While our group is really liking the local cuisine, it appears that Greece has a limited menu at the majority of restaurants. I would say that 90 percent of restaurants in Greece have the following items on their menu:
- Gyros
- Moussaka
- Souvlaki
- Cheese Pie
- Greek Salad
- Pizza
- Club House Sandwich
- Burger and Fries
- "Toast"/Sub Sandwich (Toast is like a ham and cheese sandwich)
- Tzatziki
- A chicken breast dinner
In addition there is about 70 percent of the menus that also boast these things:
- Calamari (Both fried and grilled)
- Fish (Cod usually)
- Pasta
- Baklava
- A pork filet dinner
Again, while we have been enjoying the deliciousness that is a 2 euro gyro, we have been determined to find a McDonalds in Greece. Apparently there is one in Corfu Town that we are going on a mission to find today on 300 cc quads. I really hope that our mission is successful because I could go for a Big Mac or a McChicken right about now.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Finally Something Educational
Over the past few days we have tried to tone it down and take somewhat of a breather. After some almost all-nighter stints we decided as a group to go and do something educational - travel to Olympia to see the home of the Olympic games (and afterall, we just had the 2010 games in Vancouver so it was a definite must-do on the trip).
So, we went on a rediculous journey to get to this city - I think the Greek Gods were testing us to see how badly we wanted to get there. After shuttling to a ferry, catching a 5 hour ferry to Athens, catching a local train to our EUrail station, waiting 4 hours, catching the first train out of Athens, then a bus then two more trains, we arrived in Olympia. Needless to say we were all fairly tired from spending about 12 hours transporting ourselves to the city but it was more than worth it. The city felt like a little piece of home... or rather Oak Bay.
The weather was much milder in Olympia but the landscapes were a lot greener and everything was extremely cute. We finally did some educational activities including going to the Ministry of Culture, the Archeological Museum and the actual Archeological site where the ruins of the original Olympic infrastructure was built. All of it was amazing to see - we were able to view some phenomenal statues of ancient gods such as Hermes and Nike. They were quite stunning. Unfortunately, I was told by a local that the Statue of Zeus (one of my bucket list items) was burned to the ground and no one can find the remains so I think that this bucket list item was completed because we made it to the archeological site nonetheless.
After a day in Olympia we headed to Corfu because we did not have time to go to Sparta (looks like I won't be reciting any lines from the movie but again, I'll give myself a half check mark for this bucket list item because we attempted to recite some of the lines in Olympia by the statues and ruins).
So some of the things that I learned were that women were not allowed to compete in the Olympics nor even watch them for the first few hundreds of years. Second, the word "gymnos" actually means naked which is where gymnasium came from. The Olympians used to have to compete completely naked at the Olympics - which I guess is why the winners were able to be cocky.
So, we went on a rediculous journey to get to this city - I think the Greek Gods were testing us to see how badly we wanted to get there. After shuttling to a ferry, catching a 5 hour ferry to Athens, catching a local train to our EUrail station, waiting 4 hours, catching the first train out of Athens, then a bus then two more trains, we arrived in Olympia. Needless to say we were all fairly tired from spending about 12 hours transporting ourselves to the city but it was more than worth it. The city felt like a little piece of home... or rather Oak Bay.
The weather was much milder in Olympia but the landscapes were a lot greener and everything was extremely cute. We finally did some educational activities including going to the Ministry of Culture, the Archeological Museum and the actual Archeological site where the ruins of the original Olympic infrastructure was built. All of it was amazing to see - we were able to view some phenomenal statues of ancient gods such as Hermes and Nike. They were quite stunning. Unfortunately, I was told by a local that the Statue of Zeus (one of my bucket list items) was burned to the ground and no one can find the remains so I think that this bucket list item was completed because we made it to the archeological site nonetheless.
After a day in Olympia we headed to Corfu because we did not have time to go to Sparta (looks like I won't be reciting any lines from the movie but again, I'll give myself a half check mark for this bucket list item because we attempted to recite some of the lines in Olympia by the statues and ruins).
So some of the things that I learned were that women were not allowed to compete in the Olympics nor even watch them for the first few hundreds of years. Second, the word "gymnos" actually means naked which is where gymnasium came from. The Olympians used to have to compete completely naked at the Olympics - which I guess is why the winners were able to be cocky.
