destinations Traveling As A Passion

[freakish]

Sally it is nice that you have that experience to travel to the visayas and mindanao via landtrip.

 

I have fond memories of those long, ardous bus trips I did when I was in college from Manila to Samar (eastern visayas) and most of the time depending what month of the year you travel, the trip takes about 24-36 hours straight..including the stop-overs for eating and washroom stops (if u can call them washrooms/toilets) and the waiting-in-line at the ferry boarding.

 

I could just imagine the trip you made but you were still lucky you were able to avoid the terrible roads back then. We used to walk 3 km of mud way back then especially after days of heavy rains.

 

Maybe next time from Tacloban City try visiting the eastern part of Samar with the much improved road all through Homonhon Island where Magellan landed centuies ago. From there it's only two hours to surigao. It will be worth coz you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking secluded beaches that faces the pacific ocean. People too are very accomodating and there are good places you can spend the night with. If you've heard about the Elf adventure i think that was 2000 or 1999, it was held in Eastern Samar from Tacloban. The competitors traveled by bike, roller blades, kayak, etc..from Leyte to Samar. It was an International competition and quite promoted the place for tourism at that time.

 

I've taken the trip from Tacloban going to Southern Leyte and boy, it was really hard..talk about being cramped in a bus with chickens and pigs on it. It was on my way to Pintuyan...another beautiful small town with uphill streets and two hours away from Surigao City.

 

You were right though, no matter how hard it is to travel, the sights you will see will be worth it.

[sally bogna mathay]

Sally it is nice that you have that experience to travel to the visayas and mindanao via landtrip.

 

I have fond memories of those long, ardous bus trips I did when I was in college from Manila to Samar (eastern visayas) and most of the time depending what month of the year you travel, the trip takes about 24-36 hours straight..including the stop-overs for eating and washroom stops (if u can call them washrooms/toilets) and the waiting-in-line at the ferry boarding.

 

I could just imagine the trip you made but you were still lucky you were able to avoid the terrible roads back then. We used to walk 3 km of mud way back then especially after days of heavy rains.

 

Maybe next time from Tacloban City try visiting the eastern part of Samar with the much improved road all through Homonhon Island where Magellan landed centuies ago. From there it's only two hours to surigao. It will be worth coz you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking secluded beaches that faces the pacific ocean. People too are very accomodating and there are good places you can spend the night with. If you've heard about the Elf adventure i think that was 2000 or 1999, it was held in Eastern Samar from Tacloban. The competitors traveled by bike, roller blades, kayak, etc..from Leyte to Samar. It was an International competition and quite promoted the place for tourism at that time.

 

I've taken the trip from Tacloban going to Southern Leyte and boy, it was really hard..talk about being cramped in a bus with chickens and pigs on it. It was on my way to Pintuyan...another beautiful small town with uphill streets and two hours away from Surigao City.

 

You were right though, no matter how hard it is to travel, the sights you will see will be worth it.

hey there freakish. well, this much i can tell you. the washrooms at the philtranco stations are new and clean...pero five years ago yon! i love samar and can't wait to visit again. the drive from tacloban to balangiga was great. newly built concrete roads na mabibilang mo ang kasalubong mo for hours. and those views from basey and marabut....grabe, yung mga rock formations from the coast of marabut are really great. i have some photos pero nasa rp lahat. will post them later this year. i also visited sohoton...it's almost like the amazon river ang dating.

 

i have the actual tape of the elf adventure, because we filmed a segment of their journey around eastern visayas using some of their footage. actually, the route also covered biliran. we were planning to go around samar island, but the tourism people said there is no road around the eastern coast that will link up to northern samar. meron na ba ngayon? check out the previous pages where i posted an article about my trip there.

[freakish]

hey there freakish. well, this much i can tell you. the washrooms at the philtranco stations are new and clean...pero five years ago yon! i love samar and can't wait to visit again. the drive from tacloban to balangiga was great. newly built concrete roads na mabibilang mo ang kasalubong mo for hours. and those views from basey and marabut....grabe, yung mga rock formations from the coast of marabut are really great. i have some photos pero nasa rp lahat. will post them later this year. i also visited sohoton...it's almost like the amazon river ang dating.

