2013: Endings and Beginnings

Well, as the new year draws closer, so too does the end of this chapter in my life.  I am leaving Florida. I am returning home to Massachusetts.  Tonight as I was leaving one of Lenny & I's favorite spots - Boston's on the Beach, it began to really hit me. This is the last time I will be visiting Boston's as a local. As I walked back to my car I snapped a picture of a group of Christmas Palm trees, with their festive Christmas lights coiled and winding up to the top, something I had taken for granted, now pulling sentimentally at my heart strings - I will miss the little things like that. I looked to my right to see the ocean, shimmering in the moonlight, calm and serene. My beach. My dear beloved little beach town of Delray. Atlantic Avenue, beautiful, charming, even romantic. Everywhere I turn I see a memory, including my favorite restaurant of all time: The Blue Anchor. All the 101 dear little spots I have traversed and become so friendly with, I am now realizing that I am leaving behind.

There is such a finality to this, which I guess is why it is affecting me so. When I left MA, I knew very certainly I would be back one day. Without a doubt. I can't say that about FL, about Delray...and I think that is what hurts me the most. I have grown so much these past six years. I have really lived and learned here. Here I became truly independent. One does not know the meaning of the word independence until they have lived thousands of miles away from their closest friends and family, all alone, with no financial help or help of any kind, really. And I would not trade one second of this whole experience. Not the heartache of a relationship gone wrong. Not the insecurity of being in a town - in a state that is completely foreign. Not the stress of just making ends meet so that you can live in a beautiful place that you are proud to call home. Or shaking the nervousness of going out of the way to make new friends, or go on dates, or try out for a band. None of it.

I also broke out of the shackles that had held me for so long in the world of retail sales and into a new and refreshing 9-5 world. Another Florida first. My experience with the bank was one that I always will fondly look back on. Especially since they sent me to Ohio for their "AmTrust Idol" Christmas party contest, which was an amazing experience...though not quite as amazing as winning $1000 in the FL contest! But one of the best things to come from that contest was meeting a great friend. Indeed the people I worked with at the bank are still my favorite FL coworkers I have worked with.

Also, and probably most importantly, I have Florida to thank for my relationship with Lenny, which it seems is destiny. Being with Lenny and having him move to the east coast of Florida to be with me really opened up a whole new world. Since we fell in love and have been living together we have also shared our mutual love of music and opened each other up to countless new bands and sounds and concerts and experiences. With Lenny I really started living. With him I really got to know South Florida. With him I got to express my passion and love for music in so many ways. I will never be able to thank him enough for that, or simply for his companionship and encouragement and caring nature. I think our meeting was the reason we both came to Florida...it just took a couple years before we realized it. 

And now, it is all coming to an end. Six years. From age 24 (just about 25) to 31. God, did that go by in a flash. I feel like it will all seem like a dream once I am settled back in MA. I'm sure I will wonder if it ever really happened, if it was just some figment of my imagination...my beautiful Delray Beach. With it's gorgeous turquoise oceans and golden sand. The mansions that line A1A that I never dreamt I would get to walk in. (but thanks to my extremely cool boss, not only did I get to walk in his ocean front mansion, I got to hang out with baby lions and cougars in it too!) My little home community of Verano, with it's lake and "Dirty Dancing" bridge. All the festive and wonderful gatherings downtown, where they close the streets to let us party, or sell their wares, or have parades. Boston's on the Beach where every Sunday night the local and renowned Grateful Dead cover band Crazy Fingers would play. All of these things and more..make my heart feel so heavy. I am so excited to be going home...but the taste is just so bittersweet. I never knew I would fall in love with Delray Beach. I don't know if I will ever move back here, but I sure hope I will, perhaps as a snowbird...someday.

Home at Last...

Yes, that's right, I used a Steely Dan lyric/song name as my title. Though it's such a commonly used phrase, I'm sure no one would have realized that, hence my little explanation.

I go "home" next week. Home will always be Massachusetts. I am wishing & hoping for some crisp fall weather. Some cool, refreshing, sweater and boot wearing, zero humidity, perfect fall weather. A little foliage wouldn't be so bad either.

No matter the temperature, I will be going apple picking. All my life my family has traditionally and annually gone to Applecrest to apple pick. Applecrest is a pick your own apple and pumpkin farm that also has a bunch of crafts and folk art type stuff, along with home made pies, and cheese, and donuts and cider, etc.. - yum! I believe on the weekends they have all sorts of good things to eat such as corn on the cob and chowder as well. Far be it from me to break tradition, when I have the opportunity to keep the tradition going!

Applecrest Website

And apparently, Applecrest has now added a creamery???? Oh, I can't wait!

There will also be a trip into Boston, with a primary focus on the North End. Galleria Umberto, in particular. Man, oh man. Umberto's. You have to get there before they sell out of what you want. They only make so much a day, and once they sell it all, they close shop - and the lines are out the door, literally. I'm convinced Umberto's has THE BEST arancini on the planet. Seriously. I made sure to sample various arancini when I was in Sicily, and honestly, it did not compare.

In addition to Umberto's I'm sure Modern Pastry will be visited as well. Everyone will say that Mike's Pastry is the best, but Modern is the hidden jewel. My Dad recently informed me that he saw Parisian macarons being sold in Modern Pastry...so I'm pretty confident in saying I will be making a stop there.

One last place I need to mention that is always visited at least two times minimum when I come home - Kowloon. Oh do I love Kowloon. I love everything about it. From the volcano painted on the wall with the lava effect that looks like real lava a-brewin' to the trio of fountains in the heart of the restaurant that I always request to sit by, to the cheap plastic colorful lei they will give you with a large party. Not to mention the food - South Florida is severely lacking in the Chinese food department. I have not found one place that comes close to Kowloon. And find something similar to Kowloon's duck sauce? Forget about it. Same goes for the famous "Saugus Wings" and crab rangoon, and...hell...and everything. I love this place.

OK, non food related - my old stomping grounds: What used to be known as "Boston Street Cafe" is now called "O'Brien's." I admit, in my early 20's I spent many, many, many a night at that place. Especially the Tuesday open mic night every week. I met a lot of great friends and extremely talented musicians there, and actually got started singing in a band from frequenting the stage at open mic. The ties I made there have lasted and I always go back to sing when I am in town. For the past few years, Lenny and I have had most of the night to play all the songs we want..kind of a VIP treatment. ;) The same will happen this trip, and I really can't wait to be back in my element!

