tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79798258458884094712024-03-13T11:42:23.832-07:00jeremy travels the worldGermy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-16714206378650772432016-05-29T23:23:00.006-07:002020-12-02T11:30:56.270-08:00jeremy in new york city!<div style="text-align: center;">
in a matter of minutes, new york city demanded a few things from me...and i had no control (or good reason) to deny the renowned metropolis of its appetite for persistent movement...</div>
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1. "forget everything you know about american cities..."<br />
2. "give me your full attention, and please don't blink...you'll miss a piece of your story here"<br />
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*(side note: day 1 was spent inside, on a couch, recovering from a bout of exhaustion following a 5 day working binge of 20 hour days...)*</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM_ztxguaGXAlp_OPv-O0Vzd7g-1CXQZ10F8NGTRg1czAOIf-UVBnGECVeo6McRDpLbWdYY-o1oF1YkmXJnNSQ2aESJBcCJoQcAFdkqtY_UL2eXH7-pZ0tN3ifrjVeFR7XAX8PXja9juz/s1600/NYC2016-jlp-053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM_ztxguaGXAlp_OPv-O0Vzd7g-1CXQZ10F8NGTRg1czAOIf-UVBnGECVeo6McRDpLbWdYY-o1oF1YkmXJnNSQ2aESJBcCJoQcAFdkqtY_UL2eXH7-pZ0tN3ifrjVeFR7XAX8PXja9juz/s400/NYC2016-jlp-053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">facing manhattan, from brooklyn bridge</td></tr>
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to me, the brooklyn bridge and central park stood out as the most iconic structures in the city. so from a friends apartment in clinton hill, on day 2 i made my way toward manhattan on the <i>c train</i>. but first, making a stop off at <i>high st.</i> for a pedestrian marathon on and around the brooklyn bridge.</div>
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brooklyn</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of manhattan bridge, seen from washington st. <br />
near brooklyn bridge park</td></tr>
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i spent the afternoon mixing a healthy portion of foot and train travel as i made my way towards 7th ave. / west 34th st., near the empire state building to say hello to my friend and host, kimmie, at her work. the city, it's streets and it's people were emphatically pulsing with diversity, activity and excitement. there was a legitimate life and character here that i had only experienced small hints of elsewhere: london, barcelona and prague to name a few, but none that match the genuine strength of new york's heart & soul.</div>
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5th ave.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5dstPFSrRREF_uIYj0AubSl5o77pklb_KjqqmNPMMCfucQRz34PELKT3El9K2vslGVtfTP9yHA0Qq4Mk4jl_P5mhyphenhyphen96FJbALyc1xRGXwIl13HGy-jqnR-uqdBKb3Bey7yFGc4qoWCRDb/s1600/NYC2016-jlp-089.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5dstPFSrRREF_uIYj0AubSl5o77pklb_KjqqmNPMMCfucQRz34PELKT3El9K2vslGVtfTP9yHA0Qq4Mk4jl_P5mhyphenhyphen96FJbALyc1xRGXwIl13HGy-jqnR-uqdBKb3Bey7yFGc4qoWCRDb/s400/NYC2016-jlp-089.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">the flatiron building: seen from west 23rd st. / 5th ave.</span></td></tr>
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my real obsession with nyc is magnified by the joy i get from abbi jacobson & ilana glazer's series <a href="http://www.cc.com/shows/broad-city" target="_blank"><i>broad city</i></a>. a show featuring known and little-known pockets of nyc, many of which i happened to stumble upon by accident (so shibby!). a stroll down 5th ave. on my way to washington square park led me past the popular <i>flatiron</i> building (above).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of kimmie's gigs as an e-commerce photographer. <br />
that day she was shooting fabric swabs (top left).</td></tr>
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and a literal jog to the broadway show <i>the curious incident of the dog in the night-time</i> (we were running late!) took me right through times square (above: top right).</div>
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brighton beach</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brighton beach: just south of brooklyn, near coney island</td></tr>
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it was day 3 of my adventure and i had 4 hours to kill before catching the broadway show. i looked at a map and followed my intuition to brighton beach. i caught the <i>q train</i> from clinton hill in brooklyn and rode the 45 minutes south to touch my toes in the atlantic ocean for the first time.</div>
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central park</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HWnOuj4UeNztnF7TmdZlnWyp6E6t-tkwyttJu_d13Wz5jjUyoBkLyjy0ZqaRKMVL99ryCDiz5UWTC-ioQ_w21nMvFptPffnSdoKg11qg8b-QWp684u-QnrNpMhDt74_TXyCjmf3HjJmZ/s1600/kimmiecollage-CentralPark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HWnOuj4UeNztnF7TmdZlnWyp6E6t-tkwyttJu_d13Wz5jjUyoBkLyjy0ZqaRKMVL99ryCDiz5UWTC-ioQ_w21nMvFptPffnSdoKg11qg8b-QWp684u-QnrNpMhDt74_TXyCjmf3HjJmZ/s400/kimmiecollage-CentralPark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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i saved central park for my last day...i think the anticipation i felt was built on the countless still & moving images that feature nyc's defining park. but it was also built on my immaculate gut-feeling that there is simply something special to be seen there...little known fact? everything about new york's central park is man made :O</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWAAL9DvJh9Tj1wLEtPggB4m_oJnqnv1WbG6B0Z1BSW7qPuRg-R2V6Wvi9LQgSao47X60i5Sf1pOqC8LwKgk99ZjiYQ5z5gWkWK0fxBSJSfEekK0J14TtKK8jfiQQ3Xtj2MlKPN24CwqT/s1600/centralpark-walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWAAL9DvJh9Tj1wLEtPggB4m_oJnqnv1WbG6B0Z1BSW7qPuRg-R2V6Wvi9LQgSao47X60i5Sf1pOqC8LwKgk99ZjiYQ5z5gWkWK0fxBSJSfEekK0J14TtKK8jfiQQ3Xtj2MlKPN24CwqT/s400/centralpark-walk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">roughly 10 miles spent exploring the nooks and <br />
crannies of new york city's central park</td></tr>
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i had an entire day to take in the park, and i took full advantage of every hour! central park stretches over 50 city blocks in length. i started from the <i>c train</i> stop at 110th st. / cathedral pkwy and worked my way to the bottom at west 59th st. <br />
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walking up, down, left and right, i zig-zagged my way past the north woods and meadow, past the massive tennis courts and around the giant reservoir that separates the upper east and west sides of manhattan. next up came turtle pond and belvedere castle. and as i marched past the boathouse and bethesda fountain, i came across my central park haven...<i>sheep meadow</i>. beautiful architecture lines the distance from every angle, with trees, grass and picnics filling the foreground. it was a beautiful sight, and the meadow here was particularly difficult to leave...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFS05GZ31xFWmvNh8KbsxWzGlPtJaFxF5tvWP6x-ryO4qSaNsI47QASGUPlNftWqKNnFikkexA2kecn2z0kVNpXfi9d3MsSoK25wb8ks4_nnzbY5fouQqhyxdElZlLmFjDJ3NNKSlbUe_/s1600/NYC2016-jlp-231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFS05GZ31xFWmvNh8KbsxWzGlPtJaFxF5tvWP6x-ryO4qSaNsI47QASGUPlNftWqKNnFikkexA2kecn2z0kVNpXfi9d3MsSoK25wb8ks4_nnzbY5fouQqhyxdElZlLmFjDJ3NNKSlbUe_/s400/NYC2016-jlp-231.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me and kimmie exploring 'the plaza hotel' near the south entrance of the park :)</td></tr>
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an enormous thank you to my dear friend kimmie, who made this adventure of a lifetime possible! i would never have been brave enough to tackle nyc alone.<br />
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this is the first american city i've reviewed in years, and it's indicative of the true strength the city has in it's well-refined crusade to continually grow and thrive. new york city, quite candidly, took all the best things i love about the worlds finest cities, and packed it into the 2 small boroughs of brooklyn and manhattan...<br />
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to new york city and it's 8.5 million people, thank you for such an influential experience and adventure. the pulse of the city will never be forgotten...<br />
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thanks for reading!</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">- j</div>
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Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-26261719436599779312015-10-17T19:20:00.002-07:002020-12-02T11:26:24.299-08:00another summer in europe...<br />
my summer days exploring the rich histories of europe have once again come to an end...i've struggled to write a true conclusion of my trip because i know it signifies a return to the everyday grind of life back home. but conclude i must, for it resets the countdown of anticipation for the next adventure to be had! so...<br />
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welcome reader, to the end of another summer in europe...</div>
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over the course of 29 days, i logged:</div>
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6 countries 15 cities 548, 219 steps and 252 miles</div>
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at about that halfway mark, two weeks in, i began to map out what a life in europe might look like...finally conquering spanish as a second language? adjusting to mandatory 6 week vacations? embracing a culture that favors the experiences of life? there's so much i love about europe, and my final days spread over germany, denmark and sweden helped me reflect on why...<br />
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i was heartbroken to leave <a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2015/08/germy-in-praha.html" target="_blank">prague</a>, i did not spend nearly enough time exploring the richness of arguably one of europe's most beautiful cities. it defines everything i see when i close my eyes and picture what a european city is. two days just wasn't enough to take it all in...but thats just how it goes sometimes...<br />
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12 hours in berlin, germany</div>
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rappers delight for ze germans entertainment :)</div>
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german salsa dancing lessons. </div>
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set along the spree river that cuts through berlin</div>
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i boarded a train headed for berlin, germany, my first time entering europe's economic powerhouse. and although i had only spent two days in prague (not including a full day on the train from vienna, so really three days) i had actually stolen those days from time i had planned to spend in berlin. so what to do with only 12 scheduled hours in the german capital? karaoke of-course :) my host nadine picked me up at the train station, and we went straight to karaoke, with my full travel bag sitting in the backseat of the car!</div>
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5 days in hamburg, germany</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8HVgcVeoF9qySXtFtceyM31RPdlZnZFhzr6OJhTskFpVNxl1zpNiIDG1piFTqvOmboGCWlpOpmQNcPm6LksTyYEezA_DF54FPzyWv_LiAYivCYm00lklmqU3xA2Rne2tOQ5P4TgB1IIp/s1600/randi.antonia.me.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8HVgcVeoF9qySXtFtceyM31RPdlZnZFhzr6OJhTskFpVNxl1zpNiIDG1piFTqvOmboGCWlpOpmQNcPm6LksTyYEezA_DF54FPzyWv_LiAYivCYm00lklmqU3xA2Rne2tOQ5P4TgB1IIp/s400/randi.antonia.me.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i hosted randi & antonia 2 years ago in la :)</td></tr>
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i was worn out, exhausted of travel by the time i'd reached hamburg and my two incredible friends randi & antonia. i was so tired, but so happy to be seeing these two again, now in their home city. here is a look back at when we all met during their visit to los angeles! and now it was my turn to explore their town...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlWNyVeEjcj1r_TzIzGimZYAjJkzS2aUXbjjWH6W6Nb7RoegIUWp9_LBmRGNNkMVuuOa1wC7x-BIlDSZ1ZSI1OONWV_4shgS9Ncf6VXmuUr7aRUADIgR0mrovgYs7biQ1YYpbBAwRqkNM/s1600/randi.toni.me.collage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlWNyVeEjcj1r_TzIzGimZYAjJkzS2aUXbjjWH6W6Nb7RoegIUWp9_LBmRGNNkMVuuOa1wC7x-BIlDSZ1ZSI1OONWV_4shgS9Ncf6VXmuUr7aRUADIgR0mrovgYs7biQ1YYpbBAwRqkNM/s400/randi.toni.me.collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">randi was head deep in polishing off her master's thesis so<br />
antonia chauffeured me around by bike that day :) </td></tr>
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2 days in copenhagen, denmark</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMuwGlCpoSIMYVmXRxj2sGhSMBIe7qV9f3S-WaNVjVLEldolNgONsxj1nXGqThqPgZgftLB3OMSjoEZ2fyL2xOb6UDACq-5UZGgccp4RPbR8chRmb-jc8fawYU0DNs2m6G9REcOJ8yXCK/s1600/copenhagen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMuwGlCpoSIMYVmXRxj2sGhSMBIe7qV9f3S-WaNVjVLEldolNgONsxj1nXGqThqPgZgftLB3OMSjoEZ2fyL2xOb6UDACq-5UZGgccp4RPbR8chRmb-jc8fawYU0DNs2m6G9REcOJ8yXCK/s400/copenhagen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bottom left: on the way from hamburg to copenhagen, <br />
they put the train on a BOAT! it was insane</td></tr>
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i was a week away from returning home, and no matter where i went, or what i did, in seven days i had to be at the airport in stockholm, sweden to board my flight back to the u.s. during my final hours in hamburg, i was still debating between a quick stop in amsterdam ( you know, just because it's amsterdam) or a more relaxing stay in copenhagen. stockholm is quite a bit north from the rest of europe, about 12 hours by train/boat (literally train-boat combination, still can't believe that one...they really put a train inside of a boat). and while amsterdam sounded great, it was out of the way and would have made for a 16 hour trek back to stockholm :/ copenhangen was on the way to stockholm and made for the reasonable choice...and when i'm tired, i default to reasonable.</div>
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up until this time, i was blessed with friends and hosts who opened their homes to me. they shared meals, walks, laughs, drinks and meaningful conversations and i am deeply grateful to them! copenhagen was the first time in 24 days of travel that i would be staying in formal accommodation, 'urban house' hostel in the city center. during a free walking tour my first day, i befriended 2 londoners and we explored more of the city after the tour! including copenhagens famous free-town, christiana. it's a counter-culture community thats 'seperated' itself from the reaches of goverment, definitely worth visiting if you make your way to copenhagen :)</div>
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3 days in stockholm, sweden</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y4Is8KDaau8PiqPh46WxtlFFNcyei6_MeEfaUu_nFAIfw9KLgRAGQVvqsMJIT8q16drHRuf7i_UW1wgfQI9aU3OhrdBacLPUP_tZ6X9DgkgCA9ir2Morx-tKL-Musvxbv-noMf8bwRaB/s1600/stockholm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y4Is8KDaau8PiqPh46WxtlFFNcyei6_MeEfaUu_nFAIfw9KLgRAGQVvqsMJIT8q16drHRuf7i_UW1wgfQI9aU3OhrdBacLPUP_tZ6X9DgkgCA9ir2Morx-tKL-Musvxbv-noMf8bwRaB/s400/stockholm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my 2nd full day, i walked nearly 20 miles around stockholm!</td></tr>
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a friend from home, growing up in washington, alexis, had made a move over to stockholm, and i knew i couldn't miss an opportunity to be so close and not catch up! i arrived in stockholm on sept. 4th, my flight leaving on monday the 7th. i spent the next 2 days exploring the different islands of this beautiful city, and one in-particular 'djurgården'. i stumbled upon the coolest little snail, who offered a solid 45 minutes of entertainment. alexis had given me a few pointers of where to go, the royal palace, city hall, boat tours, <a href="http://www.vasamuseet.se/" target="_blank">vasamuseet</a> (old war ships, so awesome!). one of my favorites was '<a href="http://fotografiska.eu/en/" target="_blank">fotografiska</a>' a contemporary photography museum. excellent exhibits, large prints with dedicated space and amazing views of the city...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU8AzGrDFdS3Ji8T57r5UB-cn-VFdLNAlfOvH7sVUSlYNzFbRBkaK_q3YzNS2BHNGMK169OA4n4Fzm3XBPWikoJUYUWgCLMSeX5PUBuc5fvVWEl-3oFbfj43T4raKt5Y1Wn36iewwqMHo/s1600/stockholm-alexis.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU8AzGrDFdS3Ji8T57r5UB-cn-VFdLNAlfOvH7sVUSlYNzFbRBkaK_q3YzNS2BHNGMK169OA4n4Fzm3XBPWikoJUYUWgCLMSeX5PUBuc5fvVWEl-3oFbfj43T4raKt5Y1Wn36iewwqMHo/s400/stockholm-alexis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">catching up with old friends on the other side of the world! on monday morning,<br />
hours before my long trek home, we met for breakfast and discussed the last 6 or<br />
so years of our lives since we'd last met :)</td></tr>
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as i wrap up these last few moments of joy and reflection on this years summer tour, i think about what impacted me the most over these 4 incredible weeks...and it always comes back to the people i've encountered and the friendships that have been built with them.</div>
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anouk and the keller family for an unforgettable week in <a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2015/08/germy-in-suisse.html" target="_blank">switzerland</a>, katy for lunch in lausanne, beat for the best of zurich, jeanny and inga for such great company in <a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2015/08/germy-in-wien.html" target="_blank">vienna</a>, jana for sharing your love of <a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2015/08/germy-in-praha.html" target="_blank">prague</a>, nadine for berlin condensed, randi & antonia...so much love to you :) and alexis for a warm breakfast on such a cold nordic day!</div>
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thank you to everyone that helped ensure this adventure was so memorable...with no plans for whats next, and really no timetable, my future adventures look brighter than ever :) </div>
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thanks for reading!</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">- j</div>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-90012380254866285362015-08-30T17:54:00.004-07:002020-12-02T11:32:04.328-08:00jeremy in praha!despite my great hopes that the carefully crafted words personifying these pages will in some way connect the reader to my experiences...i couldn't possibly find the words to describe my deep love and affection for the incredibly stunning beauty and aura of prague...<br />
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welcome to the 3rd country of my<a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2013/08/germy-in-europe.html" target="_blank"> 2015 summer tour of europe</a>;</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">praha, czech republic!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7bWPuDlcLiakQuUcT6Z7H45d6T679yj0aEfDLwSNnlKw1v9eLjjSFP-Q9F1NwN4CtEiRWV-J7Sh6uwGCK50RlTq3jTN7aNzRnJ7PrMVV7Wr1RKBQo0_jAOCYaJRW68kp4-Fs8kRgs5zY/s1600/collage.praha.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7bWPuDlcLiakQuUcT6Z7H45d6T679yj0aEfDLwSNnlKw1v9eLjjSFP-Q9F1NwN4CtEiRWV-J7Sh6uwGCK50RlTq3jTN7aNzRnJ7PrMVV7Wr1RKBQo0_jAOCYaJRW68kp4-Fs8kRgs5zY/s400/collage.praha.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">a nearly panoramic view of the city from prague castle!</span></td></tr>
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with my travels officially halfway through, i started a game of roulette with the cities i could possibly tour during the 14 or so days of adventure i had remaining. the clouds and rain of switzerland had nearly driven me to a pit stop in italy, where i could have found some sun along the shores of the mediteranean...and multiple comments from friends had me to believe that prague wouldn't be too much different than <a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2015/08/germy-in-wien.html" target="_blank">vienna (my last stop)</a>. so it could be skipped if time was short...<br />
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but alas, my instincts led me to prague, and it's one of the most important and satisfying decicions concerning travel (and photography) that i've ever made...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4urAxQX30M-vSi1T0O7M58ltrBtnUtB2shPLrt_NHXcs-0OxbTZSwsr8bg6R5UxDKfU52EH6UX1CSxoKs7Lv_aWc8mLy-y7271v6NX63Xmmd4fDI6SDfWQmsqGAVHwVJ5Fu86SiHyuRA/s1600/with.jana.yi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4urAxQX30M-vSi1T0O7M58ltrBtnUtB2shPLrt_NHXcs-0OxbTZSwsr8bg6R5UxDKfU52EH6UX1CSxoKs7Lv_aWc8mLy-y7271v6NX63Xmmd4fDI6SDfWQmsqGAVHwVJ5Fu86SiHyuRA/s400/with.jana.yi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">me with my host jana (bottom left) and another traveler she was hosting yi-hsin <br />(bottom right). yi-hsin was hitchhiking through europe for a month, <br />with the help of <a href="http://hitchwiki.org/">hitchwiki.org</a></span></td></tr>
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my host, jana, was so kind and generous in her hospitality. the love she has for her city came through in the many small, finer details she showed me during our strolls through the city streets.<br />
