-
Windy City Accomodation
-
Chicago, Illinois
-
This place was Average
visited Jul 1994
-
The Greyhound Bus from Detroit pulls into the Chicago bus station late at night. I'm not sure when, since I don't know if there's a time difference between Michigan and Illinois. I know basically nothing about the city, and I have no place to stay. On top of this, it turns out that my luggage is not on the bus. Late night at a Greyhound terminal downtown Chicago is not exactly the right moment to crack. So, I pull out my sensible thinking, working methodically. Awaiting my luggage is step one. It arrives with the next bus. Finding a place to stay is step two. Call a hotel listen on the ad board, they have a room. The comment from the taxi driver "You don't wanna stay here, man", isn't very encouraging. The room is terrible. The bed is terrible. The bathroom is terrible. Like the worst scene from a movie, there is shouting in the hallway, and the tone is everything but friendly. Don't get much sleep. And I don't know where in Chicago I am. The morning brings new light and strength. I pull out a map and ask people on the street to point out the location. Nobody knows. Not even the fireman. Maybe in the bank? They don't know either, but the very friendly customer takes me to a YMCA just a block away. The Y works. Clean, safe, convenient, and safe. Works for me. The bank customer asks me where I stayed last night. "Lucky you didn't get shot", is his comment on the hotel. Not exactly the kind of stuff you write home to tell your family about...
posted Mar 7, 2005
|
Comments (0)
-
May 3 In June
-
Madrid, Spain
-
This place was Average
visited 1997
-
I'm usually not the sophisticated culture buff, trying my best to stay clear of museums and such. But I have some time to kill in Madrid, the home of some of the finest art museums in the world. And, since my student ID gets me in for free, what the hell...? My choice is Museo Del Prado, one of three world-class art establishments in the city. The choice is mostly based on the fact that this is where the classical art hangs. Paintings you can actually determine what they are portraying, as opposed to "modern" art. Picasso fans, do not bother here...There certainly are a vast number of paintings. Probably a very impressive collection, had I been better versed in the area. My hope is to find the work of Goya, one of few Spanish artists I'm familiar with. My goal is accomplished towards the end of the tour. The war paintings are the most impressive. Particularly "3 de Mayo de 1808" catches my attention. The execution of civilians by the military - my guess is of the Napoleon army - is obviously not a pleasant scenery, but nevertheless historically accurate. Would this have been a modern-day photo, the photographer would be in serious jeopardy...Wonder if Francisco de Goya got himself into trouble...?
posted Mar 7, 2005
|
Comments (0)
-
Sweden - Hawaii Non-Stop
-
Honolulu, Hawaii
-
This place was Average
visited 1998
-
Airplanes are good. Takes you where you want to go faster than most modes of transportation. Doesn't mean though that air travel isn't exhausting, since you in that concept must include stop-overs at airports. The two hour flight between Copenhagen and London is cool. The five hour stop-over at Gatwick airport is not. GameBoy is truly the traveling man's best friend. Until batteries go dead. Yes, they do have batteries for sale at the airport shops, and I need to show identification in order to purchase a pack. Fully understandable, a twelve-pack Duracel is not for everyone...Battery abuse is huge problem in society. The flight between London and New York goes smoothly. The 15 hour stop-over at Newark is not to recommend. Unless of course you make it to Manhattan...I'm only halfways there still though. New York-Hawaii is a 10 or so hour flight. No picnic. But at least the notion that I have a pick-up is comforting. I end up having to take the airport shuttle to Waikiki...So, what's the first thing a man does when he finally has access to his apartment after a 40 hr trip? Check his e-mail of course...
posted Mar 7, 2005
|
Comments (0)
-
Hotel Crete
-
Ayios Nikolaos, Greece
-
This place was Average
visited Aug 1995
-
And the crowd goes wild...oh, well, not exactly wild, the drunken crowd is giving a polite applause after our performance. But we buy it. Our version of ”Hotel California” would probably never have made the lists anyway…Any lists. Ever. I got the feeling we weren’t very synchronized. A feeling that was confirmed afterwards by my friend saying: ”Hey, did you notice in the ceiling? They had a TV screen with the song text. I saw it halfway through the song. Cool.”. The secret concept of karaoke has been revealed. The world will never be the same again.
posted Mar 7, 2005
|
Comments (0)
-
The Addams Family
-
New Orleans, Louisiana
-
This place was Amazing
visited 1999
-
"I got my first real six-string. Bought it at the five-and-dime. Played it til my fingers bled. It was the summer of 69." Those opening lines from the opening act more or less guarantee a good show. Especially since they come from the person who came up with the whole concept of singing about his careless, happy youth, back in 1969. Linda Perry, you know the What's Up girl, served as a crowd-starter. Pretty good choice, but the main performer can carry his own show. There are only two persons during the whole show at the rather small stage at the House of Blues. Bryan and his base player Scott. They both wear jeans and white t-shirts. Nothing fancy, just pure rock-n-roll. The way it was meant to be. Mr. Adams sure as hell is no stuck-up brat from Beverly Hills. Just the average guy from Ontario, who happened to be super-talented at writing songs and singing them. The average guy who goes to the toilet, eats and gets thirsty. So thirsty he has to ask the crowd for a drink. One is passed forward from the back of the room. He drinks it, and continues with his hit-parade. It works. Totally. But "I guess nothing could last forever, forever, no!!!"
posted Mar 7, 2005
|
Comments (0)
|
| | | |