To The End of the World!

Back in the Saddle

2012-01-15T20:38:00.001-08:00

It's been ages! Ages since I've posted, and ages since I've entered an editing room. This Wednesday I'm going in... I recently had a motivating chat with my professor from Algonquin, Peter, and he is encouraging to dive back into what I love most; film.

I've been feeling so lost since school ended in May. What do I want to do... More importantly, how will I get there? It's become totally apparent to me that the path I'm on now is not my forever plan: lifeguarding and customer service at a gym. These jobs were never meant to be permanent, however i haven't been making enough of an effort on what should have been my #1 focus up to this point: my career search.

I'm about to get real corny, but tonight at the Golden Globes, Morgan Freeman said that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life... Obviously he isn't the original author of this wisdom, but thank you Morgan Freeman for reminding me to aim a little higher!

I am joining SAW Video, I'm rebooting working on a few unfinished projects from last year, and I'm going to look into doing a 24 hour film challenge with some of my peers at the end of this month.

I want to work in the biz, and if I want it as bad as I know want it, I'm going to have to work a heck of a lot harder to reach my goals (and ultimately my potential). It's time to build a portfolio, design my life as I want it.

Let's go!

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Location:Nepean, Ontario, Canada

Flight of the... Hornet?

2011-05-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

Since coming home from Europe, I've gotten back to work, consolidated a few of my grades, gotten my roots touched up, been to my grandparent's cottage, and have successfully worn shoes!

Ridiculous moment of the week happened on Friday while on the way to my hair appointment with the Algonquin Hair Styling School. My aunt lent me her Vue to get to the appointment, so I turned on the radio, windows down, and started the 7 minute journey to Confederation High School. Woodroffe Avenue is under construction, so the speed limit has been reduced to 50 km/h... I'm minding the speed limit, singing along with the Rolling Stones... and I hear a loud *FLICK*

Was that a rock? Nope, a HUGE HORNET is now on the passenger side of the car!!!!!!!

I am now 2 minutes away from Confed, do I pull over? Nope, I put one hand up prepared to defend my face and scream a little... If I had stopped I would have been late for my 3:30 p.m. time slot! After I parked the car, I was able to dispose of the angry hornet... using a used Timmies cup I found outside, and an old grocery list from my purse. No hornets were harmed, and I will be more apprehensive about having the windows down on Woodroffe Ave!

Being home is weird. Back to reality. Back to the job search.

Coming home early from my trip made sense: I was there to hike for a month, and I could no longer do that. I missed my family while I was away; however, I loved being overseas. I honestly believe that it is unacceptable to be homesick while travelling... anyhow, that's what I kept telling myself while I was gone!

The Camino is constantly on my mind. As I was unpacking my bag I unearthed my seashell... I cannot wait to plan my next attempt. I'm already working on better preparing myself for the next attempt... it's 3.7 km, one way, on foot to my workplace which takes me 40 minutes to walk. This is my summer challenge; walk or bike to work girl!

Although my stint on the Camino was brief, I've come home motivated to find a real job. Not that lifeguarding isn't a real job, I'm just not banking on it being my lifelong career. Been cruising the Parks Canada job site as well as City of Ottawa. I'm eager to see what's going to happen!! Wish me luck...

Now...

2011-05-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

So much to say... very little internet access this week, so I apologize for the tardiness of this post!

Alas, the rumours are true, I am back in Canada. Arrived yesterday afternoon via Air Transat from Paris to Montreal.

Decided to pull the plug on

my Camino when I got to Burgos, Spain. Why? Got my feet looked at by another medic, who told me once again that I needed at least a few days of rest for my feet to improve. Tatyana pressed on (sent her with my iPod as to help her stay connected with her family), and I made my way back to Bordeaux, France.

My train pass still had a few trips left on it, thank goodness, so my mission from Burgos was to get to the French border as economically as possible, then hop a TER (regional train) to Bordeaux. This little adventure brought me to San Sebastian, Spain for an afternoon/night, and I wish I could have stayed longer! If I could compare San Sebastian to anywhere I went in the past month, it would be like a larger, more affordable version of Monaco... and it has some of the most beautiful in-city beaches in Europe! Spent a good portion of my aftern

oon, with my feet wrapped up, laying on the beach. *Sigh*

Tuesday morning I left San Sebastian on a PESA (similar to Greyhound) bus to Bayonne, France. On the bus, PILGRIMS! Tons of them. Everyone was making their way to St. Jean Pied de Port to start their Camino. It was really neat to be around all of them... Most of them were German, and the girl next to me was from Hungary. Her name is Laura, and she is an automotive engineer who decided to unplug herself from her cell phone, internet, and a decent shower for a month and a half to do the Way. Go girl!

Bordeaux is amazing; the whole town has been deemed a UNESCO world heritage site. I was happy to be back at Laurene's, but pretty bummed that I couldn't finish the Camino this trip... but not to worry! This has motivated me to plan out my next attempt. I say this now, I will not be doing the Pyrenees again (although it was absolutely STUNNING, but killer). My family has been ultra supportive of me during my Euro-trip, and my dad is convinced (as am I) that I will be back on the Camino in the not-so-distant future; perhaps in a few

years :) The thing about the Camino is, you do it once and you are hooked for life. Many of the pilgrims I met along the Way had done the Camino previously... like 3-7 times! One man, met in Los Arcos, always starts from a different route. This year he began from St. Jean PP to do the French route, but he's done it from Madrid, Lisbon, and the Camino Norte. AND he always does a return trip... on foot! Wow.

Anyhow, Saturday morning I took a train to Paris, settled in and then met up with Laurene for our last day together in Europe. We strolled by the Palais Royal, into the gardens to see the Colones de Buraines, went to the Galleries Vivienne and found an amazing second hand store on Montmarte street. That night we met up with Noémie, we know each other from Laurentian University when she was an exchange student at the same time as Laurene. Good ol' Sudbury! We attempted to do museum night in Paris, but so did everyone else! The

line-up for the Louvre was easily 2 hours long at 9 p.m. ... and the museum was only open until 11:30 p.m. Bummer! They don't call it the City of Lights for nothing! We strolled around La Place Concorde, by the banks of the Seine, and by the Musée D'Orsay. Even saw the Eiffel tower all light up!

Anyhow, now I am home. Bentley, my wild bichon frise, doesn't really know what to do with himself... since I arrived he just looks at me as if to say "wait, I think I know you from somewhere..."

Oh, and I haven't worn shoes for a few weeks! It's rainy and cold here... is it poor form to wear wool socks and crocs?

