NYE in NYC

Welcome 2008

As usual my New Years plans were last minute. Last minute I booked a flight to NYC to meet up with L and friends and celebrate New Years... Leaving at 5:00 am I arrived early in the morning on the 31st not knowing I was starting a 25 hour day.

Although we went to New York for New years last year, we didn't do Time Square. This year we decided we would give it a shot. We didn't want a drunken night we would regret the next day. So we bundled up in our down-filled coats and our Canadian Toques and headed to the festivities in the street. A lovely walk from Soho, being frisked around 34th street (for security reason) and a bag of hot nuts later we were as close to Time Square as we could get so late at night. Although that was around the corner, the buzz on the street was intoxicating. Well the buzz and the vodka that was smuggled in by our new found friend who we called Jose. We sang songs, we laughed we brought in the New Year with Fireworks and cheers. Here we are moments before midnightAfter we celebrated the new year we walked back down Broadway with the rest of New York by our side. We walked and walked until we got to a Latin White party. Enter with a white flower and dance till 4:00 am. There was some wonderful dancers there, spirits were high and 2008 was off to a great start.

The 23rd Hour... I struggled to stay awake for some breakfast at a local dinner to get back to our resting ground 24 hours after I had left Toronto. Happy 2008.

Last days in Pari!

So I have seen Paris in fast forward. I spent 4 very fast days seeing as much as I can. I went up the Eiffel Tower, did a wonderful walking tour of the city, strolled through he Gardens of Versailles, and took a boat ride around the Seine. I go to sit in cafe's and watch Parisians as I drank my espresso, wine, and ate cheese... oh so much cheese.

I also got to go to the Louvre, when people tell you how big it is, they aren't exaggerating. It is huge, and amazing. Truthfully though I was more impressed by the building more then the art. Here is a view from inside the Louvre to the court yard.


I also enjoyed a the final leg of our walking tour which was down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. The street is so alive and full of people, and energy. The history of Paris is apparent in all you see. I never appreciate history so much as when I am emerged in it.


As a whole I found the people very nice (contrary to popular belief), the architecture beautiful, but the weather a bit shit. It rained or was cloudy the entire time. All that aside walking through the streets of Paris makes you feel like you are in a movie. They say it's a romantic city, but I didn't see that either.

Here's a list of my favourite things in Paris.

1) The Architecture
2) Winding tree lined streets.
3) Champs-Élysées
4) Arc de Triomphe
5) The Louvre
6) The Gardens of Versailles
7) The boat ride on the Seine
8) The Eiffel Tour
9) The Wine
10) The Cheese

Château de Versailles

Jess and I got up early and made our way to Versailles.

The town itself reminded me of an 'Olympic Village' or 'Vacation Spot', in fact the Rugby world cup was being held there at the time. Even though it was only a quick train ride from Paris it was quite different.

Luckily the weather was good and we were able to walk through the gardens. It was incredible. All I could think was that this was someone's back yard!!! I didn't have a wide enough lens to get it all in... so here's me in the garden instead ;-)



Again because the Chateau was so big and crowded inside I couldn't get any pictures to do it justice. All I can say is you have to go there to see it. If I learned one thing about the French it's that they like things BIG! We brag now when we have 9 or 10 foot ceilings, who do we think we are royalty? Nope they had 40 or 50 foot ceilings, maybe more! This place was Gianormous!

Belle Pari!

Very early but not so bright on Monday morning the ladies and I bid farewell to each other again. We all had different destinations, Kristy - Exeter, Sponge - Sheffield, Guava - India and Me - Belle Pari. I made my way to Waterloo Station to take the Chunnel to Paris. The ride was quick and uneventful. Once in Paris I became immediately aware of the fact that I don't speak or understand French. I did manage to get on the right subway and find my hostel all by myself though, with NO ERRORS! I know I'm getting good at this. I didn't go South instead of North, right instead of left, I followed maps and written instructions and had an incident free morning. It was going to be a good day.

Once I checked in I didn't want to waste anytime so I went for a wander. The streets in Paris are winding and are lined with beautiful buildings. Below is a great representation of what they are like, it was the first thing I saw when I got out of the subway (and had to walk up with my luggage by the way); instantly I fell in love with yet another city. I know I did it backwards because they say that Buenos Aries is the Paris of South America, and now I see why. It was similar in a lot of ways, specifically the architecture that I love so much.


I wandered my way over to the area where the Moulin Rouge is. The way it was described to me was that it was similar to the 'Red Light' district of Amsterdam. It wasn't quite that bad, but it was a flashy, sex lined street full of temptation for debauchery.

Then for a quick break I went back to my hostel, met a girl, Jess, in my room and we decided to go to the Eiffel Tower together. We ventured on the subway and again we made it there without incident. After 5 years of traveling alone I am really getting good at it, less time lost means more to see. That and the fact that 2 heads are better then one. Jess and I seemed to balance each other well. She knew what to do and when, and I knew how to get us there. Great combination, oh and she spoke French!! So we made it to the top of the tower and back, saw some lovely views of Paris, although a bit rainy and overcast.


This is my favourite picture of the Tower.

Once we were tuckered out (both of us up very early) we went back to our hostel through the pouring rain. There may have been an issue with us going the wrong way on the subway, but to our credit we were tired.

A friend to the homeless

This is a story I'm not exactly proud of, but in my defense anything I did was with good intentions, or plain old stupidity. I had to share the story, because only I would do something as insensitive and stupid as this.

Whilst walking down Brick Lane in London the girls and I were approached by a homeless person asking for some money. He was actually pretty funny, he said "Can you spare 700 pounds for a flight to the Caribbean, or some change for some food". The girls and I giggled and I would have given him something, but I honestly didn't have anything other then a 20 pound note on me.... here's where I turn into an asshole. Rather then saying "No sorry" I chose to elaborate and said, "Sorry, I don't have any change right now, maybe after dinner." I KNOW!! Who does that. I was mortified, but I wasn't alone, as we walked away, me with my head down in shame, Spongey said "Get home safely". Seriously we aren't mean people, we don't like to kick you when you are down, we were trying to be sincere and nice and instead we were jerks, and that wasn't the end of it. Yes, hard to believe there is more.

On route home now walking down some street I can't remember I see a Starbucks Coffee cup sitting on the ground ahead. Being the silly fun person I am I ran at full speed toward the cup and gave it a swift kick. Nothing came out of the cup thankfully, but it did roll it's way to the homeless person nestled in the alley way. I can only assume that was his collection cup.

I have since donated all my savings to the homeless people of London out of guilt and shame. To support the cause please feel free to send donations :-)