I have read more books in the past four months than I have in the past ten years. I feel bad that this ancient and very common practice of reading other peoples thoughts is so new to me. O, the time I have wasted. I guess I have always preferred hearing things first hand. O man my buddy Rob B... that guy can tell a story. He is well read, maybe ten thousand books under his belt. That's probably being modest. I stay in touch with litature because of Rob. He seems to always be up to date with books. When the "new book" come up with others in conversation I quickly quiet down and listen to Rob, later bugging him about all the details of the book. Rob is always pleased to give me the plot summary, among with all the important metaphors and similes ,
leaving me with just enough to hold a conversation. In our circle of friends we call it getting the Rob notes. I'm not sure others rely on this gift of his to the point that I do, because they actually read a little. Me...? Non at all. I remember at times rushing him, begging for what's happening in Pallunuks new book and asking questions that might even spoil the ending just so I could have better conversation with others that I wanted to seem important to. Always without hesitation, Rob obliged. Even if it made the book no more enjoyable because of my babbling, he always took the time to talk to me about the fantasy he was in. Rob is my best friend. For so many more reasons than even that.
With that said, I have enjoyed the books I have read lately. I love the buzz I get upon finishing a book. I feel as if taking the time to meet new people and investing in their interests makes me a better friend. Silly... I know. For they are only stories.
Tell me more about books...
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Much Needed Update
This is a few entries combined into one. If you have any questions please ask. I also check the blog daily and I enjoy the comments you leave so please leave more. __________________
Living in Spain has been so nice. It feels good to be back on the main land. I am sorry for not updating the blog or answering any emails. So I guess this is the update. La Palma, although not paradise, was very beautiful and it challenged Zoey and I in ways we weren't ready for. The flight off the island was good. We landed in Madrid around 11:30 pm and then got to a hostel around 1 am. We had a bus to catch at 8 am the next day so we only slept for about four hours. The bus took us to Malaga where we were to wwoof. For the last week or so, we have been staying in Cutar Spain on a farm that had a mango plantation. The farm also had lemons, avocados, almonds, grapes, asian pears, squash, and weeds. The whole trip was kinda miss leading because we were told that the help needed would be picking mangos, but it turned out we just weeded for a week. One day we did get to harvest lemons, but still we weeded in the evening.
The day was usually waking up around 8 am and out the door by 8:30. We were picked up and driven by Poli, the man who owns the farm, to where ever he needed us for the day. We would work for a few hours in the morning take an hour break for breakfast, then two hours more of work, then lunch. Lunch was held at the Poli's house, and was prepared by Jeanette, his wife and a female wwoofer named Anie from Germany. After lunch we sat around the house for four hours then went back to work for just two more. We weren't really fans of the structure of the day, but couldn't change anything. It made the day long. We were out of the house for 12 hours, with only 6 hours of work to do. I would have rather started the day earlier, and worked straight through.
We lived in a house that was on the other side of town from the main house with two other wwoofers. Andy and Simon are both musicians from Austria, and made for great roommates. They have a band and are trying to cut a real album, but until then check them out on myspace under Kus Kus.
The village of Cutar was really nice. Just what I imagined an old Spanish village to be. The locals were friendly and views were amazing.
We had an all right time wwoofing there, we just had one problem. Jeanette was a bitch. There was always something that would set her off and someone would be in trouble. So we decided to leave about five days early. She wasn't happy about this but that's the good thing about wwoofing, no contracts.
We headed off to Granada, about three hours south. Zoey found this great hostel call Mochi guest house that we stayed at for about a week. The staff was a family that was half Spanish and half Japaneese. This made for very cute children. The hostel held 32 people and was booked full every night we were there. We meet some really cool travelers and got to exchange stories about culture, problems, and dreams.
We finally got to see Leonard Cohen while in Granada. The show was good. He played for three hours with a small intermission. The venue he played at was an old bull ring turned into a stage. We sat on concrete stairs, but the venue was small and very intimate.
