tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308860822024-03-13T08:31:47.390-04:00Jason Harman's Travel Photo BlogThe Travel Log Will Post Stories and Pictures of My Adventures Across the World!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05340765812912434420noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-53924590457750572412008-01-12T17:25:00.000-05:002008-01-12T17:46:24.453-05:00Amsterdam, Holland - August 24, 2006<span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Day in Europe.</span><br /><br />After falling into bed at dawn on 24th at my Amsterdam Hostel, I awoke with a start feeling that I'd overslept and missed my plane. My fear was confirmed when I eyed my watch to see that it was indeed 3:45pm! I shot out of bed in a panic before realizing that I'd misread the hands of my analog watch in my sleepy state and that, in fact, the time was 9:15... am. A mere hour or two since I'd nodded off and plenty of time remaining to catch my 2pm flight. With that heart-stopping attack having cleared the fog from my brain, I checked out of the hostel at a more leisurely pace and strolled along the quiet canals and streets that had been so alive the night before on my way to the train station from whence I'd arrive - and from where I would take the shuttle to the airport for my final departure.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_5018.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2181751731/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2182/2181751731_5722466b45_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5020.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182546784/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2130/2182546784_8fbb64b9ca_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a title="IMG_5021.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2181763841/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2289/2181763841_d1c07d724a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5022.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182555086/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2368/2182555086_3a886ec5fb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5025.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182565978/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2278/2182565978_3bd1eba2b7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5027.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182574438/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2141/2182574438_e85cafc571_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5030.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182587976/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2185/2182587976_dd528d671c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5032.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182594456/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2202/2182594456_c13c3386c1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flight: Amsterdam - Toronto - Vancouver.<br /><br /></span><span>Lastly, a few shots from the window of the airplane - mainly as it came in for a landing in Vancouver, BC with the coast mountains piercing the standard layer of overcast clouds that shroud the Lower Mainland.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_5039.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182617538/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2014/2182617538_417be04181_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5040.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182620016/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2226/2182620016_1a9f98950b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5041.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2181835523/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2349/2181835523_61b0466109_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5042.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2182624788/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2267/2182624788_32d50a898a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5043.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2181840285/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2059/2181840285_a88c7d13b5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5044.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2181842669/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2042/2181842669_17d516eef8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />~Home Sweet Home~<br />(For Approx. 3 Days)<br /></div></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-49099130221493543402008-01-09T23:55:00.000-05:002008-01-09T23:57:08.046-05:00Amsterdam, Holland - August 23, 2006<span style="font-weight: bold;">Amsterdam: Night-time.<br /><br /></span><span>Despite its natural and constructed beauty, which shines most brightly during the day, is fundamentally a night city. Perhaps its because its at that time that the red lanterns of the "red-light" district overcome the warm glow of the sun or the flashy neon decor of the bars, clubs and "coffee" shops illuminate to attract the throngs of late-rising tourists... Whatever the reason, Amsterdam proved to be the city where an all-nighter was just what the doctor prescribed. These photos span dusk until dawn - bridging my last full-day in Europe and the day of my departure. This blog is also dedicated to a sweet Italian friend named Francesca.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4939.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177428820/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2256/2177428820_c6088ec33d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4942.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176659231/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2212/2176659231_b109a47372_d.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4943.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177457342/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2067/2177457342_95132204ec_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4950.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176691777/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2400/2176691777_ddec6a75e5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4951.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176704165/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2070/2176704165_2ab5147893_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4952.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177506082/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2190/2177506082_65d2f913e5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4965.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177589572/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2302/2177589572_3e6d3ab94f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4968.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176819841/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2107/2176819841_d20f1ef511_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4969.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177616720/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2384/2177616720_551212108f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4977.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176846561/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2382/2176846561_45a7422893_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4985.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176900937/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2006/2176900937_21ff5921cc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4986.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176906997/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2278/2176906997_f7624c1485_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4987.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176914113/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2065/2176914113_f0539729bb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4989.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177718788/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2419/2177718788_99fe4a3eb3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4995.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176953449/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2135/2176953449_f67ae8257e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4997.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176966037/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2123/2176966037_2d03da34d7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5001.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176993561/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2060/2176993561_f2fb20b940_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5005.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177811576/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2212/2177811576_09a71a1774_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5007.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177825502/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2275/2177825502_19946cb4ca_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5013.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177067659/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2208/2177067659_76946e4745_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_5017.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177868894/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2279/2177868894_5b6ee7fb24_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-77873778050871560672008-01-09T23:25:00.000-05:002008-01-09T23:56:31.730-05:00Amsterdam, Holland - August 23, 2006<span style="font-weight: bold;">Amsterday: Day-time.<br /><br /></span><span>Last stop - Amsterdam. The capital city of my heritage - so to speak - and the cornerstone of progressive thought for centuries (Spinoza comes immediately to mind, despite his persecution here and, of course, the lax laws on marijuana, etc.). A long tour in the Van Gogh museum cut short a lot of potential photographs of the city and its many landmarks and sights. Instead, like Brussels, the photos below capture the cityscape of a modern European city with a wonderful heritage and extraordinary combination of natural and artificial beauty (canals, parks, etc.). Enjoy.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4830.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174007115/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2240/2174007115_2bc04a0a07_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4831.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174807514/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2067/2174807514_7f50d2f6cf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4834.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174065381/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2041/2174065381_6d0d04460b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4837.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174881150/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2228/2174881150_bafc66d301_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4839.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174910606/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2359/2174910606_40b6a26ecb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4842.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174932788/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2349/2174932788_d8bf5e4329_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4847.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174997788/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2298/2174997788_5ac89f6dcf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4848.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175012696/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2137/2175012696_2e53c70028_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4850.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174250071/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2338/2174250071_873817d9df_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4851.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175056880/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2209/2175056880_4a4277cffb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4856.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175138726/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2375/2175138726_0eb87a54d1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4857.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175156186/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2086/2175156186_8be101cc25_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4882.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175228346/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2309/2175228346_7360c5b04a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4884.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175251428/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2187/2175251428_a59368f939_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4886.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174486241/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2138/2174486241_494e5aa6c2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4890.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174535707/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2304/2174535707_e2dfb283b7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4895.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2174603509/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2122/2174603509_29c95e0878_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4899.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175456410/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2229/2175456410_1f876518ae_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4902.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2175526268/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2159/2175526268_f418be11ff_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4915.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177076630/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2267/2177076630_786b982f83_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4918.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176386101/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2397/2176386101_81a8dbe5c8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4922.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176433707/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2007/2176433707_a63644f677_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4925.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177245196/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2339/2177245196_deb18274b7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4926.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176461821/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2256/2176461821_5c4a972878_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4927.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177264976/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2067/2177264976_53d6a78b7f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4928.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176481259/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2141/2176481259_3c3bf82dd9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4931.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2177298972/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2226/2177298972_846b8701e1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4933.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2176524347/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2120/2176524347_479d363207_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-3489623369855793692008-01-06T19:39:00.000-05:002008-01-06T19:44:42.395-05:00Brussels, Belgium - August 22, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brussels: Day 2.<br /><br /></span>Photos from my last day in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. More culinary delights on display, as well as the famous "Pissing Boy Statue," the Royal Palace and an old hang-out of Karl Marx's: La Maison du Cygne.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4735.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161324302/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2341/2161324302_dccccb91d6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4738.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161372066/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2184/2161372066_ecb5bfa02d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4746.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160680117/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2277/2160680117_552137124a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4749.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160718723/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2264/2160718723_e93251b22d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4755.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160790285/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2239/2160790285_714c2aa9f7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4756.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160806329/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2403/2160806329_3421f28a33_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4758.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161631654/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2094/2161631654_9226f4692e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4762.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161679540/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2139/2161679540_b3d4ce3607_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4763.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161690358/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2097/2161690358_a96639b58b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4766.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161719030/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2257/2161719030_ff0cda94f8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4770.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160958253/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2344/2160958253_cb128aff6e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4774.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160998511/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2379/2160998511_c541c819c6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4775.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161008683/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2042/2161008683_d51e057407_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4777.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161829860/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2208/2161829860_65a9924539_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4779.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161851940/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2202/2161851940_9e87b61486_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4780.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161863672/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2211/2161863672_84911640eb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4781.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161075279/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2226/2161075279_61870fb417_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4782.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161086169/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2391/2161086169_d559d4d15f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4785.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161116541/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2412/2161116541_920bbaa054_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4787.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161936334/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2094/2161936334_0af66a4fe7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4788.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161147879/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2402/2161147879_7c0af3f3b3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4793.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161199683/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2186/2161199683_3618948279_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4795.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161219139/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2318/2161219139_537fa5c3ea_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4799.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161263159/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2403/2161263159_ba81b9fc89_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4803.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161299983/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2271/2161299983_b6ff677570_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4809.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161355087/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2203/2161355087_1b1e5ca40e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4813.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2162194164/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2232/2162194164_c6358de3e2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4817.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161434981/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2312/2161434981_bbaccf4fc3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4821.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2161475019/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2116/2161475019_7afe557f93_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-56919517847824933562008-01-06T18:48:00.000-05:002008-01-06T19:42:42.066-05:00Brussels, Belgium - August 21, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span>The white sepulchral city of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Heart of Darkness,</span> at least as it was according to Joseph Conrad. Brussels was supposed to be a simple (and short) pitstop on the way to Amsterdam but the Belgian capital ended up having a lot more in store for me than I could have ever imagined. Maybe it was the beer, fries </span><span>(as in French but invented in Belgium)</span><span>, waffles or chocolates but whatever it was, it extended by stay from an afternoon to two days. See below for some of the aforementioned delights and a view of the historic city centre.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Brussels: Day 1.</span><br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_4706.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159710214/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2289/2159710214_82d37e86c7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4707.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158929559/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2253/2158929559_a2e8c04af5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4708.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159742830/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2210/2159742830_471c34e321_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4709.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159757150/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2265/2159757150_4e4e4aa5e7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4714.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159814610/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2276/2159814610_5a8f16cb96_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4715.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159827902/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2184/2159827902_905e46992c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4718.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159867856/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2127/2159867856_01562ac8bb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4719.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159082597/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2068/2159082597_78c59916e4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4720.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159103331/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2015/2159103331_86cc451946_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4723.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159146187/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2229/2159146187_96c98d2448_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4724.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159157031/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2400/2159157031_fc867654d6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4725.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159970598/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2236/2159970598_d69c4f3997_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4727.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159195653/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2008/2159195653_2a4b0aa5f9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4729.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160297558/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2258/2160297558_234d8881d4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4730.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159512367/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2376/2159512367_fc5c1c9b03_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4732.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2159561969/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2329/2159561969_075d67871a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4734.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2160423254/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2323/2160423254_b524c56faa_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-43261556771667526432008-01-02T18:22:00.000-05:002008-01-02T18:44:13.182-05:00Atlantic Coast - August 20, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">With Brugge slipping into the rearview mirror Henri and I returned to Lille for the night. On our way, we stopped at the beach on this cool Summer evening in the south of Belgium near the French border and the city of Dunkirk (famous, at least to me, because of the story of the evacuation by British civilian ships at much peril of the British army after it became surrounded by the Germans). <br /><br />Mostly trying to capture light and clouds (save for the middle few below), these pictures are perhaps a bit contentless for most people but serve as a nice finish to the man-made scenery of Brugge.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4666.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321034483/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/128/321034483_6999034e8b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4667.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321035288/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/133/321035288_348489ead5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4669.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321036827/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/129/321036827_ae702e2e03_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4672.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321038875/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/125/321038875_7dd1782bdc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4674.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321040349/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/321040349_d46149cbe4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4676.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321041701/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/128/321041701_4ade086bd5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4679.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321044243/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/131/321044243_a83b2eb3fd_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4684.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321048801/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/132/321048801_750335d3b0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4685.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321050182/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/129/321050182_853e636f70_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4687.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321058525/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/124/321058525_e8da30494d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4688.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321061923/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/321061923_6fe7da900e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4693.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321080476/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/136/321080476_c34f5f7e69_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4694.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321104126/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/126/321104126_559789bfa5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4695.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321110057/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/142/321110057_529b1cde3b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4700.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321113087/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/321113087_98a1c4981d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4703.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321114508/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/131/321114508_2d720127a2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4705.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321113779/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/142/321113779_8e2486921f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-91970051445324877502008-01-02T18:03:00.000-05:002008-01-02T18:22:04.404-05:00Bruges, Belgium - August 20, 2006<span style="font-weight: bold;">Brugge: Part 2.<br /><br /></span>The twin names of this city actually come in handy for this blog post, since I wanted to split the same day over two entries but keep the title and date (August 20, 2006) the same. Thus, the first entry is <a href="http://jharman.blogspot.com/2008/01/brugge-belgium-august-20-2006.html">Brugge</a> and this is Bruges.<br /><br />As you can see from the photos from Part 1, Brugge doesn't require castles, palaces or monuments to standout from the rest. The very streets and canals of the original historic town centre are more than enough. Having survived mostly intact the two world wars, Bruges remains one of the only fair-sized medieval cities to exist so exquisitely today.<br /><br />The afternoon started off with a rain-shower (you'll see the tourists huddled under archways, etc.) and then cleared up for a few beautiful pictures with lots of sun before returning to an overcast sky. The different weather conditions made for great photos, some which are dark and moody and others which enhance the wonderful colours of the brick buildings and gardens.<br /><br />And now, without further ado: Part 2 of Brugge / Bruges.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4594.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2156833147/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2388/2156833147_75a44ebaa1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4595.