 

i have the actual tape of the elf adventure, because we filmed a segment of their journey around eastern visayas using some of their footage. actually, the route also covered biliran. we were planning to go around samar island, but the tourism people said there is no road around the eastern coast that will link up to northern samar. meron na ba ngayon? check out the previous pages where i posted an article about my trip there.

It is nice to know that Philtranco have improved over the years

 

Anyway, from Northern Samar, there is actually a route going to Eastern Samar. This was the first route that we took when I was still a student. You will pass Catbalogan and Buray. There is a fork that separates the road going to Tacloban City/Sta. Rita Samar and the ones going to Bagacay and Eastern Samar. From Northern Samar it takes about eight hours to reach the capital of Eastern Samar which is Borongan and another three hours to reach the southern part which is Guiuan. From Guiuan you can take a ferry going to Tacloban City (i'm not sure if they still use this though) or use the newly constructed road connecting Leyte and Samar through Basey. It only takes 3 hours to take this road (maybe this is the one you took going to Balangiga). This is the more scenic of the two routes, although the old route has a beauty of its own.

 

Balangiga is a part of the Eastern Samar and the southern region of the province. I'm sure you know its history as until now the government is still fighting to get the original bells that was taken by American soldiers back then. The Administrator of the hospital in Balangiga now is my brother. He used to be assigned in Homonhon Island and it has given me the chance to visit the place. It is off the coast of Guiuan and really scary to cross specially during habagat. The town is nice and the beaches are really awesome.

 

If you go further north of Balangiga there are still at least almost 20 towns (if i'm not mistaken), Borongan being the center (my hometown). You can take the national highway, and it will connect you to the first route (old one) i was talking about unless they have closed this road. This was prone to landslides and flooding.

 

There are a lot of surf spots in the area too, and a lot of foreigners with Samareno wives have opted to stay in the province and put up businesses. One resort is called Pirates Cove in Borongan, own by a Canadian-Australian guy. Surfing is a fast developing sports among young people in the area so with mountaineering.

[freakish]

More on Samar....

 

Way back 1995, the NGOs from Catbalogan and Borongan organized a survey trek to evaluate the forest area of the Samar Region. This was done to prevent the government from allowing logging in the area which has suffered from previous logging contracts. The survey trek was named ECO-TREK.

 

I was one of the few who had the chance to do the in-land trek/hike. There were some Europeans with us from WESAMAR and a priest who held the first mass ever in the forest of Samar.We started at a small barangay in San Gabriel Borongan, and culminated in Basey near the Sohoton caves. It took us about six days to reach Basey and that was without a proper trail. We used the river as our guide and two men who were "wanderers" in the area. That was the only time that i've truly bonded with my birthplace, discovering its inner beauty. Excluding the parts where logging has totally caused destruction, the forest of Samar hold a secret only those who brave to explore it can know. There was this waterfall which really captivated me, not knowing that I will be climbing over it for a short cut and rappelling down. In all my time as a mountaineer that was the first time I’ve done it and without the proper equipment!!

 

Sohoton is one of those places that is still unexplored, at least not professionally by any spelunking team. I am not sure if at present they already organized any exploration expedition in the place. There is also another cave in Calbiga that is famous for its depth. It was closed way back 2000 I think, never knew the reason why, but I think they’ve reopened it to the curious ones.

 

[sally bogna mathay]

that road you mentined runs through the interior of the island...i was wondering if there was road by the sea on the east coast (eastern samar) that would connect to balangiga...in effect, you would be able to drive around the island. i think i remember someone from the lgu mentioning a resort run by an expat...maybe that's the one you're talking about. went to balangiga during the re-enactment...i have the souvenir bolo! actually, i hope commercialism doesn't come to your province. how often have we seen lots of places suffering as a result...in the 70s puerto galera was the place to go. look at it now. boracay might soon reach that stage wherein the island's resources can't sustain tourism. but not to despair...7,000 islands...madami pang puwedeng puntahan. i have heard of an island off the coast off infanta, quezon where there's a waterfall that juts out to sea. pero mahirap daw ito puntahan. someone from masbate also told me that there's this one town by the sea where a series of caves exist that have never bene explored. rp really has thousands of destinations. wish i could see them all.

