Being on the road is a whole lot of adventure, and I love it so. But there are a lot of things I miss whilst I am a-vagabonding. Foremost on my list is hanging out with friends and seeing my family! But there are other wantings. Today I popped onto Facebook, which tends to bore me, but which gives me something to do while I'm waiting for someone or for a train. A friend had posted a link to this, which ignited my book lust! I love Keith Thompson's work, whom I had no knowledge of until twenty minutes ago. I've read three of the Scott Westerfeld's four Uglies/Pretties series (and liked them well--Australians seem particularily devine at YA SciFi/Fan), and I am now SITTING ON MY HANDS I'm so excited to get them on a copy of Leviathan. And thus, one of the things I miss: books! I think I have to work in a library or a bookstore, because I feel rather incomplete without the presence of BOOKS. Perhaps this is a failing; perhaps not.
And here is a little list of things I miss, just to make one:
1. Riding my bike with Venus (which occassionally included a picnic in the graveyard. Bubble tea!)
2. Latish dinner and bubble tea at Beefy Beef with the crew from Oakridge. They encouraged my cravings for both meat and the sugary wonder of bubble tea, though with coconut, and not tapioca.
3. Wine with any combination of friends, and lots of loud talk, and louder laughter.
4. Hanging out with Ian and Venus, and whichever unsavories they'd dragged up as companions. And the lovely food that went along with it. I don't know if my stomach usually hurt afterwards from laughing too much or eating too much (or both). And the pleasant ride home afterwards.
5. Night rides with friends. Night is the only time for riding on the west side, and perferably during the week, when the yahoos are at home and not out drunk in the streets.
6. Laughing. The laughs are still around, but they are much more rare these days. Gardening and doing masonry just don't bring on the laughter very often.
7. I suppose I should also admit that I do miss my evening shifts at Oakridge, with some of my favourite co-workers and my favourite patrons.
8. Riding out to my parents to hang out with the family and the dogs. I did this too infrequently!
My craving for Canadian magazines shall soon be satiated, when my lovely mother sends some in the mail.
All said, I'm still happily on the road. And on the road I shall be soon, to Porto Vecchio and then Bonifacio. I'm getting a ride most of the way there, which leaves me with only 40 or so kms to do instead of more than one hundred. Then Sardinia! For a day or two.
20 January 2010
16 January 2010
Irritations
I'm trying to upload more photos, but since I've been sitting here for more than five minutes, waiting for the images to upload, I'm thinking it's not going to work. As long as the photos are still on my camera, though, I'll be fine.
I've been fighting with McGill, again, over the same stupid situation. Academic references! I graduated five years ago, but they still want me to find someone who remembers me. But I found one! Ten years ago an instuctor, but I've got the reference letter made. That's the thing with having professional writers for instructors...
My ordeal of building fires with wet wood in an effort to keep warm, and eating only sprouts and lettuce is about to come to an end. I really deserve a glass of wine, though alcohol is not allowed. We're meant to be headed to Corte for the afternoon, but we're still at the library, where I'm fiddling with my camera and this blog in order to keep awake.
There is fresh snow on the mountains, and full sunshine today. The view is spectactular, of the sea and of the hills. I'll play tourist for the day, should I get the chance, and probably eat a little clandestine meat. Yesterday I went to Tallone and hung out with the local baker for a little while, chatting about Corsica. I went home with two loaves of bread AND two apple turnovers. I'm eating all my Quince jam so that I don't have to pack it to my next destination, and enjoying some porto salut cheese. I recommend the latter. i was going to get some Corsican cheese, but it was expensive!
Enough rambling!
I've been fighting with McGill, again, over the same stupid situation. Academic references! I graduated five years ago, but they still want me to find someone who remembers me. But I found one! Ten years ago an instuctor, but I've got the reference letter made. That's the thing with having professional writers for instructors...
My ordeal of building fires with wet wood in an effort to keep warm, and eating only sprouts and lettuce is about to come to an end. I really deserve a glass of wine, though alcohol is not allowed. We're meant to be headed to Corte for the afternoon, but we're still at the library, where I'm fiddling with my camera and this blog in order to keep awake.
There is fresh snow on the mountains, and full sunshine today. The view is spectactular, of the sea and of the hills. I'll play tourist for the day, should I get the chance, and probably eat a little clandestine meat. Yesterday I went to Tallone and hung out with the local baker for a little while, chatting about Corsica. I went home with two loaves of bread AND two apple turnovers. I'm eating all my Quince jam so that I don't have to pack it to my next destination, and enjoying some porto salut cheese. I recommend the latter. i was going to get some Corsican cheese, but it was expensive!
Enough rambling!
14 January 2010
Tallone
Here I am, still in Tallone, on Corsica. The rest of France is knee-deep in snow, but here we've had a little frost, a little rain, and a bit of sun.
I've been finishing an exterior wall with cement for the last four days, and I have to say, I don't mind doing anything, relatively, if I don't have to do it all week. By the end of three hours of smearing cement on cinderblocks, I'm near to swearing. But I leave next Wednesday, so the end is near, even if the project isn't completed!
On Saturday I rode my bicycle to the top of the mountains, to the Col de Cosardo, which was 6 inches in snow, and beautiful. The ride up the mountain was a continuously gradual climb, and I'm hoping I can do it again, but this time loaded down with all my stuff. I have some lovely photos, but that will have to wait until another time...
My dreams for Wednesday include a rather hearty and luxurious cooked meal, which will be sure to include wine, meat, and bread. Damnable vegans make me want nothing but meat!