Friday, May 14, 2010
"Legendary"
To describe the first week of the trip in one word, it would undeniably be "legendary" (as adopted into our everyday-vocabulary thanks to a number of Aussis).
Although there has not been much (if any) educational components to the trip thus far (aka we've ATVed and partied everyday) we have been having a rediculous time on the Greek Islands. Starting in Mykanos we partied hard at Mykanos Bar, Jacuzzi, and Skandanavia (http://www.skandinavianbar.com/). Skandanavia was the bar that we were able to dance on the bar (which is about 4 feet high) and I even got a free "Skandanavia babes" tank-top. One of my travel mates was able to knock-off my #25 (flaming shots of Ouzo) at one of the bars while my two other travel mates decided it would be a good idea to go skinny dipping at 3am after getting back from the bars - and of course the three boys had to pick me up, carry me down the beach and throw me into the ocean with my towel just to make the night complete.
We headed to Santorini on Sunday and expected this island to be a bit less party-centered and a bit more tourist-centered. On Santorini, we were recommended to stay at Villa Manos, (http://www.villamanos.gr/) a beautiful hotel/resort just 5 minutes out of town. This family-owned villa was absolutely gorgeous - stunning views of the city, mountains and ocean, an exceptional pool and a private balcony. On top of that, the staff was extremely helpful and friendly, assisting us with our quad bookings, tour bookings and shuttles to and from the port and even greeted our party with glasses of wine when we arrived the first night. At only 11.25 euros per person per night, this was an outrageous deal. The only amenity that I thought was meteocre was the breakfast which cost 5 euros and offered one fried egg, one piece of cheese, some pieces of baguette and coffee/juice.
Our group decided to take the "See Santorini in one day" tour which cost only 35 euros and proved to be an all-day excursion. Leaving the villa at 9am we were transported to the highest point of the island to view the stunning scenery of Santorini. After that, we headed down to the port and went onto a large sailboat which went to the birthplace of the island, the volcano. Shortly after, we headed to hotsprings which we had to swim out to and then went to an island that offered donkey rides which we missed by 3 minutes! After that we were transported back to the main island and taken to Oia to see the sunset. We arrived back at our villa around 9:30 pm.
We met a few Canadians that were staying at our villa and mentioned that they had just come from Ios, where there was barely any tourists and the town was fairly barren. Our group hesitated to go to the island but decided to check it out anyways because we had heard that it was "the party island". After a short 30 minute ferry ride, we arrived in Ios and were taken to the Far Out Beach Club Resort (http://www.faroutclub.com/) which I would argue is better than an all-inclusive Mexican getaway. This place is made for young adults who are looking to meet people, lie on the beach and party hard until it is light out. The island of Ios may have been "dead" but this specific resort had lots of young travellers looking to have a good time. We quickly made friend with a group of 5 Calgarians as well as some Australians and had 2 "legendary" nights. Situated right on the beach, the Far Our Club is another amazing deal in the off season. At 17.50 euros per night, we were given air conditioned rooms, a breakfast buffet, evening movies, laundry service and much more. During the daytime, we rented ATVs and drove around to see the island, laid on the beach and drank a lot of Mythos (a Greek lager). Both nights we rallied together a group of 10-20 people to pre-drink and play Sociables/King's Cup and then headed into town to the local pubs and clubs.
The first stop on the nights was Fun Pub and the name definitely preceeds itself. At this pub there is a massive Jenga set in which pub-goers must take turns getting the blocks. The person that knocks it over must chug the rest of their drink. In addition my travel mates and I signed up for a pool tournament. I must have had beginners luck because I was the last girl left in the competition and it was down to about 5 players but then our group decided to head to Flames Club and so I backed out. The tournament was 2 euros to enter and you received 3 lives. The object of the game was to be the last person standing and all you had to do was hit any ball into any pocket. If you hit the 8-ball in or were able to hit multiple balls in in one shot, you received an extra life. If you missed, you lost a life but got to do a shot.
Slammer Bar and Flames were amazing places to head to after Fun Bar. Slammer Bar is known for their house shot called the "slammer". For 4 euros they make you wear a helmet, hit you on the head with the shot, you drink it as fast as you can and then they use something heavy to hit you as hard as they can in the head. Some people were hit with fire extinguishers, chairs, baseball bats - it was absolutely hilarious. I decided to try one of these out and the bartenders for whatever reason singled me out to do a beer bong of hard liquor instead of a shot. (Pictures to come). Apparently I became a "legend".
