Le Tour De France in Paris

Leaving early Saturday morning from Wimbledon my mate Ross and caught a cab to St Pancras Station. We boarded the Eurostar train and a few hours sleep later and we were in Paris. We somehow managed to navigate our way from the main train station to the Louvre and then the hostel without the use of a map. We did though walk right through the centre of the red light district where the women were still working the streets at 9am.
We dumped our bags at the hostel and walked to the Eiffel Tower for my first close up view of the magnificent structure. We then made our way to the Arc de Triomphe before walking down part of the Champs Elysees until we found a relatively cheap yet still overpriced restaurant to have lunch and watch the penultimate stage of the Tour De France on television.
We stayed till the end of the stage telecast before walking back to the Louvre and making our way back to the hostel. In the evening Ross and I waited two hours in the queue to climb to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. We reached the second level just as the last sunlight was fading away and the lights of Paris began to light up. At ten o'clock the whole tower shimmered in the light show.
Sunday morning Ross and I walked the length of the Champs Elysees before finding a spot to watch the riders of the Tour De France. The Champs Elysees had no cars on it all day and spectators were there early to secure their viewing spot. We had a spot about six hundred metres to go beside the Louvre parks. The sponsor cars drove by signifying the riders were getting close. By this stage we had quite a crew of Ross' mates and others we met on the day all ready to cheer on the riders.
The excitement grew and the crowd erupted as the riders passed by for the first time. The Astana team were leading the pack with tour winner and yellow jersey holder Alberto Contador sixth from the front. The riders passed our spot another seven times before completing the stage and the whole race. Each time they rode past I was able to distinguish more of the riders.
We could not get anywhere near the presentation dais because the roads were blocked off to spectators so we watched it on a big screen. Mark Cavendish was the stage winner taking his total stage wins for the tour to six. Spanish rider Alberto Contador was overall winner with Andy Schleck of Luxembourg second and seven time champion Lance Armstrong finished third.
The crowd dispersed and we went in search of a place to sit down as we had been standing now for more than 10 hours. A group of us got some food and some drinks and found a spot on the grass beside the Eiffel Tower. With the tower as our backdrop we drank into the night. Ross and I left after the final 1am tower light show were all the main tower lights are switched off leaving just the sparkling lights.
Monday morning I went to the Louvre again, this time I entered and I spent a couple of hours wandering through the different exhibitions trying to see as much as possible in the limited time. I did head straight for the Mona Lisa and although many say it can be underwhelming I was still impressed. I was fascinated by the decorations on the walls and ceilings as much as the paintings in many of the rooms.
Then just after one Ross and I boarded the Eurostar and a few hours later we were back in Wimbledon. I stayed the night at Ross' beforecatching a train to Brighton, a beach side town an hour out of London which is where I am currently at and will be till Friday.
I can now tick another major sporting event off my list as well as a visit to one of the worlds most famous cities. Its a shame I did not find any love in Paris though. I will have to return one day to try again.

Leeds again

I stayed with Sarah for a few more days following the wedding, in the few days I explored the Leeds City Museum and Art Gallery. Sarah, Sal and I also went to the theatre to see the musical Blood Brothers in the suitably named Grand Theatre. The story follows twin brothers separated after birth and brought together again in tragic circumstances. The story and performance was very good. The scouse (Liverpool) accents did mean I had to concentrate in order to understand what they were singing.
I caught up with my mate Dene from the Topdeck tour and we spent an afternoon together then I spent the following night with him and his workmates at a nightclub. The nightclub played only northern soul music rather random mix but the crowd their were getting into it.
I left rainy Leeds and made my way back on the bus to rainy London. I am again at my mates Ross' house in Wimbledon. We are leaving for Paris early tomorrow morning on the Euro star to watch the cyclists ride through the city for the last stage of the Tour De France on Sunday. I cant wait.

