International Man Of Leisure

2008-12-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Time sure drifts away out here...

Sunny every day with spectacular sunsets, hard to think of all the rest of the world when it is like this, which is likey for the better.

But getting on the mt to go snowboarding will be nice too, just cant do it all in one day.

2008-11-27T20:21:00.001-08:00

Hola

How the time flies, and yet I find myself back where this whole thing started, one somebeach, somewhere.

Well actually today I am in Guadalahara, which has a history that goes back way farther than I can count, as well as having a great climate and some pretty cool views.

I really do like this life of leisure thing, I have more than a few pauses in it, but it is sure good while it lasts.

2008-06-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Got out Kiteboarding on the North Sea, which was a nice way to end the trip.

The waves were big enough to keep me from getting too far, but it was still fun.

the flight home was uneventful and went as planned, nice to be home and see all the famliar sights again.

Hasta Luego

2008-06-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

Copenhagen was great, But bring money lots and lots of money.

Took a nearly 16 hour train ride out of Copenhagen, it was good got some sleep.

The weather is beautiful back here in the Netherlands, will miss riding bikes around actually feeling safe, and comfortable on the road.

Soon I will be winging my way back home, sad to see the trip end, but will be glad to be home too.

2008-06-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today finds me in Copenhagen Denmark.

Which is a very nice place, taking the ferry accross and seeing the ocean again makes me think of home.

The ferry to Greece was a little different, climate wise, where he it seems much more similar.

There are loads of windmills here, but windmills are everywhere, so it is not such a new site anymore.

The prices feel a little high here, but it is just the way it is I guess.

As I sit here I am noticing that alot of people take this blog and photo thing a lot more seriously, I am seeing people typing up from handwritten drafts, and making sure they cover every single day, oh well.

Tommorow I have all day in town before it is night train time yet again, I looked at getting a sleeper, but it would have been 100 euros, around 150 dollars, so I went with the couchette option, which was 20 euros.

today I rode on my most crowded train yet, people sitting on the floor etc, I was sitting on a jumpseat that folded down in the side of the cargo area, and was sure missing the first class seats I am used too, I was planning on a nap.

Hasta Luego

2008-06-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Berlin

It really is quite the city, I arrived yesterday, and took a free bike tour today.

It was a great tour, and I got to see way more in four hours than I would have otherwise.

The weather is great, hot and sunny, there is so much to see in this city that is alway reinventing itself.

2008-06-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

The Houses and fields and town that I saw on the train ride from Austria to Switzerland, looked just like you would think they would.

There was cloud cover which kept me from seeing the peaks of all the mts, but impressive and rugged none the less.

Zurich as in the middle of setting up for some huge football game celebrations. Kinda would like there to see it, but also very happy not to be, I am sure it will be packed.

Otherwise It is a fairly regular beautiful old city, a nice river runs through it, and it has many monuments and old buildings.

Then night train to Berlin, Against steep odds, I had a great sleep on the night train. If it was always that good I would do it every day. As there is baggage storage and lockers in major trainstations and showers etc.

Hasta Luego

2008-06-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Another day, another country, starting too feel a little bit routine.

Not that it is a bad routine. A nice early start from Munich this morning, has meant I have lots of time, to explore Innsbruck Austria. Which is a smallsih city, at the base of some mt. very nice looking place, a river runs through it, which is running very high right now.

I like being in a place that is not blazing hot all the time.

Tommorow will be off to zurich.

2008-06-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Barvaria

I arrived in Munich today, after another pleasant ICE train ride.

Considering using Munich as a base to do a couple day trips, I will have to look around a bit and see what it looks like.

But this is the heart of Barvaria.

2008-06-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

So Frankfurt Germany, pretty nice actually.

A huge river runs thorough, but it is very hot, more humid than hot really.

There was a huge thunder storm, just as I got back to the hostel, funny to be sweating in the rain.

Frankfurt is nice, but I think I will head on to other places tommorow.

Hasta Luego

2008-06-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

Riding past the empty tulip feilds of the Netherlands is still pretty nice.

