Yes I've finally arrived...VENICE

Allmost everytime I think of Venice...magically apon command, Vivaldi's four seasons starts playing in my head. Now I don't if this is some strange chemical miss balance...or maybe just a lucky musical talent.

So I took the night train from Vienna (11 hours) and arrived in Venice at 8:30...turned out to be perfect...besides the fact that I don't drink coffee or tea, therefore I didn't get the breakfast sandwhich :(...oh well guess you learn.

Finding my hostel was kind of a tricky situation, but I was able to manage. Finally I get on the bus...and boom...Venice baby. I decided that I was just going to wonder and see what I could see.



I took main streets, side streets, alleys, corners and even nooks. I walked the entire circular route around Venice and just gazed...absolutely amazed by the wonders of this magical city. A city on water. The day was stunning...sunny, no haze, no smell, just absolute majesty...I really don't know how else to explain it except...A perfect day in the city I've wanted to visit since I first opened a book around the age of 10, and there it was...gazing back at me.



As I mentioned the part about Vivaldi, luck turned to be on my side as I walked past an advertisement for a string orchestra. Just take a far out guess on what they happened to be playing...THAT NIGHT? Boy are you guys ever smart...yes...it was Vivaldi's four seasons (plus some other composers that I had no idea)

Well ladies and gentleman...I just had to buy a ticket...so I rushed in there and purchased my ticket, quite excited for that nights event. By now I'm getting a little hungry...especially since I've been walking by all this beautiful smelling food all day. (boy do those wonderful aromas get to you) I had also been thinking to myself how I wish I had someone to take some pictures of me, and basically just to talk to. Again, luck seemed to be on my side. I end up helping an Australian guy find his hotel, and we get talking about some other stuff, so I ask him how many days he's staying and what he's up to later. We talk some more and I give him the opportunity to come see the concert with me. He jumps at the idea...and just like that...I've made a new friend in Venice.

We purchase a pizza from a cheaper area (most of Venice is extremely and I mean EXTREMELY expensive) Also a little scam that these Italians are able to pull is cover charge...oh also a 12 percent addition to your bill...ya pretty cool stuff...I guess.



Onto the concert...We arrive at this enormous old style building that's covered with paintings and unique Italian art. I chat to a few of the people next to me and then the concert starts. Absolutely mesmerizing, all the movements were just as they were supposed to be and I thoroughly enjoyed everthing I heard. Definnitely worth the price and experience.



Next day is more glorious walking...constantly figuring out new nooks and crannies, back streets and unique little shops. The best part is, if you take off from the tourist flow of sheep you can be absolutely alone in all these smaller cannals. Unfortunately if you happen to wander away from the flow of traffic, you have almost no shops to chose from. I think it's because the city is so windy and twervy that you just get lost and probably never find your way back.



A cool side trip I ended up taking was a water taxi across the grande canale. We ended up onto an island on the other side of Venice which was absolutely bare...practically no tourists, just all locals. Great cheap shops, but the best part was climbing to the top of this church. We got to the top and there infront of my eyes...the Venice landscape. The sun splashing against the water, all the old style itialian houses overlooking all that water. Just think, waking up every morning overlooking the grande canale. Yes you pay for it, but living like that...almost nothing better.



Again we tasted the pizza of Venice (the thing in Italy is...Pizza in Venice, Pasta in Rome) This time the pizza was better then the first day. After the pizza...GELATO TIME...and boy oh boy...is this stuff delicious. I've heard the stories of "oh how good the gelato in Italy is" well I guess they're true...sooo many flavours that it grabs your taste buds by the scruff of the neck...shakes it around...mixes the taste buds up then place them back...ya my tongue was pulsating with a flavour explosion of goodness.



Another great tip I recieved to try in Venice was a drink called a Spritze or Spritza or something to that effect. Anyway, it was pretty tasty. It had some fruit type liquor that you can only get in Italy, water, sprite or some fizzy pop, then in plops an olive and slice of orange...ya had numerous drinks of this...some better then others.

