Vatican Circus

Parused the Musei Vaticani today for all of 3.5 hours! Honestly, you can spend a whole day there... but my feet were not having it! And of course, on the way to the museum I was asked 15 or so times if I was in need of a guided tour for the bargain price of 40€... No thank you! I bought a student ticket at the Vatican ticket counter for 8€, and I was lucky because I only had to wait in line for approximately 20 minutes to get in. I made sure to see the key wings of the museum, which can be difficult to muster as there are over 1000 rooms in that place.

There were rooms and rooms of marble statues, busts, gods and goddesses... the collection is endless, and the walls and ceilings are so rich and opulently decorated. Everywhere you look it is framed with flowered gold leaf frames or detailing... the papal logo (2 keys, a Pope hat, and crest) is represented in the ceilings and mosaics on the floor. Literally no end to the art... I wonder if the Catholic church has had the Vatican appraised as to what its value would be in today's currency. I cannot even venture a guess... I'm only speaking of appraising the building itself, without the art... the art alone might even surpass the value of the building! I don't know, but I do not that the benches I sat on, the posts I leaned on, and the flower beds I admired were all entirely made of marble. I promise to post pictures as soon as I can get wireless working on my iPod!

And yes, I was able to take a few pictures in the Capella Sistina! In addition to the halls and chambers of frescos and marble, the museum had on display some of the super high-end Catholic utensils, chalices, ceremonial papal capes, oil lamps, gold bibles, and jewelry. These were left closer to the end of the tour, so one could pop into the gift shop and purchase copies for a couple hundred euro. No, no I did not purchase anything from the Vatican gift shop... I waited and bought a small, blessed rosary from a small boutique a few blocks away. My other reward is that some of the pictures I took with my Olympus are so pretty that they will likely be turned into Christmas cards for family and friends! Yay!

I did not go to the beach today however... instead I wandered in the Villa Borghese which is a massive parc full of busts and statues, small museums, outdoor stages, scenic lookouts, and a zoo! Those who know me can just guess what I did for the remainder of the day... Zoo! The Rome Zoo is not large, but it is beautiful, and has ample of everything. When going to view animals in an unatural habitat, going in the afternoon is a gamble because they will typically be napping inside their dens and hidden from sight; not the case today! This zoo has the right idea, make the mid afternoon feeding time so the animals will be awake and animated for the tourists. Perfect! Quite surprising was that the enclosures were really clean, and most had staff nearby busy doing something: feeding, interacting with the animals (the seals in this case), grooming the animals (de-mucking the donkey's hooves), or just cleaning the site. Out of all the animals parks and bio attractions I have visited this one makes the top of the list!

My room mate, Milka, and I are currently splitting the cost of laundry. Rome hostel wants 4€ for use of the washer, and another 4€ for the dryer... so we have combined forces to chop the price in half. Hiya! So glad I have such a cool roomie!

Before I went to the Vatican this morning, I stopped by the train station and booked my seat for Firenze in the a.m.! Travelling in Italy costs 10€, as a sort of flat-rate even if it's not a high speed train. Weird.

I've been thinking a lot about my film, and a lot about Tasha and Tatyana! I cannot believe I left home nearly 2 weeks ago for Europe... I can hardly believe I'm here! And that the Camino is happening in less than a month!!! I have been walking non-stop since being here, and I just want to keep on going... I cannot wait to get on the trail, with Tasha and Tatyana, positive thoughts through and through! Wash cycle is over, time to put my clothes in the dryer!!

Mi Scuzi!

