Just proving to you all that I am doing some work over here and can now count to 20, greet people in 3 different ways, can say my name and ask for one, a few little other tidbits and have partly worked out how all the grammar works in Laos!
This is the amazing view I have been seeing when unzipping my tent in the morning over the coast of Sorrento. Hard life I live …
This is just one of thousands of square metres of ruins at Pompeii … very moving place … I’m sure you all know about it but basically all the residents of the city died when Mt Vesuvias (sp?) erupted in I think only about 70 AD. Amazing, spine chilling place to walk around, and so much of the city is still in tact.
Now I know this may appear weird that I have uploaded this photo but I giggled so much when I saw this bloke because he really is the epiptomy of an Italian “hollywood” bloke … I have now stopped giggling at such things as everywhere you look there are hundreds of look a likes. I just try and close my eyes or read. Stick to the boardies I say.
This a view of the town of Amalfi (middle of this amazing coastline). All the villas are so gorgeous with so many crazy coloured window coverings and artwork … and all look like they are about to fall into the sea!
Some artwork still in tact in one of the ruins in Pompeii … these sorts of artworks cover many of the walls.
So I am now in Italy … down on the beautiful Amalfi Coast which is one of the most beautiful and stunning places I have seen in my whole life. I decided that I needed some beach time since I will be inland for the next couple of years … so here I am! It really is hard to describe how beautiful it is. All the little towns along the coast line are set on top of these really high cliffs and you have to walk down really long steep winding cobbled streets and hundreds of stairs to make it down to the water … which is crystal blue clear. I have been camping for the last few days in a place called Sorrento (at the start of the Amalfi coast) on top of a really high cliff which has amazing views over the bay. Every day I discover a new little beach or rocks to jump off which is fabulous. Lots of amazing exploring to be done!
It is ridiculously hot here … there is no sleeping in to be had at all … as soon as the sun hits the tent I am out of there and off to a new swimming spot! The culture is really fun too … everyone is so exuberant and emotional and open and loving and happy! Is infectious to be around. A number of people have told me that I look Italian and they really don’t believe me when I profess to not speaking Italian!! Someone told me I look like an Italian school teacher!
Like the French, the men over here love their women and my favourite compliments so far are “your eyes are like speckled stones”, “your skin is so clear that you need to be congratulated” and wait for it … “your legs are like perfect tree trunks” – I’m not entirely sure that one sounds very complimentary at all, but anyway … !!! It keeps me constantly giggling.
Today I arrived over at an island called Ishcia … very beautiful as well. There is apparently a lot of volcanic activity over here so I am off to discover some thermal springs etc tomorrow … although it’s so hot I really don’t think I will be entering them! Loving the pasta, pizza, gelati and red wine … I will put some photos up that attempt to show you how beautiful this place is, though I’m sure they will do it no justice.
Well I thought I should give you all a little update on Berlin. I wasn’t originally planning on heading there, but some people I met in Stockholm were going to be there for the week, so I thought I would go and hang out. Berlin according to most, is meant to be a fairly unique city in terms of the rest of Germany. Very edgy, artistic and experimental in most of its artchitecture, bars, cafes etc etc and lots of really unexpected things. There is art, sculpture and grafitti everywhere but done in a way that works … they have mixed the old and new really well. A lot of the buildings and accommodation are very old and grafittied etc from the outside but are re done inside … works beautifully.
One of my favourite places was this area above a bar where a whole load of artists have set up residence and you can wander in whenever they are working (ie a lot of night hours) and watch them at work, purchase their art and soak up the surrounds. Quite inspirational actually.
Off to somewhere that has beach …
Well just a quick post … have made my way to Berlin which I highly recommend you all do at some stage … very cool, arty place all round. A few quick snaps below for your enjoyment … xoxo
US Nath … scared of geese … but a lover of all things kangaroo
Originally uploaded by katiedecarteret.
Some crazy French and Americans on my overnighter from Paris to Berlin … no sleep was had but lots of memories which is what really counts in the end. Guitarist from the Black Lips …
overnight train friends
Originally uploaded by katiedecarteret.
This is Jannis (I prefer to call him Yanni) … he is the absolutely Beautiful Berlin boy who let me stay with a whole lot of other people at his house … YOU ROCK YANNI … I told him any of my friends would do the same for him in Aussie land so have the beers chilled ready
fabulous yanni
Originally uploaded by katiedecarteret.
