Day 18 in Europe (Madrid to Berlin)

Sad day for me. Madrid has been great and I really don't want to leave! The city even turned up the heat today to a cool 39 degrees by the time I hopped on the plane.

Not much to say about the total travel time of 11 hours including flight delays etc. Also my German U-barn map seemed a bit off so it did add some traveling time.

The part of me that became Madrileños wanted to have dinner at midnight so I obliged. Found a place that sold 'pommes frites, scampi, mayonnaise, and 23 Karat Goldstaub'. Had no idea what that was until it came; gold flakes! I found it rather neat.

The other fun thing I found out is that people will happily walk around with bottles of beer in hand. I tried it myself and I felt like I was an alcoholic. But still, pretty cool huh?

Day 17 in Europe (Madrid)

Panic stations! Having originally thought that there wasn't much to do in Madrid I've somehow left two art museums and a rather large park to visit today.

The Centro Arte Reina Sofia may focus on contemporary art, but its collection is certainly no pushover. Took me a good three hours to cover a couple of floors. The keystone piece is probably Picasso's Guernica, one of his most famous. But beyond that there was a lot of depth and range in 20th century art, more than I had thought was possible in one museum.

Had to drag myself away from the Reina Sofia without fully exploring all the pieces due to the fact that I really wanted to visit the Prado as well. So with lunch and a single tinto in my stomach I headed onwards to the last of the three great museums.

I probably didn't enjoy the Prado as much as I could've. One thing I've learned about my taste in art is that moving back in time is hard.

Anyway by the afternoon I was all museum'd out and it was time for me to step into the searing heat of the Madrid summer. I explored the huge block of green on my map called the Parque del Retiro, and it didn't disappoint IRL. Beautiful long paths through what is essentially a forest led to intersections with pretty fountains. An awesome way to spend an afternoon really.

I did run into a bunch of shirtless guys working out and chatting. I think it may have been a cruising spot but I didn't stay long enough to find out!

The night was rather sad as I had to pack, but luckily I found a Spanish boy from Mallorca to cheer me up!

Day 16 in Europe (Madrid)

I thought it was a good idea to sleep with the fan off for a night as it wasn't very hot. Unfortunately I didn't realize that the soft droning sound of the fan masked a viciously snoring person in the room adjacent to mine. In any case I woke up feeling drained and thinking oh no it's 'one of those days'.

Actually the day started off with a small win. I managed to have desayuno (breakfast) without saying a word of English. Granted there wasn't exactly a conversation but still...

Today was meant to be museum day. I was gonna do three art galleries. The first was Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and just wow. If you ever need a high quality crash-course through the history of European and Euro-American art then this is it. From a beautiful 15th century diptych by Jan van Eyck to 17th century Dutch realism to Monet to Van Gogh to Picasso, there was something nice in every room. My favourite being this piece by Gustave Courbet. The only downside was not being allowed to take any photos at all so other than telling stories here I have nothing to show for it.

A little hiccup during the visit was when there was a super cute Spanish museum-staff guy distracting me from the art in one of the rooms. My conscience kept pestering me with 'grrrrrrr concentrate on this art dammit'. I caught him looking at me many times while I was checking him out but didn't end up finding out what that was all about. Story may be worthy of /sadface but who knows.

By the time I was done with the Thyssen it was almost 16h00, perfect timing for lunch in Spain! At this point I was really feeling the lack of sleep so I gave up on the other two museums and headed home. On the way I stopped by for some jamon and huevos fritos and tinto de verano. Ok a couple of tips for future travelers; 1, jamon is theoretically delicious but if like me you don't like meat, then don't try it; and 2, many glasses of tinto de verano can be pretty lethal when it's a hot summer day and you're dehydrated!

So by the time I went for my siesta I was quite happy. :) :)

Have to cut this short, way too long already! In the evening I was on the internet, sitting under the air conditioner at my hotel lounge when I started chatting to a nice fella and we hooked up (yeah yeah too much info, but this is my trip diary too). At night 22h00 I went out for a dinner of paella and a copa of cuerveza.

I'm glad I dragged myself out of bed because I had one of the best days of my trip so far. Maybe not THE best but it would be close! (Dammit museum guy you ruined my perfect day!)