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157642088/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2002/2157642088_e3f317eced_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4599.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2156909579/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2183/2156909579_f96a9b883c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4602.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157738488/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2302/2157738488_6c0667bfb9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4606.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2156995169/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2021/2156995169_b6a4a7cb1d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4607.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157010235/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2043/2157010235_a8736e1dfc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4609.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157028389/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2034/2157028389_cf74a35f6e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4610.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157832710/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2180/2157832710_be54920b99_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4611.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157046551/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2083/2157046551_3045fa3153_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4612.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157053755/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2284/2157053755_652e02462c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4613.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157856830/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2145/2157856830_d0d9da10cb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4616.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157876092/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2135/2157876092_e4e8bb74e6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4617.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157885622/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2160/2157885622_dab0da7dba_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4619.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157904542/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2100/2157904542_3f66650924_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4620.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157116103/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2339/2157116103_eee37a970b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4622.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157136599/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2312/2157136599_0712e33a91_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4623.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157942576/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2337/2157942576_f890595d10_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4624.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157155221/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2389/2157155221_fba7763b98_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4627.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157977644/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2331/2157977644_89e0196b37_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4633.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158036844/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2058/2158036844_9ec4a787be_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4634.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158046492/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2095/2158046492_1e24bef53d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4637.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158063340/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2119/2158063340_f002bb2e3c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4638.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158074176/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2217/2158074176_7f5c73b362_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4642.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158120810/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2159/2158120810_3461568564_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4644.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158149124/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2044/2158149124_c33726b43b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4646.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157374465/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2004/2157374465_e4e5539520_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4648.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157404979/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2212/2157404979_10d23905b7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4649.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158222306/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2227/2158222306_85e2be18cd_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4650.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158235722/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2289/2158235722_864d1986db_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4652.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157460123/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2229/2157460123_d7c3fcec1e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4655.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158287138/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2385/2158287138_fb2d7441f6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4657.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157511857/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2140/2157511857_eec39050b8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4658.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157524949/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2109/2157524949_0a67f76795_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4659.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157535713/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2141/2157535713_1449fb2184_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4661.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157556915/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2200/2157556915_1799c6c83d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4663.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2158377136/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2158/2158377136_6b177d2392_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-33610879484794610032008-01-02T17:49:00.000-05:002008-01-02T18:01:08.740-05:00Brugge, Belgium - August 20, 2006Known as Brugge in Dutch and Bruges in French, I've gone with the former given this historic city's location in the heart of the Flemish Region of Belgium in the province of West Flanders (Belgium is divided approximately in half with Flanders or the Flemish Region embodying the majority of Dutch/Flemish speakers and the Walloon Region or Wallonia consisting of the French-speakers).<br /><br />Today Brugge / Bruges is a UN World Heritage Site and the pictures below will telll you why. The city is so picturesque that I'll be breaking it down into two blog posts to save on bandwidth. You will recognize Henri in some of the shots. He borrowed his parents car to make the short drive into Belgium to visit the city. Thanks again Henri!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brugge: Part 1.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_4551.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152748724/"><img style="width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/2179/2152748724_7469133517_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4552.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2151970923/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2233/2151970923_6358673889_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4553.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152777348/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2241/2152777348_29fd8be2bf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4554.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2151999709/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2155/2151999709_871cf46e52_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4555.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152011837/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2167/2152011837_eff5d32ebc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4556.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152028723/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2311/2152028723_9c3dc4fb02_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4557.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152829748/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2231/2152829748_99c1a6413a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4558.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152048509/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2061/2152048509_8357fecd0f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4562.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152097723/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2020/2152097723_059699a15f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4563.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152901724/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2106/2152901724_b7f439d578_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4564.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152912746/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2408/2152912746_66d6198888_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4565.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152927838/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2365/2152927838_8e84589824_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4566.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152940336/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2360/2152940336_525324b84c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4567.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152954340/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2001/2152954340_78710cd9b0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4568.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152964008/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2131/2152964008_fbba9a6236_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4569.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152973036/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2172/2152973036_c16fb8e327_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4571.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152201661/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2067/2152201661_7d5bcb8d44_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4572.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2153002066/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2177/2153002066_552ff30648_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4574.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2153024218/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2158/2153024218_364f9a85d8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4576.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152254499/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2123/2152254499_1f2e698fb3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4577.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2153057120/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2176/2153057120_b35074a96d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4578.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2153066558/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2130/2153066558_aaa8240b87_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4579.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152284731/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2322/2152284731_0e5ef1c860_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4581.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152306085/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2281/2152306085_f24b9a7ab2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4584.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152335667/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2321/2152335667_58799629c6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4589.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152379615/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2384/2152379615_1a5702461f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4590.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2153182718/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2032/2153182718_15ceec574c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4591.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2152400479/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2281/2152400479_0f39cffa42_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4592.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2157568426/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2167/2157568426_3749918bc8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_4593.JPG" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/2156808105/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/2227/2156808105_91a906e228_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-61294338735376254112007-12-31T13:36:00.000-05:002008-01-02T18:02:27.381-05:00Lille, France - August 19, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to Lille, the northern-most city of France which evinces as much Belgian flavour as it does French (just take a look at the charming wine-sized beer bottles below). Henri, like Vianney, worked briefly at Access Justice in Vancouver and agreed to let me shack up for a day or two with him in Lille. My first day there was pretty casual and involved some beer, cheese, and a stroll through the overcast and quaint town. Although I would leave France for the final time two days later on August 21st, after first travelling with Henri to visit <a href="http://jharman.blogspot.com/2008/01/brugge-belgium-august-20-2006.html">Bruges in Belgium</a>, these are my final pictures of la belle province.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4492.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320981731/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/132/320981731_8f11074ec9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4496.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320990232/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/136/320990232_976d4b5560_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4497.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320989401/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/143/320989401_ff603d246b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4498.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320988514/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/129/320988514_70eecf9156_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4500.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320986738/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/141/320986738_473f7a55ce_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4503.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320984103/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/127/320984103_b8b43153e0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4512.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320995331/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/139/320995331_a4c8847a8d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4516.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320993516/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/137/320993516_d60392385c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4518.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320991090/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/123/320991090_a3a75c7481_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4519.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321010827/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/144/321010827_fd5bc606e3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4520.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321009538/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/135/321009538_671ae1c38c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4522.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321007215/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/131/321007215_7415b74f3c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4523.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321006203/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/139/321006203_0a289b7390_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4525.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321004363/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/137/321004363_abdc8398b9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4530.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/320999084/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/136/320999084_01f7968399_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4531.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321019584/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/123/321019584_1f5ddda2a2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4532.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321018552/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/134/321018552_0195c31574_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4533.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321017578/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/129/321017578_d7210ae09c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4539.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/321011670/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/127/321011670_5fe6cb028a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-53073962153182015692007-12-31T13:04:00.000-05:002007-12-31T13:32:49.922-05:00Paris, France - August 18, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paris: Day 3.<br /><br /></span><span>A quick run-down of the day's events and sights include starting the day at the famous Louvre museum (I exclude the few shots of artwork taken) and its surrounding gardens. A walk past some previous day's sights to Napoleon's two arches, the smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the more famous Arc de Triompe de l'Etoile with the Obelisque de Luxor in between.<br /><br />At midday I turned to the north of the city to visit the districts of Montmarte and Pigalle. The former, named for the hill at its centre, houses the beautiful Basilica of the Sacre Coeur or the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From the sacred to the profane is just a short walk down the hill through the narrow streets to Pigalle, the red-light district and home of the Moulin Rouge. Lastly, an oddball picture of what looks like Mongolians outside the Centre Georges Pompidou.<br /><br />That evening Vianney and I went for dinner at an extraordinary French restaurant that had been famous in the 30s for its decadence and as a hotspot for European artists. The restaurant's many pillars are painted by a number of these artists including Picasso and Chagall among others. Finally, a last walk through the city of lights at night provided for some excellent parting shots.<br /></span></div><br /><a title="img_4290.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319819075/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/128/319819075_6194aac0a3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4316.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319823008/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/127/319823008_13e8f287a9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4318.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319823787/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/133/319823787_1edf43cb51_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4324.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319861341/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/128/319861341_f9e7a46bb1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4325.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319860538/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/319860538_e4971d18ab_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4328.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319858278/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/130/319858278_44603a3919_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4330.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319856844/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/134/319856844_6ebdad4078_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4332.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319854999/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/144/319854999_89cd9b7fd2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4340.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319851258/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/131/319851258_f2afc6f0c1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4347.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319844373/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/137/319844373_b94d64a562_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4351.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319842163/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/139/319842163_42710a041f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4360.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319833879/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/126/319833879_db3203a2bc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4365.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319831238/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/137/319831238_f34375568a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4370.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319882780/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/130/319882780_34ff287881_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4375.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319878971/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/143/319878971_3813af1890_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4376.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319877872/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/126/319877872_caa62a7bce_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4382.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319872248/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/126/319872248_e9fcbd88e2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4387.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319866882/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/136/319866882_e6c0595d70_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4388.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319865890/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/127/319865890_f1d6faad13_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4390.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319864476/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/130/319864476_d859718b5f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4393.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319862256/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/132/319862256_0bd6b76c7d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4442.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319922427/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/319922427_63af352ca7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4445.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319924710/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/143/319924710_491ae0351d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4441.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319921749/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/135/319921749_d2e82a8b19_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4449.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319925924/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/143/319925924_403183bc99_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4452.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319926598/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/319926598_f50372a206_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4455.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319927066/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/135/319927066_477ba27fef_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4459.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319928404/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/123/319928404_41f3dbb877_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4482.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319930105/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/125/319930105_0c1b54b254_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4490.jpg" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319931663/"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/132/319931663_a2f8878d09_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-8657356128859241192007-12-31T01:58:00.000-05:002007-12-31T02:25:39.862-05:00Paris, France - August 17, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paris: Day 2.<br /></span><span><br />Given my lack of energy to finish selecting photos and complementing them with descriptions and stories from my trip, I have decided to simply post a small selection from each trip destination in order to finish Europe 2006 for good and be able to move on to post some pictures from New York and Cuba (also sans write-ups). I hope that when I'm finally caught up I will again find the time and energy to post stories with new photo journal entries.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/319426346_156d99f5e4.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/319425351_250d40859e.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/319426808_e20febafdd.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/319427192_b07cefdde7.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/319428158_5752bd7da7.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/319429075_26868b367f.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/319429912_b8d8f0d841.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/319431595_dec2fc59b7.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/319433054_9fd238b08a.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/319432621_607bf8c0eb.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/319432155_8b22c831c5.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/319433502_45c98390a9.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/319434342_8695212850.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/319799396_180c8a3e63.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/319801801_04d1417aa9.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/319806074_ba6c75ee06.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/319806816_c67592965b.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/319810804_967f8018d5.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="500" width="333" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/319815137_505c3a7835.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/319813385_2c953566d9.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/319815790_f0faf7467e.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/319816620_12af32c47c.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/319817365_f260eb3ae3.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/319818139_87018a9ec3.jpg?v=0" alt="" onload="show_notes_initially();" class="reflect" height="333" width="500" /><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-1691734923681689172007-08-18T22:56:00.001-04:002007-08-23T02:57:00.733-04:00Paris, France - August 16, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span>I reached Paris after the long train-ride from Nice. Having been unable to contact my hoped-for-host as he had been away during the French holiday, I had to rely upon an email sent to him that I would arrive on the evening of the 15th around midnight at the Lyon Train Terminal. There was a slight panic arriving at the hour to find Vianney, my french friend who I had met a few months before in Vancouver where he had volunteered at Access Justice while taking ESL lessons and living at a local hotel heavily frequented by international students and a crazy-old man that believed he was god - no where to be seen.<br /><br />Having been completely foiled by the french phone system that seemed to have no instructions in a language other than French, I longed for the simpler days of anglo-crazy Germany or easy-going Italy. Thankfully, an English-speaking traveller waiting for a late or perhaps early morning train was still in the station at that hour and agreed to call Vianney's cell, which I had luckily kept on me. <br /><br />As it turns out, my friend had received my email and was indeed at the station, but it was so vast in size that he was waiting in a completely different wing of track lines. We soon met up and made our way to the Parisian underground for the long trek back to his apartment in the south-west of the city near the Metro stop: Convention.<br /><br />Vianney lived in a cramped one-bedroom apartment which luckily had two bathrooms but no living room or other space for me to camp out in. As such, it was the narrow hallway leading from the bedroom and kitchen to the door that became my 'room' for the stay - an accommodation I was more than willing to make given the opportunity of free room-and-board for my stay in one of Europe's most expensive cities. Thus, with a few words of greeting and some catching-up on our activities over the few months since we had seen each other we settled in to sleep: myself in anticipation of my future explorations and Vianney in order to make it to another long day of work at a local law firm.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Paris: Day 1.<br /><br /></span><span>Despite my excitement at being in one of the world's most famous cities, I believe I slept in that first morning, enjoying some time and space to myself after having gone from hostel to hostel through most of Europe. Vianney's apartment furnished me the chance of a nice private bath and quiet sleep-in (sans Vianney stepping over me on his way out to work). <br /><br />However, as soon as I was re-energized I made my way to the Convention stop of the metro and took the train to the heart of Paris, the Ile de la Cite - Island of the City - which hosts ex-royal palaces now government buildings and the history of being the first settlement in the area thousands of years ago. The Ile de la Cite is, literally, an island sitting in the middle of the Seine and beyond what I've already mentioned, it is probably most famous for hosting one of Paris' eldest churches, the Notre Dame Cathedral.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3986.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319350148"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/123/319350148_31a1f5a2a3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span>The closest my train-line came to the Ile de la Cite was the St. Michel stop which bordered on the south-side of the Seine and faced the island. This was the entrance to the St. Michel station and the Gothic-looking ironwork was a common indicator of the metro stations throughout Paris (Mexico City borrowed or was given an identical setup for one of their subway stops near El Palacio Bellas Artes to commemorate the opening of the Mexican underground system).