Chappy In Valencia

San Sebastian

2008-07-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics. The first few are the Guggenheim in Bilbao and the rest from San Sebastian.

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/SanSebastian

Bilbao

2008-07-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

July 24-25

I got a great place to stay in the Pension Ladero. It’s in the Casco Viejo (old city) which is pretty and very walkable. I walked around the area and then along the river to the Guggenheim. I spent about 3 hours there – it was really interesting, but definitely tiring by the end of the experience. Now I’ve been to two of the four.

Bilbao is a nice place – you definitely feel that you are in a city in that there is a lot of commerce, but not in the sense that it’s overwhelming or dirty. It seems surrounded by hills and then mountains, which provide a nice backdrop to most of the views.

The eating pattern here is definitely big comida at lunchtime and then pintxos at night. The bars get packed for about 2 hours with people drinking beer and eating those. Later, kids hang out in the alleys in the old city, which it pretty typical Spanish. Everyone can speak Spanish here, but you definitely know you’re in Pais Basco by the street signs and the talk in the street.

Santander

2008-07-27T05:39:00.000-07:00

So, I skipped writing about Santiago de Compostela and Oviedo (which I loved) but I figured I'd post this stuff or I'd end up posting nothing.

Santander
July 23-24

So, yesterday, it dawned on me that I should be keeping some sort of journal from this part of the trip. I need to do it now, especially, because the great things about this section are much more subtle and things I’m sure to forget the details of more easily. They aren’t captured in pictures as easily as drinking with friends or rock sitting in Italy.

I got to Santander around 4pm on the 23rd and set off to find a place to live. I didn’t reserve ahead because a) I’m trying to be more spontaneous and relax the planning side of me and b) because I have found that I have a hard time reserving things in Spanish over the telephone. So, I put my heavy bag in a locker (big score for patient John) and set off to the tourist office. I got a list of lodgings, made a short list of cheap ones and headed off.

The first one that I came to was full or really shady men. Fortunately, they were full. The second was full through Sunday (at least I think that’s what the sign said). The third had a nice looking woman at the door and I was pretty set. They only had 40 euro doubles, but they let me have one for 30. That’s still expensive, but it’s the best I was going to get in this city.

Before I had a place to stay, the city seemed busy, dirty and unfriendly. After I set off, having secured a place, the city suddenly looked pretty, friendly and exciting. I took a long walk to the peninsula at the end of the city. There were some nice seaside houses along the way and a couple of decent beaches. The palace (beach house) at the end of the island was really impressive. The views of the bay and the two lighthouses that I could see were beautiful. On the way back, I came down a street of restaurants and plazas that were starting to get busy (at 9pm). In there plazas there were these little huts set up, each with the name of a restaurant on top. Later, I found out that this was part of the 10 day Feria. These huts were all over the place. You could go up and get a pincho and bebida from each for 2.50. The bars and restaurants are like that too. You go in, hang out at the bar, grab what you want to eat and pay for it at the end… So, I just hut-hopped and ate dinner. I stopped by the obvious American tourist bar for one (overpriced) beer because I was hoping to speak a little English – it’s been a long time – but there were only some American 16 year olds taking shots, so I passed. Around 11, it was packed everywhere and I headed home.

On the way, I came up on this stage (one of about 3 in the town), and caught the first 5 songs of some Portuguese pop singer. She was pretty good, and I asked her name, but I’ve forgotten. That was a cool experience.

So, then…I headed home, watched a little of some bullfighting Sportscenter show on the first tv I have seen in about a week, and went to bed.

Valencia - In Summary

2008-07-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

So, I left Valencia today, and I had an experience that pretty much sums up the city. I was on the subway, heading out of town and sweating like crazy. An older woman sat beside me and was fanning herself, and I was getting some of the cool air. I told her "gracias" and she stopped fanning herself and just fanned me. Then she asked where I was going, where I was from and how I liked Valencia (all in Spanish). Then, we got on the same train. When she got off, she said bye, wished me a good trip and waved to me as the train pulled away. I'm excited to move on, but will miss Valencia.

Valencia - Oceanografica

2008-07-10T04:56:00.000-07:00

I visited the aquarium in Valencia, which was cool. The dolphin show was amazing. More interesting, though, were the buildings in the area of arts and sciences in the Jardin del Turia. Check it:

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia5

Euro 2008 - Campiones!

2008-06-30T04:13:00.000-07:00

We watched the Euro 2008 match near Valencia's football stadium in a plaza with a big screen and hundreds of fans. It's been 44 years since Spain won the European Championship, and I'm glad I could help them win again. I can definitely sense the pride of the country in the continuing news on tv, the people in the streets and the flags that popped up everywhere. It wasn't as good as seeing the Tar Heels win, but definitely a great memory.

Pics and movies:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia4

Valencia - more fun!

2008-06-30T04:03:00.000-07:00

So, Valencia is going well. I'm finding my way around and learning enough Spanish to actually talk to people. These pictures are from watching the Spain/Russia game, some delicious tapas at a local place we found (wine, ham & cheese, chorizo sausage), and the Central Market. The market is a famous landmark in Valencia where they sell everything food: meat, cheese, nuts, spices, fruit, vegetables and fish.