After doing the slammers we headed to Flames club which was jam-packed wall to wall. Their drink special was 3 Jager bombs for 10 euros which was trouble. The music at Flames was all songs that everyone knows the lyrics to which lead to 6-hour sing-alongs of Blink 182, Lady Gaga, Pink, ACDC, Chumbawumba etc. The club also sporadically had sparklers passed around for songs, foam and a Michael Jackson impersonator. Both nights we arrived back at the Far Out Beach Club after 4 a.m. - I believe the clubs closed at 5.
Running on about 4.5 hours of sleep per night, I am looking forward to what Athens has to offer. We will be heading there on a ferry tonight, then off to Olympia and Sparta and then we will finish off Greece in Corfu where we will be staying at the Pink Palace (again, I hear that this hostel is trouble AND we are rendezvous-ing with some of the Calgarians that we met in Ios and they definitely know how to party).
Just over a week has gone by and I think that at this rate my head will explode from having so much fun! I swear something has to go wrong - why have we been so lucky thus far!?
Although there has not been much (if any) educational components to the trip thus far (aka we've ATVed and partied everyday) we have been having a rediculous time on the Greek Islands. Starting in Mykanos we partied hard at Mykanos Bar, Jacuzzi, and Skandanavia (http://www.skandinavianbar.com/). Skandanavia was the bar that we were able to dance on the bar (which is about 4 feet high) and I even got a free "Skandanavia babes" tank-top. One of my travel mates was able to knock-off my #25 (flaming shots of Ouzo) at one of the bars while my two other travel mates decided it would be a good idea to go skinny dipping at 3am after getting back from the bars - and of course the three boys had to pick me up, carry me down the beach and throw me into the ocean with my towel just to make the night complete.
We headed to Santorini on Sunday and expected this island to be a bit less party-centered and a bit more tourist-centered. On Santorini, we were recommended to stay at Villa Manos, (http://www.villamanos.gr/) a beautiful hotel/resort just 5 minutes out of town. This family-owned villa was absolutely gorgeous - stunning views of the city, mountains and ocean, an exceptional pool and a private balcony. On top of that, the staff was extremely helpful and friendly, assisting us with our quad bookings, tour bookings and shuttles to and from the port and even greeted our party with glasses of wine when we arrived the first night. At only 11.25 euros per person per night, this was an outrageous deal. The only amenity that I thought was meteocre was the breakfast which cost 5 euros and offered one fried egg, one piece of cheese, some pieces of baguette and coffee/juice.
Our group decided to take the "See Santorini in one day" tour which cost only 35 euros and proved to be an all-day excursion. Leaving the villa at 9am we were transported to the highest point of the island to view the stunning scenery of Santorini. After that, we headed down to the port and went onto a large sailboat which went to the birthplace of the island, the volcano. Shortly after, we headed to hotsprings which we had to swim out to and then went to an island that offered donkey rides which we missed by 3 minutes! After that we were transported back to the main island and taken to Oia to see the sunset. We arrived back at our villa around 9:30 pm.
We met a few Canadians that were staying at our villa and mentioned that they had just come from Ios, where there was barely any tourists and the town was fairly barren. Our group hesitated to go to the island but decided to check it out anyways because we had heard that it was "the party island". After a short 30 minute ferry ride, we arrived in Ios and were taken to the Far Out Beach Club Resort (http://www.faroutclub.com/) which I would argue is better than an all-inclusive Mexican getaway. This place is made for young adults who are looking to meet people, lie on the beach and party hard until it is light out. The island of Ios may have been "dead" but this specific resort had lots of young travellers looking to have a good time. We quickly made friend with a group of 5 Calgarians as well as some Australians and had 2 "legendary" nights. Situated right on the beach, the Far Our Club is another amazing deal in the off season. At 17.50 euros per night, we were given air conditioned rooms, a breakfast buffet, evening movies, laundry service and much more. During the daytime, we rented ATVs and drove around to see the island, laid on the beach and drank a lot of Mythos (a Greek lager). Both nights we rallied together a group of 10-20 people to pre-drink and play Sociables/King's Cup and then headed into town to the local pubs and clubs.
