Cinque Terre Rules! Had to be another favorite of mine! Nice work Kev, sounds like you guys are having such a good time! We're thinkin about you guys back home and definitely missed you at Spike days! Not quite as eventful as last year, but good times nonetheless... Thought I'd let you know that Chad and I have now taken the glorious bocce title! Woot woot! Love ya man, keep up the entries...
Yo Kev Kev;
" Opening Ceremonies" in Pamplona are dick all. They have opening ceremonies every day, when they parade to and from the bull ring.
You have to go to a bull fight or two - it's an incredible cultural experience. Go to the bull ring a little early and buy tickets from a scalper.
Shade ( sombre) is better but "sol" (sun is cheaper) They start at 5 P.M. or so, about four or five bullfights.
The "Banos Publicos" are public showers that you can line up for. Pamplona is a very hot, inland city and one needs a shower occasionaly!
Don't run with the bulls - witness it as closely as you can - it's incredibly dangerous and many a tourist has been gored or killed. The Spaniards
see it as a machismo thing, with young teen aged boys proving themselves by running at an early age (15 or so) One thinks one can run with the bulls and just stay a respectable distance away and be fine - wrong! The streets are narrow and barricaded and the cops will not let you bail out if the going gets tough. A bull or bulls can stop at any time. fixate on you, and beat the piss out of you. These bulls have had needles stuck in their balls
just to make them combative to humans. Imagine how combative you would be if you had had similar treatment.
Pamplona is tough - crowded, hot, and drunken. There are ,however, no better United Nations parties anywhere that i went in Europe.
Sing O Canada, talk to the Aussies, tell the Yanks you love them but their foreign policy is ridiculous and their medical system is even worse.
I wish I was thirty years younger and could be there with you, Kev. Be careful -Spanish cops are not collaborative and there are fights to be avoided.
Two to three days will be plenty for you in Pamplona. I made it five days once, but San Sebastian for me was a write off afterward because of fatigue
lack of sleep.
Cheers, Dad
PS I seem to recall that we couldn't get a Pamplona train either - we had to go to Madrid first and then weasel our way over to Pamplona from there
The bars are down the streets which spoke off the main city square ( where the parades start)
Don't forget that PAmplona is Basque country and the basques don't really wholeheartedly love Spain - they would like to separate. If you
start singing "Viva Espana" you might get dropped....
Hello my boy!! Hi Kevin, it was great getting caught up on all your adventures, such an amazing time you are having, and seeing so many fantastic sights. Even though you are travelling quite quickly I don't get the feeling that the pace it too fast, it really seems perfect to me!!
I too may have screwed up because I thought I had sent a message on Sunday, but it may not have gone through, so I'll repeat a little bit of it ....Lauren and I picked up Gage and Devyn from the airport on Sunday, spent the day with them had fun at Horseshoe Bay waiting for the ferry and then took them over to Auntie Shelaghs. We walked on and she picked us up. The boys are so great, fun to be with and so polite and sweet. We spent the night had a great visit...Travis is adorable also and then came home today. I am still trying to finish up at work so will go in tomorrow, Thurs and Friday. Wednesday is Canada Day (make sure you let people know) we are going to Dave Taylor's for a BBQ. And then hopefully I'll really be finished!!
Caryl has quite a little barnyard in the back yard...quite neat really. 7 Hens , 4 chicks, 2 ducks and her dogs. It was really cute watching Travis go into the hen house with his little basket and come out with 6 eggs. Quite educational for him, he is a really nice little boy, it was good getting to know him a little better, he is 4 and will be starting Kindergarten in Sept.Hard to believe!
Anyway it was a nice, short visit, but a nice way to start my holiday!!
All is well at home, we sure love you and are proud of how well you are handling everything and taking advantage of all that you can.
Love you so much, Mom
Hi Kevin! Wow, what a windfall. Three blogs from you in one day.Sounds like you're having a great time. Lauren will be thrilled to hear you talk about CInque Terre. She really loved it too.
I'll bet it was nice to see Richard. There are lots of people to meet, but you're still starting from scratch every time you get somewhere. Bit of a comedy of errors finding him too.... I'll bet he's glad he made the decision to come to Europe. It's such a great experience for young people to be
on their own in other countries - gives you such a worldly experience and feeling. Instead of just being a Port Moody (City of the Arts) guy, you are
playing on a bigger stage and gaining a broader world view.
