Get on Board

I don’t what I was thinking when I said “yes” but, it was obvious not all my logical nerves were firing. Somehow life is better that way. Most who know me understand I am no movie buff and I definitely can’t speak Spanish. Odds-on a Tuesday night one would not expect me to be shellin’ out 6 big-ones for a double header at Vancouver’s Latino Cultural week Film Festival Screening.

Had you have gone (and really you should have) your heart may also have been won over by Cuba’s Pink Camello, "the Camel Bus".




Amidst the broken shambles of Cuba’s “special period” transportation network the cries of the people could be heard "If Camello shuts down, may God help us all!” While other buses layed ruin aside the road Camello didn't disapoint. Trucking along the Cuban country side, it trolled its 300 finely dressed suburban Cubans payload to their Havana salsa engagements night after night.

Little more than a covered Bolivian flatbed attached to a semi, no modern feet of engineering can match its price point never mind its efficiency. Alas a new saviour of Vancouver transportation woes. Forget twinning the Port Man, Skytrain expansion or Olympic info structure, at 20k a piece Camello can shoulder the load. SVU’s would be a thing of the past, Camello would chew them up and spit them out in his wake and with that kind of advertising space they would practically pay for themselves.

So don’t delay, call your MP tell’em to get on board, you only stand for/on Camello.


-message brought to you by Fidel’s Used Camello Sales Emporium

Traveling Gypsy Rover

Ever wonder what it would be like talking with a goldfish? I have spent the majority of the week’s dialog responding one three-word question: “How was it?” Case in point Mr./Mrs Anonymous (comment #8 of last post)

Not that I grieve such an task but the challenge of enlightening people about a trip is itself a journey flanked with the tar pits of social faut-pas and plagued with the shadows of jet lagged mind; Over simplification ensues. Oh yes it was truly ‘epic’, ‘unforgettable’, ‘great’, ‘beautiful’, ‘exciting’. Spat out these adjectives are spun out rotting the adventure of veracity or soul. Akin to playing Pictionary using only one dimension, your audience will be left thinking your mountain is a stick.

Travel (the way I have come to terms with it) is rich with the depth of a good wine and the playful interaction of a well written novel...(check out "Life of Pi" read it on the plane ride home). The experience of being cradled in a valley’s field under the rising moon of Glencoe while pondering the journey of civilization and your role with in it, does not lend itself to a one word summary. Neither can the best song express the train of emotions as you meander through a holocaust exhibit nor the best camera capture the beauty of the setting sun’s glow upon the pounding surf. You really have to live it.

All said, let me assure you the life of a traveling gypsy rover is no walk in the park (unless your planning on sleeping on one of its benches). There are smelly hostels, heavy packs and $15 plates of food that a yak wouldn’t scat on but, oh the rewards.

But for all these who still want to live vicariously through my journey, I opted for a Mike-style fun factoid summary of the journey.

Enjoy!

The route:
London - two days – Museums and rain
Leeds –Carolyn and friends, hiking, old abbey exploring, clubbing
Lake District – Quaint villages with sheep and chickens
Glasgow -- Cathedral and fancy graves
Glen Coe – Beautiful nothing short of it.
Stafin, Ile of Sky – Sea cave and castle ruins the wild highlands
Carrbrige – Prepare ye for “Castle day” 6 in all
Edinburgh – two days – local music and sweet museum
Belfast – Ulster disappointment, “Peace line”
Dublin – two days – energizing streets, Guinness factory tour
Cork – four days – South west ocean car tour, Hurley, Irish pub.
London – Tate modern and I think that is a bomb in your bag.

Cars Driven: (yes, both on the left hand side)
2006 Ford Focus LX 1.6L, Baby blue. Handles beautifully room for three men and all their baggage.
Miles driven: 1496
Near misses: 2 (depending on who you talk to)
Honks: 1
Days driving: 7

2004-ish Pugeot 206, Candy apple red, drives like a civic
km driven: 300
Near misses: 0 (depending on who you talk to)
Honks: 0
Days driving: 1

Best Meal:
Canadian/British thanksgiving in Carolyn’s house in Leeds.

Best food:
Indian Cuisine on Drummond St., Euston (Greater London))

Worst food:
Bishop Fish and Chips, N. Ireland (just cause people eat there don’t mean it’s good)

Best Hostel view:
Ile of Sky near Staphin

Best bed:
Mountain Innovations B&B/Hostel

Worst Hostel:
Bunkum’s Glasgow – what is that smell

Best Museum:
Scottish National Museum – never has museum staff been so cool, free personal guided tour!

Best Bar Experience:
The Sally Belle – Live music and you get to help provide it

Best Tourist Trap:
Guinness Factory Dublin

Best Adventure:
Finding Sea Caves, Greensake, Ile of Sky

Worst Advice:
“Eat at Pizza Paradise” (close runner up for worst food) – Girl in Edinburgh backpacker’s Hostel

Best New Sport:
Hurley – field hockey with out the sissy rules (Ireland equivalent to Canada’s Lacross)

Best Reason to have a Geisbrecht on your trip:
sheep hugging and fiancial records

Best Reason to have a Koehn on your trip:
History narations during car ride and hook-ups

England, Scotland, Ireland and North Ireland what gives?
People:
England – stiff lipped and proper with a smile (top pedigree of civilization)
Scotland – laid back, friendly with a hint bitter envy
Ireland – fun loving in a I don’t trust you kind of way
North Ireland – We are not blown each other up, that is progress!

Fences:
England – stone wall
Scotland – stick and barb wire
Ireland – prickly bush
North Ireland – concrete wall with barb wire

The troubled youth:
England – Emo punks
Scotland – Goth
Ireland – Delinquents