Seconds of Glory

Love is like an elephant

2010-10-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

They once brought an elephant in font of 3 blind women and told them: that's love :) The 1st one started walking towards the animal until she bumped into his leg. She tried to hug it but realised it's too big so she concluded: "Love is a tree"! When the 2nd one took a step forward, she felt his trunk tickling her neck. When she felt it moving down her arm she yelled: "Love is a snake"! Finally the 3rd one after wandering for a bit got hold of his ears. She felt them fluffing and said: "Love is a bird"!

IAC 2010 London to SW France (Aug 2010)

2010-08-27T02:30:00.000-07:00

Trip Report

Name: Anastasis Tzanis
Year of birth: 1979
Previous Bike Travels: F, I, B, NL

This trip: London to St Eulalie en Born du Lac for the 3rd International Acrobatics Convention (70 km south-west of Bordeaux). With a detour to Andora and then down to Santander for the boat to Portsmouth.
Trip Duration: 18 days (only 7 riding)
Departure Date: 6th Aug 10
Number in Group: 1
Distance Covered: 1879 miles

Best Day: The ride from Cap Ferret to Ax-Les-Thermes
Best hour: Practicing standing on hands in the lake without spotting!
Worst Day: none really. Maybe the one I got caught in the rain a few kilometers outside Paris.
Favorite Place: the atlantic coast, riding-wise the Spanish country roads
Biggest Headache: the replacement of the battery
Biggest Mistake: I cannot tell
Pleasant Surprise: the friendly riders in the Pyrenees, the genuine community of acrobats
Any Illness: None
Cost of Trip: aprox aprox 1,200 EUR
Others Trips Planned: Italy, Morocco

Bike Model: Yamaha Fazer 600
Age, Mileage: 5 years, 28,000 miles
Modifications: None
Wish you'd done: None
Tyres used: black
Punctures: None
Type of Baggage: A box at the back (wish I had a pair of paniers)
Bike's Weak Points: none
Strong Points: we know each other
Bike Problems: A dead battery in Paris which took 4 days to replace
Accidents: None, thank god.
Same Bike again: Why not?
Any Advice: have the bike serviced before you leave, for once A n a s t a s i s!

Dutch Acro Festival part II

2010-05-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

It's London Bridge. It's 19th of May 2010 and the last thing we do is take a picture from London.

That's 1:30 mins later in Folkstone and it's time for some water and a bit of stretching. By the way: If handstands is not your thing stop reading now. That was a motorbike trip as much as a handstands exhibition.

At a park in the southern suberbs of Lille. We also tried to fly some locals who did surprisingly well given how much stoned they were.

Ladies and gentlemen a round of applause for Jesse; who attempts a handstand in zipped, one size smaller leathers! Just for the record the horse standing behind prefered to move on.

2nd day. Time for the first break, coffee and a shot of cherry liquor. The breakfast of the champions.

And that's what happens to those that chat up acrobats. Even though we were warned by some locals that she is married, she didn't want to come down! Girl behaaaaave. Jesse! how's your back mate, alright?

Another post will follow with more pictures of me watering. Jesse, in case you haven't figured it out already: I want to keep stops for refueling and pissing separate.

Now this picture could be the cover of either an acrobatics' magazine or a biker's, correct?

No, we didn't agree on everything.

And one picture with the girls.

Cubic houses in Rotterdam.
http://www.essential-architecture.com/MISC/MISC_50.htm
We ticked one of the 50. We are not gonna stop now.

We are now on the 3rd day.

Goodbye Rotterdam. Heading for Amsterdam which is only an hour away.

@ Zandvoort beach

If you make it there try the fried fish. That applies for vegans as well.

That's at the Acro Dutch Festival, with Erica who will join us on the way back.

Erica's getting ready.

with Marieke

@ Rembrandt Square

@ eurotunnel

and again

The End. At Moorgate with John (a great yogi, acrobat and the owner of the CB1000R)

Links:
Acro-yoga London
http://jessesaunders.net/

Dutch Acro Festival part I

2010-05-26T01:23:00.001-07:00

Trip Report

Name: Jesse Saunders / Anastasis Tzanis
Year of birth: 1979 / 1979
Occupation: Yoga instructor / Banker
Nationality: British / Greek
Previous Bike Travels: Thailand, New Zealand / France, Italy

This trip: London to the dutch acro festival in Haarlem NL and back
Trip Duration: 7 days
Departure Date: 19th May 10
Number in Group: 2 (2 bikes)
Distance Covered: 996 miles

