Sunday, March 31, 2013
Touristic Propaganda
When you expect too much, life has very little to surprise you with. I stepped in the country of Montenegro without a clue of what it had to offer me and found paradise. The little country has a long dynamic history, people with emotions and strong opinions about their neighbours, beautiful beaches and islands, delicious food and beer, and great fortresses and mountains to hike. I sound like a travel guidebook but I think it is important for people to know that you don't need to be popular to be beautiful; a country without much touristic propaganda can and usually is more beautiful and real than those with it. Montenegro your history, buildings, music and people have pleasantly surprised me and I hope to give you all the touristic propaganda I can as thanks for these wonderful days for which you have hosted me.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Homeland War
Today we visited Fortress Imperial, an uphill hike from the city center of Dubrovnik. This fortress was one of the many buildings that witnessed the Homeland War during Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia, 20 years ago. From here we got the best possible view of Dubrovnik's walled city, where King's Landing was filmed in the popular tv series Game of Thrones.
Before the hike up, locals warned us to stay on the path. They are aware that land mines are still present in the forest. On the way to the trail, we witnessed many buildings with holes on the walls and doors. This made us realize how real and recent this war was.
In the fortress there was a museum that explained the war in detail, accompanied by pictures; pictures of bombs and fires, pictures of soldiers and civilians, pictures of destruction and desperation. The most interesting part of the day was walking inside the old city walls again, this time being able to compare the pictures we saw with the renovated buildings standing in front of us. If you keep your eyes open you notice the craters left behind by rockets used in 1992 on old stone walls throughout the city. It's my first time visiting a city that has gone through a recent war; I was left open mouthed.
Before the hike up, locals warned us to stay on the path. They are aware that land mines are still present in the forest. On the way to the trail, we witnessed many buildings with holes on the walls and doors. This made us realize how real and recent this war was.
In the fortress there was a museum that explained the war in detail, accompanied by pictures; pictures of bombs and fires, pictures of soldiers and civilians, pictures of destruction and desperation. The most interesting part of the day was walking inside the old city walls again, this time being able to compare the pictures we saw with the renovated buildings standing in front of us. If you keep your eyes open you notice the craters left behind by rockets used in 1992 on old stone walls throughout the city. It's my first time visiting a city that has gone through a recent war; I was left open mouthed.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Croatians
Croatians the most welcoming and kind people I have met in my life. They don't hesitate and go out of their way to help you. They invite you to dinner and to use their pool and sauna. They prove their love for the land they were born and grew up in without barging about it. They have kind smiles when talking to you even though their English is limited at times. I like Croatian people and I hope that when travellers visit my country I show them what Croatian have showed me these past few days.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Four Months
Four months. That's all the time you have to see the world. Is it long enough? No. But then again either is life.
I have accepted the fact that it is impossible to see it all, to smell, taste, hear and feel it all in one life. That doesn't mean hide due to fear of missing out; it should instead encourage you to make the best of the time you have.
I sit on a bus driving down the coast to one of the most beautiful places on earth or so I've heard; Split, Croatia. I haven't gone to bed before midnight since my trip started and my days start early; I am enjoying every minute of being awake. But being on this bus has made me realize something: I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open and I'm missing out on the beautiful scenery that lays in front of me. How ironic.
One of the wisest people I know warned me about completely exhausting myself. He advised me to take it easy, to finish walking before the sun sets, to not be greedy about sleeping or eating, to take care of my body because I'm stuck with it until the end. I would rather see three cities, fully submerging myself in the culture rather than ten where everywhere I go all I want to do is rest due to the lack of sleep from the night before. This is good advice.
The next few days will be in Croatia and Montenegro, relaxing by the beach, driving down the coast and walking in forests, over mountains. I feel like it's time to test the "rest" theory for a few days and see how my body reacts.
I have accepted the fact that it is impossible to see it all, to smell, taste, hear and feel it all in one life. That doesn't mean hide due to fear of missing out; it should instead encourage you to make the best of the time you have.
