QUOTE OF THE DAY : "No I'm sorry, I don't think so." -Snooty Englishman's response when I asked if I could get by him on the train.

SONG OF THE DAY : Rob Dougan - I'm Not Driving Anymore

LINK OF THE DAY : The Generator: Where I'm staying for the next 3 days.

Now I am alone. O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!

Arrived back in London last night. One last night of relative nicety, and then I become a bottom feeder. My Uncle put it best... I am now a transient youth. I am what I'm wearing and have in my backpack.

I don't feel worried or scared. I'm enjoying this. I'm just taking everything as it comes.
I'm doing touristy things, but don't act like a tourist.

I see so many people, who are obviously from out of town. Fanny pack, giant camera around there neck, and map in hand... Squinting as they look to the street signs to find out where the hell they are. It's like saying to thieves and pickpockets

"Here I am. Please rob me !"

I think I'm the opposite. I just walk around with the shirt on my back, camera and utility knife attached to my belt. I do have a fanny pack of sorts, but it's meant to be worn under your shirt. I keep all the important stuff in there, so if I were to be mugged I could just casually hand them my wallet and not worry about losing my ID.

I really think more people should travel like transient youth. I've met many other people like myself, and we all laugh at the hardcore tourists.

The only way I would really be distinguishable from the average Briton were if I opened my mouth. They would hear my ever present Canadian accent with a tinge of Maritimer. That and the fact that I don't wear my jacket very often. The poor Brits call this weather cold. They obviously have never lived in Halifax(Nova Scotia that is).

So the lesson is. See as much as you can, experience as much as you can. Take it all in stride, no need to get all worked up over something that will probably work out in the long run anyways.

My Uncle is bringing back some pictures from his digital camera. I'll get my hands on them somehow and post them here or send them out to people.

I wish everyone the kind of experience I'm having.

Signing off.

-Will

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "Ich h�tte gern ein grosses bier!" - Me. By far the most useful expression in Germany. I would like a large beer.

SONG OF THE DAY : Beethoven's 9th Symphony. In honor of my visit to Germany.

LINK OF THE DAY : KaDeWe. The greatest store in the world.

And thus I clothe my naked villany
With odd old ends stol�n forth of Holy Writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.

So here I am. In the heart of Berlin.

Quite a town. Admittedly, my German needs work... but I can get by with what I know. Plus a lot of people speak english. So when in doubt just say 'Sprechen sie Englisch ?', works like a charm.

Explored the city a bit last night. Went bar-hopping, met some fellow travellers and had one to many grosses biers. Then I came to this internet cafe to talk to people back home. Between 11 and 1 at night seems like a good time to contact people. The time difference can be a little annoying at times.

Berlin is disturbingly historic. If you think about it, this city was the geopolitical cog that kept the world turning in the 20th century. From World War I, to the depression. During World War II, and the Cold War. It was also where the Cold War ended, and the Soviet Empire collapsed. Yes indeed, a great deal of history.

Visited the Siegess�ule last night. It's a massive monument that Hitler had erected after Germany's victory in France. Very beautiful monument dedicated to a very bad thing.

This morning I walked around old Berlin. The Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.

Checkpoint Charlie in case you didn't know was the only link between East and West Germany for 50 years. It now sits amidst commercial developments and apartment buildings. Prisoner exchanges, international espionage, human smuggling all took place there. It was very unique to stand where that had happened.

One thing I've learned about Germany, is that I don't like their keyboards. Certain keys are reversed like Z and Y which makes it very hard to type coherently if you're used to a North American keyboard. However I rectified that situation by using a knife to pry out Z and Y and reversed them to what I'm used to. I knew that knife would come in handy hehe.

Today I've just been wandering around the city, aimlessly but with purpose. Just want to see what I can and absorb it all. I've already met a lot of great people, and I haven't even been gone a week.

This evening I'm going to meet up with my Uncle and we're going to search out the location of Hitler's Bunker. It's obviously not a big tourist draw, but you can find it if you look hard enough. Ironically, it's now a childrens playground.
I'll stomp the F�hrer's grave a few times for you all.