Everyone is fine here - nothing has changed. The weather has been pretty good - Maggie hangin' in .Mom and Lauren are done school now and immediately buggered off to the island to visit Shelagh and Ian. They picked up Devon and Gage from the airport and took them over to the island.
Lauren also wanted to see Joyce,as she's pretty ill.
Ian had a heart attack a few weeks back and had a "stent" put in one of his arteries that was completely jammed. It looks as if this will be a good thing, as it will probably get him to stop smoking ( I hope)
A garbage truck ramed into the Rocky Point overpass a few days ago and made enough damage that the damn overpass is closed until further notice.
Traffic is at a standstill throughout Port Moody as everyone has to take St. John's. The Golden Spike committee is having a cow because no one will be able to get to Rocky Point without the overpass. Big news!
I'm playing golf and writing some. We did a gig for Jan Therrien's retirement - good fun. I got a new driver for my birthday - Calloway Diablo is what I went with, because I get a free fairway wood with it - I'm going to get a 5 wood.
MIss you Kev, but there is nothing I would rather you be doing than back packing and finding God. Stay away from the devil weed. Watch between meal treats, and brush often with Crest, Kev. Stay in civilixed countries ( don't go to Morocco or anything crazy like that.)
See you soon,
LOts of love ,Dad
Florence You know this, but see the David!....best time, first thing in the morning, line-up early, or late in the day, to avoid the tourist hordes....the fewer people there, the better....go to the top of the Duomo, and look out over the most beautiful Renaissance city ever...to get away from the tourists, you can take a nice sidetrip to nearby Fiesole, or go across the river (watch out for the rowers) and walk all the way up to that plaza overlooking the city....wonderful at sunset...you cant go wrong, no matter where you walk....just try to ignore the tourists and think of the great sculptor Michaelangelo wandering the same streets....not all that changed in the heart of Florence....i love italy!!!!!
Domini Domino Hi Kev;
Rome - wow! Sounds like you're having a great time. I hope you're eating your vegetables and getting lots of rest.... kidding.
Firenze next - hope you like art. I've never been to Florence, all reports are that it's something pretty special.
Nothing's changed here. It's been warm and cloudy generally, raining today for the frist time in a long time.
I took Cavallier ( oh wait, "Grandma's Cavallier") into get repaired. Some greaseball tried to jimmy it on the drivers side and punched in the lock
on the passenger's side. The passenger's side one happened a while ago, you probably noticed that. I managed to scmooze the ICBC lady into
counting it all as one claim so I'll pay $300 to get it fixed.The we'll clean it up and either you can drive it, or we can sell it and you can drive you're old shitbox ..- or sell them both and buy something reasonable. You won't be driving much until you renew your licence, which expired on your birthday!
I've been doing some writing for the Tri City News as you know - got a cheque for $225 big ones for my three "Face to FAce" articles. - I'll email
you one or two...
School is winding down for Mom and Lauren - last day this Friday.Looks as if Lauren may not get back to Heritage. Someone with no Science background posted into her job. She's a bit upset about the whole thing. I'll let her tell you more.
We 're there with you Kev. We talk about you daily, and hope you are well and happy - sounds as if you are.
Keep in touch , but no pressure - wnenever you can.
Love Dad
Hi Kevin Hi Kev!
Wow. I get two things from your blogs. First, you sure are walking a lot. Every blog has you walking all over the place, touring places on foot and running for ferries. Great! Second, our worry about meeting people was a little unnecessary - you've mett all kinds of people, seeminlgy easily.
What I don't get from your blogs is homesickness, which I know has started a bit. You seem to realize though, that two seconds after you come home you'll think , "what an idiot I was, why didn't I do such and such...I wanna go back!"
All here is good - the school year is winding down, mom's last function - commencement is tomorrow.
The weather has been spectacular - sunny and warm since you left.
We love hearing from you Kev. It makes us feel so good to hear about your experiencing the world and having such fun.
Cheers, Love, Dad
Hi Kev. Kev;
Sounds like you're having a great time. I had forgotten how bloody friendly those hostel types can be. It sure is re assuring to know you can go anywhere and have a great time with great young people.
You must be finding the pace a bit tough- it's only seven hours by train somewhere but there's still all the peripheral dicking around, finding the hostel , walking from the station etc. Hey - Forbesy will
be there in a day or two! Great!
I'm in the middle of renting Burke. Had a few people walk through, looks as if we have a candidate or two. Grandma's doing fine, although her memory is shot. We have the same conversation every visit. She's happy in her place though.
Maggie's hanging on - no more TIA's since you were here, but she's drooling all over like Hooch from Turner and Hooch!