I sit on a bus driving down the coast to one of the most beautiful places on earth or so I've heard; Split, Croatia. I haven't gone to bed before midnight since my trip started and my days start early; I am enjoying every minute of being awake. But being on this bus has made me realize something: I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open and I'm missing out on the beautiful scenery that lays in front of me. How ironic.
One of the wisest people I know warned me about completely exhausting myself. He advised me to take it easy, to finish walking before the sun sets, to not be greedy about sleeping or eating, to take care of my body because I'm stuck with it until the end. I would rather see three cities, fully submerging myself in the culture rather than ten where everywhere I go all I want to do is rest due to the lack of sleep from the night before. This is good advice.
The next few days will be in Croatia and Montenegro, relaxing by the beach, driving down the coast and walking in forests, over mountains. I feel like it's time to test the "rest" theory for a few days and see how my body reacts.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Luisa
My sister, the craziest, most amazing person I know. From art to science, from good looks to an even better personality, from mature to immature in less than seconds, she is my inspiration and fills my every day with rays of sun. A girl who dreams and cries and laughs, a girl who lives and loves life. She guides me, not by showing me the way but by sanding beside me and supporting me, giving me tips to keep from losing myself.
A girl who is not afraid of people's thoughts. A girl who faces the world with a smile every morning because she knows something good is coming. A girl who is strong to stand up for her beliefs. A girl who wears her past like an old pair of jeans, and her emotions as the perfectly matching shirt. A girl who loves her family and friends, her hobbies and music.
My sister is a girl with passion and colour and life. She brings endless buckets of happiness to my life; I love every part of this crazy, amazing person.
A girl who is not afraid of people's thoughts. A girl who faces the world with a smile every morning because she knows something good is coming. A girl who is strong to stand up for her beliefs. A girl who wears her past like an old pair of jeans, and her emotions as the perfectly matching shirt. A girl who loves her family and friends, her hobbies and music.
My sister is a girl with passion and colour and life. She brings endless buckets of happiness to my life; I love every part of this crazy, amazing person.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Les Escargots Françaises
It's not everyday you have a platter of freshly cooked escargots in front of you, ready to be eaten in Lyon. It's very rare to try the coast of Spain's octopus in olive oil unless that's where you find yourself. Why not try an original pizza in Naples even if you've never liked tomatoes? Why not? Why back out of these situations? Due to fear? Fear you might like them?
Today we were invited to try escargots with a French-German family. We absolutely loved them. I have to confess I was a little bit hesitant about it at first, then I saw them and the hesitation grew. But why not? I dug one out of the shell with the fork provided and without looking at it too much I placed it in my mouth. Mmmmm! Let me give you and idea: garlic, butter and salt are the perfect combination, and all you can taste when eating escargots.
Back in Canada I had a hard time trying new things, putting strange food in my mouth. These past two months have taught me that life hands you opportunities and you have to be a coward not to take them. Because honestly, how often are you going to get to try real French escargot? You see the sights and take the pictures but a far better way to travel is to talk with locals and TRY EVERYTHING that is placed I front of you at dinner time because you might just fall in love with it.
Today we were invited to try escargots with a French-German family. We absolutely loved them. I have to confess I was a little bit hesitant about it at first, then I saw them and the hesitation grew. But why not? I dug one out of the shell with the fork provided and without looking at it too much I placed it in my mouth. Mmmmm! Let me give you and idea: garlic, butter and salt are the perfect combination, and all you can taste when eating escargots.