[freakish]

that road you mentined runs through the interior of the island...i was wondering if there was road by the sea on the east coast (eastern samar) that would connect to balangiga...in effect, you would be able to drive around the island. i think i remember someone from the lgu mentioning a resort run by an expat...maybe that's the one you're talking about. went to balangiga during the re-enactment...i have the souvenir bolo! actually, i hope commercialism doesn't come to your province. how often have we seen lots of places suffering as a result...in the 70s puerto galera was the place to go. look at it now. boracay might soon reach that stage wherein the island's resources can't sustain tourism. but not to despair...7,000 islands...madami pang puwedeng puntahan. i have heard of an island off the coast off infanta, quezon where there's a waterfall that juts out to sea. pero mahirap daw ito puntahan. someone from masbate also told me that there's this one town by the sea where a series of caves exist that have never bene explored. rp really has thousands of destinations. wish i could see them all.

actually the national highway in the province is just few meters from the beaches, so you would still see from time to time the pacific from your vehicle. From Borongan to Balangiga it's mostly near the sea up to Guiuan.

 

that is what we are hoping, that it stays unexploited.

 

there is another island in Northern Samar, i've heard about it from friends who've been there it's called Biri Island, and it has one of the nicest beach..setback..there are "mysterious entity" daw..i don't know though, but i've been wanting to go.

 

There is a small town in Calasiao Pangasinan that i've been to. It is a very isolated place, it takes about two hours jeep ride from the maintown. I went there when I was in College and i really loved that place. Scary though coz they have their own laws (being so far from the civilization as it is), they punish their own criminals "eye for an eye". Anyway i'll try to crunch up my brain the name of that place, another adventure you can try if you want.

[bods1000]

sayang talaga...wala na yung northern part ng pnr rail. when we were young, my dad would take us to baguio via damortis, la union where the train from tutuban stopped. accdg to the pnr people, hindi kasi na maintain yung tracks for several years kaya nasira, ninakaw...grabe, pati yung mga wooden planks ninanakaw! i rode the pnr to legazpi back in 1999. really nice, even though luma na ang tren. actually may "bagong" 2nd hand trains ang pnr that were donated by japan. as for the trans-siberian rail, an aussie woman i met here said the ride was great and cheap daw. the best views, she said, were in central asia and china. ito raw ang part of the route (the silk road) that marco polo took. medyo mahal na raw sa russia ngayon.

the last trip I took to Bicol was through rail and this was way back '77 and even then talagang mukhang dilapidated na yung mga tren and perhaps you know why the commuter trains now here have sloping roofs - people who live by the tracks had this very sweet habit of lobbing s**t on the roof as the train passed by

kaya wala yata talagang pag-asa mapaganda ang rails dito kung ganito mga tao sa atin...

[whitecap]

I like to travel arond the Philippine Island but everytime i go home i only have time for my family and friends.

 

Travelling is my passion... I've been travelling since 1994 started in England, then travelled around Europe for 6 yrs, Belguim, HOlland, Ireland, Spain, France. Now im based here in US and been around Florida including Key West, Alaska, Texas, Bahamas, Jamaic, Grand Cayman. Puerto Rico, St. THomas, Barbados, Aruba, Washington DC and a lot more. A lot of good memories with my Boyfriend travelling around.

[sally bogna mathay]

so...tell us about your travels...is the dope good in jamaica...?lol!!!

[sally bogna mathay]

actually the national highway in the province is just few meters from the beaches, so you would still see from time to time the pacific from your vehicle. From Borongan to Balangiga it's mostly near the sea up to Guiuan.

 

that is what we are hoping, that it stays unexploited.

 

there is another island in Northern Samar, i've heard about it from friends who've been there it's called Biri Island, and it has one of the nicest beach..setback..there are "mysterious entity" daw..i don't know though, but i've been wanting to go.