The first stop on the nights was Fun Pub and the name definitely preceeds itself. At this pub there is a massive Jenga set in which pub-goers must take turns getting the blocks. The person that knocks it over must chug the rest of their drink. In addition my travel mates and I signed up for a pool tournament. I must have had beginners luck because I was the last girl left in the competition and it was down to about 5 players but then our group decided to head to Flames Club and so I backed out. The tournament was 2 euros to enter and you received 3 lives. The object of the game was to be the last person standing and all you had to do was hit any ball into any pocket. If you hit the 8-ball in or were able to hit multiple balls in in one shot, you received an extra life. If you missed, you lost a life but got to do a shot.
Slammer Bar and Flames were amazing places to head to after Fun Bar. Slammer Bar is known for their house shot called the "slammer". For 4 euros they make you wear a helmet, hit you on the head with the shot, you drink it as fast as you can and then they use something heavy to hit you as hard as they can in the head. Some people were hit with fire extinguishers, chairs, baseball bats - it was absolutely hilarious. I decided to try one of these out and the bartenders for whatever reason singled me out to do a beer bong of hard liquor instead of a shot. (Pictures to come). Apparently I became a "legend".
After doing the slammers we headed to Flames club which was jam-packed wall to wall. Their drink special was 3 Jager bombs for 10 euros which was trouble. The music at Flames was all songs that everyone knows the lyrics to which lead to 6-hour sing-alongs of Blink 182, Lady Gaga, Pink, ACDC, Chumbawumba etc. The club also sporadically had sparklers passed around for songs, foam and a Michael Jackson impersonator. Both nights we arrived back at the Far Out Beach Club after 4 a.m. - I believe the clubs closed at 5.
Running on about 4.5 hours of sleep per night, I am looking forward to what Athens has to offer. We will be heading there on a ferry tonight, then off to Olympia and Sparta and then we will finish off Greece in Corfu where we will be staying at the Pink Palace (again, I hear that this hostel is trouble AND we are rendezvous-ing with some of the Calgarians that we met in Ios and they definitely know how to party).
Just over a week has gone by and I think that at this rate my head will explode from having so much fun! I swear something has to go wrong - why have we been so lucky thus far!?
Sunday, May 9, 2010
First Few Days in Greece
YAMAS! Our group arrived in Athens at 3am after about 23 hours of flights and layovers. We decided to head straight to Mykanos on the earliest ferry because Athens is fairly tense at the moment. After a 5 hour ferry ride (on an extremely nice ferry) we arrived in Mykanos and to our amazement the island was absolutely gorgeous. One of my travel mates was referred by a friend to stay at the Paradise Beach Resort which is literally right on Paradise Beach. At 17.50 euros each per night, this resort was all we could ask for and more. Warm, private showers, cheap food and drinks and a 10 second walk to the beach.
Over the course of the last few days we were able to go out clubbing in downtown Mykanos and it was extremely fun! I have never danced on a bar, gotton a free shirt and multiple free drinks in Victoria. We also met a group of three girls from New York and Ecuador who were awesome to go out with. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures they took on Facebook.
Other highlights of the island was renting ATVs, seeing a rediculous (trained) Pelican walking around the boardwalk and eating like 10 Gyros. We are heading off to Santorini which is supposed to be a bit more touristy and I am hoping that we will be able to do some sight seeing or maybe go to a museum - oh and flaming shots of Ouzo of course.
I will post again soon!
Over the course of the last few days we were able to go out clubbing in downtown Mykanos and it was extremely fun! I have never danced on a bar, gotton a free shirt and multiple free drinks in Victoria. We also met a group of three girls from New York and Ecuador who were awesome to go out with. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures they took on Facebook.
Other highlights of the island was renting ATVs, seeing a rediculous (trained) Pelican walking around the boardwalk and eating like 10 Gyros. We are heading off to Santorini which is supposed to be a bit more touristy and I am hoping that we will be able to do some sight seeing or maybe go to a museum - oh and flaming shots of Ouzo of course.
I will post again soon!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
My Euro-Bucket List
While I am looking forward to "relaxing" in Europe I thought that unplanned relaxation was just not my style. So, I have created a bucket list of 25 things that I would like to do during the 42 days that we are on our trip. If you have any suggestions as to things that I absolutely must do, please feel free to post comments!