Americans travelling in Germanz having drinks with … Jimmy Boy and Nickers the tour guide
more berlin people …
Originally uploaded by katiedecarteret.
Nickers and crayz Karl … and me not looking my freshest!!
Berlin people
Originally uploaded by katiedecarteret.
OK … so I had a major epiphany while sitting under the Eiffel Tower this morning (for those of you at St Andrews … this was about the time you would have been returning from sport … just so you know I do pay you all a kind and compassionate thought here and there!)
So anyway I nearly wasn’t going to go to the Eiffel Tower just to take a stand (because I really don’t like sight seeing), but I actually got somehow lost on the subway and then ended up on a station near there so kinda thought that I should. So without sounding disrespectful, it really is just a big iron (I would suggest aesthetically ugly) structure that towers amongst some other beautiful old buildings. And yet there are THOUSANDS of people milling around taking photos, paying like 20 EURO to walk up a set of stairs on it etc etc … And all because someone somewhere said in a guidebook that it was probably the tallest structure in Europe once upon a time or something so now hundreds and hundreds of people come to Paris and probably do not much more than shop and see it!
So my epiphany is this … people generally don’t like to think on their own too much but are very easily led. So … if someone tells them something is famous and markets it well, then they can make milllions of dollars off people visiting it. Now I can understand people going to see natural landmarks because they are in fact beautiful … but the man made stuff … who cares!!! Quite clearly I am missing social company right now, because I could have had this conversation over an espresso with someone but I am too tentative to talk to anyone around here, so all these thoughts have been in my head needing to come out! Thanks for reading if you took the time!
OK … so I have had a load of time for reflections here in Paris because quite frankly if you sit on your own outside for more than THREE minutes, you will undoubtedly have some overly confident French man come and proceed to involve you in conversation. I’m sure those of you who’ve been here will be able to concur with this. Seriously though … yesterday, for example, I was taking a nap in the sun outside the Notre Dame Cathedral soaking up the vibe/atmosphere/mabo/spiritual ground etc etc … and this complete random started to try and talk to me … I really pretended to be in a deep sleep and even faked snored a little … and he just ended up kicking me so I would “wake up”!! And that was the start of a sequence!!! One man even thought I was pretending I couldn’t speak French and got angry at me when I wouldn’t speak French to him!! You really can’t win. I have made up fake boyfriends and all sorts of tricks … you gotta survive, eh!!
So a very quick update … this keyboard is a little different to what i am accustomed which is driving me nuts … and you people who know me well know how much i pride myself on this area of my life!!
So I am in Paris! Was walking down the street in Stockholm and found a cheap flight advertised so thought why not! I got in late last night and hadnt really thought through too much of the logistics (so unlike me) so fortunately sat beside a really nice girl on the bus into town and she gave me the 15 minute low down on Paris!! She even walked me to the metro after i got off the bus and also her phone number in case i couldnt find any accommodation … very sweet … so many hugs and kisses go out to her.
I have already worked out that a little girlish flirting goes a long way in this city … for example i was going to leave my hostel this morning because it was a bit expensive but then I turned on a bit of a girly foreigner act (which goes against everything i believe in but was necessary at this point!) and so then he cancelled someone elses reservation so i could stay in a cheaper room. I will keep it for only moments of extreme necessity though all those feminist friends of mine out there!
So anyway the world is my oyster and brie cheese is less than a dollar here so i need to move on from this internet cafe and explore. Bon Jour!
Well have had a very varied last week or so … ranging from complete solitude to absolute craziness!! Spent a few days camping over on Grinda (part of the Archipelago´s … thousands of tiny islands off Sweden). Met some good people and hung out with them which was fun. Camped right on the beach of a river which was beautiful … got attacked by swans (right after I took a photo of the little family for looking so cute!) … jumped off rocks, swam in icy but amazing water and generally lazed about. I then headed off to the Arvika festival (about a few hours west of Stockholm). All I can say is that Swede´s really know how to party it up!! Now I have been to my fair share of music festivals in my time but I’m telling you this one was absolutely nuts. I didn´t know many of the bands there but wanted to experience some Swedish music. I now realise that the reason I didn´t recognise many of the bands was because they were all from some hardcore underground punk scene … and the associated groupies were out in full flight!!! Call me old … but even I can’t keep going for 3 days of festival action without at least a couple hours of snooze a night!!! I did my best … but to no avail … It’s amazing what sort of craziness you can sleep amongst when you really need it!! I also underestimated how cold it would get at night time so spent most of the nights freezing!!! But you know … it’s all for memories sake, hey??!! Didn’t end up hooking up with any new friends there … I think they were more scared of me then I was of them … don’t think they knew what a face without massive amounts of eyeliner, mascara and teased hair looks like anymore!! Have found some other fun people along the way though so all good.