 

There is a small town in Calasiao Pangasinan that i've been to. It is a very isolated place, it takes about two hours jeep ride from the maintown. I went there when I was in College and i really loved that place. Scary though coz they have their own laws (being so far from the civilization as it is), they punish their own criminals "eye for an eye". Anyway i'll try to crunch up my brain the name of that place, another adventure you can try if you want.

hey freakish, thanks again. maybe we should plan a trip together with the folks on the other traveller thread started by raintribe. biri island and a "mysterious entity"? sounds exciting!!!

[sally bogna mathay]

EXTREME ADVENTURE IN MISAMIS ORIENTAL (part 1)

 

How many times have I done something really extreme? Let me see. I’ve climbed a mountain in Famy, Laguna. Done the jungle trail in Subic, Zambales. Gone up and down Taal Volcano in Batangas – twice, both on a Good Friday – and waded in its warm, sulfuric waters. They were relatively exhausting, but not extreme enough. What about river rafting? No, I haven’t done that before. Never thought I could do it. Not until a friend convinced me to conquer my fear of water…and do something really extreme!

 

We took the flight to Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and landed at Lumbia Airport just a few minutes after sunrise. One of the officers of the Northern Mindanao Mountaineering Society (NorMMS), whom I had contacted a week before to make the arrangements for our extreme adventure, advised us to rest the whole day because, he stressed, we will be needing every ounce of strength when we take on the river and the elements. Thinking I was fit enough, I did not bother to heed his advice and proceeded instead to the heart of the city to get a feel of Cagayan de Oro. At least, if I should chicken out at the last moment, I can say that my trip wasn’t wasted.

 

After lunch, we proceeded to the NorMMS office on Tiano Streetas had been agreed upon earlier. They made us sign a waiver which, in effect, absolves them from any liability should any accident happen while we are river rafting. We were alaso asked to shell out 800 pesos each. Fair enough, I thought, although I was a bit hesitant at first. What if their raft was not river worthy? What if these guys were not really paddlers? But then, a fellow journalist based in CDO, assuaged our fears and said these guys were the best when it comes to river rafting in this part of the Philippines. Still, I had a hundred questions on my mind when we finally got on a van and proceeded to Barangay Kabula, a 45-minute drive from the center of the city where we were to shove off.

 

And then I saw it.

 

The mighty river begins in the mountains surrounding Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao. Its foamy water emanate from several streams and waterfalls, including the famous Maria Cristina Falls in Lanao del Norte, the neighboring province on the southwest.

 

Upon reaching CDO, the river continues to flow smoothly, breaking into tributaries that ensure the fertility of the plains and valleys nearby. But once it enters rugged terrain, the CDO River gathers speed and unleashes its true power. It is here where only the bravest would dare take on the tortuous torrent and numerous rapids.

 

Understandably, those who have never tried river rafting, including myself, look at it with a bit of apprehension. For first-timers, the race is not really against the clock but against one’s own fears. Well, first of all, as stated earlier, I have this fear of water. Second, I don’t know how to swim, especially in a fast flowing river. Third, I’ve only paddles once in my life. I think it was way back in college when I paddled a dinghy at Tadlac, that inland lake between Calamba and Los Banos.

 

Our guides reassured me that I won’t have any time to swim should the raft overturn because the current is so swift anyway, it will prevent me from doing anything else. All I need to do, they added, is to lie on my back and float with my chest up. Easier said than done.

 

Before we hit the water, the NorMMS president conducted a five-minute briefing on how to paddle, which is basically what novices in this extreme sport will be doing. He emphasized the importance of following his instructions to the letter while we are on his raft.

 

It is important to have the right equipment, which consists of a life vest, helmet, paddles, and, of course, the raft. The NorMMS people also bring their own pump to ensure that the raft has the right amount of air. Too much and you’ll bounce off easily, while if it’s less than usual, the water can overturn the raft quite quickly. You must also concentrate on the task at hand. In other words, forget about anything else while you are river rafting.