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among the many kind things jana offered, two stand out as truly impactful...one, she made an authentic czech dish for dinner one night, of potato/bacon <a href="http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/452681/Gary-Rhodes--bacon-and-potato-frittata" target="_blank">frittata</a> with salad (pictured above, top right). and two, she outlined a walking tour of prague that i would come to treat as a bible. a route so incredibly perfect, that i would end up following it's nearly 10 mile course...twice</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB9xJbFORLBv-gE7K6f8jZCt0FBkPrkBKOOtBr86SDUH9kkruw8wi8WzR2F1LF4eA6r8DgaMCnidz0Ent0qdL0HZryPmPKvlsqczdpIAbgaay31IxR3DwsrafbbWEIsTluGscJeyRmdLT/s1600/map_prg-edited.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB9xJbFORLBv-gE7K6f8jZCt0FBkPrkBKOOtBr86SDUH9kkruw8wi8WzR2F1LF4eA6r8DgaMCnidz0Ent0qdL0HZryPmPKvlsqczdpIAbgaay31IxR3DwsrafbbWEIsTluGscJeyRmdLT/s400/map_prg-edited.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> day 1: blue line day 2: green line map: gtsincoming.cz<br />i began each walk on the red star, and ended on the black pentagon.</span></div>
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i started my first full day (blue line) a bit behind schedule, and only made it about 75% through the total route before meeting up with jana for drinks and a few games of pool after she'd finished work! </div>
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i was so stunned by what i'd seen of the city over the 5-6 hours spent exploring it's unique history and design...as we made our way back home, my mind began to craft a mission...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1l4EZJVPliKpP3Vne-DbT5RZV9cAg2EHQ-ILTsx-2ex9p_ImfIzDyVADq6rBGx_JAcTPWDt7mDD2REpCmx0Fgmx2AAb8JFhyphenhyphen7DYz8GMT0-81M2-25iATM9-Vz4QVd1q_Cl6ri3nZGYiQ/s1600/IMG_2251-edit.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1l4EZJVPliKpP3Vne-DbT5RZV9cAg2EHQ-ILTsx-2ex9p_ImfIzDyVADq6rBGx_JAcTPWDt7mDD2REpCmx0Fgmx2AAb8JFhyphenhyphen7DYz8GMT0-81M2-25iATM9-Vz4QVd1q_Cl6ri3nZGYiQ/s400/IMG_2251-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">14th century church in prague's old town. the pražský orloj<br /> (prague astronomical clock tower) can be seen to the left.<br /> it was a well planned early morning mission that allowed for <br />tourist-free photo's like this :)</span></td></tr>
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i was overwhelmed by the opportunities to capture such an array of aesthetic architecture. but i felt limited in my ability to expose the true beauty of the city...with so many tourists and local residents walking here and standing there, the impact of seeing the architecture in it's complete form was hopeless...</div>
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i decided with a good nights rest, i would trek out for an early morning attack on the bricks and mortar stacked by men of history. as it often happens while traveling, the 'good nights sleep' aspect fell through, and i shut my eyes around 1:00AM, with an alarm set to go off in 3 hours...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi0aRYd8V_m1T7fTGvTuv2f2INEMKwliL-UfXT2yD2CMNJQun8BmUFnXS2LlXzFdNyjOvfydpe0nZrA2wiGsVOYOHMLCQpw_cIo2E1Cy1NbntiB7HKip2TfvO1hO1CZqCvz3OIYu87EC9/s1600/2275-framed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi0aRYd8V_m1T7fTGvTuv2f2INEMKwliL-UfXT2yD2CMNJQun8BmUFnXS2LlXzFdNyjOvfydpe0nZrA2wiGsVOYOHMLCQpw_cIo2E1Cy1NbntiB7HKip2TfvO1hO1CZqCvz3OIYu87EC9/s400/2275-framed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">a view of prague's old town square, c</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">hrám matky boži před týnem</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br />(church of our lady before tyn). </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">the 14th century structure highlights this frame. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg353A2BKLIoKE7BqCOcYDjIqGRmU-_IgHnEYwBcMoKOxGYy2yrg-E7EyhV9juXVQ_1HlmumycKbjS9Qs3mJt91a0_-RwILLvONpFkPYp3ZBQ7Ip8jGtwtrUjXDj-Gnab6KdmieDZjoXMa6/s1600/For+Post.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg353A2BKLIoKE7BqCOcYDjIqGRmU-_IgHnEYwBcMoKOxGYy2yrg-E7EyhV9juXVQ_1HlmumycKbjS9Qs3mJt91a0_-RwILLvONpFkPYp3ZBQ7Ip8jGtwtrUjXDj-Gnab6KdmieDZjoXMa6/s400/For+Post.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">view from karlův most (charles bridge). by now i was racing against </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">the rising sun. and not just for tourist-free photographs,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">but to also squeeze out the best lighting early mornings have to offer!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fkndveQ5FVnefp8SRX7MawSdDbT9G33ljDOQXQzRbuY5sxsn6ujCem5hMUHwTxQoTeExWjHc9-3DdQE4R8zJ5TIZEgXz1QioGsGlgNhdSUq2_tOOZ04CN_fUeg2uZnMbeYHSyg_T5Wko/s1600/SAM_0564-edit.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fkndveQ5FVnefp8SRX7MawSdDbT9G33ljDOQXQzRbuY5sxsn6ujCem5hMUHwTxQoTeExWjHc9-3DdQE4R8zJ5TIZEgXz1QioGsGlgNhdSUq2_tOOZ04CN_fUeg2uZnMbeYHSyg_T5Wko/s400/SAM_0564-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">zahrady pražského (lower gardens below prague castle)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">another view from karlův mos. <br />the sun was growing more intense as it inched up the sky.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">tower of pražský orloj (the prague astronomical clock)</span></td></tr>
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by 5:00AM i was in the city center, sprawled out, face down and hugging centuries old cobblestone. the previous days walk had given me a logistical map of which targets i would focus on. i expected a small window of time between the morning's best light, and when the first people would begin to make their way into the streets to start their day...<br />
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by the time i'd hit karlův most (charles bridge) around 7:00AM, i was no longer guaranteed the pleasure of a clean frame...but i was drunk with satisfaction, stupefied by aesthetic and exhausted beyond belief. i took the metro back to jana's, napped until noon, and went back out to the city center to complete the rest of the most perfect walking tour, with happiness and leisure :)</div>
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i honestly feel fortunate to have had the privilege to capture the city in such an intimate setting. the weather, not having been the most reliable over the last weeks, was holding strong over that early morning and through the rest of my time in prague.<br />
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if you ever have the opportunity to make a stop in prague, i highly recommend taking it. for it's beauty and other striking assets, it's surprisingly very budget friendly when it comes to expenses. beer is typically cheaper than water, and a full meal will run you about 100 crowns (about $4 usd today). <span style="text-align: center;">i was quite sad to leave the city on the train bound for my next stop, germany. but i was also so happy to have seen and experienced all that i had in the the two full days i was here. </span><br />
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during those two days, my adventure totals continued to rise. you can see the calculated totals below:</div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">totals: </b>17 days 10 cities 3 countries 328,000 steps 160 miles</div>
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as my time abroad dwindles, the overall satisfaction with my tour solidifies more with every passing second. thank you to my host jana for giving me more than i could have ever expected from praha, and thank you to the rich history and people of what i can say is truly one of my favorite cities.<br />
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the final stops on my tour are still to be determined...the game of euro city roulette carries on! but next up...germany!<br />
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until next time, ahoj praha, guten tag berlin!<br />
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thanks for reading,<br />
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- j<br />
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Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-10080856066186162892015-08-25T13:39:00.005-07:002020-12-02T11:33:28.328-08:00jeremy in wien!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">hallo from, wien (vienna), austria! hello reader and welcome to country #2 of my <a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2013/08/germy-in-europe.html" target="_blank">2015 summer euro tour!</a> after an 8 hour train ride from zurich, i stepped onto the platform in a brand new station with fresh feet, ready to tackle another european teasure…</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">on the danube river, running through the heart of wien photo: jeanny prüger</span></td></tr>
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as i start my first full day in a new city, my mission is usually pretty simple: take my camera, find the architecture, and go… but the 3 days i spent in wien didn’t fit that typical adventuring format… to me, i can at times, operate my life quite independently of others; isolation and crippling shyness define my personality well. but not in vienna…architecture and the patient hunt for aesthetically sound photographs gave way to drinks, food, laughter and dancing!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">my host jeanny and i at empress sisi’s castle <a href="http://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/sights/imperial/schoenbrunn-palace" target="_blank">schönbrunn palace</a> (photo: inga mau)</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></td></tr>
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a dear friend from vienna, jeanny, was my incredible host in the heart of the city. i gave a small tour of los angeles to her and a few other au pairs working in berkeley, california over a year ago…and now, the time had come for me to see her city! also an avid photographer, jeanny has given me a rare gift during my visit here…photos of myself! photos of me drinking, eating, laughing, dancing, and all in all just having a damn good time in vienna :) <br />
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so, foregoing the usual cityscapes and history that can dominate these pages, lets indulge in something a little lighter this time! <br />
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enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">ok, so just a little bit of architecture above, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">but even that was blocked by fun and entertainment</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(see the giant movie screen blocking the structure on the bottom?!)<span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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jeanny took us on a walking tour of the city center after finishing work. we stopped by the parlament building (spelled correctly), city hall and the gardens of city hall. we also made our way to<a href="http://www.hofburg-wien.at/" target="_blank"> hofburg castle,</a> a tourist staple, and a super relaxing river beach bar along the historic danube river!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">food isn’t usually a top priority for me while traveling.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">but jeanny insisted on a hearty austrian made breakfast each morning</span></td></tr>
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breakfast #1 (not pictured, eaten too fast) european style pancakes (crepes) with honey, raspberry, blueberry, yogurt, and nutella. breakfast #2, pictured top left: austrian<a href="http://germanfood.about.com/od/desserts/r/Kaiserschmarrn-Austrian-Pancake.htm" target="_blank"> <i>kaiserschmarren</i></a>, similar to american french toast, but the dough is made from scratch, hmmmmmm! i also hunted down some peanut butter, which is not a common european food piece and snacked on it as the american delicacy that it is…pinky’s up!!<br />
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additionally, pictured above (bottom right) is the single most disgusting dish austrians equate to a meal…some type of diced ham, hardened in fat with an egg topping…(name: i didn’t want to know) <br />
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we also treated ourselves to austrian beer made by a local brewery, <i><a href="http://www.ottakringerbrauerei.at/de/home/" target="_blank">ottakringer</a></i>, just steps from jeanny’s flat. and a tasty traditional austrian sandwhich:<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leberk%C3%A4se" target="_blank"> <i>leberkäse semme</i>l</a> (thickly cut ham between a sliced roll)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">jeanny jordan!</span></div>
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how austrians take out the trash!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">another former au pair in berkeley, inga, from germany was visiting jeanny as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> it’s such an incredible feeling to see friends i’ve met in the u.s.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> and explore another city with them on the other side of the world :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">prater amusement park!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">a night spent roaming around vienna’s prater amusement park:</span> <a href="http://www.prater.at/">http://www.prater.at</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">another end of the day spent on the danube river, before heading out </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">for a night on the town! </span><span style="font-size: small;">have you ever danced so hard, </span><span style="font-size: small;">and for so long, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">that you can wring out your shirt on the train ride home?</span><br />
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my 3 days in vienna were documented so well in the smiles and laughs above. thank you for these memories jeanny (and inga!), it will be impossible to forget how much fun and adventure can be squeezed into 72 hours :) </div>
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despite the vienna city capers, the step count and mile totals continue to rise: </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">totals: </span></b> 14 days 9 cities 2 countries 257,000 steps 136 miles</div>
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my next adventure, country #3, will be in prague, czech republic. i’m anxious to discover the rich history of this uber central european city, and to once again, dive into the beautiful architecture of the past! <br />
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quf wiedersehen wien! ahoj prague!<br />
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thanks for reading! <br />
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<br />- j</div>
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Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-7272696902319781072015-08-21T05:35:00.004-07:002020-12-02T11:34:02.491-08:00jeremy in suisse!<div>
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bonjour, hallo & ciao from the motherland! welcome reader to the first stop of my <a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2013/08/germy-in-europe.html" target="_blank">2015 summer euro tour.</a> it's with a great smile that i sit to document my many adventures in switzerland.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1rqhPqj2MLf3yPQwsc8P67lCT5czULF6SNLSvy207Jb3ZSWXLHiht0p75r3OvgoNzJexSYns4tOSQMy0oCvtxKRSQ2KtRb-f6g88cxAavlii0dIz3a1cudGDYr_VzuLWytd5Dc27C3eo/s1600/road-map-of-Switzerland-edited.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1rqhPqj2MLf3yPQwsc8P67lCT5czULF6SNLSvy207Jb3ZSWXLHiht0p75r3OvgoNzJexSYns4tOSQMy0oCvtxKRSQ2KtRb-f6g88cxAavlii0dIz3a1cudGDYr_VzuLWytd5Dc27C3eo/s400/road-map-of-Switzerland-edited.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">focmaps.com<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">10 days, 8 cities, 167,000 steps rounding out at 100 miles on foot :)</span></div>
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to say that i explored the lands of my great great grandparents doesn't do my feet (nor my pf flyers) justice. every step was a reminder of the many years i spent longing for the day i'd actually be here. although i often found myself taking much needed mid-day snoozes, i promise you, i took full advantage of each and every hour i had.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoYj4Udd-6eZsnFYZNyel9EJnNv8gH9-E14-DRYCN_o7mTuJW8jjOqR2NMG9btiebX3aL1kxQcbm8K07528Yir9wtDb-6P30STONpQtCTUL3T6N91jf9yItlIlbSmwTjmhDkTOg6K66iF/s1600/glaciers.flightpath.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoYj4Udd-6eZsnFYZNyel9EJnNv8gH9-E14-DRYCN_o7mTuJW8jjOqR2NMG9btiebX3aL1kxQcbm8K07528Yir9wtDb-6P30STONpQtCTUL3T6N91jf9yItlIlbSmwTjmhDkTOg6K66iF/s400/glaciers.flightpath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">because of our flight path over the artic, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">i didn't experience darkness for well over 30 hours</span></td></tr>
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the adventure began in earnest with the 20 hour flight to my first city, geneva. we flew over greenland and the artic ocean with stunning views of blinding white glaciers.<br />
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a friend i hosted in los angeles last year, anouk, was my incredible host during the time i had in the french speaking west end of switzerland. as i made my way through swiss customs, it was so nice to see a familiar face smiling back at me on the other side of the world!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKULroXUzqXRK05IOinCanxO8ASlSHnS5kXgC8BachWmmh4B_t0FirYYzjZcjbrsTChOSvwjFVrm6X0oYS4vZpInkuy-SAdiOMTi7-rbEqNTWcpOaCTyOXtdjnJTKKfSHgXX7aCQ0Wb2dO/s1600/anoukandme.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKULroXUzqXRK05IOinCanxO8ASlSHnS5kXgC8BachWmmh4B_t0FirYYzjZcjbrsTChOSvwjFVrm6X0oYS4vZpInkuy-SAdiOMTi7-rbEqNTWcpOaCTyOXtdjnJTKKfSHgXX7aCQ0Wb2dO/s400/anoukandme.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">my wonderful swiss host in geneva, anouk! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">thank you to the entire keller family for your kindness and hospitality :)</span></div>
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during the 5 days i had under the care of the keller family, i was absolutley humbled with generosity and comfort. with anouk on summer holidays, she was kind enough to guide me around the various cities i had on my list.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Geneva</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a day spent in geneva, biking around the city and swimming in it's beautiful lake. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">there's a unique collide between two rivers in the center collage above; </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">one comes from the lake (blue) the other from the mountains (brown). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">we also made a stop at the U.N. Europe HQ! (top left)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lausanne</span></div>
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an afternoon spent in lausanne is an afternoon spent on the stairmaster...the city is built on hills, big, exhausting, endlessly beautiful hills! lausanne is across from geneva on lac leman (lake geneva) and another friend i hosted in los angeles calls it her home. katy met up with me and anouk during her lunch break and we sat in the park, catching up on life :) we were also surpised by an impromptu street performance from a band outside lausanne's large cathedral!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">La Chaux De Fonds (home village)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSbWk_HXxOGeDyAOjacDen-FDuxZaCNxlVbGYw7bOKVuFqNBUbJBKB94Etj2x8olSu9jOEjDZoFV8QMyoCYkUBTdqQMIyHOJrs-XxWeQ9LvOyc7VfTDtXO9GKSAUcfxmGM4gdfW6tQKu7/s1600/la+chaux+de+fonds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSbWk_HXxOGeDyAOjacDen-FDuxZaCNxlVbGYw7bOKVuFqNBUbJBKB94Etj2x8olSu9jOEjDZoFV8QMyoCYkUBTdqQMIyHOJrs-XxWeQ9LvOyc7VfTDtXO9GKSAUcfxmGM4gdfW6tQKu7/s400/la+chaux+de+fonds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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my 3rd day in switzerland was ambitous. 3 cities and 5 trains later, i will have seen my home village, la chaux de fonds (above) along with the swiss capital (bern) and ending the day with a stay in the swiss alps (anzere). we spent 3 hours on a walking tour through la chaux de fonds which included a stop at the international watch museum. it's not just my roots that draw me to swiss time pieces, it's the craftsmanship and precision that intrigue me...it was an incredible feeling and privilage to walk the streets in the village of my great great grandparents :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bern (swiss captial)</span></div>
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a pleasantly rainy day in the swiss captial! we stumbled upon the U.S. Embassy and i also fell in love with a beautiful wenger watch...it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a swiss watch in none other than the swiss capital, but to have an instant connection with the piece as well (think harry potter and his wand!) was beyond meaningful.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anzere (swiss alps!)</span></div>
