end of summer '06 travel notes
Currently on 6 week trip... using this space to just jot down notes, however abstract they may be, and copy some event listings I got to check out (used flavorpill.com to navigate through London events):
8/24-9/11: London/Barcelona-Sitges/London/Reykjavik
9/11-9/13: quick stop back in NYC
9/13-10/3: LA/Honolulu
LONDON: Sun 25-26 Aug, Spent first couple of days in London with Ant in Camden Town. A part of London that was new to me... camden market was cool to wander and shop around - reminded me a bit of Harajuku in Tokyo, or the Melrose strip in Hollywood.
LONDON: Notting Hill Carnival
Sun 27 Aug (12-7pm)
West London
The biggest and most vibrant European street party celebrates its 40th anniversary. Colourful costumes, endless energy, spontaneous outbursts of joy and more than 40 different soundsystems flood the bubbling, packed streets of West London with a wall of sound, mixing Caribbean beats and cosmopolitan breaks. Perennials such as Norman Jay's Good Times soundsystem kick out the acid jazz, house and rare groove, while Sancho Panza broadcast their uplifting, soul-washed tech house. If you'd prefer a more chilled session, not to worry: Sunday afternoon is perfect for children and families, with shorter routes and all-ages activities throughout the day — although it's still packed.
LONDON: DTPM Bank Holiday party, and Ultimate afterhours in Vauxhall
Sun 27 - Mon 28 Aug
The clubbing gods were on my side this night... I was very late to what was the biggest club night at DTPM... received a call from EJ that the lines were insane... so I rushed out my hotel around 11:30p... took the tube to russell sq... and figured I'd just get out there and take a cab to the club instead of going any further on the tube and transferring... the streets were pretty dark and empty where I was at and I worried that i wouldn't be able to get a cab... so I saw this guy standing around, and asked if there was a good corner to stand for a cab. He asked me where I was going... and as it turns out he was going to DTPM as well... so he invited me to jump in with him. We arrived at the club, and the line was down the block, and up the entire block on the opposite side as well... at first I thought it was a different venue accross the street! I thought, shit, it'll take me 2-3 hours to get in. As it turns out, the guy tells me to follow him, and he brings us straight into the club on the VIP list :) That kinda set the stage for the next 48 hours... generous london peeps helping me go nutters :)
LONDON: We will rock you
Tues 29 Aug
Went to see the musical "We will rock you!"... I figured it was a safer bet to catch a musical in which I would at least like the music.
LONDON: Bat Walk
Thur 31 Aug (7:45-8:45pm)
Highgate Wood (N6, 020.8444.6129) Tube: Highgate map
Rats, foxes, pigeons — London's irksome fauna more closely resemble a police identity parade than a beauty pageant. In Highgate Wood, however, a more mysterious city-dweller trades shapes with shadows in the dusk air — a blind hunter who helped make the names of DC Comics, Bram Stoker and Johann Strauss II. Despite bats' natural habitat being perpetually menaced by urban sprawl, the government shipped hundreds of endangered bats off to Germany to be killed for research only last week. Take a guided walk to see the world's only flying mammal hanging around — before it flutters off for good.
---The tour guide mentioned how we were having such a lucky night, as we had a rare view of a bat flying over us in circles on an open field... she joked how it was actually a stunt bat that they hired. Armed with sonar devices, we walked around the Highgate forest (just above Camden Town), and detected bats... it was a great night to see a lot of bats.
BARCELONA: Decided to challenge myself... roughing it a bit by not booking any hotels/hostels - had an adventure playing homeless :) Walked all over town... up and down the rambles a bit... loved the breakdancers... hiked up and around Gaudi Park. Saturday night, went to club Salvation, then in the morning, boarded train down to Sitges for the day... rented an umbrella, stuck in into the sand, and went to sleep... walked pretty far all along the coastline... got really darkly tan...
LONDON: Throat (http://www.companyfz.com/throat.html)
Wed 6 Sep
Created by Flick Ferdinando and John-Paul Zaccarini
Anyone who thought Circus was just for kids, will have to reconsider after witnessing Throat, a critically acclaimed, witty and sexy fusion of circus, physical comedy and dance. Throat is a stunning display of physical grace and eroticism, yet beneath its glittering surface it has something profound to say about the human condition.
Harnessing the effects of light and water, Throat explores issues of masculine identity and vulnerability, and the nature of performing- for oneself, a partner, an audience. John-Paul Zaccarini directed by Flick Ferdinando shifts from hilarity to despair, vulnerability to cock sure, suspended above the stage, shedding clouds of flour, slithering in the pools of water that rain on stage; preening for the audience and the mirror, transforming himself into representations of all levels of sex, love and that messy stuff in between.