Glad I was hear earlier and able to see the tulips, it really has to be seen to be belived.

Bike lanes everywhere and sure makes it easier to ride to the store.

Tommorow I head out to Frankfurt Germany, should be interesting to see another place.

2008-06-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Belgium, a land of Waffles and chocolate.

well it was at least able to live up to that stereotype for me, one of the first things I did after getting off the train was buy one of the delicious looking waffles dipped in chocolate that everybody seemed to be eating.

It was actually quite good, who would have thought a fluffy waffle dipped in chocolate would be good, but I guess they know what they are doing.

The weather was nice, and the train ride home was packed, unless you were in first class, where there was hardly anyone. I had my ticket checked many times yesterday, like around 6, and there was never any concern over reservations, which was a nice change from down south, where it was a constant expense and hassle.

Monday will bring a new direction, either onwards to Denmark, or Germany, I am still consulting the weather, and the tea leaves as to which is the right way to go.

2008-05-30T01:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, may well have been a record for most travel in one day for me.

I took a five hour train, a 45 minute bus, a 2.5 hour flight, a .5 hour bus, a 45 minute train ride, then a two hour train, then three short trains to get to my final destination.

the Train I took in Germany was by far the nicest I have taken, ICE International, I did not have to pay anything beyond my rail pass, and it was a beautiful train and smooth ride.

now where to next?

2008-05-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

Athens, a great place to be at leisure.

Warm, freindly, beaches, Delicous Food.

An Efficent transit system, and fantastic historical ruins.

One of the more intersting Ruins, was very modern,

The site of the Athens 2004 Olympics sits like a ghosttown, near the end of a beautiful metro system, as I walked through that massive, and architecturaly impressive buildings you could see there former splendor, as well as the haste with which they were constructed.

If you build it, they will come. but what about when they leave?

I guess we will see soon enough in vancouver? Hopefully we can avoid just a large scale case of white elephantism!

The Eurail pass is still somedays my freind, somedays a curious foe. Greece requires reservations, but does not make you pay, which is nice. but in booking a train for tommorow, two trains listed identicaly on the schedule, one hour apart, one would cost me 33 euros to ride second class [sounded a lot like just buying a ticket] the other costs me nothing, but a free reservation, and I ride first class!

So go figure, it pays to be flexible and ask what is available.

I am cheating a little bit and catching a flight up to Germany, as the ferry and train travel is time consuming and tiring, this way I can get to germany and northern europe in far better shape and I spend the time I saved enjoying athens.

Hasta Luego

2008-05-24T12:43:00.001-07:00

I am now in Athens, it was a long haul but everything went according to plan.

I have a couple days here at least, and look forward to seeing the accropalis etc.

and the weather here is great.

The ferry was like bwing home, only 16.5 hours of it!

hasta luego

2008-05-23T02:02:00.000-07:00

When in Rome.

Bring a raincoat, or umbrella or something. When it rains here it pours, and it appears to rain in the afternoon.

I saw the colloseam, and the forum, for someone who likes to look at old stuff, this place is full of it!

Today I catch a train to Bari, where I hopefully take a ferry to Patras Greece.

It is a long ferry ride, very long, from 8 till noon, the next day.

2008-05-22T01:19:00.000-07:00

Well I strated the train adventrue with a long haul

Barcelona to Rome, in just over 24 hours.

was going to stay in Nice, but there was no rooms cannes film fesival and the monaco grand prix.

And a train strike started, so I got on the last train out without a ticket, and made it rome for the morning.

But Rome looks great and I found a hostal that looks good.

Hasta luego

2008-05-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well Spain is a nice place, lots to see.

Checked out a maritime museam and a cathedral so far, as well as the usual walking and people watching.

the weather is great not to hot or cold.

The way thery build here is differnet, but there are tons of cranes.

Hasta Luego

2008-05-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

well I have made it to Barcelona

Feels kinda warm, but not too bad

found the hostel, it was hard, but I got

more on this place later.

2008-05-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have been in Scotland for over a week now, tommorow I will be headed to spain!