The adventure continues!

The Way

2011-05-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

(the crew in the cathedral's plaza)

We have made it to Burgos, Spain! A city with a population of approx. 170,000 and no free wifi. Well, there are a few spots, but they are well hidden...

(specialty in Burgos... Sausage made with rice, onion, salt, and pig's blood... Sounds lovely.........)

(the Burgos cathedral is HUGE! Breathtaking!!!)

(pilgrim insignia on the wall inside the cathedral... No pictures allowed in there but I couldn't resist)

(our hostel is situated above a small chapel. 16 beds, and a host who sings and plays guitar!)

After over a week of being told "wait 2 more days then you will be better", I have decided to end my Camino. Was assessed by a medic in Santo Domingo de la Calzada and I have an infection on both my heels; he told me to use lots of Betadine (iodine based disinfectant) and be cautious... What does that even mean?!

And the documentary? Not to worry, there is definitely a story here... And as I have learned throughout my year in Algonquin's documentary production; life happens, and stories change. There was a little more drama than I could have ever anticipated!

I came to do the Camino with high expectations of myself... Unrealistic even. The first few days I tried to keep up with my friends, and not complain about my feet. Lesson learned: stop and check your feet immediately at the slightest sign of pain or discomfort.

I have definitely learned about myself, for example; it's possible to walk 30km in a day, conditioner isn't necessary, 5 euros can go a long way, and that I need to continue pursuing Spanish! More importantly, how to better prepare for my next Camino attempt.

I'm so proud of Tatyana for continuing the hike! She is an incredible woman, and a skilled athlete! She leads the pack on the trail, and always reports back with a smile. Go get em' girl, keep up your positive attitude... To The End Of The World!!!

(why so serious Tatyana? Ha, that's better!)

Tomorrow is Sunday, making traveling by bus/train/plane more complicated in Spain; therefore, I will stay in Burgos until Monday, then off to San Sebastian for one night on my way to Bordeaux. Laurene gets back to her place on Tuesday morning, and if all goes well I will see her that evening.

Oh and a shout out to all the moms out there... Happy mother's day!

(street performer playing the violin via his puppet. A hairy dog sleeping at his feet)

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Location:Burgos, Spain

Wifi Wizard

2011-05-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have developed an interesting reputation on the Camino... I am the one to ask about where to find free wifi! I was asked 3 times today by different pilgrims where they could go... My trick: the municipal library.

After arriving in Santo Domingo, I found the tourist office and got a map, and then proceeded to locate wifi. Staying connected has been a priority during my time in Europe... Lately, it's been especially interesting keeping up with exciting American news, as well as with Canadian politics.

Met up with Tatyana, she and I settled into the hostel, and then she went to use Skype at the library.

Funny thing about siesta in Spain is that everything closes down for 2 to 4 hours in the afternoon; even libraries. Tatyana got locked in the Library!!!!!!!!!!! It closed at 2p.m. And the attendant didn't do a round before leaving.

I was outside filming beauty shots around the cathedral for a while, checked the time, walked over to the library doors... Locked... Immediately I thought "weird, did she walk right by me? Wouldn't it be funny if she was still in there..." AND SHE WAS!

When we found each other later and she told me what had happened, I laughed so hard that I cried!

(doors to the Sto. Domingo de la Calzada municipal library... And the balcony where Tatyana stood trying to recruit help!)

(this way pilgrims!)

(the Torre, across the street from the cathedral. Costs 5 euros for a ticket to visit the inside of both the cathedral and the tower... We admired from outside)

(the cathedral, doors open early tomorrow for mass)

(the amazing albergue for pilgrims! It's so beautiful inside... Large kitchen, plenty of showers and toilets; this is the life!)

(typical street in Sto. Domingo)

The town crest has chickens on it. The chickens in the picture live in a coop in the albergue's backyard. It has to do with a legend that involves soneone saying "when this cooked chicken sings, i will believe you!", and so his dinner sang. Hmm... There is even a coop in the cathedral; supposedly, I didn't see it though!

(the volunteer medic treating everyone's aches and pains)

Off to Belorado tomorrow. Need to make a point to use more sunscreen and drink more water...

Heehee!

Location:Santo Domingo de la Calzada

2 Outta 3 Ain't Bad

2011-05-04T09:06:00.001-07:00

After two days in Los Arcos, I'm not sure if my heels are better. They look like hell. They hurt like hell.

New developments in the life of To The End Of The World crew. We are down a crew member; Tasha has decided that although the Camino is beautiful and a challenge, she needs to be home and sort out her professional future. Tatyana and I will press on, she on foot, and for now me on the bus.

In the past 4 days, Tatyana and Tasha hiked over 120km! Tasha calculated it all out, and turns out our excursion on day 1 was actually 32km because of the elevation. Proud of us!

Tatyana and I are sad that Tasha has left us, and we miss her already... The Camino is a challenge that, when accepted, needs to be accomplished at your own pace.

(and then there were two...)

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Location:Calle de Miguel Villanueva,Logroño,Spain

Agua Plus Sal

2011-05-03T04:37:00.001-07:00

Took the regional bus yesterday from Pamplona to Los Arcos. Apparently trains and busses have a sedative effect on me. I start the journey with plenty of energy, so I think, and 10 minutes later cannot keep my head up. Regardless, Pamplona is a really pretty city. Population of approximately 190,000! Isn't that like Ottawa? Well, you cant help but appreciate a place that will sell you a decent helping of gelato for only 1.70 euro. In addition, the taxi driver who brought me to the bus station told me that most of the participants for the annual running of the bulls are drunk tourists! Go figure.

(beautiful facade in Pamplona, Spain)

(square that I passed while looking for a map, this is where I found the cheap gelato!)

Staying in hostels is awesome. I mean it! I completely love the life style of meeting new, interesting people everyday. Every night is the same routine; stretch, pack a bit, eat something with carbs, brush teeth and wash face, find your bunk... Earplugs... And sleep. Thankfully you fall into the deepest slumber, because when you are sharing a room with 40-120 other exhausted pilgrims the snoring and farting can be detrimental to a good rest.

Last night I shared a dormitorio with 40 other pilgrims; what a snore-symphony. In addition to the human noise, the Los Arcos cathedral bells chime the hour, and in 15 minute increments. Not only earplugs, but I also burrito my head with the super long pillow on my bed. Hey, it works!