I'm getting a ride to Corte this Saturday, so I'll be able to scope the city out before I arrive Wednesday, and I'll be able to decide whether the route is possible fully loaded. Sunday there may be a trip to a monastary, though it might in fact be a nunnery, or whatever you call the female version.
McGill has nearly rejected me. This is the third time they've asked me for academic referrences, and you'd think they'd know by now that I don't have any, and I have good reason for not having any. Emailing professors whom I took classes from ten years ago is rather embarrassing. Yeah, I know you don't remember me, but I'm begging anyway. I'm not too worried about it, though, since there are a lot of other things I'd like to do besides the MLIS at McGill. Besides, I think I'll learn French better if I'm not going to an English school. Maybe Engineering is in the future? Plus, I've had offers from new friends to travel the USA with them...
But I'm not there yet! Instead, I'm escaping the winter on Corsica. I hear Vancouver's weather is just perfect for the Olypic games--14° and melting!
I've been finishing an exterior wall with cement for the last four days, and I have to say, I don't mind doing anything, relatively, if I don't have to do it all week. By the end of three hours of smearing cement on cinderblocks, I'm near to swearing. But I leave next Wednesday, so the end is near, even if the project isn't completed!
On Saturday I rode my bicycle to the top of the mountains, to the Col de Cosardo, which was 6 inches in snow, and beautiful. The ride up the mountain was a continuously gradual climb, and I'm hoping I can do it again, but this time loaded down with all my stuff. I have some lovely photos, but that will have to wait until another time...
My dreams for Wednesday include a rather hearty and luxurious cooked meal, which will be sure to include wine, meat, and bread. Damnable vegans make me want nothing but meat!
I'm getting a ride to Corte this Saturday, so I'll be able to scope the city out before I arrive Wednesday, and I'll be able to decide whether the route is possible fully loaded. Sunday there may be a trip to a monastary, though it might in fact be a nunnery, or whatever you call the female version.
McGill has nearly rejected me. This is the third time they've asked me for academic referrences, and you'd think they'd know by now that I don't have any, and I have good reason for not having any. Emailing professors whom I took classes from ten years ago is rather embarrassing. Yeah, I know you don't remember me, but I'm begging anyway. I'm not too worried about it, though, since there are a lot of other things I'd like to do besides the MLIS at McGill. Besides, I think I'll learn French better if I'm not going to an English school. Maybe Engineering is in the future? Plus, I've had offers from new friends to travel the USA with them...
But I'm not there yet! Instead, I'm escaping the winter on Corsica. I hear Vancouver's weather is just perfect for the Olypic games--14° and melting!
Who Misses Me?
Then send me a letter! I'll be at the following address until the end of February, so get your letters in the mail before the 15th:
C/O Alban Arriaga
52 Chemin de Peygros
83440
Mons
France
See you in the mail!
C/O Alban Arriaga
52 Chemin de Peygros
83440
Mons
France
See you in the mail!
05 January 2010
Corsica
It feels warm like spring one day, it's mildly frozen but sunny the next, then wind, now rain and fog. But it's beautiful!
I'm on a large and beautiful bit of land in the valley of Bravone, near Tallone. You can see Tallone (when it isn't foggy) from the garden--a clutch of stone buildings atop the hill. It's deceptive! The walk to Tallone is a long, winding, uphill march, and there isn't much in the town itself, just a post box and an old church, and a nativity scene put in disorder by the recent winds. Joseph is the only guy standing, and the wise men seem to be hiding in the bushes. I saw two cows and several barking dogs, and three people in the cemetary (which seems larger than the town itself...)
The mountains are beautiful here. The view from the top of the nearest ridge was of the Mediterranean in one direction, and a snow covered mountain in the other. The wind, though, once I'd left the shelter of the valley was cold and strong!
The best part? The view of Monte Cristo from my bungalow. Actually, the best part was my sucess at lighting a fire last night. No electricity, so no heat, makes my little wooden shell of a house pretty chilly in the eveningtime! And, yes, that means no internet access, so hold tight, those that are looking for updates. I may manage it, but the (noisy!) library (where I paid ten euro to become a member for internet access!!) is far and gone (20 kms) away.
I'm here until the 20th, then I hope to spend a few days on Corsica, cycling around before I take the ferry to Nice. But for now, it's rain and Monte Cristo!
I'm on a large and beautiful bit of land in the valley of Bravone, near Tallone. You can see Tallone (when it isn't foggy) from the garden--a clutch of stone buildings atop the hill. It's deceptive! The walk to Tallone is a long, winding, uphill march, and there isn't much in the town itself, just a post box and an old church, and a nativity scene put in disorder by the recent winds. Joseph is the only guy standing, and the wise men seem to be hiding in the bushes. I saw two cows and several barking dogs, and three people in the cemetary (which seems larger than the town itself...)
The mountains are beautiful here. The view from the top of the nearest ridge was of the Mediterranean in one direction, and a snow covered mountain in the other. The wind, though, once I'd left the shelter of the valley was cold and strong!
The best part? The view of Monte Cristo from my bungalow. Actually, the best part was my sucess at lighting a fire last night. No electricity, so no heat, makes my little wooden shell of a house pretty chilly in the eveningtime! And, yes, that means no internet access, so hold tight, those that are looking for updates. I may manage it, but the (noisy!) library (where I paid ten euro to become a member for internet access!!) is far and gone (20 kms) away.
I'm here until the 20th, then I hope to spend a few days on Corsica, cycling around before I take the ferry to Nice. But for now, it's rain and Monte Cristo!
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