So, I'm hoping for a great *cold* non-humid trip home. And I hope to have some great foliage opportunities, I need to put my camera to more use!

The Pefect Souvenir

Above is a picture that I bought from an artist selling his work on a quaint little part of the sidewalk in Paris. It is my favorite keepsake that I brought back from my trip to Europe. When I went to have it framed, it just so happened that I got an amazing deal on the exact frame I wanted, and I think it suits the painting perfectly. I look at this picture everyday, and everyday I am reminded of that wonderful moment, heading to Notre Dame Cathedral, on the streets of Paris.

Songs Are Like Tattoos....

Joni Mitchell - Blue

Blue songs are like tattoos
You know I've been to sea before
Crown and anchor me
Or let me sail away
Hey Blue, here is a song for you
Ink on a pin
Underneath the skin
An empty space to fill in
Well there're so many sinking now
You've got to keep thinking
You can make it thru these waves
Acid, booze, and ass
Needles, guns, and grass
Lots of laughs, lots of laughs
Everybody's saying that hell's the hippest way to go
Well I don't think so
But I'm gonna take a look around it though
Blue I love you
Blue here is a shell for you
Inside you'll hear a sigh
A foggy lullaby
There is your song from me


So, I have always loved Joni Mitchell. But you know those moments when you are in just the right mood and a song comes on that hits you right in your soul and connects you to that song/artist much more intimately than it had before? Well, I had one of those moments a while ago. Court & Spark came on in the car, and it immediately filled me with overwhelming emotion in the short 2:54 moments that it consists of. Just such amazing lyrics and musical composition. I have been on a Joni binge ever since.

My latest song obsession is "Blue." My god. Could that song be any more sadly beautiful? I'm going to go ahead and say no. I listen to it over and over again, like I usually do with songs I fall in love with (I'm looking at you - "Roulette Dares (the Haunt of)". )
Even more soul wrenching is what happened when I knew it well enough to sing it. Singing those notes - it is an amazing experience. I am addicted to that as well. When I get to the part "Blue, I love you," I feel like it's me who is baring my soul. Maybe I am. It just has that impact. It's very cathartic. It makes me feel fortunate that I am able to experience those notes - as we all know how there are many people who are not able to sing, or sing in key!

Anyway, I just thought I would get this all out since I have been on such a Joni kick lately. She is such an amazingly talented singer/songwriter. I am just continually blown away by her. I love when that happens. :)

A Special Thanks To Tour Guides Everywhere...

If there is one thing I would recommend for people who are traveling to a foreign country and plan on visiting any museums or historic sites, it would be to find a great tour guide. Especially if it is your first time visiting a new country.

The trip I took not only had one main tour guide that was exceedingly knowledgeable and took us everywhere and told us everything about anything at any time - which was extremely convenient, but we also had the BEST local guide you could have in France. Having tour guides makes a huge difference in the amount of information and history you get when visiting historic places. This information is compounded exponentially if you have a guide who is passionate about what he does, and loves to pass on his passion, and pride for his country's history.

Our local tour guide, (whose name is frustratingly escaping me at the present moment) was exactly like Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, from his tone and inflection of voice, to his humor, to his movement. He was as entertaining to watch as he was interesting to listen to. I had him say my name (since it is a French name) just to hear an actual French person speak it...a French person that sounded like Lumiere, that is...
Our group had guided tours around Paris and he had superior knowledge about any point one could pick out. He also had very strong political views and let us know on no uncertain terms how he felt about certain leaders past and present, but the way in which he expressed these views was delightful and witty - never awkward or annoying.

If there is one place in Paris that it is imperative to have a tour guide for, The Louvre would be it. I could not imagine trying to tackle that labyrinth on my own. Not only that, it is impossible to get the sheer amount of history and/or folk lore that is behind any picture or painting you see with a pre-recorded head set or paper guide. Our local guide was a wealth of  historic data on just about every piece we encountered.

Lumiere took us through a little known entrance in the basement of the Louvre. We stood where the moat would have originally been, and were surrounded by the original medieval fortress walls - the only portion of the Louvre from that time that is still visible.  It was easy to hear him, thanks to the wireless headsets provided to us, and we knew we might have wandered a bit too far if we could not hear him through our earphones anymore.
Another place this came in handy was Versailles. The crowd  was so massive there it would have been pointless to have a tour guide trying to shout over the dull roar of people - thanks to the head sets, we never missed a word.
                                                                                                                                                       
Below: The fortress walls of The Louvre. Stonecutters were paid by how many stones they cut, to keep     track, they placed their unique trade mark on each stone that was theirs; this stonecutter left a heart,

The main tour guide we had was a nice older fellow named Robert. Robert was originally from England, but was very learned about all the countries we visited. He had that dry English humor that went over some people's heads..but it was so hilarious. He was also very fun and knew how to engage our group. When we all went out for dinner in Paris, he was up and dancing with everyone while the accordion player sang and played. Indeed, he took us to all the places that one must visit in every country, and also provided narration on our travels to each place, giving us perfectly told history lessons that I could have listened to forever.

So, thank you to tour guides everywhere for sharing your friendship, passion, and knowledge of these wonderful places we visit. You enhance your group's experiences so much more than imagined. Of course, thank you to my tour guides the most, whom I obviously believe were the best in the business! ;)

I Love Paris : The Eiffel Tower

Paris. I have been thinking about this amazing city a lot since returning from my trip. It truly is beautiful. It truly is the perfect place for those with a joie de vivre. As both an artist/musician I feel I had no other fate than to fall in love with Paris. Every hidden corner, every side street, every boulangerie or pâtisserie, every cafe, every restaurant, every shop, every last place you find yourself in is full of beauty and art, it's inescapable, it's wonderful - it's love.
 
 I remember driving in to Paris - I kept scanning the horizon for a glimpse of that icon, that tower amongst towers, one of the most well known structures that was ever built or ever will be built,  the emblem of France, of Paris - The Eiffel Tower. Was I really going to be seeing this in person? This is something I had actually dreamed about in my sleep, something that I knew had to be done someday, something that I have always wanted...and this was the day. It was really happening. I would be in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower today.

Then...I saw it. Faint and misty on the horizon, like some majestic shroud had been draped over it, giving it a mysterious and powerful effect as it stood so lofty above the rest of the city, above the rest of the world it seemed. I literally gasped upon that very first glance. This was surreal. In fact, it stayed surreal. Every famous sight that I had always seen in books or on television, now in front of me, just seemed a dream. It was enchanting.