Los Arcos is small; however the cathedral is exquisite. It's awe inspiring, truly. The inside is done all in gold and the Marie and Jesus decorations are disturbingly life-like. There was s mass going on when I entered, but I quickly realized there was no priest present; it was a recording! What an unexpected surprise... Ha!

(the inside of the Los Arcos cathedral, behind the altar. The red window houses life-like Marie!)

(ornate glass coffin with a carved wooden Jesus resting inside, Marie behind)

(could it be a Banksy?????)

As I write this post my feet are soaking in a bucket of water with salt, as recommended by the pharmacist, a nurse, Denis the homeless guy, and an Australian woman... If anything, it feels heavenly!

(jealous?)

I dropped by the market earlier and bought a zucchini, an onion, a red pepper, and some green beans. Tonight I'm making stir fried veggies with olive oil, salt and pepper, noodles and chorizo. I've already booked the beds for Tash, Tatyana and I, and when they arrive they can relax as I prepare dinner.

Tonight we will be discussing the action plan for the remainder of the walk... Basically taking a look at what's best for each of us individually.

Updates as they arise!

(vending machine at the hostel; candy, chocolate, seashell, toothbrush, chips, metal logo pins... Perfecto!)

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Location:Calle del Sol,Los Arcos,Spain

The Damage

2011-05-02T01:10:00.001-07:00

Right foot, the worst one, renamed 'Brain':

Left foot, the smaller one, now named 'Pinkie':

Currently in Pamplona, considering new shoes...

Tasha and Tatyana will meet me tomorrow night in Los Arcos where we will plan the rest of the hike.

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Location:Gazteluko Plaza,Pamplona,Spain

Feet Sh-meat

2011-05-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

2 days of hiking have gone by... and so have approximately 54km. Something else that´s gone? My poor feet. They were sore the whole first day; obviously, we were walking in the Pyrenees mountains. The view is absolutely gorgeous, and you walk right by horses and cows taking pasture up on the mountains; making it look easy. When we left St Jean Pied de Port we were in misty fog. After the first 45 minutes of walking we were well above the fog, and looking back down at where should have been St Jean! The air is so clean, you can feel it in your lungs... The entire first day was an uphill battle with a mountain; however, looking back out all around was a scenic landscape that looked like crushed emerald green velvet.

Tasha, Tatyana and I finally reached the village of Ronceveau, France (after laying down in the grass on the hill side for 5 minutes; well deserved!), I took my boots off... bloody socks. Both my heels are raw. As a lovely Austrian man said ¨It´s the meat!¨. Yeah, great.

The man was cool, he treated my meaty feet, and in the morning he wrapped them up using some kind of healing cream, a compete bandage, and some tape. Walked all day today... got to our stopping point... no room in the hostels. Our options then become quite thin. Either walk 7km back to the last town or continue to Pamploma via taxi. There were others waiting for the taxi, and I think the girls will agree, there was NO WAY we were going to be walking back the 7km we just finished!

Taxi arrived, we got to Pamploma, aaaaaaaAAAaaand no hostels there either. Good Lord.

The driver was so great, he was calm, pulled out his cell phone and began calling all the hostels in town as well as some from a few towns over. We finally found a place 2 towns over in the village of Zariquiegui, Spain.

We arrived, settled, I removed my socks... no blood... I removed my bandages... more carnage. I feel completely deflated.

Here´s the plan for the next few days. Tash and Tatyana are healthy (feet and all... sore all over as is expected!) and will continue to walk the Camino. I will take a regional bus to the town of Estella and wait for them there. It will take them 2 days to reach Estella on foot, so this gives me 2 days are 2 nights of recovery. During that time I will be using all the spanish healling creams the pharmacist recommended (One that speeds the scarring and scabbing process) so that I will be ready to go the day after the girls arrive (they need to rest too!).

We were pretty disappointed to have to take a taxi today... and double disappointed when all this business with my feet happened. Oy. I will be sure to take a picture with my ipod so that I can post it at the earliest wifi spot... brace yourselves!

Goodnight, bed time...

St-Jean Pied de Quoi?

2011-04-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Sitting alone in St Jean Pied de Port, at a small eatery named 'Chez Edouards'; wondering where are my friends?

After I finished packing this morning, had a little stretch, Internet stop on the way to the station. The train was a bit stressful though! Out of the 10 cars, only the first two were going to Bayonne... What? That happens?! I only found that out 3 minutes before go time, so I jogged to the front of the train... This is what my uncle Jacques was talking about! Cars detaching and going different directions... Huh.

I had a 2 hour wait in Bayonne before my connection to St Jean PP, and although the train station was quite cute, the neighborhood was a bit rough. So, without a map (not like me, I know!), I went for a walk. What a charming town. The Nive river passes through downtown and the cathedral is beautiful... Even has a St-James chapel in along the right hand ambulatory.

Not having wifi right now really is the pits.

DENIED

2011-04-29T08:53:00.001-07:00

Tasha and Tatyana were DENIED at the Philly airport!
What does that even mean? Ugh.

All this really means is a lot of inconvenience for them/us, and a delay for the start of the walk. Bummer! Also, no computer at the hostel so I was stressing all night about my missing compadres. Not to worry, they are safe; as safe as one can be in Philly. Hopefully I will see them tonight; if not I will be writing the Philly airport authority a strongly worded message in the near future!

The weather in St-Jean PP was absolutely beautiful today... took advantage of the day by taking some beauty shots around town... Not of myself! Dusted off the PD-170 and shot the citadelle, the St-Jacques doors (recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site), of the old town... it truly is gorgeous here.

Paying for internet, so I must keep it brief...

Paule, I hope you are having a blasty-blast in Bermuda during youer work-related conference! Miss you and love ya girl!

It's Here!

2011-04-28T03:45:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who has been following the blog and spreading the word about the documentary. It is completely humbling to know that people other than myself and my crew care so much about this project.

I cannot believe the Camino has arrived! It's all I've been thinking about for the last few months, and now it's right in front of me... Well almost! Today I am making my way to St Jean Pied de Port by train; there I will meet Tasha and Tatyana... Who I imagine will be exhausted! The took an overnight flight to Madrid, and from there a bus to St Jean.

My challenge last night was to find out my options to return to Paris for June 2. Options are slim... And obviously, pricy. Eek! Bussing is crazy, bus+flight possible, train is really expensive! Ultimately I will have to get to a major city nearby and from there get to Paris. Awesome.

I'm all packed, just a quick Internet stop before going to the train station.