Day 15 in Europe (Madrid)

What better way to feel better than doing a bit of retail therapy. I'm not a shopper but with all the 'rebajas' signs around I can't really help it can I?

Wandered aimlessly for a while. Outside of the very centre of Madrid the city isn't catered towards tourists,  and there are thousands of streets to wander. I went up to the heart of Malasaña barrio and then back down to Chueca in my search for something to buy.

I eventually walked past a store I liked the look of, and bought five items of clothing. The number is relevant because I think I bought five items of clothing in the whole of last year haha.

Had a delicious sushi dinner at a restaurant with waitstaff that were Chinese. Had a half-decent conversation in Cantonese with one of the waitresses where she exclaimed that I had a very thick accent (obviously I know this already!).

Dinner was followed by another totally random incident where a Chinese kid asked me for directions, and after a lot of effort we discovered that he only speaks Mandarin and Spanish only, whereas I only speak Cantonese and English. Awkward. I showed him my map and he nodded and thanked me before walking off. I have no idea if I was of any use but it sure was funny.

Day 14 in Europe (Madrid)

It's 25 July and I'm halfway through my trip. It's been one hell of a ride and there's still two weeks to go!

Met up with another friend today from good old Club Mac (-quarie University). Despite having to pack for his own trip the next day, he was kind enough to take me on a tour around central Madrid.

My mate was really awesome at playing tour guide so I really got to enjoy myself for the afternoon, no worrying about where to go and what to say. We had some nice pintchos with a caña for lunch, walked everywhere, then relaxed with a tinto de verano. Two types of alcohol and it wasn't even 16h - the Spanish sure know how to have a great time!

After we parted ways I had a siesta, then I went down to the Temple de Debod where there was a great view of the Palacio Real in the dusk. I couldn't get the best pictures so I walked all the way downhill to Príncipe Pío station, but many trees do not a great picture make. By this time it was 22h30 so I stopped by Maccas on the way home.

Just a comment here - it's always so damn embarrassing when you can't even order a Filet-o-Fish meal properly. I can get my words out fine, but as soon as they ask me a question it turns to shit. I have no idea if they're asking what size meal, or if I'm eating in or taking out, and so I just nod like some idiot hoping that it works out well. The serving chick realizes quickly that it's hopeless to say anything further and just proceeds with the order, and I grab my food and run back to my hotel room in tears.

Ok not in tears but I did download a Spanish training audio track and listened to it for an hour or so. On the one hand I really did have an awesome day but on the other my confidence has been crushed beyond repair...

Day 13 in Europe (London to Madrid)

A lot of work this morning for a 2 hr flight; the whole trip took 8 hrs with added time from London tube and Madrid metro, Gatwick express, and most of all a massive take-off delay. Apparently budget airlines in Europe suffer from the same problems as those in Australia!

Anyway I took a nap then went wandering round town. Madrid is amazing! Not nearly as rich and pretentious as Paris or London, but there's a lot of shopping and nightlife is  great. It's a huge pity I don't know enough Spanish to hold a conversation or even say, pick up a guy, because if there was a place to let go of yourself it'd be here. :)

Had dinner for €13 which included three courses and a carafe of wine. My choice for the three courses were goat's cheese salad (delicious) mushroom and potatoes with scrambled eggs, and ice-cream/frozen yoghurt, all with vino tinto.

What a way to end the day! (Actually apparently this is when the Madrileños start going out but I need to catch up on sleep after waking up so early!

Day 12 in Europe (London)

Ok short one today, as I spent most of the morning online then sleeping and most of the afternoon sleeping then packing.

I visited the National Gallery today, and their collection is very impressive! Particularly liked their Cézanne pieces, though there's a good number of big names there too, like Van Gogh, Seurat, Pissarro, and Corot. I'm really not a fan of art nor a student of art history but I think everyone should learn a little and at least be able to appreciate art.

The evening was capped off by Avenue Q, whic I had previously seen but enjoyed so much that I was very happy to see it again. The videos were different as was the set but otherwise the essence of the show as the same as the Sydney production, and the show still wasn't terribly well balanced between the first and second halves (first is way better). Nevertheless this is one show all adults should see. Loved it!