Leaving Granada was kind of a mess do to our forgetting to eat all day. We arrived to a very small airport expecting to take a flight to Madrid. We had booked some low cost airfare with Ryanair to Madrid then another ticket from Madrid to Paris. Our plane stayed on the ground five hours longer than we needed it to. Because of this delay, we lost our connecting flight with Easyjet.
In the Granada airport there was no where to buy cigarettes, and with being stuck there I was getting grouchy to say the least. I had bummed cigarettes from a few people including this nice woman named Olga. Zoey and her ended up hitting it off well, drinking wine together all night while I chatted up a couple from Dallas. The plane finally left and it was late when we landed. So Olga ofered for us to sleep at her house. This was so perfect, we were in no condition to find a hotel at 2 am.
The next day we went back to complain at the airport, but got nothing. That's what you get when you use cheap airlines.
On Thursday night around 7 pm we got on a train that took us away from the Spain we have come to love. We had a nice setup on the train, just us two in a four person sleeper car. The dining car was only a few cars back, and the snack car was even closer. Tickets weren't too much, so that was good and I was able to get some good sleep.
We arrived Friday morning in Paris around 8 am. I found us a guy who would let us sleep on his couch for a couple nights on couchsurfing.org named Anthony. When we arrived he was at work, so we put our bags in a locker and headed out.
With no guide and no agenda, the day could be whatever we made of it. We headed toward the main river that splits the city and followed it South. First amazing thing we saw was Notre Dame. Very breath taking. It is amazing that it is still so beautiful and so old. We have buildings falling apart so fast in Denver and there not even 50 years old. During our walk we saw the Arc de Triomph and of course the Eiffel Tower.
We finally met up with Anthony around 8 pm and he took us out to show us the non tourist side of Paris. He took us to a restaurant that was beautiful but expensive.
Living in Spain has been so nice. It feels good to be back on the main land. I am sorry for not updating the blog or answering any emails. So I guess this is the update. La Palma, although not paradise, was very beautiful and it challenged Zoey and I in ways we weren't ready for. The flight off the island was good. We landed in Madrid around 11:30 pm and then got to a hostel around 1 am. We had a bus to catch at 8 am the next day so we only slept for about four hours. The bus took us to Malaga where we were to wwoof. For the last week or so, we have been staying in Cutar Spain on a farm that had a mango plantation. The farm also had lemons, avocados, almonds, grapes, asian pears, squash, and weeds. The whole trip was kinda miss leading because we were told that the help needed would be picking mangos, but it turned out we just weeded for a week. One day we did get to harvest lemons, but still we weeded in the evening.
The day was usually waking up around 8 am and out the door by 8:30. We were picked up and driven by Poli, the man who owns the farm, to where ever he needed us for the day. We would work for a few hours in the morning take an hour break for breakfast, then two hours more of work, then lunch. Lunch was held at the Poli's house, and was prepared by Jeanette, his wife and a female wwoofer named Anie from Germany. After lunch we sat around the house for four hours then went back to work for just two more. We weren't really fans of the structure of the day, but couldn't change anything. It made the day long. We were out of the house for 12 hours, with only 6 hours of work to do. I would have rather started the day earlier, and worked straight through.
We lived in a house that was on the other side of town from the main house with two other wwoofers. Andy and Simon are both musicians from Austria, and made for great roommates. They have a band and are trying to cut a real album, but until then check them out on myspace under Kus Kus.
The village of Cutar was really nice. Just what I imagined an old Spanish village to be. The locals were friendly and views were amazing.
We had an all right time wwoofing there, we just had one problem. Jeanette was a bitch. There was always something that would set her off and someone would be in trouble. So we decided to leave about five days early. She wasn't happy about this but that's the good thing about wwoofing, no contracts.
We headed off to Granada, about three hours south. Zoey found this great hostel call Mochi guest house that we stayed at for about a week. The staff was a family that was half Spanish and half Japaneese. This made for very cute children. The hostel held 32 people and was booked full every night we were there. We meet some really cool travelers and got to exchange stories about culture, problems, and dreams.
We finally got to see Leonard Cohen while in Granada. The show was good. He played for three hours with a small intermission. The venue he played at was an old bull ring turned into a stage. We sat on concrete stairs, but the venue was small and very intimate.