 

Finally, we took off. Based on what I had read on the way, the CDO River has Grade 1-4 rapids. Needless to say, I couldn’t initially distinguish which was Grade-what. In fact, I was so tense as we approached the first rapid that I forgot to breathe for several seconds. Only the muscles in my arms moved as I gazed at the menacing rocks of various shapes and sizes that lay ahead on the invisible path that our raft was taking. I also prayed to every saint I knew to guide us. But after these initial moments of fright, I knew I was hooked on this thing they call river rafting.

 

I learned later that the grade of every rapid is determined by several factors, which include speed of the water, room for maneuvering the raft, and distance from opposite banks, among others

 

At certain areas, the river flows too quietly for comfort. But while covers everything in its path, it sometimes makes way for some huge boulder that appears out of nowhere. It can also become treacherous without any warning at some points. This is where the instructions on paddling the correct way in the right direction come in handy.

 

River rafting is neither for the faint-hearted nor for those whose nerves are easily frayed. The fear of going overboard or the raft capsizing at any time is magnified at the appearance of every obstacle, be it rapid or rock. However, it also has a different kind of thrill. At some point, I imagined being on the Amazon searching for El Dorado.

 

By the time we reached the second rapid, my fears had gone and my confidence was building up. It was almost just like the first one. However, this time the current was like three times faster. On the third rapid, the rocks were definitely sharper. So what? If these NorMMS guys can do it, so can someone like me – despite my being in experienced and overweight.

 

We were seven on the raft, with five of the passengers all having done this before at least once. The only other rookie was a DOT employee who was, as she told me afterwards, doing it for the sole reason of being able to describe the whole experience to future would-be paddlers.

 

After overcoming the initial rush of adrenalin, the thought of drowning and the possibility of smashing against the rocks, I decided that this was not going to be the last time I’ll go through this adventure. The reality of going up against such forces with a magnificent backdrop of jagged cliffs, impenetrable jungles and shrieking birds makes the spirit soar and the mind wander – what more could possibly lie in store after the nest rapid?

 

Physically, river rafting is not too demanding. But mentally, it’s a punishing exercise as you try to keep your wits together while listening to commands on how hard and fast one should paddle and how to avoid the rocks at the same time – all these while ice cold water splashes and gives you the shivers.

 

After the seventh rapid, it was time to take a rest. We pulled over to a sport where the NorMMS people usually asked the new rafters if they wanted to continue or quit. By then I was already addicted to river rafting and had no second thoughts about continuing. They all laughed and said I ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Right they were, because the ninth rapid took some skillful navigation and a last-minute change in paddling direction and strength before we were successfully able to get over it.

 

Placid in the wilderness, the river presents a unique challenge to mind and muscle. The tenth rapid was something else because I felt that our raft went up in the air by at least a couple of feet before landing hard on the water. In all, there were 14 rapids that my six companions and I were able to conquer. Yes, I did it! But that was only a third of the river’s total length.

 

Just as dusk was approaching, I saw the bridge where the rest of the NorMMS members were waiting and cheering for us. After about five hours, the adventure had come to an end. We shook hands and the NorMMS gave me bear hugs. We raised our paddles and used them to “high-five” each other. I felt my shoulders and arms aching. My right knee had a blister after rubbing repeatedly against the inner part of the raft. And I was hungry. For more of this adventure.

[spacepen]

i envy those who get paid to travel! but seriously, the Philippines has so many things to see, yet they're all spread out, and our infrastructure is not good. if only major provincial airports will be transformed into international airports

[sally bogna mathay]

i know...sa bacolod and iloilo, planes have to hit the ground hard because the runway is a bit short. govt should also rehabilitate the pnr. on the bright side, the ferry services have improved. the supercat ferries from bacolod to iloilo, dumaguete to cebu, camiguin to cdo are really nice...fast, clean and reliable. but the ferry from infanta to polilio island in quezon is very different...

[pokpok]

Sally,

Have you been to Subic lately? Maybe you can write a review? Thanks!