Day 11 in Europe (London)

I suppose London does have a few sights and things to offer. I went to look at some old buildings today, including the Natural History Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, and the National Gallery. Didn't go inside any of them but instead was outside admiring the architecture.

The best of those was probably the Royal Albert Hall. It really caught my breath when I entered into the vicinity, as it and its surrounding buildings were all erected out of vividly red bricks, something really nice to see when all the other buildings seem to be grey. From another perspective it was also the most important to me due to its status as the flagship concert hall for British (or maybe even Anglophone) classical music. The proms are currently on, but I don't have the time to see any of it.

Hyde Park was also nice to walk through, though the grass was more yellow than green at this time of year, not sure if it's meant to be like that.

In the evening I went out by myself, and it was a bit lonely until by pure luck I found some cool people to hang out with. The rest of the night went easy and was much fun, and at least I managed to get out to a bar and a club in London's rather famous nightlife!

My take on...

Labor's Climate Change Policy

Apparently I'm not the only one worked up over this, but really was it necessary to even announce a policy that does nothing?

Clearly the ALP has given up on their left-leaning voters. Julia Gillard is one smart politician and she knows that as long as the ALP's policies remain equal to or better than the Coalitions, then it won't matter if people want to vote Greens first, the preferences will still trickle back to Labor. Logically this makes sense, because the Greens aren't going to become a major party and govern on their own any time soon.

Yet despite this, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Effectively we have seen a commitment today to take no action from climate change, whoever wins the election.

My take on...

The Election Campaign Week 1

So Julia "Ginger Ninja" Gillard assassinated Krudd and blindsided the Greens (who would have a considerable youth vote) by calling an election allowing less than 72 hours for everyone to get on the roll. As an added bonus she managed to blindside the Coalition who for some absurd reason didn't seem prepared for the announcement even though the media called it well in advance.

The Greens and the ALP made a preference deal which we knew was going to happen five and a bit years ago when Steve "Fundies First" Fielding made his debut in the senate.

We haven't seen any good policies from the majors who seem more than happy to focus on vote grabbing and soundbites like "asylum seekers", "little Australia", etc.

Not what I was hoping for from Julia but I still have hopes for her to swing back to the left if she wins. Tony "Mad Monk" Abbott is actually not looking as crazily conservative for now, but if he wins I fear Australia will take a big leap to the right anyway.

Everyone fears the effect of the Greens' Nick Clegg potential so Bob Brown will have to continue sitting on the sidelines.

All in all a disappointing week.

My take on...

Masterchef

This year's Masterchef has certainly shown itself to be a game show far more than a cooking show, and it pains me to say that it's started losing me. When you have contestants that are heads and shoulders above the rest in technique, innovation, and flair, and somehow they don't make it into the final week, then yes, you have a problem with the format. Whilst Season 1 had the shock elimination of Justine at top four and Poh losing to Julie in the final sprint to the finish, they were at least final week contestants. This season we see Jimmy and Aaron making it over Marion and Jonathan. It just demonstrates that the show isn't about looking for the best cook, it's more like Russian roulette.

My rather harsh take on the top 7 -
1) Aaron "satay-sauce" miracle boy who got into the final week off his "always cook the second-worst dish" strategy finally failed to make it. Celebrations ensue.
2) I've actually grown to like "there's no holding back now" Alvin a bit more, because he really is one of those people who are consistently positive, if bitchy at times, and fun to watch.
3) "I'm a bartender" Courtney struggled to push beyond salads. She has some of the best basic skills out of everyone but the few weeks where she was eliminated and couldn't continue to develop really hurt her chances.
4) One-hit-wonder Jimmy "curry king" really showed how creative you need to be to get through the competition - not at all.
5) I had originally thought Claire "let me make soup out of my tears" lawyer-girl to be very calm and collected but once it started raining it was pouring.
6) "I'm a schoolboy" Callum has this rather cute smile which is actually a facade for a man with a hell of a lot of ambition, he gets edited like a rather simple kid but I wonder if he would probably be one of the best third-year apprentices in Australia had he gone that route instead of a Bachelor degree.
7) My favourite once Marion and Jono were eliminated, Adam "not your typical Asian" is pretty creative and he seems to learn things fairly quickly. Probably won't have as much post-show potential as Callum, but I'd still buy his cookbook.

