Harbour City Ramblings

…We shall see if it is entirely possible.

So far we have our Eurail passes, they arrived a couple of weeks ago.  We’re free to bound across various borders throughout Western Europe for an entire month.  With the exception of a few minor obligations here and there- concerts namely- we haven’t many set plans. Only to not bog ourselves down with huge lists of must-dos/sees in one place or another, but to get up and go as we see fit.

1,000 person-venue Pennywise show, in Amsterdam? Far too good to pass up.

The Pennywise tickets for the Amsterdam, Netherlands show have also arrived, and now all we have to do is wait patiently, packed full of hope for (an official) announcement that Metallica will play the 02 World Arena in Berlin, Germany… Only then may we rest and anticipate take-off.

When we first started the planning process, some many months ago, we had to come up with the simplest way to organize the many minute details of this one huge trip.  Dylan came across a site to do just that, TripIt, which we’ve been using with much ease.  The iCal feed is a hugely beneficial feature, and this way we’re not fidgeting with a plethora of papers on the road, appearing more tourist-like than we hope to. We’ll have all necessary train schedules, maps, and tour information conveniently in one place. Maybe even as close as our fingertips, with the help of his iPhone.

I highly recommend travellers try out TripIt for future vacation planning, it makes a potential trip blunder much less likely.

I am going to attempt to blog whilst watching a movie here: Blood Diamond. Though I have seen it, Aimee and I went last year; we partook in the whole expensive theatre experience. But, I am not discussing displaced persons, exploitation, the unremitting desire for pretty possessions and those hungry for the monetary means to acquire them. Nope.

70 days until Europe! I actually had to count, as I am not keeping track… it seems quite a ways away still.

Part way through the trip there’s an unannounced- therefore unofficial- show in Berlin at a multi-sport arena currently being constructed, the 17,000-seater 02 World. There to christen the freshly painted walls of 02 with it’s massive sound?

Metallica, September 12th.

When will we be privileged enough to have the “official announcement” to either debunk it or place it on the itinerary, I wonder. That would also allow more time to discover gorgeous Germany, pretty stoked on that.

“…THIS is a crow-bar. See? They got their little stools and everything.” – Moe Syszlak, as he pulls a framed photo out from behind his bar depicting crows sitting on tiny stools.

Over the last few days I have heard an increase in the amount of children screaming outside of my apartment building.

Don’t be alarmed.

It’s pretty common as I live within a few blocks of an elementary school. They stroll passed often enough, friends or parents in tow. The alarming part is- they’re now screaming not as they run buoyantly to class to find out what they’ll learn today, or back home proudly to relay what they’ve been taught to others- they’re now screaming as they dodge dive-bombing CROWS!

It’s that time of year, and it’s happening all over Victoria, among other cities. The crows are nesting, and they feel a determinate need to protect their young’uns. Much to the fear of those who choose not to commute to work (or school, downtown, etc…) while encompassed by a frame of metal and powered by a motor. If you’re biking, you’re safe. But without the protection of a helmet, you run the risk of being swooped down upon.

Speaking of biking, it was Bike to Work Week last week. Thousands of Victorians abandoned their vehicles and started pushing their pedals; incentives included various Celebration Stations with free goods from local suppliers, daily draw prizes, and watching your wallet swell while the gas gauge in your car remains still, if only a little longer.

I don’t live far enough away from my work place to make signing-up for BTWW count. Which is fortunate for me, really. Unfortunately the weather has been unpredictable and all-around lame. I would hate to have been the person biking home in the 40 km/h winds last night.

Lost Hiatus Equals More Gordan Ramsay…

Now that Lost is over until early ‘09, having ended with a bang at #1 in the ratings that week, Hell’s Kitchen has my full attention.

In it’s 4th Season, 5 chefs remain, and lately I have seen some of the most entertaining episodes of this series… ever. That being said I don’t see any standouts, yet. The entertainment factor is high, but the quality of participants is waning compared to earlier seasons. Difficult to say right now, but I’m going to predict Corey, Bobby, and Petrozza in the final 3. Which is interesting considering the age gaps (25, 37, and 47).

If you’re not an HK fan, and don’t intend on watching it tonight @ 9pm, the upside is there’re still a few things to be done indoors while the weather is uncooperative this rainy June and you can’t bear to make a tee time.

Scorsese’s Rolling Stones documentary “Shine a Light” is still at the IMAX. I’ll be seeing it shortly, but I believe it plays nightly at 8pm for only another week (until Thurs, June 19th ‘08).

Iron Maiden in Vancouver

It’s nice as an islander to have the reminder now and again that Vancouver gets 65% more rain than Victoria. I saw proof of this last week while there just for the one night. The Iron Maiden show at the Pacific Coliseum was fantastic, well worth trekking through drenched downtown Vancouver for a day.

The outcome of Lobster Party 2008? I think it’s safe to say: best… lobster… ever… consumed at this year’s Lobster Party.

3 crates packed full o’ fresh lobster, 2 cousins on either Canadian coast to execute the plan, and 1 group of hungry co-workers getting together at the office = a feast to write home about.

Write home we did not (too much effort, highly time consuming), but I’m certain we made our gratitude known through muffled “thank you’s” whilst stuffing mini two-pronged fork-fulls of delectable lobster in our mouths.

If I had to choose but one picture to sum it up? That one will do it justice, I’m certain!

Europe Planning

Though not on this continent, some notable concert news has come up recently.

Pennywise will be in Amsterdam on September 7th ‘08, playing a show at the Melkweg Venue. I just happen to have the ‘Amsterdam’ part of this September’s European adventure slated to take place at that time; we’re most likely getting tickets.

By that time I’ll be half way across the world and seeing concerts will be feasible once again, considering in order to fund said trip I will find myself in the audience of only two shows this summer: Iron Maiden next week, and Radiohead in August.

But there are a plethora of inexpensive (often free!) diverse cultural/music/heritage, and all-around artsy events in Victoria to look forward to while I am situated here over the summer months.

Ah, the beauty of life in a tourism-driven community. Can’t complain, can… not… complain.