This was the first creation of Company F/Z, a unique duo in the creation of theatre from a contemporary circus root. Hailed as innovators because of their original synthesis of comedy, thrilling physical energy and spectacular visual effect , theirs is a very particular and special collaboration; Ferdinando a comedy/physical theatre director and Zaccarini a choreographer/ physical actor.
LONDON: How to Improve the World: 60 Years of British Art
Thur 7 Sep
Hayward Gallery (Belvedere Road, SE1, 020.7960.5226) Tube: Waterloo
It's a lucky collector who can claim artworks by such heavyweights as Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin, Anish Kapoor, Henry Moore and Chris Ofili, yet we, the people of Great Britain, are among that elite group. Over the last 60 years, enabled in no small part by our taxes, the Arts Council has amassed a collection featuring works by more than 120 of this country's greatest artists. How to Improve the World presents an unprecedented survey of British art history from post-war austerity through to the psychedelic '60s — and onward, to the brazen '80s, the shock-for-shock's-sake '90s and the present.
LONDON: MUSIC: Indie Folk: Lynchrider Lulu w/ Moth and Anorak Light
Thur 7 Sep (8pm)
The Troubadour (265 Old Brompton Road, SW5,0207.341.6322) Tube: Earl's Court, West Brompton
Sounding like a more dour Tori Amos mixed with PJ Harvey (albeit in four-piece band form), Lynchrider Lulu deserve to be on everyone's list of to-see London bands — if only for the bragging rights afforded you when they become too big for intimate gems such as the Troubadour. The curious band moniker is actually an anagram of lead singer Lucy Underhill's name, and the cleverness extends to haunting, mesmerising songs that heavily feature piano and guitar. Support comes from Moth, an acoustic band led by singer Victoria Hume, and the sweetly harmonising ladies of Anorak Light.
REYKJAVIK:
Arrived and went straight to the Blue Lagoon.
Spent Saturday walking around Reykjavik... checked out a couple of museums... went out at night to the "Bears on Ice" event... out till 6 am... got up at 7:30am to go on the Golden Circle tour:
Tour features
You can walk around the world-famous Geysir area, a geothermal field where hot springs are in abundance, geysers explode and pools of mud bubble. The Geysir museum is included as a main feature of this area, an informative multimedia exhibition that vividly shows how the forces of nature shaped the country and the people.
One of many highlights of the tour is the volcanic crater, Kerið, and another is the Gullfoss waterfall, the queen of Iceland's waterfalls, tumbling down a deep gorge. Finally, but no less spectacular is a visit to the Þingvellir National Park. This is the place of the most historic events in Iceland and exceptional beauty. Þingvellir is the original site of the oldest existing parliament in the world. The Great Atlantic rift is clearly visible, a rift which is slowly pulling Iceland apart along tectonic plates.
Locations visited
Hveragerði greenhouse village, Kerið volcanic crater, Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot spring area and Þingvellir National Park
There was a quiet calm about Iceland that I loved. I began to feel that 3 days there was not enough... and would enjoy staying a whole week next time... it was so nice to switch gears and be in this magical land... I noticed that my iPod volume was sufficiently loud at 40-50%, whereas in NYC, I usually have it up at least 80%...
-Was a bit disappointed that I didn't interact with too many native icelanders, but I did meet a couple of students in Iceland from Spain. It wasn't until my subway ride back into NYC, that I got to chat up with a guy from Reykjavik... very goofy, friendly guy... we chatted about our respective cities, and the sillyness of the airline security measures (e.g., how we can't take liquids, but can still take on electronic devices like laptops and such, which probably have more potential terrorist use)... and how when we bought duty free alcohol, we were allowed to bring these 'liquids' on board because they 'sealed' the plastic shopping bag... even though it was not really all that 'sealed.'
NYC: Mon 11 Sept - Wed 13 Sept
Felt great to step back into NYC... if even just for 1 full day.
Tuesday night, went to see a musical with Josh, as part of a benefit event for his non-profit job.
LA: Wed 13 Sept - Fri 22 Sept
Hawaii-Honolulu: Fri 22 Sept - Sun 1 Oct
Hiking with Dave
Women's Volleyball
Tourist sites with family
Surfing
LA: Sun 1 Oct - Tues 3 Oct
Dinner, hang out with Joe and Vinny
BACK TO NYC!
posted by sunsouvenirs @ 5:07 AM
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