25. Shots Shots Shots Shots Shots Shots Everybody! DONE
Although I really dislike the taste of black licorice, flaming shots of ouzo in Santorini will have to happen.
24. Gondola Ride in Venice
I'm almost certain that this is a “must do” in Venice, and besides, the last gondola I rode was up the green hill at Mt. Washington.
23. Sing-Along
From June 3 to 23 the Festival de Musique de Strasbourg will be occurring in the small town of Strasbourg, located near Alsace, France. I may not be singing along per se, but I will be enjoying the classical music.
22. Eat an Exotic Food
A local type of fish? A weird looking fruit or vegetable or perhaps a cut of meat that I have never seen. I want to try some of the local delicacies.
21. Be a Copycat DONE
I hear that there are a number of knock off purses, bags, wallets etc. in Europe and I will definitely have to pick one (or five) up along the way.
20. Global Connections
I would really like to see the Monaco Motor Show which is occurring from June 10-13th. Who wouldn't want to see beautiful cars in a beautiful city?!
13 Voulez Vous Couchez Avec Moi Ce Soir?
While my male counterparts may be using this phrase quite a bit on the trip, I would like to see a Moulin Rouge show in Paris. I've heard that they are fairly pricey (100+ euros) but definitely worth the pricetag.
http://www.moulinrouge.fr/home-flash-gb.html
12. Get Crazy, Get Wild, Let's Party, Get Loud DONE
While I may be missing out on the new season of Jersey Shore and will definitely not be having Ron Ron Juice on my trip, I definitely plan on trying the real deal absinthe.
11. Hallelujah DONE
I was brought up in a Christian family, however, today, I am by no means religious. Nevertheless, I want to go to as many Roman/Vatican cathedrals and maybe even confess my sins (of which I anticipate there will be a few along the way). The cathedral architecture of Western Europe is breathtaking – in particular I would like to visit the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano.
10. Ole Ole Ole Ole
I am fortunate to be in France when the 2010 FIFA World Cup commences in South Africa. I do not typically watch soccer or FIFA (maybe because Canada's doesn't have a competing team), however, I cannot miss out on the opportunity to go to a local pub and cheer on France in their game against Uruguay on June 11th. Viva France!
9. Visit one of the seven Medieval Wonders of the World DONE x2
Similarly, to item 16, I would like to visit all of these wonders one day. In the mean time I will go to the leaning tower of Pisa and/or the Colosseum.
8. Luck Be a Lady
While my next set of travel plans includes going to Las Vegas, I would like to visit a world-famous casino in Europe. Back in December 2008, I visited a number of casinos in Macao, including the world-famous Venetian. In Europe, the Monte Carlo casino is renouned and has been showcased in a number of James Bond films. Maybe I'll win the jackpot there.
7. See Some "Disruptive" Advertising
TBWA is my favourite advertising agency in the world, largely because they have an unconventional style of doing advertising for companies. TBWA has been known for their disruptive, boundary pushing advertisements. Auditoire, is their Paris office which I would like to visit. I wonder what the odds are of getting a tour?
Some of TBWA’s advertisements for Sony Playstation: http://www.coloribus.com/focus/playstation_print_ad_history/
Auditoire’s website: http://www.auditoire.fr/
6. Strut My Stuff at the Fashion Capitals of the World
The big four cities, New York, London, Milan and Paris have long been regarded as the fashion capitals of the world. So if I'm going to tour Europe, I want to do it with a bit of class and style by visiting London, Paris and Milan. As for New York, I have already stayed at the Mariott Marquis in Times Square twice for conferences in 2007 and 2008.
5. Recreate a Starry Night
My favourite artist of all time is post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. He created hundreds if not thousands of paintings that helped to define modern art. Of his paintings, my three favourites are (3) Starry Night over the Rhone (2) Starry Night and (1) Cafe Terrace at Night. All three of these paintings were inspired by the city of Arles, located in the south of France. In particular, the Cafe Terrace at Night was painted based on the Place du Forum which is where I would like to visit.
http://www.vincent-van-gogh-gallery.org/Cafe-Terrace-on-the-Place-du-Forum.jpg
4. Eiffel Tower the Eiffel Tower
This one’s fairly self explanatory, except that it will most likely be the G-rated version.