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unfortunatley, most all of my time in switzerland was accompanied by clouds and rain. although it didn't stop me from enjoying my experience, it did prove for some sub-par images :/ but none tops the rainiest, cloudiest, foggiest conditions like my time in the swiss alps! just outside of sion, a mountain community (anzere) was where i spent 2 nights and a full day covered in the densest mist i've ever seen. we hiked 12 miles rountrip to a beautiful lake that we knew we weren't actually going to be able to see...but the hike (and the 50 ft. radius we could see from any given angle) was still a blast!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Zurich</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_u1wqwubYLp2tHQhMuBJfAZWvTjw3C1m2XP5TJDAceRNnrpkOwUsd5_QeAVJNis-lNynR9ri0dKqs47IFfSt4TNdjpBhurrota-QLEW23Cq0OjPUbhVDwc0QMnr2ofHOK6U27j0CXRJY/s1600/zurich.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_u1wqwubYLp2tHQhMuBJfAZWvTjw3C1m2XP5TJDAceRNnrpkOwUsd5_QeAVJNis-lNynR9ri0dKqs47IFfSt4TNdjpBhurrota-QLEW23Cq0OjPUbhVDwc0QMnr2ofHOK6U27j0CXRJY/s400/zurich.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">my experience in zurich would not have been nearly </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">as memorable without the amazing host i now consider a good friend.</span></td></tr>
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my zurich host, beat, gave me a guided tour of zurich each night after finishing work. we walked by his favorite places in his beloved city, where tourists rarely venture. he lent me his bike for a strenuous uphill trek to a panoramic view of zurich and it's lake from atop <i><a href="http://www.uetliberg.ch/" target="_blank">uetilberg</a></i>. but depsite the shocking views of the city and the surrounding swiss alps, my favorite part of zurich was being treated to the finest local meal of <i><a href="http://www.about.ch/culture/food/zuercher_geschnetzeltes.html" target="_blank">zurich geschnetzeltes</a></i> (small pieces of veal cooked in a creamy mushroom and white wine sauce). thank you for your unrelenting hospitality and kindness beat! people like you make the world a much better place :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Einsiedeln</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">einsiedeln was a suggestion from my host, beat. i mentioned that </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">i wanted a small village atmostphere and his recommendation was spot on! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">i took beat's bike and cycled around a large lake, </span><span style="font-size: small;">discovered an enormous monestary, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">summer ski jumping, and two cows i'd now call my friends :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Luzern</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">luzern was another suprise visit on my list, and another succesful suggestion from beat. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">it was the 8th and final city to round off my tour of switzerland.</span></td></tr>
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i've now seen more of my home country switzerland than i have of my actual 'home' state of california. and to be honest, i'm totally happy with that! it's an experience i dreamt of as a child, and the time i've spent here has surpassed any expectations i could have possibly had growing up. </div>
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it's a land that invests heavily in it's people, providing countless public spaces that you would actually want to use. in zurich, they have these amazing swimming areas embedded right in the river. docks line the edges with bars and restaurants, and jumping off the bridges is absolutley acceptable :)</div>
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it's difficult to imagine the distances i've walked and the many different cities i've managed to see. i even skipped venice, italy, scratched it right off the list, because i wanted, no... i needed more time in this country. although it's undoubtably the most expensive country i've toured so far (about $20 USD for a plate of delicious chow mein...no, not joking) it's people and culture have also been the kindest and most accepting of others.</div>
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up next is vienna (wien) and the country of austria! i'm looking forward to a new adventure and hopefully some improved weather!</div>
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to my hosts, anouk, the keller family and beat; you must know how incredibly special you've made my time in switzerland. for the memories i'll never forget, and the friends i'll always have, thank you!</div>
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thanks for reading!<br />
<br />- j<br /></div>
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Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-71176235943049195912015-08-06T00:35:00.005-07:002020-12-02T11:34:31.230-08:00jeremy in europe 2!<div style="text-align: center;">
231...this is roughly the number of days worked since mid-september of 2014. it's now august, 2015 and 4 days separate me from a much anticipated second tour of europe!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHs7pTvpBiIcqCBpA0ktpngF43xhAN2W2m1k0CdTNAxq0UzlXV0HLHgGiJWVQ-h5mOQdgOLbM2Tm_ZuusHayOa24x-FxMWiBpfYMprecWND1dnfVk8qaLsI_5RiIBKLKWH5ooD7aBB4ci/s1600/Euro-August2015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHs7pTvpBiIcqCBpA0ktpngF43xhAN2W2m1k0CdTNAxq0UzlXV0HLHgGiJWVQ-h5mOQdgOLbM2Tm_ZuusHayOa24x-FxMWiBpfYMprecWND1dnfVk8qaLsI_5RiIBKLKWH5ooD7aBB4ci/s400/Euro-August2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">august 10 - sept. 7 europe, summer 2015</td></tr>
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the alluring history & rich culture of these countries themselves is enough to seduce anyone into a second go around. but the potentially surprising detail that brought me back is...curiosity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJ69ti4zavP7fCAvNp6aUvzVGISGdBN9vFdnvOmsCmKDy89L-1tVcRTBJfUeJVH933Va5enpP2oAfKmKoAf05t26uID62US4ug3afGeO2-mJbHpJ9YCVLy-At5e9vNisc-gNsRh3KfePr/s1600/swiss-flag-with-matterhorn-in-the-background.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJ69ti4zavP7fCAvNp6aUvzVGISGdBN9vFdnvOmsCmKDy89L-1tVcRTBJfUeJVH933Va5enpP2oAfKmKoAf05t26uID62US4ug3afGeO2-mJbHpJ9YCVLy-At5e9vNisc-gNsRh3KfePr/s320/swiss-flag-with-matterhorn-in-the-background.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span> </span> source: swisswatchwire.com</td></tr>
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as a child my mother used to mention every so often that her side of the family is swiss. i knew from a young age that with my darker complexion, a trip pursuing long lost family might end in some awkwardness, but nonetheless, i always took great pride in my half-swiss roots. to me, the swiss have always meant unparalleled craftsmanship and resolute neutrality. two things i would be more than happy to have etched into my tombstone (joking, joking...please cremate me!).<br />
<br />
i don't have a grand plan to quest after my relatives in the mother country, but i am adamantly curious about the land & culture of switzerland. and so, it's switzerland where i begin...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-tuUrpXlu6NqyQLxkl8yX86SIt8-A3R-OemSH9ymQ_pWEHqWw6ltrbQGPK6WZmHmYDdym4ZRIKJ8mfywM87iMSehAeHZWT6LHLvjhogNCPUlqz3V-MTf_C5XC-gQf4jIBEsEv5DfNIyW/s1600/IMG_1316.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-tuUrpXlu6NqyQLxkl8yX86SIt8-A3R-OemSH9ymQ_pWEHqWw6ltrbQGPK6WZmHmYDdym4ZRIKJ8mfywM87iMSehAeHZWT6LHLvjhogNCPUlqz3V-MTf_C5XC-gQf4jIBEsEv5DfNIyW/s320/IMG_1316.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i fear this may be your last big adventure old friend...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
with my trusty backpack and sidekick adventure bag, i'm packing up a weeks supply of clothes to last for 30 days. this bag has seen me through moments of paralyzing adrenaline and days of pure elation. i've had her for 6 solid years, and i couldn't have asked for a better companion. you're the reason i never have to check a bag, you fit my back like a glove, and you even double as a pillow when i'm desperate...but sadly, with holes in your meshes, and all but busted zipper cords, this may be our last great tour together dear backpack. lets make it count!<br />
<br />
while switzerland is the main attraction, i'm not taking a 19 hour flight with a 5 hour layover in moscow for a one stop tour...<br />
<br />
- venice, italy<br />
- vienna, austria<br />
- berlin/hamburg, germany (and)<br />
- stockholm, sweden<br />
<br />
these cities tentatively round off the remaining weeks. and with a eurail pass, my typically well-planned itinerary is not set in it's tracks. i bought the rail pass for $800, and it allows for 10 full-day train rides, i.e. anywhere i can go (even switching multiple trains) within a 24 hour period counts as 1 day of riding! 28 european countries participate in the <a href="http://www.eurail.com/" target="_blank">eurail pass</a>, and with various packages for purchase, you're bound to find something in your budget. my only stipulation is that i must use my 10 trips within 2 months...psshhh, done!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzJXyYI11n9VUBxYQ3yL5bfMq1KzbpgJYNSYo_ocVS3mJx_ZKGGOE98i1ERAi4O11sHu_VxequEzb6MTDB9oMOc6zksedK7mPVdVLbD5RDqGc4avSib5n2CA3ATnVMx2OE06_qMc4ScLi/s1600/IMG_1312.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzJXyYI11n9VUBxYQ3yL5bfMq1KzbpgJYNSYo_ocVS3mJx_ZKGGOE98i1ERAi4O11sHu_VxequEzb6MTDB9oMOc6zksedK7mPVdVLbD5RDqGc4avSib5n2CA3ATnVMx2OE06_qMc4ScLi/s320/IMG_1312.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">representing home with the red, white & blue :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
as my closet continues to swell with adventure ridden pf flyers, yet another pair joins the collection as this summer's designated euro-tour kicks. a new pair is vital to my ambitions of exploring 5 brand new cities on foot. lets see how they hold up to the many miles we have in store together...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OPYqm8aHvmYp5z6iyeM9lgf7Td5hjHHEItDraIbk4THelyNBB6a-ko0k-RjW_mkUN4ekADptkUp82MefZR4BFUEowGGehVT-FCthj52tRL5G2eOEIjLPdz3SzbntDIy9Frtc4-m1tcIr/s1600/20150805_223142-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OPYqm8aHvmYp5z6iyeM9lgf7Td5hjHHEItDraIbk4THelyNBB6a-ko0k-RjW_mkUN4ekADptkUp82MefZR4BFUEowGGehVT-FCthj52tRL5G2eOEIjLPdz3SzbntDIy9Frtc4-m1tcIr/s320/20150805_223142-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my brand new 24-70 f2.8 lense joins me this summer <br />
to slay down europe's architecture once more!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and what would a euro tour be to a photographer without a camera! sweeping architecture and breathtaking landscapes top my desires, but who knows whats to come...<br />
<br />
i invite you to join me on my adventures as i document the beautiful aspects of human civilization and culture in central europe. with well planned free time (and some luck), i'll be posting my happenings in each destination along the way. check-in mid-august for my first stop, switzerland!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to my friends, family and dear sasha for your love and support during this last season of work...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thank you!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i'm inexplicably blessed to once again passionately explore the world around me...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blog.jeremylee.us/2013/08/germy-in-europe.html" target="_blank">*jeremy in Europe 1!*</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
as always,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
thanks for reading!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">- j</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-50878917647724441462014-08-31T19:25:00.002-07:002020-12-02T11:35:56.528-08:00jeremy in nicaragua!<div style="text-align: center;">
it's august, and another summer tour has come to fulfill the annual needs of my mind & body. welcome reader to my nicaraguan adventure of 2014!</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8I1TdANvd43FYqsmM_yPZnvjEOg9g9-XzECk6u85lJNikf8oqmRrj9KtcAgeyCrUG9JxdFAOc9uh2dNNHPYh24kRmzIfDfmnaLMl5YbfZIKHsi-mlgBMGHGBCq96X2TurCpG1en8HWjy/s1600/jeremy-nica2014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8I1TdANvd43FYqsmM_yPZnvjEOg9g9-XzECk6u85lJNikf8oqmRrj9KtcAgeyCrUG9JxdFAOc9uh2dNNHPYh24kRmzIfDfmnaLMl5YbfZIKHsi-mlgBMGHGBCq96X2TurCpG1en8HWjy/s1600/jeremy-nica2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
every piece of this trip was defined by the unknown, beginning with the plane tickets...noting some of the words from my last post in greece, i did have big intentions to make my way towards central america this summer. however, my plan was costa rica...so how did i end up one country north?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReHaYn-Q8HJTrXajvYPfIeWcmJ-cFvusXSWZAEeBqCfv32AuPFJImGuy4-DGKmoI2UiURmGEyvVQkdRBX6JdUwWaN3nXk2saxrWHBYa0YLQnXbHGVRW66Ze3IcAvBWAOGs5w1XRjn4cCX/s1600/sjds.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReHaYn-Q8HJTrXajvYPfIeWcmJ-cFvusXSWZAEeBqCfv32AuPFJImGuy4-DGKmoI2UiURmGEyvVQkdRBX6JdUwWaN3nXk2saxrWHBYa0YLQnXbHGVRW66Ze3IcAvBWAOGs5w1XRjn4cCX/s1600/sjds.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i used the small coastal town of san juan del sur as base, <br />
but also spent a night on the island of ometepe in the middle<br />
of lake nicaragua surrounded by two active volcanoes...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
while trying to find adventures and accommodation in costa rica, i found the basics to be a bit more expensive than i had anticipated. in california, and as an american in general, most conversation about travel in central america is usually about costa rica, so i found it kinda easy to forget there were other places to see (huge mistake). in defense of my ignorance, the united states does have <a href="http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html" target="_blank">travel advisories</a> in 3 out of 6 central american countries; guatemala, el salvador and honduras...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEpu0pE2a37nkXgluADv2_G4oEK5RGix-I3dLZ8-OszxnVkRZYgihFvOFe2PhtT8qEM_gMtWNux_jrBAoDL72gO354VhuwJqTPikVsQOzeAqvNu7jX9vaqJGt7lJFmxVX7ZZsUMq45DMV/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-558.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEpu0pE2a37nkXgluADv2_G4oEK5RGix-I3dLZ8-OszxnVkRZYgihFvOFe2PhtT8qEM_gMtWNux_jrBAoDL72gO354VhuwJqTPikVsQOzeAqvNu7jX9vaqJGt7lJFmxVX7ZZsUMq45DMV/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-558.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pasture at the base of volcán concepción on isle ometepe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
a friend made a subtle suggestion of nicaragua, and it's as if the map i had been staring at for days suddenly doubled in size. as if my mind realized the possibilities of discovering paradise in a place i knew very little about...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP-OQzoMl94ISF6_MOd210tatB6D_P5tLfhYJ4D7s8em8ySerPfdJITa37oOJ9HjyW10WpvuZtOtzN0htPItEYvMLG8zOmlosZTi86Qk7hD-IR1FpsbAlFxcl9TGqUanLXvohg8zgC86L/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-103.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP-OQzoMl94ISF6_MOd210tatB6D_P5tLfhYJ4D7s8em8ySerPfdJITa37oOJ9HjyW10WpvuZtOtzN0htPItEYvMLG8zOmlosZTi86Qk7hD-IR1FpsbAlFxcl9TGqUanLXvohg8zgC86L/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magnific rock, just south of popoyo, nicaragua</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
over the last ten years, i've made weak, albeit consistent attempts to become fluent in spanish. a trip to nicaragua was an exciting test of the fragmented lessons i've managed to piece together. though i live in california with plenty of opportunities to practice, i've always had a fear of trying to speak spanish to native speakers...well the time had come to throw fear aside and embrace the little that i do know for a full-immersion nica experience.<br />
<br />
language was a big part of my decision to explore nicaragua, but i was in search of other indulgences as well. friendship, adventure, solitude and beautiful landscapes...all of which i found each and every day of my nica tour:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3nXgu1L__fCmZ8QNswPE9xteIZErtIPLr4rcng7o7PhdmQTWL7RJCWW5Eq8tH9JRR4bHPxz-uzolGCBalo4ywhP76HlHn6KiD5N9-X4Sd6eTSgB6MJERyi_acl3zyqn5rUaw7AJ-_teI/s1600/nica-friends.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3nXgu1L__fCmZ8QNswPE9xteIZErtIPLr4rcng7o7PhdmQTWL7RJCWW5Eq8tH9JRR4bHPxz-uzolGCBalo4ywhP76HlHn6KiD5N9-X4Sd6eTSgB6MJERyi_acl3zyqn5rUaw7AJ-_teI/s1600/nica-friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">to new friends now near and dear to my heart: alan, milton, emelie, sandrine,<br />
isabelle, josh, ambur, ashley, brookly and the many more, <br />
thank you for making my nica experience that much more enjoyable :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
traveling on your own, you're quick to recognize the opportunity to make good friends. organic companionship is undoubtedly one of the most vital conditions required for me to enjoy any experience. it serves to make those experiences profoundly more impactful and meaningful...<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvBXKzwwIpTwIQUZcSAbcxjOILvFaTof0suKQ-snL0p9oS6vUsWPlRJgk1Rvzw6wV0sYHBO6rQt0rNn_nmtAA2lPBdB9lJ1eR_GublfzwFfsWHKDwTJeEnMJpNCMdTLSVjH-ZqPIyV4bA/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-348.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvBXKzwwIpTwIQUZcSAbcxjOILvFaTof0suKQ-snL0p9oS6vUsWPlRJgk1Rvzw6wV0sYHBO6rQt0rNn_nmtAA2lPBdB9lJ1eR_GublfzwFfsWHKDwTJeEnMJpNCMdTLSVjH-ZqPIyV4bA/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-348.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i spent part of my day on the volcanic island <b>ometepe</b> hiking through <br />
the thickest, densest jungle lands i've ever seen...it got hotter <br />
& hotter as i made my way up the side of the volcano <b>concepción</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lurZ7Lh45r1OFcyDJ7qaSzgy4eHBEWy7x6XCNMxVjILFE3xc2n6PIjenzoa9hzKzv8FAZR9WCG94v6VhsLB6sdGD_b6Zmo87rLxhOsIM9fL3JFWE3MZ_xbvP_Uf03yafX3V1m5dV4jLn/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-354.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lurZ7Lh45r1OFcyDJ7qaSzgy4eHBEWy7x6XCNMxVjILFE3xc2n6PIjenzoa9hzKzv8FAZR9WCG94v6VhsLB6sdGD_b6Zmo87rLxhOsIM9fL3JFWE3MZ_xbvP_Uf03yafX3V1m5dV4jLn/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-354.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lurZ7Lh45r1OFcyDJ7qaSzgy4eHBEWy7x6XCNMxVjILFE3xc2n6PIjenzoa9hzKzv8FAZR9WCG94v6VhsLB6sdGD_b6Zmo87rLxhOsIM9fL3JFWE3MZ_xbvP_Uf03yafX3V1m5dV4jLn/s1600/Nica2014-jlp-354.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
i fell in-love with a white dirt bike, and i wasn't it's only admirer. as i rode past the smallest of villages, locals young and old would smile and wave at me, but many of their eyes were fixed on the bike. thanks to my moto blanco, i saw parts of this world that few people have been...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTUMxLNx2bSb2T9HwUEPr5ZBTbuTXWrmdHhBbucBd_xI0esTlTMuZOgH2P8Z938Ti2Zyy5VJGVuEmVNDeOPBRMp9R9v1HMBgoEWsJikFUUB9MS1cvT9x2l4tPVEUA9BQOzP05em62ZE3s/s1600/moto-nica.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTUMxLNx2bSb2T9HwUEPr5ZBTbuTXWrmdHhBbucBd_xI0esTlTMuZOgH2P8Z938Ti2Zyy5VJGVuEmVNDeOPBRMp9R9v1HMBgoEWsJikFUUB9MS1cvT9x2l4tPVEUA9BQOzP05em62ZE3s/s1600/moto-nica.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with a motor bike, i explored the isle ometepe, a dense volcanic jungle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCkelI7e0i4AqGvXn0BA8LBbmYysK9UBTT9rN2cAt0aHLoHrgImlHhsshaoTyjYpetGx9GKvSOY6ZZ1bweDXxvIIG7sRshwnjmL7U82nW04FK2NArdEL3nB667N_8bSG9DKWoJ8xC0_Wu/s1600/laundry.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCkelI7e0i4AqGvXn0BA8LBbmYysK9UBTT9rN2cAt0aHLoHrgImlHhsshaoTyjYpetGx9GKvSOY6ZZ1bweDXxvIIG7sRshwnjmL7U82nW04FK2NArdEL3nB667N_8bSG9DKWoJ8xC0_Wu/s1600/laundry.jpg" width="343" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">washing machines in nicaragua are a luxury and i'm pretty <br />particular about my clothes, so i had the pleasure of<br /> handwashing my own stuff!</span></span></td></tr>
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each and every one of the eleven days i had in nica was exciting, new and unplanned. i spent days surfing, and i spent days exploring back country trails without a map. i spent afternoons sprawled out on a massive hammock, exhausted from a late night out with new friends...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magnific rock. popoyo can be seen towards the upper right</td></tr>
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i spent hours on a couch watching soccer from all over the world in spanish. i smoked an entire pack of cigarettes (why?), i watched intense, ground shaking thunderstorms pass by overhead in minutes, followed by luscious sunshine...<br />
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i made lifelong friends and i danced on top of benches and tables over the course of three seperate pub crawls. i was pushed into a pool by a stranger at a pool party, got out, yelled at this stranger for being an ass, then gave him a hug 30 seconds later...<br />
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i sat in silence pondering questions of the future. at 27, i still wonder on a regular basis, what life has in store. nicaragua is a fascinating country, with much of the population living in the 3rd world, and many dependent on the limited resources of the socialist government. as i grow older, i think more and more about what i can do to help those less fortunate than me...i witnessed some of the most intense poverty i've ever seen, and i was humbled with how the people made use of their limited resources. the thought of what they are capable of with the right tools is so inspiring, i can't help but imagine the potential for success.<br />