Oh, and I bought the dorkiest hat ever yesterday. I am going to feel so cool while wearing it... plus side is my whole face, the back of my neck, and truly my whole person will be protected from any guys who may find me attractive. Yes, the hat is that great :-P

(place de la Victoire, in Bordeaux. No way I am going to show you my hat right away!)

(girl shopping with her dove... In a hippie store on St-Carherine street... Shocking?!)

(do you see the shell?? They are incorporated into the street signs!)

(Duckie flip flops... The shop keeper didn't like that I took a photo of his shoes!)

Going to catch the bus to the station!

Thanks again to everyone who is following our journey!

Algonquin Doc Fest tomorrow evening at Centrepointe Theatre; great work this year everyone, complete pleasure working and learning with you :-)

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Location:Place de la Victoire,Bordeaux,France

Living the Nice Life

2011-04-27T04:24:00.001-07:00

Immense gratitude from myself and the crew goes out to Paule Marchand and to gdevalerio for funding 'To The End Of The World' documentary! Gros merci! We need more people to know about the indiegogo campaign... You can help out by checking it out yourself at http://www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc and please send it along to your friends and family!

Spent time in Nice over Easter... My original plan was to stay 2 nights in Nice, chill, then off to Bordeaux on Saturday night. I went to the train station to arrange my ticket, I said to the woman "Ticket Saturday to Bordeaux?", she just looked at me giggled and shook her head NO! What a... Disappointment. Trapped in Nice til Monday evening; on the plus side, had time to see Monaco. Which is breathtaking by the way! I now understand why there are defibrillators on nearly every street corner... My heart was skipping beats at every turns... So beautiful!

(one of the many defibrillators stationed around Monaco)

(inside the mall... Good lord!)

(parked outside the Monte Carlo casino... Tourists were posing with it... Weird?)

(the casino! Pretty!!)

(at the Port of Hercules)

(Monaco oceanographic museum, patron=the Monaco royal family)

(the dock where I ate my lunch!)

(main room as you enter the oceanographic museum... Statue of Albert I, flounder of the museum... Oops I mean founder!)

(the lagoon had a turtle in it! Yay!!)

(view of the harbour, facing the casino, from the ramp up to the palace)

Yes, Monaco made the delay to Bordeaux totally worth it. I walked the whole day, starting from the train station to the casino, downhill and around the bay, back up to the palace and oceanographic museum, and up to the palace. I stopped at the cathedral, and saw the tomb of previous royals and the resting place of princess Grace (Kelly). Everything in Monaco is beautiful, and nothing is cheap... So I bought a patch for my bag, and went to the grocery store to pick up lunch at a reasonable price. It was 9 euro for a joint ticket to visit both the prince's palace and tge oceanographic centre... Not bad!

Back to Nice; the old town was cute, but really touristy. Food and trinkets were completely over-priced... Bummer. What is cool is that the beach is composed entirely of smooth rocks and pebbles; meaning free back massage. And of course it's on the Mediterranean, which is a double win!

(trying to tan my legs a bit before the Camino... Result: legs still pale, but my face is one big freckle!)

The hostel where I stayed was really well situated; close enough to the train station for a quick escape, and 10-15 minute walk from the sea (which is turquoise! Amazing!). Lucky again, i had some really great room mates throughout my stay in Nice... 4 american girl, 3 brazilian guys, a polish guy, even a cutie from Quebec! Not all at once, roomies rotated nearly every night.

Getting to old town is such a nice jaunt, you pass all the important stuff... H&M, Virgin Megastore, Gallerie Lafayette! So distracting, but I promise I only looked ;-) after you pass all the stores, you arrive at Place Massena which is decorated with 7 men perched at the top of tall metal posts! Random.., but really cool at night.

(place Massena at night! Cool eh?)

(split an order of white wine mussels with a friend from the hostel, Ninna)

(Ninna from Norway! Passing through place Massena on our way to the pebble beach)

Nice is a neat place to visit, but I'm relieved to be spending s few days in Bordeaux with Laurene. I know this city (we are acquainted, definitely still need a mal to get around) and feel comfortable walking around. No pressure to see certain sights or churches, saw them a few years ago. Relief!

Event on Facebook by the way... Check it out by searching: Hiking the Camino de Santiago

I'm meeting Tasha and Tatyana tomorrow evening in St Jean Pied de Port! It's here! Time to walk... Oh and look what I found on the tourist office here in Bordeaux:

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Location:Rue Sainte-Catherine,Bordeaux,France

A Little Illumination

2011-04-24T16:06:00.001-07:00

Endless gratitude and deepest thanks to Phil Paling for becoming the latest contributor to 'To The End Of The World' documentary! Also, thank you do much for sending out the link to the indiegogo campaign on twitter!

While visiting Lyon, France i was able to relax a bit and see the city bit by bit. I stayed longer tgan planned, and am so grateful to Laurene's parents, Martine and Jean-Pierre, for having me at their home and showing me around. Merci beaucoup!

(Bonus: Laurene's dog is currently living with her parents... Pet therapy with Ceetee!)

Lyon is the location of the Lumiere Institute and Villa Museum, so naturally I made sure to stop in. Greg, Laurene's friend, and i took in the museum together... We were in awe!

European museums are amazing, much to do with the excellent audio-guides that are provided (usually included in cost of ticket, but not always... *ahem* Vatican *cough cough*). I got to play with zootropes, magic lanterns, Thomas Edison's film viewer, study Muybridge photography. The museum is in the Lumiere home, so as you go around the villa you not only learn about their advances in photography and film, you also experience how they lived. Quite well I might add, their house is massive!

(Auguste Lumiere, the man who started it all!)

(model of the factories where the first film ever was shot... With a mini of the film playing at the site it was filmed! Cool!)

(early film posters... Note the film names are not listed. People would come put to experience motion picture, not a specific title!)

YouTube Video

(Zootrope in action... A bit dark, sorry!)

Anyhow, the museum was great and basically learned that we all need to thank the Lumiere brothers for not only movies, but also instant photography, 360 degree photography, personal use cameras, modern amplified sound, early colour photography, rapid fire photography... So much, and so much I'm forgetting!

(record player with a early amplification device that resembles the inside of modern day speakers)

So much more on Lyon... But for now, thanks goes out to Laurene's friends for being so welcoming and for expanding my cheese resume! Laurence, Greg, Nejla, Jacques!

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Location:Lyon, France

Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign!