3. There's No Business Like Show Business
I would absolutely LOVE to see a London broadway musical. While I have been fortunate enough to see Wicked and Rent on Broadway, as well as a plethora of other musicals in my hometown (my most recent being the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), I cannot wait to see an outstanding London rendition of a classic musical.
2. Be like Coco Chanel
I idolize Gabrielle Chasnel (apparently her birth certificate spells her last name with an “s” because the person who wrote it was illiterate). Chanel came from nothing and was able to build herself an empire, exceptional brand image, and most importantly design the covenant little black dress that every women has in her wardrobe. Before Chanel's career came to fruition, she use to sit in the Bar Vendome lobby in a velvet chair and people watch for hours at a time.
http://www.ritzparis.com/jump_to.asp?id_target=1330&id_lang=2
1. When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do DONE
This is the all encompassing bucket list item. While on my euro-trip I do not want to miss out on any opportunities that may arise. Therefore, like in the Jim Carrey movie "Yes Man", I want to say 'yes' to as many things as possible.
--------------------------
So this is my bucket list for the trip. I will try to document the achievements of as many of these as possible and keep you posted on what things still need to be done throughout the trip. As I formerly stated, if you have any items that you think I should add, please let me know!
25. Shots Shots Shots Shots Shots Shots Everybody! DONE
Although I really dislike the taste of black licorice, flaming shots of ouzo in Santorini will have to happen.
24. Gondola Ride in Venice
I'm almost certain that this is a “must do” in Venice, and besides, the last gondola I rode was up the green hill at Mt. Washington.
23. Sing-Along
From June 3 to 23 the Festival de Musique de Strasbourg will be occurring in the small town of Strasbourg, located near Alsace, France. I may not be singing along per se, but I will be enjoying the classical music.
22. Eat an Exotic Food
A local type of fish? A weird looking fruit or vegetable or perhaps a cut of meat that I have never seen. I want to try some of the local delicacies.
21. Be a Copycat DONE
I hear that there are a number of knock off purses, bags, wallets etc. in Europe and I will definitely have to pick one (or five) up along the way.
20. Global Connections
I anticipate that we will be meeting lots of people along the way. I want to meet/befriend one person from every continent in the world (minus Antarctica perhaps) and stay in contact with them after the trip.
19. Etch-A-Sketch DONE
I've been told that the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the top museums/galleries in Italy. There is something like 45 rooms of paintings that date back from 1200's until current day. I am looking forward to spending a day viewing all of the wonderful artwork and perhaps sketching a bit myself.
http://www.uffizi.com/painting-collection-rooms-uffizi-gallery.asp
18. Crack Da Vinci's Code
While I may not be able to crack Da Vinci's code literally, I am looking forward to spending a day at the world famous Lourve in Paris.
17. Hike the Cinque Terre in Italy DONE
Every person that I have spoken to about going to Italy said that I HAVE to hike the Cinque Terre. Located on the west coast of Italy, cities Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore boasts delicious seafood and robust wines.
16. Visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World DONE
In the future I would like to visit all seven wonders, but in the mean time I plan to see either the Statue of Zeus located in Olympia or the Colossus of Rhodes (in Rhodes).
15. This... Is... SPARTA! (Sort of Done)
I think it would be humorous to recite some lines from the movie 300 in Sparta. I suppose it will go something like this: “He did not wish tribute, nor song, or monuments or poems of war and valor. His wish was simple. "Remember us" he said to me. That was his hope, should any free soul come across that place, in all the countless centuries yet to be. "May all our voices whisper to you from the ageless stones, "Go tell the Spartans, passerby, that here by Spartan law, we lie." And so my king died, and my brothers died; barely a year ago. Long I pondered my king's cryptic talk of victory, but time has proven him wise, for from free Greek to free Greek, the word was spread that bold Leonidas and his 300, so far from home, laid down their lives... not just for Sparta, but for all Greece and the promise this country holds. Now here on this ragged patch of earth called Plateaea, let his hordes face obliteration! Just there the barbarians huddle, sheer terror gripping tight their hearts with icy fingers... knowing full well what merciless horrors they suffered at the swords and spears of 300, yet they stare now across the plane at 10,000 Spartans commanding 30,000 free Greeks... The enemy outnumber us a paltry 3 to 1, a match for any Greek. This day we rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny and usher in a world brighter than anything we can imagine, Give thanks, men, to Leonidas and the brave 300! To victory!”
