and would really like to get some blogs off to people…..anyway after getting no luck, I headed to the colleseum for my tourist trapping….it was an awesome and inspiring place ……I










wasn’t sure what I expected but it was more of a theatre setting than a gladiator type setting which is what I expected……but I did take a lot of photos and it was damn hot….I think someone said 38…..there were guys wearing Roman gear trying to get people to take pictures with them…..they must have been pretty hot themselves…. Did not get to the forum….and that is a shame…next time……Came back home and got two more days in Milan booked for my lodging….and then went out for supper at a Pizza place recommended by the hostel….it was ok….nothing special and reasonably ????priced…..bought a all day metro ticket for tomorrow as I will be going to the Vatican City for the morning and then will be doing a little traveling around so I thought I wouldn’t walk…..still not luck with WiFi so I am sitting on the corner of a church courtyard (they have fenced off the steps) and writing this as it is hot in the rooms……no air conditioning

I have a theory…there is a lot of inefficiency built into these European countries…..that is why things are expensive…..you have a lot of people just wandering around….lost…somewhat like me at times…and to compensate for that they have to chare higher prices because people don’t do things as they should….lots of scooters…not many bikes…..too hilly….

If you are planning a trip to Europe, I would not recommend the summer….too many people and it is too hot and I think the prices are jacked up during this peak time….

Surprise ….Surprise…I found a whole bunch of shops selling the same stuff I see in China……the jewelry and even the purses…lots of them around…didn’t bother to ask the price….I assume that they would be the 10-15 times the price that you would get them in China…..but I was a little surprised because this country and France are the birthplaces of all of the “cultural things” aren’t they?????


July 18, 2009

Got up early this morning and headed for the Vatican City….subway…Italy’s is the poorest of the bunch so far and I think maybe the least efficient…I bought and all day pass so that wasn’t bad but instead of going in one entrance….. if you chose the wrong one, you needed to go out onto the street sometimes and go back in…if you didn’t have a pass, it was another ticket…. Needless to say, I would have needed several tickets….got to St. Peter’s Basilica and wandered around there for a while….







you needed to line up to get into the church part….but there was no cost…much to my surprise…and I will say it again, it was unbelievable inside….the height and the grandeur of it all was overwhelming….to the glory of god or gods…I am not sure anymore….I took some video of the outside and a little on the inside….but cannot download it onto my computer for some reason….will have to get that worked on as it does not leave a lot of space…..the area is immense….not just the church but all the museums connected with it…..and that is what you pay for….not the church part….lots of people there and it was early….line up around a block …..3 wide…..14 Euros to get in and I think most of the people are wanting to look at the Cistine Chapel….well, that is almost the last thing on the path that they direct you on……there are hundred, no thousands of other paintings and statues…….and I kept taking pictures until my camera started to show it needed battery so I stopped so that I would have some reserve left for the chapel which you were not supposed to take pictures in …..finally got there and they were telling us to shhhhhhhhh, be silent and also not to take pictures…neither of which happened…there were people chatting and hundreds of people taking pictures even with flashes…



so much for the good Christians….anyway, it was well worth it and I think a person could spend months there…..most people did not stop long to enjoy the pictures or the statues or look for the significance of them…in fact after the Cistine chapel things speeded up quite a bit…..so I wasn’t alone…. Next stop was a high hill overlooking Rome it was called the Plaza del Popolo….took a few pictures there and then took the subway to the Plaza del Mignanelli where there was a long stairway to the top of a hill with …..you guessed it…. a church…something about the 39 steps……

actually went to a MacDonald’s there as I wanted a quick mean…plus I knew what I would get AND how much it would cost…..
Saw something really funny….A Japanese couple came in with 3 Gucci bags….looked like the original type too….so I guess they had blown all their money buying Gucci and had to settle at eating at MacDonald’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lastly, I really screwed up…went looking for the Mediterranean Sea and the beach but made it in the wrong direction totally…finally came back and got my directions and my written form of them from the tourism information place…and will attempt it tomorrow before the Springsteen concert…..there are no express buses but I was given the buses to use to get back here after the concert….we shall see….

