Well, after 95 days, 20 countries and 1 backpack, I am on my way home !!! Although, before I do come home, I think there is still more to see. At the time of writing this blog entry I have boarded a plane headed for Sydney. I think I'll go around one more time.....
JUST KIDDING....
You didn't fall for that one, did you????
I am on my way home and so for the last entry I just wanted to thank you all for following the journey and for your continued support, without which I may never have made it through.
Seeing the world has completely changed my life, but more than anything, it has given me an immense sense of pride and admiration for America and for the total validation of what Dorothy claimed years ago in the poppy field.."There is no place like home".
See you all real soon.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Punta Hermosa, Peru
Arriving in Peru was a great experience. Flying over the Andes Montains gave quite a view even at 36,000 feet. Good thing they weren't showing "Alive" as the in flight movie..
The trip down to the sleepy surfing village of Punta Hermosa from Lima took about an hour. Suddenly in a maze of dirt roads and old beetles and VW micro buses, I arrive. Carved out from mudslides from the mountains of Peru, Punta Hermosa has been placed on the map for its production of great waves and great surfers.
An interesting side note I also picked up is that Peru is the only country in the world where the local soft drink of choice, Inca Kola, is consumed in larger quantities then Coca Cola....
I really loved my time in Punta Hermosa and am planning on a return trip to Peru to see the world famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. I didnt allocate enough time to take the trip up on this trip..
The waves were amazing and the country was a delight..
I have changed course to avoid Mexcio so my next stop is Miami.. I'm not sure what kind of waves I'll see but South Beach seems as good a paradistical setting as I'll find in the good ole' USA....
I am sooo happy to be coming to America and I just know the next week or so before coming home will fly by...See you all soon..
The trip down to the sleepy surfing village of Punta Hermosa from Lima took about an hour. Suddenly in a maze of dirt roads and old beetles and VW micro buses, I arrive. Carved out from mudslides from the mountains of Peru, Punta Hermosa has been placed on the map for its production of great waves and great surfers.
An interesting side note I also picked up is that Peru is the only country in the world where the local soft drink of choice, Inca Kola, is consumed in larger quantities then Coca Cola....
I really loved my time in Punta Hermosa and am planning on a return trip to Peru to see the world famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. I didnt allocate enough time to take the trip up on this trip..
The waves were amazing and the country was a delight..
I have changed course to avoid Mexcio so my next stop is Miami.. I'm not sure what kind of waves I'll see but South Beach seems as good a paradistical setting as I'll find in the good ole' USA....
I am sooo happy to be coming to America and I just know the next week or so before coming home will fly by...See you all soon..
Monday, May 11, 2009
Argentina
I know I shouldn't be writing in this journal until I have given you my pics from the Canary Islands, but I am still unable to do so with my current technological situation. I figured I would fill you in, in the meantime.
My first portion of the South American tour has led me to the "Paris of South America", Buenos Aires, Argentina. I loved pretty much everything about the city. It is incredibly walkable so all of the sites which make the city so magical are very doable in a limited amount of time. Another thing I loved was the cafe culture that surrounds the city. This is due to the European immigration that has taken place. In fact, the best meal I have had on this trip was at the world famous Cafe Tortoni. It was a chocolate con churros. The richest, densest hot chocolate and the most deliciously fried churros (18 pesos of pure heaven).
Simply walking throughout the different neighborhoods is what gave me such a timeless experience. Everything from the chic shopping areas of Palermo Viejo to the bohemian nuances of San Telmo made the city far exceed any and all expectations.
Next I move on to Peru and the surfing community of Punta Hermosa, which should offer some amazing experiences and waves before heading home.
I'm starting to get excited by the fact that I will be in America in about 3 days !!!
See you all in a few..
My first portion of the South American tour has led me to the "Paris of South America", Buenos Aires, Argentina. I loved pretty much everything about the city. It is incredibly walkable so all of the sites which make the city so magical are very doable in a limited amount of time. Another thing I loved was the cafe culture that surrounds the city. This is due to the European immigration that has taken place. In fact, the best meal I have had on this trip was at the world famous Cafe Tortoni. It was a chocolate con churros. The richest, densest hot chocolate and the most deliciously fried churros (18 pesos of pure heaven).