You could just fly to Venice just to eat...there's such a wide array of goodies and tasty treats that I could've just spent all my money on food. Now aside from the food Venice is also known for its great festivals, unique masks and costumes. So walking down the many tourist packed streets I would venture into a mask store that caught my eye and peruse the selection. I really wanted a mask, but they were all so pricy...and...bland.



On my third day in Venice I took a much more relaxed approach. Walked a little, went to a few cafes, ate some more pizza, had some pastries and even watched a couple episodes of curb your enthusiasm down a little street. Pretty cool stuff.

After still not finding a mask I had basically given up hope. I didn't want to "just" buy a mask, but actually get a unique mask that I couldn't find anywhere else.



It just so happens that either my instinct made me go in this strange direction or maybe it was the luck of the Irish...anycase it turned out that I literally stumbled upon the best mask shop I had ever seen. The mask that caught my attention was a full face, black eyed, white makeup scary looking thing. Then when I entered the store it was like the halleighluya music was playing. They had Spider-man masks, Wolverine, Captain America, Daredevil, and almost all of Tim Burtons weird creatures he's ever made. Still lots were very expensive...and then I found it. An all black mask, with purple eyebrows (one was raised), red nose and an smirk that needs to be seen. Also it fit my price range, looked awesome on my face...and it was the only one like it. What a find...unfortunately for the folks at home, I didn't think to take a picture of it before I had it all packed up. Therefore, everyone will have to wait until I ship it off to see it. (boy isn't the suspense killing you)



Basically it was the perfect wrap-up for the perfect trip. Three days was enough for me to see all that I wanted to see, tast everything that needs to be tasted and buy everything that needs to be boughten. Next stops Florence, Pisa then Rome.

Sound of Music? Naaaaaw...just Salzburg

Before I headed along my journey to Austria, I made a quick layover in Munich. It´s insane how much cheaper the hostels are now that Oktoberfest is over and done with. Only cost me 17 euros to stay at the best hostel in Munich. The next day before I left to Salzburg I had a little time to kill, so I thought…hey why not go down to the Oktoberfest grounds and see what it looks like. To my jaw droped mouth and staring eyes I couldn´t believe how bare the place looked.

Only a few weeks before, this place was a swarming bee´s nest of tourists and beer drinkers. Now…it´s rainy, dull looking and just a few movers taking things down. I also found out, the beer halls…which look like actual houses. Cost one million euros to put up and take down..and I thought they stayed up all year long…sheesh.

After that gallant journey…it´s off to Salzburg.

Oh and just a side note…it wasn´t until my ride back from Copenhagen did I finally find out it´s not necissary for me to reserve seats on the train. For about four countries, I´ve been told by the train people I needed to reserve the seats…well those seats cost money…so I was a little choked to have paid all the money for the Eurail pass and still be paying extra out of my pockets…whoooie…was I ever pleased to hear I only needed to pay for a ticket if I was taking the over night train. Only down part…standing for two hours…when there´s no seats….ahhh good thing I have youthful knees.

Alrighty then…back to the topic at hand…Salzburg…the home of the magnificient Mozart, the rolling hills(no they are not a band) and the sound of music. And before you ask…no I did not go on the sound of music tour…would you like to know why? Well…I walk down to the place where they meet for this, so called…“world famous, Sound of Music tour“ and I´m greeted by dozens of decked out tourists…singing and dancing to all the different songs from the movie…uh Mom…did I see you amongst those people there?...hahaha just kidding, but seriously I pretended that I was lost…and hightailed it out of there. Geez if news got out that I was attending some Sound of music nerd convention…my goodness…I´d be ruined.

Anyways, Salzburg is another of Europe´s beautiful cities. Divided by a river, surounded by hills and lush greenery, you can just hear the music of Mozart as you gaze through the shops or walk along the river side. After my run in with the nerd squad, I made my way through the city centre. Easily one of the nicest cities I´ve walked through thus far.

The shops are all high end, but built with a very old style look. They all must have these intricate iron signs that hang from their entrance. Very classy and unique.

While strolling along the many streets, I come across a chocolate shop. I look through the windows first…read a few of the signs, then discover that this was Salzburgs first ever chocolate shop. Oh…well excuse me…I muuuuust try this. Pop in…order some chocolates and POW…I´m blown away. Some of the best chocolate I´ve ever tasted…also it sells one very unique chocolate…I think the translation is…the mozart of chocolate. Other´s have tried to copy the recipe, but I tried all those too. This one is by far the tastiest.

