Harbour City Ramblings

I believe I’ve changed my mind. I will have to retrieve my heart I had hoped to leave in Greece. Italy takes the cake.

Palatine Hill

We arrived an hour later than expected (thanks a lot Olympic airlines) into Rome Saturday night around 9:00pm. After a rough partial-sleep on the ferry from Crete to Athens that morning, and wandering Athens during the day in the pouring rain, all we wanted when we touched down in Rome was a horizontal spot to rest that wasn’t swaying back and forth over the sea.

Colors Boutique Hotel

Dylan had found and booked a room at Colors, a boutique hotel and hostel located within a 10-minute walk of Vatican City. Incredible place with extremely helpful staff, in an area where we weren’t paying an arm and a leg to eat or sleep.

We had a 3-person dorm with our own sink and shower for 2 nights. The first girl using up the other bed we hardly spoke to as she was in late and out by 5:00am.

The second night we met Rachel. Rachel was very cool to talk to as she was from Israel, and managed to give us the rundown, very passionately, on the history of Israel within the first 5 minutes of our encounter. She told us how boring Canada was as “nothing happens there,” but her enthusiasm and encouragement made me want to some day visit her in Israel.

The Colosseum & Gianicolo Hill

We were up bright and early on Sunday, Sept. 21st, knowing there was plenty to see in Rome. Our first stop was the Colosseum, which was free with the €20 Roma Pass we picked up, along with free entrance to another museum, discounts on all others, and free Metro, Bus and Tram use for 3 days. Outstanding deal.

The Colosseum, built in AD 80, was stunning. We spent a good hour there before passing Palatine Hill, putting our hands inside the Mouth of Truth and heading over the Tiber River to the Trastevere area for paninis. We then wandered up Gianicolo Hill for a few hours to take in exceptional views of the entire Ancient City.

Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon & Piazza Navona

In the afternoon we threw our coins in the Trevi Fountain and gasped at the sight of the 2000-year old Pantheon. We dined near the beautiful Castel Sant’Angelo on an exceptional (and best I have ever had) pizza and wine. That fueled us for the remainder of the evening of walking and taking in dozens of monuments and various squares including the truly Italian experience of Piazza Navona, previously an AD 1st Century stadium.

After the sun went down we strolled past the Piazza’s various vendors and artists. From one end where the sound of accordions filled the air, to the opposite end where we got up close and personal with the Fountain of Four Rivers as a busker played his rendition of one of my favourite songs on his weathered acoustic guitar- Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.”

With sore feet on Monday, Sept. 22nd- the 4 year anniversary of Lost- we checked out of Colors and deposited our backpacks at the train station and made our way again to the Trastevere area for a pasta lunch. In all honesty this was the first pasta I had in Rome, and I hate to say it but the Spaghetti Carbonara I had in Paris was a million times better. But, we had free WiFi and got in touch with our American buddies we met in Amsterdam, Brian and Elizabeth and sent some e-mails home, which is always nice.

Vatican City & The Sistine Chapel

Afterwards we made our way to Vatican City. Our first stop was the Vatican Museum, as we had to get in before 3pm in order to see it all before 4:30pm when they start kicking the art-lovers out.

We saw a slew of ancient artifacts, statues and tapestries though the maze of rooms, each painted from top to bottom with exceptional detail, leading up to the undeniable highlight: The Sistine Chapel.

Walking slowly with the flood of people into the Sistine Chapel I made certain not to look up until fully inside and beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece, which was completed in the 16th Century. Craning my neck upwards it felt as though the world had come to a complete halt, and the sight of it- as cliche as it sounds- brought a tear to my eye. I really can’t even begin to describe it, and I won’t attempt to- it has to be seen to be believed.

We wandered St. Peter’s Basilica for a bit until our legs really needed a rest. That night we headed back towards the train station and unbelievably ran into Brian and Elizabeth. They were off elsewhere so Dylan and I, with a few hours to kill, found an amazing fresh pasta spot for dinner and wined and dined until we couldn’t lift our forks anymore. Two hours later on the way back once again we ran into Brian and Elizabeth on the Metro and followed them to the Spanish Steps to plan our Oktoberfest meeting for Thursday.

The night we took our first night train from Rome to Venice, killing two birds with one stone as we saved on accommodations and got our commute in. Venice is a whole other city and story to tell. But I sure am glad to have thrown that coin in the Trevi Fountain, as I am now ensured a speedy return in the future to breath-taking Rome… Where I really am leaving my heart.

Dieppe

Upon arriving in the northern port-town of Dieppe on Thursday, Sept. 4th we headed straight for the tourism office and quickly discovered an annual International Kite Festival was to take place that weekend… And accommodations were sparse. I guess that’s the down side of spur-of-the-moment visits to northern France.

This small town in size and population (around 35,000 inhabitants), is located along the French coast, overlooking the English Channel. We managed to find a tiny room, with a tiny bed, and a tiny shower for one night only. Once our backpacks were finally off our backs again we headed out to explore Dieppe, with not only it’s abundance of French history, but strong Canadian connections as well.

Avenue des Canadiens

The weather could have been better as it drizzled only briefly as we drank beer across the street from an old church still sporting bullet holes from WWII. We then grabbed some kebabs and wandered towards the beach. And that’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks.

66 years ago on this very beach, along with many others along this coast, our Canadian boys and men stormed the beaches, risking their lives and losing many to liberate France and rid the city of Nazi power. The beach is marked with several monuments to commemorate their efforts… It was surreal to see. You read about it in textbooks in school, but to be able to get up close, see the spot and touch the monuments along this rocky shore was an experience I will never forget.

