The journal of a world EUPHEMISM.

Today Fanny, Julian, and I went to the Swiss Riviera...

We went to see a castle called Chateau de Chillon near the lake. It was the favorite place for the wife of Franz Ferdinand. Took some awsome pictures and even went to the top tower to get a birds eye view of the whole castle. It cost 8CHF to get into the castle with the student discount... 10CHF Adult & FREE if you have a UBS student bank account (you are automatically enrolled in some program with benefits).

Bains de Lavey Spa is a natural hot springs SPA. Nestled between mountains, this spa has various treats. You can swim around the outdoor hot springs pool, where jet streams and pressure faucets can massage your body parts. Then jump into the man made whirlpool to spin you around like a washing machine. If that is to outdoorsy for you, there is a heated indoor pool. But it is not like any normal heated pool... it plays music. That's right, music plays underwater so when you lay on your back and submerge your ears in the water, you will be relaxed to some opera or whale songs.

The Spa What can I say? It was cold, beautiful, and relaxing.

That is not all!!! There are foot spas, two aroma-therapy rooms (festive and dark room), a turkish bath (co-ed, naked men, naked women are the options), then there is the eucalyptus steam room to clear up your nasal passages. Next to the Eucalyptus steam room is the "HOT AS F**K" steam room, because two minutes in there and my whole body was sweating!!! When you can't stand that room anymore, you walk straight out of the room and jump into the "POLAR BATH."

Yes, it's exactly what you are thinking... A tub full of Ice cold water that can cover your whole body from head to toe. It wasn't easy at first, but after 3 or 4 times, your body actually begins to tolerate the cold a little longer. There is also a strange sensation that most people who are about to die from hypothermia probably feel. It's the feeling of pins and needles in every part of your body pricking you as your muscles go into shock from the freezing water. Once your two 5 seconds are done, you quickly run out to the heated pool and balance out your body temperature.

Lastly, there was the polar room... which was a large freezer with ice. Then the naked steam room which I accidentally walked into and discovered that women don't go into that room, only old (& prob. Gay) men. =)

The place was relaxing and wonderful. You will feel drained at the end of the day from all the heat treatment and relaxing therapy. Yet, I feel that it was money well spent for this travelling student. 21 CHF (Student), 24CHF Adult.

Oh yeah. Ended the day with some Cheese Fondou, a Swiss delicacy. Its melted cheese and bread, with wine. Yum!

Here is the scenario, my flight leaves at 10:10 AM. I get up at six to pack my bags and leave by 7PM to catch the water bus. The Water Bus arrives on time on the Bus Depot at 7:15 AM. I plan to catch the 7:30, 7:40, or 7:50 AM. I arrive at 7:30 AM and watch a bus to Trevino Airport pull out of the depot. I thought, "Dang, I missed it! At least there are two more I can catch."

Venice Day 3 Sunset as I leave Murano Island in Venice, Italy.

Today, I moved back into Ostella Fosca because it was cheaper and it had the same accomodations as the B&B Rota. I bought a 24 Hour "Water Bus" Pass to visit the surrounding islands of Venice:

Murano - World Famous for it'g Glass Export Industry. The people of Venice made the Glass Blowers to relocate to this island after a fire broke out in one of the foundries. The move was to protect the population from possible fires.
Burano - Known for its colorful house exteriors.
Torcello - A small island with Franciscan monks/priests.
Lido - Excellent Beaches
San Marino - Long boardwalk and a Cathedral.

I left my hostel at 10 am... didn't get home till 11 pm.

Gondolas for Sale. Im tryin to auction off these Gondolas at the San Marco Pier.

Morning:
09:30 - Checked out of Ostello Fosca and headed to B&B Rota. Checked-in after paying 30 Euros and took a quick nap. I was still tired from the day before. I then met an Argentinian who recently graduated from Medical School. A month long European trip was her reward to herself.