After my splurge on chocolate…I hike around some more…until I get to the base of this enormous hill overlooking the city. A sign reads Monestery with a beer mug beside it…ahhh I see…now this must be the hill my Aunt was talking about (quick side note: after walking around for a few hours I realised there were many hills in Salzburg, so finding the monestery one…I thought would be a challenge)

I decide to take the hike of leg numbing proportions, instead of the simple route paved for tourists. Yes the hike was beautiful, and there wasn´t a soul in sight (oh two guys were playing baseball, so stoped to watch for a little), but arriving at the beer hall, boy I was sure hoping the beer was worth it. And sure enough...it was...mmm...goldeny little droplets of beerfullness glory.

Next stop...the crystal mines.

Now I researched this baby out hard core and it looked like one of the coolest places I'd be stoping along my trip. So I took a two hour train ride to the town of Wattens...the original place for Swarovski Crystals and home to this magnificient crystal display.

You may be thinking...oh a crystal display...whopdidooo...hahaha...well little ones it's not solely crystals...it's optical illusions, crystals of gigantic proportions and tons of lights, sounds and movements.

Still the Entrance to the entire thing is my favorite part. It's a huge grass face, with crystal eyes that change colour.

I spent the entire day at the crystal worlds until, I missed my first train back to Salzburg and decided to wonder around the town of Wattens. I tried getting into the Swarovski headquarters, but the guards wouldn't let me by...even when I said I was Canadian...strange.

Returning to Salzburg I met up with a guy I had met in Munich, and we headed back to the Monestery brewhouse...just because I knew I wouldn't be having beer like this for quite a long time.

Finally...the day when I leave it's rainy...therefore it feels good to get on the train and go some place else...unlike these unlucky days when it seems bad, buuuut turns out to be a beautiful day.

All in all, Salzburg is a quiet city. Small enough that you can walk everywhere and see everything that needs to be seen, however it isn't the most eventful city. I think it would be a great place to visit and stay a long period of time when I'm...let's say...closer to retirement...and then maybe I'll take part in that little song and dance they call the sound of music.

Taking it easy in Copenhagen and Neuschwanstein

Ahhhh...the fresh morning breeze, the countryside and a train car completely to myselt. I´m on my way to Copenhagen to kick up my feet a little and do some relaxing...well my whole life is relaxing. Just a break from the go-go of sightseeing.

Denmark, or Copenhagen to be exact, wasn´t even on my list of places to visit. I was just conflicted with what to do. I wanted to go to Krakaw and see Auswitch, but it costs an extra 45 euros just to get inside the Polish border...yipes...wasn´t going to do that. Also I couldn´t pass up this opportunity of going to Copenhagen, when a girl from school messages me and says I can crash at her place...YES Freeness supreme.

The city of Copenhagen is a sight for sore eyes. Nestled along the water with lush greenery, this was a postcard city. My favorite picture of the entire trip was taken in Copenhagen...actually here I´ll show you.

The night I arrive is mostly full of me telling Kristina(the girl from Rocky) about my trip, showing her pictures and just having a good time. The next day however was her day off and getting to see the city. Unfortunately, Kristina doesn´t know all the best things to see, so it was mostly filled with mindless wandering. I did get to see Christiania and the whole city though.

Basically this part of the trip was just taking it easy. Seeing what I could see and doing what there was to do. Now I didn´t end up going to Trivoli, which I was slightly dissapointed about, but hey...them the breaks. Also I heard it was the most expensive place to visit in Copenhagen.

The sole museum I visited in Copenhagen was the Erotic museum. Now this isn´t some stingy, pervy museum for creeps. It´s actually widely recognized across Europe for its documentation of Famous peoples sex lives and the history of sex. It also had an entire section on the rise of Playboy, and the life of Marylin Monroe. I guess you could say...this museum was very..."visually" appealing.

