Chad Is Everywhere

Bamberg had completed my quest to find good beer in Bavaria. However it did not mean the end of the Beer in Bavaria. I had one last stop before flying home. Munich. Now I've been to Munich during Oktoberfest before so I know what to expect of a beer hall. Beer. However this trip did leave me somewhat incomplete. The Oktoberfest experience was 1 night on a Contiki trip where we arrived in by bus after being depressed a the Dachau Concentration Camp, we had 15 minutes to the Glockenspiel, and then it was straight to Oktoberfest. Yes, I know most would argue that's all you need to achieve in Munich. But for me it didn't give a sense that I had searched for everything, experienced enough of what it means to be in Munich. So this time I had 2 nights. The first night was somewhat a repeat of the first experience. Get off the train, see the clock, and then go out for beer. However this time it was different. This time I was in the Hofbrauhaus not Oktoberfest. And I also made it in...

I saw this sign in Bamberg. And for a second thought I had found his utopia. So I past the sign only to find there were women and children everywhere. So much for that thought.

I visited Valentina for a night in Bermago. Just outside of Milan before venturing to Germany. Highlight, as promised by Valentina, was the best Pasta in Italy. A dish close to my heart. This was a Bermago Ravioli, sitting in clarified butter, with prosciutto. Yes thats right, bacon, pasta, and butter. You can't beat that. Really you can't.

Another thing Darren and I decided to try in Milan was a bit of modeling. After all Milan is full of the catwalks, and beautiful people. Darren when for classical style thanks to the artistic direction of his photographer. Whilst I went for classical, yet more contemporary "Garfield Doll Stuck on the Car Window".

Bamberg was a destination on my "places to visit list" thanks to a television show I watched when I was in Canada. The show was "The Thirsty Traveler". I could ascertain from the TV program that this guy "Kevin Brauch" had the best job in the world. Going around the world in search of alcohol, and then making a TV show around his drinking adventure. Kevin dedicated a whole show to Bavarian Beer. Therefore in honour of this deed I decided that I would dedicate 4 days of my life in this same quest. After taking a flight and then train out to Bamberg I was left in the able hands of my couchsurfing hosts, Wolfram, Steffi, and Vera. And what wonderful hosts they turned out to be. It was their dedication to the cause that has demonstrated that Bavarian Beer is good for you. I am unsure as to why the beer is good for me. But I suspect it is because either 1. it only has 3 ingredients (Water, Barley, and Hops) under laws made in the 1500s. Or 2. because the video...

I just had to do this. If I had of gotten a photo with Wally then you might of not been able to find me.

Another funny moment. I found a shop in one of the towns in Cinque Terre selling "World Dictator" Wines. My guess is they'd leave a horrible taste in the mouth. It was actually the village of Cornigula. Right up the top of a switchback stair climb of about 1km in which you rise 400 metres. No so funny was finding out after, that my ticket to the Cinque Terre Rail included the small mini bus that could have taken my up to the top where the village was.

Another funny sign appeared in Milan. We interpreted the sign as: Anyone found erotic dancing in the doorway will be injured badly.

After the Cinque Terre I had decided I needed to make a side trip to Florence. I had set aside 2 days before my departure as "free days" just in case I needed extra time in the Cinque Terre. In the end though I got nervous about not having accommodation booked. The thought that I was in the most catholic country of the world in the lead up to Easter weighed too heavily on me. So instead of booking more time in Nowhere Italy I decided to return to Florence. The hostel I stayed in was a revelation. It had an absolutely awesome view. Or maybe it was just the 3 euro bottle of wine special they had one night that I liked.... Nope, it was definitely the view. In general going back to Florence did go against one of my general traveling concepts. Not visiting the same place twice. But then the decision was made as in reality the first time I was on a Contiki trip in which not everything was achieved. After all I had never gotten to see the Statue of David. It made even more sense to ...

I was at the beach in Monterosso Al Mare in the Cinque Terre region when I realised I had visited in the wrong season. There were no stick figures with large breasts when I was there. And I was so looking forward to see what that would look like. After all the the stick figures I've ever drawn have not been anatomically correct. And then I thought. What if a male stick figure came to the beach. So I left. There's just some bits of a stick figure you just don't want etched into your memory.

In Milan everything seems to end at the Duomo. And if you think about it, it makes sense. Because one of the rich shopping streets with the like of Fendi, D&G, and others is one of these streets ending up next to the Duomo. I liken it to the vow of poverty. Ending at the church as you realise you've just spent $6500 euro on a leather handbag. Sorry ladies, I may say I love you, but thats the price of a small car. If that's unacceptable then so be it. In the days in Milan I did manage to buy some stuff. But for me. My proudest purchase was a winter jacket. I have since been informed by my Italian friend, and others it's a spring jacket. It's a matter of prospective really. If you live in the right city, it's a winter jacket.

My friend Valentina recently graduated from university. So she organised a night out on the town. Luckily I and my friend Darren (who flew out from London) were in town to experience the night. A three hour ride around town on a Tram. Drinking, and drinking.... No toilette. The end result. I've never seen so many guys run off tram around the corner.

The good news for me when I arrived into Riomaggoire was that the hostel I was booked into was better than the last few in Italy. Perhaps a sign of improvement from here. The Cinque Terre was something I decided I wanted to do when I was researching things to do in Italy. In fact the travel guides rated one of the top 5 things. I can see why. It's spectacular. Now if I was coming here in the peak of summer it would have been even more special as I would have been able to swim at the beach. But reality is I got the other advantage. Less people. Apparently its crazy in summer. For those not aware where the Cinque Terre is. It's 5 villages (hence the "cinque") that are clinging to the coastline. The walk between the 5 villages is what is supposed to attract everyone. However for the less fit there is the train. The walk between the 1st and 2nd village is the most famous. The d'ell Amore. Or lovers walk. I completed this the first day. I stopped in at the bar along th...

Now why is it is that the weirdos find me. When catching a train back to Turin I came across a lady who was ranting out to the world whilst waiting. Fortunately for me I had already stuffed up. I had ended up with a first class ticket for the ride to Turin. She wasn't in our class. Heck, I think she was on her own track.