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an extremely wealthy chinese entrepreneur has <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/08/14/340402716/nicaragua-banks-on-its-own-canal-to-boost-economy" target="_blank">plans to begin building a canal</a> cutting through the heart of nicaragua in an effort to compete with the panama canal operated by the united states. the project is creating alot of tension within nica between people for and against the canals construction. i see the pros and cons of the grand canal, as it's called locally. it offers a clear economic boost in terms of local jobs, but it also creates significant environmental hazards, including tampering with the countries largest fresh water supply in lake nicaragua, and also the potential disturbance of active volcanoes...<br />
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it's the type of story i can see myself being apart of...how, i don't know. what i do know is that my adventure in nicaragua gave me more than i could have possibly expected. as i progress in my exploration of civilization and culture around the world, i am continuously reminded of the beauty and wonder of the universe...<br />
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for more photos from my journey, see the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100828569526937.1073741843.11609141&type=1&l=d519267de8" target="_blank"> full album here</a><br />
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thanks for reading!<br />
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- j<script>
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-79627386923480009562013-09-22T20:31:00.004-07:002020-12-02T11:36:35.851-08:00jeremy in greece!<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="word-break: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">welcome reader,
to the conclusion of my five country summer tour of europe!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrIebVWwmFktB0yHFp65U1BIvdTUvvi_ilZYKW0OdNvhlmQoKHLub2pxxtUqiC4o7vFDTIHaaMfh6OM8okbjYIZh1vFWkyLfOocZN5hRBlMJV7i2EtmqHTYBGpwTmtsJ6SxEh9R7GzY-C/s1600/SAM_9632.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrIebVWwmFktB0yHFp65U1BIvdTUvvi_ilZYKW0OdNvhlmQoKHLub2pxxtUqiC4o7vFDTIHaaMfh6OM8okbjYIZh1vFWkyLfOocZN5hRBlMJV7i2EtmqHTYBGpwTmtsJ6SxEh9R7GzY-C/s400/SAM_9632.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">the parthenon atop the acropolis</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">i've spent the last month </span>immersed<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> in the rich european cultures of england, france, spain, italy and now the ancient lands of greece. i had eight days remaining on my trip when i touched down at the athens airport. two of them were to be spent exploring the capital city athina, while the grand finale of my adventure was five days on ios, a small island off the coast of athens, about four hours by ferry. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">sunset seen from filapappou hill, just south of the acroplis</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">my first hosts in this incredibly beautiful city were avi and yiorgos. two very kind people who ensured my time in greece was not only a jaw-dropping experience, but that each and every piece of my </span>itinerary<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> was stress-free. with two full days to explore before falling off the earth on ios, my list was simple; climb the acropolis and spend some time in the athinean sands. if this seems like a short list, not to worry, as ultimately my list grew to include far more than this; the parliament building at syntagma, the national gardens, monastiraki, filopappou hill, the panathinaic stadium, nightlife with a wonderful girl in gazi, the sands of kavouri, and yes, the acropolis and its ancient structure, the parthenon :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBLUkZZcTsi7SRImgamIDwlHIEbprqlUxw1XwWHhfoDypYqzvBXmZxtdBBHWnl6-RrS1aLGRpwFmrUVuy7V6CSCH9FjNv1VrPYIV0nXnWEwo5LJXTtTfX8-uryMDM748sU_T40qzIFtKB/s1600/SAM_9640-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBLUkZZcTsi7SRImgamIDwlHIEbprqlUxw1XwWHhfoDypYqzvBXmZxtdBBHWnl6-RrS1aLGRpwFmrUVuy7V6CSCH9FjNv1VrPYIV0nXnWEwo5LJXTtTfX8-uryMDM748sU_T40qzIFtKB/s400/SAM_9640-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">the unmistakable skyline of the acropolis, seen here at sunset from <br />filapappou hill </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">east face of the parthenon</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3QC3fN2Dsox4qRnREP4upIK0zSnJS2VVlkeJrLlsvmsZQGdiWFpLAerMWld4JwXuj9lOEEZMD58rOK5Mtj8yeLze96ehVwTSs_nfJFhPSfQ7g8IRejyybTexAayEz4sA65CZtMWxdCOq/s1600/SAM_9620.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3QC3fN2Dsox4qRnREP4upIK0zSnJS2VVlkeJrLlsvmsZQGdiWFpLAerMWld4JwXuj9lOEEZMD58rOK5Mtj8yeLze96ehVwTSs_nfJFhPSfQ7g8IRejyybTexAayEz4sA65CZtMWxdCOq/s400/SAM_9620.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">cityscape seen from the east end of the acropolis, lycabettus hill peaks<br />in the back right</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwSHAY1u7T06ftuWLX382FSBEZ7DMefZOy1IFCbIbhFStuoSuQMfIL4rWaYwJsia_cqyH-evlS1LlfsmNHO5OQ0ZY1JOnLTQ0AeTb0iwJcZC3tW-nq-6hjjcTKP_sgEJ54eIfJ8O507Dv/s1600/SAM_9607-picsay.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwSHAY1u7T06ftuWLX382FSBEZ7DMefZOy1IFCbIbhFStuoSuQMfIL4rWaYwJsia_cqyH-evlS1LlfsmNHO5OQ0ZY1JOnLTQ0AeTb0iwJcZC3tW-nq-6hjjcTKP_sgEJ54eIfJ8O507Dv/s400/SAM_9607-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">panathinaic stadium, home to the first modern olympic games in 1896</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">panathinaic stadium, inside the 'hall of flames' where every<br />torch from each olympic games rests! 1984's torch from<br />the los angeles games seen above</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">tunnel that led athletes out into the stadium, a very moving experience</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">unforgettable memories in greece can all be credited to the hospitality of new friends and hosts who call athina their home...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpArnJN_CUV6ekrz39Cl_nOgJchcfWOfkrYhrwto9ogBc4eZAs28jtip4Wd3ZaYVPjXeAzrHHnb2rlnBri7foKBNp-9UQ20Qof1TrQdnvGCYWkx3Guc80zbw8uc-T8w687jarCXL7eKsR/s1600/SAM_9852-picsay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpArnJN_CUV6ekrz39Cl_nOgJchcfWOfkrYhrwto9ogBc4eZAs28jtip4Wd3ZaYVPjXeAzrHHnb2rlnBri7foKBNp-9UQ20Qof1TrQdnvGCYWkx3Guc80zbw8uc-T8w687jarCXL7eKsR/s400/SAM_9852-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(from left to right) stathis, alexia, me, avi, yiorgos!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">when my two days in athens had come to a close, the time had finally come to fall off the earth...i was on my way to the remoteness of greece's hidden gem of the aegean sea, ios (eee-ohs)...<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">standing atop the cliffs of agia theodoti, a beach on the east side of the island</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">since childhood i've envisioned the tranquility of a personal beach on a remote island far from the commonalities of modern civilization...somehow i knew that ios would offer me this experience. i had been staring at the island on a map for months and the sight of the white cliffs, deep blue/green waters and the white, blue capped buildings was surreal...as the ferry pulled into the tiny port, i prepared myself for the final adventure to be had. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">the island is about 15 miles long by 6 miles wide, and somewhere along the rocky, cliffed coastline, was my beach, 'germy's beach' if you will, and i was determined to find it...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">my room as i prep for another adventurous day on ios!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">the tomb of the famed greek poet, homer. author of works such as; the <i>illiad</i><br />and the <i>odyssey</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">hundreds of these stacked rock formations dotted the site of the tomb.<br />i decided to pay my own tribute as well!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">my first sunset seen on ios. i was about 30 minutes from my hotel on the<br />scoot back from manganari beach...i rode about 20 minutes in the dark...<br />totally worth it :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">me and my airplane!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my trusty scooter was more like an airplane, as all the roads connecting the island soar high above sea-level with stunning views of the edges where water and land meet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">after exploring the island in every direction, i hadn't found my beach...i found alot of great beaches, beaches with girls, beaches with food, beer, </span>snorkeling<span style="font-size: small;"> ..but i hadn't found the one... i decided it was time to ask a local where i might have some luck finding a beach all for myself. i kept hearing the same name; "tris klisies", "tris klisies", "oh, yea, you should go to tris klisies for that! on your way to manganari, you'll see a cove, just over the hill on your left. the area will be deserted, and you'll see one or two cars parked there for seemingly no reason...thats when you know you're at tris klisies!"</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">i followed my instructions and one daft punk, random access memories album later, i arrived at the top of the hill, just left of manganari </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">beach</span>...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">tris klisies...surreal</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">this is the sight i was met with after peaking over the hidden side of the road. it took twenty minutes to get down the face of the hill, and another thirty minutes of walking clockwise around the cove, until i found...</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">a lifetime hunt for my own personal beach ends in beauty</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">hidden away by rocks on either side, i had found my beach, and my tranquility. it was one of the most beautiful places i had ever seen, the rocks glimmered in crystal clear waters, the air was clean, and the sky...the lifelong anticipation of one day sitting at this place froze me for an instant in time...I wondered if my feeling of accomplishment and completeness was something everyone gets to feel...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">my final night on ios was spent on it's most popular beach, mylopotas</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">coming to terms
with the mild depression associated with the final hours of exploring a new
country doesn't ever seem to get any easier...the bags are packed, the
itinerary, the local maps, metro passes and </span>souvenirs<span style="font-size: small;"> are tucked away in
zipped up pouches and pockets. with the
next destination on the horizon, emotions are teetering between sadness and
excitement. sadness that i don't know if
i'll ever return to this place that i've just fallen in love with, and excitement
for the adventures i'm destined to have in the next city...</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">well now the
next city is home...los angeles, california, usa. what will have changed since i've been away? anything? will it be as if i never left, will i see the world differently?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">i wrote 56 pages
in my journal over 26 days...the same amount of content recently took me 8 whole months to
scribble down back home in los angeles...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">i saw
unbelievable sights and tacked endless miles onto my pf flyers. i met people with enough hospitality and
genuine kindness to humble me everyday for the rest of my life...and while ive
just begun to uncover the many wonders of the earth and the cultures of civilization,
i feel tremendously enlightened, with a
deeper sense of connection to all that surrounds me...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">thank you to
everyone who helped in making this adventure so fulfilling. to new friends ive made along the way, to old
friends who helped me plan my sightseeing in each city! to the guests i've hosted who gave me the
courage to travel alone, and to my hosts, kamila, christophe, dan, steve, avi,
yiorgos and stathis; the memories i've
made will last me a lifetime, and they will always be times i can look back at
with a smile...thank you for these gifts! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">as summer comes
to a close, im happy to say it has been the best of my life so far! so until my next tour of who-knows-where
(costa rica?) i say to you, goodbye for
now. may these documentaries offer you
inspiration to embark on your own adventure as well...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">thanks for
reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- j</span><br /><span style="font-family: Roboto, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-18433516310011329282013-09-03T13:19:00.002-07:002020-12-02T11:37:07.640-08:00jeremy in rome!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQeTmtY0ozk59n9N_r-za-WrVmWqEMbWVtuSVEHoKjkfxsPM9aX-uvtEGHgVgcjXzbSzeH6msCsHmxag2r2SIAZYfLnopKtIUYTcCc-gr-CcBqJZL-sgWna8_S_Udkh2l1hyphenhyphenpkaJg9dI0/s1600/SAM_1004-picsay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQeTmtY0ozk59n9N_r-za-WrVmWqEMbWVtuSVEHoKjkfxsPM9aX-uvtEGHgVgcjXzbSzeH6msCsHmxag2r2SIAZYfLnopKtIUYTcCc-gr-CcBqJZL-sgWna8_S_Udkh2l1hyphenhyphenpkaJg9dI0/s400/SAM_1004-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">ciao from roma, italia! Greetings from the fourth stop of my tour
through </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">europe.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am approaching the fifth and, I must say,
most anticipated stop of my </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">adventure, greece and the island
of ios.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but not before wandering the
streets </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of one of civilizations most
expansive and powerful empires, the ancient capital </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">city, rome.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9HtbHdxvkTGzkCnuKO7GJ54DoLpru3x07MfxzYPEJaI7HsQam-OvTnh1yrDCELDYNQc2Nnhg8lp636eCbGZ2z2ri0BdhNLe3LgErJXtdMiKrH2FGdytFWafbnUqG2Nyu7Om2KNDbagTO/s1600/SAM_0907-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9HtbHdxvkTGzkCnuKO7GJ54DoLpru3x07MfxzYPEJaI7HsQam-OvTnh1yrDCELDYNQc2Nnhg8lp636eCbGZ2z2ri0BdhNLe3LgErJXtdMiKrH2FGdytFWafbnUqG2Nyu7Om2KNDbagTO/s400/SAM_0907-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is a view from vittoriale in the city center. looking northwest over the<br />
city, you can see the tips of some vatican buildings in the very back</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">catching another early flight out
of barcelona, I arrived in italy at
9:00am giving </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">myself a full first day to
explore this unique and wonderfully historic city.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I arrived at my hostel just a few
blocks from the main train station, and thank </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">god for this!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">after ten days of two different language
emersions, french and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">spanish catalan, my brain was
fried and I had no motivation to attempt yet </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">another crash course with
italian.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I dropped my bag and headed out
the door.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">remembering the recent mistake of
not having a map in barcelona, I made this </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">my first priority when arriving
in rome.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">similar to paris, but even more
so, rome </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is certainly walkable and it was
the first city where I felt no need to purchase a </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">prepaid metro pass.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EespgqR0qfeRbL5aLhW_SVO19Pmujtoaa3uB9rmlfNYppmiJG0bsb5zTA6LzSiWNfR4dgUqhr99jwmccldL-NzgVJUCPgb_me9hgm9qaYGEI0T7_R77iq7jwHUouKJ-zpzo9cfjUOkzL/s1600/SAM_0911-picsay.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EespgqR0qfeRbL5aLhW_SVO19Pmujtoaa3uB9rmlfNYppmiJG0bsb5zTA6LzSiWNfR4dgUqhr99jwmccldL-NzgVJUCPgb_me9hgm9qaYGEI0T7_R77iq7jwHUouKJ-zpzo9cfjUOkzL/s400/SAM_0911-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">also a view from vittoriale, this time looking southeast. you can see the<br />
colosseum in the back right while the roman forum fills the foreground</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">once again chasing down the sight
of one of histories most famous landmarks, I </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">walked in the straightest line
possible to, where else...the colosseum</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVEN_0DwYo5UrrLM7_V75r1224x_p8wj59aH6eKkNm2gacmzaSu_vFaYENAYM8DH_NoTa1BVQn6G6s8CeYo-D1nA4csKUs3sRkb3OTx2biRfgXzck6uSJMEG9ywHPoJGc1Tl80lg5_FMS/s1600/SAM_0853-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVEN_0DwYo5UrrLM7_V75r1224x_p8wj59aH6eKkNm2gacmzaSu_vFaYENAYM8DH_NoTa1BVQn6G6s8CeYo-D1nA4csKUs3sRkb3OTx2biRfgXzck6uSJMEG9ywHPoJGc1Tl80lg5_FMS/s400/SAM_0853-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my heart raced at the sight!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I caught a glimpse of it, peeking
through a side street, but instead of turning </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">towards it, I continued down the
main road...I wanted to walk into this view head </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">on and experience the
magnificance of antiquities most fascinating structure in its full glory...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">soon the roman forum, a place now
visible thanks to massive excavations, was </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">staring me in the face!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I said, 'woaaaah now, wait your turn you
beautiful piece </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of history, you, you birthplace
of rome!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">im on my way to the colosseum,
didnt </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">you know?!'</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked to my left, and there she was...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGM0DQHALa0EYggrpC-oD67BqVOrKHIC1CXMOTuidna_Ti3-73zlefjBrSrCPZGtbrWiZlkF-t2Da1bKMju_dPg04fI-NlJxLgGZJhHnToTBmbjYbGu4Ws1z6CqmVvh3n-P6PSyunMJIy/s1600/SAM_0885.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGM0DQHALa0EYggrpC-oD67BqVOrKHIC1CXMOTuidna_Ti3-73zlefjBrSrCPZGtbrWiZlkF-t2Da1bKMju_dPg04fI-NlJxLgGZJhHnToTBmbjYbGu4Ws1z6CqmVvh3n-P6PSyunMJIy/s400/SAM_0885.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I walked in disbelief, struggling
to comprehend that I was actually here...the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">battles, the crowds, the
emperors...they too had once been in this very place, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">roaring and cheering to the glory
of rome.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I circled the structure, and
despite </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the boiling heat, despite the
exhaustion I felt from fifteen days of continuous </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">adventure and exploration, I took
solace in once again realizing that I was </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ready.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was ready to start anew in another
city.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was ready for more language </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">emersion, I was ready to tack on
another twenty or so miles on my pf flyers, and I </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">was ready to make new
friends.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">in short, I was ready to dive
head first into roma, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">knowing I would come out on the
other side having fallen inlove with yet another </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">piece of europe...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOIq_VGjGklVwqC3_sOHcfhqEtTGW4mPI8piaGiG0Gd5oLlCuQ__MzQuaPa-ME6cbhyVVK4DNjPLnzSGrQ3HChrwEkzI-5m6tGY3odlJB7GPjgnPkBNpzT1C0wEmtEqVvlLo61zzt1Lad/s1600/SAM_1095-picsay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOIq_VGjGklVwqC3_sOHcfhqEtTGW4mPI8piaGiG0Gd5oLlCuQ__MzQuaPa-ME6cbhyVVK4DNjPLnzSGrQ3HChrwEkzI-5m6tGY3odlJB7GPjgnPkBNpzT1C0wEmtEqVvlLo61zzt1Lad/s400/SAM_1095-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ruins excavated from the roman forum, the birthplace of roma</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86HesYJ7jR3-egQcIJPkTm4Fr12gWj0RZ9yVoy4VoJvmdJKf4KjG1L9EH8sx2gwOhDtRyi7WvytNYJX0OqO5TDPb_FaFrSPpgERVMYKo4wzEp1Pdae-oZNpmqsOVSzjIllP0QDoF3j50N/s1600/SAM_0930-picsay1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86HesYJ7jR3-egQcIJPkTm4Fr12gWj0RZ9yVoy4VoJvmdJKf4KjG1L9EH8sx2gwOhDtRyi7WvytNYJX0OqO5TDPb_FaFrSPpgERVMYKo4wzEp1Pdae-oZNpmqsOVSzjIllP0QDoF3j50N/s400/SAM_0930-picsay1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the pantheon seen here was originally a temple dedicated to all gods, <br />