 

I have been to

Italy - Rome-Venice-Naples

Belgium-Brussels

France-Paris

Germany-Cologne

England-London

USA- most everywhere except Hawaii

 

My favorite place in Europe is Italy specially the smaller towns. The scenery is straight out of a postcard. The young people are generally friendly and all of the people I had a converstion with didn't mind my fractured Italian. I didn't meet anyone who I would consider fluent in english, but heck I was in Italy! This made for some interesting conversations with women I was trying to hook up with. No success, but I felt like I was soooo close. Just didn't know the italian word for shag! I did manage to score with this unbelievably hot French-Canadian blondie on a train from Venice to Paris. She was visiting her mother in Paris and decided to spend a few days in Venice. I was by myself with a bed in a cabin, she had 4 other people in hers. I invited her to stay with me and she accepted. We were up all night like rabbits! Overall Italy rocks. Literally and figuratively! The first time I went to Italy, I was 14 walking in a small town (Loretto) with 4 of my friends in the afternoon drinking a bottle of wine. One of my fondest childhood memories.

 

Brussels is so romantic. I went with my american gf who turned out to be a psycho! When we got there, the airlines lost her bags and she cried and stayed in our room for a whole day waiting for her bags. Ever so sensitive, I explored the city by myself for one day. Ended up in this bar drinking Belgian Beer which was surprisingly good. Don't laugh, but the Belgian waffles are out of this world. I was hitting on this girl in the bar, then I remebered my psycho gf, so I went back to the hotel. Visit Brussels before Paris. The people are friendlier, the city is cleaner, and I found it to be more romantic than Paris.

 

Paris is the most overated city in the world! The place is dirty, the people are the most arrogant SOBs you'll ever meet and the food sucks! Ok, the last part isn't true. The only redeeming point about Paris is the Louvre. It is an art lovers wet dream. The Mona Lisa is so tiny, I laughed out loud when I saw it. Looked like something you would hang in your bathroom. I would not recommend Paris to anyone.

 

Cologne Germany is too industrialized for me. I felt like I was in New Jersey.

 

I was in London only for 3 days. Went on a bus tour of all the attractions that ended at Buckingham palace. Ate at a fantastic Indian restaurant. Spent some time at a bar called "the electric soho" and regretfully at the hard rock cafe. The band Oasis was in the concert one night, but the tickets were sold out, and I didn't trust the scalpers. Would love to come back to London for a longer stay.

 

From all of my travels, I've come to the realization that Filipinas in the Philippines are the most beautiful, bar none. Sure there is a beauty drain to Japan much like a brain drain to the States but still, in Manila alone, eye candy everywhere. But then again, I haven't been to Australia

 

Next stop

Plantation Bay

Pagudpud

Bantayan Islands

Subic Bay

Bacolod - to meet my gf's parents.

[LexLuthor]

Glad to see a fellow Europe-traveled person.

Spain - Drove from Barcelona all the way to the French Border

France - drove all the way from Spanish Border to Paris.

England - from South of London to York, Wales, Shropshire

Ireland - Dublin, Waterford and Wicklow

Japan - Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Himeji - just had a thrill doing the skinsansen thing

Korea - saw the DMZ

Hongkong

Taiwan - From Kaohshiung to Taipeh

USA - CA, WA, TX, CO, ID, NV, FL, NY, NJ, CT

 

My France and Spain experience was special because I traveled with my exboss ( who is French) and his wife. He had a BMW 7 series and he had an apartment in Spain and a vineyard villa in Southern France (Corbiere region). Barcelona, what can I say, they are like Filipinos. In Barcelona, walking along La Rambla (their famous boulevard) you recognize fellow Filipinos. You might not know them but you know fellow Fils and they can tell about you too. In Barcelona, dinner does not start until 9pm. What else can I say. Food, one thing, they have paella and they have jamon de serrano (good ham). They also have San Miguel (Spain). I got to drive the autopista (Spanish autobahn), the French autoroute (French Autobahn). Driving these roads are incredibly expensive. I think it was about equivalent $70 driving the autopista/autoroute from Barcelona to Narbonne France. Another equivalent amount all the way to Paris. The big experience is this, you are driving a 160 kph (100mph) on the 2-lane autoroute (right lane of course) and you see a car in your rearview mirror ----far away---- flash his headlights - and in a few seconds you feel the car overtake on the left as if your car was standing still. You hear the roar of the porsche engine as it passes, the push of the wind on your car as the porsche is going by. You just estimate that it is probably going ove 200kph. The porsche passes and merges to the right to keep the left lane clear for any cars that wish to pass. Normal courtesy.