After Copenhagen it was off to a town called Giessen. It´s about an hour away from Frankfurt. Here I was just visiting some girls I met along the trip...and also...free place to stay...ALRIGHT. Nothing to thrilling, just got to walk around a true German town, and a German market which was pretty cool.

Next stop was actually a recomendation from my Auntie Lynne. Geez who would have thought that someone with a PHD is smart...sheesh. The place is Schloss Neuschwanstein. It´s a castle that everyone should be able to recognize...want to know why? Well because it´s the same castle Disney based the Disneyland one after. It´s funny to think about it without the pictures...so have a look for yourself.

Also the best part was who used to live at this castle...his name was King Ludwig...now I didn´t do the big history lesson, but from what I gathered he was missing a few levels to the elevator. Aside from the castle the landscape was beautiful. Big lakes, fields and tons of greenery. I went for a calm stroll throughout the area, but ended up getting pored on...so made a quick way back to the train station. Definitely a worthwhile stop in the trip...glad my Aunt sugested it.

Berlin

I was going to stop at another place before I came to Berlin, but I´ve heard nothing, but great things about this city, so better check it out.

Walking around the city of Berlin it doesn´t really seem real to think that at one time this was split into two different sections. The only time it seems real is when you´re actually standing where they have remains of the wall, or looking at the outline where there used to be the wall. The enormous wall sure puts things into perspective when you stand directly at its base.


My first day in Berlin I was going to take it slow, therefore I thought I´d start with the Creepy Cabinets and Nazi bunkers (for my Auntie Lynne: most of these places are out of the crazy europe book) I end up getting a little lost, but take a cool picture of this cool looking white place...couldn´t find out what the place was.


Eventually I find the bunkers(by following some signs...geez you think that would work right) and it looks pretty cool. I could tell right away this place was older then all the rest. Anyway, entering the building I´m greeted by a headless guy saying welcome to Berlin´s creepy show. The main floor is the creepy toture area and the bottom floor is the bunkers and history. So I choose the bunkers first.



Standing in these bunkers that were actually used by the Nazis is very fascinating. They still have actual intact items used within the bunkers. From newspapers, to escape plans its awesome to think they´ve been able to perserve this stuff. During my visit I wished I could´ve read German, because seeing the stuff is one thing, reading it now thats another. After visiting all the bunkers I head up to the creepy show. At first pretty funny as the robot things are really weak looking, but then the top floor...holy cyclone swirls from Tokyo. I open the door and imediately it slams...ok no biggie. Then I hear all these girls screaming, get me outta here and running to the door. Hmmmm must be good. Out of the corner of my eye I see a figure moving about, so I know he´s coming to scare me. When he does I start to laugh at him...ya probably not the best idea, because I think this made him want to get me real bad. Next I go through some pitched black sections with a little fog...here I get the living soul scared out of me. There´s a sign to distract you as a different guy grabs you, scares you in one direction and the other guy is there with a different mask to scare you more. Well this continues on the entire time...they even start to chase me at the end...whew...boy was my heart beating, buuuut it was sooooo much fun.


Next stop was the Topography of Terrors. When I first read about this place it described it as a chronological ordering of all the things that were planned at the site (the grounds are all old SS headquarters) These giant placards did more then just explain what happened at that very site...they delved into other areas as well. Great little history lesson on some of the goings on in the SS and SA buildings. (I also read and heard a really chilling quote by Himmler on the topic of mass extermination)

The rest of the day was spent wondering big traffic areas with numerous things to see...as it started getting later and I headed back to the hostel I noticed this cute girl walking towards me...she kept her gaze at me so of course I smiled at her...she then started blowing me kisses...now I was shocked a little and thought to myself...geez these German girls are really up front with stuff (also I felt a little good too, it was my first day) soon enough I realized this was where numerous "ladies of the night" were stationed...ohhhh ego deflated.