Since we were travelling alone, we decided to tour Venice together and help each other appear in our own pictures. The pictures with me is thanks to her and the timer feature. In the evening, I went on another evening safari and walked the East Coast of the island. Took me six hours to complete. When I got to my hostel, I fell asleep... only to wake up a few times during the night. The bed just wasn't comfortable. Below is the picture of the Hostel B&B Rota.

San Marco Square at Night I love this picture... I caught the Full Moon off the tower. [click to view others]

Day 1:
Had to go to Stanstead Airport at 2 AM. My flight left at 6:25 AM. Arrived in Venice at 9:45 AM, took a 9 Euro (Round-trip) shuttle to the city bus terminal.

NOTE: I later found out I can take the public bus in front of the airport (Bus #6) to the Trevisio City Center, then take a bus to Venice for less than 3 Euros. UGH!!!

Walked around to find a hostel, since I didn't make any reservations. I found two hostels to stay in which was cheap and decent. The problem with Venice is similar to the problem with Paris... there are not enough Hostels in the city. They are all hotels varying from one star to four star, then all the other hostels are on the island south of Venice.

The hostel I stayed in on my first and third night in Venice was called Hostel Fosca, it was run by the students of the Fosca University. On my arrival there I was disappointed that they had no lockers for the valubles and a travel photographer had her camera stolen from the "secure" locker at the front desk. Despite that news, I still decided to stay at the hostel and ALWAYS carry my valuables. Besides, the place was one of the cheapest hostels around... they also gave me a two euro discount for being and ISH (Internationals Student Hostels) member. Which I wasn't, they just gave it to me (Jedi Mind tricks).

The bathroom wasn't that great, the shower was at least warm. But I didn't really care because I spent ALL my time outside exploring Venice. Just locked my bags, chained it to my bed, then explored the city and its islands. Here are some of the pictures of the Hostel I stayed in, Ostello Fosca:





[CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW MORE]

EVENING:
After I found a hostel, I went out into town to do some night photography. If you go to the gallery, you can see some of these images. While I was on the Pia di Rialto (A large bridge) taking pictures of the Rialto Canal I met three Americans. Two were girls, one was a Cal Poly Alumni visiting her brother who is studying in Rome. The brother is a recent graduate of Cal Poly for Architecture Engineering. We got to chatting and eventually went to a bar for drinks and conversation. I mentioned how I didn't have a Hostel for my second night and the Cal Poly male student offered to take me to the hostel he stayed in the other night called B&B Rota. He took me to the door of the hidden hostel and went off into the night with his sisters. I was told to come in the morning and I returned to my hostel to sleep the day away.

I am really irritated and annoyed at the un-professionalism that I come across in UK stores and restaurants. I understand restaurants because they don't have to work hard for their tips, most people don't tip or they automatically charge people 10% of the bill. THEN, they have to share it with the whole service staff.

What really bothers me is how tube employees have to lie instead of trying to fix things. This is how it started:

I recently received my TUBE Oyster Card (gives discount prices on TUBE fares) in the mail. Brand spankin' new and I go to Piccadilly Circus to cancel my old Oyster Card and transfer the funds to my NEW student oyster card. I tell this to the agent in the booth in CLEAR and concise manner. He nods in understanding. As he is processing my card, he returns to me and says, "Sorry, but you student card is not registering... it is giving me an error message."

I reply, "Why? How? I just got it in the mail this week. How can that be?"

The agent says, "I'm not sure mate, but if you call this number they can help you sort it out. Here is your old Oyster back and the credits are all in there."

He circles the phone number in the business card for me to call. I slowly take my card back with a look of confusion in my face and disappointment in my soul, that I have to pay full price to return home in the bus/tube this evening. The evening went off without a hitch, few days later I finally get credits in my mobile phone to call the number. As the phone rings, I am hoping that they can activate it by phone or immediately send me a new card.

The ringing changes into a voice. I give him my information and he looks up my account. What the agent on the phone reveals to me made me blurt out unexpectedly, "That BASTARD!"