</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3984.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319349588"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/133/319349588_a7ff038aa6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of Paris's many public artwork/landmarks. This fountain marks St. Michel - who or what he did I do not know.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3987.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319352535"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/133/319352535_1cb34a68c9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A view from the south-side of the Seine at Paris's first or second most famous landmark, and one of its oldest intact buildings. Supposedly the modernist city planners of the new revolutionary France wanted to destroy the Notre Dame but it was saved by a movement aided by Victor Hugo who's "Hunchback" novel instilled a nostalgia amidst the progressive fervour of the times and stemmed the tide against the Gothic masterpiece.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3988.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319351735"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/142/319351735_37c49c7462_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Notre Dame up close.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3991.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319353191"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/144/319353191_8b4ec97718_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Inside the famous church - clearly the architectural aspiration of expressing height (and hence divinity) can be clearly felt. The famous "flying buttresses" (see below) are the conditions of this heavenly expression.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4017.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319357077"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/123/319357077_35d485f2e8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4019.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319358663"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/134/319358663_ed21a0cb04_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">An exterior view of the cathedral from its most photographed position - the south-east. The twin towers, spire and buttress-reinforced nave are the hallmarks of the Notre Dame.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4021.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319365580"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/319365580_0b3e1acb35_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A leisurely stroll alongside the south and north banks of the Seine (off the Ile) will result in passing by numerous street vendors selling all kinds of touristy items. Paintings and lithographs of Parisian life and landmarks are commonly sold.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4036.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319369297"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/131/319369297_800ef4a7fb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Crossing over to the North or what the Parisians consider the "Right" (as opposed to "Left") Bank saw me quickly run into this famous modern pyramid which I had seen shortly before in Vancouver in Dan Brown's<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Da Vinci Code.</span> Despite Parisian's general distaste for the glass pyramids (with supposedly 666 glass panes?!?! - or is that another Dan Brown-esque rumour), I thought the coexistence of the old palatial buildings of the French Kings and the postmodern glass of an even more ancient building - the Egyptian pyramid - was quite wonderful.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4047.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319414571"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/123/319414571_14df4de77d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Circling back toward the Ile de la Cite which I had not quite explored before dashing off to find the Louvre on the Right Bank, I came across the Palace of Justice, a building that had previously belonged to the royal family and is now gated and guarded by police.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_4048.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319413878"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/125/319413878_a812451d10_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The elaborately decorated gate of the Palace of Justice.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4051.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319410903"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/127/319410903_61572f624a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The words "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" inscribed above the three doors of the Palace mark the revolutionary changes added by the new French government to their newly expropriated aristocratic home.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4080.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319393591"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/136/319393591_7c7643bedc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Crossing the Seine again, but this time further east on the North / Right Bank I ran into the "city hall" or "Hotel de Ville". On the same site as the original 14th century city government, the hotel de ville has been built and rebuilt over the centuries due to wear-and-tear and the occasional disaster such as the Paris fire of 1871.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4077.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319395680"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/124/319395680_64d6ab4a2c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A view of the Right Bank. The roadways were closed for the summer season but are re-opened at other times for vehicular traffic. Running unobstructed alongside the Seine and underneath the bridges, this motorways provide efficient passage through the city.<br /><br /></div><a title="img_4085.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319390338"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/127/319390338_078d837494_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_4108.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319382681"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/140/319382681_8a9150fe18_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Eyesore or artwork? The Centre George Pompidou is a museum that houses much of Paris' modern art collections - not much of a surprise given the fact that the building itself resembles a piece of modern art. It is, as can be seen, a building turned inside-out with most of the interior piping and skeletal components visible for the eye to see. The diagonal tube visible above consist of a series of escalators leading to the various levels of the museum.<br /><br />With the day beginning to wane, I started to head back toward St. Michel station to meet Vianney for an evening drink.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4119.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319375674"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/135/319375674_673cb8bf1a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Strolling toward the Latin Quarter in the heart of the Left Bank we enjoyed an expensive cup of coffee and waited for night to fall. The famous french university - the Sorbonne - was nearby.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4122.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319374910"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/138/319374910_292ff194d3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">France's own Pantheon, caught as if against a movie editor's blue screen, during the twilight hour. This building is famous for housing the tombs of France's most illustrious including Marie Curie and Victor Hugo.<br /><br /></div><a title="img_4124.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319418551"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/141/319418551_3a608847a0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some of my favourite photos of the trip came from my night shots of Paris. Here is the St. Sulpice church, one of Paris's eldest (alongside the Notre Dame) and which is actually situated on the site of an older Romanesque church built in the 13th century. This church played also played a role in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Da Vinci Code.</span><br /></div><br /><a title="img_4131.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319417945"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/132/319417945_e6a85a7c93_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love the angular lines and the soft glow of the lights in this picture of a public artwork display placed randomly at a street-corner in Paris.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4134.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319416668"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/123/319416668_1df77199f9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A blurry picture of the Simone de Beauvoir-Jean Paule Sartre Place off the Boulevard Saint-Germain (a major street in Paris). As far as I know, this church is nothing special :)<br /></div><br /><a title="img_4136.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/319415965"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/130/319415965_3da86d4ce8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The favourite watering hole of de Beavoir, Sartre and others including Hemingway. The Deux Magots is now frequented by Paris's rich and famous.<br /><br />Well, that's the end of Day and Night 1 in Paris. Stay tuned for Day 2 to come shortly (I hope)!<br /></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-26569192599839327322007-08-18T21:52:00.000-04:002007-08-18T22:59:33.643-04:00Avignon, France - August 14-15, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Despite the over-powering beauty of Nice, I couldn't resist visiting one more city before arriving in Paris. Avignon, the Vatican of France - a temporary home of the papacy during one of the church's many schisms.<br /><br />Unbeknownst to me at the time, August 15th is a national holiday in France and throughout Europe, for reasons that are still unknown to me. In my usual style, arriving completely unprepared with no reservations booked and at the end of the day, I found myself almost without a place to sleep. Luckily a seedy motel outside the city had an overpriced room for the night.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3947.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304023907"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/304023907_222a973c0d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Whether a permanent fixture or due to the national holiday, a Ferris wheel spins between the walled city and the river.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3949.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304024290"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/304024290_6113ab43ce_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Palace of the Pope stands tall within its circular fortress.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3950.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304024841"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/304024841_c8071b4d8f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The inner wall of Avignon - one of the only remaining fully-intact walled cities in France.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3951.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304025269"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/304025269_f796d0d395_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Cobble-stoned streets and well-manicured flora give the aura of a planned city designed for aesthetics.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3952.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304025781"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/304025781_dfd15881b3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3967.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304031745"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/101/304031745_5d5ab5b8c0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A buttressed-walled church echoes the more complex designs of Paris's Notre Dame. An early Gothic archway remains in the churchyard.<br /></div></div><br /><a title="img_3957.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304027962"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/304027962_4fd8a347a7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3956.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304027612"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/304027612_0fd88d77a7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Palace of the Popes itself. Unfortunately I had made a reservation on the only train out of Avignon and was unable to take a guided tour inside (an 8-hour round-about trip that stopped at every village along the way. The 2-hour express train was already overbooked, yet again because of the holiday). Spending less than 24-hours in Avignon, it was my shortest stay in any European destination save for perhaps, with regret, Amsterdam.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3965.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/304030701"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/304030701_1c2561a3bf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The famous unfinished (or collapsed?) bridge of Avignon from within the palace grounds. The famous French countryside stands beyond - providing inspiration for artists such as Van Gogh who travelled south from Holland to paint.<br /><BR><br /></div></div></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-90579293700479890742007-08-18T20:44:00.000-04:002007-08-18T21:51:57.287-04:00Nice, France - August 13, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Well, we're finally "here" - here being France, the date being August 13, 18 days after I left Canada which is 4 months in blog years since its mid-December and I'm finally 2/3 way through recounting the voyages of this international swashbuckler (Obviously, I wrote this regretful note in December and it is now 8 months past that and over a year since I first visited Nice). While Southern France enticed me ever since I saw the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Ronin,</span> which featured car chases through the narrow streets of Nice and Nantes, my desire to reach Paris almost saw me skip most of Cote d'Azur. Alas, Vianney, my Parisian guide had scurried off to the coast for the pan-European long weekend and so I was <span style="font-style: italic;">stuck here</span>! Poor me!<br /><br /></div><a title="img_3884.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303682168"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/303682168_8a4815849a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The beach isn't much to look at, unless you like the nude sunbathers, but the water rivals only that of the Carribbean. Besides the slice of the Adriatic that engulfed Venice, this was the first time I'd laid eyes on the Mediterranean - the ocean at the centre of the world for much of European / Asia Minor / North African history. Doesn't look to shabby for one of the most travelled bodies of water in the history of the world! More than owning its <span style="font-style: italic;">azur</span> title.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3885.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303682705"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/303682705_febc07c519_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Looking East toward the famous resort of Monte Carlo that is only a few kilometres along the oceanside from Nice. Stretches of public beach were interspliced with private, as per usual.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3889.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303684100"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/303684100_baa637fc4d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">More beach shots just to get everyone jealous. Those with keen eyes might be able to catch some topless.... I've said to much.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3893.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303685255"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/303685255_8898c2473a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3894.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303685833"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/303685833_53d7aa775a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The stunning primary colour schema of Nice.</div><br /><br /><a title="img_3906.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303688730"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/303688730_9367ed920b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3896.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303686296"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/303686296_1c166a41c6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Even <span style="font-style: italic;">Ronin</span> didn't do this movie justice. Many of the streets are too narrow even for European cars.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3897.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303686825"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/303686825_e98740aef3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3899.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303687306"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/303687306_297ee131ac_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">An open-aire market provides a bevy of colours for the budding photographer willing to stick his lens into people's foodstuffs (no American Pie reference intended).<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3909.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303689330"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/303689330_a519a22dfa_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3910.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303689796"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/303689796_6e9dd739c5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3911.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303690465"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/303690465_99541825d9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A crowded square before a church manages to provide some breathing room between the tightly-packed buildings of downtown Nice. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3913.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303691074"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/303691074_b404dc185c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3914.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303691623"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/303691623_c0fe8ddee0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A view from above - hoofing it up a steep hill provides a nice perspective of the town.<br /><br /></div><a title="img_3916.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303692127"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/303692127_b2ca34039f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3919.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303693211"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/303693211_1daf1ee9c0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3921.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303694500"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/303694500_ded24f718b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Despite its small-town charm Nice sprawls along the coastline and recedes into the distance. The beach is packed with tourists descending from the northern countries and the interior of France and Europe. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3922.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303694970"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/303694970_24777d134c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Mediterranean never fails to disappoint.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3923.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303695697"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/303695697_b69be2e792_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A view looking East, away from the beaches, toward the harbour. Cruise ships navigate into this sheltered bay to offload chubby tourists in need of shore-leave.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3924.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303696422"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/303696422_cd330618e1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A single tree stands out on the edge of the sharp hill that subdivides Nice (in order to provide me with the excellent vantage point of both halves). </div><br /><a title="img_3927.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303698177"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/303698177_ef7dac3921_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A World War II monument in the side of the same steep hill. This marble masterpiece stares out to sea like the lighthouse further along the point. Also serving as a beacon for the treacherously dark spaces of a memory lost?<br /></div><br /></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-17486506120844403452006-11-30T00:12:00.000-05:002006-12-03T20:56:32.249-05:00Milan, Italy - August 12, 2006<p align="left">Milan - Milano if you think of Alyssa - the fashion capital of Italy and perhaps the world, which translates into pretty much nothing if you don't give a wooden nickel about clothes (always wanted to use that expression, now I feel as old as Mr. Burns - ex-cellent). Milan was never really on the tour map and likely would have stayed off it had I not met Jin & Jay in Verona. As it was, I had some time on my hands as I couldn't arrive in Paris as early as I had hoped so I could take a more leisurely path and Milan offered a free place to stay. As for "attractions", well, the city didn't have the treasure trove I was used to from my time spent in the rest of Italy (and Germany for that matter). Whereas Venice, Verona and Florence maintained an almost completely pre-modern look Milan is a big (and ugly) modern city full of unseemly skyscrapers, office buildings, and burgeoning suburbs. And yet, Milan deserves a special place in my memory for my time with those great Koreans of Italy and for sporting the most fantastic cathedral in Europe. Read on Macduff, read on.</p><p align="left">I arrived in Milan the evening of the 11th. The train ride north from Florence was fun as I met a Pisano/a (from Pisa - I think) named Giada. She couldn't speak English nor could I speak Italian so we managed to make half-sense in Spanish. This was about the limit of the usefulness that Spanish served me on my European vacation that for whatever reason excluded the only Spanish-speaking country: Portugal. Giada and I parted ways on the steps of the Milan train station as I tried, in vain, to get in contact with Jin who had given me his phone number in Verona. As I was to find out later the poor Koreans had imbibed one too many beers (knowing Soon Tae that could have meant precisely one) and had passed out for the night. Much to my aggravation, my free night in Milan was to be spent at a pricey hostel on the outskirts.</p><p align="left">Getting to the hostel involved taking the subway which luckily had a stop right in the train station. As any seasoned traveller knows, the subway is one's best friend. Unlike buses which are always difficult to learn and navigate, subways are universal. Stops are always easily marked so you know where you are and the maps clearly show where you're going. Milan was no-different - except for one thing - it screamed. Maybe it was due to the heat and humidity that caused all the windows to be down or the design of the tunnels or a lack of lubrication on the tracks but this train made the most horrendous sound in the world - like nails on a chalkboard that even a blood-curdling scream wouldn't pierce through. I wouldn't be surprised if half the population is stone-deaf as most of the regulars on the train didn't even bother shielding their ears whereas I had my hands over both ears and my head almost between my knees.</p><p align="left">My night and morning at the hostel aren't really worth recounting, except to thank a sweet lass (Katrina?) who came running down a dark and rainy street to see if knew where I was going (I didn't) and help me find the hostel and who later helped me find a place to store my pack for free while I walked around Milan. Travelling can really bring out the best of people and a sort of international camaraderie that is something that has to be experienced to believe.</p>Now, onto the pictures from the next day, the 12th of August:<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3768.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303654519"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/303654519_5f6258fdf2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Castello Sforzesco reveals that Milan is part of a different history than the rest of Italy. Unlike the Renaissance-esque buildings and Roman ruins that marked Verona and Florence, Milan seems to belong the the epoch of castles and keeps that is more commonly associated with France and England. In fact, the Northwestern portion of Italy routinely changed alliances or came under the dominion of different forces during the last millennium and developed strong ties with France.</p><p align="center"><a title="img_3769.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303655097"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/303655097_8eb8d84b09_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The courtyard between the fortress gate and the castle. Bicycles were a medieval weapon thrown from the ramparts on invading troops. Only later was it discovered that they could also be used for transportation.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3779.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303655529"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/303655529_75a76e4d1f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The gate to heaven. Actually just having fun with aperture and shutter speeds as I waited for a downpour to end...<br /></div><p align="center"><br /><a title="img_3792.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303655996"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/303655996_39ef3a4945_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Castle Sforzesco is now a museum that holds a lot of furniture... For this reason I decided to pass on becoming more acquainted with my first-ever medieval castle (this discounts the pleasure palaces I visited in Germany that served more of an aesthetic than defensive function, although Salzburg's fortress may count).<br /></div><p align="center"><br /><a title="img_3849.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303661353"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/303661353_bf6d773788_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The unbelievable Duomo of Milan, the finest church I had ever set my sights upon in all its resplendent glory. Having passed the church the night before in the gloom and drizzle it barely stood out but now, amidst the light blue sky and streaming sunlight... magnifico!<br /></div><p align="center"><br /><a title="img_3845.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303659946"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/303659946_5abd78434d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The marble Duomo was commissioned in 1386 and was continually under construction for the 600 years that followed!<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3830.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303657982"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/303657982_ccaf7a8e97_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Inside the Duomo, a brief look around and some blurry pictures (no flash permitted!).<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3826.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303657256"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/111/303657256_cd6d2f2a8f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Between the two colossal pillars and the immense sense of space this picture looks like the throne room of that evil space alien the Scientologists believe in.<br /></div><p align="center"><br /><a title="img_3810.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303656549"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/303656549_27d034f0c7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The floor tiling reminds me of a deck of cards. For those of you that have seen the beginning of Casino Royale, they could have saved some time by filming the tiling here...<br /></div><p align="center"><br /><a title="img_3850.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303661921"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/110/303661921_d1b621bdfc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The centre of Milan, the Piazza del Duomo with the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II encompassing one whole side. The open-air Galleria is full of the shops that make Milan famous such as Gucci and McDonald's... (actually not joking about the McDonald's, except here they are a cafe that serve a number of baked goods in a Starbucks style atmosphere... la de da!).<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3853.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303662396"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/303662396_389772db8e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Jin relaxes in the shade (blame the photographer) in front of the Galleria. The Duomo is concealed to the right.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3854.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303680366"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/303680366_fcf90aa1a2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Not a bad job for an automatic-mode shot, except this time I'm in the shadow... sigh!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3856.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303679756"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/303679756_4cd6a23fd7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The Duomo, complete with requisite scaffolding. The Europeans must spend a fortune renovating these buildings.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3841.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303658635"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/303658635_c8b3c5da7f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><br /><a title="img_3843.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303659270"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/303659270_68a9dc0363_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Inside the Galleria, Prada and Louis Vuitton occupy some of the prime central ground. The far end leads to the famous Teatro alla Scala, the Milanese Opera House. To my right, kitty-corner to the Prada store is the McDonald's Cafe!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3858.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303678538"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/107/303678538_a0426eb73b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">An old tradition. At the centre of the Galleria there's a circular rut worn into the tile. Legend has it that if you put your heel into the rut and spin around its some kind of good luck charm. I can't remember the exact significance. Maybe you'll come back to Milan or marry a Milanese or who knows what. The Europeans are a superstitious bunch...