After a very long journey by train, I arrived in Rome yesterday! The trip started at 7:45 a.m. in Bern, switched trains in Milan, and docked around 3 p.m. in Roma. My italian is non-existant, so its already been an interesting visit. I am staying at the HI downtown, which is literally a block from the train station... incredibly convienient because the train station has some good and cheap sandwich shops, and the Metro built right into it! Before heading to the hostel I purchased what is called a 'Roma Pass', which gives the holder 3 days of included public transit, 2 free museum entrances and then discounts on museum and site entrance fees after that. Found the hostel, put my bags down, and in walks my new room mate Milgas (*need to check the spelling). We hit it off, and within moments of meeting we are out in the street exploring our surroundings. We saw the Fontana di Trevi (from the film 'La Dolce Vita'), the Coloseum, the Quirinale, the Palazzo di Exposizione, walked the perimiter of the Arco di Tito, and the monumento a Vittorio Emmanuele II... the route we took had us walking for 4.5 hours! There is always something to look at, somewhere to get lost... Rome is awesome! Bonus: within the first 5 minutes of going out adventuring yesterday, I saw a Space Invader! For those who aren't aware, Space Invader is a street artist who is based in Paris, but who travels around and leaves his alien tile art in other major cities. I took a picture of it with my camera, but not my iPod... sorry Fernando! Everywhere you look, it is absolutely gorgeous. Ruins all over, fountains, piazzas, nice gardens. The street vendors narrow right in on the tourists; for instance, instead of showing you a scarf with the Vatican on it, they start to wrap it around you and tell you how pretty you look! Ah! In addition, the vendors who sell food will come right up to you and say "DRINK! Very cold drink! Drink, drink!", until you walk away. Today I was planning on seeing the Vatican Museum; however, turns out that the Pope makes his weekly address on Wednesdays! My room mate Charlie and two other Brazilian girls made our way to St. Peters Square, grabbed some great seats, and saw the Papa himself. Really, when in Rome... He is literally like a rock star. People were freaking out to see him live and in person. Everything was said in 5 different languages, and the Vatican officials acknowledged all the special groups present. Afterwards he blessed the crowd, and was so kind as to extend his blessing to our family members. I made sure to pick up a blessed rosary from one of the nearby shops... Hostelling is sometimes hit or miss... but I feel so far that I have been really fortunate in my hostelling experiences. This time around I have met Charlie, a pastor and personal trainer from New York. He is the one who told me that the Pope address was happening this morning. He is a super nice guy who is travelling for 40 days, to see new things, and walk the whole time. When I told him about the Camino he was floored... he had never heard of it and is now interested in doing it the next opportunity he finds for travel! This is exactly what I want; I want to inspire people to do something new, or that others may find a little crazy... the Camino is exactly that! A journey that is entirely for the pilgrim and is a chance to think and be in your own head, overcome obstacles, change your way of looking at things, physical change... Charlie was really blown away by all this. I am so glad I was able to introduce him to something totally different that he might enjoy! Anyways, after the Vatican, the four of us walked over to the Castel Sant Angelo. At this point we broke off, I went into the museum and the others headed to see the area surrounding. At first I was worried about the Castel... not sure it would be worth the time or the money. Luckily with the Roma pass entry was free, and the building ended up being really cool. It's also a mausoleum... creepy! I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the halls of the Galleria Nazionale di Arte in the Palazzo Barberini. Spent my time enjoying the works of Frau Filippo Lippi, Caravaggio, El Greco... Rooms upon rooms dedicated to the different schools or art throughout the centuries; even a few trytichs! The Palazzo itself is nothing short of amazing; every ceiling is lavishly decorated and painted. Not allowed to take pictures in the museum, but if you know me, then you know my camera was constantly nearby... So, tomorrow, my plan is to see the Vatican museum and afterwards I am going to try and get to the beach! It was 28 C yesterday at 3:30 p.m., and close to 30 C today, so an afternoon on a beach will be glorious. I only have 9 minutes of free internet left! Must update Facebook! Ciao.

Lo-Lo-Lausanne!

Immense gratitude goes out to Anonymous for funding our 'To The End Of The World' documentary! I'm so thankful for the support... If you haven't already, please check out www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc and instruct your friends and family to do the same! Receive a a special blog mention or even a film credit ;-)

I made it in one piece to Lausanne, Switzerland. The biggest challenge I am facing at this very moment is the keyboard. The 'z' is in a funky place, and so is the '@' sign, and the exclamation point! I had to ask for help to find it...

Before leaving Montreal, I was able to meet up with my fantabulous friend, April Passi! She is such a great friend, and such a brave woman... working full-time at a high school teaching French, and a variety of other subjects (I forget which ones). She met up with my parents and me for just over 30 minutes, and we were able to enjoy a coffee and sammie before we had to zip to the airport. April, i will be thinking of you constantly as I venture through Switzerland! Bern is next!

