600 pictures - 10 really good ones

I've been trying to sort out the massive amount of pictures from last month with varying degrees of success. My $150 Olympus definitely proved its worth, despite being a rushed purchase with no optical zoom and a plastic casing. I was so relieved to upload them on the computer, as at least two of the Scottish student diaspora had cameras stolen and photos lost.

I realized very quickly that the endless cathedral and landscape shots would blend together in numb insignificance, so I tried to take as many personal perspective shots (feet in the water, hands on the steering wheel (had help on that one) as well as a myriad of food and drink experiences. So I'll be posting a selection from each geographical area, I hope you enjoy them.

It was a lovely day and a real refresher to be back on a beach. San Sebastian itself was a little ritzy for my tastes, but the sun was free.

We hiked a small hill to check out the castle. Gorgeous views overlooked the old city, beaches and harbor.


Kara made an awesome vegan torilla, replacing the essential egg with garbanzo paste. This added a mealy texture that bound up the vegetables in their own natural flavors. I thought it was tastier than most traditional versions.

Dawn at Parque Buen Reitito. This city doesn't get going until 10am so things were a little quiet at 6:30.

I actually considered spending a night here as I only booked one night in advance, and every hostel I tried was booked solid. Luckily the best one in town had a cancellation.

Sexy

Introducing my 17 part series: pensive portraits in front of world parliments

They're everywhere.

This was the only guy I gave money to during the trip.

frambuesa y cafe, so good.

It was sad to say goodbye to Spain, but it was time to bro it down in Eastern Europe, and I knew I'd be returning in a month anyhow. In the Metro I ran into a friend from Ed, one of many serendipitous experiences to come. I flew on an airline called Smartwings, a carrier I had never heard of. Apparently the people at the airport information desk hadn't either. About to panic, I questioned Iberian airlines, who luckily pointed me in the right direction, four terminals away. I met up with Josh at the terminal in Prague, only after seeing another friend from Ed claiming his luggage after his flight from JFK...weird.

so a month later, and I'm back in 227, Pollock village. a month's journey of chance and adventure- dirty clothes, 600 pictures, 15 coasters, friend reuinions, spring in scotland, surprising sunsine, four new albums, afro, vegan chili and a baked potato on Cockburn, shower, internet, Triptych Music Festival, Beltane Fire Festival, Ryan Air complaint form, Ryan Air compensation form, Ryan Air boarding pass stub, reciepts for Eurostar train and GNER ticket from London, Palmyra felafel...

I haven't decided if exams are worrying me yet, is in eleven days, plenty of time to rebuild my home.

Alone in Belgium

Three days and counting until I return to my 2nd home, and it can't come quickly enough. It probably would have been smarter to end this trip w/ the most exotic, instead of the most lame. Brussels is ok, but a month's worth of grit and thoughts of Eds are beginning to grind. Ellie Roberta and I had an excellent time in Munich and Cologne, definitely collected a few more stories, though I'm not sure if Ellie's reason for missing the train Friday is disclosed (well, beer garden, no food, 2 litres of beer).

The Marriot was a welcome change- room service, feather top king sized bed, free. So on to Brugge tomorrow, perhaps Ghent on Tuesday, but back to Scotland on Wed baby, Beltane festival, the hip hop on Saturday (Edan among others), exams. See you soon.

Munich
Last night on the beer house tour Ellie grabs me on the sidewalk. Holy shit! small world. So on to Cologne instead tomorrow, staying in style for free at the Marriot.

Back to Vienna

I am officially freaked out; returning to this metropolitan city after five nights on the Dalmatian Coast and one night in Zagreb. My tour through Croatia was an absolute slice of heaven. We got into Zagreb after a 6am train, wrestled with the Budget Car Rental people's English, then repeated the process with Avis. Our car was a very stylish Opel hatchback, and it really was the star of the trip. We got to see so much more becasue of it. The itenerary (planned sometimes as much as 12 hours ahead) went something like this...

Took the A-1 (brand new highway) down to Plentvice Lakes National Park, home to 17 carribean blue lakes and one of the biggest and most dramatic series of waterfalls I had ever seen. Lying in the center of the country, the climate was actually sub-alpine, contrary to my promise to my traveling companion of surf and sun. As usual, it was invaluable to get out of the city. We stayed in a sobe (private room) in a woman's house, for about 1 5 bucks each.

After two half-days hiking, we drove on to Split, Croatia's second biggest city. Luck couldn't have shone on us brighter as we were offered an even bigger room, with a private shower, cable tv, and most significantly, a private terrace overlooking the staggered rooftops and balconies right in the middle of old town. Oh yeah, and a gorgeous view of the Adriatic sea. So we checked out Dioclecian's Palace, a 2000 year old walled Roman complex. Instead of roping this most central section of town, turning it into a musuem and charging 300 kuna admission, Split celebrates its history by packing it full of local cafes, shops, clubs and restaurants: a place where the actual people can enjoy and experience the history. I can't describe just how cool this was, and how shocking/refreshing it was to see children swing around marble ionic columns and jump over a two century old Egyptian sphynx.