<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3859.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303677784"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/303677784_328813abc6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Leonardo must have spent some time here too, since they erected a large statue of the single-name scholar/artist at the other end of the Galleria (near the opera house). The "Da Vinci" at the end of Leonardo's name refers to his place of birth. He was known at the time simply as Leonardo, as the name plate on this statue reveals.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3861.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303677115"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/303677115_7b8d706bed_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Ascending the steps to the top of the Duomo. The Galleria is to the right and the Piazza in the foreground.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3862.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303676498"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/111/303676498_bdabc705a8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3863.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303675899"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/107/303675899_f26e44e5a7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Atop each of the pillars is a saint, with hundreds of fully sculpted individual saints making up the whole edifice.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3864.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303675228"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/303675228_f3ffea11f6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3867.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303673195"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/303673195_2b3da10dd3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">More card themes, the Spades point up!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3868.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303672564"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/303672564_15fb627b8a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">It must get lonely up there. A close-up of the intricateness of the saintly spires.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3870.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303671698"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/303671698_216421e213_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">God speaks!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3874.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303669743"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/303669743_6cff90da47_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The Piazza del Duomo from above.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3876.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303668380"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/110/303668380_56bccc4fe1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The roof of the cathedral.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3877.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303667789"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/303667789_a71fadbd4c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">The city of Milan looking northwest. The castle/fortress Sforzesco can be seen in the distance.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3879.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303666683"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/303666683_c6711dfbf7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">An inspiring view, worthy of one more photo!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3880.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303666107"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/303666107_9f1eb6cc32_d.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Corso Vittorio Emanuele II shopping street extends from the Galleria alongside the Duomo and then off into the distance. The buildings of Milan stand in sharp contrast to what I'd seen in the rest of Italy.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3881.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303665417"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/303665417_3081928974_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Proof that I didn't rip these photos off a travel website. Needing a haircut and some sunglasses, Jason stands before Milan.<br /><br />At this point it was mid-afternoon on the 12th and I felt I had seen what Milan had to offer. Jin had left me for home when I climbed the stairs to see the top of the Duomo and I had resolved earlier to take a train westward to continue my journey. Unfortunately, as I arrived at the train station there were no trains leaving for anywhere until the next morning. Thus, I was forced to stay another night in expensive modern and slightly boring Milan. Hoping to avoid spending another night at the HI youth hostel and desiring to cash in on Jin's forgetfulness the night before I phoned up my new Korean friend and told him of my misfortune and asked to spend the night. Luckily he agreed and invited me to come over.<br /><br />As the story goes, however, I took my time, decided to check my email and post a few pictures on the blog (failed at that so I resorted to sending emails and chatting on gmail/meebo). By the time I phoned Jin again to let him know I was coming over he seemed anxious that I had delayed so long but we arranged to meet at a subway stop as soon as I had picked up my bag from the hostel.<br /><br />It turns out Jin's anxiety stemmed from the fact that, in preparation of my arrival his girlfriend and her housemates had decided to make dinner for me and I was actually holding up the poor group's meal! Now part of my scheme of international diplomacy as a vegetarian is avoiding being put in situations where I have to decline meals and coming over late in the day was part of this strategy. In guaranteed, in my mind, that assumptions would have been made that I had eaten (whether or not I had) and vice versa. Unfortunately this would prove to be the elusive case.<br /><br />Arriving at the apartment ten hungry eyes bade me a quick hello and ushered me into the kitchen where I was seated in front of a table of Korean and Western foods and my plate quickly filled with a chicken leg or two, some kimchi, some kind of sushi/kimbap(spelling?), and so on. I had starved this poor lot, most of whom couldn't speak English (Jin was the only trilingual - English, Italian, Korean). So my choice was to decline or eat some chicken and yet-to-be-identified meat...<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3882.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303664778"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/303664778_418dda9941_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Ten eyes bearing down upon me. To munch or not to munch... that is the question!<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3883.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/303664210"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/303664210_48b09952ea_d.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">So that was some pretty tasty chicken. Yep, I decided to swallow my convictions, as well as the chicken and sushi-type stuff. An international crisis was avoided and I was rewarded with some fresh watermelon for dessert, a hot shower and a free place to sleep! Thank you again Jin & friends for a truly memorable experience in Milan. It made this otherwise slightly dull city a great story!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-16015705060810053592006-11-14T23:08:00.000-05:002006-11-15T00:28:39.125-05:00Florence, Italy - August 9 - 11, 2006<div style="text-align: left;">Dry, hot, beautiful inland Florence, or Firenze as the Italians refer to her - a much spicier version than the prefix Flor could ever convey. Whereas Venice I had to see because it will sink, Firenze was worth seeing all on its own merits. What Rome was in the days of the Empire, Firenze was in the days of the Renaissance - the world capital of culture, art and literature, which are today embodied in a number of extensive museums (extensive referring to the 3-hour line I waited to get in one of them!). Anyway, I will let the photos speak to you themselves, starting with some panoramic views of the valley from the campsite.<br /></div><p align="center"><br /><a title="img_3550.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288968472"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/288968472_773f16d0db_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3551.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288969193"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/288969193_b78f0d3bbb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3553.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288969874"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/288969874_3440d5ff80_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">As you can see, the campsite "Camping Michelangelo" was perched on one of the rolling hills that surrounded the city - it was only a short 20 minute walk into the city which made the location ideal and the price was right.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3558.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288971005"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/288971005_875d524fae_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The star of the hillside, a replica of Michelangelo's David, the real one was removed and is now in a museum, which is too bad. Outside of the Italian countryside I'm not sure if it can take on the same shine as the replica did.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3562.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288971629"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/288971629_4da93d6420_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">A feudal tower, maybe from the Medici era, is left on the high bank of the Arno River. In the evening the base of this tower serves as an informal hangout with a mini-bar and snack stand, some tables and music. Yet another reason why Europe gets everything right.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3564.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288972788"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/288972788_2508a3da7b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">The Ponte Vecchio - the famous Medici bridge that was financed by the powerful merchant family during the Italian Renaissance. This partly covered bridge contained a secret passageway used by the Medici family and its advisers to cross in secret between their palatial residence on the outskirts of the city (to the left of the Arno in this picture) and there fortress inside the city. Rumour has it that butcher shops originally set-up shop along the bridge to hock their wares to passerbys but the Medici's evicted them for degrading their coveted bridgeway and demanded that only prestigious enterprises could operate, thus Ponte Vecchio became famous for its gold trade which operated out of the shops built right onto the sides of the bridge.</p><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3566.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288973373"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/288973373_93b0444b89_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;">A close-up of the Ponte Vecchio.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3571.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288973847"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/288973847_a648ae5f46_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Sunset on the Arno as seen from the Ponte Vecchio.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3574.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288974834"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/288974834_560f4e56c6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The feudal citadel gives this city much more flavour than any Roman influences. This tall tower likely belongs to the Vecchio fortress, the central Medici stronghold.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3596.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288975432"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/288975432_deda03bc11_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The famous Battistero, one of the oldest buildings in Florence, was built on a Roman temple sometime during the first millennium. The Italian poet Dante was baptized here.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3579.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288988271"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/288988271_e40daac262_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Looming behind the Battistero is the Duomo - the Italian version of the German Dom, the church of churches. The most spectacular church I had seen in Italy (until Milan - which takes the cake for best church ever).<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3584.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288984842"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/288984842_99c0f33c9a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">A close-up of the intricate architecture and colours of the duomo, especially the terracotta-coloured dome which easily stands out against the green hills and sand coloured buildings that cover the Italian landscape.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3585.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288984110"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/288984110_be68568ee5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The campanile, the large bell tower characteristic of Italian churches.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3587.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288982741"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/288982741_10b6dfd817_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3590.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288980204"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/288980204_a28785770c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The entrance to the duomo (sans priest with cross and holy water trying to evict demonic youngsters).<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3595.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288976097"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/288976097_47020073be_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3601.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288989075"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/288989075_65b532fa71_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The best Christians are the ones encased in stone is what I've always said. Here some saints of Firenze adorn the outer walls of the Duomo.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3599.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288990696"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/288990696_bb7cc288b2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">No point to this photo, I just like the "look up.... way up" sort of feel.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3604.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288992005"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/288992005_6dff97cad8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The crest of the Medici family - a common marker in Firenze as the Medici's ran this town like the Hell's Angels run Kelowna. And whereas the HA have the Grand Hotel, the Medici's had a number of palaces.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3611.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288993287"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/288993287_79dafb7f51_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Breaking the bank - out for a romantic dinner for one in Firenze with a glass of Chianti and a plate of real Italian pasta with fresh Parmesan cheese. Just typing this gets my mouth watering again. I thought of trying to set-up the camera somewhere to have it auto-shoot a picture but it turns out it was less embarrassing to ask the waitress to do it.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3614.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288993881"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/288993881_06d160229a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Duomo and the Piazza di San Giovanni at midnight - as active as it had been six hours earlier. European cities just don't know what time's bed-time. But I did, so I headed back to the campground.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3617.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288994343"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/288994343_14536e767b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Arno and the Ponte Vecchio in the dark.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3624.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288994907"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/288994907_bb2ce240e7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3623.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288995465"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/288995465_f98946d50d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3627.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288996169"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/288996169_08b6be7e60_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Firenze from the hillside on my hike back home.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3631.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288998427"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/288998427_2b69d4c11b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Back in town. Looking from the city-side bank of the Arno toward the multi-coloured buildings that line the periphery of the city. Unbeknownst to me at this point, I would soon waste 3 hours on a sweltering summer day waiting to get into the Palazzo Degli Uffizi, one of the most famous Italian museums, known for its collection of Florentine and Renaissance paintings. It was also running a fabulous Leonardo di Vinci exhibit (di Vinci lived part of his life in Firenze before leaving for France). Unfortunately after waiting 3 hours in the heat to get into the museum I could barely last an hour inside the un-air conditioned palace before feeling faint and having to bolt for the exit.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3642.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/288999511"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/288999511_659df477dc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The rectangular outer court of the Uffizi is lined with famous Italians. Galileo, known for inventing the indelible marker deserves a prominent position.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3641.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289000085"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/289000085_c92d1e27a7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Amerigo Vespucci, a well-known cartographer discovered the origin of the evolution during a famous voyage to Peru.</p><p align="center"><a title="img_3639.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289001216"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/289001216_a0149e0bfa_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Macchiavelli - a name synonymous with pasta sauce itself - was a prominent noodleer during his day and his memory lives on thanks to reheatable microwave dinners.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3638.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289001866"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/289001866_d3791d1d7d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Wrote the Da Vinci Code - enough said.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3637.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289002553"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/289002553_98ccdce36e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Not so menacing without his staff, this turtle-cum-ninja is portrayed anthropomorphically, a process common to more primitive societies that need to characterize their heroes and gods in human form.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3644.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289003236"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/289003236_22d92867a6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">After escaping the Uffizi, and witnessing some of the most famous prints in history such as Botticelli's Birth of Venus (the one with Venus standing in an open shell), I stumbled around Florence and realized that the city itself was a museum of various artifacts, statues and monuments. I'm not sure how the Greek warrior Perseus and the severed head of Medusa fit into the storyline of a modern Italian city but here they are.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3646.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289004462"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/289004462_38548deff7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">King Triton - by the looks of it at least - and what looks like a yard sale of other statues are scattered the square.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3656.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289005215"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/289005215_55b4aec562_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Italians take their gelato seriously, just take a look at the neon-intensity of Festival of Gelato. Indeed!<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3662.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289007750"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/289007750_c3d3ea85ca_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Mmmm... the Italian breakfast heard around the world - due to me bragging about how good it was. It was even worth a picture. A cappuccino and a croissant at 8am as I waited for the Santa Croce church to open across the street. The coffee was so good it barely needed any sugar, the flavour was in the beans. Since Europe, the doors to coffee and wine and stinky cheese have been opened to me. Viva la revolucion!<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3665.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289008354"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/289008354_c175f67286_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Another momento of my extraordinarily simple but excellent breakfast. The Iris Coffee shop, complete with the requisite lineup of vespa motor scooters.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3685.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289009948"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/289009948_d20fbbf9f0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3683.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289011106"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/289011106_05c06ddf89_d.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;">Inside Santa Croce, a museum in its own right of the notable dead. Talk about people dying to get in here, Machiavelli had to struggle to maintain his family name with the Medici's in order to get this stately monument.<br /></div><p align="center"><a title="img_3691.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289012482"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/289012482_dc2aa0db66_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Michelangelo's burial tomb. Prestigious it is.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3695.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289013798"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/289013798_38117bf3be_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Marconi (Macaroni the Radio Guy), Da Vinci, Donatello, the who's who of Firenze and Italy are in this church. The lesser known types get the floor.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3724.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289017134"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/111/289017134_37c68cd21b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">A basilica attached to Santa Croce illuminated only by daylight and its own architecture.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3754.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289019750"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/289019750_4356a0b556_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Alas, its time to say goodbye to Florence and Firenze. As I wait for the bus to come by to take me to the train station I take one last look at the town from above.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3766.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289020458"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/289020458_2610232d86_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Some more Italian hotrods parked outside the train station. If anyone wants to know where they got their Italian postcards from it was here, waiting for the train to Milan - I had decided to take my Korean friends Jin and Jay up on their offer to drop my Jin's hometown to get one more day in Italy before it was off to France. For Mom: the last piece of your Botticelli puzzle could be on the floor of the store where I was writing the postcards. I dropped the puzzle on the floor but thought I had picked up all the pieces.<br /></p><p align="center"><a title="img_3765.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/289021122"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/289021122_b8f34875a6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Italian trains aren't always on time like the German's. It seems even Mussolini couldn't pull that off, but I never had a problem. Using my Euro-rail pass I could jump on any train whenever I wanted (in theory - although the practice turned out to annoyingly more difficult). But I should end on a happy note, so .... think happy thoughts!<br /></div><p></p>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-4667649169422523832006-11-04T19:33:00.000-05:002006-11-04T20:12:21.943-05:00Verona, Italy - August 8-9, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to Verona, Italy. A few hours west of Venice on the road to Milan. This quaint Italian villa is known as "little Rome" because of its famous outdoor amphitheatre in the city centre and thus was the closest I would come to the actual Rome on my trip - a move I hope was strategic and will result in a future trip to south and central Italy. It was here in Verona that I met two Koreans - Jin and Jay - who were also travelling from Venice on a small tour of northern Italy. Jin lived in the outskirts of Milan where he was learning to make violins in the tradition of the famous handcrafted works of Strativarius, etc. Each one would sell for a few thousand! His friend Jay was visiting from Korea and Jin was taking him around the countryside. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3426.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259886922"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/259886922_57a47c8125_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The hostel - a retrofitted monastery - proved to be one of the nicer places to stay although their "included breakfast" translated into cereal and powdered juice drink. The three of us decided to stay here together. Jin could speak decent English and was fluent or almost fluent in Italian while Jay had to wait for translation into Korean and vis versa.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3434.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259891351"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/259891351_29cdd8eaa6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My first sight of a real Roman ruin - mainly restored. This small outdoor amphitheatre was just down the hill from our hostel. It was buried and built over-top-of but most of it has been cleared away and restored and is now used for musical productions.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3438.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259892040"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/259892040_b08179b45e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Adige River provides a natural barrier between the core and the peripheral areas of Verona to the North and East. The centrality of rivers in European cities and towns provides some interesting contrast to Canadian cities. </div><br /><a title="img_3439.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259892791"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/259892791_287f40f650_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Looking south from one of the frequent bridges that cross the Adige. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3442.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259894687"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/259894687_3a1d3175f1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Northern Italy shines with its brick buildings that somehow avoid the look of the Ol' Spaghetti Factory while still bringing that nostalgia to the fore. Mmmmm... spaghetti. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3443.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259895614"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/101/259895614_de0bed0efe_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A cathedral - perhaps the spot where Romeo and Juliet were wed. I couldn't resist the storyline while walking through this fabled city.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3444.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259896382"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/259896382_85c7434203_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A view of the Italian countryside north of the Adige. The heat reminds me of Kelowna but the land stays green thanks to the preponderance of evergreens.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3446.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259897051"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/259897051_4ff02e41c9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The fountain of Piazza Erbe. After successfully managing to figure out the Italian phone system and calling York from this square I took advantage of Italian generosity and ate the bounty of free appetizers that come with any ordered drink. Bruschetta, potato chips and olives are generally the items served free which can make a cheap light meal.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3449.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259898077"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/259898077_ed6cf8dd5a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The famous balcony and Juliet herself awaiting her lost love beneath it. Shakespeare's tragedy was actually based on the clan-ish fighting of two houses in Verona during the 13th century. This house was known to belong to the "Capulet" family.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3453.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259898738"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/259898738_6f9a2fc23f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Giulietta and I. Not meant to be a perverted pose - its good luck! Try and get those Koreans to do it though! I've never seen such embarrasment, although I think we managed to get a photo for both of them.