Anyhow, the flight to Paris was an overnighter, and my plan was to sleep the whole way so I could be fresh and spunky when I arrived. Well, this was impossible, as the plane was packed and there were 2 babies in the row behind me that cried and screamed the WHOLE way! I didn't know who to feel bad for... the parents, the kids (who hopefully had some sort of ear issue or some good reason to be so miserable), or everyone who was kept awake by the baby banshees.

Regardless, the plane food was hilarious. Paté chinois, greek salad, tea and a classic... mystery tar brownie. No plane ride is complete without one of those crazy looking sticky, black brownies. Oh, and a white wine! (P.s. you don't even understand how fast I'm typing right now... 5 euros for just over an hour on the computer... good Lord!)

Laurene met me bright and early at the Charles de Gaulle airport, and off we went back to her fiance's place near the Porte de Bagnolet metro. She noticed right away that I had transformed into a zombie, and so when we got to the apartment I took a much needed 3 hour nap! Not to waste too much time, she woke me up and off we went to meet up for a coffee with her friend Claire-Lise. From there we walked to the Eiffel Tower (we didn't climb it... but I'm honestly okay with that!), admired the military academy, then to Les Champs Elysées, L'Arc de Triomphe, le Pont Alexandre III, le Sacré Coeur (we did climb all the steps there, but not on our knees).

The following day I set off early on my own and visited le Chateau Versailles. I got to the Chateau around 9:45 a.m., and wasn't done looking around until approximately 1 p.m.! I made sure to grab an audioguide at the entrance so I could soak in the whole experience... Getting there early is truly the trick for success. When I arrived the crowd hadn't amassed yet, I got the chance to really poke around and not be pushed or squished by the masses. On the way out the Chateau and the gardens where extremely crowded, as school groups had begun to take the place over. That afternoon Laurene and I met up at la Cathedrale Notre Dame, visited the inside, and then proceeded to galivant around the neighborhood. We walked to le Palais du Louvre, but on Tuesdays museums are closed... That's okay! Another expresso nearby! We got caught in the rain for a little while, but once again, expresso to the rescue!

That evening I was invited to join in on a couscous dinner party hosted by Max's (Laurene's fiancé) friends. Lots of wine, munchies, and dinner was exceptional... authentic morroccan cooking, so amazing! Yesterday was my last full day in Paris. Laurene and I met up at 10 a.m. and walked to Père Lachaise cemetary and tried to find Edith Piaf... to no avail, she is well hidden. However, we did find Molière, Jean de la Fontaine (he wrote all the fables!), Oscar Wilde, and a few French celebrities that Laurene was aware of. Such a spooky place, and it is HUGE! After our cemetary walk, we took the metro to entre the neighborhood named le 'Sentier'. This area is full of cheap, cool clothes! I cannot wait to come back beginning of June and get some camel coloured, gypsy\Indiana Jones pants... I am wearing those babies on the plane ride home, I promise!

Also, we took a guided tour of the Paris Opera AKA Palais Garnier. The tour was totally worth it, there are so many details that you can easily overlook when visiting the Opera. It's so ornate, ultra barocque, and done in what's called 'Napoleon III style'. We never stopped walking the whole time I was in Paris. My calves are ridiculous right now.

I only have 4 minutes left on the internet timer... AH!

Okay, so today, woke up, went to McDonald's for the wifi, and packed my things for Lausanne. Only 1 minute left... posting this, and will update as soon as I can!

On a Jet Plane...

Immense gratitude goes out to Camille Maheu for helping fund the 'To The End Of The World' documentary on Indiegogo! My name thanks for your contribution, cannot wait to start filming!

Only 2 hours until me and the parental units leave for the Montreal airport. The dog is suspicious of what's going on... he keeps walking on my stuff, growling and whining at me. Last night he was laying on my piles of travel clothes chewing on a toy. He either doesn't want me to go, or he thinks I should pick out different outfits!