Back in Canada I had a hard time trying new things, putting strange food in my mouth. These past two months have taught me that life hands you opportunities and you have to be a coward not to take them. Because honestly, how often are you going to get to try real French escargot? You see the sights and take the pictures but a far better way to travel is to talk with locals and TRY EVERYTHING that is placed I front of you at dinner time because you might just fall in love with it.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Meanwhile at the Airport
Dear Spirits Who Watch Over Me,
Please remind me next time I put a piece of gum in my mouth to close it and chew without making a sound. Help me understand and not judge rude bus drivers for everyone has bad days. Remind me to keep a smile on my face and not look down at people who speak a different language or dress differently. Help me have patience with those who's priorities are being first at everything but forget that getting there is part of the adventure. Give me the courage to ask questions when I am lost. Let me appreciate parents who travel with their kids, for they are teaching them about the wonderful culture of traveling. Remind me that no smell is good sense and perfume is highly unnecessary to board a plane. Help me forgive those who pickpocket and steal, for I have more than they do. Bless me with good weather in my next destination. Guide me in the right direction to gate A02 and wish me a good flight. See you in Geneva.
Please remind me next time I put a piece of gum in my mouth to close it and chew without making a sound. Help me understand and not judge rude bus drivers for everyone has bad days. Remind me to keep a smile on my face and not look down at people who speak a different language or dress differently. Help me have patience with those who's priorities are being first at everything but forget that getting there is part of the adventure. Give me the courage to ask questions when I am lost. Let me appreciate parents who travel with their kids, for they are teaching them about the wonderful culture of traveling. Remind me that no smell is good sense and perfume is highly unnecessary to board a plane. Help me forgive those who pickpocket and steal, for I have more than they do. Bless me with good weather in my next destination. Guide me in the right direction to gate A02 and wish me a good flight. See you in Geneva.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Trapeze Swinger
You travel and meet new people. You travel and share stories and experiences. You travel and make friends. You travel and say goodbye.
The worst part of my trip is saying goodbye; it's like someone offering you to try the best chocolate bar you can imagine, then saying you will never have it again. You meet these fantastic people, you live with them for what seems a lifetime and then you're off to your next destination, forced to say goodbye knowing that if by any chance you meet up again it will never be the same. People change you, people offer a new perspective and they make you think, make you second guess your opinion. Every time you say hello, you are aware a goodbye is soon to follow. But this is life; it's a trapeze swing that is constantly taking you by surprise. It rips you out of a newly created family with no notice and swings you around into nothingness. You feel empty and alone. Then it brings you to this new landing where you know good people wait, they wait to hear your story and to share a glass of wine. It's this vertigo you get, your heart sinks. You have no idea what is to come next so you grip onto the trapeze swing. You hold on tight and hope the next place is good; a place with people you can share everything and speak your mind.
Tomorrow I say goodbye to my Australian friends. One I met a month ago and reunited in Rome, the other I have known for 3 days. I can easily say these are the closest friends I have made during my trip and will be visiting them on the other side of the world one day.
However one thing ends and the other starts; tomorrow I fly to Geneva where I will see Luisa for the first time in two months and I can't seem to wipe off the smile that covers my whole face. We have no plan and that's always the best plan. What matters is we'll be together again.
I am in Naples tonight. I sit with a ball of dough in my stomach from all the pizza I have eaten in the past two days and regret nothing. Today we visited Pompeii, a city that was covered with 5 meters of ashes from a sudden volcano eruption two thousand years ago. What's amazing is most of the fresco art is intact along with the mummified bodies that have been conserved by the ashes. I love history.
The worst part of my trip is saying goodbye; it's like someone offering you to try the best chocolate bar you can imagine, then saying you will never have it again. You meet these fantastic people, you live with them for what seems a lifetime and then you're off to your next destination, forced to say goodbye knowing that if by any chance you meet up again it will never be the same. People change you, people offer a new perspective and they make you think, make you second guess your opinion. Every time you say hello, you are aware a goodbye is soon to follow. But this is life; it's a trapeze swing that is constantly taking you by surprise. It rips you out of a newly created family with no notice and swings you around into nothingness. You feel empty and alone. Then it brings you to this new landing where you know good people wait, they wait to hear your story and to share a glass of wine. It's this vertigo you get, your heart sinks. You have no idea what is to come next so you grip onto the trapeze swing. You hold on tight and hope the next place is good; a place with people you can share everything and speak your mind.