The weather here has been great, I did whirlwind tour around Scotland in a big yellow bus.

yesterday evening was the only signifigant rain that I have experienced so far on the trip,

and it was very minor.

All is well and I am getting rested and ready in preperation for a trip to the land of the siesta.

2008-05-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

I find myself in Scotland, so far an all together pleaseant experience.

The Netherlands, and Amsterdam had so much to offer.

But the hills and weather of Scotland feels more like home.

Today I wallked up a big hill, looked at an old mill, and toured a restored castle.

Hasta Luego

2008-05-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

wow it sure feels good to be somewhere new!

the sights , sounds, beaches are all great here.

the riding everywhere on bikes thing takes a while to get used to, I would say 5 or ten minutes should be enough for most people.

Hasta Luego

2008-04-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

In case there was any doubt, the last trip ended well.

We made it to the farthest east point in North America, before making the 11 day drive west.

What brings me back is the first International trip in quite some time.

I broke free of the daily grind, and friday will see me winging my way to Amsterdam.

From there I have plans to see the UK and Southern Europe.

Hasta Luego

2007-08-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a few days since I have seen a computer.

Made it around the Gaspe and the coast of New Brunswick,

it was some of the most striking coastlines I have seen,

In Nova Scotia now, some amazing beaches, and lobster

is everything it is cracked up to be.

PEI has red dirt, and lots of beaches, and cliffs, but not many trees.

went to a beach in NB that had some amazing kiting.

some beach somewhere

2007-08-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Bonjour Mes Amis

Well We made it to Quebec,

Had a good trip through Northern Ontario

if you wonder where Canada gots its rep

for being all trees and rocks, blame Ontario.

There was one beach of note, on lake Superior,
a beautiful beach that was reminicent of Mexico.

Spent a day or two in Ottawa, saw the sights of the capital.
[finally got the starter installed, so we only pushstarted halfway accross]

In small town Quebec, time to go and explore.

SomeBeach SomeWhere.

2007-08-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

I have seen the sights of winnipeg and surrounding areas
we bought a new starter so we dont have to push start
the van anymore [have been push starting since bc]

coming into the long weekend campsites might be busy
so we will see how northern ontario goes.

we will likely head to Quebec relatively quickly
I still havent learned any french, so we will have to
play it by ear once we get there.

somebeach somewhere

2007-07-31T23:25:00.000-07:00

Here we are, one week down the road of life.
I can' say I have been everywhere yet, but I
have seen more of canada than I have ever
seen before.

Contrary to popular opinion sask does have
something to offer, some nice lakes up north.

I found a beach of Mexican proportions on the
freash waters of lake winnipeg, nice to see water
that goes farther than you can see.

Still looking past the horizon,

Some Beach Somewhere...

2007-07-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here we are, one day into the trip,

and we are still in not on the road yet,

my co-pilot had to attend to his pre-holiday

paperwork, but we will make a quick stop by milezero and be good to go.

the last saltwater beach I will see for a few days

somebeach somewhere

2007-07-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

So it is getting closer and closer to my cross canada trip

I finished work a few weeks ago, went to the cabin for a week, and we have our Van almost ready to go.

It is a 1978 volkswagen breadbox, it is starting to look pretty ready for the trip.

I will be making my way from west to east across Canada.

I will update this when I can, keep people up to date on progress, take suggestions for destinations.

will be a few weeks between beaches

2006-08-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

I escaped from wage slavery in mid to late june.

I retreated to the lake for a weekend of camping and kiteboarding, two weeks later I returned.

I am currently on a drive about tour of BC, so far have seen squamish and whistler, well tiny protions of squamish and whistler.

some beach some where

oh yeah and I could not get to the beach due to the oil spill, not good

2006-05-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

On the inside looking out...

Entering into my sixth month of wage slavery since Mexico 2005.

Escape is planned, but not imminent.

thinking of , , ,

Somebeach Somewhere.

2005-12-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

6 Busses
2 Planes
1 boat and
1 train.

All to get back to the comox valley again.

it takes about 30 hours to get from the heat of mexico to the cold of home.

