Lost in Europe

Getting There @ Paris, France

2008-06-11T00:00:13.000Z

Like any great experience it is always born of desire. And so we were ready to leave for Europe after months of planning and talking about it.

So let me introduce the major players:

Eddie: Brother number two; a proud graduate of Civil Engineering from the University of Windsor; entering Masters of Architecture in Fall 2008; took leave from work to go on trip

Mila: Friend from High School; moved to Windsor in 2002; my biotechnology lab partner in University; applying to Pharmacy; took time off work to travel

Me (Tony, Antoine in France): Child number three and link between Eddie and Mila; graduated from Biochemistry at UoW in 2007; unemployed and loving it; took year off to travel and moving into second year of "sabbatical"

Lindsay: Supporting role; drove us to Toronto Pearson; provided great music for the road; also unemployed and had the day free to drive us - Thanks Linds!

One the Road...
First off, we were slowed down by the longest funeral line, and traffic was piling everyone. Then when we got to highway 3 we were stopped by the OPP because they were trailing an oversized load down the highway, a windmill to be precise. Finally, once on the 401 heading to TO, who do we see driving next to us?... my brother in law! Anyways, it was a great way to start the trip.

Lost in Europe @ Paris, France

2008-06-12T09:40:57.000Z

Paris is a city to get lost in (whether you try to or not), and Europe is a continent to discover. Fitingly, I have titled this tracker "Lost in Europe" because that is the best way to discover this amazing place, and Paris is the best place to start.

Canada's Own @ Vimy, France

2008-06-15T10:00:58.000Z

Europe, the place where history was born. Unfortunately, this history comes from countless wars. It was an honour to stand at Vimy to honour those Canadians who fought in one of the greatest battles of WWI.

It was a sombre day, one I will never forget.

The Trumpets Blare @ Ypres, Belgium

2008-06-15T18:30:35.000Z

After spending the morning in Vimy, we left for Ypres that afternoon to continue our tour of WWI battle sights. Ypres was stunning, amazing, and sad.

We attended the Menin Gate ceremony, which occurs EVERY day at 8pm to honour the Commonwealth soldiers who died in WWI fighting in the Ypres-Salient.

The next day we took a bike ride through Flander's Field, and to Passchendale. The museum there was possibly the best war museum I have seen (after the one in Ottawa).

Centre of Europe @ Brussels, Belgium

2008-06-16T19:00:05.000Z

We left the friendly Belgium country side for the centre of the European Union... Brussels.

All I remember doing in this city was eating, drinking, and eating some more.

Greytops @ Brugge (Bruges), Belgium

2008-06-18T10:00:51.000Z

Three million people visit this small town every year, and I swear 90% of them must be grandparents. But who cares, we had a huge bowl of pasta for 3 EUR, and the pasteries were great.

Diamond Centre @ Antwerp, Belgium

2008-06-18T16:00:24.000Z

Of course I had to make one more Belgium stop to stuff my face before leaving to the Netherlands.

Antwerp sees more than 80% of the world's diamonds pass through there. It's a beautiful city that warented more time than I gave it.

XXX @ Amsterdam, Netherlands

2008-06-18T21:00:03.000Z

XXX was a symbol used by illiterate sailors to notate cargo bound to/from A'dam, it is NOT a pornographic symbol.

This city rocks! I loved every moment of it.

Crossing the Rhine @ Cologne, Germany

2008-06-22T21:30:02.000Z

Surprisingly our train was running over an hour late in Germany, truly a shocker if anyone knows anything about Germany.

None the less, this city is beautiful. It was decimated during the second war, and very few original buildings still exist; the Koln Cathedral is one of them and it contains the reminents of the Three Wise Men.

"Ich bin ein Berliner" @ Berlin, Germany

2008-06-23T20:00:57.000Z

There was East Berlin and West Berlin, now there is just ONE Berlin.

I love this place, like I knew I would. This city is full of living history and things to discover, and it is massive.

The striking thing about Berlin is that this city shows it's past unlike any other European city. Every turn provides a reminder of the dark history that has shaped this country and the world - WWII, the Nazis, the holocaust, and the Cold War - it is impossible not to see it and feel it everywhere. Naturally, Berlin has become a very cutting edge city, with a distinctive image that cannot be found anywhere else.

Iberian Journey @ Madrid, Spain

2008-06-27T13:30:40.000Z

As the first portion of the trip ended, our next "leg" of the trip began with our arrival in Madrid. This transition was clearly marked by the mountains we saw from our flight into Madrid, but was punctuated by the weather. We left Berlin at 22C and arrived in Spain at 37C! Palm trees, heat, sun... I am so excited for this part of the trip.

