Bruges, Belgium

Oświęcim, Poland

Taken at Birkenau II, outside of Krakow

Urbino, Italy

Lisbon, Portugal

Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

Paris, France

March 2009 - Sundown over the Seine.

San Sebastian, Spain

August 2010 - Outside of pinxtos Bar Haizea in a sun shower.

There Will Be Some Changes 'Round Here

If you've been following my blog (or if you've just looked at it this once) you may have noticed there have been some strange goings on as of late. While I initially started this blog as a way to stay fresh with my writing, I also thought it would be a good forum for my photos. Like virtually every other blogger out there I'm now finding it hard put aside the time required for upkeep and, as such, have decided I'm going to stick solely with uploading photos. If the picture requires a short caption or explanation I'll be happy to add one, but if not, I'll simply be putting up the image by itself. I hope at sometime in the near future I'll have a little more time to give this blog the respect it deserves and add some much needed text. As always, if anyone needs any travel info or advice or whatnot, please feel free to ask away.

- JR

Amersterdam, Netherlands

Oporto, Portugal

 

August 2010 - Typical stall at the Mercado do Bolhão.

Rome, Italy

Ahhh, Roma. In the summer between Grade 12 and the now-defunct OAC I was fortunate enough to spend just over a month in Rome taking an English lit course with a group of friends from my high school. And though I loved every minute of it, and made sure to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, I didn't know when I'd have a chance to get back there. A few years later, as luck would have it, Italy beckoned once more. Our port of entry was Rome and we took every opportunity we could to indulge (and occasionally over-indulge) in 'la dolce vita'.

I've always found that my memory has a way of distorting things that happened when I was younger - making them seem bigger, or more serious, in retrospect. And if this was how I remembered even the small things, than I shouldn't have been surpised that my mind had created a colossol, romantic, Fellini-esque picture of Rome. The first day we walked around we were all taken aback by just how normal everything seemed. Though it had been grandiose in our minds, we were a little disappointed to find that Rome was just another city. I hadn't really remembered where things were (in geographical relation to each other) and the city seemed to be bursting with tourists (thanks, believe it or not, to a U2 concert). But when we got away from the imperial side of Rome, and the popular squares, we were able to once again fall in love with the city. Areas like Trastevere are hard enough to get to (you have to take a *gasp* tram) and most people don't venture that far.  It holds innumerable, quaint streets with crumbling buildings, and is a great gastronomic area.

But Jake (you ask) why, if you like areas off the beaten track so much have you put a photo of the Colusseum, arguably Rome's most iconic structure? It's simple really - I like this picture. It's true it's in the heart of imperial Rome's tourist area, but it is also a beautiful and historical building. It occurred to me that I may be coming off as pretentious by always saying painfully obviously things like 'getting away from the tourist path is the best way to enjoy a city.' It's no surprise that this is true, but I feel I've been giving tourist activities a hard time. There's absolutely nothing wrong with going to the tourist areas of a city and hitting the sights. I make sure to do it wherever I go. I'm just saying that after this gets tiring, unenjoyable and unaffordable, it is good to find places you can enjoy. Piazza Navona is beautiful, but it's also chock-a-block with people who've come from all over the world to see it. That being said, something like Campo dei Fiori (Rome's fresh food market by day; party area by night) is just a few steps south of Navona. Proof I suppose that even in Rome the good and bad are separated by very little.

Berlin, Germany

 

This photo of the Brandenburg Gate was taken in Pariser Platz right before we embarked on the quintessential free four hour tour. Pariser Platz itself is tourist central, and it is where many of the tour groups meet. Though it's hectic, it is essential viewing (for the Brandenburg Gate alone) and a number of the city's important landmarks (Holocaust Memorial, The Bundestag) are a stones throw away. We'd been told about the Sandeman tour (named after tour founder Chris Sandeman, also heir to the Sandeman port fortune - what a legend!) by a few different people, and it didn't disappoint. Over the course of an afternoon we were taken around the city by our energetic Irish tour guide Barry for an informative and interesting few hours. Because Sandemen is clearly struggling financially they've expanded the tours to include other popular European tourist destinations. Though the Berlin tour is the flagship, I would highly recommend one of these tours elsewhere in Europe as a great introduction to a new city.

I hold very dear memories of Berlin (even though we had temperamental, foreshadowing type weather while we were there). The city is a great hodgepodge of East (Europe) meets West (Europe), and walking around the historically-steeped streets reignited my love for the discipline I once studied (no easy feat). Honestly, I think you could rewrite 'We Didn't Start the Fire' using only Berlin history and landmarks and it would still be a great (and informative) four minutes that would make BJ proud!

If I remember correctly, Berlin was number two on my list of cities to visit while in Europe (right behind Croydon). To say it lived up to the hype would be an understatement. It was once described to me as the most 'edgy city ever' and I personally think it's probably one of the hippest places I've ever been. The travelers I've known often categorize the cities they've visited into places they could live in and places they'd simply want to be a tourist. Berlin is great for both. You could easily keep busy for the best part of a week with World War II related landmarks. But beyond the walls and memorials and platz' that are so important to our collective history, there are districts that are just begging to be explored. Beyond the Mitte district there are great areas like Prenzlauer Berg with it's atmospheric streets and vibrant cafe-culture. The too-cool-for-school Kreuzberg area is ground zero for Berlin's creative class, as well as the growing Turkish population. And beyond that there are countless other areas that are endlessly appealing, not just for a tourist, but for the many foreigners who now call Berlin home.