A few more things to accomplish this morning; sync ipod/charge it, shower, attempt to fit everything in my pack, console sad bichon, create business cards, and put some makeup on! Tough day...

Have a wonderful Sunday everybody! France, here I come!

Departure in O.M.G.

Endless gratitude going out to Eric Kougioumoutzakis and Rae-Anna Maitland! They have the honour of being the first funders backing the 'To The End of the World' documentary! They get to enjoy some of the perks I have offered to those backing the doc... Eric and Rae-Anna, thank you x1,000,000 for your support and encouragement! Remember to keep spreading the word so perhaps your friends and family may join you in also enjoying the lovely perks of being a funder for the doc!

For more information about the project and on how you can support the creation of this documentary, click http://www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc to get right to the campaign's home page.

Departure for Europe is so soon! The flight leaves from Montreal on Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. and I still have quite a lot to do. My plan is to mock-pack my bag a few times in order to fit everything in effectively.

Definitely am going to have to look up how it would be best to pack the sound equipment and camera, a PD170. What I have heard thus far from peers is that it is probably best to carry the camera in a carry-on fashion. What I imagine this is good for is to prove to customs that it is not a mule of any kind, and that it is in working order. Have I mentioned how excited I am do be going overseas to shoot a film?! 'Cause I am SO excited!

I worked one last shift at the pool today, took care of my dog, picked up the parents from each of their workplaces, picked up my cousin in Alta Vista... and after all that, went out for a big dinner at a restaurant in Kanata called 'Crazy Horse'. It's a country-western bar that plays great country hits, the staff wear huge belt buckles and daisy dukes, and the menu is fantastic. They have a burger called the 'Koo Koo Cheval', get it?

My parents and brother, aunt Paule and her kids, uncle Jacques, aunt Gail and their two kids, as well as my cousin Celine sat down together to a rowdy delicious feast. It was a medley of celebrations: my father's birthday is at the end of the month, and my aunt Paule's birthday was yesterday, and my departure on Sunday. Happy birthday to you Dad, and a happy belated birthday to Paulie... spinning class will not be as fun without me!

What I love best about gatherings is listening to different people's stories. I've always felt a bit distant from my uncle Jacques, much to do with the fact that we don't get the chance to visit often; however, tonight I really enjoyed listening to him tell stories from his recent trip to Whistler, his train stories from his France-Italy travels back in the early 80's... he is captivating when he speaks, and he is very intuitive! From his family I received the perfect hiking gift: a blister care kit! My soles, heels, and toes thank you so much for such a great present!

Off to bed now, I've got my last class tomorrow morning!

IMPORTANT NEWS!

THIS JUST IN!

We are now on Indiegogo, this is a website that helps fund all kinds of projects such as movies, food, art, writing... But here's the deal, it's up to YOU, the followers to check out the project on Indiegogo, contribute, and encourage all you friends, family, and favourite travellers to do the same!

The link for our documentary film project is: http://www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc

While on the site make sure to check out all the other projects that are being featured. So many of them are so interesting and creative!

Today has been such a productive day. While dad and I were looking at the Eurail website last night, we noticed some small print that says you cannot purchase Eurail passes while in Europe. Oh no! It was totally my plan to buy my pass when I got to Paris. When I called to find out more information and see if I could get the pass rushed to my house overnight, the representative on the phone became very stressed about the time crunch. Luckily, I had my problem-solver-hat on this morning and asked the gentleman if there were any outlets in Ottawa that would sell me a pass on the spot. Yes, there are! Conveniently, the place he referred me was Adventure Travel on Richmond Rd. which is located directly across from Mountain Equipment Coop; also on my list of places to go. The pass I chose is the 3 country pass that goes between France, Switzerland, and Italy; cannot wait to consume authentic italian everything!

Bought my pass at Adventure Travel, made a return at Bushtukah, purchased proper hiking pants and a pack rain cover. Four things checked off the trip to do list! Score!

But seriously ya'll, help a sister out and share this link with everybody on you Facebook, email and phone list: http://www.indiegogo.com/caminodoc

Thanks so much, you are all amazing!

Time is Short!

