Do you like chocolate, french fries, beer and waffles? Then Belgium is for you.

But ya, there's not much else to say about Belgium.  I realize more and more that my mindset going into a place plays a HUGE part in my perception of it.  Not a huge fan of Barcelona.  Go figure.  

Have you every come to a place and realized that for this exact moment in your life THAT place is exactly where you need to be?  It encompasses all of your thoughts, your mod, your tastes, the sights, the smells, the attitude - everything that YOU currently ARE is what that PLACE has always  BEEN.  It's like a city soul-mate.

I found that place in Bruges.  It's a place to be quietly alone among like-minded travelers - not Americans, mostly Europeans.   Everyone rides bikes down the wrong side of the road - which could possibly be a metaphor for my life.

Its not too sunny, not too cold, not too big, not too small - and more than anything, everything is smothered in chocolate.

It's called the "Venice of the north" for a reason.

They even have statues to bicycles.

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Silence is Golden

Let me preface this by saying that I love to talk.  If I'm really passionate about something and you get me going, you know that I won't shut up.  And I usually have to have the last word.  And I always have to finish my train of thought.  And I love being the center of attention.

All of that being said... I am so glad that I'm about to have 2 days off, by myself, to not talk to people.  I plan on being very unfriendly and unsociable.  I plan on eating and drinking alone.  I am going to play the silent game and WIN!  I am very excited about this.  

Being in a job where you talk to people constantly becomes so draining after a while that you just need silence to listen to someone else talk.  My voice is driving me nuts.  I could hear the lack of enthusiasm and exhaustion.  I'm tired to talking about the same old things in Paris and getting excited about something that has, frankly, become rather mundane.  

Yes, I see Notre Dame and the Louvre everyday.  

Yes, they are beautiful.  

Yes, they are old.  

No, I don't care.  

I need something to spice up my French history schpiel... its becoming a little too auto-pilot.

Not only that, but I think everyone is experiencing the same thing.  We're tired of tours, we're tired of tourists, we're tired of bike continuously breaking down.  There was a night last week when everyone was trying to get out of their tours - we're sick of work.

So hopefully tonight and the next 2 days will be Fat Tire free.  

Don't worry, I still love Paris, I still love to talk, but I need some ME time.

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Planning is for Losers

I don't really know why I even attempt to make plans... I'm turning into Leah circa sophomore year of college - every week I have a new career-path-goal-thing.  

Last week the plan was: move to Austin, find a PR job.

This week the plan is: move to Houston, become a teacher.

I started looking around me last night as Katie Dunn and I were frantically dancing to "Motown Philly" in a crazy Parisian apartment with 10 people that we didn't know... all my friends are teachers.  Not only that, but they are some of the most well travelled people I know.  I've been trying to come up with a job that would still allow me to do all the things I love... learn new things, talk to people, get people excited about something, and travel the world!  So... I can do all those things in a teaching career!!!

We'll see how it goes, but any and all advice and/or thoughts on my newest career-path-goal thing is welcomed.

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Revolutionary July!!

July:  Time for revolutions.  I counted - there are 21 countries with Independence Days in July.  Is it the heat?  Or is it just that time?  July is halfway through the year - maybe your New Years resolutions didn't work out; maybe a lot of things didn't work out.  So, July - you get a New Years Part 2.  A 6 month resolution is just as good as one for the whole year.  Is like a mid-way do-over.  A mulligan of sorts... you can't just start the game over, but you can reset the lay of the land.  

So Canada Day is July 1st - and I think the consensus was, "What the hell is Canada Day?"  Even the Canadians on my tours forgot about it.  Hilarious.

Then the 4th of July - working our way up.  The United States signs a piece of paper saying that we're independent from Britain... neat.  But we celebrate it every year with fireworks... and in our case, jello shots.  Nothing says America like jello shots.  Our beautiful hostess, Shannon, showing off her masterpieces.

Not to mention she has a ROCKIN' apartment and a great fedora collection.

And onto maybe my favorite July holiday.  Bastille Day.  If you don't remember my history lesson from last year, then just know that its by far the bloodiest and most anti-climactic out of the July revolutions.

The paratroopers jumping out of planes!

Scott looking cool in front of the tower - you can see the ridiculous amount of people.

And we had a reunion of FTBT-TC2'08... I wish we had gotten a picture of all of us, but here's me and Peaches (Threkeld, Carolyn, Devin and Smash were there too!)

And then there were the fireworks... omg, so much better than last year!! They basically did an "Eiffel Tower through the ages" kinda thing.  It was fantastic.  You can see the ridiculous amount of people that were there in the picture below.

Above: Welcome to the 60's!!  

Keep on rockin'.

Some revolutions change your life.  I've had my July revolution as well - when your life seems to be going in one direction, and then suddenly does a 180.  But - all is well;  I'm going to Bruges next week - only 2.5 more months in Europe... time flies when you're having fun.