Nice, France

When we were Prague in the winter of 2010, we met a couple of London-inhabiting Canadians at (what quickly became for us) a local watering hole, the U Medvidku Brewery. We all got talking about traveling and recommendations, and one of the guys described Nice as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Needless to say, after this point (and a little wikipedia related research) our interest was sparked.

We eventually made it to Nice at the end of July 2010, flying there directly from Brussels. Landing late on a warm summer night we immediately took to the city. The labyrinth-like streets of the Old Town (Vieux Nice) are a melange of pastel coloured buildings holding gastronomic pleasures on every hidden square. The food was (oddly) equal parts French as it was Italian-fare. The local specialty socca is a rich chickpea flat bread eaten as a snack, and is a great accompaniment to a cold drink.

Nice itself is a great place to spend the better part of a week. Whether losing yourself in the Old Town, spending time lazying on the pebbled beaches or people watching past sundown on the Promenade des Anglais, there is surprisingly a lot to do. Plus, the ridiculously opulent principality of Monaco is less than an hour away by train, and is perhaps the best day trip you could ever take. The photo above was taken from the patio area of an Irish pub called The Snug during the golden hour. It showcases typical Vieux Nice architecture and you can see half of the 17th century Cathédrale Sainte Réparate in the background. I once read that Richard Harris, notorious troublemaker and boozer, would only ever drink at Irish-style pubs wherever he was in the world. I've long argued that you can probably find an Irish pub anywhere you are in the world - whether it's Siem Reap, Granada or Dubrovnik (yes, I've sadly been to Irish pubs in all these locations) - but I don't generally promote frequenting these establishments if there is a local option that will do the trick. That being said, the south of France is sadly short on beerhalls, so The Snug turned out to be the next best option.

Toronto, Canada

You may have noticed that this photo, unlike the previous ones, does not come from an exotic far-away place. Actually, I'm not sure if that's necessarily fair - sure, Toronto is by no means exotic for me or any of my (potential) Canadian readers, but I suppose for any (potential) overseas readers it is a foreign and unknown place. Anyways, semantics aside, I took this photo during a recent walk in Toronto's Lawrence Park. The park itself is a great place to take a stroll on a lazy Saturday and is actually part of a greater ravine system where you can waste away countless hours walking around (in warmer weather that is).

The photo itself really has nothing to do with Toronto - aside from the fact that under the recent reign of lovely Canadian winter weather we've been having I can somehow relate to the the dead, fragile, snow touched leaf. However, I thought I'd post it for a few reasons: first, (and if you'll excuse my vanity) I really do like this picture; second, if I'm able to keep this blog going for the long run there will come a time when I no longer have photos from exciting, (real) exotic places to post, so I'll have to resort to putting up pics from homegrown adventures; third, this is my blog, and with very little readership I'm not really worried about any complaints, or what not.

Regardless of the reasons, I hope you enjoy. Let me know if you have any Toronto related questions. Also, as I was extremely lax in uploading photos from my previous travels on to facebook, let me know if there are any photos you do want to see.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is an interesting place...Before I moved to London in the fall of 2008 I made a list of the top 5 places I wanted to visit while I was Europe-bound. Prague was right up there. I got my first taste of Eastern Europe when I visited Poland in the summer of 2009 and loved every beer-soaked minute of it. Later that year, Alison and I went on a family trip to Budapest and were impressed by the beauty and scale of Hungary's capital. Needless to say, by the time we made it to Prague in February 2010 (and perhaps against my better judgment), I had my preconceptions.

I'd always heard good things about the city - I mean, the Czech's drink more beer per capita than anywhere else in the world, so what's not to like? And it's not that I didn't like it, I guess it's just not what I expected. What's important to remember for any Prague-bound traveler is that you're not going to discover some up-to-recently isolated Eastern-bloc city, where tourists are few and far between. This city has been discovered, with increasing fervor over the last decade or so, by North American gap year students and British stag-and-doe partiers hopping over on cheap inter-Euro flights for a weekend of debauchery.

That being said, the city does have a lot to offer, and is perhaps the ideal Eastern European city to visit for those looking to get a taste of what lies beyond the Deutschland. The beautiful old town's cobbled streets beg to be explored, as do the city's churches and bridges. The food (though Eastern European through and through) was some of the best of it's kind that I'd had. And of course the beer - unpasteurized Budvar...need I say more! (It just occurred to me that I've now turned to the topic of beer twice in three posts and I'm marginally worried this could be a recurring theme). This photo of frost-bitten old town rooftops was taken from the main square's Týn Church (which also holds the 'famous' Astronomical Clock - voted most disappointing tourist attraction in Europe!) Looking back at it now I'm wondering why we chose to go to a snow-drenched country in the dead of winter...but I'm also reminded of the great things we got so see - Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the beer-halls of Novy Mesto...In retrospect it would seem I was a little harsh on Prague and, in fact, the city does have some real-gems, as long as you avoid the tourist path (ie, five-story mega-club Karlovy Lazne). One piece of advice to prospective Prague-bound travelers: don't go in winter!

