Today is our last full day in Italia before we head back to France in the morning. We spent the morning wandering through the various market places and looking at all of the interesting things available. The fish market is incredible here, the amount of fresh fish they have for sale in the market on a daily basis blows away anything I've seen before. A lot of it is alive too which is neat. Fresh produce, meat, fruit, spices, nuts, everything you can imagine can be purchased on the streets of Venice in the morning.
I bought a few postcards to be sent to various deserving recipients in various places and here we are eating lunch at the usual internet hotspot. This weekend will be spent sorting through hundreds of amazing photos and getting them out to all of you cool people.
Ciao for now!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Europe: Venice, Italy - Part III
It's 5:10pm here in Italy, you USA'ers will probably be just getting to work around now. Therefore, I will write to you, from the future.
Today Emily and I spent the day island hopping through the "Venice Lagoon". There are three islands in particular that we hit up, Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
First we took the water bus to Murano "Island of Glass". Murano has been the artistic center of glass blowing and all things glass for 800+ years so it was really mind blowing to see the stuff in person. Luckily we were in time for a live demonstration of it as well. Watching these artisans work is absolutely insane!!! Pictures later (I know...sorry) but we got some great pictures of one of the artists making first a really neat Vase, and then a glass sculpture of a stallion rearing up on it's hind legs. We walked the rest of the island checking out the various artists showrooms and looking in awe at all of the amazing art. There were all sorts of great pieces in all shapes and sizes in all colors and price ranges. At one point we found this amazing hand made glass chandelier selling for a mere 4000 euros, (~$6000) all the way down to hand blown glass beads you could use to put in a necklace. Wine stoppers, quill pens, pendants, rings, all sorts of amazing art. We finished up our wandering on Murano and hopped on another boat off to our next destination, Burano.
Burano is the "Island of Lace", which sounds lame...but it was quite interesting. I can't really describe why without it sounding lame, but yeah it was neat to see the quality and craftsmanship of the various garments. Apparently Burano is to lace, what Murano is to glass. So if you're into that sort of thing then you can appreciate it. One woman gave us a short demo of how some of the works are created and even small things like pillowcases can take up to a month to create due to the intricacy of the designs and just how much quality and heart goes into them. After checking out the lace we wandered around the island a bit and got some great photos of this quaint little island town. I'll be sure to link to these later as they are really very cool and colorful. After Burano we hopped on a short boat ride to the next island.
If you were to compare the three island with Venice itself in the way of how modern they are, then Torcello would be last on the list. The island had maybe a dozen buildings on it, half of which were part of an amazing church that kind of seemed to stand watch over all of the smaller shops and houses nearby. There wasn't much else to do on Torcello except stand in awe at how freakin' old and amazing everything is. It was like stepping through a time warp into the 15th century. It was really a beautiful place to visit.
An hour boat ride later we were back in Venezia and here we are! Great photos today, lots of cool imagery to come this weekend when we get back to Paris and can sort photos.
Ciao!
Today Emily and I spent the day island hopping through the "Venice Lagoon". There are three islands in particular that we hit up, Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
First we took the water bus to Murano "Island of Glass". Murano has been the artistic center of glass blowing and all things glass for 800+ years so it was really mind blowing to see the stuff in person. Luckily we were in time for a live demonstration of it as well. Watching these artisans work is absolutely insane!!! Pictures later (I know...sorry) but we got some great pictures of one of the artists making first a really neat Vase, and then a glass sculpture of a stallion rearing up on it's hind legs. We walked the rest of the island checking out the various artists showrooms and looking in awe at all of the amazing art. There were all sorts of great pieces in all shapes and sizes in all colors and price ranges. At one point we found this amazing hand made glass chandelier selling for a mere 4000 euros, (~$6000) all the way down to hand blown glass beads you could use to put in a necklace. Wine stoppers, quill pens, pendants, rings, all sorts of amazing art. We finished up our wandering on Murano and hopped on another boat off to our next destination, Burano.