 Standing in Trocadéro square at night at the top of the hour, just as the Eiffel tower started to sparkle, and the crowd that was gathered collectively gasped their approval in awe, was one of my favorite and most magical moments. I could have stood there watching forever and would have been perfectly happy. But alas, I had to eventually be pulled away to see some other breathtaking sights that the city of lights had to offer. If I had to put a conservative estimate on what percentage of Paris pictures that I took were of the Eiffel tower, I would have to say it would probably be about 50%. My obsession was THAT ridiculous. I could not stop taking pictures of the Eiffel tower in every light, angle, and setting possible. I think one of my favorite views/and pictures was the one I put at the top of this post - from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.   Europe Pictures 2012  < This is a link to my Europe 2012 album. It is just a jumble of some pictures of my entire trip to Europe. Some are unedited, and some are edited. They are kind of in order - the order starts over once or twice, though. It is just a fraction of the pictures I took, but I think there is enough there. As hard as it was, I tried to limit the number of Eiffel Tower pictures I put up. ;)

Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves...

Just as my Amsterdam experience would not have been complete had I not partaken in the smoking of marijuana, so too, would my Parisian experience not have truly been complete without an authentic gypsy encounter.

Nancy, Marshall, my father, and myself were all heading to Notre Dame Cathedral from Pont Alexandre III bridge. We had just finished exploring the beautiful bridge and had taken many pictures. We were immersed in conversation when we saw a rather small lady that was walking our way stop and bend down to pick something up off the ground. Naturally we were curious, as she stopped but a foot or two in front of us, and then came over and asked if anyone had lost a ring. She then held up what had been on the ground. A rather large wedding band. Obviously belonging to a man. Upon further inspection we noticed that it was 18k gold, as there was a stamp on the inside of the ring indicating so.

We congratulated her on her find and were about to go our merry way when she asked if any of us would like the ring. She indicated in her broken English that it was really of no use to her and she did not want it. Right away I thought this was strange, and figured she was up to something, but if she wanted to give me the ring, fake or not I would take it. It would make a great souvenir with a great story behind it. So, I took the ring.

We then started again on our trek to Notre Dame. We got only a few feet however, before the tiny lady came running back up to us. She asked for money in return for the ring. Then the light bulb went on in all of our heads at once. This was a gypsy. She had planted the ring on the sidewalk, or used her pro gypsy magic to make it appear as if the ring had been sitting there..who knows, these people are masters of their craft. Now here she was, trying to sucker money out of us. I started laughing and said, "ohhhh, this is a scam, I get it. If you needed money you could have just asked for it." With that I gave her one Euro. But she obviously had had much more in mind. So, I simply gave her back her ring, saying that she was a great actress. We all applauded her performance as she walked away...and she in turn, gave us the finger.

I couldn't believe we really just had a gypsy encounter. We were told to beware of gypsies the whole trip, but just like anywhere else I have been warned about - Mexico, NYC etc..I didn't really expect for anything to happen. She did get one Euro for her trouble, but that is one Euro I would have given her regardless - as I said, she could have just asked. I immediately knew this encounter would make for a great story, though.

Esmeralda she was not, but she was a great character in that little page of my life. Nice try, gypsy.

Beautiful Bruges

Bruges, Belgium. What a charming place to visit. Besides Paris, Bruges is where I took the most photos. I just couldn't stop. Everywhere I looked there was another picture, another perfect scene.

Along with Amsterdam, Bruges is said to be the "Venice of the North." Of course, neither city really compares to Venice as far as the canals go. I admit I am a bit biased, because I still consider Venice my favorite city I have ever visited - though I think Venice may now be tied with Paris. But, canals or not, both Amsterdam and Bruges were amazing, beautiful places to visit. Bruges quaint charm is what really got me. Some areas looked like they were right out of a fairy tale; especially the Béguinage which had a courtyard just covered in flowers at the time that we visited.

Among many different places of interest, The Madonna of Bruges - found in the Church of Our Lady - is one of Bruge's highlights for sure. We set out on a quest to get to the church before it closed at 4pm. Or at least that's  the time we thought it closed. When we got there we were relieved to find that the church wasn't closing until much later. Now, if only we could find the correct entrance...being with people from the tour group, which included friends Nancy and her husband Marshall, we all wandered about until a few people from our group decided to be daring and jump the turnstile in an area that was obviously not being used at the moment. Nancy and Marshall followed, as did I, being ever the risk taker. Even my dad joined in the shenanigans! Of course, we didn't get too far before we were approached by security, nicely asking us to go around and use a different entrance - and we all had a good laugh at what we had just done.
Once legally inside, we explored this beautiful church and found our way to the Madonna of Bruges; a sculpture of Mary holding the baby Jesus done by none other than Michelangelo.

After seeing the church we went and had some Belgian beer and Belgian fries in the town square, just chatting and people watching, taking it all in. Later on, Nancy and myself set out on our own little photography tour, finding some great hidden gems. Of course, our Belgian experience would not be complete without a trip to a chocolate shop. I had bought some chocolate in Brussels, but had not had my fill, and it seemed that every other store in Bruges was a chocolate shop! We went to a well known, and well reviewed shop called "The Chocolate Line" and it was definitely some of the best chocolate I have ever tasted.

The next day was a walking tour of Bruges, covering pretty much every place you should see, including the Basilica of the Holy Blood, where there is an elaborate tabernacle that supposedly holds the actual blood of Jesus Christ. The Basilica dates back to the 1100s.

So, as you can imagine, I took hundreds of pictures in Bruges. Here, I have posted only a handful - my favorites.

                                                           Below: The Madonna of Bruges

 Below: These "love padlocks" are found all over bridges and fences, etc. in Europe. Couples do this as a symbol of everlasting love for each other.

  

Here I am drinking a Belgian beer called Juliper, which I was later told was the Budweiser of Belgium! I never said I was a beer connoisseur. I thought it was delicious! ;)

Veneration of the Crown of Thorns

There was another rare, or rather, little known experience I got to have on my trip to Europe. I got to see the "Crown of Thorns" up close and personal at Notre Dame Cathedral.