2011-04-24T04:11:00.001-07:00

Leading to the cathedral in Lausanne, Switzerland:

Pointing the way to the cathedral in downtown Geneva, Switzerland:

Leading to the basilica on top of the hill in Lyon, France (in the second picture, the medallion was pressed into the side walk):

Designs on a religious garment that is on display at the Musee des Tissues et des Arts Decoratif in Lyon:

Board used on a mock-up for a church that Henri Matisse designed, location Nice, France:

In less than a week, The 'To The End Of The World' documentary crew will be taking on the Camino de Santiago Compostela. The signs are everywhere, proof with some of my pictures, and all lead westwards to St-James.

The shell is the logo for the Way, and trail blazes for the hike bear it. Some logos are more recent, with the abstract shell, and others more antique. The shell is a symbol of wonder(comes from the ocean) and beauty(associated with the goddess Venus). It can also be a sign that something strange is going to happen to you...

Hmm.. Interesting......

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Location:Avenue Nicéphore Nièpce,Chalon-sur-Saône,France

Hello Lover! (Brief)

2011-04-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Called Tasha last night to discuss our plan to meet up for the Camino. We meet in St. Jean Pied de Port on April 28th, sleep-over, and begins hiking the following day! The Way is so close I can almost taste it...

Took the train all afternoon to get to Nice, France. I fell in love with the mountains in Switzerland, and now I have fallen in love with the Mediterranean.

Staying here in Nice for two nights; spending the day at the beach tomorrow if the sun allows it! Post on Lyon in the works...

Goodnight... Bonne nuit!

Surfing Couch.

2011-04-18T17:08:00.001-07:00

I've been feeling the financial crunch as of late, so I resolved to couch surf in the next city... Which turned out to be Geneva! I went on www.couchsurfing.org and asked a few members if they had space for me for a few nights. I struck gold! A member named Loris wrote back saying canadians are always welcome at his place... Yes!

I accepted to stay at his apartment, named 'Barboa'. I grabbed the train from Venice at 9 a.m., layover in Milan, and arrived in Geneva around 4:30 p.m. Meeting up with my host was easy, he works next to the station. Perfect! I wandered around, found a laundromat (across the street from the cabaret) grabbed a sandwich... And once Loris finished work we headed over to his place. There are 4 room mates at Barboa and they are all so awesome! I really was extremely lucky to have stayed with them... Thank you so much Loris, Damien, Jorge and Simon for making me feel so welcome in Geneva :-)

I only stayed 2 nights in Geneva; wish it could have been more! The first night I stayed was just chill, watched a movie, slept. The whole next day I visited Geneva... I began with a tram ride to the United Nations! Of course, there was a demonstration happening across the street; megaphones, flags and all.

(view of the 3-legged chair that lives across the street from the UN, and the mini demonstration occurring around it)

(out front at the United Nations!)

Continued up the road to check put the Ariana museum. This is a pottery and glass museum with all kinds of elaborate figurines, cups, plates, urns, bananas...

(walkway leading to the entrance of the Ariana)

(inside the museum... Marble pillars 360 around the room)

(and the glass banana bouquet in the lobby!)

Post Ariana visit, back on the tram and off to explore downtown Geneva. I admit, my day involved a few visits to small chocolate shops to nibble the local delicacies... I only thought to take one picture of chocolate because the others I ate quick! Oops!

(coconut macaroon, and Swiss chocolate truffle... In heaven!)

From there I wandered around the ancient part of town, stopping and looking in boutiques for unique clothing and trinkets. Turns out old town is really expensive and completely beyond my budget; however, I still found something awesome... Another Camino trail blaze! Leading through old town and to the cathedral. Too cool!

That night, well it was Friday, the Barboa guys and I went to a pub and had beers with like 12 of their friends. Flo, Jessica, David, Sydney, Ben... And a ton more, but I can't remember all the names! We had a great time socializing, being silly, telling bad jokes. We got to the pub around 6:30 p.m., and left just after 1:30 a.m. A few of us were then supposed to go out to a night club (bars and pubs close at 2 a.m., night clubs are open until 6 a.m.! Ah!), but both Loris and I were dead tired. We headed back and immediately went to sleep. Phew!

Needless to say, Saturday didn't officially begin for me until the early afternoon. I am so not used to staying out late, particularly after 3 weeks of hosteling and sharing a room with strangers. Strangers who wake up early to pack their noisy stuff into their too small suitcases. Ya, I tend to go to bed early these days...

(in the train, on my way to Lyon. You can't really tell in this photo; however, I've got a mini sun burn on my cheeks and nose... And I also have a bit of a headache from the night before!)

Joining Laurene in Lyon for a while! Too excited to see France's second largest city.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Location:Geneva, Switzerland

Cruisin' On A Vaporetto

2011-04-14T10:58:00.001-07:00

Venice is a wonder. Canals, jewelry, Murano glass, carnivale masks, no cars, water bus, tourists... A cruise ship drove by my window last night!

(found one of my favourite masks in a shop window on my way to my Venice office, the McDonald's!)

My room mate from Rome had given me a Venice public transit pass, and some pointers about how to use it. The Hostel was on Giudecca Island, so I made good use of the pass. Thanks Milka for your wisdom! I am the Vaporetto (water bus) queen! Out of at least a dozen rides, my credentials were only checked once by transit officials... And my card checked out! Yes! No fine :-)

Thus far, this is the most barrack style hostel I've experienced. The rooms have sliding doors that don't lock, and there is approximately 18 beds per room. You do get sheets, a wool blanket and a large locker to store you luggage. No kitchen access, however inexpensive home-made pizza and pasta dinners are available all night.

(as I was backing up to take this picture, I kept having to check how close I was getting to the water's edge!)

So yesterday I had the full day to discover Venice. Grabbed the Vaporetto to cross the canal grande to San Marco square. Went into the basilica... Breathtaking. The entire inside of the edifice is completely done in gold hued mosaic. Images of the apostles, Jesus, angels, some Celtic symbols; the outside of the building is also adorned with mosaic, and encased in marble. Ah! All for the glory... Aaah!

(carvings of the apostles and of Christ, facing the altar)

(one of the ceiling domes.)

(space off to the left side of the basilica allotted for silent prayer... I love the hanging candles!)

There are signs all over town directing tourists to the major spots and attractions. Good thing because maps aren't free, and if you buy the cheap one (0.50 euro, instead of larger and more detailed map for 2.50 euro) like I did, there are no street names on it! Anyhow, signs all over directing to San Marco square and the Rialto bridge. The bridge is too cool... Walked on it, next to it, and water bus under it. There is the Rialto market at the far end which of course caters to tourists looking for shirts, pins, key chains, gondola costumes, masks and capes, Murano glass... The usual.

