Kindle me: It's twenty ten...

... it's also -2 outside, and the desire to head out and explore Londontown is overshadowed by the desire to explore the comforts of my couch instead. I've splurged and got myself a Kindle, and am now slowly replacing my favorite keyboard-free activity with a digital version - as long as I can do it wrapped up in a blanked, it still counts as 'turning off', right?

Just learned that I can now read up to 20 books at the same time, highlight, copy/paste and even comment on my reading, all while downloading and syncing up with my fav newspapers across the globe (Moscow Time! I have surely been missing out on my Russian oil tycoon news)...how is this for serious relaxation.

Sagrada Familia - to be completed in 2026

a few days in Paris

I was in France a few weeks ago and have been meaning to write a *big*post, but...never got around to it:)


Few highlights below:

Getting across EU is one of most stress-free travel adventures of all time. No passport checks, yummy train food (yes, it does exist!), Wifi and all sorts of colorful characters. One of my best memories of Paris was the train ride there!

I'd been to Paris before, but I think this was the first time I actually really enjoyed myself - hung out in the Latin Quarter, played with the street performers, took in the views. Later that evening grabbed some vino & cheese, climbed up on my balcony, and watched a local mime entertain the tourists. Mimes are great - it is a beautiful art form, one of the original performance arts. There are still very respectable mime schools in France that take it very seriously. My friend Danielle was arriving the next day, and she is a first-class clown, so I was hoping the mime would still be there. Mime vs. Clown is always a fun show.

In the evening I was invited to a little dinner party by a work friend, and spend the evening socializing with French, Germans, Brazilians and made a great new friend from Gibraltar. Walking back from the party, passing the great Notre Dame and catch a glimpse of all the lights, I finally felt the centuries-old draw of this city.

I *heart* Holland!

Holland! My new favorite country other side of the pond, this place is a gem of culture, adventure and nostalgia. I go around London preaching to every poor soul the beauty (and my never-ending love) for Austin only to arrive in the European version of Austin-but with a certain swing that makes me more excited than ever to be in Europe.

Getting outside of Amsterdam is key - the countryside is bursting with rolling hills, white sheep, flowers in full bloom...the works! Drove from Zwolle to Lieden in a convertible, smiling the whole way through.

Made in Barcelona

This lively, colorful city has always been a favorite, and now is my first venture into the exciting world of a solo traveler. I have embarked on this adventure with no companions or guide books, minimal recommendations, and lots of need to de-stress, detox and de-everything else that can come while living in a huge metropolitan. Needing a bit on sun, some local cuisine and no plan to speak off, I’m off to Spain!

Had two full days in the city, and looking back at it, managed to do everything I wanted without ever wanting to do anything. The first genius thing I did was rent a bike. Barcelona is a friendly bike city, and people seem to operate smoother off their feet than on their feet (I’m refereeing to the waves of British ‘stag’ parties, all of which have at least one character who is either horizontal at the most inopportune times, or is being carried off by his posse.) Everyone, it seems, has a bike, and Barcelona has a very well-oiled bike rental program. You buy a year membership (24 Euros), they send you a card in the mail. The card allows you to rent any of the thousands of bikes for up to 2 hours, after which you can return the bike at the nearest station and grab another one if need be. There are hundreds of stations, everyone has the card, and the system is praised as a model of eco-living. I’m a fan, for sure.

Next thing a solo traveler needs is an ipod. Not to be an Apple brat, but it makes things so much fun when you can music it up according to your surroundings. I was riding through La Rambla rocking out to the Gypsy Kings, and as soon as I made the turn to get on the beach path - turn of the little white wheel and here comes pouring the sweet sound of Pink Martini. Perfect for an afternoon ride across the playa.

Now thinking back to it, I can’t remember any of the names of the places I’ve seen. The Gaudi projects, yes (so wild! Next to them, Picasso seems almost normal!) but I stumbled upon so many little alleyways and nooks, tapas bars and crazy Russian tourists that I can’t really recall much. It was green and smelled like the sea. Mullets are in – for both men and women. I tried to joke with my taxi driver by telling him about Jorge Agusto (literal translation = George Bush) but somehow it got lost in translation. Lots of artisanos, chachkis and Ruskis. The weather was very all too well-known – rainy, cold, with brief and very exciting patches of sunlight. Overall, Barca gets 5 stars for culture, 2 for sun shine, 1 for sarcasm.

Cambridge

On the hottest day of the year (so far!), I went out to visit Corina and to see one of the finest English universities. I was utterly and completely blown away - walking around the massive courtyards and ducking through bridges and falling ivy I felt like I was in a Harry Potter movie. Many of the students and faculty were walking around in robes, and I kept waiting for one of them to pull out their wand and say 'Riddikulus!'

and now a bit of British theater...

Saw the Tiger Lillies last night in the New Player Theater at Charing Cross. Funky, dark, and at times screeching to a halt (both the venue and the performance), those of a delicate nature might do well to avoid this little show. These guys have no fear in their lyrics and I'm afraid to say I am a part of ever-diminishing audience that is ready and willing to accept them. Leaving the 90 minutes show, both Amy and I had the same thought - 'Our friends can do that...better'.

And all I wanted was to see 'The Sound of Music'...