Leaving Granada was kind of a mess do to our forgetting to eat all day. We arrived to a very small airport expecting to take a flight to Madrid. We had booked some low cost airfare with Ryanair to Madrid then another ticket from Madrid to Paris. Our plane stayed on the ground five hours longer than we needed it to. Because of this delay, we lost our connecting flight with Easyjet.
In the Granada airport there was no where to buy cigarettes, and with being stuck there I was getting grouchy to say the least. I had bummed cigarettes from a few people including this nice woman named Olga. Zoey and her ended up hitting it off well, drinking wine together all night while I chatted up a couple from Dallas. The plane finally left and it was late when we landed. So Olga ofered for us to sleep at her house. This was so perfect, we were in no condition to find a hotel at 2 am.
The next day we went back to complain at the airport, but got nothing. That's what you get when you use cheap airlines.
On Thursday night around 7 pm we got on a train that took us away from the Spain we have come to love. We had a nice setup on the train, just us two in a four person sleeper car. The dining car was only a few cars back, and the snack car was even closer. Tickets weren't too much, so that was good and I was able to get some good sleep.
We arrived Friday morning in Paris around 8 am. I found us a guy who would let us sleep on his couch for a couple nights on couchsurfing.org named Anthony. When we arrived he was at work, so we put our bags in a locker and headed out.
With no guide and no agenda, the day could be whatever we made of it. We headed toward the main river that splits the city and followed it South. First amazing thing we saw was Notre Dame. Very breath taking. It is amazing that it is still so beautiful and so old. We have buildings falling apart so fast in Denver and there not even 50 years old. During our walk we saw the Arc de Triomph and of course the Eiffel Tower.
We finally met up with Anthony around 8 pm and he took us out to show us the non tourist side of Paris. He took us to a restaurant that was beautiful but expensive.
Long overdue update part dux
We had one drink, and my beer was 11 euros, about $16. When he asked us where else we wanted to go I said I didn't care as long as the beer was cheaper. He agreed that it was a little expensive but not bad for Paris. I told him that this one beer is about and hour and a half of work for me at my last job. That put things into perspective for him. He laughed and took us too a couple other bars where the drinks were only 8 euros, $12.
We stayed with him friday Saturday and sunday. That's all we could afford. Paris is the most expensive city we have seen thus far. More than New York. We did get to go to the Louvre and that was amazing. I remember looking through my Dads art books seeing old paintings and those images have always stayed with me. Then in high school learning more about art, I learned about the artists and where they were from ect. To actually see some the art I had only seen in books blew me away. The size of so many paintings were so massive it made e wonder how they even got them there. The sculptures were fantastic. I saw the Venus de Milo from Michelangelo, she still has no arms. The only down side of the museum was everything was in French, so I got zero information about what I saw. Non the less very cool.
I am currently on a train to La Grave writting this. It is a TGV. Average speed 200 mph. So fast. We are off to meet yet another stranger named Colin. Colin was friends with Liz before she passed away, who is Zoeys Aunt. Yeah! For adventures.
Please ask any questions, I'm sure I forgot some things.
We stayed with him friday Saturday and sunday. That's all we could afford. Paris is the most expensive city we have seen thus far. More than New York. We did get to go to the Louvre and that was amazing. I remember looking through my Dads art books seeing old paintings and those images have always stayed with me. Then in high school learning more about art, I learned about the artists and where they were from ect. To actually see some the art I had only seen in books blew me away. The size of so many paintings were so massive it made e wonder how they even got them there. The sculptures were fantastic. I saw the Venus de Milo from Michelangelo, she still has no arms. The only down side of the museum was everything was in French, so I got zero information about what I saw. Non the less very cool.
I am currently on a train to La Grave writting this. It is a TGV. Average speed 200 mph. So fast. We are off to meet yet another stranger named Colin. Colin was friends with Liz before she passed away, who is Zoeys Aunt. Yeah! For adventures.
Please ask any questions, I'm sure I forgot some things.
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