Best Day:
J: From a biking perspective, travelling Lille to Rotterdam. We had started to connect + learn each others styles. The roads were good, the weather perfect and it took us through some nice smaller villages. Acro perspective, it is all a blur of wonderful things, beautiful people, growing connections. I cannot believe that it is only really 2.5 days!
A: the 2nd one. Countryside twisty roads, long chats over french coffee and cherry liquire shots.
Worst Day:
J: No bad days on the trip, so I guess that it ended!
A: One before the last. Lots of wasted time.
Favorite Place:
J: Apart from the obvious Haarlem, for its hundreds of happy acrobats; I really liked Lille, partly cus we found a park and played in it and also for the expansive openness of the centre. Amsterdam also has a nice feel to it.
A: Riding wise from Haarlem to Zandvoort Beach
Biggest Headache:
J: Have I got enough petrol!
A: Did Jesse read my finger signals right? + Has he got enough petrol?
Biggest Mistake:
J: I think it was difficult meeting Elte, because it left you in an uncomfortable space, not knowing how long etc. Think that would be better with more communication. OK for us to do different things on the bike trip!
A: None
Pleasant Surprise:
J: Your open nature. The way you ask anyone anything, with a warmth that suggests you've known them for a long time :)
A: Jesse
Any Illness: None
Cost of Trip: aprox 450 EUR
Others Trips Planned: Souther France with another biker joining us

Bike Model: Honda CB1000R / Yamaha Fazer 600
Age, Mileage: 1 year, 4,000 miles / 5 years, 24,000 miles
Modifications: G+G exhaust (gives slightly more torque allegedly but mostly just sounds and looks better) / None
Wish you'd done: None
Tyres used: bridgestone battleaxe 160's / round black
Punctures: None
Type of Baggage: backpack - net / A box at the back
Bike's Weak Points:
J: UK's speed limits!
Ability to carry any luggage.
Ability to carry enough fuel.
Wrist heavy when in town with a pillion.
A: none
Strong Points:
J: Fun, playful + lively ride. Handles well, and more power than I could use.
A: light, flexible, sexy
Bike Problems: None.
Accidents: None, thank god.
Same Bike again:
J: For weekend type trip I'd say yes. If its longer than that, I think I'd want some pannierage.
A: Oooh yea!
Any Advice:
J: Obviously, what's in front is the most important thing, but its good to stay aware of what's going on behind you too!
A: Always keep a good collection of songs in your ipod.

Joshua Tree National Park June 06

2010-04-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

the lobby

flowery cactus

Joshua Tree

commercial?

Can you spot the rabbit?

Speed limit 55 mph Yeaaah right

Madrid - Berlin Nov-Dec 09

2010-02-17T15:15:00.001-08:00

Plaza in the center of Madrid

Don't you want to pass underneath 100 times?

So inviting...

Such colors...

Hanging gardens

M-adrid from M-etropolis

Berlin rivers

THE gate

The parliament

In memory of the Jewish...

THE wall

So clear, east is so close to the west

Modern Modern

Ugly, no?

Morocco Feb 10

2010-02-17T13:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome

to

Marrakech

Is the motorbike his? Or he is on duty? Or undercover?

Guys it's easy... The trick is not to show fear!

But seriously now, Who's braver than me?

Mountain formations on the way to the Atlas.

The sweater is for camouflage.

Kasbah Ait Benhaddou

At night, 1 mile outside Zagora. Sahara here we come!

Someone is enjoying the attention!

Ssssh, cannot you see we are having a conversation here?

1 thing in common: We all have the same height

Feels so close when you are out there.

Who needs sat navs when he has lovely maps like this?

Crossing Atlas Mountain on the way back with Lily, Julia & Liron

Patrolling the donkeys and cars with 1 cylinder engines. Attitude similar of course with LAPD.

Beautiful duck (Ourika valley)

No hands

On the way to the falls

Ourika falls (45 khm from Marrakech)

Do NOT

With Lily, Terisa and Simon @ Earth Cafe
No2 Derb Zouak
Riad Zitoun El Kdim - Medina
www.earthcafemarrakech.com
Hippie restaurant for veggie, tasty food

Goodbye

Shopping:
Twizra
361 Bab Agnaou
Medina 40000
tel: 00212(0) 44376565
twizra@hotmail.com

@ Brighton for fish and chips

2009-09-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Instabul March 09

2009-09-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

We both look very happy.

Now, that's not how I should behave inside a palace.

Agia Sofia from the Gran Palace

By the Galatasarai bridge with Rowan

Shopping:

@ the back of the grand bazaar (got no idea if there is the front) there are a bunch of shops selling wholesale (which are happy to sell retail @ their wholesale prices!) You can still haggle of course!