This one's for the Kaiser !

-Will

P.S. For the love of god somebody post comments. I want feedback and I miss everyone back in Toronto... leave a message for your old buddy Will.

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "There's an old saying where I come from. You can fool me... Fool me once... Shame on..... ...... ..... Shame on you..... ..... You can fool me but younot gonna fool me agin." Dubya

SONG OF THE DAY : The song from the funny beer ad I saw today. You had to be there.

LINK OF THE DAY : 20 Minutes of Darkness.

The weight of this sad time we must obey;
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most: we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long.

It takes 20 minutes to do, and it's black as night. Yes I'm talking about the Chunnel (Channel-Tunnel). Not much to see when you're going through it. Kind of cool to think that just 10 years ago... travelling by train between Europe and England was impossible... now you can, very cool. The train is bloody fast too. Goes about 200 km/h. Dang fast.

So now I'm in Brussels, Belgium. Kind of scuzzy, but charming at the same time. Seems to have a cool nightlife from what I saw... checked out the pubs and the sites for about an hour and a bit tonight. Going to check out more before I leave tomorrow. It's very old and I'd like to stay longer... but at least I can say I've been here now.

Tomorrow off to Berlin. Should be fun. I'm really interested in WW2 stuff... but the Germans are not too keen to talk about it, it seems. Can't really blame them though. Admittedly the Nazis were horrible and evil. But they united Germany and accomplished incredible feats for a nation of their size. It's kind of not fair that there are no memorials to the German war dead in Germany. They weren't all Nazis. Most were just brave young men who wanted what was best for their country... most didn't know they were acting in the name of evil. History is written by the winners though, and that's just the way it is.

This is not pro Nazi or anything just to let you know... just expressing my thoughts on the matter. Germans seem pretty tight lipped on the subject... I'll have to explore it further.

So for now I will go chill and then sleep. My legs kill, I've been walking so much and so often... feels like my shins are about to split in half.

Let the good times roll.

-Will

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "Who are you and what are you doing in my home?" -Lionel Hutz

SONG OF THE DAY : Moonlight Sonata - That's what I woke up to today because someone in the next room was blasting it at 7 AM.

LINK OF THE DAY : Westminster Abbey. Very cool place.

And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on th' other -.

Too much to see. Too little time.

Walked around London all day yesterday. And I do mean all day. Got up at 6 am. Got back to the room around 11 pm. My legs were killing me, but it was well worth it.

Started the day off with a visit to Westminster Abbey, continued on to The Imperial War Museum, had lunch at the historic Geoge Inn Pub, checked out the Tower of London. After that I made my way over to the British Museum, which was so huge I had to leave because it took so long, I didn't even see half the museum !

I left the museum and walked around for 3 hours, just exploring the city. Checking out cool shops and places throughout the city. I love just walking around Toronto, so London is like a dream for me. Buy a day pass for the tube and you're all set. You can get anywhere.

Westminster Abbey is perhaps the most extraordinary place I've ever been inside. The age of the building and the city itself boggles the mind. There are tombs of people who died 1000 years ago in the Abbey. Incredible. You'll want to be careful where you step too. I stopped at one point to just look up and admire the ceiling, only to realize I was standing on Rudyard Kiplings grave. "Oops sorry Rudyard!" I said as I backed up onto Laurence Olivier's grave. Everywhere you stand there is history right underneath you. A very cool experience.

When I walk around London, I don't have a backpack on, and my camera is safely inside my jacket. I don't advertise the fact that I'm a tourist. I was mistaken for a local 4 times yesterday. "Do you know how to get to the tube from here?" A fat American asked. "I'm as lost as you buddy hehe." I said... He looked surprised that I didn't have an accent.
I suppose I do look like a British person though, considering that's my primary lineage... maybe I'll pretend to be a local the next time someone asks me for help.

Went to some pubs last night. The places the locals hang out, not the tourist haunts. It really gives you a feel for the city, I've already met a lot of cool people.