Wedding in Poland

Sarah and I left Leeds with the wedding couple and a group of their friends to East Midlands airport in the early hours of Thursday July 16 to begin our fantastic weekend away. I had only just met Renata and Glenn the wedding couple and their mates but over a few breakfast beers we got to know each other.
We flew into Wroclaw airport in Poland, drove for about two hours in a mini bus towards Pieszyce dumped our bags at the hotel and went to Renata's parents house for lunch. Renata's parents had prepared a feast for us and so we spent hours sitting around eating delicious food and drinking more beer. Polish love their meat and cakes and they love their beers. Renata's father showed us around his property. He spoke no English but with the help of Renata's sister he explained his property is worth a lot of money.
The following day we went on a guided tour through the city of Wroclaw checking out the sights including cathedral island, market square and the very impressive Racławice Panorama. The panorama is a 15 by 120 metre painting depicts the Battle of Raclawice, during the Koscioszko Uprising. We also ate lard (the rendered fat of a pig) sandwhiches with our lunch at an underground brewery.
The wedding was held on the Saturday afternon and none of us had any idea what to expect. It was held in a small Catholic church. The service was all in Polish except for the changing of the vows which was translated into English by Renatas sister. Renata is from Poland and she met Glenn from England while in Leeds.
The wedding was followed by a reception at the hotel we were staying at in the foothills of the mountains. This is were i really experienced the Polish hospitality. Our first meal was served just after we arrived and I ate a lot, not realising their were still another ten courses to be served. Renata and Glenn took part in a song and dance routine in front of everyone. A tradition which only occurs in the mountain areas of Poland. Then everybody let their hair down drank loads of vodka and danced the night away. I took part in many progressive dances all a part of the tradition. The vodka got the better of me and I had to retire before the last meal was served at 2am.
The following day the food was served again and so too were the beers. The Polish believe when you have a big night on the drink you need to have a few drinks the next day ease the effects of the hangover. Late in the afternoon we took a walk up the mountain in the rain to check out the views. The mountains were covered in forests and made for a beatiful setting.
In the two days of the wedding 53 people drank 46 bottles of wine, 45 litres of beer and 36 bottles of vodka.
Our final morning in Poland was spent walking through tunnels built during WWII under Hitlers orders but never completed due to the war ending. The horrific stories of the men who built it made me realise how lucky I am to be able to explore this great country so freely.
We flew back to the East Midlands airport UK and said goodbye to Glenns parents and brother before we making our way back to Leeds. There I said goodbbye to my new mates Johnny, Paul, Suzie, Deano, Rick, Chris and Sarah.

Leeds

On Sunday July 12 I returned to Leeds. After missing my bus in London I made to do Leeds mid afternoon and caught up with my mate Imy from Deakin University. It was great to see him again after a couple of years and we caught up on what was happening in our lives before taking a walk through the city. We made our way to a pub to watch the last frustrating hour of the first Ashes test in which the English held out for a draw.
I spent the following few days exploring Leeds and hanging out at my friend Sarah's house. I met Sarah in Amsterdam and we took the trip together to the Yorkshire Dales about a month ago. I attended British Military Fitness Training in the rain at a local park. It is a large boot camp training lead by current and former members of the armed forces. It was quite demoralising as I realised how much fitness I had lost since travelling. We also attended a local pub quiz night and went to the movies to see The Hangover.
I made a return visit to the Royal Armouries and watched a few impressive demonstrations including a falconry display and some jousting practice.
I also went on a day trip to York with Sarah's housemate Sal. We climbed to the top of the tower in the York Minister and explored The Shambles and all the other narrow cobbled streets. Sarah and I also went to a local battle of the bands competition to watch her friend Gary perform.
Following the battle of the bands we made our way to Renata and Glenn's house. Renata and Glenn are the couple whose wedding I went to in Poland.

Running with the Bulls

As I stood contemplating whether running was the best choice I overhead the guy next to me reading out the form guide of the bulls which would be charging towards us. 500 kilograms, 550 kilograms, 610 kilograms. This only sent more fear into my mind.
At five minutes to eight a surge of people started running down the track, at this point I lost all of mates who I had been waiting with for the last hour and a half. The surge stopped as people realised the bulls were yet to be released. The thousands of people running were now spread throughout the track. I continued slowly edging my way up the track and by the time the firecracker was set off to signify the release of the bulls I was more than two thirds of the way down the track. Nobody in my area moved for a few seconds before we were pushed on police and bystanders if we tried to go near the fence.
I soon found myself at the beginning of the tunnel of death with no concept of how long the bulls would take to reach me. I could see the arena gate was open but I had been warned if he enter the ring before the bulls the Spanish in the crowd pelt bottles at you. I felt it was still safer than being in the tunnel with the bulls. I sprinted into the arena and just as I entered the arena I felt something punch my arm. I darted to the right and as I was doing so I saw the first lot of seven bulls charge past me. I had been clipped by the horn of the first bull in the arena. I found a safe spot just inside the arena wall and stayed there watching the hordes of people swarm into the arena along with the next lot of seven bulls and the oxen rounding out the pack.
Once the oxen charge through everybody cheers as they release they made it into the arena. Then on the big screen they show a replay of the run complete with slow motion replays of people getting gored and trampled.
Then the first of the steer is released. They come charging out mowing down anyone in their road and run around for a few minutes before they get tired and disorientated. As the steer become exhausted people start tackling them and pulling them to the ground. An oxen is then released to guide the steer back out of the arena to safety.
About seven steers are released individually with the same process. I stayed well clear of the steer. I spent most of my time talking to mates I happened to spot in the arena. It wasn't until all the bulls were locked away safely and people starting exiting that I found my mates who I had not seen since the bulls were released. We had all survived some of the most terrifying moments of our lives. Anyone who has a close encounter with the bull are said to have been protected by San Fermins cloak. I think today I was definitely protected by San Fermins cloak.
On the bus on the way home I was flicking through the photos on a friends camera and spotted myself in the tunnel just ahead of a bull. I was now sure it was a bull that had clipped me.