(the Rialto bridge, view from the Vaporetto)

Venice is so cool, and beautiful. I love that there are no cars at all! I didn't see any bicycles either... Understandable as the streets are completely overrun with pedestrians. You get everywhere on foot and/or with water transit... Totally unique... It would be so cool to be here in February for carnivale!

Oh, and free wifi basically doesn't exist here in Venice. My hostel's wifi was down my entire stay, so my mission was to find a McDonald's... Of which there is only 1! And the menu serves breaded shrimp, and salami parm sandwiches.

It's been around 2.5 weeks since I left home, and slightly longer since I went swimming. That is too long... So I found a nearby pool and spent an hour doing laps. Best 6 euros spent that day.

(oh hello Switzerland! I'm back! View from the train)

Next stop, Geneva. Followed closely by Lyon, Nice, and Bordeaux.

In desperate need of a laundromat!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Location:Train to Milan

Slice of Life

2011-04-13T02:48:00.001-07:00

Endless appreciation and gratitude to Mark Demme for becoming the latest to support the 'To The End Of The World' documentary! The crew and I are immensely grateful for your involvement.... You can be involved too... It's easy! www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc

Although Saturday had it's ups and downs, something really positive happened... Meeting Antonio and Matteo at the battle of the bands. We got to chatting about whatever, and I told them I was into wine, blah blah. They then invited me to their home; a vineyard named la Chiara de Prumiano (it can be found at www.prumiano.it). We exchanged info, and I was to give them a call on Monday so we could get together.

So, I definitely called them! Matteo came to pick me up... Where they live is out of this world. Olive grove, vineyard, a stable with horses, dogs, cats, wooded property... I was in awe.

(what a poser... Photogenic horse in the stable)

(part of the vineyard... Obviously an iPod picture doesn't do it justice...)

(the main house...aaaaah so pretty!)

They showed me a genre of music they identified as electro-swing. I cannot wait to get some for le iPod! They are so fun... A few of their friends arrived for dinner, and we all chatted in a mix of English and Italian, mostly Italian... Whatever, it was great :-)

Oh, and I drank wines that were from 1986, 1996, 1999... We went through quite a few bottles; four before the other guests arrived!

One of the friends that I met, Tommy, is really keen on someday studying at UBC. He has a canadian quiz app on his phone, and I discovered that I'm garbage at Canada trivia. Oops!

Great news mom and dad! Antonio says I'm welcome to come stay with him anytime, particularly during September-October... The grape harvest! He says I have a job waiting for me in the fall for those months. Excellent :-)

A million thanks to Matteo and Antonio for inviting me to their beautiful home. We will discuss, and I will be back, promise!

(at the Florence train station the morning after the dinner party with Antonio and Matteo... Started the day at 5:50, too early!)

Booked a morning train to Venice, next time perhaps a later one, eh!

Chianti was amazing, so much to see... What I learned/was reminded while staying there is that you need to ensure you stick to your own agenda. Do what you want to do, when you want so you can feel completely satisfied with your experience in that town or area.

I don't feel I missed out, in fact I think I did really well in Chianti, and met some amazing locals!

Now, 1.5 days in Venice before going to Geneva... Must make most of it! Will try to fit in an afternoon swim into the program; not in the canal! Eww!

(Venice! Aaah!)

(St. Marco Basilica)

(elaborate carnivale masks)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Location:Venice, Italy

Texas Sunset?

2011-04-12T07:13:00.001-07:00

Remember to click, share and spread the word about the blog and the indiegogo campaign (link is in the sidebar) for the 'To The End Of The World' documentary! Let's reach 50 followers!

Sunday became a lazy day. I officially got up around 11a.m., and proceeded to catch some rays outside. My room mate here in Tuscany is a woman named Willo. She is from Vancouver and is quite the food enthusiast. She works for Whole Foods as a specialty food buyer, which would be cool if only after every bite of food she didn't start with "this is delicious, but I've had better...". Unfortunately she seemed underwhelmed with all the great foods and wines we were trying. I, on the otherhand, was completely in love with the cheeses and meats! Ah cheese!

(Willo and I during a stroll to Barberino)

Sunday was great, and a lot to do with a Brazilian named Renan who is the host at a small food and wine joint in the Tavarnelle main square. Willo was hungry and I wanted wine, and as we walked by the restaurant we heard a loud group of Americans having a great time. Turns out they are from Austin, Texas and are in Tuscany for a week to celebrate Their friend's birthday! I love texans! They invited us to sit with them, so we chatted as we perused the wine options. They are such a neat bunch, and they invited us to join them at their nearby villa to see the sunset. Umm, yes please and we will see you around 7! P.s. They found the gorgeous villa that they rented on www.homeaway.com!

At the small resto, we drank a bottle of local rose (row-zay... What are the alt codes in ipod?), liver pate crustinis, and a cheese platter. Once the texans left (they offered us part of their desert; tuscan sweet wine and biscotti-like cookies), Renan sat and hung out with us at our table and offered us a glass of red on the house. The season for tourists has just begun, so the resto hasn't been busy...

(Tuscany... So lusciously green!)

(Medieval section of Barberino... 2km from Tavarnelle)

(signs posted along the country side...)

(Castles and vineyards all over! Went to Chiara di Prumiano on Monday and chilled with 2 great guys who live and work there!)

Later Sunday evening we walked over to the Texans' villa on Via Bonazza... A beautiful place called Cassa Gabriela. I heard them laughing and chatting on the upper patio, so I walked on in and joined the party. Oh, and the sunset truly was spectacular... No pics though, i was wrapped up in the moment. Betty, John, Sue Anne, Jim, Pattie Sue, Jim Anne, Suzanne, and Jessie... Thank you so much for being so gracious and inviting me over to join you! It was so nice to meet you, have a great vacation, and I hope to run into you all again someday!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Location:Tuscany!

P.S.

2011-04-11T02:27:00.000-07:00

Friendly reminder to my amazing followers to spread the word about the blog...

let's get 50 followers in the next few weeks!! Also to please spread around the indiegogo page: www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc needing all the support and love the universe can provide!!!

Heading to Venice, Italy tomorrow... more pictures and blogs to come!

Thank you all so much, ya'll put a smile on my face everyday :-)

xo, Nicole

Oh, and congratulations to Monique Marchand-Godwin for being selected to be part of a leatherback sea turtle research team! This will take her to Granada for the month of July as she gets to follow her dreams of working with marine animals! Way to go Mom!