Burano is the "Island of Lace", which sounds lame...but it was quite interesting. I can't really describe why without it sounding lame, but yeah it was neat to see the quality and craftsmanship of the various garments. Apparently Burano is to lace, what Murano is to glass. So if you're into that sort of thing then you can appreciate it. One woman gave us a short demo of how some of the works are created and even small things like pillowcases can take up to a month to create due to the intricacy of the designs and just how much quality and heart goes into them. After checking out the lace we wandered around the island a bit and got some great photos of this quaint little island town. I'll be sure to link to these later as they are really very cool and colorful. After Burano we hopped on a short boat ride to the next island.
If you were to compare the three island with Venice itself in the way of how modern they are, then Torcello would be last on the list. The island had maybe a dozen buildings on it, half of which were part of an amazing church that kind of seemed to stand watch over all of the smaller shops and houses nearby. There wasn't much else to do on Torcello except stand in awe at how freakin' old and amazing everything is. It was like stepping through a time warp into the 15th century. It was really a beautiful place to visit.
An hour boat ride later we were back in Venezia and here we are! Great photos today, lots of cool imagery to come this weekend when we get back to Paris and can sort photos.
Ciao!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Europe: Venice, Italy - Part II
Today Emily taught me a bunch of things about my camera that I had no idea. I've been using it like a big noob for so long that there were some basic things I hadn't ever learned that are now leading to some great photos! I'm afraid I can't show any until I get a chance to sort them and get them "show" ready...but I trust anyone reading this will come back in a few days for some great Venezian imagery.
We've spent the majority of the trip here so far just walking around and exploring every nook and cranny of this amazing city. I'm not a religious person but you really don't have to be to appreciate the amazing churches and religious architecture held in this city. Considering you're standing in a giant stone cathedral that is probably upwards of 800 years old is breath taking. Every inch, or centimeter if you will, of the buildings is pure art. The walls, the pillars, the great shrines, even the floors are all brilliantly laid tile and ornate paintings and mosaics of all different kinds. Gold, silver, glass, marble, it's awesome! You aren't allowed to take photos within the cathedrals and churches so unfortunately there won't be much of those, but we got a few in some certain places that I can post later.
Just wandering through every little alley and observing the daily life of the local Venezians has been so interesting and fun. It reminds me so much of Cape Cod. The city survives on tourism and fishing. You see the locals who spends all of their time catering to tourists and serving food, baked goods, wine, beer, etc., as well as the fisherman and boatmen who spend their days on the canals and sailing the Mediterranean to keep the daily fish markets stocked for us visitors and locals alike. Lastly you've got the unsung heroes of the city who keep it's pipes flowing, it's buildings standing, and it's streets and canals safe. Watching the tourists react to the different facets of the city and it's life within constantly takes me back to being in Orleans or Brewster in the middle of July. I remember my sister was asked one time where she went during the Winter when the Cape "closed". I can definitely see the locals here being treated much the same by the myriad of people visiting from every corner of the Globe.
That's all for today. Don't forget to check out Emily's blog for another side to this interesting story.
http://parisonastudentsbudget.blogspot.com
We've spent the majority of the trip here so far just walking around and exploring every nook and cranny of this amazing city. I'm not a religious person but you really don't have to be to appreciate the amazing churches and religious architecture held in this city. Considering you're standing in a giant stone cathedral that is probably upwards of 800 years old is breath taking. Every inch, or centimeter if you will, of the buildings is pure art. The walls, the pillars, the great shrines, even the floors are all brilliantly laid tile and ornate paintings and mosaics of all different kinds. Gold, silver, glass, marble, it's awesome! You aren't allowed to take photos within the cathedrals and churches so unfortunately there won't be much of those, but we got a few in some certain places that I can post later.