Still no wireless and I am getting a little frustrated with not being able to communicate with the rest of the world as I know it….did check my email on the Hostel site as it has Yahoo…..so I get to answer some email and get to see something of what is going on…..but I didn’t want to hear this…..Reg emailed me and told me his doctor has said he only has weeks to live……what a terrible time he must be having…..you could feel the hurt and sadness in his letter….I can only imagine…..I told him life sucks sometimes and this is one of them……hard to deal with that kind of hurt and pain….

We had another spaghetti party tonight here and I sat with a fellow about my age who is from Bern, Switzerland and a young couple from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta….had a very long and interesting talk with them all…they were also interested in hearing how things are going in China…finished off this day and am looking forward to a good concert and a trip to the sea…..

uly 19, 2009
Got up early today…well sort of…around 900 and had breakfast with the Swiss fellow…he took my card and we promised to exchange sunset pictures….talked about a lot of things…even some politics…..left for my trip the Mediterranean Sea….it was 1 minute subway and a 45 minute train ride (yes it was late leaving) …and then when we got there it was another ½ hour by bus to find a beach that was available…I think there were many beaches, you just had to choose the one you wanted….I chose 8…….there were hundreds of people on our beach so that meant there would have been thousands along the whole beach and they were about 5 deep with their sun umbrellas…… it was hot……and I did put sun screen on and did go for a swim in the sea….it was cold at first but after a few minutes it was fine…I had set up my towel in an area where there were a few people and being the chick magnet that I am, I attracted a few people around me….and yes there were a few topless sunbathers…. I only stayed a few hours as I wanted to make sure that I got back in time for the concert….it was a good start to the day
Got back to Rome about 1730 and had a shower…changed and headed to the show…..bought a few pastries and a meat pie for supper and headed onto the subway, then on the bus and finally arrived at the stadium a little after 1800….

After 1 wrong gate which the attendant had directed me to, I got in….I had to buy something for Jennifer (“ Dad I don’t care if you get me anything from Europe but make sure you get me something from the Bruce Springsteen concert”) so I got her a T shirt and a poster…( pretty original hey)..
It was supposed to start at 2030 and the people around me said that he usually starts on time……not this time….the Swiss lawyer beside me said he had seen about 8 concerts and the lady behind with her husband had flown in just for this from England because it was her 50th birthday…..
2130 nothing…the prelude music was on its second time around….I wondered if something had happened to someone but the lady said she had actually seen him coming into the stadium…it is a pretty damn good looking place….had a beer and waited
Apparently Italians are notoriously late for things and if the concert would have started on time probably 20,000 would have only seen ½ the show
2230 exactly 2 hours late, and the lights went out…..and the wait was over….the sound of the crowd (my estimate is 70,000) was just immense…..I can’t remember the first song….think it was Born to Run….
There is a reason why he is called “the Boss”….he has energy and passion and plays hard….he interacts with the crowd…pulls posters out of the crowd with requests…takes their hats…brings people on stage….he brought a young kid on and held him in his arms….when he played Dancing in the Dark, he asked a lady to come on stage….and they dance and she kissed him on the cheek….he had his mother ( I think) or two mothers of members of the band come up and dance with him…all the time people are singing, clapping, dancing….
After about 4 songs, his shirt was dripping wet and he just kept going from there…..the music was loud….I did not make it to the Mosh Pit but if you were there, you really had a chance to interact with him…especially the first row….I think some actually tried to drag him out into the audience…..I tried to get some video on my camera so I hope that worked…..
After 3 hours of just him, no warm ups, no one else playing, it was over……he gave his Springsteen pose and left…..an eventful evening that I will always remember…I stayed an extra five minutes just to soak up the atmosphere and take one more picture…..this has definitely been the highlight of the summer and will be hard to top….MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There were shuttle buses back to the main terminal so that was great for me……about a 10 minute walk and I was back at the hostel….no one in the room…the boys came back 5 minutes later…they had been having too much fun in the room and had been asked to leave so that people could sleep….said they went over to the cathedral and just sat on the steps and played cards and drank some beer….we were talking and the male manager came in and gave what I thought was an over the top ( seems to me typical Italian) tongue lashing to us for making so much noise which I thought was pretty normal noise level…anyway we all went to bed….one comment…( I think the boy needs a class in anger management)….I had a tough time getting to sleep…too many thoughts running through my head …the concert, Vivian, Reg, Jennifer…..but did manage to get about 5 hours


