Viva le tour!

I have arrived in Switzerland in the midst of Geneva festival and the city is positively buzzing.

For the past five days I have been enjoying the sunshine in Barcelona with Sir Gavin Higgins, walking the crowded streets and swimming in the Mediterranean (which is incredibly salty by the way...much more so than the Pacific). During our time there, we also became well acquainted with sangria and ice cream (naturally) and saw much impressive architecture. We also got very sunburnt which was not fun at all.

Anyhoo, yes, now I am in Geneva and about to meet up with Liam and Marieke (brother and his girlfriend) to follow le Tour de France. So my next post will probably be from the side of a mountain.

Si Espana

For the past four days I have been visiting Madrid and slowly but surely picking up snippets of Spanish. It is quite hilarious actually - the Spanish speak so fast and so much that it is incredibly hard to keep up. And yet some how we manage to understand each other which is nice, though I do feel ignorant a fair bit of the time.

I was a little nervous about coming here by myself, but as it turns out it was possibly the best thing I could have done - I have met loads of people and been out with them every night in Spanish style. We have had lots of Spanish food and sangria and loads of cheap Spanish beer, just €1.30 per litre.
I am also stoked to have seen some Goya originals in the Palace and Museo del Prado - they are just so amazing.

Anyhoo, time is running low at this internet cafe so I must scoot...off to Barcelona tomorrow woooooooot!

Goya, Saturn, 1821-1823.

to good company.

I have had the most fantastic week.

Last Monday I began a five day tour of England's west country, escaping the business of London town for the fresh air of Co. Cornwall. Five days, four nights and several pints later, I have now sampled the area's finest delicacies, climbed some very pretty hills and most especially, met some amazing people - people that I will remember forever.

(Here are a few wee photographs...I also have some videos that I will upload in good time).

DAY ONE - LONDON to CHEDDAR

Reflections at Cheddar Gorge - the gorge was beautiful, though we did leave a little bitter about having been denied our complementary cream tea.

DAY TWO - CHEDDAR to NEWQUAY

Lilly pads at the base of England's tallest waterfall - Canonteign Falls.

DAY THREE - NEWQUAY

The view from our hostel...pretty good really. Also, note the massive wingspan of the seagull in bottom right-hand corner.

DAY FOUR - NEWQUAY to BATH

The coastline at Tintagel.

DAY FIVE - BATH to LONDON

1. Me, slightly concerned about these Donnie Darko-like rabbit-men.
2. The Roman baths.