Bus To Nowhere!

2011-04-11T01:28:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I enjoyed a genuine Tuscan dinner; cheese, meat and bread to start, a vegetable ragou of sorts in a delicious broth, collard greens and fresh sausage, and a small glass of chianti wine. I sat down to this meal with an Italian family because yesterday I got hopelessly lost in Tuscany.

After arriving at the Tavarnelle hostel the other day, looking around, meeting some people... I then decided to stay here. The price is super cheap, and the village is beautiful. My feelings of wanting to leave this place were mostly because I was frustrated with myself for getting partially lost on my initial way up here. Literally, the Gabbiano wine estate is 10 minutes down the road... Cool!

So yesterday I went into Florence to explore the town, the churches, see some art, see a few Davids.

(Donatello's David, after conquering Goliath... Wasn't allowed to take pics so unfortunately part of the statue isn't in the shot!)

I went and visited the Palazzo Vecchio, which was the residence of the Medici family. It was incredible! Every room was dedicated to a Medici family member, and on the upper floor the room were dedicated to corresponding roman gods and heroes who matched the people represented below. Extremely opulent, and completely out of this world. The Palazzo Vecchio also houses the Damian Hirsch 'For The Love Of God' diamond encrusted skull... I didn't pay the extra euros to see it... Bah! Whatever!

(Outside at the entrance)

(inside one of the gathering rooms...)

(moi, outside the Palazzo... My aunt requested more pictures with me in them... Will do my best!)

Just around the corner and down the street from the Palazzo is the Ponte Vecchio! This is a landmark that I have been looking forward to since my grandmaman showed me her Florence pictures... She was right, it is so overwhelming to walk along the jewelry stores on the bridge. They all had beautiful names, with displays filled with so much gold, red coral (never buy this! This kind of coral is disappearing fast in the wild because of jewelry demands), sapphires, pearls, diamonds... And so many people! My mistake walking the bridge on a Saturday! Truly, the crowd just added to my excitement.

(looking out at the Ponte Vecchio from a parallel bridge)

After leaving the Ponte, I had pretty much had enough of walking around. My next mission was to locate a cost effective gellateria on the way back to the SITA bus station. I also made a point to walk back along the most scenic route possible. Passing through plazas, small historic buildings...

(horse rest area, near the Palazzo Vecchio, and immediately in front of the Florence Chanel location!)

(smaller church I passed on the way back to the bus station. The square in front was packed with sun bathers)

Got back to the bus station, bought my ticket to Tavarnelle, asked the ticket guy what bus to get on... And off I went to Tavarnelle... Or so I thought! The bus I took brought me to a small place called Greve, which is 23km by car from my intended destination. By the time I realized I was lost, it was too late. The woman at the tobacco shop in Greve informed me of my options: head back to Florence (over an hour away), and either stay overnight there, or pay for a taxi to Tavarnelle. This is when the tears started... As I moped to the bus stop to wait for a ride to Florence. *sigh*

Shortly after I began my woe-is-me moment, an Italian woman approached me and invited me to her home to wait for her husband; when he came home from work, he would drive me back to my hostel! Sweet salvation!!!! She brought me to her house, yogurt snack, introduced me to her mother, her daughters, and her cute black lab Pegghy. They speak no english by the way, we mostly communicated with charades... I stayed at their home until 9:30p.m. And was driven to the hostel after dinner. Such amazing people in this world :-) Grazi!

when I got back to the hostel, I had ten minutes to change my shoes, brush my teeth... And then off to a battle of the bands in Barberino. Thank the higher powers for beer...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod

Location:Via Benedetto Naldini,Tavarnelle Val di Pesa,Italy

Somewhat Lost...

2011-04-08T06:25:00.001-07:00

I have an hour before the bus comes by to bring me into the village of Tavarnelle, Italy. Accidentally I got off one stop early, and am now facing either 5km of continuous uphill into the village or wait on a comfy couch for the next regional bus. Hmm, waiting sounds nice... As I wait, I will write!

Yes, for a moment there I was unintentionally lost. For a while my stomach was in knots... But the manager here at the Chianti Parc Hotel has been so nice and helpful, that my knots are almost all gone. When I get to my hostel the first order of business is to get on a computer and find accommodations that are actually in Florence. Tavarnelle is approx 50 minutes away by regional bus! Oops! The positive to all this is that the village I'm heading to is located in the Chianti region of Italy, therefore vineyards everywhere and hopefully cheap, delicious wine.

(sign posted on the garden wall of the Chianti Parc Hotel)

I'm scheduled to be in Florence for 3 full days, and afterwards going to Venice.

One of the things I'm most looking forward to in Florence (besides relocating closer to the train station), is to experience the Ponte Vecchio here in Florence. Before leaving for Europe my grandmother showed one of her trip albums... She showed me the Ponte Vecchio and said that it's filled with goldsmiths and jewelry shops. She was so overwhelmed by all the beautiful things that she didn't buy anything while she was in the Ponte.

This morning, before leaving Rome, I sat down to have breakfast with a complete stranger... Who happens to be doing the Camino!!!!!!! She is 22, from Paraguay and is doing the same route that Tash, Tatyana and I will be doing. She doing it alone and is beginning to walk around April 16th. Incredible. She told me that when there is 300km left, you cross a bridge... It symbolizes the new you, as you cross over obstacles and move forward in life... Wow. This hike is becoming more and more real everyday... So close!

Location:Chianti region, Italy

Vatican Circus

2011-04-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

Parused the Musei Vaticani today for all of 3.5 hours! Honestly, you can spend a whole day there... but my feet were not having it! And of course, on the way to the museum I was asked 15 or so times if I was in need of a guided tour for the bargain price of 40€... No thank you! I bought a student ticket at the Vatican ticket counter for 8€, and I was lucky because I only had to wait in line for approximately 20 minutes to get in. I made sure to see the key wings of the museum, which can be difficult to muster as there are over 1000 rooms in that place.

There were rooms and rooms of marble statues, busts, gods and goddesses... the collection is endless, and the walls and ceilings are so rich and opulently decorated. Everywhere you look it is framed with flowered gold leaf frames or detailing... the papal logo (2 keys, a Pope hat, and crest) is represented in the ceilings and mosaics on the floor. Literally no end to the art... I wonder if the Catholic church has had the Vatican appraised as to what its value would be in today's currency. I cannot even venture a guess... I'm only speaking of appraising the building itself, without the art... the art alone might even surpass the value of the building! I don't know, but I do not that the benches I sat on, the posts I leaned on, and the flower beds I admired were all entirely made of marble. I promise to post pictures as soon as I can get wireless working on my iPod!

