SpainTalk - Ferrol vs. Hawaii

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for not posting sooner, but my internet capabilities here isn't the best (yet)...

Instead of TravelTalk, this section will be called SpainTalk - so its easier to navigate and find things all related to things Spain, since I'll probably be posting 2-4 times a week regarding Spain. Speaking of which, I need to email everyone my address!

Alright, so what has been going on?!

 I arrived on Thursday night after a flight from Paris and a long bus ride from Porto.  Thanks to David, I arrived safely into Ferrol via A Coruña.  Yes, I even figured out how to do all of the accents on my keyboard.  

On Friday, I pretty much spent all the day sorting out paperwork... and being introduced to everyone at the school.  I can't believe that I'll be working again!  I am really excited.  I will be posting more pictures regarding living here and my living situation and what not... but today I wanted to share something pretty cool.

This blog is called Ferrol vs. Hawaii.  As you will see in future blogs there are plenty of differences (I eat dinner at 2130 - seriously!) but today, I wanted to share some similarities that I discovered while gallivanting around the city, thanks to a new friend and his car.

Here are some pictures of the coast, Praia Doniños... (Why is not Playa?!)  I am in Galicia and Praia is the term for beach!  Sorry for the quality of the pictures, I have a POS and a DSR camera and of course, I didn't bring them, so here are pictures from my iPhone....

Also, don't forget to subscribe and thanks to my 24,000 blog view!  =]

Will post more (including a video) when internet is faster!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

TravelTalk - Paris 2012.

I can't believe how fast time flies by.  I was just seriously packing and going crazy ensuring I cleaned everything, packed everything and made sure everything was ready for the trip.  Not only have I arrived in Paris, but its almost time to go (at the time of this writing - tomorrow morning!!)

So... when people associate Paris, they ask me a lot of things, did I see the Louvre? Champs-Élysées? Eiffel Tower? and the weird thing the answer is - no, no and no.  To be honest, I spent little to no time in "Paris" for the exception of driving through it...

Yes, I have seen those places, but this isn't my second or third time here, I think its my 6-7th time in Paris and this particular trip was to hang out with a friend and catch up on school work and relax while enjoying Paris - specifically Vincennes, Paris - which is where I have been staying for the last couple of times.

This particular trip was a combination of sight seeing, hanging out with locals, barely understanding (rarely talking) in French, everytime I come to France, I seem to speak less and less French.  I probably just need to live here for a year and become a master of this language (but that's probably another trip).

Alright, so this trip, I visited Versailles for the first time and it was so beautiful.  Its just one of those things where you have to see for yourself the sheer magnitude, pristine surroundings and the various statues and castle is just breathtaking.  Actually, Marc made me close my eyes and I walked half a block with a my eyes clothes (which is quite scary) and even up some stairs. wow. so beautiful.

Another day, I spent it with locals (well Marc's maman, brother) in Maisons-Laffitte.  What was I doing in Maisons-Laffitte?  Well, it was the annual yard sale!  Locals in the city sell their things in the city center - highly organized (of course), with everyone choosing to participate having a certain section, which expanded 5 square blocks of the city center.  It was really cool.  I mean, seriously - who else gets to participate in selling things hanging out with French peeps away from Paris and just conversing.  Funny story - there was a lady who was interested in a sponge - she asked (in French), is the sponge "new"?  I told her that the item was 4 euros. HAHAHAH.

I also ran here in Vincennes, its actually one of my favorite places to run.  There are many lakes, beautiful green scenery, right next to a castle.  In the morning, I would run and then go straight to the boulangerie to buy croissants, eat breakfast and shower! I mean seriously, its a great place to be.

Of course partying! Yes, I drank one night (way too much wine), smoked too much cigs (that night - I haven't had any since)...

Oh food. lol yes the food here is just funtabolous. 

Marc's maman is so sweet.  She even bought me escargot and champagne (and crepes for dinner!)

   Well, you're probably waiting for pictures, so here they are...