14. Too Fast and Too Furious
I would really like to see the Monaco Motor Show which is occurring from June 10-13th. Who wouldn't want to see beautiful cars in a beautiful city?!
13 Voulez Vous Couchez Avec Moi Ce Soir?
While my male counterparts may be using this phrase quite a bit on the trip, I would like to see a Moulin Rouge show in Paris. I've heard that they are fairly pricey (100+ euros) but definitely worth the pricetag.
http://www.moulinrouge.fr/home-flash-gb.html
12. Get Crazy, Get Wild, Let's Party, Get Loud DONE
While I may be missing out on the new season of Jersey Shore and will definitely not be having Ron Ron Juice on my trip, I definitely plan on trying the real deal absinthe.
11. Hallelujah DONE
I was brought up in a Christian family, however, today, I am by no means religious. Nevertheless, I want to go to as many Roman/Vatican cathedrals and maybe even confess my sins (of which I anticipate there will be a few along the way). The cathedral architecture of Western Europe is breathtaking – in particular I would like to visit the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano.
10. Ole Ole Ole Ole
I am fortunate to be in France when the 2010 FIFA World Cup commences in South Africa. I do not typically watch soccer or FIFA (maybe because Canada's doesn't have a competing team), however, I cannot miss out on the opportunity to go to a local pub and cheer on France in their game against Uruguay on June 11th. Viva France!
9. Visit one of the seven Medieval Wonders of the World DONE x2
Similarly, to item 16, I would like to visit all of these wonders one day. In the mean time I will go to the leaning tower of Pisa and/or the Colosseum.
8. Luck Be a Lady
While my next set of travel plans includes going to Las Vegas, I would like to visit a world-famous casino in Europe. Back in December 2008, I visited a number of casinos in Macao, including the world-famous Venetian. In Europe, the Monte Carlo casino is renouned and has been showcased in a number of James Bond films. Maybe I'll win the jackpot there.
7. See Some "Disruptive" Advertising
TBWA is my favourite advertising agency in the world, largely because they have an unconventional style of doing advertising for companies. TBWA has been known for their disruptive, boundary pushing advertisements. Auditoire, is their Paris office which I would like to visit. I wonder what the odds are of getting a tour?
Some of TBWA’s advertisements for Sony Playstation: http://www.coloribus.com/focus/playstation_print_ad_history/
Auditoire’s website: http://www.auditoire.fr/
6. Strut My Stuff at the Fashion Capitals of the World
The big four cities, New York, London, Milan and Paris have long been regarded as the fashion capitals of the world. So if I'm going to tour Europe, I want to do it with a bit of class and style by visiting London, Paris and Milan. As for New York, I have already stayed at the Mariott Marquis in Times Square twice for conferences in 2007 and 2008.
5. Recreate a Starry Night
My favourite artist of all time is post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. He created hundreds if not thousands of paintings that helped to define modern art. Of his paintings, my three favourites are (3) Starry Night over the Rhone (2) Starry Night and (1) Cafe Terrace at Night. All three of these paintings were inspired by the city of Arles, located in the south of France. In particular, the Cafe Terrace at Night was painted based on the Place du Forum which is where I would like to visit.
http://www.vincent-van-gogh-gallery.org/Cafe-Terrace-on-the-Place-du-Forum.jpg
4. Eiffel Tower the Eiffel Tower
This one’s fairly self explanatory, except that it will most likely be the G-rated version.
3. There's No Business Like Show Business
I would absolutely LOVE to see a London broadway musical. While I have been fortunate enough to see Wicked and Rent on Broadway, as well as a plethora of other musicals in my hometown (my most recent being the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), I cannot wait to see an outstanding London rendition of a classic musical.
2. Be like Coco Chanel
I idolize Gabrielle Chasnel (apparently her birth certificate spells her last name with an “s” because the person who wrote it was illiterate). Chanel came from nothing and was able to build herself an empire, exceptional brand image, and most importantly design the covenant little black dress that every women has in her wardrobe. Before Chanel's career came to fruition, she use to sit in the Bar Vendome lobby in a velvet chair and people watch for hours at a time.
http://www.ritzparis.com/jump_to.asp?id_target=1330&id_lang=2
1. When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do DONE
This is the all encompassing bucket list item. While on my euro-trip I do not want to miss out on any opportunities that may arise. Therefore, like in the Jim Carrey movie "Yes Man", I want to say 'yes' to as many things as possible.
