Barcelona

Greetings,

Im off today after spending the last week in/around Barcelona. What an incredible city. I spend the first night in the city on a Saturday night pub crawl with over 80 people from around the world, danced in an underground old Gothic grotto and then ended the night at one of the notorious clubs. Spent the days wondering around the city, super narrow lanes, saw some Gaudi architecture and art and enjoyed the sunny days on the Mediterranean beach. I went clubbing, met up with an old friend from Kimberley - yea Chelsea - hung out with some cool dudes from Belgium, shopped, lost things, found things, jammed with a collective of musicians in a jazz/salsa club......but was however kicked off the congas after a few minutes of me being unable to quite find the rhythm. I relinquished my place to one of the other players took over and ended the session. Drank beer, sangria and wine on the streets, on the beach, and in numerous restaurants, bars, clubs, lounges etc. Ate amazing food, tapas and big lunches. Relaxed.

One morning, I decided to get out, explore the region and try to use up some more of my rail pass. To I spent the day ´Riding the Rails´ with no real destination in mind, just the Costa Brava region, along the northern Spanish coast. I was thrilled and excited with this prospect of ending up where I ended up. I was only prepared for a day on the beach (trunks, towel, book) and my skate. I ended up going to this city Figueres, where I had my mind blown for a few hours at the Salvador Dali museum and theater, before catching another bus to this super small place on the rocky Catalan coast called Cadeques, where Dali lived. I had my wallet, was booked into the hostel in Barcelona for the night and had a ticket for the Sonar music festival the following day back in Barcelona.....other than that I was just on the move.

I accidentally got off the bus in the wrong city.....opps, but was for the best as I had my beach time on the white sand beaches, got a massage by a Chinese man, skated around the old street and swam in the blue salty water of the Mediterranean Sea. I finally made it into Cadeques, checked into a small Bed and Breakfast -the Matrimonial suite- and had dinner and wine in this Italian restaurant, the inside looked like it was dug out of a cave. I took the rest of my wine with my as I exited the restaurant and proceeded to watch a lightning storm dance across the sky. Rugged coastline, small rocky beach, hotels in classic blocky and white walled pose along this small coastal bay, narrow cobble streets, grass growing through, adorned with cafes and restaurants with mad class, style and charisma. As I watched the bobbing sailboats light up with each lightning strike and the metronome consistency of the lighthouse on the point, my thoughts wondered to the past where perhaps the surreal and magnificent imagination of Dali himself sat at this view, conjuring up fantastical ideas and peices...

Next day, what a contrast, I jetted back to Barcelona for the afternoon where I went to the multi-day Sonar Electronic music festival. I hooked up with my Belgium friends, and watched Djs and live acts from all over Europe and the UK perform in the day hours. This was such a wild scene. Heavy euro electronica scene. I hung out all afternoon before hitting the hay early last night.

Im heading back to London tonight, and then Vancouver tomorrow afternoon. What a trip. So good. Till next time.
Jeff

Paris and Anglet, San Sebastian, Barcelona

I arrived in Paris after sneaking into a cancelled train seat last Friday night and arrived early Sat morning. I randomly ended up at France's largest hostel (450 beds)-haywire place- and spent the day exploring the city and going up the Eiffel Tower, witnessing the historic city on a cloudless day. Everyone was making out all day.....get a room. Totally cool to see how open and affectionate people are over here. Its rad.

I hooked up in the evening with a group of other hostel goers and experienced the night life, which was pretty ridiculous as I didn't get home until 6 am due to getting lost and being absolutely unable to catch a cab. Had a picnic in a park beside the Eiffel tower, which was built by Gustav Eiffel, he used to host special meeting with distinguished people, such as Thomas Edison. Fascinating stuff. I took a boat tour down the Seine River, and got some history and dirt on iconic landmarks such as the Notre Dam and The Louvre. Napoleon used to have the Mona Lisa hanging on the wall of his bedroom. Scandalous. I went shopping the next day and got a fudufafa hair cut in Paris; what an experience, the stylist was so professional and methodical. So business. I also did a fast track tour of the Louvre in the afternoon and saw some great art. I really liked all of the Greek sculptures, especially the one of Hercules. 13th Century French paintings were cool too. The Mona Lisa is actually small, so if your after big peices, its likely to disappoint. haha I joke

That night I caught a night train to Biarritz and then to Anglet, a small coastal town in Southern France with some seriously heavy surf and a relaxed atmosphere. The hostel was rad- thanks Cor. I rented a board and wet suit the first day and got battered around for a bit. The combination of being solo, new beach and the language barrier was enough to intimidate me out of the water after a good working and that was the extent of my efforts. I explored Anglet for the rest of the day and drank wine on the beach till early morning.