Beach Bum Backpackers @ La Manga (Manga del Mar Menor), Spain

2008-06-28T15:00:33.000Z

Without a flinch, the next day we set out for the beach. Mediterranean warmth is in my blood. We stayed in a beach community called La Manga ("The Sleeve") which has two beachs: one is the Med, and the other is a salt water lake. This place was formed in a volcanic anamoly. Either way, it has become a primary destination for beach goers.

These relaxing days turning into quite the exciting time, as is expected in Spain. We attended a concert, jumped off cliffs, and witnessed Spain win Euro2008.

Happy Granada Day @ Granada, Spain

2008-07-01T16:00:36.000Z

What better way to spend Canada day than in one of the hottest places in Spain - its actually the anti-Canadian place because of the climate, but at least the name sounds close.

Granada was the last Arab stronghold on the European continent. After the Moors were kicked out, the sultan´s mother said to him,¨"you weep like a woman for what you could not do as a man". Harsh mom eh.

Coincidently, there were several Canadians staying at our hostel in Granada. But they were all from Quebec, so they were not that excited about our holiday back home. Funny situation though, an Austrian guy was making fun of the Quebec people because they live in an English speaking country and can´t even speak English. When he asked them why, they did not know how to answer. I think they were upset that we did not rise to defend them, because they stopped talking to us afterwards.

Frying Pan @ Seville, Spain

2008-07-02T16:30:16.000Z

We arrived in Seville late in the afternoon and the temp was still at 42C. Seville is called the frying pan of Spain, because temperatures can reach incredible highs here. Of course I loved the weather.

Word to the wise, bring a map BEFORE you arrive in Seville, and dont drive. I guess the Spanish decided to keep using the Medievil method of planning streets and cities because this is the worse city to navigate.

Either way, this city has some spectacular architecture.

MAD @ Madrid, Spain

2008-07-04T02:33:46.000Z

So we´re back in Madrid for the weekend, and wow do the Spanish know how to party. They dont eat dinner until 10pm, and they dont head to the clubs until 3am, when they finish there night once the subways start running again after 6am. I think I need to move to this noctornal country, its my kind of place.

Other than late night partying, Madrid is full of world class museums and art institutes. I finally saw Picasso´s Guernica. I also attened one of the biggest street parties I have ever seen; people were literally backed up into the subway system because they had no where else to go.

Siestas Can Suck @ Burgos, Spain

2008-07-07T15:00:15.000Z

On our way from Madrid to San Sebastian we stopped in the beautiful city of Burgos. Now dont get me wrong, I love the Spanish idea of the siesta, but wow, it really does shut down a place. I guess we were lucky that we found somewhere to eat and get some ice cream.

Atlantic Wonder @ San Sebastian, Spain

2008-07-07T17:00:06.000Z

We are staying in San Sebastian during the San Fermin Festival, which takes place an hour away in Pamplona.

This city is remarkably beautiful, with long streches of beach on the bay, perfectly kept parks, and countless restaurants.

I spent my days recovering from partying in Pamplona on the beach. Hard life, I know.

El Enciero @ Pamplona, Spain

2008-07-08T03:00:06.000Z

After dinner in San Sebastian we headed to Pamplona at the early hours of the morning (i.e 1am). We partied alllll night, then lined up to watch the bull run. One word to describe this festival: insane. Following the craziness of the morning, we took a short nap and drove back to San Sebastian so we could recover to do it all over again.

The next day in Pamplona was even crazier, I seriously dont know where all these people came from or how they fit in this city, but it is incredible. So to honour the patron saint, San Fermin, I was obliged to run with the bulls. Who needs drugs when you can be chased by 10 angry bulls and 10,000 drunk men?

Roundabout to France @ Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France

2008-07-10T11:30:29.000Z

I love Europe for the fact that everything is so close. We literally woke up this morning and decided to go for hot chocolate, crepes, and croissants in France.

So from San Sebastian we drove across the border to France. Coming from Windsor you would think we are accustomed to the proximity of two countries, but this was amazing to us. Literally the border crossing was a roundabout... thats it.

Ages Pass @ Santillana del Mar, Spain

2008-07-10T19:15:17.000Z

This beautiful 9th century place used to be a profitable cow hearding village, which was owned by families for as long as it has existed. However, with the introduction of the European Union, tight regulations on national industries has essentially shut down this village´s cow farms since it was ruled that France should control much of Europe´s milk production. Such is globalization.

A City by the Sea @ Santander, Spain

2008-07-11T11:00:38.000Z

This beautiful Spanish port city is a featured stop for many traveler's pilgrimage for the "Way of Saint James" on their way to Santiago de Compostela. It is a pilgrimage I promised myself, and Mila's aunt, that I would take in my life.

