I recently got back from a trip to Berlin. My last time there was a decade ago, where I remember a sky full of construction cranes in the eastern parts. The city has seen some serious improvements since then and some sites had changed beyond recognition.
We often perceive travel destinations from visual impressions gathered from movies, TV and other sources. This can of course give a somewhat different view than the real one. When James Bond arrives to a city, there are always fancy cars and girls in bikini everywhere with no sign of pollution, poverty or rain clouds. As a-ha once sang, “the sun always shine on TV”.
It probably won’t come as a surprise that I enjoy traveling, and one of the best ways to get inspiration for upcoming journeys is to watch entertaining hosts embark on their adventures. Let’s forget about the overly staged amateur ones such as Matt Harding this time and focus on the professionals.
A few days ago I ascended the wide stairs from the garden and turned a corner. Suddenly I stood in front of La Seu, the imposing cathedral of Palma. The morning sun beamed through the large 14th century rose window, one of the world’s largest Gothic church windows, and covered the tall stone pillars in a beautiful rainbow light. Soon after we entered, a Catholic mass commenced and the giant hall was filled with song and organ music.
So I’m back from a weekend in Marseille and more. The town itself reminded me of Gothenburg and San Francisco. All three have a riverfront, lots of hills, an island fortress and a lot of great seafood restaurants. But I remembered the seedy streets from the 1971 movie “French Connection” and wondered how much it had changed in 40 years.
Some cities have a sweet spot where I tend to return. It’s like a magnet and I don’t know why. 12 years ago, I walked alone along the Thames riverfront in London. This was one year before the London Eye wheel was built. I came to the Jubilee Gardens and sat down on a bench.
Back from a short trip to Ireland, where we managed to squeeze in a concert with Explosions In The Sky in Dublin, soaking up Titanic memorabilia in Belfast and finally got to jump around at Giant’s Causeway in the northernmost part of the country.
Pam Mendel recently photographed her packing for Antarctica, perhaps inspired by the recent image of Frank Chimero’s daytime packing? It made me remember an article I read a while back, I wanna be a flashpacker by Amanda Kendle where she writes about how she changed from backpacker to flashpacker.
Since Sweden has had the coldest December month in 110 years, I thought it would be at least a bit warmer in central Europe. But the streets of Hungary’s capital are absolutely freezing. Fortunately there are lots of places with hot goulash to escape the chill, and not to forget the famous thermal baths all over the city.
You’ve all seen the Matt Harding dance and earlier this year I wrote about Bearded journey. Now it’s time again for another inspiring movie where a man walks across America from New York to San Francisco.