Am thinking about flying down to Holland early and doing a bit of a cycle tour down the west coast of Europe. Have realised I really don’t have enough gear for northern Sweden!! Love you all and miss you all … photos to come xoxox
Well Phil and Anna have headed off to Spain for a couple of weeks and have left me to my own devices in Stockholm!! It’s funny huh … somehow it doesn’t bother me travelling alone in Asia because I guess I really look like a foreigner and people expect me to not have a clue what I’m doing!! However apparently I look Swedish here (even though I’m the only non-blonde walking around Stockholm)!! Anyway it’s all good … at least I know what train station to get off to get home!!
Had dinner with some friends of Phil and Anna’s the other night and I thought I was being helpful going and filling the milk jug for the coffee up again … but it turned out to be yoghurt (the thinnest looking yoghurt I have ever seen !!) so I was the butt of many jokes for a while there. Also … scarily enough … Any Swedish people that know Philfy seem to think that all his habits are typical of Australians!! For example … these people at the dinner party had made coffee and were very excited because they had specially bought sugar that day for the “Australians” coming to dinner. They were utterly confused when I said that I didn’t take sugar!! (Phil by the way takes 2 teaspoons!)
It’s amazing weather here at the moment … like about 30 degrees … but really nice dry heat. I guess because they only get about 2 months of good weather a year … all the Swedish people just get their gear off whenever they can! Like old ladies sitting on park benchs in lacy white bras with saggy breasts !!! … or just random people all over the place everywhere … everyone is desperate for a bit of sun on their skin. Any spare bit of grass is covered with people sunbaking!! Suits me!! There are lots of lovely spots along the waterways to go swimming so I have been taking full advantage!!
Next week I go to the Arvika Festival (www.arvikafestivalen.com) … big music fest over here about 4 hours from Stockholm (there’s an English link if you’re interested). A few acts I know and hundreds I don’t so should be fun!! I bought a cheap tent so am all set to go!! After that I plan on heading down the west coast … plenty of good swimming spots apparently. My goal of the music festival (apart from seeing some good music) … is to meet some friendly folk who offer to let me jump on their bandwagon!! So we’ll see …
Prices for stuff are really weird over here … for example the music fest is pretty reasonable … 3 days incl camping … just over 100 dollars … clothes also pretty cheap ie 20 bucks for most tshirts and tops etc … even expensive lee jeans only around 100 dollars … however the cheapest feed you can buy out anywhere is like 15 dollars and that’s a very ordinary feed … cheapest beer would be 8 dollars … train ride for 3 hours 90 dollars. Night in a youth hostel … 30 dollars minimum … food in grocery store however cheaper than Aus I would say and beer/wine in grocery store really cheap (cheaper than Aus)
Anyway … one good thing … you can camp anywhere for free in Sweden … so that’s what I’ll spend my time doing I think!! I think I will be a shadow of myself when I get back … !!!
Well … if anyone wants to come join me at the Arvikasen festival next week … you’ve got a few days left to book a ticket … so get on it!!
Rock n roll all … K xo
Well I have finally gotten over most of my jet lag … although I always feel like a little nano nap around 2 in the afternoon (which is like 10pm in Aus) … but maybe that’s also just due to the fact I am on holidays!! Hard life I lead … Phil and Anna live in a fabulous little unit just a couple of train stops from the middle of Stockholm. I started trying to learn some Swedish but then decided my brain was getting confused and I should just stick to getting some Laos under my belt!! Phil by the way has been very impressive with his Swedish conversation!! ALL Swedish people are good looking I’m telling you … there are no bad batches at all!
Next week I am heading to a big Swedish music festival (can’t remember the name right now) but Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab for Cutie plus a load of Swedish local bands are playing … should be fun times! Doing some kayaking around the Archipelagos between now and them hopefully.
I am typing this entry at 11.30 at night and it is still very light … CRAZY!!! It makes me feel constantly confused … (*&^%$$!!!
Anyway … enjoy the photos below … “Hey Da”
This poor little Swedish guy lost out on the flipping coins off the wrist competition so I made him buy me a beer … !!