How to get there?

Once you are at the bazaar ask for direstions to:
Yorgancilar cad. Mektep Sk
No.2-7 Kapalicarsi, Instabul

Don't get discouraged if some say they don't know it. Keep asking...
One of the shops there has also a website:
www.kehribarci.com

Nice Sep 2009

2009-09-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

The city center, if you can call Nice a city :)

"Room with a view"

The coastline

Someone's posing

Someone is feeling thirsty

Someone turned the lights on

And someone is afraid of getting wet

Goodbye Nice

Where to dine:

Vegetarian cuisine
La JuccaMagica - 4 Quai Papacino
Socca
Chez Pipo - 13 rue Bavastro
French
La Maison de Marie

Museums:

Marc Chagall
Henri Matisse

Feng Shui

2009-09-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Over the last years the principles of tao (feng shui) have gained big popularity in the western world. While reading the book "One man Caravan" by Robert Fulton I received a first introduction on the subject, even though that's far from the book's intention.

"In China evil spirits have the convenient limitation of being able to travel only in straight line... Feng-shui... , rules of counter-magic capable of discouraging any black-magic ever invented. No wall in China is ever built straight lest an evil spirit raze it from end to end; no two gates of a city are in line lest some evil, entering at one, make a clean sweep of the place and escape at the other. In the middle there is always a jog around which he cannot get. Into the bargain, there are bells which, when you ring them, will be heard by your most distant relatives and start them racing home; and no child must ever sleep except with a tiger-pillow to scare away spiritual marauders."

The book finishes with following words of the author:

"One measure of a man is what he does when he has nothing to do"

Mexico July 07

2009-09-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

7th of June @ Bayswater

Mexico City

Catholic church

Zocalo

The pyramid of the moon (from the top of pyramid of the sun)

Hiking the pyramids makes you feel a bit high.

Puebla (Unesco is protecting the snake)

Cholula with the underground pyramid

Could soccer player be the second oldest profession?

On the way to Hierve el Agua

Hierve el Agua 1

Hierve el Agua 2

Mitla

Tule tree

playa San Agustin (close to Huatulco)

The beach culture

Cascadas

Having breakfast on the beach. A single picture cannot pay justice to the Mexican cuisine.

In the lagoon looking for the crocos. The true monsters though were the mosquitoes.

Religious (?) ritual in Mexican beach close to puerto Angel.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXJSryNOCkY

Zihuatanejo, where middle class Mexican families will go on vacations. Much nicer than the neighbor port Ixtapa, where you are more likely to come across yachts.

Acapulco! If you make it there look for "el Zoritto" restaurant.

At playa la Angosta every noon and every night there is a show. Divers jump from the cliffs while crowds gather to applaud after every attempt.

These are the heroes for tonight. The one on the top will jump last after he we'll pay a quick visit to the church at the top of the cliff. At the end all the divers will visit the crowd holding a bag each, for tips.

London - Corsica Aug 09

2009-08-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

Have safe roads guys...

1.20 mins later @ Folkstone

In the eurotunnel with Anthony from Australia. Heading back to France to join wife and son.

Lille day and night. As the Chinese say Yin and Yang.

Outside Reims cathedral looking for the labyrinth.

Reims cathedral from inside.

Launching the summer collection. The dress above named "Tomato" is expected to become very popular among badly equipped bike rides.

Rue Sala & Rue Victor Hugo, Lyon

Lyon, the old city

A nice restaurant at the edge of the old town.

8:00 am 8th of Aug leaving Lyon

With Michiel from NL. It took him only 10 days to ride his pushbike 2,600 khm from Utrecht to Marseilles.

Marseilles 20:45 9th of Aug 09

Lily the navy girl.

Bastia at 7 am

I was afraid for swine flu. The doctor later said it's normal all the baby needs is some rest.

Whatever the situation try to see the bright side. Isn't that a great scenery to die?

The island is not short of fish, fish restaurants or fish markets.

With Marika and Alesandro from Torin @ Plage de Lodo. The guys on a monthly long visit to the island, with a car having a tent attached on the roof.

Last evening in Corsica 12th of Aug 09

As you can imagine we had to leave quickly after causing such a damage.

Ship outside Genoa's Aquarium (tasteless) The sloppy roads in Genoa though have a strong Mediterranean taste.

