Big Tony

It’s 9AM in London.  The town is rainy, and mothers are walking their kids to school. When I came in at 10AM yesterday, I had already been traveling for 4 hours. Didn’t get settled in until 2:45PM,

Last Minute.com sucked the big dirty balls. Or ballacks as the British say. It booked me in Vauxhall instead of Victoria. From Victoria Station, taking a 7 pound cab ride to Vauxhall was the easy solution.  But the website had claimed that it was ‘near" Victoria station, so therefore, transfers from the train would be an easy feat. 15 minutes by Cab from Victoria station is not my idea of "close by", especially when there were 2 hotels in the same chain, one block away from Victoria station that had vacancies. Even if I wanted to exercise, my 2 large check in luggage, would have made the walk unrealistic. I should have listened to my friend and used the recommended website in the first place, and followed up with a phone call to the actual hotel to check on locations and vacancies. Lesson learned.

I was pissed by the time I got out the door. I wrote 4 compliant letters while waiting for my check in.  It’s actually my first time sending compliants, but I thought it was justified, and was actually quite proud of myself.  Usually, even if I complained, it would be my asst giving the company hell. But, learning to travel on my own for leisure obviously takes more care and skills which I needed to develope.

Anyways, I had thought that they had booked the dumb tourist into the red light district again, as it has happened in Chicago couple years back. Not that I am the type to complain about being in the red light distict mind you, its just that one needs mental preparation for that type of thing. The hotel had 2 schools next door to it. I was pretty relived, that this indeed would not be any dimly lite district. I would have to go look for that myself. haha.

Anyways, Vauxhall as the starting point was actually not a bad thing. It allowed me to explore the city a bit more on foot and by bus. I even toyed with tubbing it, but did not actually get to use that convenience. Cabs are not that expensive, (for me anyways). (10 pounds anywhere around the city center.) I went from Vauxhall, to South Kensingly by Bus, and walked all the way to Picadelli Circus. Passed by the Harrot and BHP (Queens pad), and almost missed it, because it looked like any other building around the Green park.  (It looked small, especially after the massive Castles in France) So many historical buildings around, and they all look cool, but all look like they don’t have central heating, and still all have history dating back before the Pilgrims sailed for America.

The anglo indians, and brown babies were a definite treat tho, I can’t believe how I am turned on by them. It’s not that they are exotic in a place like London, it’s that they look hot and also have a british accent at the same time, AND without having a victimized, minority chip on the shoulder, while still being all that, (a bit posh and not too ghetto).  A tan, culture, youthful mentality, Refreshing it is.

So I found the China town area in Picadelli Circus, almost went in to watch Guys and Dolls with ObiWan Konobi, or Ross in "Some Woman" . Val Kilmer is also performing the Postman in London. Culture a plenty, I wondered into the red light district. (Making mental maps as I go along, as to be able to make reference to it later, if I needed to check someone’s street cred in London)

Anyways, walking past, I tried to ignore the girls, but one of them called me sexy, well, she almost had me….. except she wasn’t a brown baby. So I kept on walking, to find a dinner place, and map out where China White is, it was already 7pm, and I was to wait until 11pm.

It was harder to find then I thought. I covered some 12 square blocks before finding the side entrance to a basement on Air St.

So, I bought a copy of newsweek, and one of Times, bought 2 pints and quietly read in a Irish Pub, at Regent Palace Hotel, while waiting for China White to open a block away.

Didn’t get very dressed up, because I didnt want to make the trip back to Vauxhall, or walk around for 8 hours in dress shoes, I slummed it a bit. Nobody made a fuss about the way I was dressed.

China white is this little opium den, in the basement under the Cheers Bar. (A reproduction of the one in the TV Show). Young people, brown babies, Beyonce look alike, and a whole lot of white woman. Here it’s funny, black dudes talking to a white girl has no stigma. In fact, the white boys looked a bit too preppy and uncool, while the African looking dudes, look like they might have just walked out of a jungle, put on a summer suit, and mixed themselves a gin and tonic.

My black slick jacket, and the look I had, had one hot little number come up and whisper in my ear if it was alright for me to drink on duty. Cheers, I laughed, and took another swag, without continuing the conversation. The night was fun, not just in a wall flower watcher sort of way, the anonimity was quite refreshing, but the atmosphere was lively, without too many people posing. Eye contact and some natural grinding by girls who kept their butts girating, simply because the place was too packed, or was it just the right spot? Anyways, I was the benefactor of whatever made it happen. I made no effort to talk to them, just eye contact.

The Russian looking gals were still hot, but did I mention, the anglo indians, and the Beyonces, my god, my god,…. I will have to come back and hit this spot again. All, in all, without getting too involved, I was able to absorb the atmosphere, makes some cheeky conversation, and flirt ever so slightly, even if it was mostly through eye contact.

Had 14 quid on me, and jumped a cab back to Vauxhall. The tips I gave the bartenders, ensured I had massive pours. I barely woke up this morning to have coffee.

I think I will visit London again, although I probably would not end up buying a place in Barcelona unless the returns were a bit higher, but Europe has met my expectations and more.

"I have 20 minutes to get my shot of espresso before boarding….. off I am. "

"And this concludes my Euro Trip……… (Hope a brown baby sit next to me on the plane, but I doubt it.)"

Sounds like a trip being planned in my head again…. perhapes this time I will rent a flat for a couple of weeks, to drudge up some business in Europe.

Game anyone?