Finally, after wishing and hoping it would happen, I was able to spend this past weekend in Sudbury, Ontario. Left a rainy Ottawa behind on Friday at 12:01 a.m., and arrived in a blizzard in Sudbury at 6:30 a.m. It is my feeling that taking the Greyhound is a must on the life experience list; double trouble if you get the opportunity to stop in Chalk River on route to your destination.

I am so fortunate to have such wonderful friends in my life! They love me even when I get a random cold and lose my voice... regardless, I had a wonderful time with them. It has been so long since the last time Caitlin and I got together! So grateful to both her and Derek for taking me in for the weekend. Thanks so much, ya'll rock!

Was also able to spent some quality time with my good pal Michelle. She is graduating this year and is moving to Barrie, Ont. in a few weeks to start an amazing life with her love, Alex and their two cats Nancy and Steven. We even got into talks about her introducing me to Wasaga Beach in the summer... road trip!

Jacqueline, the lovely woman who helped me survive college at Cambrian, was also in town. Unfortunately we weren't able to spend much time together, but we were able to share a pretty wicked hug. Her hugs have miraculous powers, and I felt my blues melt away as we embraced.

I've been trying to deconstruct my new found love for Sudbury. Honestly, when I was there its charms escaped me. All I could focus on was the landscape composed mainly of the black road, grey rocks, dirty snow and an overcast sky. Now that I've graduated and moved home, I definitely have a stronger appreciation for that city and also am somewhat drawn to it. The familiarity of the place makes me feel so at home, nowhere do I feel lost or disoriented. I know the bars, and on what nights they are busy... I even know where to find a spicy eggplant pizza on a whole wheat crust or a Bela Lugosi sandwich for a reasonable price (both, of course, can be found at the Laughing Buddha).

Going there this past weekend I think I've finally discovered what it is I like the most about Sudbury; there are no surprises. Of course there are surprises, but what I mean is that I know what to expect from the place... So now, I love it. Not to worry mom and dad (they read this blog!), I will not be moving to Sudbury. Just know that I will be finding reasons to return there every so often throughout the next few years.

Another thing I love completely is Facebook. It is a miracle to a military brat such as myself. Facebook has given me the opportunity to reconnect with so many wonderful people that I have encountered through my life. It has become a primary method of contact with so many of my friends, particularly those who live abroad. One of those friends being Laurene, who I met in first year at Laurentian. She was there on exchange from France. Last time I went to Spain I was able to visit her in Bordeaux, France where she lives now.

My awesome friend Laurene is going to meet me in Paris on March 28th! Not only will she meet me there, she is actually going to pick me up from the airport at 8 a.m. when I arrive. She and her boyfriend have recently become engaged, so I will be meeting him as well.

On Sunday my first ever film, 'GUARD TEAM' was shown at the Wakefield International Film Festival (WIFF) up in Wakefield, Quebec. My film is a little rough, especially in the sound department; however, I am so proud and grateful to have been selected to screen my short film at the festival. Thank you to Brenda and Robert Rooney for spearheading such a great event!

Time is short, and I have only 13 days til my departure for Europe. In this time I have so much to accomplish that now, it's really starting to hit me. All I can think at this point is to "just keep swimming", as a wise fish once said.

Breakfast Hazard

This morning began in the usual fashion. My alarm went off at 8:15, pushed snooze, spent 4 minutes waking Bentley, got vertical, poured coffee, fed the dog. The only unusual part of my routine this morning was choosing a bagel as my breakfast food. Well, that turned out to be a mistake because as I was cutting it in half, which was a challenge because the bagel had been living in the fridge for a few days, the knife did an unexpected fast move and struck my thumb. What an unwelcome surprise at 8:36 a.m.! My immediate reaction was to clamp down on my wounded thumb to stop the bleed, and went quick to the sink. Once there, I collected my thoughts, grabbed a paper towel and then took out an ice-pak from the fridge. 3 things were going through my head: 1. I am going to make a bloody mess, 2. R.E.D. (rest, elevate, direct pressure), 3. Now what? I'm so accustomed to treating injuries at work, then either sending them to the doctor or calling an ambulance that I actually was stumped as to what my next move would be.

