Paris, sweet Paris

I've been to Paris before a few times and have explored the streets and museums before. Yet, on this trip, I was blown away by the city and had a blast. Exceeding all expectations and full of crazy good times biking around the city, it's easy to see why this city ranks so high for people. Staying in an Airbnb worked out to be the best way to feel like a local and get out of the somewhat touristy center. By the bike rental system, Velib, everywhere is accessible and the price saves your wallet. Seriously for less than $2 you can travel anywhere in Paris, have stations to drop off your bike and to pick up new ones when you want. Great deal and the city is built for it. Bikes are a part of life and it's pretty darn safe, apart from no helmets out there. 

Right nearby the Airbnb was the Lachaise cemetery, a highlight for my visit due to the scale and grandness of it. There are huge tombs, great sculptures, people all all nationalities and a feel of a peaceful park set in the middle of the city. And then there are the famous graves from Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Pilaf, Camille Pissarro and more. It's a who's who of the artistic community and it is an amazing place to visit, walk and relax.  

There are so many top sights in Paris that keep your jaw dropping each day. From the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame to Montmartre, this city has it all. And then there are the bakeries and sidewalk cafes, which rank among the best in the world. Those croissants and pan au chocolat melt in your mouth and are a good price here. Fuel that fire!

My friends made sure we ate and drank well together, opting for places serving organic and biodynamic food and wine. Literally new flavors that twist the tongue and tickle the taste buds. Just epic!  From a sugary cream sauce made with hay, to buckwheat ice cream, the city continues to push food to the next level. People are focused on where their food comes from and how it tastes, with several meals being a learning experience on food for me. The perfect way to eat in Paris!

After exploring and eating all day, I got to see a bit of the Paris nightlife, with clubs and bars along the Seine. Busy, full of people and playing House music, these maintain an image of a city that never sleeps. 

I'll leave you with some music. Nothing finer than drinking wine and learning of classic music from France. We spent a night going through a friends record collection, playing some of the best music out on vinyl. I'm hooked. Look up Serge Gainsbourg and just soak up the vibes. Can't top that. Listening to his track "Elisa" right now. Just loving it. 

English travels

Staying in a small English town just north of Liverpool with good friends Stu and Amy was perfect. Kinda nice to see the smaller town life and not feel like a tourist looking for the sights in the big cities. There's an awesome park just down the road where we spent a bunch of time relaxing and actually soaking up some sun. On day two we went to Seaport, a classic English town on the ocean. Super fun to walk around on a Sunday, with the town full of life, exploring the beach walk, the amusement park and a small lake full of boaters. Super chill day!

The next stop going south was London. It's one of the best cities out there and is necessary for most travel connections into and out of the country. We stayed with Cristina's brother in an area I couldn't pronounce. That's the beauty of the British empire, that half of what they say is cute, a quarter is normal English and the last quarter I either can't say or I can't understand. Literally they pronounce names of towns far differently from how they are written. Makes for a fun challenge. 

We played a bit of the tourist game and also explored the Hackney area, known for having hipster vibes in a rougher area, resisting gentrification and yet still having a fun edge. Great vibes there and some cool stores. Strong coffee fueled the walking and the rain made us dance into cafes and shops more often than normal. Street murals were all over and hidden breweries under the train tracks aroused the thirst. 

It was just a quick visit in London before taking the Chunnel to Paris. Felt more like an airport with the long lines, security and madness to get to the train. And of course you don't see any fish in the English Channel. So I was a bit bummed. Nice countryside and all, but no water features. 

First stop in Europe is:

With a cheap flight to Edinburgh, Scotland, this European started in the north of the U.K.  You just can't pass on a flight across the Atlantic for $109. Plus, it gives you a chance to see more of Europe as you work your way east, stopping off in more countries as you go. Cristina had invited me to Romania and well, when you travel with Justus, you often end up seeing more countries than planned. 

With the day in Edinburgh, we started with a feast once we arrived in the centre and stored our bags. Asking some ladies at the bank for a recommendation turned out to be brilliant. They set us on to a hip, diverse, vegan friendly cafe full of strong coffee. Cristina had poached eggs with sweet potato, quinoa and bean patties. I was going to order something healthy and yet when I saw the Scottish Breakfast with both haggis and black pudding, I had to do it. Only in Scotland so often and those items are distinct members of the national

Cuisine. 