July 20, 2009
Well….830 rolled around and I was the only one up……the Mexican and Americans were still sleeping….signed out from the Hostel and headed to the railway station…I want to see Pisa and get to Milan to my hostel tonight so I asked the attendant if that were possible…he gave me a couple of train times so I hope I can get my photo….get on the train and get there before it is late in the evening….I am traveling first class…even when I may not pay for it…I just get into the car and today, I was sitting in someone’s seat so I just moved over one…..getting the hang of it now…..no meal though but I do have the bagged breakfast from the hostel so I will eat that and maybe catch a bite to eat in Pisa…..the car is ¾ full and I have to get off at Pisa as it is going to Torino…so need to keep my wits about me and get off at the right spot…the train was 1 hour late so I only had a bout 15 minutes to look around…..Sooooooooo I changed my reservation on the train to Milan for 2 hours later…and I am on first class again….
Did so and got my tourist shots as well as a couple others…here is my cynicism coming in again…..they don’t have signs showing the way to the Tower except at the train station which is a vague reference to streets….well you go up a lot of streets and then turn left and there it will be….well away I went…and I turned left a little early I guess…but I wasn’t the only one…..there were literally 100s of people walking around looking at their maps and trying to find the same thing…..but in the mean time there were dozens of restaurants and confectionary stores, souvenir shops on the way there…..if they showed the way, then only those on the beaten track would have the business…..good business sense I guess by the city fathers…keep ‘em lost for as long as you can….and I will get lost you can bet your bottom dollar on that….got on my train to Firenza…..which is Florence on the map but not in Italian…and got in about 45 minutes before the train left for Milan….who walks up to me…the two Turks who will be taking the night train to Milan and want a hostel for the next night…I gave them mine and they were going to check….

Boarded my train and I really was in business class….whole bunch of suits on the train ….businessmen…a free drinks and some goodies…so I will spend some time finishing up all my blog stuff…need to do some wash and get all this stuff off….wifi internet and internet at Milan so I should be able to get some stuff away….will finish this up tonight….
The fast train left and arrived on time…maybe because it’s businessmen and not just the normal people…..took a hour to find my hostel/hotel…couple wrong turns and a hotel not hostel…some poor directions to find after you get off the subway…I will write the Hostelworld to tell them to improve as it makes for some anxious moments and many extra footsteps….not wifi yet but the manager is coming so should be able to get it up soon……shower, shave, toothbrush after some pizza from a local pizzeria ( it was good and only 8 Euros for it and 2 drinks)
Good night

Europe June 30-July 6

This is my stuff from my nights on the train and hostel reports...I am going to put on some pictures later....but here we go

