There were a few years over the past 15 that I almost skipped Burningman. Those years I freaked out and went anyway - and loved it. This year I made my big break for it. I am, however, joining a crew of burners for the Greek Water Burn - Pyraegea at the end of the week. It crossed my mind to rockstar it and do both, but in order to avoid temptation I ran off early towards Greece by way of Scandinavia a month ago. I found myself leisure roaming down the lovely Croatian coast during “burn week”. While I thought of Burningman plenty of times this week, I did not find myself missing the action or yearning for the playa. I felt quite satiated exploring the beauty of this place while continually escaping the Mediterranean sun by swimming in the crystal blue waters up and down the coast. I know everyone had a great burn. I felt it and felt a part of it... and this has been great!
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Unphotobombing
The tourist season from Venice down the Adriatic coast may be slowing down shortly, but it is far from over. I know that I am one and also a part of the horde. At least I am not a group or large family that makes the horde slow down nearly everything to a halt. Extremely narrow streets are particular slow moving behind groups of elderly, children strollers, and the general leisurely saunter of Europeans that enjoy holding hands across the width of the street. I am fine being patient with all of it. I am in no hurry. I don’t blame anyone’s for doing what they are doing.
It does, however get exhausting stopping every three steps while someone is taking another picture, from a different angle, using a different filter, switching out who is in the picture, trying a diffferent set of poses... it will take a whole day to look at at a single days worth of pictures for most of these folks. Everyone is of the belief that the picture of a castle, at sunset, by a beautiful ocean front is better with them in it. I personally like the picture of the scene without needing to be in every one of them somehow building proof that I was a part of it.
My iPhone 5 camera sucks anyway so I might as well take picture of the postcards and call it good. Most postcards capture the images without the massive crowds packed in them as well. I have spent moments “unphotobombing” - literally tryin got to avoid being in anyone screen. Since I have know idea when they are pressing the magic button I assume it’s always being pressed. Pretend like anyone holding a phone or camera up is shooting lasers out of them that will cut your head off if in the line of sight. It’s hard to last long in places like Venice where lasers are shooting in every direction all the time.
It does, however get exhausting stopping every three steps while someone is taking another picture, from a different angle, using a different filter, switching out who is in the picture, trying a diffferent set of poses... it will take a whole day to look at at a single days worth of pictures for most of these folks. Everyone is of the belief that the picture of a castle, at sunset, by a beautiful ocean front is better with them in it. I personally like the picture of the scene without needing to be in every one of them somehow building proof that I was a part of it.
My iPhone 5 camera sucks anyway so I might as well take picture of the postcards and call it good. Most postcards capture the images without the massive crowds packed in them as well. I have spent moments “unphotobombing” - literally tryin got to avoid being in anyone screen. Since I have know idea when they are pressing the magic button I assume it’s always being pressed. Pretend like anyone holding a phone or camera up is shooting lasers out of them that will cut your head off if in the line of sight. It’s hard to last long in places like Venice where lasers are shooting in every direction all the time.
Relaxing in Croatia
It is easy to relax in Croatia. It certainly helps that is has been sunny and warm enabling me to walk or ride a bike around, hike through parks and streets, jump into the delicious sea and nap on the shores. My stays have been for two or three night giving me all the time in the world to wander the area. It’s extreamly beautiful up and down the whole coast. Everything looks like a candidate for an award winning picture. Apparently, everyone finds themselves to be award winning photographers. Sometime I think I am the only one looking at everything.
Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik are my only stops this time and they are all pretty great.
There is not a place I have not enjoyed which is a bonus since it looks like I will be coming back through after the Greek sail.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Zadar
I picked this place because it was literally the biggest dot on the map on my way to Greece. I took an 8 hour night bus to get here. I regretted that decision almost as I was booking it. The plus side it that I don’t get there late at night in the dark. I did, however, show up at sunrise sans sleep with a heavy head of failed Xanax with empty streets and nothing open excepts for the taxi drivers waiting for people just like me. My 6 block cab ride cost me $20 partially because I didn’t have any local currency, mostly because it’s just a rip-off since they know travelers showing up at a bus station at 5 am do not know that it’s a 10 minute walk to city center. (I did not do any homework).