and was later converted into a christian church. the dome on top<br />
(see video below)<br />
is the worlds largest piece of un-reinforced concrete, showing no signs of<br />
weakness after 2,000+ years</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trevi fountain, completed in 1762 and designed by italian architect, nicola salvi.<br />
this is a a famous fountain to toss coins in and it's said that those who do,<br />
will one day return to rome...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the spanish steps</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had walked close to eight miles </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that first day. in addition to waking up
at </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">3:00am in barcelona to catch my
flight for rome, I was in need of some sleep.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">as </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I passed the reception desk of
the hostel, I decided to book the first paid tour of </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">my trip...a journey inside the
belly of the colosseum...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My plan for the following day was
all based around this tour inside the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">colosseum, which started at
3:00pm.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">my goal was to first walk about
4 miles to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">vatican city, see the main plaza
and st. peters basilica then make my way back </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to the colosseum for the guided
tour within.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I made it about halfway to
vatican </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">city and stopped to rest and
write a few post cards back home...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...as I wrote I sort of lost
track of time...long story short, I walked the four miles </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and made it all the way to the
great giant walls of vatican city.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">right
there, just </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">past these enormous piles of
brick was the home of christianity, the pope, and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">some seriously beautiful pieces
of history and architecture,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">including
the sistine </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">chapel...I looked down at my
watch...2:00pm...I looked up at the brick walls of </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the vatican once more and was
slowly hit with the reality that I would not have </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">time to make it inside.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">my heart was four miles across town and after
waiting </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a lifetime to enter the grounds
of the colosseum, the decision had already been </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">made...with one final look at the
vatican walls, I brushed them gently with my </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hands, turned, and began my trek
back to the colosseum.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hi4h2_OMPY4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hi4h2_OMPY4?feature=player_embedded" width="450"></iframe><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkGwuq_N8qKxxkxUe49KG9kqHZHmyTwQfxUUvN8-vCDEu8i5slfageYFg6_8cGjv-BOjK6sivhzka3gwIAQhFBFKzQhtIIO_1_JPEdq9sd8RQPveJLSI4CCvDVZECkR8TMW_WQjmienX0/s1600/SAM_0988-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkGwuq_N8qKxxkxUe49KG9kqHZHmyTwQfxUUvN8-vCDEu8i5slfageYFg6_8cGjv-BOjK6sivhzka3gwIAQhFBFKzQhtIIO_1_JPEdq9sd8RQPveJLSI4CCvDVZECkR8TMW_WQjmienX0/s400/SAM_0988-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the roman 'colesseo'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKygBIMFcc1v7-TXPw9SL6VcHyhninB3ZqvZsQ5xCQgM2LFpBtE5PJqkuuRiJWnNsEWGs9_e8BY9p9riOoBjp08MZrUatbsAhPkEvy95PrD5ghCKiMCwPn8BxS1KO_wNRbSdPwIe3Qhm6/s1600/SAM_0868-picsay.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKygBIMFcc1v7-TXPw9SL6VcHyhninB3ZqvZsQ5xCQgM2LFpBtE5PJqkuuRiJWnNsEWGs9_e8BY9p9riOoBjp08MZrUatbsAhPkEvy95PrD5ghCKiMCwPn8BxS1KO_wNRbSdPwIe3Qhm6/s400/SAM_0868-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqcP7nxyRtluG3NRF9yPni-RXeWX7-FH_6ToKJZuSdtlLDsXpStJhv1p5fWmkrx2aCVDwroigQAgC_QHZw3b0HWw5cRtBmab4T8uVgDTFQy8oZWmf0j0qfDHGdhO__sFBPY5PZMYH3qFD/s1600/SAM_1090-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqcP7nxyRtluG3NRF9yPni-RXeWX7-FH_6ToKJZuSdtlLDsXpStJhv1p5fWmkrx2aCVDwroigQAgC_QHZw3b0HWw5cRtBmab4T8uVgDTFQy8oZWmf0j0qfDHGdhO__sFBPY5PZMYH3qFD/s1600/SAM_1090-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqcP7nxyRtluG3NRF9yPni-RXeWX7-FH_6ToKJZuSdtlLDsXpStJhv1p5fWmkrx2aCVDwroigQAgC_QHZw3b0HWw5cRtBmab4T8uVgDTFQy8oZWmf0j0qfDHGdhO__sFBPY5PZMYH3qFD/s1600/SAM_1090-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqcP7nxyRtluG3NRF9yPni-RXeWX7-FH_6ToKJZuSdtlLDsXpStJhv1p5fWmkrx2aCVDwroigQAgC_QHZw3b0HWw5cRtBmab4T8uVgDTFQy8oZWmf0j0qfDHGdhO__sFBPY5PZMYH3qFD/s1600/SAM_1090-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqcP7nxyRtluG3NRF9yPni-RXeWX7-FH_6ToKJZuSdtlLDsXpStJhv1p5fWmkrx2aCVDwroigQAgC_QHZw3b0HWw5cRtBmab4T8uVgDTFQy8oZWmf0j0qfDHGdhO__sFBPY5PZMYH3qFD/s1600/SAM_1090-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqcP7nxyRtluG3NRF9yPni-RXeWX7-FH_6ToKJZuSdtlLDsXpStJhv1p5fWmkrx2aCVDwroigQAgC_QHZw3b0HWw5cRtBmab4T8uVgDTFQy8oZWmf0j0qfDHGdhO__sFBPY5PZMYH3qFD/s400/SAM_1090-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
The Capitoline Wolf (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin" title="Latin"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Latin</span></a>: <i>Lupa Capitolina</i>) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze" title="Bronze"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bronze</span></a> </div>
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sculpture
of a she-wolf suckling twin infants, inspired by the </div>
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legend of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_of_Rome" title="Founding of Rome"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">founding of
Rome</span></a>. According to the legend, when </div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numitor" title="Numitor"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Numitor</span></a>,
grandfather of the twins <span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_and_Remus" title="Romulus and Remus">Romulus </a></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_and_Remus" title="Romulus and Remus"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">and
Remus</span></a>, was </div>
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overthrown by his brother Amulius, the usurper ordered
the </div>
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twins to be cast into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiber_River" title="Tiber River"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tiber River</span></a>.
They were rescued by a she-wolf who </div>
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cared for them until a herdsman, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faustulus" title="Faustulus"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Faustulus</span></a>,
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1Ue2sMQwBGlq6vjd48glfaivQ1KmXZuKSn8Gh7UOcRZyy1QFAfdz27dj1xll5psjzzqaNFeSKbegHz0oT3yNFDO7I604CgkJCs666x4F8TQK1kEUbfo5fCTEazVJVSwd4M63M-W60Bo0/s1600/SAM_1098-picsay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1Ue2sMQwBGlq6vjd48glfaivQ1KmXZuKSn8Gh7UOcRZyy1QFAfdz27dj1xll5psjzzqaNFeSKbegHz0oT3yNFDO7I604CgkJCs666x4F8TQK1kEUbfo5fCTEazVJVSwd4M63M-W60Bo0/s400/SAM_1098-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">best tour group in rome!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">the tour was unbelivably moving,
and the experience was magnified when I </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">was befriended by a very sweet
french girl.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">we were the only two on the
tour </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">solo, and we made a quick bond
like peas and carrots!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">when we had
finished </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the three hour tour, our thirst
to explore more of roma remained heavy.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">me </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and my new companion decided on
dinner, so yes, check off having dinner in </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">roma, italia with a beautiful
french girl from the list.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">our night had
brought good </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">conversation, delicious food, and
tasty wine, but there was more to come... we </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">both wanted to see the colosseum
and trevi fountain lit up at night...so we made </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">our way down the quiet roman
streets, enjoying the pleasure of good company </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and the beauty of rome by
night...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_NkE9im5E4hSYkE64zKRsGjdSfXj7UC0f1MA4KwrMKecvIMK2akoM1TuGSxcGquMLEqa_UqykKaampRaM2na8JwYU9ttDcHSNVHlMXCeWV9WqmN0P7LItHaLB61pMKi4kGR9aDrF2gO8/s1600/SAM_1107-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_NkE9im5E4hSYkE64zKRsGjdSfXj7UC0f1MA4KwrMKecvIMK2akoM1TuGSxcGquMLEqa_UqykKaampRaM2na8JwYU9ttDcHSNVHlMXCeWV9WqmN0P7LItHaLB61pMKi4kGR9aDrF2gO8/s400/SAM_1107-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the colosseum light up at night. there was also a full moon filling the sky,<br />
seen here in the top center</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhi7JSKwtyE_yXHiuVHcJqQnRZbTwRa5QB65-F9Nyf_WvsYwq10KXXJ19Dogv0PP8eWybBPx82lbUR-WBaZakvbPOQmx_2vftR3myH3W_ntdlG4HuYwEOBW7mr7Sz_EX2rvYVyYJFeall/s1600/SAM_1125-picsay.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhi7JSKwtyE_yXHiuVHcJqQnRZbTwRa5QB65-F9Nyf_WvsYwq10KXXJ19Dogv0PP8eWybBPx82lbUR-WBaZakvbPOQmx_2vftR3myH3W_ntdlG4HuYwEOBW7mr7Sz_EX2rvYVyYJFeall/s400/SAM_1125-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lucky us, we arrived just as some city workers came to clean the streets<br />
surrounding the fountain...they shuffled all the tourists out, and we had<br />
the best seats in the house to view the fountain unobstructed by people</td></tr>
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----------------------------- day trip -----------------------------</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my day trip in rome was lido di
ostia, a small coastal town just west of the city. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it was €3 on the metro roundtrip
and was by far my cheapest day trip yet!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">beach was nothing special, but it
doesnt take much to satisfy me when it comes </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to the mediterranean.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was happy to again be near the sea, and to
have time to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">relax and reflect on my trip thus
far...also a fantastic spot for people watching! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">italians are known to speak a few
decibels louder than others, and also to make </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">good use of the hands while conversing.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">these two things make for
damn fine </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">people watching episodes.</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMktNDPz1txy4fZzImnXTT173q-8DSX4B7VzYZpCGqaRn6eVekLZOA73iGvEU5koj4SkqQFf2ilu9a_Tbiae1DH-Ou7HYlbmCgTkc0WlPCl_-aeWET34AAt0nLFc5sYuWdtcDYopuatuh/s400/SAM_9478-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">my time and experiences in roma
were nothing short of spectacular. I </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">remember the worry I had upon
leaving barcelona that perhaps I had made a </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">mistake...perhaps I had put too
many cities on my itinerary...perhaps I wouldnt </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">have the energy to explore this
next city...but once again, the mind and body </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">pulled a few tricks from
within!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the drive to explore, and the
passion for </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">adventure have led the way each
and every day of my trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">on my final night in rome there
was a pub crawl thrown by the hostel I stayed in. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">it was the perfect way to say goodbye
to this enchanting city, and to the many </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">new friends I had made
there.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the vatican slipped through my
fingers, but it </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">makes for a good excuse to one
day return to this wonderful city, the shinning </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">light of the ancient world,
rome...</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4Vl3rRlRwD4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Vl3rRlRwD4?feature=player_embedded" width="450"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">join me as I make way across the
mediterranean once more, due east to the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">home of democracy, greece!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will spend two full days in athens, and
from there </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">take a ferry to the final
destination of my tour, the island of ios...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">so until I see you again,
arrivederci roma! geia sou athena!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">thanks for reading!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- j</span><br /></div>
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-18167476537017378972013-08-24T14:46:00.001-07:002020-12-02T11:37:31.808-08:00jeremy in barcelona!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-RB8x1CIPZ3AtKDjt0xnmURS8IZZ7wx1RZJoQyuo9uOyhyftvCYL-a_iCZeWbE6OVMbp0I1dQIs0qp59tpQnamBoUvD77u-56j6Lki0CpTehx58CUcAp1NcZnr8wqWqgSJtmUuu990aK/s1600/SAM_0829.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-RB8x1CIPZ3AtKDjt0xnmURS8IZZ7wx1RZJoQyuo9uOyhyftvCYL-a_iCZeWbE6OVMbp0I1dQIs0qp59tpQnamBoUvD77u-56j6Lki0CpTehx58CUcAp1NcZnr8wqWqgSJtmUuu990aK/s400/SAM_0829.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: -webkit-left;"><div style="text-align: center;">
a view of barcelona from park guell! architect antoni gaudi's house is visible</div>
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on the right side (the castle type building)</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">¡Hola
y saludos de barcelona, españa! hello and greetings from barcelona,
spain! this destination was something that just happened to make the
cut as i began my slow, sad massacre of cities i knew i wouldnt have
time to tour. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W2Y8il9rHDz3_SrdLRhyjMiD0XqVAjOe6ThqK5CXViFEg7830AgCv-dqJpx4wygy6813bE0oT3c8VWQc0iDSBPP8Mj9LaLTvX84M4iGDqflBj8qMMzVabdymSHW6-_JtY6NoBLs3W5K_/s1600/1377293662592.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W2Y8il9rHDz3_SrdLRhyjMiD0XqVAjOe6ThqK5CXViFEg7830AgCv-dqJpx4wygy6813bE0oT3c8VWQc0iDSBPP8Mj9LaLTvX84M4iGDqflBj8qMMzVabdymSHW6-_JtY6NoBLs3W5K_/s400/1377293662592.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a morning run found me atop of one of bcn's many hills</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">but
like each city on my list, this place called out to me, beckoning my
soul and promising adventure...it was an easy decision, and six hours
after landing i suddenly realized that it had been the right
decision...but good lord were those first six hours hell!</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">living
in los angeles i have the benefit of being very near to the ocean,
something i have never taken for granted. barcelona was my first
experience of the mediterranean, and the second i found my host dan,
i made a bee line for the sea! the mediterranean holds countless
stories of ancient history, so to be swimming in the same water that
was used by ancient greeks, the roman empire...it was this
overwhelming thought that led me to the water. i put my toes in the
sea and had a glimpse of those ancient battles and blood soaked
shores...</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">as
i looked up from the coast i saw something you only hear by
legend...beautiful women, walking, showering, sunbathing, laughing,
talking and drinking...naked...with all their perfectly proportioned
lady parts on display for the world to see. this is a moment that
changed me forever as an american. i saw humans...being. no
filters, no body image issues, no nothing, just humans. there is a
lesson to be learned here, but it would take up space and time that i
simply dont have at the moment. all i can say is, experience the
beaches of barcelona, you will leave a changed individual!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">the
reason the first six hours were such hell (minus the beach) is
because after leaving the soft sands and nude women, i spent four
hours walking in circles...it was hot, i was shunned for not speaking
the local language, catalan, and street signs are surprisingly
un-helpful when you dont have a map to calibrate yourself! in short,
i was lost...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the city center and main avenue in barcelona! great for people watching!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UiYnd6Oo9TL35ryv5jXEY91lXTflr6u3niwUyZfkZvGe-JaRL5TRgz5Dh3tqQg3N0MDr44HA6B613PyVr3nhJPGkJZN_nkriOF6fKSX08GUP-YY4YRE3kqjTKreWyFOUbL4Zt31-Qcx0/s1600/SAM_0834-0-picsay.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UiYnd6Oo9TL35ryv5jXEY91lXTflr6u3niwUyZfkZvGe-JaRL5TRgz5Dh3tqQg3N0MDr44HA6B613PyVr3nhJPGkJZN_nkriOF6fKSX08GUP-YY4YRE3kqjTKreWyFOUbL4Zt31-Qcx0/s400/SAM_0834-0-picsay.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">but
my night took a turn for the better as i miraculously ran into a
coworker from a show i shoot for back in los angeles, home &
family. Will, the technical director had been in barcelona for the
past few nights and he was a breath of fresh air in a sea of foreign
language. my feet ached, my body was exausted, and i was in desperate
need of a friend and a drink...and then, he found me wandering the
streets in a back alley (hence the miracle) and called out 'JEREMY!'
i turned, shocked, and let out an enormous sigh of relief.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">the
frustrations of being lost in a foreign city melted away as Will led
me back to the bar, rubi bar...i believe my experience here may have
saved the entire trip as ten minutes prior to arriving, i was
absolutley ready to get on a plane and return home! everyone in the
bar was speaking english and we met an amazing, very sweet swedish
girl who refused to end the night without dancing. we stayed out
until 5am dancing and drinking...and this, i discovered, was to be
one of the main themes of my barcelona experience...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p__EzIhP93jK7yyOzdjqvCuFMIj7BurnT9mRT29h6CI4BPAZ2xgEHF2mKdMae0ycRIqAC3N_Dbre_ug1gKWZj2PlWkQ9HkSz8rZUQoa72N75WXN0PNd_Astju2JEVMKMsP0w7tbiB7s2/s1600/SAM_0736-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p__EzIhP93jK7yyOzdjqvCuFMIj7BurnT9mRT29h6CI4BPAZ2xgEHF2mKdMae0ycRIqAC3N_Dbre_ug1gKWZj2PlWkQ9HkSz8rZUQoa72N75WXN0PNd_Astju2JEVMKMsP0w7tbiB7s2/s400/SAM_0736-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the crowded streets of festas de gracia!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15ja7GaEssxOXOJDSJyb-69NErvXzuwWleVyzHvfY7bEW3EC-rBkZ5jNeEZccrtO4bBSJjIvKvtom5at6gn-Y6LSWSsBYVMnq_RUw85TqEzfNQrHwWDR9JbkteBKlCj2g7itCoZcBss4M/s1600/SAM_0742-picsay.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15ja7GaEssxOXOJDSJyb-69NErvXzuwWleVyzHvfY7bEW3EC-rBkZ5jNeEZccrtO4bBSJjIvKvtom5at6gn-Y6LSWSsBYVMnq_RUw85TqEzfNQrHwWDR9JbkteBKlCj2g7itCoZcBss4M/s400/SAM_0742-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">each respective block decorates their street by themes, <br />
using only recycled materials. they plan and prep all year long</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">barcelona
is a wild city, and during my time there i was lucky enough to
experience its wildest side during one of its most celebrated
festivals, festa de gracias...the neighborhoods of gracia spend all
year planning and prepping for this festival. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> in a block vs. block
brawl of the arts, each street works together in competition with
their neighbors to decorate their respective street in an agreed upon
theme, using only recycled materials. the attention to detail is
impressive, but the sight of tens of thousands of people crowded into
the beautifully narrow alleyways of this city was even more moving.