June 30th

Had a very easy day for me I think. Got into London 1 hour late and it took a fairly long time to go through customs.. Did not write down where I was staying so they had to grill me a little longer. And the lines are longer than in the Jing. Then went to the Maple Leaf Lounge and had a bit of a breakfast as well as a shower as it was hot in the airport and I have a heavy bag…I hope it gets lighter…it should after I eat all the candy. Then I spent about fifteen minutes trying to figure out if I wanted an Oyster ticket or just a regular one…chose the regular one…and made my way from the airport to Kings Cross and then transferred to London Bridge and then took the train to Greenwich and arrived here about 1230….we were to check in at 2…so I left my stuff and went on a bit of a walk about
Got to take my picture on the Prime Meridian and bought a hat at the first shop in the world….well sort of ..and a coin…if I keep this up, I will be broke by Rome….ah well my kids will look after me I hope. Got a couple of emails from Vivian and have responded…..she is funny…I call her my CD…China Doll…took a couple of pictures and will keep taking lots and then delete them…got a couple of good ones….met a couple from Australia and a couple of young men from Canada….talked them in to going to Canada day at Trafalgar Square tomorrow…am a little bagged as I have some jet lag…
Had Fish and chips for supper….nothing to write home about but they were in England so that made them special…watched a little bit of ball this day….the hostel is actually in the bar…actually in the upper floors…it’s ok but is hot…and it was unusually hot here today…31or 32..did not have a beer but a vodka….everything is expensive as I was told….a medium soft ice cream cone is 2 pounds…

July 1, 2009…..Canada Day

Got up bright and early and went for a run…well not so early…about 6:30…didn’t want to wake the neighbours in the other beds too much….ran without a shirt so that I wouldn’t sweat too much and I would be able to show off my massive chest and tattoos….hahahaa…a good run…a little cool

Back for a shower and the water came out in bursts and I was told they were cold…not so cold and a good wakeup….had a breakfast (toast, milk, and a coffee!!!)…then off to the city …got another day pass…if you wait until 9:30 you save about 2 pounds…..so I did….the subways system is a little more complicated than Beijing’s because there are so many more lines…..but I was able to get into my destination…Piccadilly ….took a couple of pictures…..a fellow from Australia took one for me and I reciprocated…..was able to find the information station after I asked…holy Toledo not a male…they don’t do those things do they…

Decide to take the Eurostar to Paris….under the English Channel….what the heck…an experience and for only 66 pounds…don’t even know what that is in dollars but will find out….125 dollars…man I am going through the cash…it’s only money right Jack…..then off to Travalgar Square where the Canada day celebrations were to take place…..had an hour wait until noon when it all started so I took a walk around and took some photos….came back…met a young guy from Saskatoon and another from Labrador….

A very hot day and I had a Steak Burger and some water and just enjoyed the atmosphere….entertainment and ball hockey games….stayed there most of the afternoon…not a lot to see but was interviewed twice by some TV station and also by the CBC….cool….so I took their photos too…went for another walk around and saw the big British Airway’s Eye …think I will take it next time I am in London and a-in the evening if possible as it would give a neat view of the city…came back and got a good seat at the back for the rest of the evening and performances….met a former Calgary Stampeder cheerleader and her British husband and a fellow from Ottawa …we spent the rest of the evening shooting the breeze and listening to the music…bought a few beers….1 for 3 pounds, 2 for 5 and 5 for 10….so I asked the lady if I took 100 would they be free as they seemed to come down dramatically when you bought lots….got home at about 11:30 and went down the street to get something to eat….a lamb Shish kebab….was good and for only 4 pounds…in bed by midnight and asleep fairly quickly after answering emails and checking them as well...also charged up the computer for tomorrow’s trip…

July 2, 2009

Got up early….ok 7:15…did not go for a run but had a shower…and yes this one came out in burst and yes it was cold …and no I did not have a heart attack….but it was a wake up call I will tell you …

Had breakfast….new people there and had Rice Krispies and toast and a drink and another coffee…it was instant….and not that good…..tried to get my phone registered and the store wasn’t open and the guy eventually told me how to do it but I am not convinced will try it later in Pareeeeee….got back to the hostel, checked out ..got a ticket to Kings Cross one way and boarded the train…made a connection to the subway for Kings Cross and got to the station….made it through the baggage check…started to the wrong end of the train ( the bag is heavy) and then got onto number one coach and seat 18…with about 10 minutes to spare…not a good margin of error but I did make it…..unlike the time I made Vivian miss hers. Typed the last two days on the train as it was leaving …have an empty seat beside me so may stretch out a little…
Have forgotten almost all of what has transpired on these days.