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3455" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259944995"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/259944995_ce865064cd_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">To the chagrin of the Veronese historical society, it has become just as traditional to write love notes on the walls of the Capulet building. Like some kind of primitive dating service, these notes ask Juliet to help the loveless find a date or to immortalize some couple's relationship.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3456" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259944998"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/259944998_6ec93026bc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a close-up. Since there's no room on the wall itself to grafitti people have resorted to sticking pieces of paper to the wall with their note.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3468.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259904651"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/259904651_5efb47f42e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Summon Russell Crowe, its the Arena! The famous central amphitheatre of Verona that earned it the name "piccola Roma". I wish I could have caputred the sheer size of the building but it was impossible. Access was restricted as well because it was opera night, so I did what any sucker for Roman history would do, I bought a ticket!<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3474.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259907469"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/259907469_6de93601f3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A glimpse of the curvature of the colloseum-like Arena. An advertisement for Pearl Jam, which was playing this venue in September, made me drool.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3467.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259905382"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/259905382_60a14b2b83_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Piazza Bra which opens up to the south of the Arena. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3479.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259909623"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/259909623_ae7f99b01f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The inner city that is not bounded by the Adige (as it is on the North and East) is surrounded by a high and thick wall. This entrance way at the southern end of the Piazza Bra is one of the few entrances into the inner city from the outside. From the airplane trip into Venice, I could see that almost all the towns were built on this feudalistic model of an encircled inner core with a outer ring. </div><br /><a title="img_3471.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259906200"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/259906200_417f270ae7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3470.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259906855"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/259906855_730a15f53b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Inside the Arena. I was in the nose-bleed section (above). They rent cushions to those softer-bummed fellows but I went without. The stone seats were incredibly warm from soaking up the day's heat and kept my bottom toasty until well after sun-down.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3499.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259910225"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/259910225_bbe957c47a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It doesn't take a Led Zeppelin solo to see the lighters go up. Its part of the tradition here. Luckily the Italians are a smoking bunch.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3503.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259910904"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/92/259910904_ec842ba021_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3509.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259911541"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/259911541_1cb43cc19a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3521.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259912730"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/259912730_2775371e6d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Various scenes from that night's double-showing. I wish I could tell you what the plot of either story was, from what I gathered it was same-old opera stuff. One woman, her husband, her lover, jealousy, fighting to the death but all done in song. I didn't understand a word of it and only the next day did I meet some fellow travellers (irish lasses) on the way out of Verona who explained it to me (they had smartly printed out the descriptions from the Internet before the show).<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3523.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259913284"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/259913284_008ee38426_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Arena after dark. Crowds file from the opera onto the Piazza Bra.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3530.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259913840"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/259913840_b0e0a0dcb4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One of my best night-shots on the trip - the moon and the street lights illuminate this old church.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3533.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259916568"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/259916568_59555cf8f0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another decent night-shot from the eastern bank of the Adige. The illuminated bell tower from the Piazza Erbe towers above the rest of the inner city.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3540.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259918931"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/259918931_f1bcc3ad9b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Jay & Jay. Guess which one I am.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3539.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259919888"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/259919888_2168fcf4fb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Jay & Jin.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3542.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259918038"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/259918038_51b41ee7e3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Giving credit where credit is due. This dead Englishman has been providing Verona with tourist dollars for centuries now. A famous quotation from Romeo & Juliet in English and Italian is inscribed on a plaque on the wall of the entrance to the Juliet Tomb and Museum.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3543.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259917373"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/259917373_a93448a6ba_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">From the outside looking in. I decided to avoid paying the entrance fee. Seeing a tomb wasn't worth whatever price they were charging, after all, the story didn't include the burying of Juliet, so I figured I'd followed it long enough. <br /><br />So, like the tragedy my story of Verona ends here. It was a short stay in a city that had no where near the draws of Venice, Rome or Florence but the relative quietness was welcome after being drowned in 'touristness' the day before. Verona was a really nice city to stroll through and had the beauty of seeming to flow right into history and nature, meshing perfectly with the centuries before it and the countryside around it. <br /></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-23447469864853415262006-10-16T12:04:00.000-04:002006-10-16T12:08:51.938-04:00Venice, Italy - August 6-8, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> Ah, Venice. One look at the photos brings back the unrealness of this city. Maybe it was the beautiful day - which had been somewhat scarce in Germany as of late - that really brought this city to life. Reminscing, I remember not really liking Venice that much. It was packed with tourists and pigeons. Everything was expensive (and understandably so I suppose since everything has to be gondala'ed to the stores and what not). It was also quite hot and humid - the famous mediterranean climate. Also I was busing calling or trying to call home and York about my class registration which is a pain in the ass now when I live within spitting distance of the campus nevermind when I'm trying to figure out a foreign telephone system which only has instructions in Italian (I missed Germany's anglo-centric efficiency).<br /><br />Still, what remains now is only the photos and they tell a story of a city of stunning beauty. I can understand if people stop reading the blog after this entry because I can guarantee you nothing will beat Venice, in terms of photos at least. Sure some will come close, sure I had a better time in Paris among other places... but dear Venice, as Sinead O'Connor sings, "nothing compares to you".<span style=""></span></div><br /><a title="img_3283.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259237991"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/259237991_220fab8dc3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The city just shines - it certainly helps that they used a lot of white stone or paint. It provides the perfect medium to reflect the green waters and the blue sky.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3289.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259239026"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/259239026_0c7f828b66_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A Venetzian household. Today the prices in Venice are so high that most of the original dwellers are being driven out to be replaced by the rich and / or businesses to serve the tourists.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3290.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259239924"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/259239924_a56177833a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was always on the lookout for something that reminded me of the Indiana Jones Last Crusade movie. My memory being the way it is I couldn't recall what the buildings looked like in the show so anything that remotely reminded me of Indiana Jones was photographed. Its' a nice shot regardless.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3291.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259240758"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/259240758_a871ec630c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A powerboat navigates one of the more narrow canals. Perhaps its more of an 'alleyway'?<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3292.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259241633"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/91/259241633_9ea7bf6d2b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Masks seemed to be the Venetzian speciality. There were plenty of stores selling expensive and intricate masks. Not sure what the story behind it is. I considered getting one to bring back home but I didn't think it would survive 2 weeks in my backpack.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3293.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259242484"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/259242484_41a452d36e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you have a $100 or so to spare you can get a ride in a gondola for half-an-hour. Needless to say, just watching from the sidelines was good enough for me.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3296.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259243362"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/259243362_a05e5615c2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Looking down the Grand Canal of Venice - wide enough for a nice speed boat race away from nazi foes but probably won't fit the massive cruise ships that routinely visit the outskirts of Venice.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3295.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259244358"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/259244358_af181e73b7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There are only three bridges that cross the Grand Canal - due to its size. This one, the Accademia, crosses it at is southern-most point.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3297.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259247353"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/259247353_e3ec4be260_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Classic Venetzian architecture and the candy-cone pillars of the docks.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3300.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259248282"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/259248282_dd8da5b11b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Just liked this photo. No story.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3302.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259249721"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/259249721_9a21c63fcf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Same story as above. Thought it is neat to think that the Med (technically the Asiatic) runs right up to the sidewalk. Global warming has seen the water rising dramatically here and flooding - an annual occurence anyway - is worsening. Venice was a must-see city that I made sure on hitting early on by buying my ticket from Germany here. I sacraficed Rome to make sure I saw Venice before it disappears.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3304.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259250466"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/259250466_34ccb4e329_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Venice is made up of 117 islands, with the central ones forming a semi-continuous land-mass spanned by little and big bridges. Parts of Venice, however, lie too far off the central mass to be bridged. Here the island-cluster of Giudecca lies to the south, separated by the Canale della Giudecca. Only powered boats navigate the larger crossing.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3316.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259252142"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/259252142_041087b426_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Probably the Chiesa del Redentore but I can't be sure. The beautiful whites and reds of Venice are exemplified in it.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3322.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259254205"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/259254205_32f96d35a1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The deteroriating brick facade of Venice, worn from facing the sea for generations, make for a great textured look.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3337.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259255973"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/259255973_58957d4fd5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The second of the two photos I posted about Venice while in Italy. This great photo deserves another look. The Chiesa di Santa Maria dell Salute 'guards' the entrance to the Grand Canal.</div><br /><a title="img_3347.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259259110"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/91/259259110_914c9b8d53_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A gondoleer (no idea what they're called) in traditional hat and shirt takes a break above his docked gondola.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3349.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259259910"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/259259910_0cb024bcfc_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A happy family will subsitute for mine - now I can frame this on my wall and tell people I'm the kid taking the picture with the hat on.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3351.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259260947"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/259260947_451b834d43_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The famous San Marco square and its byzantine-styled Basillica of San Marco. St. Mark of bible-study fame is (partly) buried in here (his body/ashes/dirt being stolen and traded over the centuries one can only guess what the Basillica claims to have).<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3353.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259261832"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/259261832_e49f9d936a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The really annoying true citizens of Venice. These pesky lil'bastards have the run of the house here in Venice where dumb tourists feed them at every opportunity.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3352.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259262639"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/259262639_b5619fcc48_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Sitting in the shade on the Piazza will cost you - and there's not much space for sitting to be had in Venice, which translates into sore feet for some. Still, a great view of the Basillica and the campanile (bell tower).<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3354.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259263562"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/259263562_5d98bb9b8e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A full view of the plaza itself - cluttered with a stage and scaffolding from a past concert.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3361.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259264360"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/259264360_1d5271bbc8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another dumb tourist suckered into the idea of letting the birds land and eat seeds off his body. I got my laugh when the inevitable eventually happened later in the day to another dumb tourist that obviously had a visit from a pigeon to whom the saying "don't shit where you eat" didn't apply.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3364.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259265145"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/259265145_2ea8cb02f6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The arcade of the Venetzian Palace.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3365.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259265884"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/259265884_8d6ee5bf7f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Eyeing one of the two columns that stand between the Piazza and the sea.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3366.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259266877"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/259266877_4a981bbc15_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">These four crusadic knights were getting a lot of attention, although I didn't know what the story was behind them. The left foot of the right-most knight was the centre of the most of the attention, as you cna see from the picture. I could only wonder if these were the Knights of the Holy Grail, but again, maybe that's too much Indiana Jones (and there were 3 brothers according to the movie and here there are 4 so... :( )<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3367.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259268277"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/259268277_68a6c7acee_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Piazza de San Marco is shaped in an L, taking a sharp right turn at the Basillica it looks south and out to sea. Two columns, one with a griffen-like flying lion, and the second of a man with a spear or staff.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3375.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259269301"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/259269301_c9bbfd6302_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A close-up of the side of the Basillica, with the spire of the campanile, in the background.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3376.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259270301"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/259270301_047ba40ec1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another idyllic gondola scene. I could sell these to the tourist board I'm sure :)<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3380.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259271268"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/259271268_3776962868_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The second of three bridges that span the Grand Canal of Venice. This one, the Rialto, is probably the most famous and busiest. It's large enough to house shops in the middle of the walkways.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3381.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259272125"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/259272125_d767df1314_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A view of the S-curving Grand Canal from atop the Rialto bridge. The canal weaves south-west before making an abrupt u-turn and heading almost straight east, under the Accademia and out into the Asiatic just before it reach the Piazza de San Marco.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3382.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259272993"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/259272993_00af7b1c77_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Opposite View: Looking north from the Rialto.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3386.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259273828"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/259273828_d4cc0124f2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A tranquil Venetzian scene with nothing important or historical (that I know of) in the photo.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3385.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259274679"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/259274679_68223488aa_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A close-up of the specifically Venetzian window styling.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3393.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259275504"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/259275504_571577d38a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My first taste of true Italian gelato. Yummy.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3397.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259276340"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/259276340_68c6ad5015_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My 15 second gondola ride. For only a few cents you can take a gondola to get across the larger canals. These are used in lieu of bridges in those spans where bridges are few and far between. They don't ahve the romantic touch but are just as historical if not more so - in fact, my boat seemed to be full of Italians (perhaps residents). No tourists here.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3404.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259279179"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/259279179_87590f4e32_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not really sure what this is anymore beside a cool photo. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3406.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259279992"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/259279992_7da900f301_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A pretty novel door-step. One's very own bridge.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_3408.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259280911"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/259280911_a960575e0f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Venice is not without a fortress of some kind or other. The Italian military does have a naval yard on the northern edge which looks like its built into a old fortress.</div><br /><a title="img_3407.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259282003"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/110/259282003_095861b94e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The entrance to the fortress-style military complex. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3413.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259283338"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/259283338_b4bbe40828_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) connecting the duchal palace to the dungeons. Likely named for its connection to Casanova or the last sighs of prisoners on their way to execution... Either or really.<br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><a title="img_3423.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259873773"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/259873773_742cec0f37_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Standing in the north-western distric of the Venice called Cannaregio. Only the northwestern tip of Venice is connected to mainland Italy. Train tracks encompass the majority of that connection and there is a major trainstation right on the island. A narrow highway also brings cars, although once they reach the island(s) there isn't much room to maneuvre. <br /></div><br /><a title="img_3424.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259874587"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/92/259874587_38a7ce3f53_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last view of Venice as it recedes into the Asiatic. I've activated my eurorail pass and I'm off to Verona on board a rickety regional train (nothing like the fancy ones I took in Germany).<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-46374499165806556842006-10-07T23:09:00.000-04:002006-12-03T20:36:53.122-05:00Munich, Germany - August 5, 2006So far on my trip I'd experienced plenty of last days. My first day in Austria was my last, same as my first (and last) day in Switzerland. Leaving Prague was a little harder, arriving on the 3rd and departing the morning of the 5th really allowed me to make, in that short time, a real connection with that darling heart of the Czech nation. But today, August 5th, ten days after my arrival in the very same city, I would be leaving Munich and Germany behind indefinitely. This also meant saying goodbye to my host Patricia, who was my primary reason for visiting Germany and going to Europe, since her invitation three years prior in Mexico City (and re-invitation last year when she visited me in Vancouver) made the trip feasible. She lent me her entire apartment to use during my days in and out of Munich, cooked for me, acted as tour guide and drinking buddy - basically was an all-around great friend. So this post is dedicated to Patricia Lang, who's just finishing up the last of the beers at Octoberfest. May we meet again sometime soon - my door here is always open (come visit lovely Toronto)!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3150.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256177953"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/256177953_2060aca482_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3153.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256178433"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/256178433_db46e85cc5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A lovely Roman Catholic church on the side of the Isar. I had figured when I came to Germany that, as the homeland of Martin Luther, it would be full of protestants. Yet, as Bavaria proves, it really ain't <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> German and it does things a little bit differently. So here in the south its quite common to find Catholicism as the majority religion. Which is fine with me, Catholics may be a lot of things but poor church-builders is not one of them. All of the best churches are generally Catholic and this one here, a favourite from the first day I walked along the Isar with Patricia, makes a good photo - especially flanked with the green foliage of the river banks leading toward the English Garden.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3157.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256178797"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/256178797_e5cca99e37_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Isar calmly flows through the city centre. From this picture one would think we were at a nature reserve and not in one of the biggest cities in Germany. But, Bavarians are serious on parks and the English Garden (the name of their 'central park') is the largest central park in the world for a city this size. Even dwarfing Vancouver's Stanley Park and Central Park in New York I'm told - and, whereas Stanley Park is not really in the city but rather an offshoot of the downtown peninsula, all of the English Garden is surrounded by Munich city or suburbs. It really is smackdab in the middle of town, and just a short walk down the Isar from Patricia's apartment (subway stop <span style="font-style: italic;">isator,</span> named after the massive <span style="font-style: italic;">tor</span> or guard tower that stood near the banks of the Isar to defend the city centre from drunken octoberfestians).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3161.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256179444"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/256179444_7c9ae6ae02_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Twenty-shades of green. For an overcast day it was intensely bright, which means the old buildings I was shooting through the green foliage are completely obscured. However, the greens really came out in so many vibrant colours it makes this photo blog-worthy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3168.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256180840"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/256180840_c8d40924e9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Into the centre of the English Garden, local Muncheneers are gathering on this cloudy and drizzling Sunday for a brew with the family. I can't imagine how this could aid some social and community cohesion in Canada if people could unite in the park for some beers on the weekend. Instead we have draconian anti-drinking-in-public laws, I guess drunkenness should be something that we take out on our families and loved ones in private rather than in public where it can be dealt with. Good thinking!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3173.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256181571"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/256181571_fc7e16bf0f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A massive pagoda-style temple in the middle of the beer garden provides room for the Bavarian "oompah" or "umpapa" band to blast out some tunes to patrons snacking on their picnic lunches and cool beers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3172.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256181240"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/101/256181240_775811837e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yep, this place has it all, including its own lake - and you still can't tell there is a city buzzing behind all this. Remarkable - at least to me. Quite a serene place to sit and feed the ducks. In fact I did sit here for a while and read something, I can't remember what though, maybe my Jared Diamond book or the Lonely Planet - they're full of such useful trivial tidbits.