Mexico 2005 is over, but the life of leisure continues.

some beach somewhere

2005-11-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

HELLO WORLD

Well today is my last day in Mexico, it has been a great run of it, in typicaly mexican fashion, I am waiting for a bus. but that is fine, as mexico has many beaches, and I will be on one soon.

I was cold this morning, actually cold, so I am a little worried as I hear it is snowing in much of bc last night...

well off the beach

2005-11-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

Well another bus ride down.

this time I was searched at 4 in the morning by the military. was really not a big deal, polite and simple, was only my big bags, only took a minute.

it is nice to be in La manz again, funny how it feels a bit like home.

coming home will be great too, not withstanding the coldness.

well that will be great as well

2005-11-26T16:41:00.000-08:00

Zihuatanejo seems like a good place.

only the day here, the bus ride last night was epic, I think I bought a ticket on a nicer bus this time.

first class sometimes is not as good as it could be, and 15 hours is a long time. were pulled over at least three times by federalis, so guys with guns asking for identification at 4 in the morning.

was not any problem just a little different, they were vary polite and I imagine they were trying to find some bad guy or other, some people had to get off with there bags, but they were all back on in a few minutes.

so in a few hours I get another overnight bus this one to melaque. So Iam seeing only a few parts of the coast, but that is what happens when I settle into get to know a place instead of never unpacking my backpack.

the last few days will be in la manz so that is nice

some beach some where

2005-11-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

Today the northern Journey starts.

12 hours on a bus will see me to zihatenahu (who can spell that one!)

From there I will make my way to la manz and ultimatly Puerto Vallarta.

If anyone reading has a place for me to stay in Vancouver on the night of the 30th, please leave a comment.

I have been taking pictures, but they are mostly just of sunsets and rises, so they are all similar.

Summer is drawing to a close but it has been a good long one.

2005-11-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

Zipolite is like advertised, come for a day and stay for more.

was swimming in water so warm that it makes the indoor pools back home feel cold.

have been meeting lots of people who come here for a long time, andhave been doing it for years, it is definatly a nice spot.

waking up to watch the sunrise is a amazing no matter where it is in the world.

enjoying the last few days in this paradise. For this visit at least

2005-11-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

Zipolite is pretty much like they say it is.

At first I did not like it that much, but I have been here three days now,
current plan is to head out tommorow and start making my way up the coast.

the return to reality is starting to set in, like re-entry for the space shuttle, I am already preparing myself for the price shock. looking for a place to rent back home, you realise just how much more it costs to live.

it has been a great trip so far, and going back up the coast promises to be great as well.

2005-11-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

Another day at the beach.

the waves today were really good for part of the day, saw some really good surfing.

this is the kind of place to spend some time at with a board
the wind is not there for kiting most of the time though.

just realised I will be going home to winter, not that I dislike winter, just has been a while since I had a winter. and especially a winter that I drop into the middle of.

some beach some where

Puerto Escondito, yet another little peice of paradise

2005-11-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

decided to stay another day in puerto escondito, moved to a different place this time, in a hotel, really not that much more to be in a much better location with way better facilites.

today was first day of a big surf competion, and weekend promises to be good weather.

ran into some one I met in the hostel in puerto vallarta, funny old world.

2005-11-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

went out on a boat yesterday, saw at least a hundred dolphins, and lots of turtles.

there is a big surf competition in town all weekend so I think I will stay around for that

this is a pretty nice town over all lots of good things about it

peace

2005-11-16T07:56:00.000-08:00

have made it much further south, went over a 1000kms by bus in about 24 hours, was a long time.

I have arrived in puerto escondito, have not had a chance to look around much yet, got in late last night.

climate is nice enough, still recovering from epic bus journey.