  Cubism on the Barcelona Beach next to nude parts and  Barceloneta. We visited the old neighborhood, and found cool properties to look at. 4K Euro in the nice fashionable district next to Franca Station should be a good price.

I was asked to go Sailing with the YEO guys at 3pm, but we had just woking up from our drunken stupor several hours before. I didn’t know this but we were in Port Olympia next to the Casino and Hotel Art, but also 2 blocks from our little apartment.

M said I snored in the next room all night,… but I figured that was just my drinking.

We made the Casino round, and I actually won some cash off the machines. Were too chicken to play on the tables with the big boys. They seem to throw out Euros like candy. My slot machine that I cleaned out, had a froggy win line after which I had to fraggy video game like naviagate through a bunch of lily patties without getting eaten by a Croc, and shine a flash light at lights without awakening a Croc. Anyways, the point is that I had no idea how I cleaned out the machine, just that an attendent automatically brought me cash in a nice wooded box.

The beach and beach Bars were exceptionaly. I have to say. Nude or not nude, there were drunk dudes past out on the beach from the nights fiesta before.

We passed through Cadeques on our way back. Dali lived and painted there. What an idealitic little town with scuba diving, and ports that you can dock at anytime. It was a Sunday and the town square on the beach front was filled with romantic couples and young and old couples alike. The water was crystal clear. I don’t know what to say, it felt like the hiding places at the end of the movie from Thomas Crown Affair and Ocean 12. Even cheaper properties here.

We had dinner in Cacassone. They had this bean and meat plate that was suppose to be the food of the French peasants. Great stuff but heavy, I can totally see why the Europeans drank wine, they used it as a grease cutter much as the Chinese used tea.

I am off to London tomorrow morning, and will be staying there for a day. It felt like a well rounded trip so far. I have done everything that I wanted to do in Europe already, and can’t imagine what else there is to do.

I am surprised that I did not meet up with Europe YEO that were networking in Barcelona. Usually, I would do it in a second, but this trip, I felt too chilled to actually go the distance and meet 50 hard core Entreprenenurs. Guess thats what vacations are,…. for regular folks.

More later, I will be without a camera in London, but I imagine that China White club should not have anything worth recording on bytes. Someone is putting me on a list, a very nice thing for her to do. As again, since it’s my private trip, I did not want to plan anything with YEO formally in London nor call the hospitaltiy reps @ the Yacht company. Just not that type of trip.

What Disney is based on. This walled city called Carcaussonne, is the ultimate castle behind the walls. Near St Cirq Lapopine is a little winery that sold these reds with a label that had martians on them. The house was about 200 years old, and the wine good, but you could tell it was not easy work, as the lady had big stubby fingers from working the land. Something she could be proud of when her grandkids from the cities come visit during the summer. We are in Barcelona now, after visiting the Dali Museum. A piece of work that guy. He experimented with almost every form of art. I wonder if he was insane or simply drugged out of his mind from his love for Gala. Barcelona apt is 1 street from the beach. It feels like the buildings in Cuba, while having a Miami/ SF feel to the city. Quite nice, the people seem to be friendly, although I have yet to see hot bitches walking around, but then the night is young. They eat dinner here at 10pm, and drink through out the night. Fiesta and then Siesta.

Should be an eye opener. The change of scene was a 180 degrees from the quiet of the French country.

Just woke up from Port Olympia. MY GOD! oh my GOD. what a night. Got a kiss from a pretty bartender. May have to go back and find her tonight. Hehe…… the pole dancers were good  entertainment.

" I will be blessed" site by Yukiko in BJ The Castle Nojac. The private owner used to own the Mona Lisa. A beautiful little village with a lite Castle on top of the ridge line. The train run through a tunnel under the entire ridge and rivers on both sides.  We had dinner at the little cafe with an outdoor terrace overlooking one side of the ridge and with the Castle in the back ground. Green all around.

The sun is constantly out here. A little while back, 3 french soldiers from the base near by came and knocked on M’s house from the back. They told M’s dad that they had been treking for 2 days and needed food. Soldier in camo gear. M’s dad promptly told them that it was just as well, that we weren’t depending on them for the conflict in Iraq, as they seem to get lost and can’t find food.

Mark and Laurie was out here a little while ago, and supposedly planted tomatos out front after drinking some wine. I told M that I bet good shrooms and grass would grow well here, and she laughed at me, and told me to go bond with Mark. What’s wrong with a man doing a bit of horticultural work? After all, this area could do with some shrooming.

The streets of the village are story book cute. I can see where all the Kiki’s delivery service, Castle in the Sky anime back ground sets came from. Even the French come here as tourists.

So…. I couldn’t resist taking a picture with the store keep in the cafe we ate dinner at. Aurevoir for another day.

The hills of tarn-et-Garonne

13 century town, with castles, villages, and town square. Michelle’s family home is up on top of the mountain. Country style, marinda, back pool, large tile floors, throw rugs, and rustic kitchens.  Massive land around them, bought out, so no neighbors would ever come in.   Spent the morning and afternoon, walking the cobble stone streets, and found a old church in the middle of town.

Not all the stores are open today. I imagine there just is not enough business. It’s the exact scene from Bourne Identity when they were hiding in the French country side @ the girl’s brother’s country house. Gravel stone road, gate, shutters, ………. and rolling green hills.

So nice. So nice. Going to barbecue out back and have a Whiskey…. now. I can totally see what Napa was trying to imiate.   Tony…. out to Barcelona this weekend. More to come. …………………..