Just wandering through every little alley and observing the daily life of the local Venezians has been so interesting and fun. It reminds me so much of Cape Cod. The city survives on tourism and fishing. You see the locals who spends all of their time catering to tourists and serving food, baked goods, wine, beer, etc., as well as the fisherman and boatmen who spend their days on the canals and sailing the Mediterranean to keep the daily fish markets stocked for us visitors and locals alike. Lastly you've got the unsung heroes of the city who keep it's pipes flowing, it's buildings standing, and it's streets and canals safe. Watching the tourists react to the different facets of the city and it's life within constantly takes me back to being in Orleans or Brewster in the middle of July. I remember my sister was asked one time where she went during the Winter when the Cape "closed". I can definitely see the locals here being treated much the same by the myriad of people visiting from every corner of the Globe.
That's all for today. Don't forget to check out Emily's blog for another side to this interesting story.
http://parisonastudentsbudget.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Europe: Venice, Italy
Venice is not without internet, but it seems I have been since we arrived. We finally found a McDonalds where we could sign on and make sure the rest of the world hadn't exploded or anything like that. All seems well, so I'm sitting down for a brief blog entry.
I'll leave out the obvious things like, "oh wow the city is so beautiful!". I'm sure even if you live under a rock you are quite aware that Venice is a simply gorgeous city. There are so many ancient buildings and such amazing architecture here that the one week we're staying that I at first thought might have been too long, is now seeming just right in order for us to really see everything. We constantly just wander and find ourselves in anywhere from magnificent open city squares with great stone monuments to these old alley ways where the residents live, all constructed of ancient stone, resting on top of water. The island is so amazing. The books weren't kidding, there really are no roads, only canals. We've yet to go on any boats anywhere but we've walked for what must be tens of kilometers and seen so many amazing sights. Pictures will come in a future post when I'm back in a place where I can sort through them.
The other thing that is great is I've never been in such an eclectic melting pot of different languages and people. This place is SO busy with tourists it's amazing, all from different parts of the world. At 7am I can look out our hotel room window onto the busy street below and see it bustling with so many people you'd think it's mid-day Carnevale. I can't imagine what actual Carnevale is like hah!
It's also strikingly similar to Cape Cod in a way. It's a fishing city so it all smells like fish and the ocean, as the Cape does on a summer day near the harbor. Fresh fish markets are everywhere and the ever present Seagulls keep watch over their city from above.
That's all I've got for you right now. More to come when I return with pictures as well.
Ciao!
I'll leave out the obvious things like, "oh wow the city is so beautiful!". I'm sure even if you live under a rock you are quite aware that Venice is a simply gorgeous city. There are so many ancient buildings and such amazing architecture here that the one week we're staying that I at first thought might have been too long, is now seeming just right in order for us to really see everything. We constantly just wander and find ourselves in anywhere from magnificent open city squares with great stone monuments to these old alley ways where the residents live, all constructed of ancient stone, resting on top of water. The island is so amazing. The books weren't kidding, there really are no roads, only canals. We've yet to go on any boats anywhere but we've walked for what must be tens of kilometers and seen so many amazing sights. Pictures will come in a future post when I'm back in a place where I can sort through them.
The other thing that is great is I've never been in such an eclectic melting pot of different languages and people. This place is SO busy with tourists it's amazing, all from different parts of the world. At 7am I can look out our hotel room window onto the busy street below and see it bustling with so many people you'd think it's mid-day Carnevale. I can't imagine what actual Carnevale is like hah!
It's also strikingly similar to Cape Cod in a way. It's a fishing city so it all smells like fish and the ocean, as the Cape does on a summer day near the harbor. Fresh fish markets are everywhere and the ever present Seagulls keep watch over their city from above.
That's all I've got for you right now. More to come when I return with pictures as well.
Ciao!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Europe: Le Timbre
I'd love to tell you how utterly amazing this restaurant is/was, but Emily as already done it for me. Please cruise on over to her blog and read about how great this place is/was. It is/was one of if not the best meals I've ever had. I am/would recommend it to anyone who is/was in Paris.