Next day was time to meet my friend Ben from back home...I wake up extremely early as his flight lands at 8:15. Looking at the Metro map I decide the easiest way and head off...unfortunately for me, the map I had was very old and the lines I had chosen to take...ya they didn´t run anymore. Soooo it takes almost an hour and a half to arrive at the airport (9:30) and I´m thinking to myself...great were going to have missed eachother and it´s going to go all to shambles...well guess who´s at the platform right across the way from where I get in...yes it was Ben...and looks like he´s had a few crazy experiences himself (ended up falling asleep on a bus in Paris and missing his connection)


We arrive at the hostel and go to check in, but ooops they´ve made a mistake on the room...turns out they gave us the biggest room and not the one we asked for. Oh well they knock down the price a little and arrange everything else...then we get up to the room and are blown away. The room is enormous...the view outstanding...and were just loving the mix up.


That night we decide to go on a famous Berlin pub crawl. I've heard that this is one of the best pub crawls in all of Europe...so of course I was going to check it out. You get free beer from 8 until 9 and then entry to four different bars and clubs...I thought the Calgary Stampede pub crawl was crazy...ya this one blew it away. Met sooo many different people, got the group to sing O'Canada with me...great times.



Next day we decide to go on Berlin's free walking tour...and so did around forty other people...also turns out Mother Nature decided it would be a good day to rain. The tour and info was on its own level, but the rain and the wind...brrrrrr. During the tour we visited the Brandanburg Gate.

The Holocaust Memorial.

and much much more. I also learned about the speech that started the fall of the Berlin wall. I had no idea that Gunter Schabowski had the mouth that basically started the fall of the Berlin wall. Unfortunately I can't find it anywhere.



Our next days journey includes the Stasi museum, which turned out to be a tougher find then I orriginally thought. However, once inside this place blew my mind...hidden cameras in tree trunks, microphones in ties, guns in briefcases...sheesh something out of a bonde film. You name the gizmo and it was there. Oh also learning about the history of the Stasi, and their constant tabs on west Berliners was interesting as well...but a button camera...cummon now.



This was also the same day my friend Ben gets a ticket on the train. Normally we don't purchase tickets for the subway or metro, just hop on and off. Unfortunately for my buddy he doesn't have a fall back plan like myself if for some reason we get caught. Well turns out we get asked for our tickets...I whip out the trusted Eurail...no problems (this is actually how I can cut costs...if they charge me for reservations...ha I'm not paying for local transportation...ya sticking it to the system) They go over to Ben...and he's looking at me for help...pfff I don't know what I can do...so he takes him off the train and demands payment...Ben tries to coerce the guy to let him off, but the guys english isn't too good when we near these points. So to keep it short, he ends up paying a 40 euro fine...YIPES...not a very happy camper after this.


It seems after the ticket that nothing was going to work out for Ben. We go looking for the Ramones musuem, but that turned out to not open until the day we left...then we head over to Lego-Land and it costs 20 euros to get in...again not going to happen. Oh well, we decide to check out the longest stretch of the Berlin wall...now this my friends...turns out to be open, and free. The spray paint art on the side of the wall is eye popping and just walking along this huge stretch of the wall is something else.



Soon after walking the wall we head to a recommended area by our tour guide, the Russian war memorial. This place is much different then the war memorials around Vimy ridge. It has enormous statues, placards and different shrines all over. My favorite part was the huge statue at the end of the grounds, which had a Russian type hero stepping on the swatstika, holding an enormous sword, a kids and has a flowing cape.



Other places we saw on our trip in Berlin included the Richstag, the Olympic grounds, checkpoint charlie, the parking area of Hitlers final resting area and the last remaining building of world war two. The Luftwaffen headquarters. Pictures and explanations of the building during that time don't lie. This thing was dark and grey looking, with doors the size of giants and a handle the size of a small child...also the door handles come up to atleast my neck and I'm pretty close to six foot so just picture that...pretty intimidating. Wish I took a picture of it, but ahhh it was too cold...guess an actual brain freeze happened.


All in all it was awesome that I was able to meet up with my friend from back home, and holy smokes does Berlin hold sooo much history. I see now why so many people come here, and end up staying weeks even months on end. After spending 5 days in Berlin,I wanted to stay longer... there's still more stuff that I didn't get a chance to see...boy is this city vast.

OKTOBERFEST

Well the stories about this place don´t lie. During Oktoberfest Munich is jammed packed with english speaking people ready to get as much beer in them as humanly possible. Perfect time for some adventures...

