Presenting songs from two artists I've met in my travels. Unfortunately my time spent with them was brief but they feature in some of my more memorable nights in those respective countries. Laura Bean, an American from Kentucky who's made her life in Berlin and Monica Cipollone a sweet bella from Roma.
There are 100s of photographers but they all have a different perspective.
- American in Barcelona
You see a ridiculous amount of people travelling behind a lens. Countless amateur photographers with bulky setups. I found it quite comical initially but having now gotten a camera I'm beginning to see the appeal.
Some people "Go. Look. Then leave". Others "Go, Look, SEE. Then leave"
- Bulgarian in Valencia
When I wasn't taking photos I smugly believed I was more in the moment. Chilling at parks and overlooks for hours I would observe people glide past, pose for photos then move on. I considered my experience more real, now I realise the only difference was the privilege of time. There is no definitive way of being in the moment, everyone develops their own experience in the dark room of their mind.
It can be overwhelming/numbing seeing too much of the same thing, no matter how spectacular. Being immersed in stimuli it becomes difficult to process it all. Being behind the lens compartmentalises everything into manageable chunks. Its literally putting the world into a box, a simpler frame of reference. A picture is an abstraction to be admired for later but i'm beginning to wonder if there's really a difference between a moment and the memory of it? For myself, the camera is less an impediment to absorption than it is to participation.
Another thing I've found with photo-taking is that it can be a companion. The only thing more frightening than being without company is being alone with your thoughts. With a camera you can start playing games, create a diversion to mask the fact you're lonely or have nothing cooler to do.
The unfortunate reality of being on the road - Friendships lead to loneliness, thinking leads to cleverness.
Tyler Durden and the Narrator meet in 'Fight Club'
Fight Club (1999)
Narrator: Everywhere I travel, tiny life. Single-serving sugar, single-serving cream, single pat of butter. The microwave Cordon Bleu hobby kit. Shampoo-conditioner combos, sample-packaged mouthwash, tiny bars of soap. The people I meet on each flight? They're single-serving friends.
later...
Narrator: Tyler, you are by far the most interesting single-serving friend I've ever met... see I have this thing: everything on a plane is single-serving...
Tyler Durden: Oh I get it, it's very clever
Narrator: Thank you
Durden: How's that working out for you?
Narrator: What?
Durden: Being clever
Narrator: Great
Durden: Keep it up then... Right up
Great song. Great vid. Some will say it loses points because they actually speak Castellano in Barcelona and as a fiercely proud people that might not fly.
Music by 'Magnus The Magnus'
"Which reality is actually more powerful; that of the present, instantly absorbed by the senses and discernable, or the memory of what we experienced previously? Is the present truly more real than the past?"
7. On Top of: Jardín del Turia - Its no picnic on hanging rock
The Jardín del Turia in Valencia was formerly a river but has since been turned into a long, sunken park. In it you will find fountains, picnic areas and football fields but best of all the wall that lines the park doubles as a 15ft free climbing obstacle. I made this discovery when I saw kids using an archway and the various holes and curves of the stonewall as footholds. I wish someone had been with me when I climbed it.
1) To take pictures of the wall and the climb
2) To witness my miraculous recovery after losing my footing midway
3) A buddy system had I fallen
As it was, only 2 people watched my climb. Both were on the footpath at the peak. The first, a black gentleman who peered over the edge to see how high I was. The second, an old man who reversed course as he wanted no part of my misadventure. By this point I'd been hanging on for dear life for several minutes, regathering my strength for the final hurdle.
I had submitted an entry in Atlas Obscura on this interesting find. The post has since been edited, with the "climbing" portions removed.
- Mixtape: 'Loz in Translation' Sampler (Spain)
- Mixtape: 'Loz in Translation' Sampler II (Turkey)
King's Cup final: Real Madrid VS Barcelona + Semana Santa
Since I've been with Ana-Lucia I don't really do stuff or meet people.
We kinda just hang out and spend all day together. She's my first bicycle.
I don't know if I'm happy.
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt1: Riding high in Andalucia
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt2: Ride or die, Sevilla La, la la
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt3: Bye Bicicleta Bye!
I've been a terrible viajero. I'm watching far too much basketball, since I'm in Europe I really should be embracing football. The 2011 NBA Playoffs have been so compelling you can hardly blame me. Whilst I do as the Romans do I also like to honour what I enjoy at home when I travel. Thankfully Spain has delivered my twin joys of wrestling and basketball.