There are also some pictures from around town and the main church. It houses the arm of some famous martyr (weird) and maybe the holy grail (I doubt it). But it was pretty and interesting.

Finally, there are a couple of pictures from the beach Saturday night. On the beach at midnight: parents with children, old men that have probably been sitting there for hours talking over tables of food, hundreds of teenagers, 20's and 30's walking along the boardwalk and sitting on the beach.

Pics at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia3

Valencia!

2008-06-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

I was a tourist for the first time on Sunday. I went to the center, climbed the torres de serranos and walked through the Barrio del Carmen. I accidentally found a monestary that is now a museum, which was beautiful. I also went to the IVAM (modern art museum). My favorite there were black and white pictures of Spain from 1908-1945 - I wish I knew more Spanish history. You can get a good flyover of Valencia at:
http://www.turisvalencia.es/MuestraHTML.aspx?nombrefichero=vuelo_valencia.html&elemento=Vuelo

More pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Valencia1

Spain!

2008-06-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

I spent a good weekend in Barcelona with Par, Jeron, Jordan and Katie. Now I'm in Valencia having a great time. The beach here is enormous! The bars stay open all night. But I just go to class and study spanish...

It's an amazing city to run in. There is a dry riverbed that they have turned into a park. Also, it's super flat and generally has big sidewalks.

We got paella on the beach last week, which is the food this city is most known for. We've also been cooking a lot of tapas at home. You can buy amazing jamon, manchego, pimentos, bread etc here and it's all super fresh.

I have three roommates: Jeremy (from France), Richard (from England) and Ina (from Germany). We had a dinner party last week with people from France, Turkey, Germany, England and the US. Pretty crazy...

Favorite quote so far:
"Budweiser is like water. It's a beer for girls." Ina, my German roommate

New pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Spain

Sweden

2008-05-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

Favorite quotes:

"Hurr morr du?" -John, Jeron and Par

"J-Rod came out last night." -All of Stockholm

"There were no hot girls at that party, anyway." -Daniel, upon leaving a party were there were only hot girls

We got to Stockholm and Daniel picked us up at the airport. After some rest and grocery shopping (more difficult than it sounds), we all put on Patrik's tight Swedish clothes and headed out. We went to a dinner place that served only beef, potatoes and beer. Then, we swung by Daniel's, hit a nice outdoor bar in a park, then went to a great bar that I can't pronounce, much less spell. Then, Laroy's, followed by a stint at White Room, and to a late night dance place. We were all freaked out that it never gets totally dark - just gets dusky and then bright again. That means time for bed.

We set out the next day for a big day on the town, but ended up spending the day with Michael and friends in a park by the water. The Stockholm Marathon was on, so we cheered on the runners. We went to some house parties, including one in an amazing apartment formerly owned by a Nobel Prize winner (now by his family). Then we went to White Room again until well after the sun came up. Crazy night!

I'm going to miss this city. People are unbelievably friendly. It is pretty and serene during the day and tons of fun at night. The city and the transportation systems seem to be integrated with the land and water here. We ate outside on the water with Patrik and his girlfriend Helena tonight. So good.

I bought tight, tapered jeans. I'm ready to stay.
Patrik and Daniel were the greatest hosts ever. They are always welcome to come eat traditional American food, stink up my apartment and wear my "American" clothes.

More pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Sweden

Switzerland!

2008-05-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

We got into Interlaken last night (May 24) and partied at the hostel. It's beautiful here, up in the Swiss Alps, surrounded by snow capped mountains.

Today, we woke up early and went canyoning. Jumping off of rocks, sliding down waterfalls and hiking over bolders was such an adrenaline rush!

After lunch, we parasailed which was like nothing I have ever done before. More adrenaline!
May 27, we took a gondola up on the mountain to a small town called Gimmelwald. It was super chill with an amazing view. We hiked up to a glacier and spent an hour exploring an area where huge waterfalls litterally sprang up before your eyes.
The next day, we hiked all over the mountains for around 7 hours and ate a huge pasta dinner at night.
We're now in Geneva for a day, heading to Stockholm tomorrow!

Pictures from Switzerland at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/Switzerland

Vernazza, Cinque Terra, Italy

2008-05-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

May 19-24, 2008

Favorite quotes:
“I’ll kill anyone in this town” -Tapan
“What’s your fighting style?” -Tapan
“The button works both ways” -Kyle, Californian guy referred to as Canadian
“Two of those are for me, right?” -Kyle
“Espresso!” -Stefano
“Par, you are the greatest rock skipper of all time.” -Jeron

We did tons of rock sitting, bench sitting, and chair sitting, all in the name of killing time. The highlights were just hanging out with all of Katie and Jordan’s friends and family, who all got to know each other very quickly. It was fun to see the guys we met earlier this year at the bachelor party. We did a second, much tamer, guys night out in Riamaggore.

The wedding, on top of a castle in Vernazza, was beautiful. The post wedding dinner was a three hour event with a full Italian meal, which Katie’s father compared to one of his old Sicilian family get-togethers.

We did the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso one day and went swimming the next day. However, most of our exercise came from hiking up the 100 or so stairs that it took to get to our 3-bed dorm room.

Par partended at three different bars, culminating at the Blue Marlin, favorite hangout of the week.

Pictures at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnmbchapman/ItalyCinqueTerra