Prediction for the finals? Adam will come up with more innovative but with put the judges off with his Asian flavours, and Callum will get top marks for the desserts, but the final pressure test will be a main and Adam will just get there.

Day 10 in Europe (London)

So after the disaster yesterday of arriving in London on three hours of sleep (plus a couple during the train ride) and finding myself in the middle of London at a backpackers without clean sheets, my flatmate's sister and brother-in-law were very kind to put me up for my stay, so let me start off by saying thanks Stef and Shaun if you're reading this!

My day today was a bit slow, but I think after a couple of crazy nights and a full day of travelling I really wanted it to be like this anyway. Did a bit of laundry and it was midday before I went shopping in town. I keep thinking things are so much cheaper here (because I've now grown used to the Euro -> Aussie Dollar conversion) when they really aren't. Luckily my iPhone has a currency converter app which probably saved me from spending unnecessary cash.

If there is one thing London has over Paris is that the food available is so much more multicultural. In Paris I struggled to find good Chinese or Indian food, and here it is widely available. At night we had dinner at a wonderful Cantonese restaurant. Wouldn't call it spectacular but there were some highlights such as soft-shell crab fried with curry leaves and chilli, and drunken chicken with abalone and jellyfish.

On the down side London seems to have massive issues with public transport and general congestion. Unlike Paris which has its CBD located away from the centre of the city, London has everything squished together and the infrastructure simply isn't there to comfortably support its population. To put it in perspective, this is the first time ever that I had to queue to get inside a subway station, and then queue again to get on the escalator down, and even then only barely manage to get on the train (and I've now been on subways in Hong Kong, New York, Kyoto, Osaka, and Paris).

At the end of the day, for someone who likes his space every now and then, this really won't be my favourite city but at least I can make the best of it!

Day 9 in Europe (Tilburg to London)

Just a note to say, I've got posts written for the last few days but I've been too busy / missing wifi access to post them. Once I get some solid internet access again I'll get them up. In the meantime, I've just landed in London and it's a shambles, the accommodation is awful (maybe not by awful by backpacker standards, but not having clean sheets means it's certainly leaning towards "bad") and internet access is sorely lacking (no wifi at Maccas, seriously).

Will update next time I have internet.

Day 8 in Europe (Tilburg)

Wow what an amazing day!

I'll be honest, it started off pretty slow, I don't sleep terribly well with alcohol and so I woke up feeling tired already (and later in the day had to take a nap), but after a nice simple breakfast we headed off towards a small lake not too far away. It's probably somewhat ironic that this was my first trip to anything remotely resembling a beach in ages, and it was in the Netherlands rather than in any of Sydney's awesome beaches :P

Anyway, after a couple of hours under the sun we made our way home to prep for the rest of the day and I decided that my lack of sleep had caught up to me. So while the night was getting started (this was at 14h30 by the way) I had a couple of hours nap. By the time I got out it was 17h30...

As an aside, I knew that most of the places I'd be visiting in Europe would be crowded, but somehow Paris really wasn't that bad except on 14 July. It was Tilburg that really showed me how crowded it could be! Roze Maandag (Pink Monday) is the gay party (in reality it was a mixed crowd) held during Tilburg's ten-day funfair, and apparently people travel for the day to partake in it. Many people. The normally quiet town almost doubles in population and at the peak hours between 18h00 to 22h00 it becomes so packed that it's difficult to move, let alone dance!

What an awesome atmosphere though, and it really is a day for everyone to celebrate, as I saw young children and elderly mixed in with all of us party-aged people. You have all the carnival rides and games in the middle of the road, and cafes and bars lined along the sides, confetti and soap bubbles and balloons in the air, music blasting from the various stages and bars, and all this goes on for a good kilometre or three.

Anyway, we got tired off the rather repetitive pop music and decided to take a break for a couple of hours just before midnight, at which point we headed back out for more dancing fun, and this time with real dancing music! It was 4h30 by the time we got back home.