And yes, I was able to take a few pictures in the Capella Sistina! In addition to the halls and chambers of frescos and marble, the museum had on display some of the super high-end Catholic utensils, chalices, ceremonial papal capes, oil lamps, gold bibles, and jewelry. These were left closer to the end of the tour, so one could pop into the gift shop and purchase copies for a couple hundred euro. No, no I did not purchase anything from the Vatican gift shop... I waited and bought a small, blessed rosary from a small boutique a few blocks away. My other reward is that some of the pictures I took with my Olympus are so pretty that they will likely be turned into Christmas cards for family and friends! Yay!

I did not go to the beach today however... instead I wandered in the Villa Borghese which is a massive parc full of busts and statues, small museums, outdoor stages, scenic lookouts, and a zoo! Those who know me can just guess what I did for the remainder of the day... Zoo! The Rome Zoo is not large, but it is beautiful, and has ample of everything. When going to view animals in an unatural habitat, going in the afternoon is a gamble because they will typically be napping inside their dens and hidden from sight; not the case today! This zoo has the right idea, make the mid afternoon feeding time so the animals will be awake and animated for the tourists. Perfect! Quite surprising was that the enclosures were really clean, and most had staff nearby busy doing something: feeding, interacting with the animals (the seals in this case), grooming the animals (de-mucking the donkey's hooves), or just cleaning the site. Out of all the animals parks and bio attractions I have visited this one makes the top of the list!

My room mate, Milka, and I are currently splitting the cost of laundry. Rome hostel wants 4€ for use of the washer, and another 4€ for the dryer... so we have combined forces to chop the price in half. Hiya! So glad I have such a cool roomie!

Before I went to the Vatican this morning, I stopped by the train station and booked my seat for Firenze in the a.m.! Travelling in Italy costs 10€, as a sort of flat-rate even if it's not a high speed train. Weird.

I've been thinking a lot about my film, and a lot about Tasha and Tatyana! I cannot believe I left home nearly 2 weeks ago for Europe... I can hardly believe I'm here! And that the Camino is happening in less than a month!!! I have been walking non-stop since being here, and I just want to keep on going... I cannot wait to get on the trail, with Tasha and Tatyana, positive thoughts through and through! Wash cycle is over, time to put my clothes in the dryer!!

Mi Scuzi!

2011-04-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

After a very long journey by train, I arrived in Rome yesterday! The trip started at 7:45 a.m. in Bern, switched trains in Milan, and docked around 3 p.m. in Roma. My italian is non-existant, so its already been an interesting visit. I am staying at the HI downtown, which is literally a block from the train station... incredibly convienient because the train station has some good and cheap sandwich shops, and the Metro built right into it! Before heading to the hostel I purchased what is called a 'Roma Pass', which gives the holder 3 days of included public transit, 2 free museum entrances and then discounts on museum and site entrance fees after that. Found the hostel, put my bags down, and in walks my new room mate Milgas (*need to check the spelling). We hit it off, and within moments of meeting we are out in the street exploring our surroundings. We saw the Fontana di Trevi (from the film 'La Dolce Vita'), the Coloseum, the Quirinale, the Palazzo di Exposizione, walked the perimiter of the Arco di Tito, and the monumento a Vittorio Emmanuele II... the route we took had us walking for 4.5 hours! There is always something to look at, somewhere to get lost... Rome is awesome! Bonus: within the first 5 minutes of going out adventuring yesterday, I saw a Space Invader! For those who aren't aware, Space Invader is a street artist who is based in Paris, but who travels around and leaves his alien tile art in other major cities. I took a picture of it with my camera, but not my iPod... sorry Fernando! Everywhere you look, it is absolutely gorgeous. Ruins all over, fountains, piazzas, nice gardens. The street vendors narrow right in on the tourists; for instance, instead of showing you a scarf with the Vatican on it, they start to wrap it around you and tell you how pretty you look! Ah! In addition, the vendors who sell food will come right up to you and say "DRINK! Very cold drink! Drink, drink!", until you walk away. Today I was planning on seeing the Vatican Museum; however, turns out that the Pope makes his weekly address on Wednesdays! My room mate Charlie and two other Brazilian girls made our way to St. Peters Square, grabbed some great seats, and saw the Papa himself. Really, when in Rome... He is literally like a rock star. People were freaking out to see him live and in person. Everything was said in 5 different languages, and the Vatican officials acknowledged all the special groups present. Afterwards he blessed the crowd, and was so kind as to extend his blessing to our family members. I made sure to pick up a blessed rosary from one of the nearby shops... Hostelling is sometimes hit or miss... but I feel so far that I have been really fortunate in my hostelling experiences. This time around I have met Charlie, a pastor and personal trainer from New York. He is the one who told me that the Pope address was happening this morning. He is a super nice guy who is travelling for 40 days, to see new things, and walk the whole time. When I told him about the Camino he was floored... he had never heard of it and is now interested in doing it the next opportunity he finds for travel! This is exactly what I want; I want to inspire people to do something new, or that others may find a little crazy... the Camino is exactly that! A journey that is entirely for the pilgrim and is a chance to think and be in your own head, overcome obstacles, change your way of looking at things, physical change... Charlie was really blown away by all this. I am so glad I was able to introduce him to something totally different that he might enjoy! Anyways, after the Vatican, the four of us walked over to the Castel Sant Angelo. At this point we broke off, I went into the museum and the others headed to see the area surrounding. At first I was worried about the Castel... not sure it would be worth the time or the money. Luckily with the Roma pass entry was free, and the building ended up being really cool. It's also a mausoleum... creepy! I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the halls of the Galleria Nazionale di Arte in the Palazzo Barberini. Spent my time enjoying the works of Frau Filippo Lippi, Caravaggio, El Greco... Rooms upon rooms dedicated to the different schools or art throughout the centuries; even a few trytichs! The Palazzo itself is nothing short of amazing; every ceiling is lavishly decorated and painted. Not allowed to take pictures in the museum, but if you know me, then you know my camera was constantly nearby... So, tomorrow, my plan is to see the Vatican museum and afterwards I am going to try and get to the beach! It was 28 C yesterday at 3:30 p.m., and close to 30 C today, so an afternoon on a beach will be glorious. I only have 9 minutes of free internet left! Must update Facebook! Ciao.