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3178.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256182160"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/256182160_61436eb162_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Another unfortunately overexposed picture due to the intense refraction brought on by an intense sun and a light overcast sky. This is the monopteros, with such a cool name how could I not take a picture of just so I could say I shot a monopteros. And "No", I did not remember that off the top of my head. I looked it up on Wikipedia as my memory is just good enough to know I went somewhere this past summer, never mind where and what the names of the little temples were. Here's a blurb on this mysteriously titled artifact: "Designed by Leo von Klenze, this small, round, Greek style temple was erected in 1836. It was built on a hill which, in 1832, was raised from the leftover building material of the Münchner Residenz (Munich Royal Residence)" (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Englischer_Garten_%28Munich%29&oldid=72821376">Wikipedia</a>).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3183.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256182768"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/98/256182768_47f605a57b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A stream, perhaps flowing from the lake, winds is way through the park. Nude sunbathing is common in the English Garden as well as along the Isar (I know, I saw) but perhaps today is not the day for it. Otherwise, this might make an excellent and idyllic location.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3196.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256184255"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/256184255_7557709498_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Bavarian version of the Arc du Triomphe - on a much smaller scale. Still, it makes a powerful statement to those entering the city.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3202.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256184834"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/111/256184834_a848b0c4b2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3199.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256185447"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/256185447_bef38bc040_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The entrance to Munich's largest university and the second largest in the country. Unlike Freiburg, I can't tell you of anyone whose come out of this university except Pope Benedict, which does no credit to this university or town in my opinion.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3206.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256185831"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/256185831_6fb364fce4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I had some time to kill before returning to see Patricia for our last supper - and drink - together, I decided to take some less touristic shots (of buildings, fountains, churches, all my standard fare really) and play with some of the settings of the camera with an easy subject. So this photo and the ones following are just some examples of playing around trying to take some nice pictures. You can skim over them if you like, there may be one or two that you like. In this photo, the well-known Munich <span style="font-style: italic;">munster </span><span>or cathedral with its double-domed towers is visible in the unfocused background.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3214.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256186416"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/256186416_c45d6319c9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Probably my favourite - since its a perfect still of my favourite insect going about its daily routine making honey for my tummy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3217.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256186750"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/256186750_780f78002e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3216.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256187137"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/256187137_41f658f53b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3215.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256187523"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/256187523_9adf1665e0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Reddish / Orange Flower Series<br /><br /><a title="img_3219.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256187870"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/60/256187870_864e75ba82_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3220.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256188192"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/256188192_c1da5fc3f4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3223.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256188493"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/256188493_f6d5bcb302_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Yellow Flower Series (with blurry monolith)<br /><br /><a title="img_3227.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256189573"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/256189573_3b4ad8a819_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Out of the flowers and back to the bustle of Munich. The double-domed <span style="font-style: italic;">munster</span> mentioned above is more clearly visible (and in focus) in this overcrowded photo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3233.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256189991"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/256189991_ac9a67cdfd_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3235.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256190447"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/256190447_13db7fca44_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3234.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256190847"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/111/256190847_0c250b6250_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Pink Flower Series<br /><br /><a title="img_3238.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256191172"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/98/256191172_a3c8faef3e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3237.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256191577"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/256191577_401587dce0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />White Flower Series<br /><br /><a title="img_3241.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256192077"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/256192077_1baa76db3b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3239.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256192609"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/256192609_9e4b12137c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Flowers & Blurry Statue Series<br /><br /><a title="img_3244.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256193602"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/256193602_cde3944db8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Oh! Yes, my thought exactly.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Patricia's Apartment<br /><br /></span>So in telling the end of my story in Munich - and Germany - I should start at the beginning. The apartment where I spent most of my evenings while in Munich.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3252.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256194139"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/256194139_96a15572b1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The kitchen and dining area. Patricia's hard at work making dinner with Christian's help while I bugger off taking pictures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3255.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256194688"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/98/256194688_fbe7359b13_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Her / my bedroom. I must note the equisite Pearl Jam poster she has adorning her wall (right).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3254.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256195196"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/256195196_da0e3e2b8a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Her newest addition - the orange couch - adds a definite flare to the place. I liked it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3253.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256195628"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/256195628_cc4c69e245_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The other end of the kitchen / dining room. The front door and another example of her father's handily crafted woodwork. It definitely isn't a large apartment, but for downtown Munich, directly across the street from a subway station and a few minutes walk to the Marienplatz (the city centre).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3258.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256196105"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/256196105_502fda351c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">What tour would be complete without a look at the lou.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3257.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256196545"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/256196545_7bd942f12f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Patricia's voyages and photographic victories. I hope to have a wall in similar style one day. Only the more skilled observer will be able to name all the places shown here besides the most obvious. But who can tell me which photo is "Vancouver's"?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3259.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256196956"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/256196956_c091c09e7e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My last drink at a Munich beerhall. The Augustiner Braustuben, where they quarter the horses that pull in the wagons of ale to mark the beginning of Octoberfest. After a long day (I'd arrived in Munich that morning after leaving my Czech hostel at 5am) I could barely finish my litre of beer before beginning to nod off.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3261.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256197385"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/256197385_d03adf223d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> German beer hall, for Germans, not tourists!<br /></div><br /><a title="img_3272.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256197772"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/256197772_4e4315b215_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3270.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256198641"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/256198641_a0e464bcd5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks again Patricia (& Christian) for making my stay in Munich and Germany such a great one.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-91025371177583798352006-10-06T20:00:00.000-04:002006-10-03T01:41:31.336-04:00Prague, Czech Republic - August 4, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">After a poor night's sleep with my worldly and expensive possessions wrapped under my arms (I was in a converted classroom with 20 other people), I awoke for another day of exploring the great city of Prague. Understanding the layout a bit better and the transportation system, I was able to plan a route to take me to most of the city's landmarks in a single day.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><br /><a title="img_2871.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256140224"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/256140224_c116ec4ad4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In the centre of traffic - the electric street car is what I used to get too and from the hostel. Today, my second and only full day (since I arrived yesterday, albeit in the early morning) in Prague. I exit the streetcar behind one of the mighty towers of which 1/3 is visible in the middle of the island. From here I can walk to <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vaclavske</span></span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nam</span></span> (<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wenceslas</span></span> Square) to complete my trek to its far end.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_2872.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256140533"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/107/256140533_479595a60e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The end of <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Vaclavske</span></span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nam</span></span> (<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Wenceslas</span></span> Square) where King <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Wenceslas</span> himself sits astride his mighty steed (this is one of the largest equestrian statues in the world I believe). This monument to <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">everyone's</span> favourite <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Christmas</span> carol figure stands in front of the national museum and looks down upon the large rectangular square that is more <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">reminiscent</span> of the modern layout of Paris than a medieval city.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2882.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256141622"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/256141622_a565cc8206_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">More spires, I didn't count to see if there were a thousand or not.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2892.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256142566"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/256142566_aa4b6212ca_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2893.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256143014"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/256143014_6e550165de_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2899.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256143394"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/106/256143394_518fc71595_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Frank <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Gehry's</span> world-famous "Dancing House" is supposed to resemble two dancers. Its original name was "Fred and Ginger" after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I suppose this adds the postmodern to the list of architectures that Prague is already famous for. These photos are dedicated to Rosa, former VP Academic of <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">OUCSAK</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2902.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256143737"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/256143737_2974a1cd1e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On the waterfront. Prague is a city that spans both sides of the river <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Vltava</span> and has almost as many bridges as spires, as one can tell from this picture, these two bridges aren't far apart. This looks to the west bank which is the "newer" half of Prague, but still over a <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">millenia</span> old.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2905.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256144167"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/256144167_0149396c86_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Riverfront housing. The cobble-stone boardwalk actually allows me to take enough steps back to get part of a city block of Prague in focus. Each house a slightly different colour but the roofs dotted with the same collection of satellite dishes!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2906.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256144625"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/256144625_955c1e18a6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Vltava</span> River divides momentarily to encompass and island-park.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2907.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256144957"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/256144957_08c1d1de74_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another building with intricate details but no story - that I know of. Two musicians adorn the balcony of this house - perhaps centuries ago it housed a <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">composer</span> of some consequence. Now just another of a thousand stories of Prague.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2916.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256145328"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/110/256145328_a25a2286f2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I can't remember if the focus of this picture is the insane mesh of streetcar cables crisscrossing this intersection or the old building with its <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">magnificent</span> roof decorations - including what looks like a chariot bolting full-tilt over the edge.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2919.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256145772"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/256145772_a5301786b4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The colour and tone of this work makes the central figure resemble a Ring Wraith from Lord of the Rings. Perhaps another monument to Good King <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Wenceslas</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2921.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256146489"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/256146489_095676ab73_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">King Charles' bridge, one of the oldest bridges remaining in Europe and a feat of medieval architecture in its span. This was the primary entrance from the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">west bank</span> into the old city of Prague and thus was equipped with guard towers on either end to prevent invading armies from crossing. As Prague grew and expanded onto both banks, the royals built Prague Castle on the western hill overlooking the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Vltana</span> and the old city.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2923.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256146915"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/256146915_54d6ab3501_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The near-still water of the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Vltana</span> casts a good reflection of the pink <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">clock tower</span> and its neighbouring buildings.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a title="img_2928.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256147373"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/256147373_253ac17a19_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The almost eye-searing orangeness of it all begged to be photographed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2937.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256147878"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/51/256147878_ce65e3295d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Looking up from Charles Bridge through the guard towers on either side of its western entrance. I can just imagine soldiers standing on the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">crossbridge</span> between the tours dumping pitch and shooting arrows at invading foreigners - much as Steven Harper would like to do.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2945.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256149131"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/256149131_a2055af346_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My view from that same tower <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">crossbridge</span> looking West. St. Nicholas church on the left and the famous church from Prague castle looms on the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">right hand</span> side while screaming tourists run for cover from my terrible wrath below (sadly off screen).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2946.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256149869"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/256149869_3ce116f0b1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yours truly - the pathetic and lonely traveller who quickly sets his camera to automatic in order to have a picture of himself in Prague. I wasn't too happy with this photo but people came up the tower after me and I didn't want to get caught taking pictures of myself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2948.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256150426"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/101/256150426_b4ca9be9d1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The possible victims of wrath. Tourists stroll through the guard tower of Charles Bridge.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2949.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256150851"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/256150851_468ff0e0dd_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">An ancient sword. This reminded me of the sword in the stone and since swords are fundamentally and in their very essence <span style="font-style: italic;">cool</span> I was forced by the categorical imperative that I <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">cognize</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">a <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">priori</span></span> to photograph it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2962.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256151941"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/256151941_4717650c7e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Looking East. The throngs brave the weather to cross Charles Bridge (right) while the historic centre of Prague is visible by the twin-<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">spired</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Tyn</span> Church and town hall. In the distance the modern <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">phallo</span>-tower adds another thrust to the Czech skyline.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2967.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256153382"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/256153382_5217a09071_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No real reason to include this photo but I love rooftops and someone won't be able to complain about this post if I don't give them some rooftops to complain about.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2973.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256153697"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/256153697_7df9707dbf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One of my many attempts to contrast new and old, global and local, commercial and theological (both nihilistic values?) in Europe. Most of them failed or are vague, this came the closest so I'll include it here and then sit back <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">triumphantly</span> as if I've made some artist point that wasn't already obvious to everyone and could have been done better by a ten-year-old.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3001.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256154919"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/256154919_7f50878dd0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3004.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256155152"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/256155152_4526664b75_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3003.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256155453"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/117/256155453_3cec26b26b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The entrance of Prague Castle with close up of enormous violent statues. The guards (first photo) behave much like the British Royal Guards and don't move, smile, etc. They just stand outside their little boxes until their shift is over. Unfortunately I have no idea if any business - governmental or royal - still goes on in the castle. Tourists were allowed easy entrance to the courtyards and such, so if so they're quite lax on security. Perhaps they figure the enormous brutes guarding the entrance above the guards is enough to immediate would-be malcontents from any impropriety.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3011.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256155824"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/256155824_92aa69e6cb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div>This looks almost like one of those eye puzzles. This was part of the luxurious neighbourhood that still surrounds the castle area.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3024.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256156684"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/256156684_b2f6791f4e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3037.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256157686"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/256157686_3e76aec84e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3039.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256158277"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/256158277_a686b1836e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3061.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256159119"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/256159119_bb909f4e91_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3028.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256156929"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/256156929_96be7b512a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In contention with <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Tyn</span> (and maybe St. Nicholas) for the most famous church in Prague is St. Vitus Cathedral which stands within the grounds of Prague Castle. Noted for both its twin spires (a la <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Tyn</span>) and still greater clock/bell tower in the centre - not to mention surrounded by the mini-spires of its <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">gothic</span> buttresses - this church really tries to out-do the rest. There is too much of a good thing, however, and for me it didn't really stand out in comparison to the copper-roofed St. <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Nic</span> or the unique facade of <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Tyn</span>. Still - quite nice. I especially liked the gargoyles - now that's architecture.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3059.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256158713"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/256158713_46447d0fa3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Toning down the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">spiralic</span> testosterone is the Basilica of St. George, one of the oldest churches in Prague - predating St. Vitus, <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Tyn</span> & Nicholas. Built in the Romanesque style of the 10<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">th</span> century it is one of the finest examples of its kind still remaining. As one can see from the photo it doesn't look a day over 200.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3084.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256161578"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/256161578_4d3c5dddc2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The single tree standing in the courtyard of the palace on the hill. Probably because my creativity has been wiped out by movies this draws comparison in my mind to the 3rd Lord of the Rings movie. Thus far two <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">LOTR</span> comparisons in one post. No good...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3090.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256162072"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/256162072_a89fdd546a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A tattered Czech flag symbolizing the occupation of their homeland starting with the Sudetenland in 1938 and ending with Soviet "liberation" in 1945 which saw the modern, progressive and westernized Czech pulled eastward behind the iron curtain. One of the most interesting pieces of memorial art/sculpture that I've seen. Most military monuments in Canada and western Europe seem so <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">greco</span>-roman in their <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">sepulchral</span> majesty. This seems more tragic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3114.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256163570"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/256163570_6e9a3f0375_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>I found what I wasn't looking for. How could I have been in the city of Kafka for two days and not have even remembered that I was walking along the same streets as the artist himself. So it was by complete accident and surprise, and of course delight, that I stumbled into this part of town - the old Jewish sector where a number of synagogues and the remnants of the old ghetto remain.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3118.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256164327"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/256164327_9e49c89cf3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No need to speculate about the automatic mode this time. A fellow tourist volunteered to snap the photo of Franz and I.<br /><br /><br />Well, that's about it for Prague. I had strolled around the poor city for hours and it was time to head home. But wait, its almost 7 o'clock on the dot!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3140.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256167150"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/256167150_34824beee9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_3139.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256167712"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/256167712_49f7ac791c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I made it back in time to see see the town hall astronomical clock in action. As you can see, the windows have opened and little religious dudes are paraded out for a quick wave at the crowds below. Not exactly fascinating but this is what counts for showbiz in Prague a thousand-years ago. Fine by me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_3147.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/256168142"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/256168142_1a60084fa5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Last view of Prague.