For those that might not know what the Crown of Thorns is, let me enlighten you. Being raised in an extremely Catholic family, I feel I am more than qualified to do so! The Crown of Thorns was an instrument of torture and mockery that was placed on Jesus Christ's head by soldiers before he was crucified. The soldiers did this to mock the claims of Jesus that he was the "King of the Jews". It is basically a bunch of canes woven together in a circle, held together with gold threads, with many thorns attached to the crown. (At least that is what Notre Dame says it is.)

The Veneration of the Crown of Thorns takes place at Notre Dame Cathedral the first Friday of each month, for only a couple hours. The exception to this is during lent, when the Crown of Thorns is on display every Friday leading up to Easter. On Good Friday the crown is displayed from 10am to 5pm.

Of all the relics that Notre Dame has (a piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified on, and a nail that was used to nail him to the cross) The crown of thorns is considered the "most precious and most revered". Now, I am not a practicing Catholic anymore. I am not a practicing anything, as I don't believe in organized religion or the Christian idea of God, but it was an amazing opportunity to see this relic, because it is a part of history... A pretty BIG part of history. The funny part is, the Crown of Thorns has undergone a lot of studies and research, but it's authenticity can not be certified. The argument of its authenticity and the places this crown has been has spanned over 16 centuries and many different countries, and that is where the history part comes in...

In the year 409, Saint Paulinus of Nola makes mention of the crown being a relic kept in the basilica on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. There are accounts of it being seen again at the basilica at Mount Zion by Anthony the Martyr in 570. Between the 7th and 10th centuries the relic was moved to the Byzantine Emperors Chapel in Constantinople, to keep it safe from pillaging. By 1238 Latin Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople pawned the crown and other relics to a Venetian bank to get credit. Go figure.
Saint Louis, King of France paid back the Venetians in 1239 and brought the crown and other relics, back to France.
During the French Revolution,  the relics were kept at the national library.
In 1801, they were given back to the archbishop of Paris, where they were placed in the Cathedral Treasury. They are still kept there today. These relics have been protected by the canons of the Metropolitan Basilica Chapter, who are in charge of venerations. They are guarded by the Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. This has been the way since being placed in the Cathedral Treasury.

So, as you can see, Catholic or not, the Crown of Thorns has some amazing history, and is something very special to view in person. Not only did we get to view it, but we got to go up to it and...umm...kiss it. Yeah, kiss it.

We went to Notre Dame on Good Friday, and we had expected to stand in line for a quite a while to see this stupendous relic - but the line moved fast, and before we knew it we were shuffling right along, up the center of Notre Dame Cathedral, heading for the altar. I was wondering what I was going to do about taking a picture of it, since it seemed disrespectful. Luckily my decision was made for me by a very stern and authoritative man behind me who berated me and anyone he saw with a camera, his thick French accent barking out the order "NO PHOTOS!" Since he was dressed in some military outfit and was most likely the equivalent of a U.S. Navy Seal, I complied. He was the ONLY French person I met on my trip that was less than cordial and pleasant. It didn't matter anyway though, once amongst the few people at the front of the line, you were directed by many fancy looking religious men up to the crown. It all happened so quick, however, it also happened in slow motion because I was a little freaked out about having to kiss something that about a trillion and a half other people have kissed. They wipe the crown with a cloth after every person, and they say the cloth is soaked in alcohol...but I just didn't want to take that risk. I panicked and really didn't know what I was going to do until the final moment when I was face to face with this most historic of relics...it sat on an extravagant plush red pillow, just taunting me - and in that final moment of do or die, I went for it. I bent down and pretended to kiss the crown. No actual contact made. The crown wiper guy did his crown wiping thing - everyone was a winner. Nobody suspected a thing. What a relief. I watched as my friend Nancy also pulled the fake kiss trick, and it was all I could do to keep from bursting out laughing in the middle of Notre Dame Cathedral. She is Jewish...but after that very Catholic ordeal she referred to herself as "Catholish".

I will keep this experience in my arsenal of random facts about me..not everyone can claim that they have kissed the Crown of Thorns! ;)

Smoke 'Em While You Got 'Em

A few blog posts back, I wrote about my thoughts on smoking while I was in Amsterdam. I expressed my apathy regarding if I smoked or didn't smoke while visiting.

Well, of course...I smoked. Some kind of hash joint mixed with weed. It was nice. I had just finished having about 4 or 5 Heinekens on top of two shots of fruit infused Jenever - a traditional Dutch liquor that is similar to gin, but tastes more like vodka to me. I was feeling pretty, pretty good. Truth be told, I'm glad I did it. As I walked around the Red Light District with my happy buzz, I felt like I had really completed the whole Amsterdam experience.

Now, I am very glad I did it, as it seems that there will be a ban on tourists being able to smoke starting January 2013. Or at least there will try to be...there is still a final appeal to be made to the supreme court, so I have read.

Netherlands Bans Pot For Foreigners

A quick Google search turns up many, many articles discussing the enforcement of a new law banning everyone but Dutch residents from access to coffee shops. The locals would be issued a "pass" that lets them into the shops, and everyone else would be turned away. This ban has already started in areas south of Amsterdam, where apparently there has been a lot of drug related crime. The rest of the country has until January before the law would take full effect.

This was a topic of discussion on my trip. The locals we talked to didn't seem too worried. They told us that this has been attempted before - and it never works out. They seem to think it would be something that would not really be enforced, if passed - at least not in Amsterdam.

It seems ridiculous to me. I can only imagine how much revenue Amsterdam makes from tourists visiting just coffee shops alone. To take that revenue away seems like a foolish idea, seeing as their economy is not doing too well as it is. Also, I really don't see this ban stopping anyone who really wants to smoke from smoking. It simply makes the Dutch resident a middle man. I don't think it is going to drastically reduce any crime, either.

I guess all there is to do is wait and see how this all pans out...but I am definitely glad I chose to smoke while I was there.

Keukenhof - Most Beautiful Spring Gardens in the World

 I was in the right place at the right time for a couple of pretty rare things on my trip to Europe. Being able to experience the breath-taking Keukenhof Gardens in Holland was one of those rare things. It is only open from March 22 - May 20.

Keukenhof, located just south west of Amsterdam in a town named Lisse, is considered the world's largest flower garden. These meticulously maintained beautiful, sweeping gardens are situated on 15th century hunting grounds. The actual grounds of Castle Keukenhof are open all year round. 

