tomorrow I go back to amsterdam for a few days. Completely out of the way from my next work stop. I will visit and hang out with my ball state friends Kelly Hake and Malina in Amsterdam and revisit a Dutch couchsurfing girl before making the 20 hour train ride all the way down to italy to work on an olive farm for my last 3 weeks. Amsterdam is completely out of the way, but only geographically and only on paper. The adventures, fun and experiences will be in way with what I need.
10/20
Today, I was reminded of the incredibly crazy nature of human beings, the most insane creatures on this planet. People in a large factory making 10 different kinds of chocolate from a fruit picked and sliced with a large machete, wielded by the black skinned men in another country, yielding a bean inside. The workers, human and incredibly complex, powerful machines in an assembly line of packaging large amounts of delicious treats. The french spoken tour was confusing to comprehend, however my eyes and especially nose were able to understand the vast production of savored desserts. At the end we could sample all the vaiours chocolates to our hearts, or rather taste buds content. Luckily, I kept my stomach in mind before devouring it all.
10/23
Gypsy family playing acoustically straight to my soul in the little theatre packed full of 60 plus.
Painted all day with Miros and her french lessons.
Andi's jokes increase by the day.
A new bread, a new cheese, new dessert, new job.
Had the best lasagna I have ever had last night. More best of's from Priska.
The cold is getting to me, I am ready for Italy and her warmth in a week or so's time. Not ready for winter in the states. (note: after being in a bit of snow on the mountain yesterda, I am definitely ready for snow filled indiana with my nephews!!!)
(watching a free form jazz band)
The moon is full. The air is cold. On top of this mountain, a man stands saxophone in hand grinding his teeth, as the snare snaps, bass hits and piano races faster and faster. Waiting to be inspired for his next breath of air to flow through the instrument clutched to his chest like a new born.
The instruments are dancing. No! Now they are fighting. Just as fast as human relationships, these fickle producers of sound.
Goodbye switzerland. You have a special place in my heart, even if I didnt see your coveted alps.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
dream a little dream of me
Ive been having really vivid and numerous dreams every night since arriving in courtelary and sleeping in the circus van. A lot of dreams involving high school as well. Not sure what that is all about.
Finished TROPIC OF CANCER today. Started it 4 or 5 days ago and its the first I have done any reading on the trip. Felt good to be reading again. Henry Miller`s writing flows for a great poetic pace at high speed creating wonderfully worded passages. An inspiring tale of people living freely, cheaply and happily wherever they can in Paris. It feels good to finish a novel, even when the novel captivates you through and through. A bittersweet feeling of accomplishment, like climbing a mountain and overlooking the vista created by standing at the peak.
I have eaten so well since being in switzerland. It has been 10 days since I have arrived and I have consumed more and better food than I did in the first three weeks of the trip. Priska`s home cooking has been incredible. I have been on a pretty normal schedule, going to bed fairly early and always waking by 830 am to enjoy a good breakfast, usually consisting of oat flakes (which are pressed and turned, by me, from the grain through a grinder creating the flakes) for a nice bowl of hot oatmeal with raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds, spelt or whatever else I can find in the huge assortment of add ons in the large and healthy, organic kitchen. I have been eating 3 meals a day which always consist of homemade, delicious bread, a variety of amazing cheese from the area...real swiss cheese!, peanut butter (100 percent peanuts, no added sugar like american peanut butter), and other assortment of toppings for the bread. ALl the food prepared is all veggie and all delicious. I have not had so much cheese in all my life.
From TROPIC OF CANCER:
"Do anything, but let it produce joy. Do anything, but let it yield ecstasy."
"Today I am proud to say that I am inhuman, that I belong not to men and governments, that I have nothing to do with creeds and principles. I have nothing to do with the creaking machinery of humanity -- I belong to the Earth!"
"...There is no other path to pursue. A man who belongs to this race must stand up on the high place with gibberish in his mouth and rip out his entrails."
"...to be human seems like a poor, sorry, miserable affair, limited by the senses, restricted by moralities and codes, defined by platitudes and isms.+
10/19
An incredible evening starting out playing swiss monopoly with Miros and Jerimo buying cities in Switzerland at every opportunity spending every cent I have as the prime example of the American capitalist I am. Whatever I can get my hands on. No land is off limits to America! A break took place to participate in a touching, meditative sing along at the biweekly session taking the place of usual regional visitors missing out, joining Andi playing guitar and bongo, Priska`s beautiful lead voice, and elderly yet youthful and vibrant happy go lucky woman, Royo as cheerful as always, the timid voice of Miros, the pleasantly surprising sultry voice of the Slovakian goddess, the regular cough from the down and out sick Miramo and me, the added male voice adding confidence to the world songs from gypsies, jews, swiss, english, french and elsewhere singing blessings for peace, love and pleasant days on pillows on the floor in the televisionless common room of the large home if there ever was such a place to welcome outsiders and friends as one interconnected unit through love, warmth, music, laughter and acceptance as participants of this beautiful world.