France is different…Arrived in France and now I truly am in a foreign country again….language…signs etc…. got off the EuroStar and then needed to take the subway to the Hostel…..let me tell you it was not easy…but I went to a information station and started there….I bought a two day pass as that is what everyone else was buying or a ten ticket bunch….then got directions to the Hostel subway stop…thank goodness it wasn’t too far…got off at Barbes-Rouchechaort and there are 4 streets joining at that point….walked around the roundabout until I asked and then saw the hoster…it was hot…I was tired and a little stressed….and I got there…….

Jenn at the desk was a Canadian and was very helpful…..said it was a good idea for the pass…decided to see the National Assembly, Arc de Triomphe, the Champ de L’Eysees and the Eiffel Tower (at night)…a sbusy day…..but off I went….camera in hand and going all over the map in terms of getting on the right subway…it is more confusing than Beijing and I was frustrated at times…..Arc de Triomple was big….they say that the Chinese do everything in size to impress…well I am not so sure that the French don’t do that as well….strolled along the Champ d”Elysees for a couple of hours….this is for high society people I think…lots of shops and expensive places to eat….lots of pictures….then to the National Assembly…and the Notre Dame Cathedral…got them all in ….there was a ceremony in the Church so they had a full house and not just tourists….walked along the Seine and then took the subway to the Eiffel tower….spent about 5 hours there….going up tot the middle level for 8 Euros and then to the top for another 5 (8 dollars)…lot of pictures and then a other adventure getting home….and a late day ended wanted to sleep in and did ….had decided to go to Dieppe as part of my tour so will go to the railway station for the tickets tomorrow

July 3rd

Got up early and tried to find a Tim Horton”s for breakfast….,,,,hahahaha…ended up buying 3 apple turnovers and a hot chocolate to go with my Vitamin C tablet…..after about 15 minutes of watching what others were doing…..then back to the room for instructions and then off to the train station…I got into three different lines trying to get my tickets…was not sure but ended up asking so I didn’t lose more time…now get this …I was there for 2 and ½ hours getting my ticket….I told those standing with me that this would not be acceptable in Beijing….and they move a lot more people than France…they could learn a thing or two about timetables and reservations I think …one lady got pissed at a guy trying to butt in and she was in the wrong line but both of them left with a lot of harsh words …then another lady got our of our line and went to another and got her ticket about ½ hour before us ….a very slow process in our line anyway….some people were making on the spot changes and planning their vacation….got back and had another shower…..now had to stay another day in Paris because of travel time and went to the Internet café to try to find accommodations and did not…well got a hotel…yikes in Bordeaux and am still looking for a hostel in Pamplona….may just take the train out of there and head straight to Lisbon and spend a few days there…funny thing….I went to the internet café ….2.50 Euros per hour….about $4….and their keyboard is different….did a lot of typing and untyping....made a reservation for Lido….a nightclub famous for topless dancers…..apparently Elton John used to go there….

Went to the Stade de France …it is an 80,000 seat stadium but get this…they don’t have a football tem playing our of it…they just use it for concerts and international matches…this is France…could not get in to take a picture as it was closed and the they were checking out the sound system for a concert…you could hear it about 2 blocks away……Don’t need to go to the darn thing,…….I tried a food called couscous…it is an Algerian food….sort of a stew soup with rice like bowl to put some of it on….not all that good but filled a gap…off to Champ d’Elysee to do some people watching….was going to buy a lot of souvenirs but then I would have to carry them all over so I decided to be selective…….went to Lido at 9:30 and it was a show. Costumes were fantastic and it was a show…dancing and singing and yes boobies…all tastefully done …..another late night …got home at aabout midnight and did not have supper…..setting the alarm for tomorrow….3 ladies 2 guys in the room…hot and muggy all nights…