Merzouga, Morocco

When I think back to my trip to Morocco, I'm confronted with a series of juxtaposing images and emotions. The country was nothing like I'd expected. I'd traveled to the Near East before, as well as to a few developing countries in Asia, and I suspected Morocco would be a mix of the two, with a little African flavour thrown in. And although in retrospect it seems I might have been on to something, the reality was in many ways different. The country holds some absolute gems - like the mountain-set, blue tinted Chefchaouen - but unfortunately (and I believe some of my fellow travelers would agree) it is important to seek out a Morocco that suits your traveling needs and wants.

Marrakesh itself is a chaotic jumble of cars, trucks, buses and donkey-pulled carts all making their way through the ever-confusing non-linear streets. People are everywhere, transporting goods, selling things you don't need and generally (at least it seemed that way) providing misdirection and misinformation. We visited in late August 2010, during Ramadan and (what turned out to be) the greatest heat any of us had ever known. One day after lunch we saw the mercury hit 53° C. No joke. The heat, combined with the reality that it was difficult to find food during daylight hours and the fact that a group of us had been traveling together for five weeks, make for interesting memories of Morocco.

So why did I post this photo? Was it to bring back all the mixed memories of a truly unforgettable country? I'm not sure really. This photo comes from a camel-ridding trek that took us into the Sahara and towards the Algerian border. To get here we left Marrakesh early on a Monday morning and drove for two days stopping at various little towns and 'attractions' along the way. Just outside the town of Merzouga we boarded camels and rode into the dessert for two hours, stopping just before sundown to stay over night with a Berber tribe.

I suppose I like this photo because it reminds me of all the natural beauty Morocco has to offer. I look at this photo and I don't remember that I was recovering from food poisoning at the time; or that the night before Alison and I found a scorpion in our hotel bedroom. I look at it and remember riding into the dessert on a camel, smile firmly planted on my face with Ben's child-like cries of adventure ringing in my ears. I suppose that it is a testament to the power of nostalgia. Nonetheless, I always remember what I tell people who ask me how Morocco was: it's the country I'm most happy I'd been to, but also the one that I'm in least rush to get back.

Again, any questions on Morocco related tourism, just let me know...

Brussels, Belgium

This photo comes from a July 2010 trip to the Belgian capital. Often over-shadowed by its larger (and occasionally disgruntled) neighbours, Belgium is an utterly beautiful, fascinating and underrated country to visit. The people are friendly, the landscape (though quite flat) is picturesque and the food is great! And the beer...how could I forget the beer! Of course, the country is also known for its chocolate production, but for me this visit was all about liquid gold. The Belgian's are renowned for brewing thousands of different kinds of delicious hoppy goodness - not bad for a country with a population of 10 million people and the size of Ontario's Golden Horseshoe.

Brussels itself is a great place to explore for a long weekend. The beautiful medieval Grand Place is the heart of the old town, and is likely what visitors think of when picturing the capital, but there is so much more. The face of modern Belgium, Brussels is as diverse as the legislative bodies that fuels the city. Home to the EU Parliament and NATO HQ, Brussels has a transient, multi-cultural population that allows the modern to co-exist with the medieval.

This photo shows the skyline of the Grand Place and Old Town at sundown. In late-July 2010 we started out on a five-week Euro-trip that turned into a two and a half month adventure. As Brussels was the first stop along the way I thought it was only appropriate for it to be the first photo on this blog.

Of course, anyone interested in travel-related, practical information on Brussels please let me know - I'll be happy to provide any info I still remember on sight-seeing, accommodation, eating and, of course, drinking!

The First Post

Hello out there to all my non-existent readers,

I suppose I'm writing this because hopefully one day I will have people actually reading my blog and looking at my photos and wondering how (and why) it all started. So what is the purpose of this blog? It's quite simple really: this blog came about for reasons of excess free-time, self-deprecation, narcissism and the desire to stay 'fresh', in terms of writing. As I am now toying with the idea of getting into a potential career that will likely involve writing, I thought I should get all the practice I can. Also, since I'm also looking for a place to show off my photos, I thought this blog might also fulfill that function.

Ok, so I suppose that that covers the reasons (for better or worse) that I'm devoting my not-at-all valuable time to writing the blog, but what is the purpose - or more baldly, what can you (the potential, but so far non-existent reader) expect from my blog. My goal is to post one photo a week and write about it. It's quite simple really. For the most part the photos will come from my traveling adventures, because the one thing I have done in the past 3 years is a hell of a lot of traveling.

I suppose that's it for me. I'd really love any and all comments (good or bad) in order to improve what I'm putting up.

Enjoy,


JR

PS: I almost forgot! If you like my blog (or if you don't like it), make sure to check out this great blog for new and exciting things to do, and random, useless op-ed pieces:

http://boredomnomore-dom.blogspot.com/