With a cell phone camera the greenest view can look grey. Mont Blanc (excuse my bad accent)

London - Corsica aller retour August 2009

2009-08-16T02:42:00.000-07:00

Trip Report

Trip Duration: 9 days
Departure Date: 7th Aug 09
Number in Group: 2 (1 bike)
Distance Covered: 1,966 miles

Best Day: Road trip in the Corsican mountains
Worst Day: Dijon (the ghost town)
Favorite Place: From Evisa to N193
Biggest Headache: We left them all back to London
Biggest Mistake: Not having done it earlier
Pleasant Surprise: Corsican cuisine
Any Illness: None
Cost of Trip: aprox 1,500 EUR
Others Trips Planned: You want the in alphabetical order?

Bike Model: Yamaha Fazer 600
Age, Mileage: 4 years, 19,000 miles
Modifications: None
Wish you'd done: None
Tyres used: Bridgestone, the round black model
Punctures: None
Type of Baggage: A box at the back

Bike's Weak Points: No autopilot for the straight highways in France
Strong Points: Didn't overheat, coped fine. Going for a check up soon.
Bike Problems: None. I thought it was overheating when in Southern France but everything was fine. I always worry too much for those I love.
Accidents: None
Same Bike again: Sure, even though I am not monogamous when it comes to bikes.
Any Advice: Tell those that are trying to put you off, you'll take some nice pictures to share when you are back.

How far can you go to enjoy some good music?

2009-08-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

On Friday 1st of August I (together with a couple of hundreds) visited Vicki park in East London to listen to Tiesto. Admittedly there was a good vibe and almost everyone was dancing. I am not sure if the music was that great, however one thing which is profound with house music is that the crowd account big part for the experience.

PS: Even though it was not mentioned in the brochure the show included acrobatics as you can see in the picture

Montreal May 06

2009-07-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

Lots of artistic decorations outside the buildings

Modern buildings that don't require any decoration

Decorative clown-mascots

A massive cathedral, with tones of decorations inside (ok I am gonna stop it...)

This is a music instrument in a secluded room of the cathedral all covered in gold (damn how can I forget it's name...)

Always chat up locals and someone will invite you for dinner.

If they are as friend as this Caribbean couple they may even host a party for you. In the picture there is an Moroccan taxi driver, a ex-pilot from Ghana,... Canada is sort of immigrants.

If you look carefully, you'll see one of them is daydreaming.

Not the only "leisure center" in town

"Ugly Americans" a fun read I never finished.

The Olympic spirit passed from Montreal at some point. Don't ask me when.

The picture doesn't give justice to how tall this building is.

There is no monopoly in common sense

2009-07-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

The Taliban have released a 28-minute video showing a US soldier captured in Afghanistan last month.*

In the video, the soldier, in grey clothes and with shaved head, says being a prisoner is "unnerving" and that he misses his family.

He says the US public has the power to bring US troops home to be "back where we belong and not over here, wasting our time and our lives".

The US military in Kabul said the man in the video was the missing soldier.
...
US military spokesman in Kabul, Capt Jon Stock, condemned the use of the video.

He told Reuters: "The use of the soldier for propaganda purposes we view as against international law.

"We are continuing to do whatever possible to recover the soldier safe and unharmed."

Leaflets have been distributed and a reward offered for his safe return.

The US military said the soldier disappeared after walking off base with three Afghan colleagues.

He is believed to be the first soldier seized in either Iraq or Afghanistan for at least two years.

*http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8157795.stm
------------

There is no monopoly in common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the "russians" love their children too

Sting

Are you a rock-chick or a pop-princess?

2009-07-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

What did Michael Jackson leave behind?

2009-07-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

It's pointless to answer this question. Think of all the inspired kids (all over the globe) trying to pick up his dancing moves or the debt of his bank accounts and the list goes on. But like every other human being Michael Jackson left a dead body behind. Well not exactly. MJ's body like every genuine star's body had the signs of excess on it. So here's a question for you:

Should MJ donate his body to science?

PS: If such a thing happened I would see it partly as a humorous partly as a revengeful action. - For all the damage science did to me, the best way to retaliate is give my body back. -

Should there be limits on art?

2009-07-10T04:37:00.000-07:00

I think yes and the audience, viewers, spectators are the ones responsible for applying them. In light of the release of the movie Bruno by Sacha Baron Cohen, there will be many discussions on where art stops serving as a means of entertainment and becomes a means for provocation. In my opinion the answer is to be given by those who pay to watch it(as well as those who refrain from doing so). I am personally not very interested in listening to "experts'" opinions.

Art of course is not solely a means of entertainment. Aristotle considered tragedy to have unique qualities with its roots in the cause and effect nature of the universe. He also suggested that fear and pity should be invoked within the audience. Plato on the other hand disregarded any form of art.

Did an important "individual" passed away recently?