Sangria at San Fermin in Spain

Last Saturday my mate Ross and I boarded a bus in London and 18 hours later we arrived early Sunday morning in Zauratz, Spain. It was rainy and cold when we arrived in the small beach side town in the Basque region of Spain.
We were part of a PP Travel tour for San Fermin fiesta in Pamplona. Our first day was quite relaxed and when the sun came up late in the day we made our way to the beach for a swim. In the evening we went on a small pub crawl through the beach front bars. I didn't drink a lot as I was saving myself for the week ahead.
On Monday we made our way into Pamplona to attend the opening ceremony of San Fermin, the annual feista held from the 6th to the 14th of July. Locals and internationals pack the streets and started drinking. At 12.00 a cannon is fired to mark the opening of the festival. Just before 12.00 everybody holds waves their scarf above their head and the party officially begins.
The Spanish start cheering and singing. I joined in wherever possible. My mates Andy, Anna, Ross and I where at the main square for the 12.00 kickoff. We decided to stay there as the party was still kicking off but it was not as packed as the town hall area. For the rest of the day we wandered the streets. Every little street we turned down was full of people partying. Throughout the day we were drinking Sangria, it is basically red wine mixed with fruit juice and as the day progresses people start pouring it all over each other. By mid afternoon I was drenched in Sangria and quite drunk so I made my way back to camp for the night and rested up for the bull run the next day.
We woke up at 5.00am on the Tuesday in order to get into Pamplona and find a spot in the crowds of runners. (I will describe my run in detail in the next post.)
After the run we again returned to camp and chilled out for a few hours before returning to Pamplona. Back in Pamplona we took a walk through the streets which were all filthy, full of rubbish and smelt disgusting. We walked the track we had that morning sprinted down. A few drinks later and I forgot about the smell and had a great night.
Another early start the next day as we wanted to be in town to watch the race. This time from a safe distance in the arena. I went in with Ross and Andy and we found a seat and watched all the idiots run with the bulls. It was enjoyable to watch but not quite as thrilling as being in the centre of it all.
Following the morning bull run we made a trip to San Sebastian a famous coastal Spanish city. We spent the day wandering the streets. Andy and I made the short trek up to the Jesus statue with fantastic views over the beach and the buildings. In the afternoon when the sun came up we relaxed on the beach. We returned to camp and headed straight to the beach again and went for a quick surf.
Our final day in Spain was quite lazy as we prepared ourselves for another epic bus ride home. We arrived back to London early Friday morning said goodbye to everyone and made it back to Ross' in time to watch a day of cycling and cricket on television. The craziness was over.

Hot, hot, hot

This week London has experienced a heatwave as temperatures topped 30C. Yesterdays top of 33C was the warmest for the year and lead the government to issue a "red" heatwave emergency alert for the first time ever. I am not really sure what this involves but the Londoners cannot handle the heat. They all seem to be complaining as travelling on the tubes and buses becomes very uncomfortable.
This week I have had a chance to do some more London sightseeing after the owner of the pedal boats told me I was not needed this week. I told him last week of my intentions to keep travelling and was hoping to work all this week to make some extra cash but it was not to be.
My last day of work on Sunday was a really enjoyable day. As we worked away I could hear the Dave Matthews Band, an American band who's music I quite like, performing in the background. Following work the staff all stayed for a barbecue on the jetty and we could hear Bruce Springsteen performing. A few of us then decided to continue the party and head for a pub. Only by the time we got there it was late and all the pubs were closing. So I started my two hour mission on late night public transport to get from one side of London to the other.
On Wednesday I spent some time exploring all the stalls at the Camden Market before catching up with one of my cousins Summa. We watched Lleyton Hewitt lose to Andy Roddick at a pub.
Wimbledon is now in its final days and all the British are jumping on the Andy Murray bandwagon. As long as he continues winning he will be labelled British but as soon as he loses he will again be labelled Scottish. My tip is Roger Federer, I cannot see anyone beating him.
This afternoon I am planning to visit Greenwich famous for maritime history and giving its name to Greeenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. Tonight British rock band Blur are performing in Hyde Park so I plan to go hang out in the park with a couple of mates and listen to them.
Tomorrow morning I board a bus for a 20 hour trip to Pamplona, Spain where I will take part in the Running of the Bulls Festival. The week long trip is the start of a month or so of travelling I currently have planned.