Anyways, Tia Thelma showed us a great time in the city. I tried a tapas that consisted of octopus cooked in white rice stained in its own black ink - delicious. But even better was the mounds of ice cream we ate on our way to the car. As Tia Thelma said, "there is always an answer to the why;" when I asked why it was so good in Santander, her reply, "it's a dairy producing region." (See previous post).

Would You Rather? @ Madrid, Spain

2008-07-11T19:00:52.000Z

Back to Madrid just Mila and I. The drive there was spectacular, and we bought fresh melons on the way. We also played this game I call, "Would You Rather?" It helped the time go by, but it made Mila squirm in her seat from having to decide on an answer... committ-o-phobe.

Madrid was the last time I saw Mila for a few weeks; I was on my own for a bit afterwards.

Things didn't start out the way I hoped with my trains, which meant I was stuck in Madrid for the night (life is tough as a backpacker). But I sucked it up and consoled my sorrows with a night of partying until 7:30am.

Gaudi's Playground @ Barcelona, Spain

2008-07-12T16:00:37.000Z

Barcelona seems to be overtaken by Gaudi's architecture and those influenced by him. You either love it or hate it - I love it, and I grew to like it even more when seeing it in person.

Barcelona definitely has a different feel from the rest of Spain. They speak a different dialect, food preferences, street layouts, architecture, it's all distinctive. As cosmopolitan as they are, Catalonians don't recognize themselves as Spanish; they're replacing their bull fighting ring with an office tower.

Called to Port @ Civitavecchia, Italy

2008-07-16T15:00:35.000Z

What better way to get to Italy (last minute decision, sorta) then to take a cruise ship across the Mediterranean. It was an overnight cruise, which afforded a beautiful sunset, a more spectacular sunrise, and a clear demarcation of the third leg of this trip..

I arrived in the modern port city of Civitavecchia along with the group of backpackers I met on board. We hurried through the small town to catch our train to Rome. FYI, if you want the biggest watermelons go to this city, they're the size of a fat toddler.

The Eternal Empire @ Rome, Italy

2008-07-16T17:30:40.000Z

I was sitting on the left hand side of the train to Rome from Civitavecchia, peering down at the book I was trailing with me, when I looked up I saw the monumental dome of St. Peter's Basilica rising in the distance. Needless to say, I was utterly struck by it's beauty, especially because I didn't think Rome was so close.

This city is dramatic in all senses. It is an eternal city that has not shown its age, but definitely attests to its immortal history.

A lifetime in Rome would not be enough.

Hello Papi Roma
07/17/2008 08:30 AM

There's several things I aimed to cross off my proverbial list of things to do before I die, and seeing the Vatican was one of them.

I showed up here first thing in the morning, nearly spent the entire day at the Vatican museums, witnessed a Latin mass in St. Peter's Basilica, and then got asked to leave when they were closing.

OH, and because you are not allowed to eat in the Museum or Basilica, and I didn't want to waste time, I ate in the bathroom... pathetic, I know, but at least I saw the Vatican.

Chemical Bros. @ Livorno (Leghorn), Italy

2008-07-19T11:00:13.000Z

After one hour of sleep the night before (great party scene in Rome by the way) I was on the train heading towards this beautiful beach town to watch the Chemical Brothers concert I was invited to by a bunch of kick ass Italians I met.

I caught up on some sleep on the beach, watched some of the opening acts, then rocked it out to the Chemical Brothers.

My night ended by passing out beneath the expansive Italian skies (i.e. fell asleep in a park with the group)

Art Affectionate @ Florence, Italy

2008-07-20T13:00:10.000Z

Florence is one of those cities that seeps history with every turn of the eye. However, the history in Florence goes beyond typical history. Here it is art history, which we all know is much more complex.

After coming to Florence it became apparent how the humanist ideology of the Renaissance affected this city. Rome was a city built for an eternal empire, for grandeur, and for splendor. Florence, on the other hand, was a city for the individual, for human progress, and for beauty.

Fat Boy Wien @ Wien, Austria

2008-07-22T09:00:27.000Z

Wien is possibly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Honestly. The Habsburgs were incredible at building and designing palaces, and by the end of their rule the Habsburg palace occupied over 1/4 of the entire city. So just imagine a city dominated by royal palaces. Now imagine all the cathedrals, opera houses, shops, and parks they also built for themselves. Add to that the residences built by those associated to the Habsburgs and you have yourself Vienna!