2005-11-09T10:19:00.000-08:00

Well I bought myself a hammock, and am looking forward to using it on beaches all over the world.

the tourists are starting to hit it larger numbers, I find myself speaking way to much english, and I saw two (2) people walking along with socks on , in there sandals! in a cold part of the world this is a fashion disastar, but on a beach in mexico, it is just plain odd (most people in a display of sanity opt to remove there sandals and walk barefoot)

makes me wonder what the world is coming too, and what we can do about it. I still wonder were they worried about getting sand on there feet? if so why were they at the beach?

it is time to head south, and not stop till there is not a pair of sock under sandals in sight.

2005-11-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

who would have thought that humans would come up with so many different launguages, i wish we had all learned latin.

So is paradise just a series of consistent relaiable pleasant routines?

I dont know if anyone will belive me, but I miss the rain, I actually quite like a good rain, driving out ot sombrio in a torrential storm, but the sun is nice as well

2005-10-31T19:07:00.000-08:00

Money troubles in paradise

the problem with money in this place is that the bills are always to big

I took out some money a week ago, but try and buy a beer that costs 8 pesos with a 500 peso bill.

or a 100 peso bill for that matter, getting change and making sure you have small enough bills is the princial money problem here.

anyway, I am of for a few more days of learning spanish and swimming

peace

2005-10-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Playa Playa Playa

funny how beach sounds like play!

on to my third beach for the day, barre de navidad, melaque, an d la mazzilla

peace

2005-10-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

Random Access Memory,

it is what makes a computer move faster than the speed of smell, and trust me you can smell faster mexico faster than a mexican computer can move!

and it is what makes a new launguage go in your brain, and sometimes I feel like I only have 32MB of the stuff myself!

the weekend is here which means no classes, so I have time to go to farther playas than I can go when I have classes.

peace

2005-10-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

Paradise is not for sale

but you can borrow it for the price of a pair of sandals

people will chase the dream and try and tie it down, tie it up and buy it and sell it.

but you can only live it.

if someone offers to sell you a peice of paradise, be careful of what it costs

peace

2005-10-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

Another day in paradise

well the spanish will not be the easiest thing I have ever done, but then leisure need not be easy.

the beach remains beautiful, the sun remains hot.

I guess the is where I settle into a series of similar and good days.

peace

2005-10-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

La manzilla

well so far so good, there is a lotof beach, I walked as far as an abandoned hotel it was a longer hotter more sunburning experience than i had planned on.

the waves are a shore break, but the size is good, a jordan river style river/point break and you would not even need to worry about the meaning of life.

start classes tommorow, will be nice to know a word or two of spanish
peace

2005-10-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

I just looked up at the selection of beers available in the internet cafe, LUCKY LAGER is one of them!

I guess this is just canada with humidity

2005-10-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

another morning in paradise, stayed at the´ los carloles in melaque, I am not yet an expert on mexican accomadation, but it was just built had only been open a month. price seemed reasable, 200 pesos for single, room was huge and bathroom clean. more care and attention was shown to fit and finish on this place than some resorts I have worked on.

it is hot and sunny again today, no worries from huricane.

2005-10-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

Saw my first decent beach today.

made it to melaque with a minimal bit of trouble and expense, bus system is different here.

found a nice place to stay in Melaque, and a good brand of beer, a dark beer, very tasty. All this was due to the help of Sarah, I would have found stuff on my own but it was fun to meet a fellow traveler.

time to hit the beach

peace

2005-10-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

It is so hot here it is not even funny, make me want a cold day with a strong southeast and a wetsuit, to keep me warm

went out with a few people from the hostel, went to hooters, well it was a bit sureal to be talking in english with two brits and a guy from naniamo, in english, eating a cheese burger, not that mexican.

went to a few more mexican places later , ended up at `the ZOO` was pretty good as clubs go,. funny to hear the same hip hop thousands of miles away from the usual.

and at least in PV things are not nearly as cheap as they could be, prices are on par with canada for the most part.

and it is still really hot in the middle of the night

peace

2005-10-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well this is puerto vallarta
got off the plane and thought it was the jet exhaust that was so warm, it was not, it was the heat and humidity!

had the usual fun with taxis and busses, will take a bus to melaque tommorow.

off to find something to eat, few people in the hostel from canada.

peace

2005-10-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

the trip will start at 7am on friday the 21st.