The following day I bought a skate board, as I was sick and tired of walking everywhere. The roads in that area were great, fresh blacktop, so I skated to Biarritz down the slick old streets.

I travelled across the France/Spain line on Thursday and spent a couple days in San Sebastian. This is one of the coolest places I have ever been. Old city, not too big, everything going on right in town. I had a tear there for a couple days before heading to Barcelona, today. Should be good to go on a saturday night.

Next, im not really sure. Possibly Ibiza, or Marocco, or stay put in Barcelona....what do you think?

PS thanks so much for all the encouragement with this blog. I was pretty nervous and self consious about it and your support has really meant a lot.
Looking forward to a rockin summer back home.

Talk soon
Love Jeff

Week 1 - UK, Ireland

So after one week in the old country, its very apparent that one needs far more time to spend in the UK and Ireland. Fantastic few days exploring London and Ireland.

Camden market, Camden lock, people watching is off the hook at this sprawling bazaar, very fashion forward, uber trendy and super styled out scenesters all over pockets of London. Classic drinking in old taverns in London, met up with 3 American fellas and spent the first night sampling the plethora of laagers, stouts, ales and ciders. Found the oldest pub in London. Parliament building, saw Big Ben, the worlds best clock. Big Beautiful Ben as I like to call it. Its a thing of beauty that Old Big Ben. Westminster Abby - amazing architecture. Randomly decided to take a fright club tour and got scared senseless with 4 London girls at this live action haunted house called the Living Dead, basically a zombie themed haunted house. Went to the London Zoo, and saw sea horses, what incredible animals. Fascinating. They have this glass tunnel that you walk through and sharks, sea turtles, countless species of fish and other aquatic organisms swim inces over top of you as you walk through this tunnel. Very cool. I had the lovely fortune of rendezvousing with the always lovely miss Katie Dodd, in Piccadilly circus, where we had a beer and caught up. We went shopping and lost each other. Fashionable.
Next morning I started out early and caught my flight to Dublin. I met this lovely lady, Zoe, from Paris on the flight and she refereed me to the hostel she was staying at. Checked in and spend the day hanging out with her and her younger brother Nicholas, who is studying abroad in Ireland. Pubs, pubs, beer garden pubs, drinking on a boat, guineas, harp, carlsberg, oh my. What a fantastic place. Super friendly, helpful, easy going and blue bird weather. I did a 3 hour solo pub crawl before the Willie Nelson concert, so was just primed for the show, only to find out that the show was scheduled for the next day. What an idiot. That's fine, I just went somewhere else.
Next day Zoe, Nicholas and I did the typical tourist thing and ventured all over town looking for antique shops. What a cool way to get a sense of the country. I bough a faux fur winter Russian hat - so Irish, and drank a pint of Guinness at the oldest pub in Ireland, established 1196. We tapped into some graffiti street art in Dublin, which we were able to enjoy from a hospitable Argentinian gal named Jackie. Had a beer on her roof top in the sun. Went to Willie on a borrowed bike, a cycled through the unknown and unfamiliar streets of Dublin on route to the O2 arena, which was a great, intimate venue. Got backstage to the VIP bar, exercising my sleuth/detective skills, and enjoyed the phenomenal concert front row. I literally could have thrown a piece of pop corn onto the stage. Classic. so good. so solid. I didn't get to meet Willie, but I did shake his hand. What a complete ruler. did some street busking, made a few bucks, and then went out on the town with this lady Sharon. Went to a metal bar, a mod bar, an Irish bar, a disco bar, and i cant keep track. Got up early this morning and caught my flight back to London. Lost my favorite wolf sweater in some pub in Dublin, but you know what they say, "Sometimes she go, sometimes she don't".

Had a nap in a park in London, and am waiting to catch a night bus to Paris this evening. So pumped and looking forward to some more relaxed times ahead. France, Spain perhaps Morocco here I come. Are you ready? Yes, OK.

Hopefully I can attach some photos some photos from the last week.
For now,
JR