2009-07-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that not every human being shares the same values, has the same interests and so on... If I carried on this path I would soon hit the wall of individuality. Each human being is different and has to be respected for that. Sure.

The millions of people standing in front of the television watching Michael Jackson's funeral are different, even though they are having exactly the same reaction to MJ's death. No matter how different they are then, they should still be sharing something in common. Is it that they are all equally manipulated by the media on what is important? Is it that they are all equally desperate in search for a role model so that the profile of a talented musician accused for numerous things, can serve as one? Is it that they have so much free time to sit and watch the funerals of celebrities? I don't know but it's almost intriguing how much interest people find in the show Jackson's family and the media put together.

PS: Apparently hours after MJ's death someone put together a web domain titled something like www. Is m j still alive. com Once you clicked on the site there was a big no coming up. Some friends were laughing over it. I am curious how funny they would find it if it was referring to a relative or friend of them?

Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon

2009-07-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

On page 153 Ted Simon quotes someone "We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate." How ironic can such a sentence seem in a book whose author tried to connect dots so far away on the map? But it's not; and there are millions of fascinating stories connecting all these places. Ted Simon put's together his own, in a genuine, vivid, humorous and insightful way.

http://www.jupitalia.com/

The most representative costume of your country is...

2009-07-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

The Austrian fashionista Bruno is on his global tour promoting his latest film (hoping at the same time to become the 2nd most important gay actor coming out of Austria after Terminator II). In his appearance in different cities he showed up dressed with a costume resembling the country he was visiting.

In London he was dressed as a beefeater, in Madrid as a bull, in Hollywood as a general riding a tanks.

Facebook is watching you?

2009-07-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Citizens of different countries will not take national issues equally serious. I am not here to state the obvious and you probably already know what diplomacy means for Brits. You can now read the following abstract:

Wife of Sir John Sawers, the future head of MI6, in Facebook security alert*

Lady Sawers disclosed details such as the location of the London flat used by the couple and the whereabouts of their three children and of Sir John’s parents. She put no privacy protection on her account, allowing any of Facebook’s 200 million users in the open-access London network to see the entries.

Patrick Mercer, the Conservative chairman of the Commons counter-terrorism sub-committee, said that the entries were a serious error and potentially damaging.
“Sir John Sawers is in a very sensitive position and by revealing this sort of material his family have left him open to criticism and blackmail,” he told The Times. “We can’t have the head of MI6 being compromised by having personal details of his life being posted on Facebook.

“As a long-serving diplomat and ambassador, his family have been involved in his line of business for decades. I would have hoped they would have been much more sensitive to potential security compromises like this.”

*Michael Evans, Defence

Let me get this right: The problem is that John hasn't trained his family well enough? No, That his wife wasn't smart enough to think of the potential threats for her husband's life and career? Hmm maybe but then again this means that people that her husband is after, are spending time on facebook as a source for information for blackmailing hmmm Then maybe John's family should avoid the usage of other stuff that can help terrorists track him down: loyalty cards at the local sushi shop, tesco bonus point cards and maybe even credit cards? Nahh I still cannot tell where the real problem lies...

Ohh What if the press lacking any serious reports tried to dramatize a story of the (hurt?) British diplomatic pride? Damn that cannot be it. Why would they ever do such a think?

If there was one single thing I would like to know in order to tell if Sir John Sawers is the right person for the job that would be: How good he was at high school at cheating with his exams? Was he any good at getting away with murder? Cause I am a big believer that it takes one to find one.

Feel the love generation

2009-07-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Come on, come on, come on,

Feel the Love Generation
Feel the Love Generation

Don't worry about a thing, gonna be all right

Why most the children play in the street?
Broken hearts, faded the dreams
Peace on earth to everyone that you meet
Don't you worry, It could be so sweet

Just look to the rainbow you will see,
The sun will shine 'till eternity
I've got so much love in my heart
No one can tear it apart

On the 4th of July 2009 London was holding it's Gay Pride for the year. The city was flooded with cheerful people form early in the morning and with the help of the weather the event seemed in my eyes as a successful one. I had the chance to check out Old Compton street which had a fantastic vibe and with this opportunity I would like to express a few scattered thoughts:

- The distinction between gay and straight is the starting point of discrimination.

- I hope it wasn't only gay people cheerful yesterday. Being straight I would consider it pathetic not to be in a jolly mood with so many people in the streets laughing, dancing,... meeting.

- Even though festivities like the gay pride are great to remind us: how much fun house music is, that we should all be treated equally and how important it is to keep fit, at some point have to take them as a given.

What should I pack?