July 4th

Got up a 6:10 and was going great…departure time was at 7:55 then I got outside and looked at my watch and it said 7:12…MY ALARM HAD BEEN ON ENGLISH TIME…..ok panic mode …well not really…if I was late I was late but what a bugger…onto the subway to Gare St Lazare and hoping I will get there in time….good thing I allowed for about 1 ½ hours for my travel….got there in time…actually about 10 minutes to spare…class 1…found out this was their best car for travel… Met a young guy from France who had been a few places…South Africa…China….studying to be a financier…..wanted to speak English …not French…interested in Canada and Quebec….Changed to another train….bullet like shape…. Bombardier….through small villages and more peaceful places….small farms…. Got to Dieppe and took some Euros out of a ATM …….then went to a Market garden where bought some cherries, peaches, milk, apricots….ate them at the beach which was not stand but stones and fairly big ones at that so no Jan I could not bring back that to you.….one Canadian regiment lost 553 of 600 on the beach during the ill fated Dieppe invasion….no wireless….found a little about Vimy and Beau Brummel…will see it on way back…needing to get some sleep…stopped and had a pizza and a 5 dollar coke….yep it is expensive here…..just had a quiet day with not a lot going on but am glad I came here to see where the Canadians died…..there was a poem I used to read to my Grade Seven English class called …This Was My Brother….and it talked about the Dieppe attack…caught the train back to Rouen and then transferred to another and got back into Paris at 10:00…a good day and I hope it is cooler in the hostel…man I haven’t been able to get any sleep because of the heat…..and tomorrow the Louvre

July 5, 2009

….ok….so I didn’t get up as early as I thought but I did have a good sleep and when I got up , I paid for my extra day that I was going to stay here…met Elvira from Poland…she was a roommate….there are female, male, and both dorms…..doesn’t matter which one I have…she was on a 3 day holiday and is going to be a doctor…..she was gone before I got up….had my vitamin C and a water ahd headed for the trains….
Just an aside here….man a lot of women smoke…it is truly noticeable….not so sure I trust some of the men…seems like they are in groups always….the ones at the subway stop are greasy and look like mafia guys….and seems like they are “dealers” of almost anything…..extra subway passes, Marlboro cigarettes, and who knows…. but they were always looking around…people told me that the women here were good looking…well not so much…..notice one thing the skin is definitely darker, tempers are shorter as are most of the people….not a ringing endorsement of living here….but the shopping would be marvelous for the women I am thinking….if you have money….Cokes range from 1.5 Euros to 3.60….so about $2 to $5….woudl like to know the wages here…I think this place is inefficient…it definitely is dirty but there were clean parts of Paris….up by the stadium was ok….paid .50 Euros to have a pee at the train station….

The Louvre was all that it is cracked up to be….man what a museum…and they say that the Chinese go overboard on their stuff…this is a truly amazing place….only got lost about 8 times….and I had a map….what would Vivian do?....sometimes she gets lost on a one way street (just kidding)….but it was very interesting……lots of paintings (duh) and statues (duh) of all sorts of famous people….or events….the size of some of the painting is immense and the details are very fine and refined…tried to get that captured on my camera…..Sunday was free so I thought it would be a good day to go….well so did everybody else in Paris…..the place was packed by about 11:30…didn’t buy any of the touristy things…just walked around and people gazed or decided about various poses to take for photos….

Left after about 4 hours…the lineup at the Mona Lisa was about 15 minutes and they kept moving you on….I tried to take a picture of the people taking pictures but one of the security guards gave me shit….so I went around to the other side and did the same thing…..old bugger…..