What I first thought about Oktoberfest was you´d pay to get in the grounds...they´d sit you at a table, and then they just bring you as much beer as you want. Turns out I was waaaaay out in left field. Here´s a picture for you...I meet up with some others who´ve never been to Oktoberfest and we commence down to the grounds. I´m thinking there´s going to be an orderly fashion about this...woah momma...nope.

If you´re lucky enough to find a spot, flag down a person to bring you a beer and have enough for an 8.25 beer, then you´re well on your way to the glory of Oktoberfest. Now don´t get me wrong, the glasses are the biggest things I´ve seen in my life...you could lose small children inside them. Also the beers pretty good too.
Oktoberfest is absolutely massive...people everywhere, the smells of food floating inside your nostrils, the sounds and lights going off everywhere. It´s baseically an enormous adult carnival...even though there´s lots of kids there too.
I tried everything from giant winiersnitzles to candied almonds...by far some of the most fun I´ve had at a carnival in a long time...actually just walking around watching people can be pretty amusing as well.

Still one of my craziest experiences thus far had nothing to do with Oktoberfest...it had to do with getting back to my hostel.

Walking back to my hostel after closing at Oktoberfest I get turned around in the barrage of people pilling out of the grounds...as I end up walking in the wrong direction I pass some guy staring me down with the ugliest look on his face. As I walk past I give him a what´s your problem type look...thinking nothing of it, just that it was weird. A little later on I have this strange inclination that Im being followed...I casually turn around and sure enough, its this guy on his bike. Now I wasn´t going to freak out at this...I just thought, maybe this was his way home. Except to make sure...I take a turn, the guy follows, another corner, he follows. I decide to stop at a convinient store just to see if the people will scare him off. Yup...he´s waiting outside...acting like he´s looking at the tree´s. So now I´m thinking...does this guy want to rob me...or turn me into a lampshade. Ya I´m not going to keep up with this game, so I head out of the store and quickly cut around a corner...soon enough I hear the guy peddling fast to catch up. But I´m waiting there right around the corner. The guy see´s me and stops, I then yell at the guy asking him what´s his problem and to get the hell away from me(of course it was a little harsher then this, but you get the idea) I then turn around and walk away...and that as they say is how you proffesionally handle a German Stalker.

Unfortunately for me after trying to ditch that loser I end up getting lost myself...cool...I guess I´ll keep walking this way...I´m bouuuund to find something I know....uh ya nothing of the sorts. I did manage to snap a picture of the streets I was at when I was completely and utterly lost. Looking back I still laugh to myself because I´ve been in Lisbon, Madrid and now Munich around midnight...walking around...lost.

Finally I broke down and did something I hate...take a cab. When I tell the driver where I need to go he looks at me and asks...what are you doing over here, you´re hostle is like a 10 minute walk from Oktoberfest. Ya...thanks there Sherlock...guess I was just out for an evening stroll and lost track of time.


The next day was my day to walk around the city of Munich and see some sights, buuuut I think I saw enough of the city the night before that I´ll stick to some Oktoberfest shopping...I buy a stein and t-shirt as I go about my way to find a unique little museum. Turns out the museum has been closed for a year...oh well it was a good little hike. Again Munich is another great European city...very pricy, but I want to head back at a time other then Oktoberfest. If I had bugeted properly during my stay it may have been possible to go on the third reich tour. Also I never got to see the Olympic grounds or the BMW building...saw pictures, the places looks crazy, but never saw it face to face.

Still I had a great time at Oktoberfest...met tons and tons of people...drank beer out of amazing cups, went on carnival rides, ate some tasty local German food and got stalked for the first time...ahhh the experiences.

Dachau Concentration Camp

The day is cold and wet...the train ride to the town of Dachau is quick...the walk from the train station to the consentration camp...very very long. I remember the stories of how those brought to this camp were forced by the Nazis to march double time from the train station to the camp...in whatever weather conditions.

Fortunately for myself Im able to take the bus. I would call myself knowledgable in world war two history, one for having a great Aunt who knows a heck of a lot on the history, and secondly cus I´ve enjoyed reading about it. Therefore I thought I knew what to expect. But driving up to the camp and looking at the walls surrounding the grounds and imagining those who came up to the gate before me...it´s pretty surreal.