A day in Edinburgh is perfect to see the main sights, get wowed by the cattle and buildings, have tea, eat digestive biscuits and wander small streets. It's a great city and any time here is well spent. Great art around the streets from a Sherlock statue to those classic red telephone booths. Being a bit jet lagged and with little sleep, we kept it at an easy pace and saw as much as we wanted and didn't feel rushed before the evening train south. 

New York, New York!

ive been In NYC for the last few days and have been soaking up everything from the sights to the food to the accents. Such an electric city that is always awake and alive. Being in the summer the streets are full of people, smells and signs that say to curb your dog. It's an entertaining day everyday.

I stayed in the Upper East Side which is surprisingly fantastic, with more room in the apartments, loads of local eateries and a more residential vibe. Kinda nice to get away from the tourists and yet still be a ten minute walk to Central Park. I took full advantage of that and went with friends on two runs and explored a separate day. So much to see and do there and just relaxing on the grass or a park bench has to be a top activity in the city. Running around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir you are rewarded with sweeping views of the skyline with the water and park below. A magical sport to run in.

Mixing in some touristy sights was the feeling of being a local. Starting the 4th of July off running through Central Park, followed up by a swim at a public pool before grabbing bagels and lox was amazing. Topping that off with a trip to Long Island for a BBQ was brilliant. The accents, the food, the New York hip hop, this was a straight up perfect taste of life out on the island. It's great to have the opportunity to mix with these people all over the city and not just be a tourist. The best experiences on this trip have been with locals doing local things. Time Square is nuts, the
Statue of Liberty is amazing, but the real New York is fitting in with the busyness, grabbing a slice and talking to someone with a thick NY accent.

I had the best falafel in the US in Greenwich Village. It hit on every flavor, from the creamy, perfectly textured falafel to the right amount of pickled vegetables accompanying every bite. If you are in the West Village, go to Taïm and become converted. I'm sold.

Pictures may come In the future due to needing a computer to upload, but needless to say , blue skies in the Big Apple made for a great trip before I'm off to Europe. I'm traveling with Cristina, a good friend I met in Ecuador and tomorrow morning we'll arrive in Edinburgh for 6 hours of exploring before taking the train to Liverpool. Let the European adventures begin!

High in Manhattan

Beinf the best city in the US entails leading the way on the civic front. New York normally leads the charge and in the case of the High Line Park, they have done just that. Planted high up in the clouds (as advertised but really just a couple of flights up above the street), the High Line makes use of a defunct set of train tracks that was vital to the shipping/merchant industry in the early to mid 1900s. As with a lot of things, technology changed, and the city changed so that the rails were not used in the latter part of the century. Good citizens fought to keep it, and tame what had become an overgrown weedy stretch above the city floor. Now it's a perfect mix of plants, flowers, trees and life up top, with a safe, easy to walk path full of pedestrians.

From epic city views to the Hudson on the other side, it's become a tourist attraction, full of people in the hot summer weather walking around and getting a great perspective on the city. At one point you are perfect on top of a bridge over the busy avenue below for a straight shot down the street of the skyscrapers on both sides. On another spot, there is a grassy area surrounding old brick buildings with great street art. It's a fun, entertaining way to see the city that connects several districts in a fluid manner. Highly recommended!

The outdoors life

One of the best things about living in Portland again is the proximity to the outdoors.  From the mountains and coast 1.5 hours east and west, to the Columbia Gorge just 40 minutes east, you are set for good hiking and time with mother nature.  This past weekend was a misty one, but that didn't stop me.  I got in 3 proper hikes, walking through an epic green landscape, with some blue skies scattered in with some rain. Like most good folk here in Portland, I've got gear to stay dry and won't let any bad weather stop me.

I tried out my new pair of Columbia trail shoes, which happen to be waterproof.  On a windy, wet weekend, these were amazing.  Not having to think about wet feet was a blessing, and I'd highly recommend a pair to anyone.

The Friday hike was the quintessential Portland hike, going to and above Multnomah Falls.  It's normally jam packed with tourists, so I went after work, when there were less people.  Stopping for the classic shot of the bridge over Lower Multnomah, I just had to smile.  This is one epic spot, supposedly the most photographed place in Oregon.  The bridge makes the waterfall picture to me.  It's got that classy early 1900s look to it.  Simply grand.