stages with bands and concerts form the various epicenters of the
alleys, looking much like the countless churches, cathedrals and
basilicas ive explored the past 3 weeks. where the alter is a band
and the seated worshipers below became a relentless sea of beer,
sweat, dancing and pure diversity...and i got to experience it all
from a locals perspective thanks to an invitation from my host dan to
join him and his close friends at the festival! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my friend and host, dan! always hospitable, as shown here by his kindness<br />
of buying his guest a brew!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">skating the streets of gracia on a friends busted skateboard...i will never<br />
forget the cheers i received from the crowds as i rolled along :)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">the
other main theme of my barcelona adventure was antoni gaudi...gaudi,
gaudi, gaudi! the man left his mark on the city in the early 1900's
and he is practically a celebrated saint in catalunya. a renegade
architect, his work is quite possibly some of mans closest attempts
at recreating the mathmatical beauty of nature...</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KhNkNpTv2Wc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KhNkNpTv2Wc?feature=player_embedded" width="450"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">above is the most beautiful panoramic view of a city that i've ever witnessed...it's from atop the highest point of park guell</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVurkPERZUfnszv45SZQ7w9MDRUVPSKPgGYh8_rnstzC82_ZhvnkwjVD62BPIbfJpJEWq8YsqdBKhUyyQWxAt7nZwKXq78QlP1aXvlCLkBJy-Wy2wsueu-IlUEfBeOu_iBb1EWRudw0xjn/s1600/SAM_0758.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVurkPERZUfnszv45SZQ7w9MDRUVPSKPgGYh8_rnstzC82_ZhvnkwjVD62BPIbfJpJEWq8YsqdBKhUyyQWxAt7nZwKXq78QlP1aXvlCLkBJy-Wy2wsueu-IlUEfBeOu_iBb1EWRudw0xjn/s400/SAM_0758.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sagrada familia, gaudi's unfinished staple in the city</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVurkPERZUfnszv45SZQ7w9MDRUVPSKPgGYh8_rnstzC82_ZhvnkwjVD62BPIbfJpJEWq8YsqdBKhUyyQWxAt7nZwKXq78QlP1aXvlCLkBJy-Wy2wsueu-IlUEfBeOu_iBb1EWRudw0xjn/s1600/SAM_0758.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the name means 'sacred family' and the building is an<br />
architectual masterpiece</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1bD_JCMPDs_vDHMIcevVWQlhmuXis4ikgo4JIzZ_E1oUB3JRIBrMkR5tPdGcxFSjKVsfKv295UoDnoODTLWP3vRCZOpmfmZuOaOBG96NE62TQo0S__Xk9KPV-hIuIKTm6PjTc6YnGiMB/s1600/IMG_9258-picsay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1bD_JCMPDs_vDHMIcevVWQlhmuXis4ikgo4JIzZ_E1oUB3JRIBrMkR5tPdGcxFSjKVsfKv295UoDnoODTLWP3vRCZOpmfmZuOaOBG96NE62TQo0S__Xk9KPV-hIuIKTm6PjTc6YnGiMB/s400/IMG_9258-picsay.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the building remains unfinished and the plans<br />
gaudi had for it back in the 1920's were lost due to<br />
fire...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDjZ_SbLcWWBzGhyLE2P311fKYoQ4MJDkOIzMpbj8uI4BrUj5FJdVU3eOzXWCRz0fjuVzh1IiunZqvPPu6_TaSJ2HkeCRT4hYuFZgk9otwEEnHlFSLTMEgNrJrmn4nyvTH_eoLjr2p5b/s1600/SAM_0774.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDjZ_SbLcWWBzGhyLE2P311fKYoQ4MJDkOIzMpbj8uI4BrUj5FJdVU3eOzXWCRz0fjuVzh1IiunZqvPPu6_TaSJ2HkeCRT4hYuFZgk9otwEEnHlFSLTMEgNrJrmn4nyvTH_eoLjr2p5b/s400/SAM_0774.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is the opposite side of sagrada familia, a side untouched by<br />
the hands or direct vision of gaudi himself. it is the attempts of<br />
recent and contemporary architects who have tried to complete<br />
gaudi's original intentions...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDjZ_SbLcWWBzGhyLE2P311fKYoQ4MJDkOIzMpbj8uI4BrUj5FJdVU3eOzXWCRz0fjuVzh1IiunZqvPPu6_TaSJ2HkeCRT4hYuFZgk9otwEEnHlFSLTMEgNrJrmn4nyvTH_eoLjr2p5b/s1600/SAM_0774.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDjZ_SbLcWWBzGhyLE2P311fKYoQ4MJDkOIzMpbj8uI4BrUj5FJdVU3eOzXWCRz0fjuVzh1IiunZqvPPu6_TaSJ2HkeCRT4hYuFZgk9otwEEnHlFSLTMEgNrJrmn4nyvTH_eoLjr2p5b/s1600/SAM_0774.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDjZ_SbLcWWBzGhyLE2P311fKYoQ4MJDkOIzMpbj8uI4BrUj5FJdVU3eOzXWCRz0fjuVzh1IiunZqvPPu6_TaSJ2HkeCRT4hYuFZgk9otwEEnHlFSLTMEgNrJrmn4nyvTH_eoLjr2p5b/s1600/SAM_0774.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDjZ_SbLcWWBzGhyLE2P311fKYoQ4MJDkOIzMpbj8uI4BrUj5FJdVU3eOzXWCRz0fjuVzh1IiunZqvPPu6_TaSJ2HkeCRT4hYuFZgk9otwEEnHlFSLTMEgNrJrmn4nyvTH_eoLjr2p5b/s1600/SAM_0774.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZDjZ_SbLcWWBzGhyLE2P311fKYoQ4MJDkOIzMpbj8uI4BrUj5FJdVU3eOzXWCRz0fjuVzh1IiunZqvPPu6_TaSJ2HkeCRT4hYuFZgk9otwEEnHlFSLTMEgNrJrmn4nyvTH_eoLjr2p5b/s1600/SAM_0774.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONQ0avWqdQsar96gio-CK3FUdXo69Lx0_KVCwxqyOJpdMZXQzfiWEoqbCVQq25fxHYJct59a3TcP_sgq3LUbFOZTidiDhHF6L25aCv91XaPRY92Daxfx0-5j_xrl1W-J8jfds7mjJ6I-x/s1600/SAM_0822-picsay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONQ0avWqdQsar96gio-CK3FUdXo69Lx0_KVCwxqyOJpdMZXQzfiWEoqbCVQq25fxHYJct59a3TcP_sgq3LUbFOZTidiDhHF6L25aCv91XaPRY92Daxfx0-5j_xrl1W-J8jfds7mjJ6I-x/s400/SAM_0822-picsay.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a set of staircases in park guell that seemingly melt into the earth...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">barcelona,
spain is the third stop of my five country tour, and this day, august
19th, marks the halfway point of the adventure. again, even after
the mad dashes and countless miles trekked on my trusty pf's, my body
and mind surprise me in their constant thirst to explore...my next
stop is roma, italia and the ancient ruins of the colosseum. ive
been told that the sights of the city are walkable, and ive also been
warned that the temperatures can reach into the triple digits! wish
me luck as i gear up to take on another destination of the grand
tour!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">and
to my incredible hosts dan & steve, whether you realize it or
not, meeting you both has made a significant impact on my life. not
only did you make my experience of this beautiful spanish city
something i can always look back on with a smile but you offered me
friendship and sound advice that i needed to hear. ¡gracias!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivImCV-0nc-j4W05s_wlBTFHnxBS1Sbos3a_uGKg2R00ddBDDocPxGWW-66_LWICGtuYCIN05cbCnO0q8M4jv0mMTU1GxdqRGe2fghFtk4DKxcl0nNYUlV7_Ht558cENdOcuw_E-MiE0qo/s1600/SAM_0791.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivImCV-0nc-j4W05s_wlBTFHnxBS1Sbos3a_uGKg2R00ddBDDocPxGWW-66_LWICGtuYCIN05cbCnO0q8M4jv0mMTU1GxdqRGe2fghFtk4DKxcl0nNYUlV7_Ht558cENdOcuw_E-MiE0qo/s400/SAM_0791.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">so
until i see you again, hasta luego barcelona, ciao roma!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">thanks
for reading!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">- j<br /></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3AsqZc6UF6J7khKzYZvjd_fAz2Q-47eo9H04k2baNlKV1C21TAA8oWZ22-df0Ur_hlM7kWeqN4r4u5nK2VTt5gJRP9dQ9MWmlEcwdrqkLxzHjY-xiqWnNvP2G18cWHsVJ1YgntOv_Ka1/s1600/SAM_0504.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3AsqZc6UF6J7khKzYZvjd_fAz2Q-47eo9H04k2baNlKV1C21TAA8oWZ22-df0Ur_hlM7kWeqN4r4u5nK2VTt5gJRP9dQ9MWmlEcwdrqkLxzHjY-xiqWnNvP2G18cWHsVJ1YgntOv_Ka1/s400/SAM_0504.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
bonjour and welcome to another wonderfully adventerous post on germy in socal! like big ben in london, this photo of the tour eiffel is another that led me to travel 8,000+ miles for the sight of something so grand i knew i would someday have to study its visual glory with my own eyes to see its significance. and to say that i saw its significance gives no justice to the experience i felt standing at the base of this massive, beautiful, structure of supreme human imagination.<br />
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but i cannot dive too deep into this post without first recognizing the real reason paris made such an impact on my life. my host, christophe and many other proud residents of this city gave me memories that will always make my first adventure in paris something i will remember for a lifetime. hospitality, generousity and a willingess to explore one's curiousity helped to surround me with people rich in the happiness of life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjz2YUylfYtdnVkq57tefMZ00p0jTrh8JURNqEKYbv91vGLk2J5RAlplVa28FQRozohNJtb4rd06_XkmFbziy-ionlmKHY9FA7l1OaEZ9jfZCy-LRQ0hR8DQAVtrcjZnFj8zN9R0vjV7X/s1600/SAM_0578-picsay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjz2YUylfYtdnVkq57tefMZ00p0jTrh8JURNqEKYbv91vGLk2J5RAlplVa28FQRozohNJtb4rd06_XkmFbziy-ionlmKHY9FA7l1OaEZ9jfZCy-LRQ0hR8DQAVtrcjZnFj8zN9R0vjV7X/s400/SAM_0578-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is a simple photo of my hosts neighborhood, but simple in paris is beyond extroadinary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
when i arrived in paris i was running on 36 hours without sleep. ive recognized a robotic like personality in my body as its instinctive intuition understands that every opportunity it has at that moment is once in a lifetime. i departed from the airport towards the city center to meet with my host christophe. from that moment on, each minute of everyday was spent in awe of france's amazing history. we went straight to lunch with his friends and hit the streets for a stroll of a building that floats in the sky, montmartre. this ancient cathedral gives you an entire panorama of the city. i couldnt believe my eyes as i looked out past the horizon...every inch of every street was lined with something beautiful, something significant, something distinctly french.<br />
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i got a glimpse of the entire city and it was literally at my feet. my friends pointed out the various sites i was<br />
soon to visit and my heart began to race. overwhelmed with beauty and anticipation, i tried to keep myself<br />
grounded in the moment, but i felt myself floating away off into the sky, hitching a ride on the levatating<br />
cathedral behind me...<br />
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thanks to my incredible host, i awoke to a french breakfast on the daily and had the honor and pleasure to share it with him before his shift at work as a policemen. a fresh baquette and croissant with jelly, butter, café and orange juice!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OVE92BC5hMQJCJeDm5N39v2zAhGAqO4HJ0GLWwECRWtjKGxF2mPwVSUyBbMr2HtHYL2tfJZBzozdjXOo9JiOmaLitY11oA5GfDqFh3Ij0XlUtTa3LjSgKJaZ0FZXr2SIjQFyWHLOk51z/s1600/SAM_0491.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OVE92BC5hMQJCJeDm5N39v2zAhGAqO4HJ0GLWwECRWtjKGxF2mPwVSUyBbMr2HtHYL2tfJZBzozdjXOo9JiOmaLitY11oA5GfDqFh3Ij0XlUtTa3LjSgKJaZ0FZXr2SIjQFyWHLOk51z/s400/SAM_0491.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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its not hard to figure out i had a bit of an obsession with tour eiffel. i made two visits (almost three); one at night and another during the day. the size of the tower was astonishing and i was taken aback when it appeared from behind a few trees after deboarding the metro train.<br />
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at night the tower has thousands of lights attached to it that twinkle at the top of every hour for five minutes.<br />
everyone sits with blankets and picnics on the mall at the base of the tower and when the lights begin the<br />
people clap and shout in happiness.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtJ5FMCFcZM7A8438DJKQ9nSptI45vkADa2kzxdclXdbNktEuQE1-uHDHWiNrDEkB2qAM4HVG_X_LAFcoB3o6kd88o5Gdp6ylUGYxlu5Dkg6heSnjrJOBWDlzUtxzoiiPPpML3Yb7slgt/s1600/IMG_9228.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtJ5FMCFcZM7A8438DJKQ9nSptI45vkADa2kzxdclXdbNktEuQE1-uHDHWiNrDEkB2qAM4HVG_X_LAFcoB3o6kd88o5Gdp6ylUGYxlu5Dkg6heSnjrJOBWDlzUtxzoiiPPpML3Yb7slgt/s400/IMG_9228.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">everywhere the eye can see, the garden streches nearly to the horizon. it is unimagineably large and beautiful</td></tr>
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my paris day trip was versailles. while there is a chateau, a beautiful one at that, my intention was to marvel in the splendor that is the iconic garden of versailles. since a highschool history lesson where we studied the french monarchy, i have dreamed of seeing the gardens of versailles and slowly strolling its endless landscapes. and due to the absolute longest line i have ever been somewhat happy to wait in, i missed out on precious hours i coveted inside the garden. my experience was rushed and i will, i must, return one day and make up for those precious hours lost in line. only next time, i will be in the company of a lovely girl to share in the gardens beauty...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7wHAjnjAHL8vDznfqJ2yyunn8AiEsAOUft_w_huhI3QDTRBYZ11mRoowY_iSMRxcvKzO5vJ8dTciXORAtuuZt4O9x012LbEc0O_5Le-WUOp7bsHE0vvX0BLLtax3KXxy96AZ56GNxC9v/s1600/SAM_0527-picsay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7wHAjnjAHL8vDznfqJ2yyunn8AiEsAOUft_w_huhI3QDTRBYZ11mRoowY_iSMRxcvKzO5vJ8dTciXORAtuuZt4O9x012LbEc0O_5Le-WUOp7bsHE0vvX0BLLtax3KXxy96AZ56GNxC9v/s400/SAM_0527-picsay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after a late night out in paris, we made a stop at the louvre around 4am. i was told its much more beautiful when there are no tourists and it couldnt be more true...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfH1RtrQkS-VSC4WEWEwYA9EfCU1t1RiMeNCxoNtUqOz6qQO0p0vxCSeYM4ELr_TrqCnFlrZI97KqAoVXWGB5rwH1lqopnxiZA8HEwyNj0KLRpy8cwW8EgV8TNXyhxyYdGg3XEOFyCdyd/s1600/SAM_0603.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfH1RtrQkS-VSC4WEWEwYA9EfCU1t1RiMeNCxoNtUqOz6qQO0p0vxCSeYM4ELr_TrqCnFlrZI97KqAoVXWGB5rwH1lqopnxiZA8HEwyNj0KLRpy8cwW8EgV8TNXyhxyYdGg3XEOFyCdyd/s400/SAM_0603.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another beautiful and breathtaking garden, the jardine de luxembourg <br />
rests in the middle of the city and offers a quick escape from the metropolis</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">don´t hate me for forgetting the name of this grand cathedral. <br />
the fountain in front was the biggest ive seen so far!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">french macaroons!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19g_Llv7ghEYGQ0tkUc4lMalpXzzsWDuxj4z7iPb3s85Z9xF4m1CNNARhyphenhyphenFx-eapWiiYivQCrjKyqYuwVxdhOdgPW7LRaBdaFMZK5heqnFIjlfvkWE0rom8lJoGrVqai_mAJGdW-I_kYY/s1600/SAM_0690.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19g_Llv7ghEYGQ0tkUc4lMalpXzzsWDuxj4z7iPb3s85Z9xF4m1CNNARhyphenhyphenFx-eapWiiYivQCrjKyqYuwVxdhOdgPW7LRaBdaFMZK5heqnFIjlfvkWE0rom8lJoGrVqai_mAJGdW-I_kYY/s400/SAM_0690.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my final night in paris was spent with friends at a picnic on the river that cuts through paris. notre dame pokes its head out in the back...and to my host christophe, thank you for making my time in paris so memorable. i have fallen inlove with paris!</td></tr>
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my time in paris could not have been any better. my final day was spent with new friends at a picnic along the river, with notre dame and beautiful parisien bridges dotting the horizon. christophe deemed it my french graduation and our first toast solidified my new parisien roots. tomorrow i am off to barcelona, spain the captial of catalunya. with the little spanish that i know, im nervous and excited to see how difficult it may be to communicate with the locals who pride themselves in catalan culture and its distinct dialect of spanish! i will miss paris more than words can express, and i await the day that it once again fills the days of my calendar...<br />
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please join me as i continue my grand tour of europe in the remarkable city of barcelona. soon my feet will feel the warm sand of the shore and the soft waves of the mediterranean. au revoir paris, hola barcelona!<br />
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thanks for reading!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4m8_qxfR8K8ODyG8ecFpiBLdSvDEjRrfx6nVOPsp6Jn8AWzG5gyrYXJCbVT6ctyn-nCNur7SXMV_e63x1ebmmBkeep1_swYxgZ6hjaE49FojYQmVZXBQsu9WSTTmX1DHypUPaSJJ07Zu/s1600/bigben.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4m8_qxfR8K8ODyG8ecFpiBLdSvDEjRrfx6nVOPsp6Jn8AWzG5gyrYXJCbVT6ctyn-nCNur7SXMV_e63x1ebmmBkeep1_swYxgZ6hjaE49FojYQmVZXBQsu9WSTTmX1DHypUPaSJJ07Zu/s400/bigben.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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i traveled over 8,000 miles for this photo, and the story behind it is just as special as the memory this photo will give me to last the rest of my life. my quest in london above all else was to see the parliament building and the famous clock tower big ben and it all begin with a simple trip on the bus.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED3rrN5RDp5SBa9GZkGbRARnD4EenB6VIOAuwfFIupuNC0W1mlyEq4Jj2rwfOrhxtP1JL2gleORsuw4gKSROt59szaEyxDrxP5rTgIHnP_ukcTWSI7Ws-qjDni-SIhLYDjxaFV2oTl8XC/s1600/SAM_0156.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED3rrN5RDp5SBa9GZkGbRARnD4EenB6VIOAuwfFIupuNC0W1mlyEq4Jj2rwfOrhxtP1JL2gleORsuw4gKSROt59szaEyxDrxP5rTgIHnP_ukcTWSI7Ws-qjDni-SIhLYDjxaFV2oTl8XC/s400/SAM_0156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">victoria tower stands at the south end of the house of parliament and the house of lords. it is an enormously impressive structure with britains flag flying high above its top</td></tr>
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i boarded from streatham hill, a small town in south london enroute to the middle of the city. the hustle and bustle of the city began to grow as we approached the city center and passengers began squeezing tighter and tighter inside the iconic big, red double decker. little did the bus driver know as he commanded each rotation of the wheels on the bus, that my heart began to pound ever more rigorously as we came closer and closer to our destination...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the steps of lambeth bridge, victoria tower peeks through in the background</td></tr>
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and then, suddenly it happened. as we made our way through a tunnel, a sight these eyes have waited to see for a lifetime began to slowly apparate on the other end...the london skyline presented itself to me in an act of true british magic. the emotions burst out of me in a wide, face splitting smile that i couldnt and wouldnt hold back in the slightest...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQJTTJ1uNQZPl2q76dGjZBKqveU24z4fIiyykafdJx5Y9g3XwcFHZAtWGNt4bT4liCXGydkHgovbm9oVddEVWqDDeiE7_bl_8_Ixz0Rdk77yACY5gcW41FMYitOPNb6sVshSp4wJV1V5H/s1600/SAM_0191.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQJTTJ1uNQZPl2q76dGjZBKqveU24z4fIiyykafdJx5Y9g3XwcFHZAtWGNt4bT4liCXGydkHgovbm9oVddEVWqDDeiE7_bl_8_Ixz0Rdk77yACY5gcW41FMYitOPNb6sVshSp4wJV1V5H/s400/SAM_0191.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the house of parliament, commons and big ben light up londons skyline.</td></tr>