From here, I am heading to Porto in the morning an pretty much spending the whole day traveling.  I mean the WHOLE day, flying and then the bus to A Coruña then to Ferrol.  Long day tomorrow, just relax and packing today!  That and more croissants.  Seriously - I've had about 20 while I'm here... =]

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

TravelTalk - What do pack for an 8-9 month trip!

I can't believe this is only my 2nd post this month, its not that nothing has been going on, its just I've been a combination of total and utter laziness and procrastination along with various other projects that are taking up most of my time, you know school and such as well as running around trying to get a visa in order.

So.  I realized this past weekend that I am leaving on Thursday.  Yes, this Thursday.  No, I haven't started packing yet, a lot of procrastination really, so I figure I would write a blog and help me itemize the things I would need to pack for a 8 month adventure to Ferrol, Spain.

I am not sure if you've had the time, but if you Google Ferrol, Spain, you'll find out its a rather small town (roughly 75,000 people), for us who are use to American conveniences, packing for Ferrol may be a bit of a challenge.  Yes - they have electricity, that is not what I am talking about, but rather, simple things that we perhaps would take for granted.  Example, while I am sure there are heaps of coffee places in Ferrol, Spain, sometimes you just want to go somewhere that you know, like Starbucks.  I am sure I will not have a problem finding black tea to drink at home, but just in case I am bringing a bag (with 50 bags) of Starbucks Tazo tea.  Another thing that I am packing is gels and goos - yes, I am sure there will be a gym for me to work out at, but things that I am use to (gels and goos) may or may not be available, and if they are - they are probably pricier.  For example, a San Disk 64GB Flash Drive at Amazon.com is 34.43 USD, the very same item in Europe is worth 45.36 EUR (CLICK HERE), which is 59.50 USD (a 73% premium over its US Counterpart), so its just little things like this that I have to figure out what will eventually save me monies in the long run.  No, I am not going to bring a printer (if I could check in a 2nd luggage for free, I would), but its $100 to check that in, so I will have to pass.  

Speaking of saving money, I ordered all of my electronic needs, pretty much all of the adapters and what not to plug in every imaginable device I would need, which is surprisingly not that many, I have sold heaps of my electronics and actually the only electronics I will be bringing is my unlocked iPhone 4 and my laptop (quite surprisingly really, I am rather astonished myself, but I figure the more electronics I bring, the greater likelihood I'd be out and about...)

Any ideas on things I should being, 8 months, 1 check in bag (not to exceed 50 pounds and 2 carry on - my rolling luggage and duffle bag)

Trick is, put all your heavy things (and important) in your carry on - so all books, jeans (as many shoes as possible) are in the rolling luggage, since I'm flying United - they always ask for carry on luggage to be checked in - so there you go! Just gotta pass security!

Duffle bag - pack the most important, expensive and a change of clothes. 

Try to put it at your feet and not overhead (if possible)...  

So... Packing List, which I will be breaking up into 4 categories (in CAPS below) 

CONVENIENCES

-Starbucks Tazo Tea

-Various Running Gels

-GNC AMP Protein Performance

(Yes, I am bringing a huge jug of protein, I figure my luggage is huge and weighs 15 pounds, so to make sure its not overweight, I will put huge, things that are light.)

-Toiletries (Origin Shaving Cream, Special Floss, etc!)

-Running belt (with water bottles!)

ELECTRONICS

-Laptop and chargers

-iPhone and accessories

-Camera (both DSR and POS)

-Debating on buying a tablet

SCHOOL

-books

-books

-books

-books

(FML)

CLOTHES

(This is the trickiest part really!!!)

-4 pairs of jeans (1 of which wearing on the plane)

3 shoes (boots worn on plane - heaviest!)

-2 dress pants

-Socks

-Dress shirts

OMG. So many things to pack... What else should I add on my list!?

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

ElectionTalk - DNC - Michelle Obama Speech

I haven't decided who I'm moving for this upcoming election, but after watching the RNC and now the DNC, I think Michelle Obama's speech has pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Here is a YouTube video of Michelle Obama's DNC Speech.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.