2009-07-03T04:28:00.000-07:00

Every trip, journey, excursion, expedition starts the moment I start packing my things. It’s not until I take out my backpack or luggage out and start putting things inside that I know I am off for another adventure.

- I think there is a good reason for that: No matter how long ago I have booked the flying tickets and got the visas deep inside I know these are not really part of the traveling process. For centuries people were traveling without advising travel agencies or requesting admission and vaccination proofs. So it is very likely that these complications are not still wired in my DNA as the beginning of a journey. On the contrary though, packing …-

…packing yes, is definitely the starting point. So what should I take with me this time so that I am prepared. Here we go then:

- Independent of what is your latest purchase, what you would like to see yourself in and what sounds cool learn what do people living in the place you go wear at this time of the year. If for instance they do not were waterproofs while in a rainy season, it’s probably because it’s also very humid the rest of the time or because sun comes out afterwards drying everything quickly. The scenarios are infinite but keeping rule number one in mind will save you from carrying unnecessary things or looking silly.
- Travel light. I cannot emphasize much this one, even though it has become a cliché. There are so many times we have to carry the full load of our language, especially when commuting or when it’s just the safest thing to do. Keep also in mind that the weight and volume of our luggage rarely goes down during the trip. On the contrary we tend to purchase presents and clothes appropriate for the local weather conditions. I try to keep 30% of the space in my luggage free before I leave for a trip.
- Packing needs to be done in a priority order. Keep underwear – socks / toiletries handy. Same thing is true for tickets, passports and money. Spare bags for dirty clothes…

PS: Ohh my God, I forgot to mention extra batteries for the camera :-)

PS2: I am proud to have learnt these tricks not while traveling for leisure but with the army!

PS3: In the picture I am with my friend Yo Stuller leaving Boston (with all my belonging) for Buenos Aires. 1 hour before the picture was taken the following story takes place: I am driving to Yo’s place with an old white Toyota Corolla so that we have a bear and he can give me a ride to the airport. The plan was that he would keep the car and try to sell it for me (as he surprisingly managed to, a few months later). I was running low on gas but having full faith in Toyota’s and not much spare time to spare I decided I can postpone filling it up for later. As soon as I arrived at Yo’s, I saw him with his always welcoming smile raising a bottle of bear towards me. Until now I don’t know what possessed me that moment and without turning off the engine, I step out of the car locking the door behind me. My car running low on fuel, with the engine on, all windows shut and all doors locked had all my belonging including passport and tickets 2 hours before my flight out of the country. It was Sunday! With the help of a police officer! We managed to brake in the car 30 minutes later…

priceless

How do you like your waterfalls?

2009-06-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

No, it’s not another cocktail. I am talking about the river flows over the step of rocks. At first place I had never thought they come in one shape and size, but the more I visited the more I realized that human intervention can have a big effect in the experience of visiting one.

If you ask me I like them raw :-)

From top left: Niagara, Yosemite, btw Rudy Mount and Yellowstone, Yellowstone, Jenny lake, Mexico close to Huatulco

City hoping or Cruising the fields?

2009-06-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

You can do both in East Canada. Actually you have to do both in East Canada if you are like me with a sensitive nose for the smell of the airplane's close cabin. On the other hand if you enjoy driving through a constantly changing scenery (rich in vegetation) or clubbing with one of the most laid back nations of the northern hemisphere, then pack your hiking gear & a set of clothes for a night out and off you go. If your starting point is Boston then greyhound is your only option as Amtrak is not running to Montreal.

The following itinerary is not worth more than 5days unless you want to add Quebec city and Halifax.

From Boston to Montreal - You will fall in love with nature. Passing through the sparsely populated New Hampshire and Vermont you'll see numerous different trees, rivers and the cows producing the milk for Ben and Jerry's. Once you get in Canada a 3 meters tall wave of calmness will hit you. There isn't that many rivers and thus less flora. Houses are far from each other and most of them have a swimming pool in the back yard!

Montreal - The city has a very strong French character, 7 museums which I would highly advise in NOT to visit, tones of bars carrying something from the early 90's (the French early 90's), 3 after hour clubs (not serving booze) and immigrants from the Caribbean, Africa, Greece, Italy each of them creating a small neighborhood. In the city you can get easily access to w**d, strip clubs and prostit** all looking of low quality. People will speak to you in French for the first minute of each conversation indifferent of what language you speak to them. For some reason I didn't find that rude at all. At the moment it seemed normal; probably because I knew that they would soon switch to English and be helpful.

Toronto - Here you can expect more class. The financial capital of Canada is cleaner, more interesting architectural-wise, with a fantastic nightlife scene and an improvising club called "second city" (close to CN tower) which will make you laugh your socks off.