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-88330010916545326422006-10-02T20:48:00.000-04:002006-10-03T00:17:56.148-04:00Prague, Czech Republic - August 3, 2006Ah, Prague. This is really the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">anomaly</span> of my trip, completely outside my path from Germany to Italy, France and then finally Holland. At the time I was planning my trip, as anyone at Access Justice knows, Prague was a point of angst. In my original "pie-in-the-sky" plan, I had hoped to see much more of central Europe including Slovenia, Vienna, and of course Czech Republic. As my plan <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">shrunk</span> due to time and money <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">constraints</span> Prague seemed increasingly unlikely - it was far to the East of Munich (my otherwise most eastern city) and was not on the way to anywhere else. Not to mention the time constraints meant I would have to travel all the way from <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Freiburg</span> to Munich to catch a cheap flight and then return in time to go to Venice on the 6<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span>. Thus, to go to Prague would have to be for Prague alone, by air and for two days. After much humming & hawing, I bought a return ticket from Munich to Prague. It would be well-worth it, despite my short stay.<br /><br />The story begins in <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Freiburg</span> actually, where I left that evening on a 5 hour return trip to Munich which would see me disembark at midnight on the 3rd and my plane left that morning at 6am - meaning I had to be at the airport at 4, and leave Munich by train at 3 since its about an hour's ride by <span style="font-style: italic;"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">schnell</span></span><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">bahn</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">schnell</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">schnell</span></span>. This left 3 hours of roaming Munich with my 75lb pack in the middle of the night - making good use of the 24-hour <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">McDonald's</span> (god bless <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">fast food</span> globalization) - before I was off to the other side of the (now defunct) iron curtain.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2663.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255448411"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/255448411_ee623d798e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2665.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255448750"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/255448750_e425cc2d25_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>My hostel was on the outskirts of the historic city centre, behind which lies the blandness of modernity, which I attribute to the period of communism <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">under which</span> Prague and the Czech Republic as a whole stifled under for half a century. The Phallic Tower (in the top picture), however, <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">proved</span> to be a key orienteering landmark.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2688.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259320773"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/101/259320773_9d0d9e5734_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The magnificent entrance to the medieval centre of Prague. Unlike most of the other sites I had visited so far, Prague avoided most of the destruction of the world wars and so its historical endowment is largely genuine. Prague looked and felt much older than Germany, whose towers, walls and landmarks seemed to shine with the same <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Disneyesque</span> lustre as <a href="http://jharman.blogspot.com/2006/09/schloss-neuschwanstein-july-28-2006.html"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Schloss</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Neuschwanstein</span></a>. Prague was dingier, dirtier, more crowded and complicated - perfect!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2692.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255449797"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/255449797_7b5f09f1f3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The national opera house.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2693.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255450044"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/255450044_6a776fabcf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Attempting to fit the guard tower into my viewfinder was difficult enough. The black makes it look so much more sinister than the cheerful towers of Munich and <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Freiburg</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2698.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259322721"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/259322721_0ef83f37d7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2701.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259321754"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/91/259321754_fd344a2cd7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2704.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259323728"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/259323728_64169a9d63_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Prague's architecture is the real prize, one can - and I did - wander aimlessly for hours just looking at how the streets unfold, feeling completely lost in the maze of tall buildings that have loomed over the narrows streets for centuries. Modernization is slow but evident. Here the past and future seem to evolve together instead of one at the expense of the other.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2713.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259324535"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/259324535_a65869d8a8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2722.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259326333"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/259326333_00c086946e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The town square is marked by two massive and unique churches and the old town hall.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2772.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259339262"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/259339262_2c06541cac_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>This one, the town hall, is known for its ornate and complex astronomical clock which on the hour gathers a massive crowd to watch its original cuckoo-like machinery promenade some biblical figures at the two windows near the top (photo two above).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2778.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259341162"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/259341162_0f31248b8e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2724.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259327192"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/259327192_f6c074dd33_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Looking across the square (<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Staromestske</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">nam</span> or Old town square) lies the famous twin-<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">spired</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Tyn</span> church.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2726.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259328195"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/259328195_5fa9556c01_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Diagonally from the town hall lies the majority of the square with its monument to Jan Hus, a 600 year old martyr. I couldn't quite remember the commercial, but I'd surmise that this is the spot where Coca-cola gathered a few hundred Czechs for its famous humans-as-coke ad.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2728.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259329924"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/259329924_4e44f4273e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2736.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259334286"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/259334286_5da021b1b6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Jan Hus monument.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2745.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259337199"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/259337199_3e22d0b615_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The seemingly random and bountiful art-as-architecture of Prague. Every building, no matter how ordinary, seemed to have details crafted into it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2753.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255451425"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/255451425_be6c4905e3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Window as Art (No story, Just Liked This Shot)<br /><br /><a title="img_2756.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255451740"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/255451740_921531ee1c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The clouds menace from behind the <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Tyn</span> church. Unfortunately, my trip to Prague coincided with the cold front that (finally) rescued me from the stifling heat of Munich. Sunshine probably would have made the city shine but I loved it even in the gloom - and it bodes nicely for some of the photos like this one.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2766.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255452033"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/43/255452033_9d67569e01_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>One of my favourite pictures of Prague, capturing the street and its historic church (alright you've had enough of the church).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2770.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255452621"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/113/255452621_3abef722c2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Building as storybook and character. I later noticed this same building was in the photo of Prague in the Lonely Planet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2783.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/259343401"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/259343401_1d86812cd6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Vaclavske</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">nam</span> (<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Wenceslas</span> Square). Named after the good king, no doubt, the most famous Czech and a saint to boot. This is part of the New Town (<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Nove</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Mesto</span>) although within walking distance of the Stare <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Mesto</span> (Old Town). Still, we wouldn't consider it new as it was founded in 1348.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back at the Hostel<br /><br /></span>Prague is also a standout city in my mind because it was my best <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">hosteling</span> experience in Europe and the only one where I really came to meet and talk with so many different people. The hostel itself was in a school (elementary I think) which was turned into a hostel for the summer (a smart way of providing some extra revenue).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2791.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255950109"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/255950109_7307e006e9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Meet Spain's Charlie Chaplin. He may talk with a lisp (which made communication extremely difficult despite my knowledge in Spanish) but that won't hold him back from his career as a mime. He came to Prague the same day I did from <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Zaragoza</span> (he pronounced it <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">tharagosa</span> - now I lived in <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Atizipan</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">de</span> <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Zaragoza</span> in Mexico so the word was familiar to me, it still took me a good deal of time to recognize it).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2792.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255950666"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/255950666_cc64be54f2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The World Cup lives on with Brits, French and <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Brazilians</span> competing for <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Foosball</span> supremacy.<br /><br />And now, one of the best parts of the night. Absinthe! The stuff is a legend (and the real thing will probably remain like that if government's have their way). Either way, what's considered illegal in the West is at least partially legal in the East, and although it wasn't 97% or <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">hallucinogenic</span>, the 160 proof, 80% green juice was good enough for me.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2794.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255951291"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/255951291_6dcd8ad6f0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Preparing the Absinthe. Two shots are readied, one for myself and another for my french companion. I was worried that the drink would be too much for his constitution but, hey, they invented the stuff.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2795.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255951801"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/255951801_c27efad2ac_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After adding a sugar to a spoon, we then soak the spoon in the absinthe (without letting the sugar spill into the shot) and then light the absinthe-soaked sugar on fire.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2832.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255957906"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/255957906_560003e239_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A flaming spoon of sugar turns the little crystals into a liquid.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2796.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255952265"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/118/255952265_5da9397398_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Mix.<br /><br /><a title="img_2797.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255952633"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/255952633_758800ad67_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Cheers.<br /><br /><a title="img_2798.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255953150"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/255953150_9693c86a9d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Shoot!<br /><br /><a title="img_2799.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255953471"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/114/255953471_c3ec570d69_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe it was hallucinogenic - it looks like I actually phased partially out of existence in this photo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2801.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255953892"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/255953892_dccc9e0086_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Tada</span>! Now keep 'em coming!<br /><br /><a title="img_2802.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255954578"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/255954578_33cce027e6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a title="img_2803.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255954210"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/105/255954210_a296ebecfa_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The wonderful Czech and Slovak administrators of the hostel. It definitely adds something to have an organization run by youth for youth. Chaos mainly. But in this case it turned out to work nicely.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2804.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255954935"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/255954935_53fbebe21c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Raul, from Brazil, showcases his talent.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2809.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255955819"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/255955819_89949f5ddb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Two British dudes show that smoking can be homoerotic.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2820.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255956256"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/255956256_b56183aadb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2823.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255956714"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/101/255956714_8d29615f12_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some more oral fixation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2847.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255958267"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/255958267_c0a3882ee6_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A game of strip-<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">foosball</span> takes a turn for the worse for the Reds.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2862.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255958710"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/110/255958710_6887e593b4_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Satanic and the Occult emerge at in the midnight hours of a Prague hostel. No, just a blurry night photo because there was low light.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2864.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255959116"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/255959116_b8c40b2849_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="img_2865.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255959618"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/255959618_8b1849bc3d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Sophie (two above) and her drinking, smoking, swearing french friends arrive late on the scene but are committed to catching up on the drunken debauchery.<br /><br />So that was Day & Night 1 of Prague, Czech Republic. I can't promise you the same wild action for my second night in the City of a Thousand Spires, but there will be some castles, bridges and <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Gehry's</span> dancing building!<br /><br />PS. The french dude who drank the absinthe did one more round with me before disappearing for the rest of the night. Goes to show you that drinking is best left to the french girls.<br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-48854480452490497302006-09-30T22:54:00.000-04:002006-09-29T19:01:16.707-04:00Freiburg, Germany - August 2, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> Welcoming to the charming city of Freiburg - located in the furthest Southwestern corner of Germany, bordering on France and Switzerland. The first day I arrived, following a four-or-five hour train ride across southern Germany, was rainy and cold - a perfect day to do <span style="font-style: italic;">nothing</span> after the previous 5 of continuous exploration and beer-guzzling. Ivo was happy to accomodate, thankfully, and allowed me to take up space on his back porch watching the rain fall and his girlfriend's rabbit hop around the yard. After some vegetarian soup and apple struddel - my first in Germany - we shot some pool with friends before calling it an early night. The next day we went to <a href="http://jharman.blogspot.com/2006/09/zurich-switzerland-august-1-2006.html">Zurich</a> and <a href="http://jharman.blogspot.com/2006/09/basel-switzerland-august-1-2006.html">Basel</a>, so I didn't actually get to explore Freiburg itself until my 3rd and final day in the city! Despite the short amount of time, I couldn't help but love it, the perfect size, character and demographic - read on!<br /><br /></div><a title="img_2509" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247846775"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/247846775_6d7029fbd8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ivo's home town is a "university city" - a common phenomenon in Europe wherein a city's primary focus is the university and is populated through-and-through by students. Sounds like a great place to live! When we were there it was a bit quiet - being mid-summer and the majority of students off doing whatever students do in the summer.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_2515" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247846778"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/94/247846778_0580f7a217_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The University of Freiburg is smack dab in the middle of the city - not removed on some enclosed "campus" like most Canadian universties. Martin Heidegger was one of the more prominent philosohpers to have made Freiburg his home, and the famous phenomenoligist Edmund Husserl also taught here. Its quite interesting to think of such a "small" place to be home to such luminaries and to have played such a large role in the philosophical community while remaining outside of the major centres of Paris or Berlin - or even Frankfurt where the famous school of Benjamin, Adorno and Horkheimer started, only a few hours north of Freiburg.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2518" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247846782"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/247846782_a9956168e3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The classic Germanic tower-gates that dominate the cityscapes of southern Germany. They're always so photogenic, its hard to resist.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2520" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247846785"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/93/247846785_c98b747b49_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A streetcar makes its way along the main drag of Freiburg with the Black Forest (the same forest of Hansel & Grettal fame, as well as the dessert) in the background. Freiburg was probably the cutest city I visited in Germany.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2522" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247846789"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/247846789_2e4b3a368e_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Even the manhole covers are photogenic. This one bears the city crest.<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_2521" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247846787"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/98/247846787_5154291f83_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another street deadending against the forest which surrounds the city on three-sides. </div><br /><a title="img_2529" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247848861"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/247848861_a752b59790_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Anyone going to Landwasser?<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2535" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247848873"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/247848873_0be481925b_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This may seem like just another picture of a church - and it is - but one of these gargoyles is in a somewhat unnatural position - mooning the bishop's house across the street. Supposedly, if I recall the story Ivo recounted to me, the builders were unhappy with whatever arrangement they had with the bishop (financially or otherwise) and so decided to make this subtle addition to the church.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2534" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247848868"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/247848868_0fb21e58c8_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Like the great towers, the beautiful gothic architecture is hard to pass up. Here you can see the buttresses which hold up the walls of the church's vaulted ceiling - an effect that gives a feeling of incredible space and height in the inside of the church.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2532" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247848863"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/247848863_d31fc4d0a0_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The town hall's bay window (seen differently below).<br /></div><br /><br /><a title="img_2537" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247848876"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/247848876_79eb9e4b26_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A german town hall across from the church. The colour schemes of Freiburg seem similar to that of Basel with their emphasis on reds, blues, and gold. This wasn't common outside of this small corner of the world.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2541" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/247848878"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/247848878_2014a5004a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The public market on the grounds outside the church. The bishop's house (referenced above) is/was the yellowish / peach coloured one I think.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2546.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255419833"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/82/255419833_7c68b8fe6c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Hmmm.... fresh berries for sale.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2547.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255425618"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/255425618_9417fead31_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mmmm cakes. I agree with their sentiments of eating many cakes - that is true.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2550.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255426131"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/255426131_59568f9046_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A Freiburg oddity is that almost all the streets come with a "ditch" or "trench" of some kind that carries water somewhere or other. I don't think these simply function as storm drains because they were always full. They could be a remnant of medieval practice of having sewer drainage in the streets. Nowadays there is a legend that if you step into the water in any of these "streams" it will be your destiny to marry a resident of Freiburg. I was sure to check out the relative quality of the residents before deciding to avoid the water :).<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2551.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255426567"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/255426567_eaca0891bb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a title="img_2552.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255427025"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/255427025_5ab954f07a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Even the street signs beg to be photographed.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2554.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255427574"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/255427574_04f3109ebf_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Weird dude on horse mimicked by odd dude on bicycle. To be honest I'm not sure why I photographed this - but the symmetry seems interesting now in retrospect.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2556.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255428211"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/103/255428211_82999fdd7f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Not a photograph of something in particular but I like how it shows regular objects in their beauty of daily-ness.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2558.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255428870"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/255428870_89e9286c11_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Engert siblings - Ivo and sister Sylvia digest lunch on the university grounds. Sylvia and I had falafel, I don't think she was a fan :( Mine was great though, even better since Sylvia bought it for me! How's that for sweetness? Ivo and his family really went all out for me in the few days I spent with him in Freiburg and Switzerland, lending us their car, inviting me for breakfast and buying me lunch. Putting aside their attempt to off me by watermelon, I want to again express my gratitude. Having friends welcome you into their homes when you travel really makes the difference and Freiburg will always have a special place in my heart!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a title="img_2578.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255429810"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/255429810_07c6e70a66_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Inside the church mentioned above. A perfect day for illuminating stained glass windows.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2587.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255430196"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/255430196_f8e6ed7b2d_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The sense of space and height effect of Gothic architecture - thanks to the flying buttresses on the outside. This church - according to Ivo - housed an Archbishop at one time or another, denoting the importance of Freiburg historically.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2596.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255430652"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/255430652_b6274ae992_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Candles burn a finite prayer in our absence. Seems like a good deal to me. For a few coins you can buy someone/something to pray for you. Just need to invent a candle that can last for a few weeks/years instead of hours.<br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a title="img_2612.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255432515"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/255432515_9142d8a3fb_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One of the things I loved in Europe was the great doors. Even regular houses seem to have some great doormanship. I have no idea where this door leads or of what building its a part of but it was photo-worthy.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2618.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255433106"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/104/255433106_56b01b4bf3_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A quaint little shopping district.