Later today I'm headed to Berlin for a week, and then it's back to the UK. But not without stopping in Belgium and Amsterdam. I've heard Brussells is pretty boring, but Amsterdam is... well you know, crazy. Should be a fun little trip.
Plus I get to go through the Chunnel.

My next post will probably be from somewhere in continental Europe.
So until then... Keep watching the skiis! I mean... skies !

-Will

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "Shift 2 = " ? Damn crazy UK keyboards !!!"

SONG OF THE DAY : Kelly Osbourne - Pappa Don't Preach. Only Because it's the first song I've heard today. Horrible.

LINK OF THE DAY : LONDON!

What would he do,
Had he the motive and the cue for passion
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
The very faculties of eyes and ears.

18 hours of travelling. With a non existent night... I am so confused right now. My watch says 5:30 in the morning... but it's clearly 10:30 am outside. The bleary eyed traveller has arrived in London without a wink of sleep in nearly 24 hours. And I still have 3 more hours to kill.

London... London... What to say about London? Well Considering I just got here I can't say much. That's why when I'm finished this I will go for a little walking tour.

Just checked my bag at the hotel that my Uncle and I will be staying at for the next few days. Damn space bar ! Work !
This internet cafe is located right across the street from Victoria station. Which in relationt to the rest of London... is somewhere in the middle.

Took the tube from Heathrow. That is a big frigging airport. Counted 23 jumbo-jets on our way in. The tube was unique. Not like the subways in Toronto... nice and smooth. The London underground is a jarring, bumpy, stop and go experience. I'm sick of moving vehicles for now... so I will walk.

First stop: The British Museum. It's free... and supposed to be incredible. We can all gawk at what England raped and pillaged from so many countries during it's imperial reign.

Anyways, I'm so very tired and confused right now. So I will leave you now.
More... Later.

-Will

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "Like a midget at a urinal, we will have to stay on our toes." -Unknown

SONG OF THE DAY : Saves The Day - Anywhere With You.

LINK OF THE DAY : Canuck Abroad

Good night, good night!
parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow

My journey will begin at 5:30 AM tomorrow. It will complete sometime on December 14th. That's a long time.

It's going to be one hell of an experience. All packed and ready to go... I think. Obviously, I'm excited. People seem to think that I should be nervous... I'm not. Anyone who knows me, knows that I take everything in stride... I'm very laid back. I'm sure there will be some pitfalls, but there will also be some great times. But enough blabbering, it has been a busy day and I am very tired.

So for now, I will go and sleep. My next post will probably be from some internet cafe in London.

-Will

P.S. If I die promise me you will avenge my death. And avenge it good. I would do the same for you.

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "Lies are the only ultimate Truth." - Ruddiger von Epplestinger

SONG OF THE DAY : U.N.K.L.E. - Eye for an Eye

LINK OF THE DAY : My DVD Collection

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,--
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.


Is Will ready for Europe?

And is Europe ready for Will?

So my Uncle emailed me last night. The plan was to tag along with my Uncle on a business trip to Europe, and then I would just stay over there for about 2 months. The exact date of departure has been up in the air... But the email I received last night confirmed when I would be leaving.

One week from today. One week from today I will depart on a trip that will last two months. Talk about time to plan... This next week will be insanely busy for me. Organizing... Planning.... Packing... Chilling... Fretting... Anticipating. DAMN this is gonna be sweet!

I purchased my Eurorail Youth Flexi Pass today. It lets me travel anywhere in the EU for 15 days in a 2 month period. I am going to see as much as I can in that time frame.

I know I'm going to run out of money... But I can be thrifty when I need to be.

New people, New places... Good times. You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to this.

The plan is to update my blog from various web cafes while I'm over there. So check back to see my progress.

In the next week I have to : Get my Youth Hostel card, Outline where I want to go, Get a credit card, Make amends with my lady friend, Have a going away party with numerous people, And somehow grasp the fact that I'll be on my own for 2 months. As pathetic as that last one sounds I've never been away from family and friends for more than a month... Sue me.

Now if you'll excuse me all this talk has made me hungry.
*Takes a bite out of a lemon*

-Will