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all the many things i had the opportunity to experience in the city of london are too numerous to try and express here now. the moments i have wifi access are usually short, and i wouldnt want it any other way! so please allow the following photos to express what i do not have time to put into words :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buckingham palace! i was told i just missed seeing the formal papers on display announcing the new royal baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">windsor castle was my london day trip: its the oldest active castle in the world and also the official residence of the queen! this is a view of the castles dry moat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the gardens of windsor as well as the many other activities it takes to maintain a castle helped to develop the town of windsor that sits just outside the castle walls</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNLVB5MWeBLPsu4_DrMmeffey4_96k9PVXzlCqpbZgRXlu8v7DKlkBN_UJG-OEgDWibwIHxujMLTEjMndZqjqcLEKFJKOKdbGUQXa7E1q4F07n_2khNwwwYqV0EZq0lT2qMmU1PnvxJ4C/s1600/SAM_0393.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNLVB5MWeBLPsu4_DrMmeffey4_96k9PVXzlCqpbZgRXlu8v7DKlkBN_UJG-OEgDWibwIHxujMLTEjMndZqjqcLEKFJKOKdbGUQXa7E1q4F07n_2khNwwwYqV0EZq0lT2qMmU1PnvxJ4C/s320/SAM_0393.JPG" width="198" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gaurds patrol the grounds of windsor. here they were on their way to replace one soldier from his post</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my wonderful host kamila took me for drinks at her favorite pub waxy o'connors, it was a castle all in its own with atleast 15 different rooms and levels with little nooks everywhere! never seen anything like it!</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_566110908"></span>a special thank you to my friend jack for showing me what a night on the town in london is all about, a true english pub crawl! and also to my amazing host kamila! my experience in london was better than anything i could have hoped for and so much of that is due to you and your hospitality, thank you!<br />
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tomorrow i am off to paris, the city of romance & love and theres no telling what might happen ;) i am truly sad to be leaving the uk. I face the unknown in each new day that comes and i welcome the excitment this inspires in my soul. i find myself in awe of the deeply rich culture that europeans possess...cheers london, bonjour paris! <br />
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stay tuned for the second stop of my european tour, paris france <br />
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thanks for reading!<br />
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- j<br /></div>
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26 years...this is the length of time i've spent on earth in pursuit of the adventure i always knew i wanted, but could never quite base in the realm of my reality. my dreams of backpacking through europe were met with subliminal sarcasm, taunting me with, 'you might as well dream of going to the moon brother' (which also happens to be on my wishlist, along with flying (or even just riding in) a supersonic fighter jet).</div>
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my last post was also a day of elation, however just the anticipation of traveling has my heart racing the same way it was kicking and pushing, and gliiiiiiiiding my way across the city of los angeles during <a href="http://www.germyinsocal.com/2013/04/ciclavia-to-sea.html">ciclavia!</a> in just a few hours i will be departing my beloved los angeles and the next 25 days will be filled with that once elusive adventure, as i take my grand tour of europe!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhWKQyEcBAs1cILzMNjHgsHpH2nufytWEXITHK7YKEkETmJ7dJSnIhZkId9-T6ZRUaVh-4-L66qIVO66eeDyFKpvvlu6taxvNjU26tQYz_dwvDN5iChiQ-MaaQ7kcQnc4Pkxlr2nY99G7/s1600/bag-complete.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhWKQyEcBAs1cILzMNjHgsHpH2nufytWEXITHK7YKEkETmJ7dJSnIhZkId9-T6ZRUaVh-4-L66qIVO66eeDyFKpvvlu6taxvNjU26tQYz_dwvDN5iChiQ-MaaQ7kcQnc4Pkxlr2nY99G7/s400/bag-complete.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stops: london, paris, barcelona, rome, athens (mikonos, ios)</td></tr>
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since completing my work on a grueling 10 month season one of a television show called <a href="http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/homeandfamily" target="_blank">home & family</a> this last thursday, i've been scrambling to tidy up last minute errands. sleep has come in short supply as i found myself wide awake with anticipation every time i tried to lay down or sit still: "don't forget that one thing! oh, wait! i need to call that person about something! remember to submit those photo's before you leave! go to the bank! make sure you grab that extra thing for your camera!"<br />
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the list was lengthy, but it helped take my mind of the anticipation, or i would have surely died.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a 50 mm lens bought to slay down europe's architecture!</td></tr>
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the sights to see are plentiful, and i only have one or two core must-sees in each city:<br />
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london: parliament and windsor Castle</div>
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paris: eiffel tower, versailles</div>
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barcelona: la playa, la playa, la playa</div>
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rome: coloseum, italian coast</div>
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athens: acropolis, parthenon / islands: mikonos & ios</div>
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if you're reading this in shock, please don't fret! believe me when i tell you i have amassed a sightseeing list so impressive, that...well...you would be impressed, trust me! a special thank you to some amazing friends who took time from their busy schedules to send me their own favorite places in these cities!</div>
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so i ask that you stay tuned and follow along as i make my way across lands of incredible human history.</div>
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to all the guests i've hosted: thank you for giving me the courage to forge my own adventure...</div>
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now its my turn to see the world :)</div>
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as always,</div>
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thanks for reading!</div>
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- j<br /></div>
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-84745168008853642792013-04-28T22:01:00.001-07:002020-12-02T11:39:00.754-08:00ciclavia - to the sea!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6oj6NCV3vXOqwbqy1HTYHWL5uN4rC-6lT61P310WAMufAIUt1YjN7oKX67VTXgYUHqfH9suL6RtG1hwtPTzpsoal5VzzMJwm1ms6jLS8vdwNWnskHHwXkBslIhl7Bw3gaKxZrgDP17lQ/s1600/me&venice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6oj6NCV3vXOqwbqy1HTYHWL5uN4rC-6lT61P310WAMufAIUt1YjN7oKX67VTXgYUHqfH9suL6RtG1hwtPTzpsoal5VzzMJwm1ms6jLS8vdwNWnskHHwXkBslIhl7Bw3gaKxZrgDP17lQ/s400/me&venice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ahhh, venice :)</td></tr>
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life in los angeles is quick...time has found a way of blurring days and weeks together, so that the moments spent on-set...these amazingly spectacular, and always changing moments, must be dumped from memory to make room for the next flood of daily content. i can't tell you the most exciting moment, or the coolest person i've had standing in front of my lense, but i can speak on the truth that i love my work, and that this is just the beginning for me and my career in photography.</div>
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with my first post in all these months, <a href="http://www.ciclavia.org/">ciclavia</a> is an event that is well worth the wait, although the break in posts does not come from a lack of subject matter. the paragraph above explains it best; simply a lack of time!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU47N_AzYpY8Ip3nlI0qERmHSj5INOZlE7UOsEUc4VtrwGq3c6J2wYJOt5EZYQck2PbzQf4rAEuAZLU6Esmh6oZqgYTE3kKk5j4WNswN4RqQDhefk19uhsoPM8vbhSk5OJdB74Gq_CcGY/s1600/ciclavia-tothesea!.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU47N_AzYpY8Ip3nlI0qERmHSj5INOZlE7UOsEUc4VtrwGq3c6J2wYJOt5EZYQck2PbzQf4rAEuAZLU6Esmh6oZqgYTE3kKk5j4WNswN4RqQDhefk19uhsoPM8vbhSk5OJdB74Gq_CcGY/s400/ciclavia-tothesea!.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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ciclavia is an event put on throughout the streets of los angeles, with the first few originating just outside my window in beautiful downtown. streets are closed to cars, and although the lanes are kindly dominated by bicycles, I, in my most perfect germy fashion, have taken to the streets with my longboard for an out-of-this-world sidewalk surfing experience.</div>
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sunday, april 21 2013 the route for <a href="http://www.ciclavia.org/events/676/to-the-sea/681/about">ciclavia - to the sea!</a> stretched the length of the city! connecting my two favorite areas of this town via venice boulevard, i set out on my mission to longboard the entire 15 mile route from downtown to venice beach!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYItgvXWQtDOG-QJ9hIYZELydz0Nqsqc5qdZALwq-8LzlDQ9jQEKVS89TO_NGEpCrBy5NF-MliSbzUZbVQlf1UE_VALf19zJzWFS-eahr614g_ZUFj9E9wCBnbHs7dZUfkRI7m2wmfiBn/s1600/kel&j!.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYItgvXWQtDOG-QJ9hIYZELydz0Nqsqc5qdZALwq-8LzlDQ9jQEKVS89TO_NGEpCrBy5NF-MliSbzUZbVQlf1UE_VALf19zJzWFS-eahr614g_ZUFj9E9wCBnbHs7dZUfkRI7m2wmfiBn/s320/kel&j!.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my friend kelly caught up with <br />
me for the last mile to venice :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn35lP-cVGVTzRR_x9Dae7KMJHiJnrHB3YYEDNl0K_r9XVvfsZbECskwedCg7HT8y2VM4uafYrbeW6FtV2PR3a0TQVp83ahgt1nkZarzNop5nU7mAvdbtQ8QSWlZ9s5colZ1yNqpqrBoY/s1600/ciclavia-jenny!.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn35lP-cVGVTzRR_x9Dae7KMJHiJnrHB3YYEDNl0K_r9XVvfsZbECskwedCg7HT8y2VM4uafYrbeW6FtV2PR3a0TQVp83ahgt1nkZarzNop5nU7mAvdbtQ8QSWlZ9s5colZ1yNqpqrBoY/s320/ciclavia-jenny!.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jenny joined me for a few <br />
blocks from la brea to fairfax!</td></tr>
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making my way from the routes downtown start / finish line, I was nervous as I approached my first hill and found myself already breathing hard, with beads, no rivers, of sweat pouring down my face...with only a mile under my belt I felt the split-second doubts that I may not make the full 15 miles...I had spent the previous three or four weekends longboarding the boardwalk from venice to santa monica, a 2 mile stretch that I can cruise with ease...and when the full scope of skating across the city of los angeles hit me as I made my way up that hill, I took those doubts and tossed them aside as the rewarding thrill of peaking the hill and surfing down the backside on smooth, open asphalt dominated my senses.</div>
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words of encouragement and shock from cyclists, 'are you going all the way to the ocean?!' yes ma'am, yes i am! I fell into auto-pilot and the next thing i knew, the downtown skyline was in my rear-view, a mass of metal and glass was slowly fading behind me...kicking and kicking, and cruising, and carving my way past block after block, all of the sudden i had made it 8 miles. just over halfway to venice and i couldn't have felt better! next thing i know, downtown is no longer visible, and the smell of the ocean hits my soul...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fau0EKcJl3V2jKbYSxRpgJhzsuWCGawHPjC7DfFTjqpbO8cfHGP7fvVgqfIfBAx3XaicpU8gELyNubOsKrxGhVKSlJs0j7kBC-PxXnWfkRgn9ExeE3v1kfUGMFHm58N8I8zWDiWhTSoN/s1600/lacekelj.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fau0EKcJl3V2jKbYSxRpgJhzsuWCGawHPjC7DfFTjqpbO8cfHGP7fvVgqfIfBAx3XaicpU8gELyNubOsKrxGhVKSlJs0j7kBC-PxXnWfkRgn9ExeE3v1kfUGMFHm58N8I8zWDiWhTSoN/s400/lacekelj.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">laci made it from downtown on her bike, we met up in venice!</td></tr>
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the realization that i had made the 15 mile trek, in just over 2 hours, was alot to take in. the beauty of this city, it's inhabitants, and all the other things that make los angeles los angeles filled my emotions with humility. it's so much bigger then me...and i love that :)</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYQ-WqXceeSufvrMgXKEnD-Utu2eHPkfb_WtwRZHmhwER9HfV0IT9EqJx1khVrkj_037co0D10b5rakaTvhPcpXKrMNuhfY6_m72hJCLH28g9xXPbprD7D1bykewONgdC5uFjjgCRKfkC/s1600/ciclavia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYQ-WqXceeSufvrMgXKEnD-Utu2eHPkfb_WtwRZHmhwER9HfV0IT9EqJx1khVrkj_037co0D10b5rakaTvhPcpXKrMNuhfY6_m72hJCLH28g9xXPbprD7D1bykewONgdC5uFjjgCRKfkC/s400/ciclavia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">me and my trusty board, we made it!</td></tr>
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the next ciclavia is down <a href="http://www.ciclavia.org/events/682/iconic-wilshire-boulevard/692/about">'</a><i><a href="http://www.ciclavia.org/events/682/iconic-wilshire-boulevard/692/about">Iconic Wilshire Boulevard'</a> </i>june 23, 2013 from 10am - 3pm. you can be damn sure that you will catch me surfing the paved route, board beneath me, and the streets of los angeles welcoming the simplicity of human powered vehicles and smiles.</div>
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thanks for reading!</div>
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- j<br /></div>
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-60173807952010461912012-09-23T01:47:00.003-07:002020-12-02T11:39:52.110-08:00the day a space shuttle flew over california<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIfvN3i43evfb0XEfmMCLg3hvvmZ_sVSPVSRILATw35jPQQTxhOXyhqXowqpkmSJLhSjF903HzVOkrTYs-WuvsPlRqwl-wXtjIonXyNuqM9TCfCbx5O9mqA_0ZnBrLdtV8pV5XM15rt2k/s1600/endeavor_6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIfvN3i43evfb0XEfmMCLg3hvvmZ_sVSPVSRILATw35jPQQTxhOXyhqXowqpkmSJLhSjF903HzVOkrTYs-WuvsPlRqwl-wXtjIonXyNuqM9TCfCbx5O9mqA_0ZnBrLdtV8pV5XM15rt2k/s320/endeavor_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nasa's historic space shuttle <i>endeavor</i> </td></tr>
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Friday September 21, 2012 was one of those great days where I grow old and look back at with a smile. An event that I heard broadcast on the radio found its way inside my ear. It immediately exploded to first in-line on my list of priorities! No way am I going to miss out on watching a piece of history that happens to be so closely connected with the study of the universe, that massive organized chaos of the unknown. <br />
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I welcome you, loyal reader, to another fascinating post here on germy-in-socal! After a formidable documentary slumber, it was a retired old rockets final flight that awakened the quest that continues on as germy-in-socal returns! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1w6pQPP7gEE6hDBHrghOtzPwVjWBAdVQlLXrYn5WLGhO05U54l2p931nLiVd6fynh32RzUGxy3TFjrh90qBL5XQwOv-cVaIIkAQ0qC-WzGQ-02XMwGnpIQM69SaUyXeX1uC72dALDRYOm/s1600/endeavor_1-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1w6pQPP7gEE6hDBHrghOtzPwVjWBAdVQlLXrYn5WLGhO05U54l2p931nLiVd6fynh32RzUGxy3TFjrh90qBL5XQwOv-cVaIIkAQ0qC-WzGQ-02XMwGnpIQM69SaUyXeX1uC72dALDRYOm/s320/endeavor_1-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with the benefit of binoculars,<br />
a lifeguard watches endeavor's venice beach fly-by</td></tr>
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Months spent away from my documentation of southern california have brought me to this moment of clarity...life is good :) Growth, experience, wisdom and patience guide the path I chose to walk. <br />
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Life as a <a href="http://www.skillset.org/film/jobs/publicity/article_4773_1.asp" target="_blank">unit stills photographer</a>, a pulsating new passion for surfing...even hosting guests from around the world to give others the opportunity to feel that california sunshine! Then, as if on cue, I hear that a space shuttle, attached to a giant 747 was going to make it's final 'farewell' flight over los angeles...thats when I knew...life is good :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LmOyOSks26UuRc-ml52A63PGIltAu6uTB2cWMfho3tG8tIEwITaxaB9HNF1JcPa7cjYqBbDcZxUk4YQ7obcRgV1tvDdlcUv_jwk8Jh9jSQ30HUcEVeJuzImUyMPwLReo4lilswqURUqV/s1600/endeavor_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LmOyOSks26UuRc-ml52A63PGIltAu6uTB2cWMfho3tG8tIEwITaxaB9HNF1JcPa7cjYqBbDcZxUk4YQ7obcRgV1tvDdlcUv_jwk8Jh9jSQ30HUcEVeJuzImUyMPwLReo4lilswqURUqV/s320/endeavor_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two f-18 jets fly escort to the legendary spacecraft</td></tr>
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Current guests of my downtown los angeles apartment, three Macedonians, (who by some crazy chance had never been to an ocean beach before this day!) accompanied me to one of the designated fly-by areas, the beloved venice beach. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRstBE3klAM2reuclJ6nYGpCFS2v0bHTEfs8pttN7TzV0IpoJaFET68Tp8rVqJb3HJalhyTmWYxY22S41VBQLAx5fGb3QBMmI3VCJH3bXq89vSEkjZBTgSignEI-gf0reZ8gIIoFF8qbx/s1600/anna.steph.mir_3.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRstBE3klAM2reuclJ6nYGpCFS2v0bHTEfs8pttN7TzV0IpoJaFET68Tp8rVqJb3HJalhyTmWYxY22S41VBQLAx5fGb3QBMmI3VCJH3bXq89vSEkjZBTgSignEI-gf0reZ8gIIoFF8qbx/s320/anna.steph.mir_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mirjana stefanie anna</td></tr>
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waiting for the shuttle to make its way down from san francisco and sacramento, I offered my skills behind the lense and agreed to grab a shot of the girls in a jumping photo together...then.......BOOM!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh514NeZ54QnOjGZDbmLydSHa3n9bGzmETGyOkCAn4PqZCQKUPq2yK-ZqN82rL1UblwBv1qA5tAqhHcVyt8JNypNRzMeinNibMzBJxChmrbGcOvoUlQp9b9sNtXxAir6IiNe-ZDXm0tnXsm/s1600/anna.steph.mir_4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh514NeZ54QnOjGZDbmLydSHa3n9bGzmETGyOkCAn4PqZCQKUPq2yK-ZqN82rL1UblwBv1qA5tAqhHcVyt8JNypNRzMeinNibMzBJxChmrbGcOvoUlQp9b9sNtXxAir6IiNe-ZDXm0tnXsm/s320/anna.steph.mir_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It came! And I accidentally caught this shot of the three of them glancing behind to catch their first glimpse of the shuttle as they race back to our towels to grab their own camera's! Love this one :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">endeavor's piggyback flight headed north over santa monica</td></tr>