Simply walking throughout the different neighborhoods is what gave me such a timeless experience. Everything from the chic shopping areas of Palermo Viejo to the bohemian nuances of San Telmo made the city far exceed any and all expectations.
Next I move on to Peru and the surfing community of Punta Hermosa, which should offer some amazing experiences and waves before heading home.
I'm starting to get excited by the fact that I will be in America in about 3 days !!!
See you all in a few..
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Canary Islands
My last stop in a euro zone country brought me to the Canary Islands. Technically part of Spain, this group of islands off the coast of Morroco offer Europeans the chance to bask in the desert sun and the Atlantic Ocean. I stayed on Tenerife which is the largest and most populated of the islands. I also had a great location being near the side of the island which produces its waves.
I was able to go on a dolphin and whale watching tour which the Canary Islands are known for due to their unique positioning.
I must say though that the greatest time I had on the island was watching a football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Islanders are fanatical about their football and such becomes as clear as ever when the two best clubs in Spainish history square off late in the season. I have been in that kind of situation before so I knew to wait until the first goal was scored before taking sides...
I then had to make the longest journey of my trip from Tenerife to my new stop, Buenos Aires..
With the recent pandemic of Swine Flu centered in Mexcio I had to make a slight change of plans so I will be coming to America a week early. With two weeks to go I am really looking foward to that arrival stamp into the US...
Until next time, adios amigos...
I was able to go on a dolphin and whale watching tour which the Canary Islands are known for due to their unique positioning.
I must say though that the greatest time I had on the island was watching a football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Islanders are fanatical about their football and such becomes as clear as ever when the two best clubs in Spainish history square off late in the season. I have been in that kind of situation before so I knew to wait until the first goal was scored before taking sides...
I then had to make the longest journey of my trip from Tenerife to my new stop, Buenos Aires..
With the recent pandemic of Swine Flu centered in Mexcio I had to make a slight change of plans so I will be coming to America a week early. With two weeks to go I am really looking foward to that arrival stamp into the US...
Until next time, adios amigos...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Portugal
I found Portugal very exciting. Not only was I arriving at the western most point in Europe, which by the way is on the same line of latitude as Manhattan, but I was also arriving in the country which meets the grand old Atlantic Ocean!! Naturally, I had to fly into and experience Lisbon, but it was my trip to the surf community of Peniche that I was truly looking foward to.
Lisbon is a great city, full of complete dichotemy between the old world and the modern. The different cathedrals and castles were on everyone's to-do list but I was much more impressed with the newly built Vasco de Gama tower and bridge, not to mention the most beautifully designed metro stations I have ever seen. Of course, with the metro station opinion I'm not the best judge, as I've been arriving at the 1 train South Ferry stop for the last five years... Honestly though, each stop has its own character and charm, complete with art work and marble.
Peniche is a wonderful surf community about an hours drive north of Lisbon. It's the first taste of the Atlantic Ocean I've had since I left Long Island. Being on the beach feels so incredible, since only an ocean and no land seperates me from my loved ones....The other great thing about Peniche is that after the flat spell Europe and its seas have provided me, I finally got some surf!!
My next stop are the Canary Islands which technically are part of Spain. Since they are near the equator and off the coast of Africa, they feel completely different, I hope....
Lisbon is a great city, full of complete dichotemy between the old world and the modern. The different cathedrals and castles were on everyone's to-do list but I was much more impressed with the newly built Vasco de Gama tower and bridge, not to mention the most beautifully designed metro stations I have ever seen. Of course, with the metro station opinion I'm not the best judge, as I've been arriving at the 1 train South Ferry stop for the last five years... Honestly though, each stop has its own character and charm, complete with art work and marble.
Peniche is a wonderful surf community about an hours drive north of Lisbon. It's the first taste of the Atlantic Ocean I've had since I left Long Island. Being on the beach feels so incredible, since only an ocean and no land seperates me from my loved ones....The other great thing about Peniche is that after the flat spell Europe and its seas have provided me, I finally got some surf!!
My next stop are the Canary Islands which technically are part of Spain. Since they are near the equator and off the coast of Africa, they feel completely different, I hope....
Saturday, April 25, 2009
France
Bonjour and welcome to the French leg of my endless summer tour. I was really looking foward to arriving in the French Riviera as the only part of France that I've seen previously was Paris and the surrounding landscape as viewed on a train.
