go outside

finally left the place that no one seems to leave

2010-12-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

you know those beach towns where backpackers and hippies seem to straggle into and never leave. zipolite happens to be one of those places. the routine seems to be is to struggle awake at noon, down breakfast, lay on the beach, follow that with the first sundowners at sunset, walk the beach or the one street in town to find out where the gran fiesta for the night will be, and then party till the wee hours. this cycle happens over and over again, similar to bill murray in groundhog day only with sun instead of snow.
the routine is 2 sundown beers to end the day or start the night depending on how you look at it
we quickly became locals the first day, knew half of the waitstaff or bartenders in town, and frightfully became one of them, stuck in time. we repeatedly heard from several people living there i've gotta get out of this place. luckily, having spent five days there, we snuck out just in time before becoming one of the permanent zombies. most people have been stuck there for anywhere from 2 to 4 months. one hostel manager visited 2 years ago and still hasn't left. he is now permanently leather skinned.
a restaurant in zipolite called the terrible...not the smartest name for a restaurant
we have now escaped to san cristobal de las casas in chiapas, mexico's southernmost state. it's the origin of the zapatista rebels, a hotbed for leftist revolutionaries, and home to some really good bars and cafe's. it's mexico's coffee region. the people here are more indigenous than other regions in mexico, and still speak tzotzil, a language rooting back to mayan civilization. it has a lot of 'shhh' sounds to it, but could be russian for all i know.
the catedral in the zócalo in san cristobal de las casas. if you ever want to call attention to yourself, then sketch in a public place. the shoeshine boys in the plaza like this young lad here, flocked around me to watch, and then proceeded to hit and kick each other, and then stopped for awhile to watch me sketch some more, and then returned to hitting, scratching, and kicking each other some more, and then watch me sketch again while climbing on top of my stuff and asking questions, and then after that breaking into a free for all no holds barred violence bonanza. the funny thing is they'll keep going to no end until they see someone with dirty shoes and then they'll harass them for 5 pesos to shine them.

vivé méxico!

2010-12-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

i haven't posted here in awhile, which makes sense for a travel blog if you're not travelling. but i´m glad to see that now that i'm on the road in mexico, that i haven't forgotten how to write meaningful bits of cultural observance. also, i still have a traveller rock star belly that up to this point has been immune to montezuma's revenge. speaking of which, food has been one of the highlights of this trip. i have this theory that the warmer and more colorful the country, the spicier and better the food. mexico hasn't dissapointed and is ranked somewhere in the top five after india and thailand and a couple others.
how about deep fried chile grasshoppers for a snack
a funeral procession of chickens
in mexico city, there´s one street stall that i would go to for a folded tortilla filled with refried beans, onions, nopales, and spicy salsa. the street stall lady cooked it with just the right amount of her dirty fingers squashing the frijoles, that one couldn't help but fall in love.
food stalls in oaxaca
one of the more interesting things about mexico city is how much it is sinking. you can see it in all the buildings of the historic center including the cathedral. the cathedral in mexico city
when cortés and the spanish destroyed the aztec capital of tenochtitlán, they filled the lake it was sitting on and built the entire city on this crappy soil without compacting it. henceforth, sloppy soil in earthquake zone equals sinking city. the ruins of the original azteca city of teotihuacán with the catedral in the background
i'm not sure what's stranger, an ice rink and snow park set in the middle of the zócalo in mexico city, or...
the creepy charmin bear mascot who hangs out at the porto-potties in the same plaza
a pretty little church in coyoacán mexico city
but enough about the wonderful merits of imposing colonization on indigenous people. highlights for me of mexico city was getting to see the house frida kahlo grew up, and also the house that frida and diego rivera lived in.
the lovely garden where frida kahlo grew up
dia de los muertos doll of frida at her casa azul
i could explain their tumultous relationship, or just watch the salma hayek movie frida to get a good background on her. she´s one of my favorite artists because of the amount of pain and suffering of her soul and body that is poured onto the canvas.
the house that frida kahlo and diego rivera lived in consisting of separate houses for each connected by a bridge. they lived here until frida caught diego sleeping with her sister cristina
diego's studio
diego's studio
have also been a tourist and visited some archaeological world heritage ruins. teotihuacán, the third tallest pyramid behind those in egypt.
pyramide de la luna in teotihuacán
pyramide del sol in teotihuacán
pyramide del sol in teotihuacán
also visited monté albán just outside oaxaca which is perched high up on a mountain plateau.
zapoteca ruins in monté albán
zapoteca ruins in monté albán
zapoteca ruins in monté albán
even though the touts selling their wares aren´t as aggressive as i´ve seen in other countries, my technique of randomly hugging them still steers them away from making a sale, and more towards sharing love and kindness amongst grown men.
normally i'm used to hugging sweaty smelly guys selling crap i don't need. this time i was caught on camera hugging a mezcal mujer telling her after seeing you 3 days in a row, i'm still not buying mezcal from you but i'll give you a hug instead
in oaxaca right now. been here for about 4 days now. it's a great colorful colonial city (that wonderful word again)filled with artists, galleries, brass marching bands, libraries and tourists. the plaza here is wonderful in the evening with street players, touts selling chicklets, for people watching and general wasting of time.
chiesa santo domingo in the background of a oaxaca street
dancers in the oaxaca zócalo
lots of oaxacan dummies everywhere
we're here for the noche de los rabanos (the night of the radishes). it doesn't take much to describe what this festival is all about
a radish church
they also had tamale wrap figurines and diaoramas set up. neat
the one high or lowlight here depending on how you look at it is the mezcal. it's native to the area formulated from the agave plant. every bar or restaurant has it's own house version, not the kitschy worm in the bottle stuff you get in the states. the stuff is a slow, trippy burn type of a buzz. we became friends with a couple of bartenders at a local watering hole in town. in exchange for our undying friendship, they kept pouring us free shot after shot after shot of mezcal. i don't really need to explain further what happens next.
the source
the villian. homemade artesenal mezcal
tomorrow, we leave oaxaca for the sleepy beach town of zipolite for your typical wintry, white sand christmas in the warm mexican playa sun. felíz navidad
payaso, deja en paz