The drive from Amsterdam to Keukenhof alone was already gorgeous enough to boast about. Field after field of tulips on both sides of the road. All perfectly lined up rows in all different colors - like giant rectangular rainbows. Perfectly stunning views at every turn. This was what I had hoped for. This was what I had dreamed it would be. Upon arriving and passing through the entrance to the grounds was a small pool of water, in the middle of the pool stood a tall and very interesting fountain - it looked like a dandelion that is ready to be wished upon. A bit away from that, I could hear what I can only describe as the "old-timey" sounds of a strange mechanical...music machine.

As you can see in the video I took, the little figures all move in time, tapping their batons to their bells. Kinda creepy. Definitely cool. I stood under it's strange spell for probably longer than I should have before I finally snapped out of it and began  to explore this floral fantasy land sprawling out before me in every direction.

I have never seen so many flowers in my life, and I have never seen more artistically arranged and unique displays of flowers in my life. I felt like Dorothy entering the land of Oz - the colors were so vibrant. Everything was so lush. I was lost in a gorgeous labyrinth of blooming pathways. Every different path leading to more and more beauty, meandering endlessly, introducing me to every flower known to man...or at least it seemed that way. At one point, I reached a pond filled with swans. The view from where I stood was just lovely. Overlooking rows of hot pink and pale pink tulips, emerald green grass that I'm sure rivals the greenest grasses of Ireland, perfect path ways winding along, scattered with trees standing guard here and there..and swans swimming gracefully by...such a vision.

After hours exploring Keukenhof, I was beyond tired. After all, I had been up well over 24 hours by this point. After checking in at the hotel at 6am, naturally the room wasn't going to be ready until afternoon...so the morning had been spent wandering the streets of Amsterdam, and then taking the train, followed by the Kekenhof shuttle to the gardens. I still can not believe how lucky I was to have been in Holland at the perfect time. I had not even heard of this place until right before my trip. And though I knew I wanted to see tulip fields, I certainly did not not know I would be fortunate enough to be around during the relatively small window of time the world famous Keukenhof  gardens would be open! I'm a pretty lucky gal....

Like So Many Before Me...

I may be a little late to the party here, but I just saw the J'Adore commercial with Charlize Theron - the one that was shot at Versailles. It got me thinking about a few things...

1. I love getting that "I've been there!!" feeling you get when you watch things like this - commercials or movies or TV shows that highlight a famous place you have been. It makes you feel like you are in some special exclusive club, and in a way, you are. There is also that feeling of awe you get when reflecting about how many others have been there before you; famous/rich/historical/influential and otherwise. Wandering the very same halls and rooms, feeling the grandeur, the wonder, the extravagance of it all. Exploring the very same grounds you have tread. And so many people after you will experience the very same thing. It's an inspiring feeling. If those walls could talk - the stories they could tell!

2. How expensive must it have been to rent out Versailles for that commercial? I can not even fathom it.

3. Upon first watching the video I noticed the model that played Marilyn Monroe was spot on. I mean, really, really spot on. I have never seen a Marilyn look-a-like that was closer to looking like her. It was almost alarming. I had to back up a few times just out of sheer amazement. Everything right down to her body language was just uncanny. This of course, was because it was not a model playing Marilyn Monroe. It WAS in fact Marilyn Monroe, flawlessly added into the commercial à la CGI, along with Marlene Dietrich and Grace Kelly! You gotta love technology. Amazing.

4. I have decided I am ready to go back to France again! ;)

Naturally I have to add a picture of myself in the very place the J'Adore commercial was filmed.

Versailles. There I am. Standing there in the Hall of Mirrors - like so many before me. Not quite ready to strut down the runway for Dior...but, I am there. An experience I will not soon forget, that's for sure.

Back From Europe - Quick Update

It comes and goes so fast. One minute you are thinking how your trip seems so very far away, and the next minute, you are back from all your travels, and back into the swing of  your every day life - it is crazy.

This is just a quick update about my musical choices on this trip. Boy did I pick some good ones, and I love that I will forever link them to this past trip.

Bass Communion - "Atmospherics" This album is a compilation of short pieces from other Bass Communion albums. It was perfect to listen to while gazing out of the window at the clouds on the long flights to and from Europe.

Kate Bush - "Aerial" What a work of art. This album was released in 2005, and is one of the newest albums from KB. It is gorgeous. So many different elements, styles, incorporation. The first disc (or fist half) is named "A Sea of Honey"  and has some truly beautiful songs. I also found it fitting that there is a song about Joan of Arc - "Joanni" - as she played a big part in the history of France. One of my favorite KB songs is also on this half of the album - "How to be Invisible".
The second half is named "A Sky of Honey" and is supposed to take place on a single summer day. There is the use of birds singing throughout this half, and KB at one point mimics the bird song, and it is very interesting. I  really enjoyed it. It is so fun to get acquainted with new albums of artists that you already love - especially when the albums are as amazing as this.

TOOL "Salival" - This one is not new to me. But I need TOOL to be in my soundtrack anywhere I am. And really, their "No Quarter" cover is just superb. I could and have listened to that song over and over.

The Beach Boys - "Pet Sounds" - Another album that I have always loved. It is like bringing an old friend with you. It is familiar and comfortable, yet never loses it's touch. Never gets old. "Caroline, No" will always bring a tear to my eyes, no matter how many times I hear it. "Wouldn't it be Nice" will always make me smile. I will always relate to "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" - the whole album is just timeless. Genius.

Porcupine Tree - "The Sky Moves Sideways" - I just love Porcupine Tree. They have so many albums that span so many different styles of music that it is hard to choose which album to give attention to. I had listened to The Sky Moves Sideways before, I knew I loved it - but I had time to really introduce myself to it and get to know it on this trip. On nights where I was still adjusting to the time change, I lay in my bed just immersed in this album. "Stars Die" of course, is just amazing, and I couldn't help but play it a few times in a row. I had a mix of all the different versions of this album which included different versions of "Moonloop" etc. Also, the "Moonloop" improv - very good stuff to listen to when you have nothing but time and can really dedicate yourself to the listening experience.

So, those were my main albums on the trip. Sprinkled here and there with some  Beatles "Let it Be", "Dark Side of the Moon" and some solo Steven Wilson (Both "Insurgentes" and "Grace for Drowning") I made some great musical memories, and also discovered some really amazing new albums. These things are just as important to me on a trip as the actual places I visit - so it really made it that much better.

SW Knows A Thing Or Two About Music.