All in all a pretty awesome day, even if I was overwhelmed by the crowd and the heat for a while. I loved the people, the crowds, the atmosphere. And to Jules and Maikel if you ever read this, thanks again for showing me around! :)

Day 7 in Europe (Paris to Tilburg)

If I had to use three adjectives to describe the last six days, they'd be "sweaty", "eye-opening" and "nice". Yes, nice, because there just really isn't a better way to describe my experience, it was definitely positive but I didn't throw myself into the night-life and all that.

I spent the morning experiencing the same, went out for breakfast and bam! there was a Sunday market, very much like any other market even in Australia but the produce and products were very French, it was really nice! Afterwards I took a final walk through the Marais and then down the rue de Rivoli until I got to the Louvre, where there was an emergency airlift in progress with what almost looked exactly like a Westpac chopper. Nothing exactly exciting, but it was nice to see the normally crowded square being cleared of people and turned into a helipad.

Next stop is Tilburg! I'm off to visit a mate of mine from Macquarie a few years back, and apparently there is a ten-day fair going on in this little town.

The trip was uneventful but I did note that the Belgian buildings that I saw as we passed by on the train seemed a little less traditional than either those of central Paris or of the Dutch towns. There just seemed to be more grey concrete blocks than I would have expected. Hmmmm, something for me to look into when I get bored...

Anyway I arrived in town and met up with my mate and his friend. Tilburg on a Sunday night was pretty packed, could only get a table at a cafe after a good 20 mins wait. We went out afterwards to a couple of bars that managed to fit in some Dutch music (think happy folksy drinking songs) in between Lady Gaga and other pop classics. Got introduced to a really cute guy but I was perhaps a little too drunk by then and went home. On hindsight, that was a total misplay! ;)

Day 6 in Europe (Paris)

Slept in today, which was nice. I'd been waking up early every day to see sights and whatnot. Wanted a nice breakfast in bed but the boulangerie outside the hotel wasn't open on weekends. At least Secret Story was showing on TV! I love that show now hehe.

Headed to Saint-Lazare as I was told it was a nice shopping area. Didn't expecting much and the visit was marred by the fact that I needed to puss badly and somehow couldn't find a toilet even in the department stores. 

Anyway the point of this is to remark on how sometimes bad luck can turn into good, as, I subsequently managed to stumble onto both the Église de la Madeleine and the toilets just outside of it. (No joke, they are a piece of Art Nouveau art in themselves!)

Finally decided to visit la Défense, sits outside of the Ile de Paris but isn't quite suburbia. This powerhouse of economic development is where Paris' skyscrapers have been relegated so as not to damage the legendary skyline of the city centre.

Day 5 in Europe (Paris)

Went to see the Eiffel Tower this morning. Had no intention to actually go up the tower (queues etc, you'll notice I don't handle sights very well) but figured it was the most recognizable landmark in Paris, so why not? Anyway, as expected, by the time the viewing platform was opened the line was waaaaay too long, but it was ok as I ran into another expat kiwi and we hung out for a bit.

Afterwards I walked through 7e, 6e, 5e arrondissements. It's my favorite part of traveling really, wandering semi-aimlessly through various places and today I discovered almost by accident l'Hôtel des Invalides, le Jardin de Luxembourg, and le Panthéon.

M11 went on sale, but Paris seems to be missing decent games stores - found a couple, one didn't allow for playing and the other was cramped and hot. Add to that my complete lack of knowledge of MTG-related French and I decided the best play was probably to take a siesta at the hotel.

Random remark about the city: why aren't there more traffic accidents? Most of the multi-lane roads aren't marked with multiple lanes, and often this happens at roundabouts. On top of that, if you're on a roundabout you have to give way to those entering. I would not be able to drive here without going insane!

I took one final walk along the entirety of the Champs-Elysées. It's a very long walk but the view from either end is amazing! Ah well, I think I've done my share of sightseeing now. One day left and I still need to do some shopping. Time sure flies!

Day 4 in Europe (Paris)

Headed to the Louvre early today! Though the intention was to avoid the crowds, it probably wasn't necessary as it seems to be a lot less packed when it isn't free entry (14 juillet).

