Today I woke in Frankfurt, Germany in one of the nicest hostels I've ever been to (free breakfast and free pasta for supper? Oh fuck hells yeah!). It seems, that no matter my intentions, I always end up back on the road. This time I plan on travelling for 9 months before returning to Canada. And as usual, I have limited funds and I can't help but laugh at the challenge (my ability to budget becomes remarkable when travelling, but when at home I'm positively dreadful). Travelling always seems a lot more interesting when you have to slow down a little, volunteer every once in a while, and actually enjoy the simple things (like beaches and talking to the locals).
The last time I had to budget one of my trips I ended up walking The Camino by myself (only in theory, because anyone who has done the walk before knows that you never walk alone). This pilgrimage was both inspiring for future journeys and adventures, and has given me memories and friends that I could get no where else. The bonds that are formed with the steps that you take along Spain are powerful. And I have not one single regret about making the decision about migrating every day for a month with people I did not know.
So now, once more, I am beginning to wonder where I should land in a few weeks (I am first travelling to Croatia and Munich, the latter to actually meet up with my Knights of the Way, my two good friends from the Camino. Then afterwards I have until the 28th of October to wander around Europe before I head off to Thailand.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Venice -- The Arrival in Mestre
I've arrived in Italy, and of course, my first stop is Venice! I arrived on the 16th of April, in the airport of Treviso late at night. I quickly hopped on a bus to Mestre, where my hostel resided. When I got to dropped off, however, I quickly realized that once again (I've managed to do this WAY too many times), I was alone, in a ridiculously shifty area, and completely by myself with a large quanity of luggage. And as usual, my plan had been "Oh, I'll just walk to the hostel." Hah.
So, I did what I do every-single-time I manage to stumble into such a situation. I panicked quietly and tried to look unnoticeable. A laughable feat, since I had a neon blue and yellow HULA HOOP strapped to my bag that was larger than me. Then, with a nervous face, I entered the train station which seemed to be open and was told could sell bus tickets.
Inside, what seemed to be Italian gangsters (young, very angry looking young men, who may have been completely jolly but didn't look it but I have an over-active imagination) looming. I panicked again, and found the McDonald's attached to the train station, which was closed. So, I decided I was going to bite the bullet and take a cab.
The cabbie said it would cost me 20 Euros to get to the hostel. I had to laugh, before I had left looked on google maps and it wasn't far away. But I reluctantly agreed. Somehow because t
So, I did what I do every-single-time I manage to stumble into such a situation. I panicked quietly and tried to look unnoticeable. A laughable feat, since I had a neon blue and yellow HULA HOOP strapped to my bag that was larger than me. Then, with a nervous face, I entered the train station which seemed to be open and was told could sell bus tickets.
Inside, what seemed to be Italian gangsters (young, very angry looking young men, who may have been completely jolly but didn't look it but I have an over-active imagination) looming. I panicked again, and found the McDonald's attached to the train station, which was closed. So, I decided I was going to bite the bullet and take a cab.
The cabbie said it would cost me 20 Euros to get to the hostel. I had to laugh, before I had left looked on google maps and it wasn't far away. But I reluctantly agreed. Somehow because t
Sunday, February 24, 2013
My Really Boring Break -- Summed Up in a Few Paragraphs
Currently, I've been done with tree planting for 6 months. Since the end of the season I've been bored and haven't really done much but go on a few short road trips and work. Frankly, if I wasn't hightailing it out of Canada in a week I'd be pretty tempted to season my wine with some cyanide just because my life has reached a level of monetary that is too painful to suffer through anymore.
But, to get back on my non-slightly suicidal tangent, I am going to be able to escape very very soon! On March 4th I am flying to the UK and I'm ridiculously stoked about it.
The reason why I'm not really living (re: working and living at my parents house again) is because I'm taking a year off university. This decision was made with the intention of going to South America in the fall, where I was hoping to stay for the winter months. However, I got stuck in some legal duties and unfortunately needed more money, hence the reason it has taken me until March to be able to go anywhere.
And in the mean time, to pay the bills I've been selling Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. And believe me, my job is actually pretty cool. I seem to have replaced any consumption of alcohol to the consumption of fresh EVOO and balsamic, and not even in small quantities. And when I say fresh I mean it was just harvested and crushed a couple of months ago and when you taste it you get the most amazing notes. And yeah, I'm going to cut myself off right now because I can rant for hours about the stuff, but take my word, that shit is amazing.
But, to get back on my non-slightly suicidal tangent, I am going to be able to escape very very soon! On March 4th I am flying to the UK and I'm ridiculously stoked about it.
The reason why I'm not really living (re: working and living at my parents house again) is because I'm taking a year off university. This decision was made with the intention of going to South America in the fall, where I was hoping to stay for the winter months. However, I got stuck in some legal duties and unfortunately needed more money, hence the reason it has taken me until March to be able to go anywhere.