The center of old town Zadar is Zara. The walled fortress is a no car zone with thin walking streets dotted with roman ruins, a handful of churches, and a long stone boardwalk along the sea flanking the ancient walls. The warer is a clear light blue and I too a dip for breakfast. Afterward, I crashed out on a rock pier until I could drop my bag at my apartment.
It’s an uber touristy platz (mostly Germans), but it also feels safe within the fortress knowing there is a pretty big city outside the walls to deal with. I am content chillaxing here for a couple days.
The center of old town Zadar is Zara. The walled fortress is a no car zone with thin walking streets dotted with roman ruins, a handful of churches, and a long stone boardwalk along the sea flanking the ancient walls. The warer is a clear light blue and I too a dip for breakfast. Afterward, I crashed out on a rock pier until I could drop my bag at my apartment.
It’s an uber touristy platz (mostly Germans), but it also feels safe within the fortress knowing there is a pretty big city outside the walls to deal with. I am content chillaxing here for a couple days.
Coffe shrinkage
While the weather is getting warmer and the beers are getting cheaper, the coffee is getting smaller. My large cups of coffee of overpriced coffee I had in Scandinavia have shrunk into a cup holding three sips.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Venice - the city of canals
It’s all about the water in a city made up of hundreds of islands packed together. There are no cars or even bikes allowed in the narrow corridors that cut through the continuous rows of buildings. The waterways that weave around and through this town and it is the only way to get around. Taxi’s, deliveries, police boats, trash pickup, ambulance’s all run through the canals.
It might be the best place in the world to get lost. Everybody is lost. None of the walking streets ever stay going one direction and landmarks are impossible to see in the thin ally’s and five story buildings. You can wind down an ally in ten directions to find yourself coming out into the same huge plaza many times. Everyone is looking at a map or on their phone spinning in all directions trying to get their bearings while surrounded by the never ending chatter of tourists rolling their oversized luggage over the brick streets.
It’s money well spent to buy the day pass that gives you all access ride to the water ferries that go everywhere. When you are lost you can just walk one direction until you hit a larger body of water and jump on a boat.
It is also a great place to sit at sidewalk cafes and bars, relax, watch the crowds, and enjoy the sun. I ran around Venice for twelve yesterday. Today will be more sitting around, reading, playing music, juggling, and waiting to catch my night train out of Italy.
It might be the best place in the world to get lost. Everybody is lost. None of the walking streets ever stay going one direction and landmarks are impossible to see in the thin ally’s and five story buildings. You can wind down an ally in ten directions to find yourself coming out into the same huge plaza many times. Everyone is looking at a map or on their phone spinning in all directions trying to get their bearings while surrounded by the never ending chatter of tourists rolling their oversized luggage over the brick streets.
It’s money well spent to buy the day pass that gives you all access ride to the water ferries that go everywhere. When you are lost you can just walk one direction until you hit a larger body of water and jump on a boat.
It is also a great place to sit at sidewalk cafes and bars, relax, watch the crowds, and enjoy the sun. I ran around Venice for twelve yesterday. Today will be more sitting around, reading, playing music, juggling, and waiting to catch my night train out of Italy.
Directionless
I truly doubt that it is because I look easily approachable, so I assume it must be because I have a look that says I am familiar with the area for so many people to enquire about directions in a place loaded with so many others to choose from. I am most likely the person that is completely lost, yet I don’t care. I think the look of comfortably being lost gives off the energy of knowing where you are. So far , in 6 different countries speaking 6 different languages I have not been the guy to ask, “do you know where we are?”. Especially in Venice!
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