My trip started and ended in Nice. The beach community was beautiful with cafes and hotels lining the Promenade des Anglais. I also experienced a fair share of museums including The Musee Matisse and The Musee Chagall as well as my personal favorite The Musee d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain... The weather during my time at Nice was great so I was able to get to the beach but I soon found out that getting to the beach and getting to the water are two different experiences. I wonder why the government of Nice doesn't simply import sand to fill in the beach. I would imagine that their equivalent of the US Army Corps of Engineers could have the beach spotless in no time. Could they possibly favor tradition and trips to the podiatrist more than perfection???
Over the next couple of days I went to the different towns around the area such as Villefranche Sur Mer, Eze Sur Mer and the ultra posh Monte Carlo... The French Riviera is soo terrific and soo incredibly beautiful..
I am continuing my westward journey to Portugal which after a few flat weeks will get me some much appreciated waves!!!! Lets hope I remember how to do this...Au Revoir.
My trip started and ended in Nice. The beach community was beautiful with cafes and hotels lining the Promenade des Anglais. I also experienced a fair share of museums including The Musee Matisse and The Musee Chagall as well as my personal favorite The Musee d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain... The weather during my time at Nice was great so I was able to get to the beach but I soon found out that getting to the beach and getting to the water are two different experiences. I wonder why the government of Nice doesn't simply import sand to fill in the beach. I would imagine that their equivalent of the US Army Corps of Engineers could have the beach spotless in no time. Could they possibly favor tradition and trips to the podiatrist more than perfection???
Over the next couple of days I went to the different towns around the area such as Villefranche Sur Mer, Eze Sur Mer and the ultra posh Monte Carlo... The French Riviera is soo terrific and soo incredibly beautiful..
I am continuing my westward journey to Portugal which after a few flat weeks will get me some much appreciated waves!!!! Lets hope I remember how to do this...Au Revoir.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Italy
Well, I have arrived in Italy and my first sight flying into Naples is of Mt. Vesuvius looming in the backround of the city. Its pretty scary to see that cities have been built back up despite the threat staring them in the face everyday. Naples is wonderful except for the fact that I do not recieve a stamp on my passport for coming in from Athens. The city itself was made for navigating by foot. The National Archeological Museum and the Piazza Plebisito are spectacular. It is completely impossible to keep kosher for passover in the city that invented pizza so I promise to do so when I get back ( better late than never)....
Next I move on to the island paradise of Ischia. The culture and the people are so great. Its actually really fascinating to learn that the island has been built up on an active volcanic site. In fact the most significant reason for tourism is the world famous thermal springs. These pools of ultra heated and nutriant rich water are literally parts where tiny cracks in the bedrock allow an amount of gas and magma to come into contact with the surrounding sea. Talk about living dangerously...
Finally, I arrive at the crown jewel of the Italian nation and metaphorically speaking the notion of the developed "free" world, Roma.. It is such an amazing city with absolutely so much to see that it is daunting to even glance at the map before you. But, as I start to walk I realize at how much I am able to see and experience. It seem as though every corner has a different site to capture. I am a little freaked out by the ruins as a reminder that even a city as grand and powerful as the "center of the universe" can be destroyed as easily as it is built. It made me wonder if that could be the fate of the American Empire 700 years from now.
I loved every moment of my Italian experience but I must move on to the French Rivera, its a tough job but someones got to do it, Ciao !!!
Next I move on to the island paradise of Ischia. The culture and the people are so great. Its actually really fascinating to learn that the island has been built up on an active volcanic site. In fact the most significant reason for tourism is the world famous thermal springs. These pools of ultra heated and nutriant rich water are literally parts where tiny cracks in the bedrock allow an amount of gas and magma to come into contact with the surrounding sea. Talk about living dangerously...
Finally, I arrive at the crown jewel of the Italian nation and metaphorically speaking the notion of the developed "free" world, Roma.. It is such an amazing city with absolutely so much to see that it is daunting to even glance at the map before you. But, as I start to walk I realize at how much I am able to see and experience. It seem as though every corner has a different site to capture. I am a little freaked out by the ruins as a reminder that even a city as grand and powerful as the "center of the universe" can be destroyed as easily as it is built. It made me wonder if that could be the fate of the American Empire 700 years from now.
I loved every moment of my Italian experience but I must move on to the French Rivera, its a tough job but someones got to do it, Ciao !!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
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