Switzerland has been good to my body, mind and soul. I will never forget this land. But for now, I have another handful of days to soak up.
Finished TROPIC OF CANCER today. Started it 4 or 5 days ago and its the first I have done any reading on the trip. Felt good to be reading again. Henry Miller`s writing flows for a great poetic pace at high speed creating wonderfully worded passages. An inspiring tale of people living freely, cheaply and happily wherever they can in Paris. It feels good to finish a novel, even when the novel captivates you through and through. A bittersweet feeling of accomplishment, like climbing a mountain and overlooking the vista created by standing at the peak.
I have eaten so well since being in switzerland. It has been 10 days since I have arrived and I have consumed more and better food than I did in the first three weeks of the trip. Priska`s home cooking has been incredible. I have been on a pretty normal schedule, going to bed fairly early and always waking by 830 am to enjoy a good breakfast, usually consisting of oat flakes (which are pressed and turned, by me, from the grain through a grinder creating the flakes) for a nice bowl of hot oatmeal with raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds, spelt or whatever else I can find in the huge assortment of add ons in the large and healthy, organic kitchen. I have been eating 3 meals a day which always consist of homemade, delicious bread, a variety of amazing cheese from the area...real swiss cheese!, peanut butter (100 percent peanuts, no added sugar like american peanut butter), and other assortment of toppings for the bread. ALl the food prepared is all veggie and all delicious. I have not had so much cheese in all my life.
From TROPIC OF CANCER:
"Do anything, but let it produce joy. Do anything, but let it yield ecstasy."
"Today I am proud to say that I am inhuman, that I belong not to men and governments, that I have nothing to do with creeds and principles. I have nothing to do with the creaking machinery of humanity -- I belong to the Earth!"
"...There is no other path to pursue. A man who belongs to this race must stand up on the high place with gibberish in his mouth and rip out his entrails."
"...to be human seems like a poor, sorry, miserable affair, limited by the senses, restricted by moralities and codes, defined by platitudes and isms.+
10/19
An incredible evening starting out playing swiss monopoly with Miros and Jerimo buying cities in Switzerland at every opportunity spending every cent I have as the prime example of the American capitalist I am. Whatever I can get my hands on. No land is off limits to America! A break took place to participate in a touching, meditative sing along at the biweekly session taking the place of usual regional visitors missing out, joining Andi playing guitar and bongo, Priska`s beautiful lead voice, and elderly yet youthful and vibrant happy go lucky woman, Royo as cheerful as always, the timid voice of Miros, the pleasantly surprising sultry voice of the Slovakian goddess, the regular cough from the down and out sick Miramo and me, the added male voice adding confidence to the world songs from gypsies, jews, swiss, english, french and elsewhere singing blessings for peace, love and pleasant days on pillows on the floor in the televisionless common room of the large home if there ever was such a place to welcome outsiders and friends as one interconnected unit through love, warmth, music, laughter and acceptance as participants of this beautiful world.
Switzerland has been good to my body, mind and soul. I will never forget this land. But for now, I have another handful of days to soak up.
Monday, October 18, 2010
BOOYAH!
Just changed my flight to a later date. I will not be back stateside til Nov. 22 now. Seeya at thanksgiving.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Keeping warm by the fire in a circus van!
For the past few days, my home has been in a traveling (but currently stationary) circus van in the backyard of a 200 year old huge home shared by 3 families and 1 single musician with a few common areas and their own living spaces. I have been eating like a fucking king here. I work 4 hours a day mostly just mixing joint filler and applying the mixture to previously put together calk walls (?), which apparently is made from heated stone...wonder if its the same as the calk we squeeze from a tube...anyway, 4 hours of work at my own schedule for 3 meals, a bed and the beautiful jura mountains.
Today, I explored those mountains. After a delicious lunch of homemade olive cake (green olives, green peppers, tomato paste, spelt and sunflower seeds), I went on an epic 4 or 5 hour hike, barely making it back for dinner before the sky went dark. I climbed and climbed until I made it to the top, passing through a dense forest of fallen leaves providing my path amongst the array of autumn colors with towering trees all around. No other animal or person in sight until every so ofter, I would hear the bells of cows waiting in a field up ahead. I eventually made it to my destination, which priska had provided clues and a map to find. Creaux de Glace (hole of ice). I had forgotten that I was in search of a cave and only rememberd the ice part. This place was a beautiful sight that upon arriving at, I just stood in awe of. A huge hole below me that you could climb down into, so I climbed. Regretting not bringing my hiking shoes on the trip, I took hold of the chain and went down the steep rocky and muddy entrance to the dark dark cave. With my headlamp on, I made it to the bottom to find 2 large masses of ice within. A place where ice exists every day of every year. I took some time to take it in in the cool air and knew I had to head back before the darkness set in. Climbing up was a bit tricky but felt great to be climbing! Something not many humans will see, but worth every effort to get to.
