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
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
posted by 12thhobo | 2:59 AM
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