After calling my father's cell phone 5 times in 45 seconds, I called my aunt Paule, the nurse, who was at work at the time. She first asked me it"was it a bagel accident?". Well, yes, but what the heck! Turns out bagel accidents are the top breakfast injury in North America...greeeeeaaaaaat.

Next move was to wake my sleepy brother, and he brought me to the clinic. He didn't put up a fight or contest when I asked him to "please bring me to the clinic, I need stitches". Not exactly a statement not to take seriously.

He stayed with me at the clinic, and when it was all over he brought us both home and got ready for school. Wednesdays are a work afternoon for me; I called the pool office and explained the scenario to them... also that I am not permitted to get my fresh stitches wet for at least a day. My wonderful boss told me to stay home and rest, they would get by without me. I've said it before, and I will say it again, my workplace is composed of the most understanding and supportive supervisors and bosses ever. Thank you WBSC! Thank you Michael, my bro, for helping me out this morning!

Anyways, no work for me today, but I am keeping my hair appointment at 5:15p.m.! Highlights at the Algonquin School of Hair Styling.

Thanks for following the blog, you are amazing!

P.s. if considering bagels for breakfast, do not use a steak knife to cut it! Learn from this painful experience!

Crazy Busy!

Since the last post I have been running around like a mad woman!

Friday= Doctor's appointment, at which i was prescribed a vaccine called Menactra to prevent meningitis. Have yet to actually fill the prescription; shots are the worst! The evening was then spent leading a Standard First Aid recertification course for some of my fellow staff members. SFA is such an amazing course to teach; so many bad jokes to be made all while spreading lifesaving knowledge! When I got home that evening I made a spontaneous and amazing decision: I will see Lady Gaga perform at Scotiabank Place this Sunday.

And so, a cheap ticket was purchased and my weekend became instantly incredible.

Saturday= Class all morning; sat by the window and therefore accomplished very little. All this was immediately proceeded by flu-like symptoms and me going home early. Of course, feeling crappy then resulted in an afternoon of Gravol and sleep. I don't even remember what happened Saturday night... what I do recall involves lots of cuddling with Bentley, my crazed bichon frise.

Sunday= Me and dad's glorious return to Sunday A.M. Adult badminton and the Goulbourn Recreation Complex. There was a massive snow dump the night before, so the roads were in terrible shape; this worked to our advantage because attendance was lower than usual to our favourite Sunday sport. We played 6 games in a row without any breaks! Once we got home I prepared report cards for my swim students, went to work for a few hours, took the fastest shower and got ready for Lady Gaga! Completely honest, the show was incredible. My ticket had me seated off to the side at the top of the nosebleeds, so I went 2 rows up to the top of the arena, pulled up a folding chair and sat at a better angle in the cement walkway. I don't think I have ever been so visually stimulated, assaulted, charmed... all at once! One of the concert highlights was right at the beginning when Gaga was having mic problems. A stage hand handed her a working mic into which she declared "At least now you know I don't f***ing lip sync". She kept expressing her deep appreciation to her fans, and also kept saying inspirational messages to the crowd about following your dreams even when other try to bring you down.

(Photo cred: Greg Kolz, fan photo from March 6, 2011 concert at Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, ON. Photo retrieved from www.ottawacitizen.com. If only I had been this close to the stage!)

When I am asked about where I am going at the end of March, the reactions aren't all positive. Half the time people will look surprised when I tell them about the Camino and ask me why I am going on this immense hike, if I've been training to prepare, or if I have thought about how hard a hike like this will be. Others will tell me how great the trip sounds, ask where I will be travelling, and share stories of their experiences abroad. To be completely frank, trying to leave the more negative comments out of my head has been difficult lately. I feel such immense pressure coming from my program and my family that the negative is seeping in. Can I complete my work on time? Will I forget a crucial element in attempting to be successful? Can I be successful in a time crunch such as this?

This is going to sound corny; however, going to the Lady Gaga concert was a truly uplifting experience. Her message made a connection with me, and her music keeps me wanting to dance and smile. She is completely over the top, but when she spoke of keeping your eye on your goal and not letting others get in the way... that is exactly what I need to do!