10/3
New City. Berlin. New Country. Germany. New people, interactions and friendships.
10/5
3 days of nonstop drinking. Popping in and out of bars, cafes and mostly kiosks, or what I know as convenience stores, open 24 hours selling large bottles of beer for cheap, in a city where you can walk and drink wherever you please. Beer, absinthe, and wine makes for a late start to any day in Berlin, where the life doesnt wake til the sun goes down over the grey, dreary buildings and streets of alternative people, hippies, yuppies, gutter punks, hipsters, poets and arists of all types.
Weighed myself today, 60 kg. equals 132 pounds. I have lost close to 10 pounds in the past month. From the bags, the ridiculous amount of walking, little consumption of food and lots of beer. Im not being completely kind or healthy to my body, however it has not failed me. The pain in my middle finger hasnt exactly left and my foot has the occassional remnant of pain.
...I dont need much to live. Friends, little food, beer and a couple changes of clothes. The occassional shower or washing.
To Travel and experience places and people far from your home is the greatest and most unique thing separating humans from other species. The ability to go anywhere at any time is such a gift of this life. The friendships made and immeasurable experiences gained teaching the secrets in the depths of ones soul and mind in overcoming fears and obstacles of the psyche. There is no reason to fear humans. Awareness and attentiveness provide a sense unlike the others. To pick up the negativity and attract positive energy is one of the keys to a fully lived life.
Upon arrival into berlin, it was evident I would fit into this thriving young counter culture, after dropping off my bags at my home for the next 5 days, I set off to meet my host. A walk through a completely dark Mauer park would normally warn me of potentially dangerous possibilities in the crime filled big cities of America, but in Berlin is full of children riding bikes, young people laughing and playing over beers and joints, a group playing boche ball in the pocket of moonlight as I continued on the 15 minute walk to the tunnel providing music and drunken dancing as people gathered all night in the closed off street to celebrate the anniversary of east and west berlin becoming one.
JCN
Today, I explored those mountains. After a delicious lunch of homemade olive cake (green olives, green peppers, tomato paste, spelt and sunflower seeds), I went on an epic 4 or 5 hour hike, barely making it back for dinner before the sky went dark. I climbed and climbed until I made it to the top, passing through a dense forest of fallen leaves providing my path amongst the array of autumn colors with towering trees all around. No other animal or person in sight until every so ofter, I would hear the bells of cows waiting in a field up ahead. I eventually made it to my destination, which priska had provided clues and a map to find. Creaux de Glace (hole of ice). I had forgotten that I was in search of a cave and only rememberd the ice part. This place was a beautiful sight that upon arriving at, I just stood in awe of. A huge hole below me that you could climb down into, so I climbed. Regretting not bringing my hiking shoes on the trip, I took hold of the chain and went down the steep rocky and muddy entrance to the dark dark cave. With my headlamp on, I made it to the bottom to find 2 large masses of ice within. A place where ice exists every day of every year. I took some time to take it in in the cool air and knew I had to head back before the darkness set in. Climbing up was a bit tricky but felt great to be climbing! Something not many humans will see, but worth every effort to get to.
10/3
New City. Berlin. New Country. Germany. New people, interactions and friendships.
10/5
3 days of nonstop drinking. Popping in and out of bars, cafes and mostly kiosks, or what I know as convenience stores, open 24 hours selling large bottles of beer for cheap, in a city where you can walk and drink wherever you please. Beer, absinthe, and wine makes for a late start to any day in Berlin, where the life doesnt wake til the sun goes down over the grey, dreary buildings and streets of alternative people, hippies, yuppies, gutter punks, hipsters, poets and arists of all types.
Weighed myself today, 60 kg. equals 132 pounds. I have lost close to 10 pounds in the past month. From the bags, the ridiculous amount of walking, little consumption of food and lots of beer. Im not being completely kind or healthy to my body, however it has not failed me. The pain in my middle finger hasnt exactly left and my foot has the occassional remnant of pain.
...I dont need much to live. Friends, little food, beer and a couple changes of clothes. The occassional shower or washing.
