Friday, October 06, 2006

The Naturist Beach

On our second day in Barcelona, Gavin wanted to check out the beaches and swim in the Mediterranean Sea, so he did some research and found a beach for us to check out. After a short 15 minute trip via the Metro we found ourselves near the water, but we had to hike about half a mile to the actual beach. I wondered to myself why the beach was so difficult to access and then we suddenly found out why: Gavin had brought us to a nude beach without knowing it.

I was not prepared for what I saw when I turned the corner. I know what most of you are thinking … Wow! A nude beach in the Mediterranean. Hot! Well, it wasn’t. It was filled with leather skinned old people who looked like walking Hermes handbags! Luckily for us, there was a younger section of the beach and getting naked wasn’t compulsory so we got comfortable (not that comfortable) and enjoyed the warm October weather in Barcelona.

Oh yeah, Gavin had fun in the warm Mediterranean Sea too.


This is as close as I dared pull the camera out.


If you look closely, you can see a few naked bodies.



Barcelona Day 2
Oct 6, 2006 - 5 Photos
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Hola Barcelona!

From Paris we flew to Barcelona on the low-cost airline, Easyjet. Usually, I would never fly an airline with bright Orange letters or the word “EASY” in its name, but when you’re trying to create value you really don’t have much choice.

Our flight from Paris-Orly to Barcelona was actually quite pleasant and I would easily choose Easyjet over Ryanair in the future. (I would also like to say that most American cities, especially those in Hawaii, really have a lot to learn about making their airports accessible. Getting to and from all of the European cities that we have visited, via public transport, has been incredibly easy.)

Rich with history and the capital of the Catalan region, Barcelona was thrust into world spotlight after the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, which it hosted. Gavin and I were both pleasantly surprised with Barcelona and instantly felt comfortable navigating the streets and attempting to communicate with the locals. Barcelona residents speak Catalan which would best be described as a mix between Spanish and French, but will speak Spanish to visitors.

Gav and I jumped on one of those cheesy tourist buses with the open upper deck (you know which ones I’m talking about) to get a better feel of the city. Barcelona does have a wonderful subway system, but seeing the city above ground sure helps you understand how large it really is.

Check out my Picasa web album via the link below to see more.


You are what you fly!


Barcelona






Hola Barcelona
Oct 6, 2006 - 13 Photos
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The Naturist Beach

On our second day in Barcelona, Gavin wanted to check out the beaches and swim in the Mediterranean Sea, so he did some research and found a beach for us to check out. After a short 15 minute trip via the Metro we found ourselves near the water, but we had to hike about half a mile to the actual beach. I wondered to myself why the beach was so difficult to access and then we suddenly found out why: Gavin had brought us to a nude beach without knowing it.

I was not prepared for what I saw when I turned the corner. I know what most of you are thinking … Wow! A nude beach in the Mediterranean. Hot! Well, it wasn’t. It was filled with leather skinned old people who looked like walking Hermes handbags! Luckily for us, there was a younger section of the beach and getting naked wasn’t compulsory so we got comfortable (not that comfortable) and enjoyed the warm October weather in Barcelona.

Oh yeah, Gavin had fun in the warm Mediterranean Sea too.


This is as close as I dared pull the camera out.




If you look closely, you can see a few naked bodies.



Barcelona Day 2
Oct 6, 2006 - 5 Photos

Famous Paris Landmarks

You’re never prepared for seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time. I can’t even guess how many times in my life I have seen a picture of it, seen it on tv or in a movie, but seeing it in real life is really quite amazing. You’re not prepared for how massive it is and how it really is the focal point of the city. (For example, the Empire State Building IS impressive, but its also surrounded by a ton of other skyscrapers. The Eiffel Tower is by far the tallest structure in the city and it is made quite apparent when you see it in person.)

For a mere 3€ we could climb the stairs to the observation deck and we were treated to a bird’s eye view of Paris. What a deal!

If the Eiffel Tower is Paris’ number one landmark, the Arc de Triomphe is a close second. Impressive in its own right, the Arc is also situated so it is one of Paris’ focal points and can be seen for kilometers in all directions.

Paris, what a romantic city!


The view from the Eiffel Tower observation deck.


The Arc de Triomphe at night.


Our xmas card.

Paris 3
Sep 27, 2006 - 6 Photos
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Versailles

I have to confess that after being on the road for over five months and after traveling to various points on the globe, I have become a bit numb and my memories have begun to blend in with each other. Unlike a traditional vacation where I would visit somewhere for a week or so and then go home, we are going from country to country without a break or at the very least, a chance to reflect on our travels. I’m not saying that I am taking things for granted, but I am a bit sad over the fact that I haven’t really been able to savor each destination … until Paris.
Paris is amazing. Simply stunning. It was like I was in a movie or as if a postcard had come to life. With its art, culture, architecture and famous landmarks, Paris definitely makes an impression.

Since Gavin has visited Paris before, he took it upon himself to plan our itinerary. Day 2 included a trip to Versailles and the Eiffel Tower.

Built by France’s royalty, Versailles is now considered a rich suburb of Paris. After a quick train ride out of the city, we were at the doorstep of one of the most impressive man-made structures I have ever been to. With its beautiful gardens, over-the-top decadence and rich history, Versailles was quite a treat and its no wonder why the French are so proud of it. Any trip to Paris is not complete unless you visit Versailles. Words cannot begin to describe what we saw and I doubt our pictures will do it justice. It is impossible to properly put into perspective how massive and impressive the whole experience of visiting Versailles really is.

From the cathedral to the theatre and the famed Hall of Mirrors, Versailles is a monument to the decadence and power of the once great French Empire. Filled with art and gold, one could only imagine what it would have been like to be a visitor to this grand estate during the reign of Louis XVI.









Paris 2
Sep 27, 2006 - 17 Photos
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