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So this is my bucket list for the trip. I will try to document the achievements of as many of these as possible and keep you posted on what things still need to be done throughout the trip. As I formerly stated, if you have any items that you think I should add, please let me know!
Monday, April 26, 2010
One Week
Finally there is only one week before my group departs to Europe. You would think that we have packed, or would have taken the week off to start mentally preparing for our first Eurotrip, but sadly all four of us were not afforded the luxury of pre-time-off before our time-off. Myself, I am still working two jobs, one at the University of Victoria and one at a local restaurant downtown. My last shift is Sunday - we leave from Vancouver on Tuesday. One of my other travel mates is working a co-op term in Vancouver until this Friday, while the other has exams until mid-week. Finally, my roomate, has to work until Sunday as well.
Have we booked our hostels, no. Do we know what cities we're travelling to, not really. All we know is that we're starting in Athens, ending in Paris and this trip is going to be the highlight of our young adult lives. This trip is going to be a riot - literally and figuratively (weren't there just huge riots in Athens last week!?). We plan to eat the local foods, lie on white sandy beaches, and enjoy the local sights (be that of the alcoholic, educational, or male/female assortment, is up to you to guess). Most importantly, we want to have the MOST FUN possible.
John Steinbeck once stated that "a journey is like a marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." So we've decided to be laid back about planning the trip and hope that whatever we do and wherever we go, it will result in an amazing experience.
Using Steinbecks simile, I think that currently we're in the "dating" stage of our relationship. All of us are working or living in other cities, seeing each other once in awhile and planning our trip. We'll transition into the "marriage" once we arrive at the airport on Tuesday with our passports and tickets in hand, filled with all types of emotion and extremely excited for the adventure awaits us. This leads us into the "honeymoon" phase, in which we hang out on the plane and arrive at 3 a.m. in Athens. We'll all be excited, perhaps have a celebratory drink or ten and then call it a morning.
I am really hoping that our journey is like a marriage in that we all are amiable towards one another and our friendships remain longlasting. However, it is puerile to think that there will not be arguments or even separations. While time will tell whether or not our "marriage" will work out, I do know for certain that our marriage will not be built on traditional foundations such as monogamy. While my bucket list is of things "to do" on the trip, my travel mates have more of a bucket list of people "to do" on the trip. List(s) to come soon - we'll see who will be able to "hit" more things on their list.
Have we booked our hostels, no. Do we know what cities we're travelling to, not really. All we know is that we're starting in Athens, ending in Paris and this trip is going to be the highlight of our young adult lives. This trip is going to be a riot - literally and figuratively (weren't there just huge riots in Athens last week!?). We plan to eat the local foods, lie on white sandy beaches, and enjoy the local sights (be that of the alcoholic, educational, or male/female assortment, is up to you to guess). Most importantly, we want to have the MOST FUN possible.
John Steinbeck once stated that "a journey is like a marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." So we've decided to be laid back about planning the trip and hope that whatever we do and wherever we go, it will result in an amazing experience.
Using Steinbecks simile, I think that currently we're in the "dating" stage of our relationship. All of us are working or living in other cities, seeing each other once in awhile and planning our trip. We'll transition into the "marriage" once we arrive at the airport on Tuesday with our passports and tickets in hand, filled with all types of emotion and extremely excited for the adventure awaits us. This leads us into the "honeymoon" phase, in which we hang out on the plane and arrive at 3 a.m. in Athens. We'll all be excited, perhaps have a celebratory drink or ten and then call it a morning.
I am really hoping that our journey is like a marriage in that we all are amiable towards one another and our friendships remain longlasting. However, it is puerile to think that there will not be arguments or even separations. While time will tell whether or not our "marriage" will work out, I do know for certain that our marriage will not be built on traditional foundations such as monogamy. While my bucket list is of things "to do" on the trip, my travel mates have more of a bucket list of people "to do" on the trip. List(s) to come soon - we'll see who will be able to "hit" more things on their list.
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