Rome

1. People here aren't as stylish as I thought they would be. For every
well dressed person, there are at least ten people walking around in
their short shorts.

2. There are load of clocks on top of things (ie newspaper stands, bus
stops...) and the time is always reliably wrong.

3. It's getting harder to spot the American tourist abroad these
days... The German and Russians are definitely challenging for the
title. But I'm sure once the mainland Chinese get their game on...
Hello, world!!

-----

Heading to Sorrento today. Will be in the Amalfi Coast for the next
six days.

London Breather...

Just arrived in London for a less than 24 hour turnaround before heading to Rome and the Amalfi Coast with the family! This is our first family trip since Bali in 2006 (and the precursor to that was the Galapagos Islands in 2002). Within a half hour of arriving at the flat, Dad and I popped around the corner to the Star Tavern (our local) for Guinness and chips. Ahh... bliss

Croatia is amazing. The route we took from Dubrovnik to Korcula can only be described, based on my prior experience, as Napa Valley meets Big Sur enhanced by Tour de France levels of EPO/ 'roids(Pre-Lance Armstrong, of course)...

Hopefully my film photographs will show it, but I was definitely under-armed for Croatia.

Never mind! There's always next time..

Meanwhile, I'm packing the big guns for Italy.

5am, Korcula

Heading to Korcula

Mostar, Bosnia

Incoming storm, Croatia

Cruise ships, Dubrovnik Port

Heading to Mostar, Bosnia

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mostar_Old_Town_Panorama_2007.jpg

Long way down....

Sunset, Dubrovnik

We must have the Internets!

Our room is on the right. PK is at where we can get the wifi.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Ston, Croatia

Pool at Dubrovnik Palace Hotel

Hotel Pool, Dubrovnik

In action

Dubrovnik

Croatia!

Flying into Dubrovnik tomorrow, back on Tuesday. 

Pilsner Urquell Brewery (Plzen, Czech Republic)

Prague Castle, as seen from the zoo.

Who needs a Smart Car when you can park like this???

Andrassy Ave, Budapest

Do I need to travel to take good photos?

“I should go to Gaza, but I’d probably get sick, and I’d be scared….we’ve got Zabars here” - Jeff Mermelstein on why he doesn't really travel to take pics.

Heading back to London

One of my polaroids framed, now showing at someone's house

Prague/ Budapest film

My favorite Hungarian dish

Paprika chicken stew with dumplings/noodles and a side of greens

Hmm..

View from Lanchid Hotel, Budapest

"Excuse me" Part 2

Me at a restaurant: "Excuse me, do you have wifi?"

Pretty Waitress " you are five?"

I know I look young but after getting carded at Dan Ryans this is a
little much.

"Excuse me..."

Some random guy walks up to me in the main shopping street in Budapest.

"Excuse me, do you speak the a Chinese?"

I look at him, he looks at me...

"Oh sorry." He says.

Damn, even the Hungarians can tell I can't speak Chinese properly....

Parliament Building, Budapest

Leaving Prague

Budapest!

On the way to Budapest

A Russian totally lost it at airport security after they confiscated
one of his childrens toy water guns. "This is the last time I visit
your stupid country", he screamed.

Airport security just laughed at him.

Anyone want to bet that TSA would have just shot him? Or put him on a
one way flight to Cuba?

Prague

Prague

Prague

Prague

On the train from Plzen to Prague

On the way to Budowicz

iPhone pic

Czech Republic Day 1 to 3

Highlights so far

1. Watching Dvorak's Rusalka at the Prague Opera House.
2. Visiting Franz Ferdinand's old hunting lodge at Konopiste, where
there is a hall with most of the animals Ferdinand killed were mounted
on the walls. All 27000+ of them....
3. Watching bits of the Prague marathon.
4. Czech beer!

The ash cloud has reformed over Czech so hopefully I will make it to
Budapest on Friday...

Heading to Prague/ Budapest for 12 days

I've never been to either place. I'm excited. Photos TK when I have access to the internets.

London Day 2

Hyde Park, London

Poached Salmon, Beetroot Remoulade & Rocket Salad
Daylesford Organic, Sloane Ranger-ville

London Day 1

hitting the road...

I start my 2 month long trip to Europe today, hitting up places that I've never been. Prague, Budapest, Dubrovnik, Rome, Amalfi Coast. While I'd like to travel as light and as fabulously as Tyler Brule, I'd admit that I'm quite a bumbling novice compared to him. My final bag count as I headed off to the airport tallied some 2 check in bags, one tote bag (~ 300 rolls of black and white film), a backpack of cameras and a rolling case. It also took me a week to work out how to pack.

My plan is to base out of London, and then do side trips to the various places. First up, Prague and Budapest!

A few days in London beckons... Elections are coming up on May 6th.. I wonder whether London will be like this...

"As I crossed Oxford Street on Saturday afternoon there was little of this sort of crackle – just a lot of crack. Up and down the street tummies were hanging out over jeans, food was being stuffed into faces, and bums were falling out of trousers. Was this a nation at rest and play on a gorgeous spring day? Perhaps. Was this also a fleeting snapshot of a nation that’s lost its dignity and sense of pride? For sure."
- Tyler Brule

or this?

I have some hesitations about blogging a lot because I think it's sort of weird, but I'd like a way to keep everybody updated and share pictures without Facebook. So bear with me as I stumble around Europe.