 

Well I got to see Scenic France starting with the French Riviera - Nice, Antibe, Cannes, Monte Carlo. It is true, on the beaches, the women go topless. This is funny, I saw a lady with a bikini take off her bottom on the beach, shake off the sand and put the bottoms back on. I did not know how to take that. My boss said that she probably did not want to pay to go in the pay dressing room. More, the beach chairs on the beach are for rent. From Monte Carlo hills, it is close enough to see Italy but that was not in the Itinerary. I did get to take a peek in the Casino in Monte Carlo. In Cannes, I got to walk the Boulevard des Anglais used in many movies, rock videos and site around the Cannes Film Festival. The fish soup in Southern France is the best. I got to drive through Arles ---- the sunflowers go crazy there and Van Gogh is famous for painting the sunflowers. Many other places like Lyon which is a college town as well as town where the french aerospace industry is. Had Coq Au Vin - ok - chicken cooked in red wine - big deal - chicken adobo is better.

 

Paris ----- is beautiful. The parisian people are beautiful but the parisians' attitude stinks. They think that they are God's gift to the world. The parisians think that they own culture and the rest of the world are barbarians. My boss pointed this fact out to me and even translated their high brow attitude when he hears their conversation. My boss is not a parisian! The food in paris is fantastic. You need someone to take you to a good restaurant and order the food for you. One thing, dogs are allowed in restaurants! I got a chance to experience the full French Cuisine, starting with the aperitif, the appetizers, ok I remember that I had escargot. It was presented in tray - kind of like an icecube tray except circuilar indentations and they give you an escargo fork. I also had stingray and served with a funny fish knife that looked like a cake cutter. And of course different wines to go with the meal. Although the food was seafood, they served special red wines. And red wines are not chilled but served at room temp. Enough of that. In Paris, do the tourist thing, the tower Eiffel, the ARC, and the walks down the Champs. On Sunday, got to go to Notre Dame Cathedral and got to listen to the choir sing with the magnificent organ. This is highly recommended - very few places where the choir is so good along with the acoustics of the cathedral and accomplished organ player. If you have your coffee in an outside a cafe on Sunday morning by the Champs, you will see the some parisians riding horses in a group(dressed in spats and riding caps). My boss said that they were the children of the very rich going for their ride. Alongside the Notre Dame Cathedral is the River Seine. There are good walking areas on the left and right banks (rive salt and rive gauche) but only recommended only in the daytime. At night, some of these walking paths are cruised by prostitutes, transvs and people you do now want to meet. Get pictures taken in front of the designer houses like Lui Vitton, Chloe, Channel, Charles Jordan and other names only seen in magazines. So the leather goods might be expensive in these places but they are designs that might not be available outside of France. Another thing, they have colognes and perfume lines that are also not available outside of Paris. Sadly, did not have time to see the Louvre. Do the parisian thing, sit on an outside cafe table drinking pernod - (red liquer that turns yellow when ice and icewater is added) in front of the Champs watching the beautiful people walk by. I did not do this but you can do the American thing and have a burget at burger king with wine - they do serve it there. You can also do a simple french thing like going to the nearest patisserie and get a baggette (french thin bread), get a slice of cheese (brie is ok - camembert is too strong) from a fromage shop (cheese) and sit outside in a park eating the cheese and bread - one thing missing is the paper but they are in french. Don't ask for tap water - it is unhealthy and you willl get the strangest looks. Ask for bottled flat water or carbonated water.

 

French Beer? French don't know how to make beer. San Miguel is better.

 

There was a parade on the Champs around the ARC with French sailors passing by. I saw some ladies come to the sailors and patted the top to the sailors' hats (the pompoms) and kiss the sailors on the cheek. My boss said that it was for good luck.

 

To be continued