Window Seats

Planes, trains, and automobiles...and boats. For Fletcher, Cathy, Aly and Myself, the last two weeks were spent romping around Italy and Tunisia. The photos following this text were taken from the many vehicles used to get us from place to place.

After many days and ways of travel, by far the strangest method of transportation we witnessed came when Fletch, Cathy and I crossed the gap between Sicily and the Italian Peninsula. We had previously contemplated how our train would span the water that separated these two lands. Simply, we had assumed it would be done by traversing a bridge over the sea, or passing through a tunnel beneath it. However, when we began to hear the changing of the rails (indicated by subtle clunks and clanks) we looked out the window of our train car to see that our vessel was entering another; built of steel and painted white. After a few seconds of blank stares, we ultimately came to realize how our train would make it to the other side. The train we were riding would be transfered onto a ferry that would then carry us the short distance between the two land masses! This was a strange, and equally exciting, notion to us all. 

Unfortunately, AlyCat was not able to join us on this leg of the trip, as she had to return to Spain for school. Now, I'm back in Spain and get to spend some time with her before she jumps across the pond to Montana for some time. There she'll partake in MSU's graduation ceremony. But for the moment, it's quite nice to be back and have some time to unwind, organize/look at photos, and maybe do some laundry. More script and stills from our tip to come in the following days. Stay tuned!

Hasta luego

Venice: from a Vaporetto

El Djem, Tunisia: from a Fiat

El Djem (pronounced "Jem")

 El Djem Colosseum 

El Djem gas station

Sicily: from a train

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Sicily to the mainland of Italy, via The Mediterranean, : from a ferry... which was also carrying the train we were riding up to Rome. Yup.

Rome to Pamplona, Spain: from an Airbus A319

Vagabonds in Venice

     Spring break 2012! Well, it's not really fair to call it a "break" for me as I have nothing official to take a break from. But that won't keep me from traveling! To start off the weekend, Aly and I hopped a cheap flight to Rome from Madrid (on good Friday), then, a night train up to Venice. This put us into the floating city at half past 5 in the morning, when the streets were clear of locals, vendors, and hoards of tourists (the latter known to flood the streets of this unique city constantly... even in the off season).

     The vacancy of the city left us free to tour the narrow winding streets, passing over the turquoise water below via the 400+ bridges that make traveling on land possible in a city so dominated by gondolas, taxis, and water buses (vaporettos). That first morning, we walked for almost 3 hours straight before ultimately stopping for breakfast at one of the few cafes open before 10 am. in the still sleeping city. Soon after, we made our way towards Mestre (on the mainland) via bus where our, possibly Ukrainian, hostel concierge awaited our arrival for check-in. 

     After two full days and nights in the colorful city (not to mention a taste of easter vigil mass in St. Mark's basilica!), we lifted off of Italian soil and towards Northern Africa. There we had arranged plans to meet with my Brother, his Fiancé, and some good old family friends with whom we would stay for the better half of a week. More stories and fotos to come in the next post about...Tunisia. 

Cheers!

      

View from Scalzi Bridge

Venetian well

Enjoying a "Spritz" on the Grand Canal

Baffo

View of the Rialto Bridge, from a Vaporetto on the Grand Canal

Our cruise through the winding canals. Lead by our helpful Gondolier, Matteo (aka St. Matthew) 

Window Seat

Yesterday was my last day working on the Farm where I've spent the past month. I snapped this one in between Miranda de Ebro and Vitoria, Spain, on my way back to Pamplona to see my girl. A new month is upon me, and I look forward to experiencing (and partly documenting) the horizons to come.
Cheers

Roughing it

Hola!
     Lately I have been taking a break from posting many words and fotos. However, I will take this time to explain a little bit about what I´m up to for the month of March. Now, I am living in the tiny Village of La Prada in Northern Spain. Every weekday morning at around 8, I venture ten minutes from the door of an ancient stone dwelling, in which I have a bedroom, and  arrive at a small organic farm where I work until 2pm. The work I´ve experienced over the past 2 weeks has consisted of anything from harvesting carrots, beats, and leaks to general weeding/maintenance or building planting boxes for strawberries.

     This is my second month-long work exchange in Europe so far this year, and, my first true farming endeavor. Living here (in a village of 12 inhabitants) and being so secluded (roughly 8k from the nearest bar) from the everyday bustle of a more populated community is completely new for me. Yet, I´ve found that it is just what I need in order to regain a sense of direction and understanding in this transitional period of my life. Plus!...The food is fresh, the mountains are close, and the sun has been shining. Ahh, how fortunate I am to have this opportunity to learn from.

In the not so distant future, I look forward to processing some of the images I have taken over the past few weeks. This will most likely occur when I am reunited with my computer and a reliable internet connection again (probably mid-late April).

Cheers,
Maxfield

p.s. Mustache March has found me in good form. Unemployed, working for my meals, and sporting a dirty upper lip.

Last day in Italy

I snapped this photo on the way to the Rome airport from Cortona. I boarded the train in an early morning fog and was soon presented with a beautiful sunrise. This was taken just as the glow from the sunrise had dissipated.

16mm Monday

Venice, Last week.

16mm Monday

Spent the weekend in Venice with Chris and some of the SIS students! Here are a few photos from our picnic lunch perch. There was pizza too...

Cin Cin!