Walking through the iron gate that reads Arbeit Macht Frei and standing on the huge open concorse where rollcall was taken everyday and in all weather...its unreal to think that this was a place where thousands were held prisoner and thousands more died.

As I mentioned before...I THOUGHT I knew alot about world war two history, but I was blown away with some of the facts explained to me during my visit. Most are just sick and grotesque and I can see why schools wouldn´t cover it, but still it´s just mind blowing to think about the catastrophies that went on at this camp and at the hundred others.

Normally im not overly bothered by the stories of the concentration camp, but being bombarded with account after account, and maybe with the fact that I was actually there it was a little tougher.

The thing that hit me the hardest was walking into the crematorium/gas chamber. I stood in a place where hundred apon hundreds were brought through and murdered. I couldn´t stand more than 30 seconds in the gas chamber, and looking into the ovens where they ACTUALY burned people...I can´t describe it.

It was a mixed feeling of disgust, confusion, anger, sorrow and thousands of others I can´t really put a name on. Walking out of the crematorium and back towards the entrance and barracks...I felt like a living zombie...like my soul had been grabbed by the throat and savagely shaken. I guess when people talk about culture shock this is what it feels like. Basically I spent over 3 hours just wondering the grounds, reading placks and soaking in the feeling of the place.

It´s unimaginable that something of this magnitude could have been done by the human race...I wonder how it´ll feel when I go to the largest death camp during world war two.

Vimy Ridge

It´s Sunday September 28th, I awake to a morning full of fog. The gracious Vimy Local, Georges Devloo has set aside time to drive me up to the ridge and take me to the surrounding memorials.

The mood is very somber as we approach the first world war one grave site...as the fog slowly clears you can make out one...two...three hundred...thousands of small crosses lining the field. There were more crosses in this field then all the towns surrounding Rocky Mountain House. I believe over 44 thousand german soldiers are burried here.

Next stop was the trenches and no mans land. Pictures do not give justice to the magnitude of this area. Yes grass is now growing all over the land, but you can still make out the trenches and shell shocked land. The mix of fog and sunlight made this area a place to just stand and gaze at how less then a hundred years ago thousands before me lost their lives at this very spot.

After the trenches I made the slow ascent to the glorious white tipped...Vimy Ridge. Walking alongside the fighting fields and then rounding the corner and seeing Vimy for the first time, was breathtaking. Now I´ve seen pictures of this monument before, but witnessing with your own eyes the shinning white monument, nestled against the perfectly still landscape that surrounds it, you cannot just stand and be image blinded.

As I climbed the steps of the monument and looked across the land I imagined what it would have been like with a war going on. I walked along each and every name engraved at the site, I touched the statues and just standing on this holy land I couldn´t help, but feel extremely proud to be Canadian.

Monsieur Devloo then took me for lunch, where he treated and then drove me around the the numerous other memorials skattered across the land. Most chalk full with fallen Canadian soldiers. Again standing alongside the memorials, I felt honored to be amongst them as well as gracious for life and an appreciation of death, if that makes any sense.

Finally I was shown pictures of the surrounding towns, before and after the war. The demolition was immense as most of these picturesque towns were flatened by the war. It was unbelievable, standing there in a town, now fully rebuilt seeing the pictures of how there was nothing remaining after 1918.

Vimy Ridge is an absolute marvel that needs to be witnessed first hand...again I´ll say it, pictures and words do not give this area justice...You need to see it and basically feel it to know what I mean.

Lastly the most touching moment had nothing to do with the tour at all. It had to do with the gentleman driving me around. Monsieur Devloo would not take my money even though he had driven me around all day and bought me lunch. He said that it was his way of repaying back Canada. I asked him to explain, he replied..."Canada was the only country who saved his town in more ways then one. One was from the war and secondly when France couldn´t afford to build schools and community buildings in the area, Canada was the only country who gave with wanting nothing in return." I was dissapointed in myself for not bringing more Canadian trinkets to give the guy, but he says he loves it the most when people he´s giving a tour with write him letters.