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2619.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255433717"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/255433717_6214b7c6d5_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A well-manicured street "lantern".<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2620.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255434333"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/110/255434333_11a2bb5b75_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another cool door.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2621.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255434807"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/255434807_d751f4d163_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This "lantern" is having a bad hair day. Maybe its just feeling freaked out.<br /></div><br /><a title="img_2633.jpg" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/255435131"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/255435131_24c685bcb2_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The rooftops of Freiburg. Already it was time to leave - in retrospect I wish I could have stayed longer, although poor Ivo probably enjoyed having his bed back! Nevertheless, as much I wanted to explore more and visit the cities of western Germany such as Frankfurt, Prague beckoned. But that's a story for another time - specifically when I get off my lazy @$$ and write it for you!<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-62747653546144528992006-09-29T01:20:00.000-04:002006-09-29T01:31:15.723-04:00Basel, Switzerland - August 1, 2006<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">(I've switched to an easier method of blogging in order to get some of the backlog of pictures I have from Europe posted. One disadvantage is that landscape photos may be slightly offset due to their size - clicking on them will reveal the whole photo. An example of what I mean is the photo below - in its full size - contains the Swiss flag with which we can only catch a glimpse of now. Most of the other photos are not altered incredibly by the cropping. The advantage is there will no longer be distortion and graininess from viewing poorly-shrunk photos).<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2394" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242458920"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/242458920_0d1094d43f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to Basel!<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2372" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242184471"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/242184471_88a6043925_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The beautiful old-town of Basel, Switzerland alongside the Rhine. Nietzsche was made the chair of philosophy in Basel at the ripe-old-age of 24. Think I've somewhat fallen behind.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2388" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242184477"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/242184477_31a63968e9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Basel's streets are full of brightly-coloured oddities such as this dragon. I have no idea what function it serves - if any. It made strolling around this town much more personable than Zurich.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2382" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242184475"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/242184475_d1394c4daa_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another personable aspect of Basel was its collection of different doors - most with an inscription of the age of the house to which it barred entry.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2377" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242184473"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/242184473_fe82230f80_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another one of Basel's figurines. Perhap's a horseless Don Quixote? Submit your best guesses.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2392" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242184480"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/89/242184480_2bc7c9e863_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Living and Dying. I've already proven I can't resist these old churches - I especially like this photograph. The vibrancy of the green seems to scream "life" against the rust-colour of the church. And rust is just another form of decay, isn't it?<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2395" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242458929"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/242458929_6071c467be_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The catholic Munster dwarfes a relaxing resident.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2396" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242458933"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/242458933_58bd89dd93_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The exoskeleton like spires of the Munster are particularly interesting.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2407" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242458945"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/242458945_b67051b658_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A boat crosses the Rhine by way of cable - which prevents the unpowered craft from slipping downstream.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2410" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/242458950"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/242458950_27e7db19dd_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Even the front of the church is adorned with odd figurines - including another Don Quixote-like character lancing some demonic doggy. Odd town - but interesting nonetheless.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2413" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243495368"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/243495368_2816dc4872_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In Switzerland you never have to wonder what time it is.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2417" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243495378"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/243495378_8e81adcd01_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The lovely red of the rathaus - city hall - tower on the town square. The addition of another fable character helps gives this town a fairy-tale feel.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2427" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243495387"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/243495387_49e65613b9_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The setting sun cuts a decisive line across the gloriously vibrant rathaus.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2430" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243495392"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/243495392_76902b59a7_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A close-up - including the leaning, solid gold spire that adorns the rooftop. Only in a country of wealth can that much gold be just sitting on top of a roof and be considered safe.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2446" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243502928"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/243502928_59287c14d1_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Modern and Gothic Architecture compliment each-other.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2460" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243502930"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/95/243502930_e999d53d7c_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ivo ham's it up for the camera.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2470" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243502934"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/243502934_578994c79f_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The gargoyles await the setting of the sun.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2485" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243502939"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/98/243502939_349c441b09_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another demon-spawn prepares to leap to life as dusk sets in.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2500" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243507361"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/243507361_51e66c70de_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The German Amigos - Michael & Ivo - both of whom I met in Mexico City and thought I'd never see again.<br /></div><br /><a title="IMG_2502" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/243507366"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/243507366_ce732ab078_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is as tall as I can get!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A great memory. Three people going on wildy different paths in three different countries and yet meeting together for one evening, maybe the last time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a title="IMG_2507.JPG" href="http://flickr.com/photos/77429603@N00/204392205"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/58/204392205_0b8b63f97a_d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Speed. The autobahn at night. We return to Freiburg.<br /></div></div></div></div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-81685375833009271612006-09-14T20:31:00.000-04:002006-09-12T22:32:49.776-04:00Zurich, Switzerland - August 1, 2006Having spent the 31st of July travelling across southern Germany (through Bavaria to Baden-Wurttemberg) to visit my friend Ivo in Freiburg, I spent the day getting some R&R and eating apple strudel and drinking some Black Forest beer as Freiburg sits engulfed by the famous woods.<br /><br />The next day we decided to head south to Switzerland to see the sights and visit fellow ex-a-tec alumnus Michael (part of the original gang that included Patricia and myself who met in Mexico City in the fall of 2003). As luck would have it, the first of August is the Swiss "National Day" - what they count as their 'independence' although the term is used loosely. From what I could find online this holiday has been celebrated since 1891 in recognition of the 1291 founding of the Swiss Confederation. Unbeknownst to us at the time, however, we continued our travels south to find the entire country abandoned, shops closed, streets vacant, tumbleweeds tumbling...<br /><br />Despite this slight hickup on our plans, the lack of busy-ness made exploring easy and Ivo and I set off to discover what makes the Swiss tick.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/83/242050672_0d94c42d74.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/83/242050672_0d94c42d74.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The countryside of northern Switzerland - in contrast to the idyllic and alpine region of southern Switzerland that is most commonly portrayed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/91/242050674_f4ed446a61.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/91/242050674_f4ed446a61.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>One of the many Swiss banners and flags that dotted our path from un-/not-permitted-to-be-nationalist Germany to Zurich and back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/93/242050675_2c056a2f7d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/93/242050675_2c056a2f7d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The fork in the road. We took a left to meet our fate in the Swiss nation's financial capital of Zurich.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Zurich</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/93/242050686_460c46c156.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/93/242050686_460c46c156.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Lake Zurich. Its unusual for this serene scene to border on one of Switzlerland's largest (and more serious) cities - it seems more fitting for the countryside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242050684/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/242050684_31e54e1866.jpg" alt="IMG_2227" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>Beware the vengence of the Swiss. Actually, I'm not sure what the significance of this statue/monument is, but the message is clear "Don't Mess With Switzerland or We'll Clean Your Clocks". Hehe... two timely jokes thus far - make that three.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242079167/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/242079167_56406c76fd.jpg" alt="IMG_2237" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>Looking up-river from Lake Zurich along the Limmet which divides the city in half. Ongoing construction and renovation - ever-present in Europe - is visible from the crane in the top-left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/98/242079175_58e9a12cbf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/242079175_58e9a12cbf.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Swiss celebrate National Day with a Western-style Hoedown - I have no idea what the link is but the girls were mixing it up to Cotton Eye Joe and the likes. The small festivities also provided the few meagre foods that were available to Ivo and I in the otherwise dead city.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242079179/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/242079179_bc8699c579.jpg" alt="IMG_2242" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>The anonymous and serious face of Swiss banking is projected from the Swiss National Bank - the centre of European financial capitalism.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242120774/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/242120774_68d9904953.jpg" alt="IMG_2256" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>A famous Zurich church - closed due to the National holiday - which is the site of some major works. Stained glass windows being their specialty I think.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242120786/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/242120786_6c188b06c0.jpg" alt="IMG_2261" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>The city Munster with its two towers and red spire stand out against the skyline.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/79/242079183_ff9712d472.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/79/242079183_ff9712d472.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Zurich is full of buildings from many different historical epochs - one of the benefits of not being bombed to smithereens during WWI and II.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/82/242120793_75fbb63525.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/82/242120793_75fbb63525.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Zurich's Limmet river adds a "canal' feel to this otherwise straight-laced town.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242120797/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/92/242120797_58e435b4d5.jpg" alt="IMG_2265" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>The bay-window type design is common in the Germanic areas of Europe, including here in Switzerland.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242120799/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/242120799_a75fd2f8b1.jpg" alt="IMG_2267" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>Proud and true - the ubiquitous Swiss flag.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242123172/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/97/242123172_7671b8d679.jpg" alt="IMG_2277" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242123181/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/86/242123181_791b939d6f.jpg" alt="IMG_2279" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>Which country are we in? Perhaps there's a sign that will reveal our location...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/79/242123166_406616f02e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/79/242123166_406616f02e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>More abandoned space.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/81/242123187_653c90b1ac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/81/242123187_653c90b1ac.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ivo and I pose for the camera - set to auto - in this peculiar shot. As someone mentioned on an earlier post, it looks like we're having a staring contest over our cups of coffee. Here we're below ground in the haupbahnhof - the central train station - one of the only places that is perpetually open in Europe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/90/242123196_3177766387.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/90/242123196_3177766387.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ivo poses with a Swiss bill. Swiss francs are worth approximately the equivalent of the Canadian dollar - which in this case is much less than the euro. Not to mention Switzerland has one of the highest costs of living in Europe making one day there long-enough for my pocketbook.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/87/242146773_51b791eb2e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/87/242146773_51b791eb2e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>One of my favourite Swiss photos is this one of a fountain in the underground portion of the haupbahnhof. The water frozen in droplets - reflecting the light in different ways - makes for a neat looking effect like something out of Star Trek - Beam me up!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242146786/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/81/242146786_e0e124501b.jpg" alt="IMG_2291" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>Back above ground for more displays of red & white.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242146794/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/87/242146794_253713dbcb.jpg" alt="IMG_2295" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>Bond, James Bond. I can't resist a shot in front of the famous Omega watch shop on Zurich's main shopping street. A poster for the new movie Casino Royale is visible in the background.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242159789/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/84/242159789_078c973671.jpg" alt="IMG_2303" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>Hey finally - something traditionally Swiss. Behind the still-prancing country lineup were some old men and their horns. These two were happy to show off their goods.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jharman/242159794/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/96/242159794_14d94cbcd1.jpg" alt="IMG_2304" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div>A close-up of the decoration.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/81/242159797_5da22463e4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/81/242159797_5da22463e4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The old-men take the stage to play a tune or two - and they say bagpipe-players have to have big lungs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/85/242159803_f66d91df34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/85/242159803_f66d91df34.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Since nothing was open I managed to find myself some "lunch" at the festivities where there were carts selling hotdogs and one selling cheese. So Ivo with his hotdog and I with my cheese enjoyed our last moments in Zurich before heading to Basel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/84/242168872_b773fe1cac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/84/242168872_b773fe1cac.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Lindt Chocolate factory - how could I have missed it on the way in. Sob!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/82/242168875_58a78f952b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/82/242168875_58a78f952b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I manage to capture this cool looking house from the window of our speeding car as Zurich stretches behind us.Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30886082.post-1157609847508757302006-09-12T20:15:00.000-04:002006-09-07T02:17:27.510-04:00Salzburg, Austria - July 30, 2006Being the luckiest kid in the whole wide world and with the help of two of my most generous friends - Patricia and Christian - I got to spend my birthday in Salzburg, Austria, just a short trip down the autobahn (pending on traffic of course) from Munich.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/83/236612983_07b059711c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/83/236612983_07b059711c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Austrians aka Master Gnomes have done some extensive burrowing in the hills and mountains surrounding Salzburg. This is one such example and Christian's car was consumed somewhere in the belly of this rocky beast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/86/236612967_1a687eef36.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/86/236612967_1a687eef36.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Salzburg's main street / shopping district is packed with tourists and expensive shops with nothing good to sell.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/93/236612973_4318a54163.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/93/236612973_4318a54163.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/89/236612977_772339c8bd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/89/236612977_772339c8bd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Mozart's House and Museum. We elected not to pay the euros to enter, citing the fact that Mozart left Salzburg as quickly as he could and perhaps he was on to something. I made up for it by indulging in "Mozart Balls" later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/82/236612979_658ea40bef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/82/236612979_658ea40bef.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Cute tightly-encircled offshoot of the mainstreet selling all kinds of worthless tourist gadgets and whatnots. I swear that the man or woman that devises an actually interesting semi-historical/cultrual knicknack to sell will make millions in these countries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/79/236612982_6a453dbe38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/79/236612982_6a453dbe38.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The best part of Europe - the open-air cafes / restaurants (without the obligatory fencing required in Canada due to our totalitarian liquor laws). Not to mention such establishments require the presence of beautiful squares and plazas which are not part of the North American urban grid.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/79/236627718_7012891ba8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/79/236627718_7012891ba8.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Contrasting colours mark the back of Mozart's house which backs onto the square.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/81/236627719_6ef2974916.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/81/236627719_6ef2974916.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The clocktower - probably part of the city hall - manages to squeak between the buildings of the narrow streets of Salzburg.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/97/236627723_030c8c3d17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/97/236627723_030c8c3d17.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Catholic Dom. A "Dom" is the church of churches - the capital church so to speak - which is built for an officer of Rome. The Archbishop of Salzburg ordered this constructed over a thousand years ago - although it was constantly rebuilt and renovated over the past millenium.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/98/236627726_fd5dd75e46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/236627726_fd5dd75e46.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Yet another bizarre equestrian fountain/monument. Austrians apparently have a keen horse fetish or otherwise liken themselves to the knights of Rohan characters from Lord of the Rings. Besides fountains and statues the only horses I saw in the city were pulling chubby tourists around in the horse-and-buggies that are common wherever tourists are present.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inside the Dom<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/80/236638130_29602a03d5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/80/236638130_29602a03d5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/81/236638133_a8b8eeedeb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/81/236638133_a8b8eeedeb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/87/236638161_b0fbde0b86.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/87/236638161_b0fbde0b86.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/81/236627732_fd6b55890b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/81/236627732_fd6b55890b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Probably them most beautiful church I ever saw - will ever see. The bone white interior combined with the vibrant stories-in-pictures from the bible created a stunning scene when illuminated by the natural light that made the interior positively shine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/86/236627737_c45920e416.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/86/236627737_c45920e416.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The entrance to the catacombs chapel beneath the floor of the Dom. A truly creepy experience, in perfect opposition to the one above. Needless to say I snapped a photo and then ran out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/96/236638167_a574d842e0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/96/236638167_a574d842e0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A medieval rooftop - I liked it so I took the picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/80/236638170_fdc4e8ed3b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/80/236638170_fdc4e8ed3b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A religious dude guards the Dom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/84/236638169_dfda7bdbaa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/84/236638169_dfda7bdbaa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Lunch time in Salzburg with Salzburg Nockerl for dessert. This tasty egg & sugar souffle is topped with some fresh berry sauce - yum. This local delicacy cannot be stored and must be prepared individually for each order. As it takes over 30 minutes to prepare we ordered it with our meal and after a slight wait it was served after lunch. I'm not sure which recipe the restaurant used but I found one here while searching for the spelling of the name: http://www.visit-salzburg.net/dining/desserts.htm<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/80/236661961_292fcf7c5c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/80/236661961_292fcf7c5c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/85/236661962_5a9b3b523d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/85/236661962_5a9b3b523d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Salzburg from on high - atop the Fortress Hohensalzburg, built in 1077 to protect troops of the Holy Roman Empire and the city below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/84/236661964_301e8dfb66.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/84/236661964_301e8dfb66.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Christian and I prepare to fire the cannon on Captain Jack Sparrow's maurading pirate ship. Unfortunately Christian lost his 'balls' and we had to surrender.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/86/236661965_cc827c143c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/86/236661965_cc827c143c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The chapel with sect crest in the inner court of the fortress - which was surprisingly large enough to house a small village in case of siege.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/95/236661968_f85f3a0acf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/95/236661968_f85f3a0acf.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Back on the ground floor of the city we stroll past this cafe - made famous by Mozart, as is everything in this city, and now a tourist hotspot (food prices reflect this, naturally).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/90/236675105_f4828e4717.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/90/236675105_f4828e4717.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Salzburg and its fortress from the north bank of the Salzach river.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mirabellbezirk<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/96/236675106_eb8f71d2ee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/96/236675106_eb8f71d2ee.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Schloss Mirabell and the Mirabellgarten seems a popular place for a Sunday afternoon stroll - complete this particular Sunday with a music group pounding out some rocking covers of American songs for no apparent reason. It clashed a bit with the sereneness of the landscape - oh well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/87/236675107_1a1a4a9b30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/87/236675107_1a1a4a9b30.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/96/236675109_805702a215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/96/236675109_805702a215.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/91/236675115_2d08b68bdc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/91/236675115_2d08b68bdc.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/86/236683084_a209a49f3f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/86/236683084_a209a49f3f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/98/236683097_b1fddc9da4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/236683097_b1fddc9da4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Flowers abound in the Mirabellgarten.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/93/236683087_548d4501e2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/93/236683087_548d4501e2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/91/236683092_f94c74735b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/91/236683092_f94c74735b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/88/236684257_3de5a5db24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/88/236684257_3de5a5db24.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Mirabellgarten fountain proves an excellent centrepiece to frame both the garden and Salzburg in the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/86/236684260_64a964a531.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/86/236684260_64a964a531.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A little less well manicured but more colourful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/80/236684264_bab121be4a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/80/236684264_bab121be4a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Another equestrian statue - this one with wings - attempts to soar above the intricate flower weave.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/86/236684269_3c8fa55785.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/86/236684269_3c8fa55785.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Fin</div>Jason Harmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091861064539229185noreply@blogger.com1