Bordeaux and beyond

Sure, those aren't Bordeaux, but instead Sacre Coeur in Paris. I just thought I'd post them here, just because.

Anyway, yesterday and today, I have been in Bordeaux. Or, as I have been lovingly referring to it, Wino Wonderland. A place where there aren't many bums (relative to other places), but when there are, they do exist and (would like to think they) are more classy than you.

One thing I have learned, when you are traveling in Europe, and people ask you for money, never -- ever -- respond in English, or an American accent. They will continue to follow or harass you. Instead, answer in any language besides English. I have been answering in Spanish, and besides being sweared at and given dirty looks, it has been relatively harmless.

What is there to do in Bordeaux besides drink coffee and wine? Well, not much. The wine, and the coffee are both absolutely wonderful. The winos, or as they would prefer to be called -- oenophiles -- are right: Bordeaux knows how to make fantastic wine. Bordeaux itself? Beautiful yes -- but rather boring. Am I enjoying it? Yes. Would I come back? Yes. Would I go out of my way to visit? Unless I had lots of money, No.

Though after 22 days of travel it is safe to say that 2 nights of rest and relaxation (with delicious wine and bread) were much needed. This traveling lifestyle has been absolutely wonderful, but extremely tiring. 22 days, 2300 Miles, and plenty of sights later I will arrive at my home of Barcelona for 4 months.

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When doing an obligatory travel blog, I suppose I should do an obligatory best of.

Best food: Hard to say. I'll break it down:

• Best street food: Berlin. It was cheap and it was delicious (both Kebap and Curry-wurst). In both instances, you are not quite sure what meat you are exactly eating, but they were both so delicious you didn't really care
• Best Meal: I had a delicious meal at Chez Denise in Paris. A magnificent veal roast/casserole served with a delicious house red wine (you pay for what you drink. Which is dangerous when the wine was that good), and of course Bread and delicious Brie cheese.

Best Beer: Cafe Delirium, in Brussels, Belgium. Home to at the very least 2004 unique brews, the ones I had were quite delicious, especially the Chimay Trippel (though my liver and pocketbook couldn't handle sampling all 2004 brews).

• Runner up: Hefeweizen in Germany. A mildly cloudy pint with a very distinct taste. Rich and hoppy, and brewed by Monks!

Best Parks: Hard to say, can I call it a tie? No, thats too easy. Fine, I will definitely go with Prague. Prague had some magnificent parks, with beautiful flowers and great views. If you felt like people watching, there were spots, or if you wanted to be completely secluded, there were spots.

• Runner Up(s): Tiergarten in Berlin. And the Park behind the University in Hamburg

Best (Local) women: Hands down, Amsterdam. Its a little too easy when they are that blonde, happy and have such a cute English accent. The Parisian girls were too mean and too angry (though had great fashion sense).

Best nightlife: Prague. Hands down. Cheap, great beer (home of Pilsner!), and lots of Jazz bars with free or very cheap cover. Friendly locals, and good looking girls didn't hurt either.

• Runner up: Hamburg. Grungy, dirty, cheap proper pints, and the largest red light district in Europe, I mean come on. There was bound to be a great time.

Best (relatively unknown) travel destination: Prague. Few travelers have been, and though it felt mildly crowded while I was there, it was a wasteland compared to the overwhelming crowds in Paris, or even Berlin. Plus, it is cheap, very very cheap. And there is nothing wrong with Cheap.

Best Hostel: Citystay Mitte in Berlin. Met cool people, and come on, there was a cheap bar at the reception.

Best public restroom: The Louvre in Paris. Not sure if it was a pay WC or not, but I sure as hell didn't pay. It was like pissing in heaven. Clean and should have been guilded in gold. The floors were granite, as were the counters. Good musak kept the sound of tinkling to a minimum.

Two things that I miss about the US:

1. The goddamn US Grid system for city lay-outs. I can't tell you how completely frustrating it is when the city has no coordinate system, and the roads just go in every which way. Whoever invented this needs to get a nobel prize.
2. Ice in drinks. Sure the drinks are served cold. Seriously, where the hell is the Ice on this goddamn continent?

Two things I wish the US had:

1. High-Speed Trains. Enough said, great way to see the country, and vastly cheaper than flying.
2. Less cars, more personal transportation. Whats not to love about hoes in high-heels biking across town? I mean seriously. Thank god for the dutch women.

There will be more, but I am lazy now.