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Gracias... Merci... Barthelona

So... Santa might not eat tapas, but I DO!!!!

I would most definitely say that the bike tour was my favorite part of the trip... but that was also the only day that it was sunny.

In front of the Arc du Triomphe du Spain

Opera house... I love the crazy Barcelona architecture.

A fountain that 2 guys and Gaudi designed... but just like almost everything else in Barcelona, it was under construction.

The market right off Las Ramblas was one of the coolest places... it was like the Versailles market - except they sold smoothies... I miss smoothies.

Other interesting things you see in Spain... a full pigs head.  My only question is, what exactly do you do with that?

Candyland... literally.

Then there's Gaudi.  I'm not really sure if that's where the word "gaudy" comes from... but it definitely applies.  This is the Sangrada Familia - a church that has been under construction since 1882 and is only about halfway done.  

Notice the giant Christmas tree between the spires.

The back looks much more cubist than the front - they knew they would never be able to duplicate Gaudi's style.

The Park Guell... I wish it had been sunnier - my pictures are all kinda washed out.

This park and the buildings were also designed by Gaudi... imagine a real live Dr. Seuss land and you have the Park Guell.

Liz and I on the beach.

Erin and I with sangria

Another Gaudi house.

Lots of very natural forms... the attic looks like you're literally inside a fish.

And we found a cool attachment thing that distorts pictures... count how many mouths Erin has... very Picasso-esque.

The Tour de France also came through Barcelona the last day we were there, but it was raining so we didn't want to go search for where it was coming through the city.  So around 4:45pm, I jumped on the metro to start heading towards the airport for my flight back to Paris.  Let me just say, the train system in Barcelona... not so good on the labeling.  I got totally lost and about 2.5 hours later I end up at the airport - missing my flight by over an hour.

So I had to stay for an extra night in this hotel by the airport...
I can't even tell you how frustrated I was.  You'd think that flying would be faster and more convenient - but no... it just ends up being a huge hassle.  

All in all, Barcelona was ok.  One of the FTBT Barcelona guides and I were talking about the difference between the two cities.  Paris is very intellectual - snobby sometimes, a little full of itself, but it still has those very bohemian undertones as well.  Barcelona is more of a party city - its a beach town!  Go clubbing, drink sangria, lay out on the beach.  Its not really my scene.  So I'm glad to be back in home sweet Paris.

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Wanderer

Wanderer Above the Sea Fog by Casper David Friedrich

This painting has always spoken to me in some way, and I feel like at this present moment it encompasses all my feelings into one.

A person reaches a point in their life, a precipice, a "Do your worst!" kinda moment.

But this man is a wanderer - why?  Is he searching for something? Did he lose something?  Tragically or just a gradual slipping away?  Did he leave something?  Is he running or is he searching?

Is he looking out into a bright new future, looking forward to what tomorrow may bring, or is he gazing into the past, wondering if he made the right choice after all?

Are there regrets or only hope?  Happiness or sadness?  Yet despite the mixed feelings - there is still an overtone of loneliness.

But is he rising above the fog or contemplating jumping off?  Is he excited about cutting a new path or worried that where he goes, no one else may follow - for he has burned all the bridges behind him?

Will he remain a wanderer?

Does he identify with the rock? - stable, never changing... or the sea from which the fog came? - also eternal, but terrible, magnificent, and adaptable.  Able to break down the strongest of stone over time.

He is a traveller - but has his journey just begun or is it coming to an end?

What is he looking forward to? 

Where is he going?

Why?

What draws him, what moves him?  Is he being pushed or pulled, is he running to or from?  Is he selfishly looking for a new life for himself alone or is he trying to pave the wave for others?

In my own life, these are all the questions that I keep asking myself.  But for the moment, I am just happy to be the wanderer staring at the fog.  Its a challenging personal journey that is impossible to explain.  It can be frightening and exciting and unbelievably fulfilling at times.  More than anything, I know that I can survive anything.  I am a wanderer.  But I know who I am.

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Rue Blondel Repas

This is the view from the Rue Blondel.

Excellent right?!

This is the OTHER view from the Rue Blondel.  

Count the hookers.

Look at the hooker working.  She didn't come back for a while after this.  Unfortunately, you can't tell her age... but its about 60. 

I love the cultural experiences I have in Paris...  this is Adam and Andrew's apartment.  Affectionately referred to as "Prostitute Alley."  

We had one of the most excellent dinner parties known to man.  Andrew is a fantastic cook... plus he knows the way to my heart... through lots and lots of... food.

 Julie was so excited to be there!

Scott and Seth's brother.  I mean... I could not ask for more excellent company.  Not to mention there was a "no Fat Tire t-shirt" rule... and actually, the FTBT people were incredibly outnumbered by... regular people.  It was fantastic.

Ned is teaching me everything he knows about photography.

All in all, I would have to say that this was a great night.  Great food.  Great company.  

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