Interview With Steven Wilson by PopMatters

Just came across this interview with Steven Wilson on the web. This man seriously knows what he is talking about in all areas of music. Below is a small portion of the interview.
I had a hard time picking what I wanted to paste into this blog - but this particular response really resonated with me...


"You’ve declared your love for pop music such as Donna Summer or ABBA. What do you make of the contemporary pop music landscape dominated by Lady Gaga and Katy Perry?
Pretty depressing, because it’s all generic. You can buy boxes that can make you sound like you sing in tune, even if you can’t. You can buy boxes that, at the push of a button, can give you the drum sound from a record that you like or a particular keyboard. It’s too easy, now, to sound like other people.

The epitome of that is American Idol where everyone appears to want to sound like Mariah Carey or Kelly Clarkson. That kind of style of singing has become a blueprint and so many people try to emulate that. You ask yourself how well someone like Tom Waits or Neil Young or Nick Drake would do if they went on American Idol. They would be laughed out of the audition. So we have a generation of artists coming through now believing that they should aspire to being generic. What I loved about pop music of the past—particularly artists like ABBA or The Carpenters—was that they were so unbelievably distinctive. I’m thinking back to an era where Marvin Gaye sounded nothing like Stevie Wonder, nothing like Aretha Franklin, nothing like Otis Redding. Now, even the white singers want to sound like that generic black R&B Soul voice. It’s boring."

AMEN.

Fighting the Dreaded Airplane/Travel Cold

As my trip draws ever closer, I have begun to arm myself against an old foe - the airplane germ. It is almost a given that if I am going to be on a plane, I am going to catch a cold. Well, at least it used to be a given. The past few years have been cold-free...::knocks on wood:: However, the past few years have not included a plane trip that was longer than 3 or 4 hours. This trip, I am determined to kick both airplane and travel germs asses like a ninja with my super immune system tactics.

Getting sick while traveling has got to be the WORST. I have told my sad story before, with the world's tiniest violin player sitting on my shoulder, playing as I typed out my woes...the story of how sick I was on my last full day in Rome back in 2002. How I forced myself to tour most of Rome in the morning, but just could not continue any longer by mid day. How I spent the rest of the day miserable and uncomfortable under the covers in my hotel room. No relief. No medicine. No Tylenol. No Tussin'. Not even a cough drop to soothe my fiery, swollen, sore throat from hell. I was shit out of luck because it was Easter Monday, and apparently on Easter Monday there are approximately zero stores open in Rome and the surrounding areas. (My Dad says that there should have been at least one pharmacy open...but such was my luck that day...)

But the story gets even more upsetting- The next day, even more sick than the previous day, I had to get onto a plane back to America.
FML.
It was the worst experience I have ever endured. The pressure from my sinus combined with the pressure in the airplane all but convinced me that my eyeballs were going to explode out of my head. At some point I swallowed a sip of water or something to that effect and went deaf in one ear. (which, hours and hours later whatever fluid that clogged up my ear unclogged and BURST like a gun shot going off in my eardrum...no THAT wasn't painful AT ALL) I sat in silent torture for hours on that plane. I continued to be sick and miserable for the following week before I finally got better. So the moral of this sad story - don't get sick while traveling.

The funny thing is, I have an extremely good immune system. Under normal circumstances I pretty much never get sick. I have been at my current job for about 3 years- never called out. Same with the job before that. If I do feel a little under the weather, my body usually fights it off within hours. My Dad is the same way, just  Never. Gets Sick.
It's just that the thought of how ill and miserable I was on that last day in Rome, and my not so great track record of airplane colds has, I guess, traumatized me into taking extreme precautions before any trip - especially a trip to Europe that requires long hours on planes/trains/busses and what have you.

So, starting a few days ago I began loading up on as much vitamin C as humanly possible. I am trying to consume lots of any vitamins, really. The more the better, right? I want to make my body an extremely hostile environment for any potential virus. I have also been taking allergy medicine- just in case. Lastly, I purchased a personal air purifier that does not emit ozone. Unfortunately I can not use the air purifier on the plane - which would really come in handy. But I can use it on the bus rides from country to country, and I am CONVINCED that is what caused me to get so sick all those years ago in Italy.

I am determined to conquer the wily and formidable enemy that is the airplane/travel cold. You will not get the better of me this time! ::shakes fist at sky::

The Soundtrack to a Trip

It is said that of the five senses, smell is the sense that triggers a person's memory the most. I do not believe that is true for me. For me, it is sound - music. I can tell you what year and exactly what I was doing/feeling simply from hearing a song. I can get a mental image, a clear and concise flash of the moment I was in.  As far back as my memory takes me - there is music there to trigger it.

When I am in the car, pretty much anytime I turn Sirius to "90's on 9" I have a blast. Every song that comes on evokes a different memory for me - school dances, jr high, summertime, crushes, high school, friends...it's like hopping into a time machine, I love the nostalgia.

By far the most vivid music based  memories I have are related to major trips that I have taken. My first trip to Italy and Sicily when I was 12 was dominated by Guns n' Roses. "The Spaghetti Incident" had just come out and I remember going to a record store just outside of the Trevi Fountain to purchase it. There was also Nirvana, who was in Rome promoting their last studio album "In Utero."

My next trip to Italy and Sicily when I was 14 was mostly a soundtrack of The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's to be exact. With a little Sam Black Church and Tree mixed in here and there (random, I know). There was also an Italian club mix that reminds me of hanging out with my cousins down by the beach - "The Summer is Crazy"  and the hilarious Italian rap song "Tranqi Funky."

My last trip to Italy was mostly a Tori Amos soundtrack - " To Venus and Back". Listening to any song off  that album immediately reminds me of rolling Italian country side as seen from my window on the tour bus.

Las Vegas reminds me of TOOL. Mexico reminds me of a different Tori Amos album - "From the Choirgirl Hotel." And my very first trip to Key West reminds me of Pink Floyd, especially "Us and Them."

So, as you can see, the soundtrack to a trip is very important (for me, anyway). With that in mind, I have been planning what music I want to listen to on this upcoming voyage. I know there will be various Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree, since I have been infatuated with Steven Wilson and his music for a while now. I know there will be Pink Floyd, Beatles and TOOL.
I have been thinking of what other music will make the cut for this trip, but haven't completely decided on any other artists, yet.

I can't wait to add some musical memories on my fourth trip to Europe!