For me Vienna also meant sampling all the different types of sausages, apfelstrudels, and 9 different flavors of fresh made ice cream. Oh ya, and lots of history and art here... blah blah blah... food!

The New Central Europe @ Praha (Prague), Czech Republic

2008-07-23T13:00:31.000Z

Bohemia!

Strolling down the medieval streets of Prague means watching artists wave their brushes frantically over a fresh canvas, hearing musicians strike their violins to the likes of Mozart and Beethoven, clapping for the street performer who performed a scene from his own tragedy.

Besides its architectural and artistic allure, Prague offers a sombre look into its former Communist past as it once a member of the former USSR. Communism feel here rather quickly in one of Europe's most peaceful demonstrations, and now we are left with 50 cent beers. Hurray.

The Real Centre @ Munchen (Munich), Germany

2008-07-26T15:30:45.000Z

In my opinion Munich is the true centre of Europe.

Not only is it located so close to so many cities in Europe (no more than 6hr train ride to some amazing cities, i.e Paris, Florence, Milan, Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels...) but also because they have an amazing contribution to art, science, history, and of course food and beer.

So a quick bit on a bit of history, a history BITE, if you will. Catholic Bavaria was once a separate kingdom from the rest of Protestant Germany. It was ruled by lavish kings who built outrageous castles and held massive parties (the origins of Oktoberfest). They were the only region in West Germany to decline the constitution in 1949. Even today Bavaria holds a separate and distinct identity from the rest of Germany, and even has their own branch of the Red Cross.

Dachau Concentration Camp @ Dachau concentration camp, Germany

2008-07-27T11:30:43.000Z

Dachau was the first concentration camp set up by the Nazi party in 1933, the year the Nazis came to power. Here political prisoners and opponents of the Nazi party were worked to death, or sent to Auschwitz to meet the same fate.

This is the unfortunate, but ever present history of Germany.

8pm Meeting @ Herrsching am Ammersee, Germany

2008-07-27T18:30:51.000Z

There is this one of a kind monastery nestled in the rolling hills of the Bavarian country site which can be reached by an hour hike. The hike was worth it, but so was the beer brewed by the monks for the past 500 years. Basically, you can't get this beer anywhere else except here, so we had to make it there before the beer garden closed at 8pm.

Ludwig the Crazy @ Füssen, Germany

2008-07-28T11:00:10.000Z

Neuschwanstein Castle is strikingly beautiful in its own rite, but King Ludwig II commissioned the work under the most outrageous pretenses. He built it for his friend, who was a muse in his court, in a place that he thought was holy and unapproachable. According to Ludwig's mother, he loved dressing up as a nun, and enjoyed acting. That's when I started to wonder about this guy and his secluded castle he built for his friend. Ludwig built it to resemble a fantasy castle - no wonder Disney used it to model Sleeping Beauty's castle.

In the end it was a gorgeous hike to the castle, a delicious picnic in the Alps, a refreshing swim in the nearby lake, and a pleasant hike into Austria.

The Much Disputed @ Strasbourg, France

2008-07-29T04:09:36.000Z

Immediately upon crossing the famous Rhine in Germany I knew I would be minutes from Strasbourg, France. This city has been handled back and forth between France and Germany over the century. It has been the centre of many wars in Europe, and even caused the French to miscalculate their attack plan against the Germans in WWI.

To Where It All Started @ Paris, France

2008-07-29T19:30:10.000Z

I definitely had mixed feelings about returning to Paris. I love this city, and I was excited about seeing it again, but it also meant the end of my European tour... sigh. All good things come to an end, as the cliche goes. Even though Paris was the end of EU tour, it was where Eddie and I took our flight to Beirut, Lebanon to continue our travels albeit without the backpacks.

We spent our last night here strolling along the pristine Parisian avenues. One last chance to soak in the indescribable splendor of the City of Lights.

Family Time @ Beirut, Lebanon

2008-07-30T15:30:09.000Z

And so began the final, distinctive part of our trip.

Despite the political turmoil and tension that constantly persuades this country, Lebanon is spectacular. Visiting the family was great too, especially when we were here for my cousin's wedding. Although we dropped the backpacks for a bit, we still did a lot of touring and sight seeing, and yes, more history and eating.

One Last Bite @ Frankfurt, Germany

2008-08-14T13:00:42.000Z

With our Canadian passports in hand there was no way Eddie and I were going to waste a four hour layover waiting in the Frankfurt airport. So we skipped the line of visa-yearning foreigners, donned our rail passes, and made one last trip into one more European city. We just couldn't help it.

Of course we took in the sights, sounds, some bits of history, and of course, FOOD!

I guess that was it.

Goodbye Europe.