The city is peppered with Canadian spirit. Our flags hang side-by-side with the French and British flags on numerous buildings, there’s even an Avenue des Canadiens. We spent our one night in Dieppe drinking at the Cambridge Pub, then across the street at the Curling Pub, with the welcoming locals who fed us green shots.

Friday we awoke with headaches knowing there was little chance of finding a room that night, and satisfied with the sights we had seen the day prior, we hopped on the train to Rouen, located half-way between Dieppe and Paris.

Rouen

Rouen is an absolute gem. Again, it wasn’t in our travel plans, but this city of 106,000 people was the perfect stop-over. You can wander and see most all sights within a few hours. Their own Cathedrale de Notre Dame boasts the highest tower in France, at 151 meters. We also saw the very site where Joan of Arc was put on trial and tortured in front of her judges, before being burned at the stake in 1431.

Paris

Finally on Saturday we arrived in the City of Lights. One word to describe Paris? Busy. Ridiculously so. We found an inexpensive, dingy little hotel very shortly after arriving in the Gare de St. Lezare station. And dingy is the nicest way to describe our room, but we took it on the advice of many others (and our handy “Let’s Go: Western Europe” guide) and stayed cheap, avoided the museums, but dined like Royalty!

The food? To die for! I could go on and on about the food there, but I won’t… Instead- while on the topic of death- the first site we saw took us over 25 meters beneath the streets of Paris, twice as deep as their intricate Metro system. We took a tour of the Catacombs. Too eerie.

You enter from a practically unnoticeable door street-level and begin the descent down a spiral staircase into what was first an excavation site for stones to build the city in the early 1700′s. Apparently far too many people in 1785 found the smell of the many grave yards truly unbearable and over-crowded. What are city officials to do in such a case? Dig them all up and move them of course! So we toured the dozens of windy tunnels for about an hour, lined with a few tombs, and thousands upon thousands of skulls and bones. Highly recommended, though not for those with weak stomachs.

I can’t fail to mention the larger-than-expected, and breath-taking upon first site, Eiffel Tower. Packed with people we clearly opted not to go up it… Instead we made our way down the Ave. Des Champs-Elysees towards the Arc de Triomphe, before enjoying another incredible meal.

After dinner, as the sun was setting and the hordes of people departed, we scoped out the city center, on the Ile de la Cite, saw the Notre Dame de Paris and the incredible Louvre. Oh, and ate a bit more! But come on, you can’t NOT try the crepes in Paris!

And once again I am blogging on the train, we’re on board the Thalys after leaving fast-paced Paris for a more laid-back Amsterdam for the next 4, oh maybe 5 days. Anything to wind down after that whirl-wind French experience!

A day late, but let me start by saying: Happy Birthday Ryan! The big 1-6. He can officially commence the process of obtaining his drivers license! That takes care of yesterday, as for today: Happy Birthday dad!

I’m certainly jealous as they’ll both be celebrating with the relatives on the beaches of Tofino, BC, the gorgeous West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Thursday started as an over-all good day including some shopping and lounging in the sun with Matthew, my youngest sibling.  We then biked from James Bay, past Thetis Lake and as far as Colwood at the Highway #14 crossing of the Galloping Goose trail.  A quick 13km or so trek, Matthew’s first time on that part of the trail, and he did superbly!

That night we collectively celebrated 60% of the immediate family’s Birthdays, as we all enjoyed a dinner out at a fantastic restaurant with hearty portions of satisfying food, in a great location alongside a hilly Metchosin farm with a petting zoo out back and… they’re environmentally friendly?  That was positive news.

My Chosen Cafe’s Composting Project

We dined at My Chosen Café.  A rustic, homey little spot located in Metchosin.  Dinner was highly enjoyable.

The whole family, including (cousin and good friends) Aimee and Dylan, all there for some good laughs.  And as it turns out- the restaurant is keen on keeping things green.

My Chosen Café is taking part in one of the CRD’s composting pilot projects.  These projects were first introduced, so far with much success, in the residential areas of Oak Bay and View Royal.  It was extended after a year when it saw over 400 tonnes of waste diverted from the landfill.

Domestic food waste is picked up from residential areas and transported to a composting facility.  Simple as that, they even supply you with the free composting bags.

The restaurant has it’s weekly pick-up, and our waitress explained that this time a couple of years ago they were letting cans, bottles, paper, and all pile up in multiple trash bags.  My, how things have changed.

Cheers to Ryan and dad- Happy Birthdays!

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.

Yes, first time blogging. Odd feeling. Well not yet- not until I hit publish, I guess. Now that that’s out of the way…

Tomorrow will be an outstanding day. We – and when I say we I mean: held in our office, orchestrated by our ingenious boss, maintained through excellent personal (a cousin) and business connections- are holding our 2nd Lobster night. Last year it took place in June. This year will be a good one. Or rather “the best in years,” was the word from the east coast, specifically Gaspé, QC, “including some 4 lbs’ers. ” Incredible!

They are en route at the moment; sitting comfortably on beds of ice, first class with their claws grasped tightly around what some are saying was free salt water, shaken, also on ice. I can’t vouch for it, I’ve never flown first class.

Gaetan and his wife Lorraine have been putting on these dinners for years for their friends, co-workers, and family. Not a difficult tradition to get used to. Let’s just say I am ruined from ordering lobster in a restaurant.

Here are a few photos from the event last year:

Very much looking forward to tomorrow!