Went back home and decided to try internet to get some hostels and then book some trains…before I did that, I phone and booked a ticket to the Moulin Rouge so that I could compare it to the Lido the night before….(yeah right)…..found an internet WiFi….and sat on the bench and made my connections….all the way to Barcelona….a little later than I had planned…may not stay on the French Riviera as long since I need to be in Rome by the 18th…. After I got that done, I went to the train station to try and get my dates for the travel….another exercise but this time only took me about ½ hour…that too is booked to Barcelona and I even have some overnight trains so that saves with hostels plus it gets me where I want to go…. Had a small dinner at about 5:30 , then went home an had another shower and straightened up my luggage so that it would be ready to go when I woke up the next morning…would just be able to leave…took my time getting to the Moulin Rouge…..got in line behind of some Oriental and a fellow from Australia…he thought I was American and apologized….we laughed and talked a bit…he was “entertaining” a group of Malaysians…he is an engineer for airports…..he actually worked on the one in Beijing….while we were being called in he told me to just join his group….and off I went…got in for free….he had a package for 12 I guess and he only had 9, then added 2 more and then added me ….and that included two beer….

The show was as good as the one at Lido….lost of costumes and topless ladies almost to the point you hardly notice….would recommend it over Lido….probably just for the reputation….good entertainment for an hour and a half…he even invited me out for some drinks with the boys but I said I needed an early start so bade him farewell….but gave him my card and asked him to email me…..I would like to send him something for his kindness….about $150 touch….Aussies are still good in my books…..

Got home and 2 Chilean were in the room and I had a quick tooth brush and was off to bed…..with some help form Lorazapam, I had a good sleep.

July 6, 2009

All right Versailles, the palace of Louis XIV…wanted to see this…took a 2 hour trip to get to it….out of Paris…..never got lost but took a couple of train too far…even sat in one until I got kicked out…thought it was going direct…obviously not as I needed to transfer to another…no place to keep my luggage so I pack it around all day…it is a little heavy..

Another aside….I am sitting in the railway station and was just passed by what looked like army boys….machine guns and fatigues….must be wanting to hide among the tourists in the camoflauge outfits…

CLOSED….ON MONDAYS…Oh, well I will walk around the yards and the area…still a massive building or set of buildings….I will get some pictures of the inside from the tourist booth…oops it was closed too…well the souvenir stand….finished that early and decided to eat here as it was probably less expensive than in Paris….well whatever I ordered was Palace of Versailles prices….21.90 Euros and that was about $30….I had a beer…..or part of one….and water…and an actual dessert…..serves me right….oh well….what the hay…

Got on the train and headed back….took about 15 minutes to get to the train station that I am leaving from for Bordeaux ( on a fast train too)…get in too late for the manager to stay up so he has given me the password and told me which room and now I just have to get there and find the place…wish me luck…just finishing this up while at the Gare de Montchauseme (train Station)…..so long to Paris..

I think someone has been a good publicity person for Paris…..lots of things wrong with the place and I saw it …guess there are lots of good things too but….like the Mona Lisa…it is a picture but if you build it up to be something big, people will come to see it…guess that is why you need history to attract people…our legislature building is fantastic, a good piece of architecture but we live so far away from the “centre of the universe” wherever that is, Sask will take forever to get that kind of exposure…I like Alex Colville and yet didn’t see a mention of Canadian (Group of
Seven) art at the museum….we are just not important…..another philosophical point…...after being in Beijing and now in Europe, a person begins to realize how insignificant you can be in the world…..and when someone does get to the top aka Wayne Gretzky or our Rowing teams or whatever, it is something to be proud of as Canadians because we are really small in the world and perhaps don’t say enough or boast or make people aware like some of the others…guess that is a Canadian trait…like Dieppe or Vimy Ridge …we just get in and do it. …a Sask trait as well…
Oh yeah,,,,checked and saw the Riders had won….like the comment from Coach Miller when someone said it was an ugly win……he said “A win is a win, we will work on pretty next week”!!!!
Over and out….