And in the mean time, to pay the bills I've been selling Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. And believe me, my job is actually pretty cool. I seem to have replaced any consumption of alcohol to the consumption of fresh EVOO and balsamic, and not even in small quantities. And when I say fresh I mean it was just harvested and crushed a couple of months ago and when you taste it you get the most amazing notes. And yeah, I'm going to cut myself off right now because I can rant for hours about the stuff, but take my word, that shit is amazing.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Some Basic Rules To Travelling
- Do not talk to drunk men on the street when you are alone
- Do not tell them your are alone, have no place to stay, have no phone, and that no one knows where you are
- Do not accept invites to drunk men's hotel rooms
- Do not follow them into the bar they are in and accept drinks
- Do not get into a cab with strange men, and not know where you are going
- Do not talk to near naked homeless men who have a better tan and body than you
- Do not shower in strangers hotel rooms, especially when all of the above applies
- Do not proceed to fall asleep feeling completely at home and safe in a room full of strange men, who are drunk.
If, however, you may have an amazingly great night, and make new friends with some hilarious and good hearted guys.
(Just so you know Myles, I re-illustrated "The TRUTH." And Andre, despite being in the same situation as the night I met you guys, I didn't meet anyone as great)
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Falling Trees
This week started in a forest. The day after our block tried to kill us.
Blocks occasionally have high standing trees on them that do not have the protection of a surrounding forest. And because of the area that we were working on was pretty mountainous the wind was murderous, causing trees to crack and start falling as we planted.
One girl on my crew was missed by a few meters and scavenged a piece of the tree that could have crushed her. Later, after it was decided it was too dangerous to work on our block another person on my crew had a close call. This time with the heavy metal doors of the box truck slamming shut, almost closing on him and crushing body. The sound of the crashing bang and Greg shouted a warning as Maddy jumped out of the way was terrifying.
We all pulled out cigarettes and laughed after that, turning up the music on the truck and taking photos, Maddy looking pale and shaken.
Blocks occasionally have high standing trees on them that do not have the protection of a surrounding forest. And because of the area that we were working on was pretty mountainous the wind was murderous, causing trees to crack and start falling as we planted.
One girl on my crew was missed by a few meters and scavenged a piece of the tree that could have crushed her. Later, after it was decided it was too dangerous to work on our block another person on my crew had a close call. This time with the heavy metal doors of the box truck slamming shut, almost closing on him and crushing body. The sound of the crashing bang and Greg shouted a warning as Maddy jumped out of the way was terrifying.
We all pulled out cigarettes and laughed after that, turning up the music on the truck and taking photos, Maddy looking pale and shaken.
The Block
Many people don't really understand where exactly we plant trees, including a fair amount of unfortunate souls who get hired for the job and find there way on a crew.
The first misconception is that we plant on a grassy field that is flat. No. No it's not like that at all. Instead, usually, there is a fair amount of debris, logs, trees, hills (and cliffs) and multiple places where you can't plant, and a few places you can. The places where you can, once you find them, need to be spaced properly from another and you start by following the tree-line.
Which is why last Monday was just fucky; Our camp was comically planting on a grassy field. Well, everyone but my crew. We were in a mother-fucking forest. Our tree-line was where the trees ended. We had to make our way through dense foliage attempting to plant trees where there were already trees. This wouldn't be so difficult if our trees, bags, and dibbles would float their way behind us instead of getting snagged on literally everything, causing constant spectacular failure at mere walking.
And we still have to have the right tree density. Hopefully, it is not hard to understand that it is hard to find our little 6 inch tall trees among fully grown ones. And ferns. And many other plants that are the exact same color. Your flagging had to be impeccable, just so that the person trailing a few meters behind you didn't miss your line of trees.
And the worst part, is after we carried our heavy bags through the woods we would reach the end of the forest and look out to the beautiful field where dozens of our friends were planting. None of them tripping or looking out for dangerously cracking trees. And you'd have to turn around, despite the overwhelming urge to to simply plant one tree, just one tree, where it was nice. But you couldn't.
The first misconception is that we plant on a grassy field that is flat. No. No it's not like that at all. Instead, usually, there is a fair amount of debris, logs, trees, hills (and cliffs) and multiple places where you can't plant, and a few places you can. The places where you can, once you find them, need to be spaced properly from another and you start by following the tree-line.
Which is why last Monday was just fucky; Our camp was comically planting on a grassy field. Well, everyone but my crew. We were in a mother-fucking forest. Our tree-line was where the trees ended. We had to make our way through dense foliage attempting to plant trees where there were already trees. This wouldn't be so difficult if our trees, bags, and dibbles would float their way behind us instead of getting snagged on literally everything, causing constant spectacular failure at mere walking.
And we still have to have the right tree density. Hopefully, it is not hard to understand that it is hard to find our little 6 inch tall trees among fully grown ones. And ferns. And many other plants that are the exact same color. Your flagging had to be impeccable, just so that the person trailing a few meters behind you didn't miss your line of trees.
And the worst part, is after we carried our heavy bags through the woods we would reach the end of the forest and look out to the beautiful field where dozens of our friends were planting. None of them tripping or looking out for dangerously cracking trees. And you'd have to turn around, despite the overwhelming urge to to simply plant one tree, just one tree, where it was nice. But you couldn't.
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