The place is huge! Well obviously, everyone says so. But I had my preconceptions about what 'huge' entails. I don't think you can really understand the scope of the place until you're there; let's just say that I didn't really stop moving to admire certain pieces of art, and I skipped most of hr Denon wing, and it still took a good six hours to get through.

Yep, I'm all museum'd out, and I've only been to one!

At night went looking for some Chinese food via l'Arc de Triomphe. Managed to get in a couple of nice photos before it got dark (this was at 9pm).

Then started my food-finding mission down the Champs-Elysées. No luck. Ended up at Belleville, the 'new Chinatown' to finally find some decent Chinese food. I'm amazed at how difficult it was to find! By the time I got home it was midnight. So yeah, late dinner heh.

I'd have to say that discovering the room of Rubens' artworks for Mairie de Medicis was the highlight of the day; can't think of any low points!

Day 3 in Europe (Paris)

While I was planning my trip I had thought that being in Paris during the Fête Nationale was a great idea. The truth is, it really isn't!

Parade and fireworks aside (neither of which I am a fan of) the day is defined by an almost toxic concentration of American and Chinese tourists at the Champs-Élysées, Musée du Louvre, Cathedrale de Notre Dame, and essentially every place that's open. It seems even more potent than normal because the locals clearly were smarter than I and stayed home instead.

So anyway after my escapades the night before resulting in a substantial lack of sleep, I unwisely decided to go see what the défilé militaire was all about. I expected the crowds to be huge and he weather report predicted rain, and neither the heavens nor the other million or so people disappointed. Still, I had to go for the experience and I suppose at the very least I saw live the aircraft set the tone of the parade. I did leave early before it started raining hard, and happily watched the remainder of the parade on tv. Smart me :)

After a post-parade nap the skies were clear and I went to explore the Louvre and Notre Dame, and the queues were a bit long so I retired early. At night I watched French Big Brother and a new show that was similar to the Amazing Race, while it decided to rain again. This weather sure is confusing!

Day 2 in Europe (Paris)

Wow, I knew my French was lacking but never realized fully the extent until I tried speaking to someone who didn't speak a word of English. It's not the reading or writing or speaking that gets me, it's when they speak at a blistering pace and I can't keep up!

On my way to Montmartre there was a busker on the metro, which I found to be appropriate and yet reminiscent of NY.

The Sacre-Coeur was a bit underwhelming, but the location certainly made up for it. Paris is a rather flat city, so up in the bohemian Montmartre you get the best wonderful panoramic views.

I briefly strayed into the red-light district of Pigalle (I always seem to run into these places wherever I go) but like all the others I found it to be a depressing place to be.

I also explored Paris's old 'Chinatown' way down in the 13e, and I must admit I was rather disappointed. Firstly the wide Parisian streets just doesn't play well into my idea of Chinatowns, and secondly it was more Vietnamese than Chinese! Makes sense given France's history in Asia, but still...

At night there was a free Concert de la Diversité and the atmosphere was great (a mostly well-behaved crowd, something you don't get in Australia) but unfortunately I was only familiar with maybe three songs, so it wasn't that great for me personally.

After midnight I had some nighttime fun, which I won't go into detail here but it was definitely the highlight of my day!

The low point of my day was when I was in Chinatown and realizing that I was most certainly in the minority, not only for my Asian-ness but also for being Chinese. Imagine that!

By the way, I do have pics but I can't load them via iPhone so they'll have to wait!

Day 1 in Europe (Paris)

Blog's been dead for a while now, I know, but what better way to restart it than posting about my Europe trip? So here goes, taken from my iPhone notes:

Much fun, with a few embarrassing moments! Nothing in Paris comes with a sound! Kept swiping my weekly metro pass only to realise that it worked the first time.

Took a few trips on the metro. Walked everywhere, didn't take many photos because my hair was awful and all these sights were out of bounds due to prep for Bastille day. Scouted out Marais and Beauborg for possible night time fun.

Low point of the day was having some chick trying to scab money off me and then trying to pickpocket me. I owned her good but she was awful at what she was doing. I should look out in case I come across someone more proficient.
 
Highlight of the day was walking out front of Centre Pompidou and watching all these awesome performers do their thing.

Very hot and quite a humid day too. Retiring early, very tired after the flight!