Tomorrow I say goodbye to my Australian friends. One I met a month ago and reunited in Rome, the other I have known for 3 days. I can easily say these are the closest friends I have made during my trip and will be visiting them on the other side of the world one day.
However one thing ends and the other starts; tomorrow I fly to Geneva where I will see Luisa for the first time in two months and I can't seem to wipe off the smile that covers my whole face. We have no plan and that's always the best plan. What matters is we'll be together again.
I am in Naples tonight. I sit with a ball of dough in my stomach from all the pizza I have eaten in the past two days and regret nothing. Today we visited Pompeii, a city that was covered with 5 meters of ashes from a sudden volcano eruption two thousand years ago. What's amazing is most of the fresco art is intact along with the mummified bodies that have been conserved by the ashes. I love history.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Non Parlo Italiano
Today I got charged 93 euros for being on a train I did not pay for. How did this happen? I do not speak Italian.
Everyone knows that booking ahead of time is smart, and that making assumptions is not. When the ticket collector checked my confirmation ticket number, his little machine beeped telling him it was not valid. He spoke little English and charged me 93 euros. Confused, I searched for someone on the train who could translate. It turns out you have to not only reserve but also go to a ticket booth and pay in Italy. Lesson learned.
Italy has been an interesting experience. I think it's the first country I have visited in my life where I do not speak the language, making communication between me and the rest of the country very limited. Everywhere I have gone so far I have felt confident, yet these few days I have had trouble walking into a store because I don't even know how to greet the people inside. Italian and Spanish are similar and if someone had the time to talk slowly and clearly to me as if talking to a child, I don't doubt I'd understand parts of the message. But no one has that kind of patience around here.
Italian; a language where goodbye also means hello, a language of very little patience and too much speed, a language I am eager to learn.
Everyone knows that booking ahead of time is smart, and that making assumptions is not. When the ticket collector checked my confirmation ticket number, his little machine beeped telling him it was not valid. He spoke little English and charged me 93 euros. Confused, I searched for someone on the train who could translate. It turns out you have to not only reserve but also go to a ticket booth and pay in Italy. Lesson learned.
Italy has been an interesting experience. I think it's the first country I have visited in my life where I do not speak the language, making communication between me and the rest of the country very limited. Everywhere I have gone so far I have felt confident, yet these few days I have had trouble walking into a store because I don't even know how to greet the people inside. Italian and Spanish are similar and if someone had the time to talk slowly and clearly to me as if talking to a child, I don't doubt I'd understand parts of the message. But no one has that kind of patience around here.
Italian; a language where goodbye also means hello, a language of very little patience and too much speed, a language I am eager to learn.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
One of a Kind, Venice
Venice is enchanting. There are no cars or trams, no horns or ugly red lights. There are gondolas and water taxis, there are masks and colours and glass blowing, there is water and more water, there are tight alleyways and wide canals, there are smiles. I had goosebumps the whole day, walking into a store filled with magical masks and traditional dresses, turning onto a plaza with a beautiful Cathedral, bumping into an exhibition filled with genius machines designed by Leonardo da Vinci that make me want to walk on water, strolling over the small bridges that connect one neighbourhood to the next, peeking into the famous romantic gondolas.Venice is enchanting...
For people with a really bad sense of direction like me it is comforting to know that all roads lead to Rome, eventually. However this is not the case in the beautiful unique city of Venice. See here roads end with no warning. When you think you might be headed the right way, oops a dead end or oops a canal filled with bright aquamarine water and no bridge to cross it. So getting lost is part of the Venice adventure whether you plan for it or not. Venice is enchanting!
For people with a really bad sense of direction like me it is comforting to know that all roads lead to Rome, eventually. However this is not the case in the beautiful unique city of Venice. See here roads end with no warning. When you think you might be headed the right way, oops a dead end or oops a canal filled with bright aquamarine water and no bridge to cross it. So getting lost is part of the Venice adventure whether you plan for it or not. Venice is enchanting!
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