After the NW's wet winter, there was water and green everywhere.  I passed 4 main waterfalls and numerous small ones along the 5+mile hike.  The higher and farther you go, the less people, which is a major bonus.  Pretty perfect up there, all alone with nature for minutes at a time, soaking in the atmosphere and peace all around.  With sun shining through the leaves and some blue skies, it was a perfect evening hike.  Just a little bit of rain on the way down to test out the waterproof gear, otherwise, smooth sailing the whole way.

May the force be with you.

Uncle time in the US

So the last two weeks I've been back in the US, hanging out with my family,  and getting to know my brand new niece. After 3+ months of adventures, it was time to relax, sleep in the same bed consistently,  eat healthy food,  understand the language and laugh with family and old friends. So far, it's been great.

I'm in Portland, OR, one of my favorite cities in the world. From the outdoors to the coffee to the food, this place has it all. With since glimpses of warm weather,  it looks to be the start of a good summer. Which means, once again, I've crossed the equator going from summer to summer. Just a few rainy days in Portland first, and then all sunshine!

Here are a couple pictures of me and Luciana, my niece, now 3 weeks old. There's defintely something special about holding a brand new baby in your arms. Quite nice to put the backpack down and replace it with a baby.

Ecuadorian markets

You think you have control of the situation in the markets. It's a bargaining culture here and as long as you come out of the deal thinking you won, that's all that matters. Alpaca sweaters and blankets,  wooden carvings, metalwork, and so much more.  The colors are amazing and the local designs make you think of a different culture. I do alright avoiding the sales, and yet I've come away with a couple large bags of coffee. They found my weakness. Can't pass up something you can taste and smell.

The equator

It's fitting for Ecuador to have its name with the equator running through the country. I learned on my walking tour that the name Quito means the place in the middle. Now how did they figure that out way before everyone else?  Simple pole in the ground will tell you the time, and if you watch it all year, you notice trends such as when the shadow gets longer or shorter. They chose Quito to be their captial, almost exactly on the Equator, the spot where you are closest to the sun. Well done people,  well done.

This morning I visited the Mitad del Mundo, the exact spot science tells us is the equator. Such a fun feeling to walk from one hemisphere to the other. Pretty darn cool. That feeling was the highlight, but there is a small village of artisan shops, museums and history. Nice to learn more about science and the culture here.

You do way less at the ecuator  (approx .5% less).  Water does not flush the opposite way in each hemisphere, rather it depends on the force and direction when it enters into the bowl. You can balance an egg supposedly at the ecuator, but I couldn't find any chickens,  so that'll have to wait for the next visit. 

Beach in the last days

As this trip to South America has been mostly in the summertime,  and I've spent the last months at high altitude in the mountains, it was time to head to the beach for some fun in the sun. Can't pass up some surfing, relaxing vibes and yoga next to the Pacific.

I started in Montañita, a busy touristy town full of action. The beach was packed by the center, and less crowded the farther north you went. A wee bit of paradise with super soft sand and ready waves to ride. The nightlife was a main draw as well, with it feeling a bit like a beach party in the early evening, and then attempting to salsa in the salsatecas.

After a day of crowds, it was time to head north to the quiet beach town of Ayampe. Drastically different and perfect. I'd met 2 German friends from my Machu Pichu hike in Montañita and we found an awesome place to camp. Great views of the ocean, filled with jungle sounds and  tropical trees. Pretty damn nice.

I relaxed a couple days, and had some great day trips. The first was to Los Frailes beach, known as Ecuadors most stunning beach. They have kept it pristine as part of a national park and search your bags when you enter, keeping trash out. Super clean on the beach with a feeling of untouched nature, apart from all the people there enjoying it as they should. Perfect hot day for swimming in the ocean,  rinsing away the sweat and soaking up some good vibes with mother nature. Solid day out. A second day trip was to the Isla de la Plata, which was so awesome, it'll get a post of its own soon enough.

Executive!

So I'm at the bus station and had to choose between two bus companies going to Quito. Although one company said it was 'ejecutivo servicio', I went with the other company because it left first. And then the bus shows up and it's 'super ejecutivo'.  Winning!   (And this post is in sarcasm because rarely are the buses that much nicer in South America, and it's all just words and marketing.   Some of the nicest have been the cheap regular buses, and the fanciest sounding are normally lacking,  sometimes without working seats or air, and with toilets that drop directly on to the ground.)

Post script :  the toilet was locked for the journey, the AC was cranked on freezing all night and it was pretty bumpy. So yeah,  it was just a regular bus journey on this trip.