The next morning we took a ferry to the island of Brac, the largest island in Croatia in geography but still very small in population when compared to some of the others. Once again, the car proved invaluable. We drove around the entire island, poking our heads into sleepy towns, deserted beaches and coves, and just generally not being able to stop smiling. We saw a 400 meter long white pebble beach that is so thin that it shifts shape with the wind and currents. I ordered some delicious grilled shark, and ate it 4 meters from the sea. We found one tucked away fishing village that just seemed so untouched by the modern world, I felt uncomfortable for a moment, like an interloper.

So on to Dubrovnik, one of the most unique cities in the world. Once again we stayed in a sobe inside the walled old town. We saw some museums, ate great pizza, went to a jazz bar, walked the entire perimeter of the city walls...

But you know, it's not just that I've got seven minutes left on this coin operated computer, but the rest isn't that important, or at least as significant as what I really got out of the last six days. For the first time in a long time, I felt optimistic again. I could sit on a rocky cliff, gazing out at the sea, sitting next to a former stranger, now someone who I really connected with, and just be happy for the chance-

the chance to experience something genuinely good. The world can be a dark hungry unforgiving place, but there's just as much light and nourishment out there. So no energy crisis talk from me for a while. No casual nihilism. I'm a little sick of it. If you can find something genuinely good in life, praise it, hold it up.

Prague was a little like Disneyland. We stayed right off the city center square behind Tyn Church, with hustlers and dealers trying to shake you down at every corner. The architecture was incredible, as was the architecture. Prague castle's got nothing on Edinbrugh, though the Charles bridge and Voldrstrom fortress were definite highlights. Kelli, we tried to hit up the Roxy but it was closed the two nights we stopped by. We did however hit up the akropolis which was awesome, the only place we wen to w/ actual czech kids hanging out. We also caught a playoff hockey game for three bucks, which was incredible; as was the 1.50 beer and bratwurst.

So on to Budapest in the morning, the furthest east of the trip. I expected there to be gypsies and scammers trying to fuck us over every step of the way, absolutely not the case, It's a beautiful cosmopolitan city, one that tourists have yet to infect. We went to the opera Saturday night and tried to do as much as we could during the day, hitting the pavement at 9am. Great city, very much alive and authentic, though the Hungarians made me feel a little uncomfortable. A few shot some ugly looks to a Jewish friend Im travelling with.

So on to Vienna, perhaps my favorite city so far. Every corner you turn there's a magnificent palace or city hall or musuem. It all gets a little depressing after a while though when you think of all the people who died of starvation whilst the Hapsburgs feasted on their golden services. The beers great though, as are the brats. The museums are numerous and impressive. If I knew German I would have liked to have studied here.

So Croatia Thursday. Dawn train to the capital, then renting a car to a national park for a little rest and rejuvination in nature, Might be a while til the next one.
peace

travel haiku

net's not cheap prague is
green absinthe and old castles
budapest friday

I ve been making a strict policy of ending every visit to a city by stealing away in the night hammered. I left pais vasco at 130 and arrived in Madrid at 630 after a pretty good night of partying. My departure was like the last helicopter leaving the Saigon embassy, except for running to the roof for a helicpoter, I ran from the roof to a taxi, watching a drunk Ellie bitch out a basque girl who tried to steal it.

Ellie and friends, I had a fantstic visit. it sucks that as soon as I get comfortable somewhere, it´s time to leave. Scratch that, it´s awesome. Comfort is boring. Roberta and Kara, come to Scotland, or Fburg. Ellie, don´t stay the summer. 8 months was too long, you´re missed in fred vegas.

So I woke up in Madrid alone and burnt out. It was nice beating the rest of the city to the day, a good hour before regular people went to work. Dawn pics are good. Madrid´s big and busy, not like cute san sebastian or quiet santander. The art is fantastic. Went out w/ an italian dude and 2 romanian girls, one of which made me feel a lot better about leaving my writing notebook on the bus from Bilbao. "You have to live your life, not write it." True, and I won´t lose my blog.

So 1st personal item m.i.a., but barcelonas gonna kick real madrids ass tonight, and Ill go to bed early to see the prado all day mañana.
paz

p.s.
oh, and some music Ive been rocking lately, getting me through the metropolitan wastelands and soothing me to sleep:

The Flaming Lips - Entire new album
J Dilla - Donuts
Roe Allison & Chip Bond - Cést Ci Bon
Madlib - Entire new album
Gangstar - Code of the Streets
Bonnie Price Charlie - Love Me
and of course, Nastradoomus