Update On My Camera Decision

After thinking long and hard for many days, battling back and forth with myself about which camera to buy, I finally reached a decision, pulled the trigger, and purchased a camera last night.

I decided to go with the Canon Powershot SX40 HS.
Blame the Moon. Taunting me for so long to take pictures of it, and me always trying with my measly 5X optical zoom to capture its glory in vain. I just couldn't pass up the extravagance of a 35X optical zoom (among many, many other great features on this camera). Also, I found a really good deal for the camera including accessories online. And honestly, it really isn't as big as those mammoth DSLRs...I think I just worked myself up about it, since it was definitely bigger than any little point and shoot I have owned. I can't wait to start playing around with it and figure out the best settings for when I go to Europe - which by the way, is now only a month away...ahhhhhh!!!!!!

Jeanine: 1
Moon:    0

To DSLR or Not to DSLR....

That is the question. Whether tis' wiser to purchase a less expensive mirror-less compact, or spend an outrageous fortune...

I have decided that I want to upgrade my little Canon point and shoot to something a bit nicer for my trip to Europe. My first instinct was to go for the best (entry level) DSLR on the market. But, as I researched the top cameras out there, it became apparent to me that it may be foolish to invest so much money for something that is just a casual passion. I am not looking to make a return on my camera by selling my pictures. I am really not going to be using my pictures for anything other than my own enjoyment (and the enjoyment of my family and friends, of course), and although I love the art of taking pictures and playing around with the settings and effects, it is ultimately not a serious enough hobby to warrant such a purchase. There is also the unappealing thought of lugging  a bulky piece of equipment around Europe with me. I would either be wearing this giant thing around my neck or wearing a camera bag, and I know I would always be worrying about bashing my camera into things, and that is definitely not the way I want to spend my time while hopping around Holland, Belgium, and France.

Still, the allure of a "fancy" camera nagged at me. Of course, the big draw with a DSLR is the option of changing lenses. That idea was very attractive to me, until I talked some sense into myself again. Lenses, of course, are one of the main components that make the camera high quality - and they don't come cheap. Lenses are quite often more expensive than the whole camera itself, and unless I am going to make some money on it, or at least get my money's worth out of all these expensive lenses- I really don't see the point.

So, there it is. I talked myself out of purchasing a DSLR....comforted by the fact that I could always get one if I really, really wanted one, and that by that point it would be better than what's on the market today anyway.
Fortunately for me, the more I research, the more I find that the non DSLR cameras are getting to be more and more DSLR quality every day. So, so long Canon Rebel T2i, T3i, and Nikon D5100. I will save the extra hundreds I would have spent on you for a rainy day....or spend it in Europe. ;)

Now that I have decided against a DSLR, I have narrowed my choices down to two cameras; the Canon Powershot SX40 HS, or the Sony Cybershot HX9V. I am seriously torn between these two. The Canon has a staggering 35X optical zoom, and it does allow for filters to be used with the lens. But, it is still pretty bulky and awkward...and the bulkiness was, as mentioned, one of the turn offs for me when I considered the DSLRs. I really don't want to lug the thing around - not just in Europe, but anywhere.

The Sony was brought to my attention by my brother. My brother is one of the smartest guys I know- without being biased and without exaggeration. He, like myself, wants to buy the top of the line in pretty much anything, especially anything tech related. We get this need for superiority from our mom. She always had top of the line - from gadgets, to our Ethan Allen furniture, to our cars, to clothes and so on. She had a couple of extremely expensive Konica Minolta cameras - which we still have, and are still quality, but are obviously antiquated at this point in time, not to mention huge and heavy, but I digress...My brother really knows his stuff, especially where cars (he isn't general manager of a car dealership for nothing) and cameras are concerned, so I value his advice much more than any online reviews. He had recently bought a DSLR and returned it after a little use. The size was an annoyance for him as well. He told me that he had researched and found that the Sony (Sony, by the way actually has bought out Konica Minolta) was among the best on the market - and it was small enough to fit in his pocket! The specs are very close to the Canon. They even use the same CMOS sensor. The HX9V also has a patented panorama technology that allows you to simply sweep the camera from side to side to get an amazing panoramic picture.  Also, it has a wide angle lens, like the Canon, which was a big concern for me. The only potential downfall I had with the Sony was that it didn't have as much zoom (which is clearly why it is so much more compact), it does have a really great 16X optical zoom, which is nothing to sneeze at...but obviously it is not as impressive as a 35X optical zoom. As silly as it may be, that is my hang up.
"I want to be able to take pictures of the moon!" I said, to which my brother sensibly replied;
"Jeanine, how many times are you going to take pictures of the moon and how many times are you going to take pictures of friends and family?"
Point taken.
But I never said I was always sensible and rational. I told him that there were at least 20 times in recent memory where I have wanted to take a picture of the moon! ;)

I spoke with Lenny about the choices I was trying to make, including my stubborn, ridiculous hang up on shooting the moon - and he brought up a good compromise, he suggested we get a digital telescope at some point. I promptly looked up prices and images of the moon (and planets) taken from digital telescopes and found that they were pretty friggin' amazing. However, it would not be instant gratification as we most likely wouldn't be getting this digital telescope anytime soon...so, I remain utterly confused about which camera to purchase. I will let you know which one I eventually choose. It's a fun conundrum to have though, isn't it?

A Pleasant Surprise

I am usually one to hope for the best and expect the worst. Not in any extremely negative way...I would just say I'm optimistically cautious. So, naturally, I was needlessly worried about having given myself enough time to have my passport renewed. The travel.state.gov site told me that the current processing time for renewing a passport was 4-6 weeks, and I was cutting it kinda close by sending in my renewal application about 9 weeks before my trip.

Of course there was also the alarming notion that I messed up my application. I had all but convinced myself I had not followed the strict guidelines correctly, and would surely be receiving notification of my failure any day- to make my renewal deadline that much shorter i.e., even more nerve racking. I obsessively checked the passport site to see the status of my renewal, and was always met with the same vague, not so informative or reassuring message: "processing". So, I called the number listed on the passport site to speak to a real, live person. Surely a real, live person would be able to elaborate even just a little bit more on the status of my passport, right? Wrong. I was informed that I would have to send a hand written letter with my questions to get any specific answers. Ugh.

Welp, two weeks after I had sent in my passport renewal application I got a text from Lenny saying I had received official government mail. I knew it. I screwed up. The only good thing is that it was only two weeks in. I texted Lenny back that I was probably denied my passport, and could he please open up the envelope and tell me what it was? A moment later his reply was "hint: the pic is cute!"