Honourable mention to one of the funniest websites I have seen in a while... http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com is absolutely amazing! My abs thank you for the great laugh-workout they just received...

I promise to never let 5 days go by between posts ever again! Thanks for following Tasha, Tatyana and my journey!

Autobiography: Tatyana

Introducing Tatyana, the lastest and greatest addition to the Camino trek. Here is her autobiography:

Have you ever hated being the product of a wasteful society and not seeing people anymore but ignorant drones who want it done now?

I'm Tatyana, and thats how I've always felt but it's getting worse; being surrounded by people who only live for money. This is why I wanted to go on the Camino. I needed to go and experience the world, see how people live and grow. I have travelled before with my family to Europe and Cuba but those are vacations... nothing like this.

Being an artist makes you see and analyze things differently. I hope to be inspired by this trip, and I fully intend to make art about this pilgrimage, during and after.

I have been changing quite a lot and never would have thought that going to Spain for a month and walking the whole time would have been on my radar. I don't think I would have even thought of doing this a couple of months ago. I thought it was crazy when Tasha mentioned it, but now that I'm doing it too, I'm shocked. When the thought popped into my head I couldn't believe it and had to tell Tasha right away. I haven't been anywhere since I was 18 and now I am 21, going to school at Georgian College and hoping to complete my Bachelor of Fine Arts in the near future. I know this journey is going to not only be physically demanding, but emotionally and mentally as well, but I'm up for the challenge.

I have waited my whole life for this!

-Tatyana A.

Autobiography: Tasha

Introducing my best friend, Tasha Abel. Here is her mini autobiography:

I am finishing my second round of school and am ready to start travelling again after an eight month hiatus. This will be my third time to Spain and you could assume that my Spanish would be much better then it is.

In September I was ready to take a break from travel life to focus on my career and be with my family, but alas, I could not knock such an amazing opportunity. I have my whole life to work and as for the family bit, just bring a member along with you!

I have travelled extensively which is probably the reason that I was asked to join Nicole on this trip. I will be our go-to person for map-minding, blister treater and just all round moral and mood booster. My experience ranges from outdoor activities, South American journey's, partying hard down under and assisting in keeping kids alive everywhere inbetween with various work contracts.

I am looking forward to setting out on my first trip with people. The dynamics and interactions we will face will definately be written about. I am excited to face new challenges including not jumping on a bus whenever I feel like it and learning to be considerate of people's feelings. Good thing I am starting with my little sis and best friend.

-Tasha A.

Coffee Break

Bridgehead and Beau's Brewery have made the ultimate fusion... Winterbrew beer! They've combined Beau's all-natural beer with fair trade Nicaraguan coffee to create this intense flavour-party-for-the-palette... and it kept me conscious for a fair bit longer than alcohol usually does! Last night I went to a party at the Bridgehead at 96 Sparks in Ottawa that featured this awesome brew. Really hoping that it will be available at the LCBO sometime soon!

I heard about the Bridgehead-Beau's event through an old camp friend, Cameron, who is a barrista (is this a gender neutral term?) at one of the coffee shops. While we were hanging out last night he also recommended I become a couch surfer. I don't know much about couch surfing, but I do know it is an extremely cost effective way to travel AND that joining the couch surfing community is by invitation only... ladies and gentlemen, I may have just found my in. So I'm in the process of signing up with the website... there is so much info to put in... but such great reward in the end.

I didn't clue in until the other day, but this week coming up is my reading week for school!! How college can schedule a March break in the mid-end of February is beyond me. Regardless, this basically means I have made no plans, and it may be too late to make any. Originally I was going to get to Sudbury, Ont. to meet up with some of my amazing friends at Laurentian University. It might take a miracle to pull this one off!!

Anyways, it's the long weekend here because of Monday being deemed 'Family Day'. No difference to me, it's my 'March break' after all! The plan for the week is to get a move on on my school projects, and perhaps pull a trip to the Dirty Nickel AKA Sudbury outta my bag... wish me luck!

(Sudbury, Ont., view of the water tower from the downtown Tim Horton's!)