Baloncesto is Spain's number 2 sport. Whilst most are aware that Spain are current World Cup title holders for football. The Spaniards are also reigning FIBA European basketball champions, having bested Serbia in 2009. There are many Spanish players represented in the NBA, the most well-known being perennial All Star Pau Gasol. His brother Marc and national teammate Rudy Fernandez have been key for their teams this playoffs. The Association awaits the belated arrival of the much-hyped Ricky Rubio.
My love for the game whilst at times proving a distraction has also allowed me to connect with locals:
Played full court pickup games at Olympiapark in München
Hung with kids playing streetball in San Lorenzo, Roma
2 on 2 with locals and attended a 3 on 3 tournament by the beach in Porto, Portugal
Caught a regional bus to play ball with Amsterdam Noord locals in the pouring rain. Hookup courtesy of a Dutch guy I befriended after asking about his "STAT NY" shirt. This hip hop bar became my regular Amsterdam hang with a Dutch bball crew
Shot around with a Greek Jake Shuttlesworth. I found a court whilst biking from Rotterdam to Scheveningen (near Den Haag). Incorporating his knowledge of basketball and music-making, he imparted some great life advice.
Memorable first night in Brighton, England. After spending a good deal of the night hangin' with street performers. We longboarded and had a competitive game of 2-on-2 with charming lesbians at 2 in the morning.
Won my inaugural 'Three-Point Shootout' in the Panevėžys Fan Zone. Got to go on stage in front of a big crowd to collect my prize and do an interview. This makes it the second time I've gone on stage to collect a prize after a last-minute entry. I went on to compete several more times in Šiauliai, diluting my winning percentage. This includes being torched by a 12yr old in my second finals.
Pickup games in hoops-mad Lithuania whilst they host an international tournament means you're playing ball with people from all over the world - From France to Australia, Lithuania and Portugal
Have always wanted to visit "Clutch city". Waited in line for a half hour with hundreds of people, one shot from the FT line to win a 'FIBA shirt'. Banked it, totally didn't call it. Missed the second shot to win a reversible. Chatted to staff later and I ended up being given one anyway, leapfrogging the others. Probably didn't deserve either prize but I never turn down hospitality
Watched a BBL (Baltic Basketball League) game hosted by BK Ventspils. Participated at the halftime show poorly aping a cheerleader's acrobatics. The crowd awarded me the 2nd prize, winning the Ventspils t-shirt I'd bought earlier
Watched another BBL game, this time in Tartu, Estonia. Was spotted by a CouchSurfer who noticed me at the game, this fellow basketball fan graciously hosted me for two nights. Days later I shot hoops at the the foot of the Parliament in the capital Tallinn.
Through a CouchSurfing connect, I befriended a collection of athletic Germans who studied at Sporthochschule Köln, the most respected sports university in Germany. I managed to ball with them in their school gym.
Its also just been an enjoyable way to pass the time
Watched 4 NBA/NCAA games go into OT, including the 'Noche Latina' 3OT comeback thriller between Los Suns and Los Lakers. Witnessed both Western Conference Game 1 upsets
Floored by highlights of the greatest Baloncesto comeback during siesta TV time - UNI vs RMB
Scouted Ricky Rubio in person, watched Barcelona drop homecourt against Panathinaikos in Euroleague competition
Hanging at Iberico, Tapas Bars and pubs watching the Euroleague
Watching the 2011 playoffs till sunrise at laptops around Spain and Portugal
Connected with several basketball journalists, fans, staff and players during EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania
Mingled with EuroBasket players from Georgia, Russia, Finland, Macedonia and France in nightspots in Vilnius and Kaunas
Chillin' by the Riga Opera House watching streetballers Jurtchix, Elmis and Mixtyper doing their thing. The boys had just formed a new crew and were filming a joint project
Enjoyed a heated match between Beşiktaş at Antalya in Turkey. Saw former NBA players Adam Morrison, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Carlos Arroyo in action for Beşiktaş.
Befriended a former Laker intern for the 09' Champion Lakers on the bus from Göreme to Istanbul. Hooped at the Nike Beyoğlu courts Kobe unveiled in 2011. The Galatasaray Euroleague game was sold out, we befriended young Turks and made the best of it. We were distracted saying our goodbyes when this hail Mary went in. Doh! We sat back down to watch the overtime.
I love this game!
- Krepšinis: I love this game - Basketball in Europe (PtII: Lietuva)
Its been super tranquilo here in Sevilla. I've had the fortunate pleasure of being taken into a home by distant family friends. I have full use of my own Granny Flat but unlike a hostel in the heart of the city the catch is my time here hasn't been too social.