Niagara Falls - Not far from Toronto, NF is worth visiting (especially from the Canadian side which provides a better view) maybe for an overnight stay. The Hard Rock café, the casinos, the tours to the falls and the butterfly conservatory will fill a day's schedule.

You are visiting San Francisco

2009-06-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

it's mid-day and the sun is dazzling above your head. Feels as if it's been following you for the last two blocks; but who cares? The city's chilled out vibe has overwhelmed you. It may be the 5th time you are in the city and you've already been to Alcatraz, the rather small museum of African Diaspora www.moadsf.org and crossed the Golden Gate bridge in a cabriolet but still,... something's telling you San Fran's got another hidden gem waiting for you to discover. At the moment though all you care is where you can have lunch. The Northern beach with the posh Italian district is probably far from where you are and at least one hilltop away to hike. What about Chinatown?

From Seattle all the way down route 99 to San Diego generations after generations of Asians have arrived creating small communities in most major cities. Well in San Fran they probably took a step further by establishing their own gangs on the west end; but as you are hungry at the moment all you care about is a decent place to eat not really caring what side-hobbies the restaurant owner may have. Your two options sit next two each other. "House of Nanking" & "Chef Jia" on Kearuy st near the intersection with Pacific Ave. The former having been voted for a sequel of years as THE place to eat Chinese food in the city is a bit more pricey and the atmosphere a bit more hippie. If you choose the later you won't be let down either; the plates are probably not of porcelain but the food will leave you wondering how much better can the food be next door and people have been queuing for half an hour.

The Grand Circle

2009-06-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

One evening as the sun went down and the jungle fire was burning - Down the track came a hobo hiking and he said boys I'm not turning - I'm headin for a land that's far away beside the crystal fountains - So come with me we'll go and see the ... Grand Circle

While Harry McClintock was heading for the Big Rock Candy Mountains, we shall try to make our way from San Fran down to L.A. and from there to the Grand Circle with an overnight stop in Vegas.

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/grandcircle.htm

San Fran

Santa Cruz - Even though the center of the city is very close to the beach I'd rather spend my time around the funfair and the pier. With a a bit of luck you'll come across sea whales, surfers and snow plover birds. Before you leave read the plates at the entrance of the beach advising you what you are not allowed to do...

Monterrey - The aquarium there is really impressive but if you are not into watching enslaved animals then probably there isn't much for you there.

Santa Barbara - Even if you were not a fan of Baywatch, Santa Barbara is still an interesting small town to visit. Around the shopping center you can find places to dine. I didn't manage to discover much of the night life there but there might be more than meets the eye.

Joshua Tree national Park - There you can expect Big rocks (with smooth surfaces), Cactus, Joshua trees, Snakes & Scorpios (if you are sweet-blooded)

Mitchell Caverns - The place (like many others mentioned in this trip) is related to the Indian tribes. At least that's what we were told :-)

Las Vegas -

Bright light city gonna set my soul
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money thats ready to burn,
So get those stakes up higher
Theres a thousand pretty women waitin out there
And theyre all livin devil may care
And Im just the devil with love to spare
Viva las vegas, viva las vegas

Zion National Park - You can choose between three trails with Angel's Landing the toughest and thus the most rewarding one. When you are back down you can jump in the river to cool your legs.

Bryce Canyon - You are still in Utah but here the scenery resembles more of a desert. the trails here are easy enough to do in slip-flops!

Arches National Park - The place was inhabited by native Americans for years. The trails are easy to hike.

Monument Valley - If in the previous stops you were just hearing about the Indians here you will feel their presence. The energy of the area is amazing while the red rocks make it one of the most scenic place I've ever been.

Grand Canyon - I'll try not to discourage you from going there but if you've been to all the previous places mentioned the only thing that Grand Canyon has to offer is the size. Well, if size matters then Grand Canyon is big enough to worth a visit. Half way down are the Indian gardens. That's almost 4.5 khm and you can expect water every 1.5 khm. At the Indian gardens you can camp if you booked months in advance a spot. the remaining of the trail to the bottom is with no access to water. I went all the way down and up on the same day (loaded with enough things to camp) even though the rangers advise visitors against that. I am proud I made it but still consider Grand Canyon not that great :-). There is also the 3 day hiking option where you enter the canyon from one end and exit the other.

From Grand Canyon you should be able to get back to San Fran within a day and a half. Or maybe a bit more if Vegas has another big show on.

When are the saints go marching in?

2009-06-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

According to Louis Armstrong "when the sun refuse to shine". In New Orleans though the sun is a common visitor.