What I discovered is that the TUBE agent at Piccadilly accidentally canceled my student OYSTER instead of the regular OYSTER card. Knowing he screwed up, because he wasn't paying attention to his job (he was chatting with the other agent in the booth). He decided to blame it on my card instead of apologizing and trying to fix his mistake. So f**king unprofessional. I've come across other problems, but this one really sticks out. I swear that TUBE station employee at Piccadilly is an ARSE and a half.

I just want to remind my fellow Americans (Republican and Democrats) why they should vote this coming elections. Democrats VOTE to remove the Republican Congress/Senate from their seats. Republicans VOTE for a Democrat this November... why? Because that is the best way you could send a message that corruption and cover-up will not be tolerated... Plus, it will bring dignity to your party.


Don't believe me? Check out this article from the WASHINGTON POST:






If you want to read more about Republican (GOP) scandals please visit the sites below. They list the scandals, cover-ups, and abuses the republican controlled Senate/Congress have been doing to the American people for the last 10+ years they have been in control. I think the tenure has gotten to their heads, it's time for a change. Even if you are a Republican, you must admit that your current representatives are not doing the job they promised you. Show them that you will vote them out of office for incompetence and corruption. REGARDLESS if they are Republican or Democrat... you should remove the current majority from their seat and allow a fresh batch of new politicians (the Democrats) into the Congress.


Here are the sites:
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/001421.html
http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/01/18/scandal/index_np.html

Last night was our third International Potluck. It seems to be growing every time I host it. It was originally intended for me to eat food from around the world as well as get to know the other international students attending my university, which I have to admit is becoming a success. Everyone is actually loving the Filipino/Chinese food that I cook. Score one for Filipino food... they are so unaware of Filipino cooking that it's exotic to them. Wait till I make Sinigang. Ahahahaha!

International Potluck Dinner [click on pic to view more] Here is Alba. Posing with all the types of food from different countries. Tonight there are Spain, Philippines/Chinese(me), Mexico, Switzerland, and Japan represented in the meals.

Playing Cards with the world. Left to Right: Sabrina(France), Alba(Spain), Laura(Spain), Sylvia(Spain), Jean(Switzerland), Fanny(Switzerland)... and me(taking the picture). [click on pic to view more]

Chav night. These are the girls in my Flat (Apartment) and a few of their friends. [click on pic to view more]

Last night, we had our weekly "BOP" party at my college bar... FROBEL BAR!!! The theme was "Chav Night." A Chav for non-UK people are people who dress in track suits and have no sense of style. Similar to "white trash" or "Trailer Park Trash" in the USA would be my closest comparison. The evening was fun and the other pictures I just can't show. =P

After the show We walked around and took pictures of the Thames and London.

This evening... we went to see a play by Shakespear called "Mark Anthony and Cleopatra." It was well played by the perfomers. It was so interesting to watch in the same typeof atmosphere as the people back in Shakespear's days. I bring to you exclusive photos from and during the performance, because your not allowed to take pictures. I was told off during intermission by the usher to stop taking pictures or be removed from the place. LoL... Which was okay, because I got all the pictures I wanted or needed to show you for you to get your feeling for the place. =)

Palace Grounds The park in Paris. I forgot the name of this place, can anyone help? [click on pic to view more]

These are some of the pictures from Paris. I stayed a few blocks from Notra Dame at Rue de Rivoli. The hotel was called "Rivoli Hotel." Which was interesting because the street was mentioned quite a few times in the "Da Vinci Code," which I noticed as I read it in Paris.

I was also travelling with a fellow study abroad student.

Casey and Beer. Hmmm.. two cool things at hand... a girl and a beer. I've been dancing for 2 hours straight at this point. [click on pic to view more]

Sweden is a beautiful country. A little out of the way and expensive, but it is beautiful non of the less. The women are attractive, they speak english, and the people were so friendly to me. My friend Martin was the best host and representative for his country. He and his girlfriend (Matilda) were very gracious hosts. We partied 3 out of the 4 days we were there, I'm surprised I didn't have liver/Kidney failure upon leaving the country... the most I can remember from Stockholm was, "We drank like VIKINGS!!!"

"SKOL" to my friends!!!