To Travel and experience places and people far from your home is the greatest and most unique thing separating humans from other species. The ability to go anywhere at any time is such a gift of this life. The friendships made and immeasurable experiences gained teaching the secrets in the depths of ones soul and mind in overcoming fears and obstacles of the psyche. There is no reason to fear humans. Awareness and attentiveness provide a sense unlike the others. To pick up the negativity and attract positive energy is one of the keys to a fully lived life.
Upon arrival into berlin, it was evident I would fit into this thriving young counter culture, after dropping off my bags at my home for the next 5 days, I set off to meet my host. A walk through a completely dark Mauer park would normally warn me of potentially dangerous possibilities in the crime filled big cities of America, but in Berlin is full of children riding bikes, young people laughing and playing over beers and joints, a group playing boche ball in the pocket of moonlight as I continued on the 15 minute walk to the tunnel providing music and drunken dancing as people gathered all night in the closed off street to celebrate the anniversary of east and west berlin becoming one.
JCN
Thursday, October 7, 2010
cold, grey berlin
Woke up feeling sick this morning. I guess that is what happens when you stay in a city full of a cold greyness, beer readily available for public consumption at any moment, riding all over the place on public transportation, and scavenging food after anyone and everyone you meet. My throat is sore and I have a headache. Ive had these symptoms many times before and Im sure I will conquer them once again.
I leave today for Mainz. Not a normal tourist destination, but having a friend from college who is a lot of fun, tempts and attracts me to this town. I will most likely stay until Monday and then head to Switzerland to a town of 1000 people to live and work for 10 days helping to build a backstage area for a theatre troupe in exchange for food and board. I am very excited to be in the peaceful mountain village. An escape from the big cities I have encountered thus far.
After the switzerland excursion, I will only have 6 days of my trip left. I will only have used 4 of my 8 possible days of travel with my expensively purchased eurorail pass and I will have not reached near my proposed destinations. I am very much looking into the possibility of extending my trip, however, the reality of an expensive return flight to the states looms. If I could somehow find a cheap flight back at a later date, then I would stay, considering I can already get around europe with the eurorail pass 4 more times for no cost. I am not ready to return, I have no home or job to go back to and have much more to discover in Europe.
9/30 (?) (In vondel park Amsterdam)
The trees sway in the breeze brought by the wind making music with the sun at the core, the back bone, like the drummer of a band, providing the beat for the earth to come alive, breath in the freshness of a new day. On a bicycle. over a book or smoke. while a guitar gets plucked by the happy, rasta man hoping to bring a smile to everyone coming into contact with everyone else that day.
A tree full of age and memories and stories many before me have climbed and all since. A beautiful world indeed, to do whatever you want.
You can never be lost. You end up wherever you belong. No place better than any other.
10/2 (on a train somewhere...heading to berlin perhaps)
In the empty, broken down, yet still standing vending machine full of graffiti at the train station to a new place. In the tiles of the walls in the washroomm on Platform 2. Waking up in the bed of a girl you just met on the internet the previous day. Everywhere you go, everything you do is brand new. Everything you see, touch, feel, hear is forever changing and forever new.
JN
I leave today for Mainz. Not a normal tourist destination, but having a friend from college who is a lot of fun, tempts and attracts me to this town. I will most likely stay until Monday and then head to Switzerland to a town of 1000 people to live and work for 10 days helping to build a backstage area for a theatre troupe in exchange for food and board. I am very excited to be in the peaceful mountain village. An escape from the big cities I have encountered thus far.
After the switzerland excursion, I will only have 6 days of my trip left. I will only have used 4 of my 8 possible days of travel with my expensively purchased eurorail pass and I will have not reached near my proposed destinations. I am very much looking into the possibility of extending my trip, however, the reality of an expensive return flight to the states looms. If I could somehow find a cheap flight back at a later date, then I would stay, considering I can already get around europe with the eurorail pass 4 more times for no cost. I am not ready to return, I have no home or job to go back to and have much more to discover in Europe.
9/30 (?) (In vondel park Amsterdam)
The trees sway in the breeze brought by the wind making music with the sun at the core, the back bone, like the drummer of a band, providing the beat for the earth to come alive, breath in the freshness of a new day. On a bicycle. over a book or smoke. while a guitar gets plucked by the happy, rasta man hoping to bring a smile to everyone coming into contact with everyone else that day.
A tree full of age and memories and stories many before me have climbed and all since. A beautiful world indeed, to do whatever you want.
You can never be lost. You end up wherever you belong. No place better than any other.
10/2 (on a train somewhere...heading to berlin perhaps)
In the empty, broken down, yet still standing vending machine full of graffiti at the train station to a new place. In the tiles of the walls in the washroomm on Platform 2. Waking up in the bed of a girl you just met on the internet the previous day. Everywhere you go, everything you do is brand new. Everything you see, touch, feel, hear is forever changing and forever new.
JN
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