I'm playing golf and trying out drivers from Riverside. So far, it's between Calloway Diablo and Taylor Made 2009 Burner. I didn't get my old driver re-shafted yet -thought I'd wait to see who will use it - you or me.
Home is the same - you'll be shocked at how little things have changed when you come home - I always was.
Have fun Kev - it's your time!
Love, Dad
Hi Kev. Kev;
Sounds like you're having a great time. I had forgotten how bloody friendly those hostel types can be. It sure is re assuring to know you can go anywhere and have a great time with great young people.
You must be finding the pace a bit tough- it's only seven hours by train somewhere but there's still all the peripheral dicking around, finding the hostel , walking from the station etc. Hey - Forbesy will
be there in a day or two! Great!
I'm in the middle of renting Burke. Had a few people walk through, looks as if we have a candidate or two. Grandma's doing fine, although her memory is shot. We have the same conversation every visit. She's happy in her place though.
Maggie's hanging on - no more TIA's since you were here, but she's drooling all over like Hooch from Turner and Hooch!
I'm playing golf and trying out drivers from Riverside. So far, it's between Calloway Diablo and Taylor Made 2009 Burner. I didn't get my old driver re-shafted yet -thought I'd wait to see who will use it - you or me.
Home is the same - you'll be shocked at how little things have changed when you come home - I always was.
Have fun Kev - it's your time!
Love, Dad
Beer Rules! Man... The trip really sounds like a drag so far, haha. Munich and Interlaken were two cities in my top 5 that’s for sure! A city that's so devoted to beer (Munich) is always good times! Glad to hear both places treated you well. Hope you get a chance to do some canyoning before you leave Interlaken! Lovin' the updates dude, keep em comin! Try and get some pics up! P.S. hope you had a chance to get close to the Bar Wenches your dad alluded to earlier! Haha, just kidding... kind of...
Javol Kev! Hi Kev;
Mom and I just got home from Golden Eagle (sunday PM) Had a great day -sunny - I played like a champ (80) on the north. Hitting the ball well and putting well. I broke my driver on the Caldow classic as you know and I've been "demo-ing" various drivers since. Hit the Calloway "Diablo" today - wow. - the Calloway F10
(square job) and the current favourite, the TAylor Made 2009 Tour burner. Great!
Did you hit the "Hoffbrauhaus" yet in Munchen? It's probably the most famous beer hall in the world, featuring a band in leather shorts and beer wenches who can carry five gray clay tankards in each hand. "EIn Zwei Gsuffa" is the famous song - Ein Prosit!
Glad to hear you're having fun. So much for worrying about being
alone and not meeting anyone...
You're probably a bit dissapointed that you can't spend a little more time with some of those people you met.
Have fun.... we miss you... oh wait.
Grandma's car was jimmied while parked outside our house - probably the same greaseballs who did yours. The insurance expired on June 6th ,so I had to get a police report and an ICBC
report the same day I discovered the damage.
Jeez ,what a pack of pukes!
Keep us in touch - stay out of trouble - have fun...
Love you excrutiatingly Kev... Dad
Hey K! Hi Kev!
I'm glad you made it safely and it was so fantastic to read your message!! You have so earned this and I am so happy to hear that everything has started off great. Sorry I didn't get that book to you, but it's call 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho (portuguese author) and it's a great, easy read that fully relates to travelling and seeing the world. If you get the chance to pick it up you totally should!
Anyway, I can't wait to hear more!! Love you lots and keep in touch!
Laur
Yo Kev! Wow. Sounds as if you're having a good time so far. Yeah, Amsterdam is pretty great,I recall.
Glad to hear you made it OK - get some sleep!
Don't forget ANne Frank House and Heineken beer factory!
Your tax return cheque is here - in your room, which is,sadly empty of you.
Cheers, Dad
Show em how its done! Hey Dude!
Glad to hear you got this blog thing working, now I can see how it is to read them! Hope you have a good time buddy, this will be a trip I'm sure you won't forget. Looking forward to your reports and hearing about some of the shinanigans I'm sure you'll get into. Condom Gang overseas?
One Love
Jay
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Cinque Terre Rules!
Had to be another favorite of mine! Nice work Kev, sounds like you guys are having such a good time! We're thinkin about you guys back home and definitely missed you at Spike days! Not quite as eventful as last year, but good times nonetheless... Thought I'd let you know that Chad and I have now taken the glorious bocce title! Woot woot! Love ya man, keep up the entries...