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It was an incredible sight to see, and in every way, shape and form I was overwhelmed. But the day was not complete...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxEZrPBkiVoYKEVvJgXRU9eojzYajTLLqNHSqzm0I5CYgUfy31_7bcxwLpu6THbPqUcj8KfcBUIxwmIngQ0cxlIHDYkYDxcvhZBEzqLEmaiYlbd9oRmTUnrZYQaXmMFe3t1VN7vcaIvCl/s1600/surfing_2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxEZrPBkiVoYKEVvJgXRU9eojzYajTLLqNHSqzm0I5CYgUfy31_7bcxwLpu6THbPqUcj8KfcBUIxwmIngQ0cxlIHDYkYDxcvhZBEzqLEmaiYlbd9oRmTUnrZYQaXmMFe3t1VN7vcaIvCl/s320/surfing_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a visual adrenaline rush with emotions at capacity, the waves of venice were looking damn fine! I sped off to grab the board, and snuck in 2 hours of bliss, just the ocean and me...</div>
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days like this are rare, as are the moments of clarity they can inspire...</div>
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thanks for reading!<br />
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- j<br /></div>
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Boy oh boy...an unexpected adventure swept me away from blogging the past 3 months and to readers I apologize. An apology as well to my suffocating creative half who has taken a backseat to an intensely regimented photography 'boot camp.' <br />
But all is for the best. As creative expression takes a breather in the corner, germy, estudiante de foto, comes alive and soaks up the knowledge around him, gorging on hoards of text and hydrating with visual concepts.<br />
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My focused field of work made a drastic transition 3 months ago as the new year began. Not to say that I really had a true field of work in mind; as an amature photographer I bit at any opportunity there was...but taking photo's for the film industry was the last place I saw myself by far!<br />
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Alas, a break in filming for a week allows me time to catch up on missed sleep. Feeling recovered and surprisingly finding myself in the mood to actually shoot <i>outside</i> of work, I bring you photo's from my latest adventure: beautiful in it's own special way, The Los Angeles river, downtown LA section<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPzTJqngdY49ikWsJdqhBmiTPNnzdyRHuOB3XQtd8nwXXOgDVE8Ms6FLHshC8E2bp6PzEvYKv_A_begMY0KQlpJE6erWforqGALF4jN_9N7l4-woe-yJCJDudWIUogsV07y5R6F44iu5u/s1600/IMG_6263-2-2-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPzTJqngdY49ikWsJdqhBmiTPNnzdyRHuOB3XQtd8nwXXOgDVE8Ms6FLHshC8E2bp6PzEvYKv_A_begMY0KQlpJE6erWforqGALF4jN_9N7l4-woe-yJCJDudWIUogsV07y5R6F44iu5u/s400/IMG_6263-2-2-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdUkNWa7tiUuxzoF80PcaprrNJ1LrBvGNVFujubcjbrdbH0P9Ob7bHVeLjfjzbjxOEFyhOiMcgB-7lMdcR58-dmoJDhK3bUeqIbG1LBs_8sSJFWITvQLPuBVWKhp33hyphenhyphenKixJj4JgV-kxk/s1600/IMG_6189-2-2-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdUkNWa7tiUuxzoF80PcaprrNJ1LrBvGNVFujubcjbrdbH0P9Ob7bHVeLjfjzbjxOEFyhOiMcgB-7lMdcR58-dmoJDhK3bUeqIbG1LBs_8sSJFWITvQLPuBVWKhp33hyphenhyphenKixJj4JgV-kxk/s400/IMG_6189-2-2-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDJ9L9NZH51Lk7vuG-hVqqijOy2KjDU5ouvze5OcF5oC0T2j6JZvmRW0VJF_paUaPojP_D1iPGxG5uPDF_JifBizIzYgxj_DhnewO13mXjHys51cxY_AAlSv6lqFPmfMaXlKZWQKeA0qv/s1600/IMG_6323-2-2-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDJ9L9NZH51Lk7vuG-hVqqijOy2KjDU5ouvze5OcF5oC0T2j6JZvmRW0VJF_paUaPojP_D1iPGxG5uPDF_JifBizIzYgxj_DhnewO13mXjHys51cxY_AAlSv6lqFPmfMaXlKZWQKeA0qv/s400/IMG_6323-2-2-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Summer is just around the corner and I'm hoping to put together another great one of beach destinations, interviews and photo's of everything going on here for SoCal 2012!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoy the photo's and stay tuned for my latest SoCal adventure!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> - j<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADNeNuFiqJVwnsTDj_GoE56NdR5VsJwBRO3hxxlU7-EbGJJ_Z5rbpmWjfRPlYbbKq_WeFaJk7p6mR-Iup-e5S-np-Wkd-kEIB_GjS67H5e-HzDz9dDHpfXl8OitvuFHN3788HQagwQmXM/s1600/IMG_6167-2-2-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc5RIUf3vNUZ6x_xTgs7i48b3egLzmt7IdcM0ADdf8T7064B6oDN1eNHgFZKi1LhF5QqClDBzBiU7ELe4M2Xopd7ztfrTn_A6nx1rO7Sz6ygw0_4vP-DOQB4Gsq65iXtH6mBYvfypAckX/s1600/IMG_6245-2-2-2.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0Downtown, Los Angeles, CA, USA34.051801771904636 -118.229159823437534.032402771904636 -118.2557103234375 34.071200771904635 -118.2026093234375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-14636011044186234302012-01-28T12:55:00.002-08:002020-12-02T11:40:16.660-08:00lense elevation: downtown la at night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bKXZ7dJcbXar0en3nbPye08ojE9MIUtgq3-Onc42R0fpJtZb9pcUzKtL9XmgV_AjzjOc7-D4VU_F_RiUoyKGdhTzgcn2hIED0ahM8CXIUHG99MRX9EkZLoMT6gEJ9YJRN_Y2W5i-p6qG/s1600/biltmore_roof1741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bKXZ7dJcbXar0en3nbPye08ojE9MIUtgq3-Onc42R0fpJtZb9pcUzKtL9XmgV_AjzjOc7-D4VU_F_RiUoyKGdhTzgcn2hIED0ahM8CXIUHG99MRX9EkZLoMT6gEJ9YJRN_Y2W5i-p6qG/s400/biltmore_roof1741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A true staple of accomplishing dreams, I have truthfully wanted these shots since I first started free-running through the downtown streets of LA. Like a gazelle in a free, wide-open expanse of landscape, I treat every obstacle the city throws in my path as a personal challenge to conquer.<br />
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If I don't dominate that 10 ft. gap/ winding staircase/ raised flower pot/ gorilla jump over ever trash can today....than by the will of man, I will certainly dominate you tomorrow!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntdRzxKgC9Md6Y9Rn7RTEyA-UP6fevj0NYE_-M0ChAcWmWpCjfJDCP4m32pQJsxoCR9pgvNn-9xst0KXE6trriNp_3HQKRB4JLqMAig4y2un5v2oKFF0w_VGf-7SpA7KsrQXph5iwB1xN/s1600/biltmore_roof1704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntdRzxKgC9Md6Y9Rn7RTEyA-UP6fevj0NYE_-M0ChAcWmWpCjfJDCP4m32pQJsxoCR9pgvNn-9xst0KXE6trriNp_3HQKRB4JLqMAig4y2un5v2oKFF0w_VGf-7SpA7KsrQXph5iwB1xN/s400/biltmore_roof1704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
One of my many goals to conquer has been to climb atop the beautifully seducing rooftops of LA's famous downtown skyline.........undetected! Now although the roof of the luxurious Biltmore Hotel isn't exactly the tallest structure around, I saw an opportunity to climb on-top of a roof, so climb I did.<br />
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Steadily ascending, floor by floor via a sketchy fire escape, I reached my destination in stealth with camera in tow.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmCJ3cvQhWHGxtjmo9YwIZ4cqH6Ii3cLdcLQhBVQglbfRiLMJUO_1ACcUlQqegQpNMHMYQkRg7-pM9G_Q3kyaGajn6X11ATcTboPaLSVhkhmPo0oC1Sg1ooWEONnHnk1Ow_NMagIE5xfo/s1600/biltmore_roof1694.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmCJ3cvQhWHGxtjmo9YwIZ4cqH6Ii3cLdcLQhBVQglbfRiLMJUO_1ACcUlQqegQpNMHMYQkRg7-pM9G_Q3kyaGajn6X11ATcTboPaLSVhkhmPo0oC1Sg1ooWEONnHnk1Ow_NMagIE5xfo/s400/biltmore_roof1694.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">LA's downtown rooftops 0: Germ the worm: 1 mark it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Thanks for reading!<br />
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- j<br /></div>
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0Biltmore Hotel Heliport, Los Angeles, CA 90014, USA34.0491786 -118.2534071999999734.013620599999996 -118.31177219999996 34.0847366 -118.19504219999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-52936447538306044402011-12-12T15:48:00.002-08:002020-12-02T11:41:38.875-08:00central library: downtown la's block of knowledge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxOyDUCYEk8zQHHT5N-9Y0MKQHSluWwXrLtCV4sLUChDKg-d561O1m9m6-32C6w7uB2ve7SDOsYFE_esa0xXGLAf4hxbgDhGDpDR_UiutPkIYKB8qv_0GbQO8OJ2tLfG6VTujJgV50-1U/s1600/Central-Library1441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxOyDUCYEk8zQHHT5N-9Y0MKQHSluWwXrLtCV4sLUChDKg-d561O1m9m6-32C6w7uB2ve7SDOsYFE_esa0xXGLAf4hxbgDhGDpDR_UiutPkIYKB8qv_0GbQO8OJ2tLfG6VTujJgV50-1U/s400/Central-Library1441.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From the first days getting situated with my new neighborhood downtown, the Central Library has been near the top of my list of things I have wanted to shoot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As I penetrate deeper into the realm of professional photography I find inspiration in so many things. Today, December 12th, 2011 marks my 1 year anniversary living in California...Let this post serve as a celebration, and also a secret desire...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...Perhaps one day my work documenting the many treasures of SoCal will be in this very library!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">thanks for reading!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> - j<br /></div>
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</script>Germy-in-SoCalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019063848630957927noreply@blogger.com0Central Library, Downtown Los Angeles34.050138466422347 -118.2546939399505834.041088966422343 -118.26499393995059 34.05918796642235 -118.24439393995058tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7979825845888409471.post-39814534031638702202011-12-02T15:06:00.002-08:002020-12-02T11:42:13.285-08:00lapd & the eviction of the occupyLA protesters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNu-xlxcjLKC1tOgmbmh-xqorxT8WqArcO8L_H8i2Bqw1F7yVCJ7-W94TV1tdNqpRaDbaxMHZe0CI6bCkz5nI4Z1L5UoJEEmYjSvVTRZCilZuN3XSI9s0xcuE15Onzxa5UXxZLCTxPvZjY/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1297-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNu-xlxcjLKC1tOgmbmh-xqorxT8WqArcO8L_H8i2Bqw1F7yVCJ7-W94TV1tdNqpRaDbaxMHZe0CI6bCkz5nI4Z1L5UoJEEmYjSvVTRZCilZuN3XSI9s0xcuE15Onzxa5UXxZLCTxPvZjY/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1297-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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This last tuesday, November 29th, 2011 started out like any other. I got up, checked e-mail, ran some errands around town, and ate some food. All in all, a pretty un-eventful day. 4 blocks away from my apt. downtown, rumors had been circling for days about a possible raid of The OccupyLA protesters from City Hall by the LAPD. By midnight <i>'un-eventful'</i> would no longer describe the day, as it was replaced by a somewhat coordinated chaos.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTowvvnNzsLsIWeRNB1Ks5TRqsNLheyi2uzijoOEmHQOdYXU5bFmrQu_EYCog_hvbyXABHt8e4YxXMuDJQzEd8QtOstAFmc2rfjAM_TPGawPZEIhCiW-CTVLWz6oeJDbm7c7N9r0M3Zz9j/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1346-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTowvvnNzsLsIWeRNB1Ks5TRqsNLheyi2uzijoOEmHQOdYXU5bFmrQu_EYCog_hvbyXABHt8e4YxXMuDJQzEd8QtOstAFmc2rfjAM_TPGawPZEIhCiW-CTVLWz6oeJDbm7c7N9r0M3Zz9j/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1346-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I was on my way to the bar to grab a drink, when I decided to randomly check my twitter. twitter isn't a source I often check for news, but after a quick check of my feed I saw <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/blogdowntown" target="_blank">@blogdowntown </a> post "<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(82, 18, 0, 0.098); color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Twitter is abuzz this evening with the idea that LAPD might clear the City Hall Occupy LA encampment tonight. If so, we'll be there."</i></span><br />
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A massive hoard of LAPD officers flooded the streets surrounding City Hall in Downtown LA. Reports estimate 1,400 officers were on location to Evict the Wall St. Protesters. <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(82, 18, 0, 0.098); color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0h8euMG5f9kp-khsWWJV4m5sRJCDvHej-gtUgmStN1JmtNbvuWM5Vyk3cmWeZZaRWbleD4N5w9Fzs5l8OsC0HW46yzfLQcIPczti4gryPr4-iea-3LFBNoa6vrPdhHjz-k2lw9BBB75-/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1336-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0h8euMG5f9kp-khsWWJV4m5sRJCDvHej-gtUgmStN1JmtNbvuWM5Vyk3cmWeZZaRWbleD4N5w9Fzs5l8OsC0HW46yzfLQcIPczti4gryPr4-iea-3LFBNoa6vrPdhHjz-k2lw9BBB75-/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1336-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I grabbed my Canon Rebel xs and prepared myself for a genuine adventure. At 12:45am I made a peanut butter & jelly sammie, grabbed a bottle of water and hurried out to the streets. I could hear a handful of helicopters swarming the area from my apt. and knew it might be difficult to get to the heart of the action if LAPD had already set up their blockades.... Unfortunately, I was right in thinking the blockades were already up...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Fortunately, I thrive off jumping fences, crawling behind benches and speed-tip-toeing past authorities. This wasn't my first time playing free-runner with my camera slinged around my back, but it has certainly been the most </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">exhilarating</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> to date.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNLAEWuNBCuuLP_J0hfMWjzXKE4JLcX_TtfePiPWYToKxG399QhDAhVPJRTbG1mVsjvmPv7txzargdTlfJZsORBB1I2DwbVtjYRZNF-7hAh9Kk0hPQuyLB1uAzpxmU56uNiKP_geE5ov7/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1345-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNLAEWuNBCuuLP_J0hfMWjzXKE4JLcX_TtfePiPWYToKxG399QhDAhVPJRTbG1mVsjvmPv7txzargdTlfJZsORBB1I2DwbVtjYRZNF-7hAh9Kk0hPQuyLB1uAzpxmU56uNiKP_geE5ov7/s320/OccupyLA_Evict1345-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There were a few other citizen reporters that couldn't break the blockade, nor could they repeat my fence domination. I felt bad, but had to keep movin' (sorry guys). Once I had slid through the lines, I had about 200 ft. of open road I had to cross. It was the only route to the epicenter of the Eviction, the lawns of City Hall. I straightened up, and walked with confidence. A handful of officers passed by and I said to myself, 'you belong here, you belong here, you belong here!!!' keeping my eyes straight ahead, the officers passed by without a 2nd glance...whew!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU8YA03i49uTMNxpcMmC7zLqD83NgnqmDeZyaJ-4vedIFB_L-bCfQ7xqzpqWdxtTid59NW_Sk-PGAe5YWBGzDL-dhiQlLzw0S7ergOvvsLsASwNTZHKEDhDcngZTVChHDII3s5gYX39EC/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1308-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZU8YA03i49uTMNxpcMmC7zLqD83NgnqmDeZyaJ-4vedIFB_L-bCfQ7xqzpqWdxtTid59NW_Sk-PGAe5YWBGzDL-dhiQlLzw0S7ergOvvsLsASwNTZHKEDhDcngZTVChHDII3s5gYX39EC/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1308-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The sea of officers I witnessed on arrival was shocking. I couldn't believe my eyes. Never have I seen so many uniformed police descend on a single location. By the time I reached ground zero the tent city of the Protesters was in shambles. Later, protesters would explain to me how they were given little warning before officers began tearing their tents down with knives. One protester even said she and those near her were 'beaten.' According to <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/blogdowntown" target="_blank">@blogdowntown</a> 292 arrests were made throughout the night</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDg0-H9Rf-IrXxiIMXRaUc6-nPPPeWVrxhF1wu_jZh4iFD_CB1RWkUvIK0jnSotWZ49jakHEDXM4r7LtObtnc80Q4Q27obwKcIAFDmVT1BLQKPY2ReYA-ZluuPd4AuT7H0PR6lId9RdQ9/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1330-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDg0-H9Rf-IrXxiIMXRaUc6-nPPPeWVrxhF1wu_jZh4iFD_CB1RWkUvIK0jnSotWZ49jakHEDXM4r7LtObtnc80Q4Q27obwKcIAFDmVT1BLQKPY2ReYA-ZluuPd4AuT7H0PR6lId9RdQ9/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1330-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Once I established my presence as part of the media, I made my way around the chaos, talked to protesters and got my photos. The police lines looked more like military units ready to react to any problems from protesters. It was an experience I will never forget.</span><br /><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs2wP83rZqJMdLZemqVKLpeyqeCcfUCNiDBgi5aR_UnArLrkK7y8wEoiptBgSFABCWKfZZcTMWRqGSSHqb0Qjijt19cov1PHC_OPPgv0ZV5oXas9VgkqVrpL3_H9cBhRVqHHU1Se7Zt5F/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1300-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFs2wP83rZqJMdLZemqVKLpeyqeCcfUCNiDBgi5aR_UnArLrkK7y8wEoiptBgSFABCWKfZZcTMWRqGSSHqb0Qjijt19cov1PHC_OPPgv0ZV5oXas9VgkqVrpL3_H9cBhRVqHHU1Se7Zt5F/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1300-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0_Kz1Jfz2JT55tw7VORGctFL48tchyScijZgtQCm0YBL8QetVLWHWF-btPU7SFQUROTwUN64Qo3vX6SVGvXedlIStZsKma3BJRzC6O807q58fiiKsoU3rsHg-MrZ93r0wUaa3GvjqcOp/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1362-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0_Kz1Jfz2JT55tw7VORGctFL48tchyScijZgtQCm0YBL8QetVLWHWF-btPU7SFQUROTwUN64Qo3vX6SVGvXedlIStZsKma3BJRzC6O807q58fiiKsoU3rsHg-MrZ93r0wUaa3GvjqcOp/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1362-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k808uNRxu5dgORmod1dd2guGN_imbBH9ja1bebE245KQ_Shu4Ai_C4cmpmCtInjqC7opsmR9-U4gycdOeCbqiH1DZmScl2Q8rbv6XjEmG6Cxk8wZBLX9Ccirjhh6jT23_mYNtSQIfdli/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1344-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k808uNRxu5dgORmod1dd2guGN_imbBH9ja1bebE245KQ_Shu4Ai_C4cmpmCtInjqC7opsmR9-U4gycdOeCbqiH1DZmScl2Q8rbv6XjEmG6Cxk8wZBLX9Ccirjhh6jT23_mYNtSQIfdli/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1344-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXwwGsFGu_GbkrhC0p-j6pXgBXVz1jkFEegbH8nMP4R91Wp-c9AcfS-SYb99-lEiCkAsmAKsQv-mE8fV67Xye9Iz5eoXDSweGnAytyv3jF0rJnHlTUU885NVTPQQ1O2BA8zDghyhRfzik/s1600/OccupyLA_Evict1342-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXwwGsFGu_GbkrhC0p-j6pXgBXVz1jkFEegbH8nMP4R91Wp-c9AcfS-SYb99-lEiCkAsmAKsQv-mE8fV67Xye9Iz5eoXDSweGnAytyv3jF0rJnHlTUU885NVTPQQ1O2BA8zDghyhRfzik/s400/OccupyLA_Evict1342-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Thanks for reading!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> - j</span>
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