la tomatina

so yesterday was la tomatina festival en Buñol, valencia, spain. it was nuts. i will post some pictures when i return to madrid in a few days. but it was a crazy experience. im glad i did it ONCE.
and yes i had the goggle and waterproof camera that i will have to develop soon. iwas covered in tomatoes and had some local hose me down in his front yard!!!

it is so hot now...ill just say that its been quite the contrast from the past few weeks..you sweat in your sleep..

well my trip is nearing its end as i have about two more weeks in europe.

looking forward to seeing everyone at home..

welcome back party anyone?...start planning

where the leprauchauns are red

Ireland.....where every season is wet.

its late now as i spent the past hour on the phone with the Mr. things are going well for him and I'm glad to hear.

mind the gap

i saw most of London on the top of a double Decker bus with my old college roommate Gladys.

who would have thought that when we met at the age of 19 that 8 years later we would be touring London together.

i wouldn't. but alas we were having a good time. taking pictures, shopping. dodging people left and right at the subway stations.

for some reason everyone walks really fast and with purpose in London. you re constantly bumping into people.

Since cars drive on the right hand side of the car and on the left hand side of the road, the lovely government tells foreigners which way to look when crossing the street as its probably opposite than were accustomed too.

We had Indian food at the runner up for for best curry restaurant. which oddly enough was next door to the winner for best curry. why they were so proud to announce they were second best was beyond me. but none the less the food was great. chicken biryani and naan bread.

London has an awesome food scene. much like Los Angeles. farm driven, sustainable methods, organic, delicious.

we found a line out the door at chilangos messican restaurant. we had to try it and it was spot on for being London.i ordered "topopos" which were nachos as we call them.

Gladys had the sweet camera so ill be stealing her pics when i return. we did have a grand time with awesome wine at the Phantom of the opera.

paris-

how is it possible that after five days in paris i only managed to see the eiffel tower?

I was too busy eating. i must have eaten at a restaurant once in my entire visit. my meals consisted of bread, cheese and pastry...and wine. It wasnt the healthiest of diets but i couldnt help it. I felt i had to try as much as i could. im surprised my pants still fit (knocking on wood)

I was dissappointed that the pastry shop of all pastry shops was closed on vacation for the month of august. Pierre Herme. i was so sad to have missed you.

Now call me a tacky tourist , call me uncultured i dont care. but i spent a day at eurodisney. and gotta say i had fun. even if i was alone. which honestly i have no problem doing just about anything alone now. I was entertained by all the children. whining in other languages. Hands down though. Disneyland anaheim crushes eurodisney. euro paris is as advanced as anaheim in the 80s. Including captain EO.

so in the end i cant tell you how the mona lisa is actually smaller in person, or how the moulin rouge is better than the movie. i have no idea. but i can tell you where to get the best poulet and fromage panini.

Finished a rainy three weeks

I am back in Madrid for i think the fifth time now.
Since i left for Venice a few weeks ago , i have encountered rain everywhere i was.
I don't have to worry about that now as Southern Spain is well into the upper 90s.

My knee is pretty much back to normal. It took a little over a month. You can imagine the sweet scar i have.

I miss home. I miss the stability of a home.Living out of a suitcase is not that much fun now.
Ive started approaching each new place with a different attitude and purpose. Ive seen enough churches, palaces and castles to last me for a while. I treat the cities as if i lived there. i go hang out at a bookstore. take the book to the park and read.
no more standing in lines for museums. if i ever have the chance to travel to Europe again it will not be in summer...the crowds are ridiculous and frustrating.

the more Ive traveled the less Ive seen..yet the more Ive experienced. if that makes any sense to anyone.

tomorrow i return to barcelona. There was more Gaudi to see. Im curious to see my outlook on the city now compared to two months ago.
La tomatina festival is on wednesday in valencia spain.heres to being covered in tomatoe. i saw a news segment today on the heat and a insect infestation rotting a farms supply of tomatoes....i hope these rotten tomatoes are now what will be thrown at the festival.

i miss american deodarant.

shopping in london

apparently i did not know what i was getting myself into.

oxford street London is the shopping capital of Europe.

the mod style is present throughout all the stores.

i had a great time with my pal Gladys and her friend Matt.
i thank them for letting me crash at their sweet accommodations.

im psyched that i can finally go to the movies here.

pictures later

praga pictures

A walk to the prague castle among plum trees. THey were yummy. i couldnt help but eat like 5

STopped by an art gallery to see visual poetry.

John Lennon wall. I left my mark. ONe day i hope to come back and see it.

Couples put a lock non a chained fence to symbloze their love.

ELDA! the astronominical clock

rothenburg germany

hike to the german grape vines. Stopped to smell the roses today and they were the loveliest roses i ever smelled. Horrible allergies afterwards!

the building in the trees was my hostel. An old 15th century horsemill. THe Nightwatchman tour was great and entertaining. Gives you insight on what life was like in the medieval times. German seinfeld

Halstatt- Austria

Obertraun- Salzkammergut Austria

Two hours, three trains and a bus from salzburg is Obertraun. I went to the Dachstein ice caves. While madrid is daily around 40C (thats over 100 F) , i was in austria bundled up like its christmas is below zero caves.

Salzburg, Austria

i didnt spend alot of time in salzburg. It was more a home base for my two day trips to the Salzkammergut Lakes District in Austria. SSalzburg highlites are the Fortress above the city. Mozart and for me Fine austrian wine. I spent an afternoon in this tiny little reclusive wone bar where the folks in there admired my appreciatin for wine. by buying more and more wine top taste. tis the night i so buzzingly sang aloud on my way back to my hostel. Oh and the night i had the besttchinese food in salzburg. Nilda know! i drunk texted her