Its not a bad thing, I just need to calibrate for the different energy. I must admit the NBA playoffs have proved some distraction.
I have made one good local friend however, she's sweet.
There are several processions throughout the day continuing late
into the morning. I saw families with strollers at 3am.
Its a solemn event with haunting music that moves some to tears.
It wasn't all perfect. Her foot pedal broke so I had to ride her "Flintstone" style for a bit. We also got lost going home. Relationships won't always be a smooth ride.
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt1: Riding high in Andalucia - Me and my Girlfriend Pt2: Ride or die, Sevilla La, la la - Me and my Girlfriend Pt3: Bye Bicicleta Bye!
I finally got a "Happiness trapper". After 77 days of traveling I present to you my first 48 hours worth of photos, a selection of shots from Sevilla and Córdoba. Spain as it gears up for 'Semana Santa' (Holy week).
On my final day before my European odyssey a dear friend was kind enough to make me his plus one for The BigDayOut Festival in Sydney. An amazing gift and a spectacular memory to part home with.
Elevator Music. My Farewell Soundtrack. Fitting theme music for "Day -1": 2 great Australian songs and my 2010 anthem.
VIDEO: 'Rock It' by Little Red
VIDEO: 'Big Jet Plane'by Angus and Julia Stone
VIDEO: 'Home' by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
I've always had this theory that when you travel you become a "Super" version of yourself - Super [Insert Name Here].
You become more open, take more risks and are action-oriented. I also contend its a state of mind. Travel simply provides a blend of dynamics that bring about this spirit. Feeling awe in a foreign environment, distance from the routines of home life and being surrounded by like-minded people whilst having a sense of anonymity.
I found this T-shirt wandering around Roma jumping on random trams, naturally I was drawn to 'San Lorenzo'. I was flattered to find a hood with grafitti, New York style bridge tunnels and kids playing streetball. I hung out with them a bit. I walked into the Quattrodita Comic Shop and was floored to find this Tee.
The tee is [Super]modelled by Ilenia. Fellow superfriends, Michele and Luca not pictured - my Italian "Go Team" in Valencia, Spain.
Update: A Polish running-mate met in Bogota, Colombia shared a similar theory using a more direct Superman reference. Superman is average amongst his peers in Krypton but on Earth he is an extraordinary being. That's what we're like when we're abroad.
I befriended a cool chica in a museum in Madrid. She showed me around, pointed out a few things and said something memorable - "I like seeing happy people doing happy things".
The next day I visited the 'CaixaForum', a place I wouldn't have known existed if not for the chance encounter. It had an inspiring Exposición on French artist Jacque Lartigue's photographs. Whilst the photos were compelling, I was more enamoured by the blurbs that went with them. I wish I'd written them down so I could share them with you, I had hoped the interwebs would suffice.
This is the best I could find:
A Floating World - Photographs by Jacques Henri Lartigue at CaixaForum Madrid The Passing of Time
Even from childhood, Jacques Henri Lartigue was obsessed with remembering all his experiences, and it was this obsession that led him to make photography an instrument of memory. This need to remember, so deeply rooted in the young Lartigue, was closely related to his desire to “trap” happiness. He saw memory and happiness as two realities that are exposed to the same threat of disappearing, and his genius was in photographing neither memory nor happiness, but what constitutes their essence: fragility.
I was steadfast (stubborn) in not getting a camera as I had enjoyed the manufactured dynamic when I told people I was without one. I was happy with other people's photos, it became an experiment. It allowed me to live in the moment, any photos of me were candids or documented outside myself. A few things have happened the last few days and now I believe the time is right.
Joie de Vivre! What better reason to get a camera.
Find my first batch of photos here
- Spotted: Photos from Sevilla and Córdoba - The first 48
Every city has its cool spots, any hypebeast should have no trouble finding it via the interwebs. One of my small pleasures is stumbling onto these spots and finding a larger network of cool ish from that. To have something peculiar draw your attention, hold your interest and compel you to walk in. The staff at these places are always friendly and willing to drop knowledge on the city and the scene.
'Cream Barber Shop' in the great city of Barcelona was particular welcoming. The juxtaposition of cool caps, fixie bike and Barber Chair from the shopfront was too random to ignore. Once inside you're greeted with a selection of threads, kicks, skateboards and a chilling area complete with couches, XBox as well as a mixing board and decks. Got to hang with the staff for half a day puffing and just chilling. The store hosted a party thrown by its owner 'Mucho Muchacho' who graciously included me on the door list.