Arriving a week after the Mardi Gras, the city was still recovering from the 2005 Celebrations. You could see the colorful beads hanging from fences, or thrown in the corners of Bourbon St. The women were tired to raise their sleeveless shirts for another set of beads and the men content from having seen so many breasts would take it easy in one of the numerous bars of the city. Well at least this was the case in the french quarter. I trust you know already that city of New Orleans is split in two quarters, the French (the touristic) and the American (the rough).

On the left at bar Utopia minutes before the AA meeting.

So what is the city's color? What color do the 100$ chips have in Harrah's casino? Purple of course from the LSU Tigers.

As for bar suggestions don't expect any. The night we went to Snug Harbor two of the guys fell asleep during the performance (for a good reason).

We are traveling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before
But we'll all be reunited (but if we stand reunited)
On a new and sunlit shore (then a new world is in store)

1896 by Katharine Purvis (lyrics) and James Milton Black (music)

Are pigeons vain?

2009-06-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

Probably not, but then let's think for a second of Piazza San Marco "The drawing room of Europe". For years now, pigeons expect tourists to extend their arms so that they sit on them and be photographed*. So can they be vain?

I think not. However can they adjust to the environment? For sure. San Marco such a touristic attraction as it has been for years, encouraged the birds to develop this habit. The compensation of course is what else but...

crumbs :-)

*My grandmother and two of her daughters have been taken pictures with pigeons sitting on them over their honeymoon.

The Pigeon Poem

The Pigeon is taking food away from her mate today,
or he is taking food away from his mate today.
She is taking food to put on fat for winter time,
or he is taking food from her to dine.
Pigeons are like people cause people are like that.
feeding Pigeons in the park is fine,
old people have the time, to dine with pigeons;
Time i have today:
the time i play away
thinking of (?)
the pigeons as I dine.
I am fine.
She is putting on her fat.
He is just out to dine.
People are like pigeons.
people are like that.

Charles Hice

Noodles or Pasta?

2009-06-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

Pasta-noodles please. And here comes a small bowl of finger-thick, brown-spotted mushy pasta. Where else could this happen but in the mecca of pasta, Italy. And who could order such a dish but an Asian. The dish was delicious. Grazie Mille.

PS: The restaurant is on Calle de la Madona very close to Ponte di Rialto. On that alley you can find two fantastic restaurants. The one is called Diavolo, the other Madona (which I guess it's fine as long as the two do not meet).

How high should you go to get a bird's eye view of the city?

2009-06-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

Did I say city? Then I don't feel like going one step up. Cities are the living proof of human's existence. Constructed slowly from ground level up. All the action remains on the ground. Independent of how many stories our houses have and at what floor are office is we always arrive and depart from on the ground floor. That's where we belong. That's what I like to sense when I visit a city. Notice what are the habits of the locals, look into their eyes are try to understand what "taste" their look leaves behind.

Think for a second how many people suffer from vertigo...* Ever heard of someone afraid of walking on the ground?

The picture was taken half way up the Towers of Bologna.

*please refrain from looking it up on Wikipedia as the author of the article was probably sitting somewhere "high up"

If you cannot get lost in Venice why go?

2009-06-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

The center of the city "San Marco" is very small. By the time you take two wrong turns, you will probably be back at the starting point or even better where you were initially planing to go. If so, then what's the big deal about the capital of Veneto?

The night

Around 22:00 the city gets deserted and it's then that the city puts on its seductive dress. The dress code requires you put on a white linen shirt, a pair of loose trousers and some sexy leather shoes. Did I mention your favorite perfume? No maps, no cameras please. Walk slowly and hear the echo from you steps as you wander through the wonderland called Venice.

The City

2007-09-21T13:43:00.001-07:00

You said, "I will go to another land, I will go to another sea.
Another city will be found, better than this.
Every effort of mine is condemned by fate;
and my heart is -- like a corpse -- buried.
How long in this wasteland will my mind remain.
Wherever I turn my eyes, wherever I may look
I see the black ruins of my life here,
where I spent so many years, and ruined and wasted."

New lands you will not find, you will not find other seas.
The city will follow you. You will roam the same
streets. And you will age in the same neighborhoods;
in these same houses you will grow gray.
Always you will arrive in this city. To another land -- do not hope --
there is no ship for you, there is no road.
As you have ruined your life here
in this little corner, you have destroyed it in the whole world.

Constantine P. Cavafy (1910)

on a Sunday night

2007-09-16T16:10:00.001-07:00

Let's hope that the coming week will help us see the paths of glory. Till then have a good time.

On the picture I am on Angel's Landing trail (June 2006)