Emily's Post About Le Timbre
Emily's Post About Le Timbre
Europe: Arrival In Paris
Hello! Officially my first journal entry since arriving in Europe. I arrived yesterday around 11am and after a two hour adventure trying to make way from the airport to the train station (Chatelet Les Halles) I met up with Emily for the first time in two months and gave her the largest hug the city of Paris has ever known. Seriously, French people surrounded us in awe at the sheer magnitude of this hug. Japanese tourists took many photos. I even heard a rumor that President Sarcozy was on his way to witness the scene but luckily we made it out of the station before he arrived. I can't confirm this rumor, but I'm pretty sure someone told me it's true.
Since then, I've spent most of my time sleeping I think. Jet lag is KILLING me. When I'm not passed out we've done quite a bit of walking around checking out sights and things. I've gotten a brief look at some amazing French sights such as Notre Dame, the Seine river, and the Louvre. I'll be spending a lot more time at both of these places eventually and getting many pictures. For now, it was more of a flyby just to check it out. Emily really knows her way around which is hugely helpful. She also speaks French, which is...yeah. I don't speak any French at all so this has been a bit intimidating so far.
Having grown up on Cape Cod and then moving to laid back Southern California...I'm really not use to their being so many people all walking so fast. Everyone is in a really big hurry and generally not looking where their going. To that, I say "wtf". Normally when I walk I try to be efficient about my path and make sure I'm walking swiftly, which makes up for me generally being a slow ass. However here, I'm constantly dodging people and being bumped into which makes planning a path difficult. Bleh! That'll take some getting use to.
Overall everything is incredible almost to the point of being overwhelming. I don't spend very much outside of my comfort zone, even though I often preach to people that they should try to do that very thing. It's going to take some serious adapting on my part. Life was too easy in SoCal anyway, time to grow up a bit!
Tonight we're off to dinner at Le Timbre and tomorrow we leave for a week in Venice, Italy. More to come as well as some pictures eventually when jet lag frees my brain from zombification.
Since then, I've spent most of my time sleeping I think. Jet lag is KILLING me. When I'm not passed out we've done quite a bit of walking around checking out sights and things. I've gotten a brief look at some amazing French sights such as Notre Dame, the Seine river, and the Louvre. I'll be spending a lot more time at both of these places eventually and getting many pictures. For now, it was more of a flyby just to check it out. Emily really knows her way around which is hugely helpful. She also speaks French, which is...yeah. I don't speak any French at all so this has been a bit intimidating so far.
Having grown up on Cape Cod and then moving to laid back Southern California...I'm really not use to their being so many people all walking so fast. Everyone is in a really big hurry and generally not looking where their going. To that, I say "wtf". Normally when I walk I try to be efficient about my path and make sure I'm walking swiftly, which makes up for me generally being a slow ass. However here, I'm constantly dodging people and being bumped into which makes planning a path difficult. Bleh! That'll take some getting use to.
Overall everything is incredible almost to the point of being overwhelming. I don't spend very much outside of my comfort zone, even though I often preach to people that they should try to do that very thing. It's going to take some serious adapting on my part. Life was too easy in SoCal anyway, time to grow up a bit!
Tonight we're off to dinner at Le Timbre and tomorrow we leave for a week in Venice, Italy. More to come as well as some pictures eventually when jet lag frees my brain from zombification.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Europe Trip Countdown - 5 Days
I've still got so much left to do! Tons of packing, gathering various items, tying up loose ends at home, work, all sorts of random things need to be done! I've got a schedule worked out though so it's all good.
I'll be living in Paris with Emily for 3 months.
We've got a couple of trips planned, first Venice, Italy soon after I get there, and then onto Munich, Germany for a week at Christmas time.
I'll keep this blog updated, as well as a Twitter (eww) account I just made.
http://twitter.com/jayonidas
Plenty of facebook updates I'm sure as well.
I'll be living in Paris with Emily for 3 months.
We've got a couple of trips planned, first Venice, Italy soon after I get there, and then onto Munich, Germany for a week at Christmas time.
I'll keep this blog updated, as well as a Twitter (eww) account I just made.
http://twitter.com/jayonidas
Plenty of facebook updates I'm sure as well.
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