I had been so resigned to the fact that I was going to be denied, that I didn't even entertain the idea that I would receive my passport so soon! It hadn't even been a full two weeks, let alone two business weeks, yet when I opened the envelope there it was- my new passport, in all it's official government document glory. Looking just as important and official as ever. Crises averted. I can follow directions after all! I can now rest easy knowing I can officially travel to my foreign destinations. It was a good day.

Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face...

Just a little something that popped into my head...

My best friend Becky was in Orlando this past weekend. Now, Orlando isn't exactly next door. It's actually about 3 hours away from where I live. However, when the distance between you and your best friend is about 1,500 miles away and you only get to see each other every 6 months or so, you go out of your way to meet up no matter what. Even if it's only for a few hours.

Since Becky was staying smack dab in the middle of theme park paradise, we had many choices for fun places to go. We narrowed those places down to two Disney theme parks; Epcot or Hollywood Studios- (Which I will always call "MGM", just like I never stopped calling the Boston Garden "The Garden")We finally decided on MGM...errr... Hollywood Studios.

I recommend going to places like Disney with your best friend. I mean, if you already have a blast in regular, humdrum, every day life, then naturally when going to one of the happiest places on Earth, your fun increases ten fold. Add in the love of taking billions of pics, most which include cheesy poses, and/or taking the time to try some trick photography, and you are beyond being in your element. But now I am rambling, so I digress....

While on a beer break somewhere between seeing "The Voyage of the Little Mermaid" and the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" play area, Becky and I studied our map of the park- scouring for attractions that we wanted to see. Right away my eyes fell on "The Great Movie Ride"- a ride that whisked you through the most memorable moments of many great films throughout the years. That obviously had my name all over it, and was targeted as our next ride to go on.

Like all attractions in Disney parks, we had a bit of a line to wait in before getting on the ride. Luckily, while you wait they pacify you by playing the old movie trailers of all the movies that are highlighted on the ride. One of the movies being "Singin' in the Rain". One of my all time favorites. Even just watching the trailer filled me with the kind of happiness that is so warm and comfortable- so familiar it brings a tear to your eyes. That wonderful feeling...just from the trailer!

So tonight, after the Patriots game (Super Bowl bound yahoooo!!!!!) I went to good ole' youtube and looked up probably one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history- the singin' in the rain scene. Pure euphoria. I really don't think there is any movie that can fill me with the absolute childlike joy that the singin' in the rain scene does. Maybe, and this is a big maybe, The Sound of Music comes close.

Anyway, after I got my fill of happiness and my guaranteed teary eyes, I got to thinking...Where is that magic in cinema now? I know there have been some amazing movies in recent time, but there really was something special, something elusive, something that can never be replicated again about that specific period. Was it the film in place of the exponentially expanding video technology of today? The Technicolor? The black and white? The music? The dancing? The talent? Probably all of it. It is bittersweet that the enchantment in a film like Singin' in the Rain will probably never be duplicated again. It makes me feel kinda sad that I was not around to take part in the romance of living in that time, though I am grateful to be able to watch these great films and feel a small part of it. Maybe though, if things were as magical now in movies as then...we wouldn't be able to appreciate those wonderful moments as much. Or maybe, 60 years from now, people will be feeling the same way I am about a movie like Chicago or Titanic and lamenting the fact that they were not around to live in such a time. But at this moment, after watching that beautiful and genuinely genius singing and dancing in the rain...I'm quite sure that is not going to be the case. Hollywood's "Golden Age" was called the golden age for a reason. I'm just happy we have some kind of access to that glorious, and wonderful space in time.

Thoughts About Amsterdam

Now I know I am officially old. Everytime someone finds out that one of the countries I am visiting will be Holland...more specifically that one of my main stops in Holland will be Amsterdam, the first thing they inquire about is if I plan on smoking weed, since it is legal to smoke in the coffee shops and all. My lame answer? "I don't know...maybe."

Young Jeanine wants to kick my ass. Who would go to Amsterdam without the number one intention of smoking it up? Old, fuddy duddy, post 20's Jeanine, I guess. I am much more interested in the architecture, the history, the culture, the food. I am very curious to try some Indonesian cuisine. I am also making it a point to try "Stroopwafels" which is supposedly two very thin waffle like layers stuck together with some super delicious, really bad for you, sugary sweet gooey goodness. That is at the top of my "food I need to try there" list.

I also love the fact that Amsterdam is similar to Venice- my favorite city in the world. I am eager to see if it can even remotely rival the charm of the amazingly beautiful "Queen of the Adriatic", but I seriously doubt it.
You know, now that I think about it, I also have no desire to wander into the red light district. At all. It kind of scares me actually!But I digress...More than just Amsterdam, I can't wait to see the windmills and the country side and hopefully...the tulips! And I am totally planning on buying some wooden shoes. I have wanted a pair since I was a toddler and watched Shirley Temple clog dance her little child star ass off in the movie "Heidi."

So there are my thoughts on visiting Holland. If I smoke, I smoke. (It is not even really, really legal there...there are some very strange laws regarding the smoking and distribution of marijuana.) If I don't smoke, it is no big deal. I am more interested in the country itself.
 Don't even get me started on how much I want to see and do and taste in France...and Belgium! This should certainly be an amazing trip.

Another Travel Adventure Looming

So, I am very excited. I am going to be traveling out of the country again- Holland, Belgium, and France! Everything is booked, everything is set. In some ways I don't think it has really set in yet that I am going to be embarking on another adventure into foreign lands. Maybe it's just too far away at the moment, and seems like a distant, hazy plan. That must be it.

As it turns out, my passport expired this month - January 2012. Getting a new passport picture has already been an adventure. I figured I would just go to Walgreens, as I knew that they took passport photos and that it was much more convenient for me to get to than anywhere else. FAIL. It took 4 people and about 45 minutes to figure out how to take a picture with the right dimensions and print it out. At one point I was helping them navigate their own system, but unfortunately they still could not grasp what they were doing. They took my picture about 5 times until finally a manager (that I had asked for from the very start) came up and finished the transaction in probably under 30 seconds. Gotta love incompetence.

Anyway, I can't wait to add my stories on here- and I again feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to see all these amazing places, and experience all these different cultures. I love adventures!!!!