TEN DAYS :: terese taylor | film premiere friday november 12

2010-11-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

i doubt anyone actually reads this blog anymore. but just in case go to my film premiere:

TEN DAYS :: terese taylor
premiere screening
friday november 12 2010 at 8:00pm (doors open at 7:45)
mission cultural center
2868 mission street sf ca 94110
immediately after, after-party around the corner at the make-out room
advance purchase tix here (sliding scale $10-20), or at the door, but we'll charge you 2 bucks more just because we can: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/135225
view trailers hither: http://www.renology.com/images_film/ten_days/tendays_index.html

your passport to the world

2009-06-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

According to this church in North Berwick, Scotland, this is your passport to God's Kingdom. I still don't think Kim Jong Il will let you in North Korea though.
This is the greatest giveaway I've ever seen, although the consolation prize if you choose to opt against laser eye surgery is pretty weak. It might be worth it to get the lasik surgery anyway from a pricing standpoint.
He needs no passport nor eye surgery to get around, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

NYC in spring

2009-04-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted one of these things, so I might be a bit rusty. So here are photos from two wonderful weeks in New York, without as much bitter commentary as I usually indulge in:
east village rain
strategically placed advertising while sitting at home
2nd street view
brian jonestown massacre actually played
central park trees
token central park pond-and-tall-building-background photo
mami + duchamp at moma
yellow cabs
roosevelt island tram
nyc
bk
token elevator mirror shot
Always on point and never rusty, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Global Motion Trailer online

2009-02-05T12:50:00.000-08:00

most people put out a movie trailer before a movie. but we don't live by the rules around here (and the current employment situation buys me some free time). so here's the link to the new trailer for the old movie i completed last fall: www.renology.com

GLOBAL MOTION
filmed over a period of 555 days, this film is a collection of sights and sounds captured with a small handheld camcorder. it's a collage with no set plot in mind of various environments encountered over a 1.5 year trip around the world. during this journey, amateur filmmaker renato jose, visited over thirty countries touching all seven continents.
all the video, photos and sounds in the film were recorded on location.
EPISODE I :: COLUMBIA + SOUTH AMERICA
running time 24:44
EPISODE II :: CHINA + SOUTHEAST ASIA
running time 29:56
EPISODE III :: NEPAL + INDIA
running time 35:37
EPISODE IV :: TURKEY + MOROCCO
running time 23:18

i'm finally going home.

2008-09-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

after travelling so much over the past three years, i think i'm retiring. not completely from travelling, but from long-term backpacker travelling. the body is getting tired, the tolerance level is not as high as it used to be, and the desire to see all of the world is waning. i'm missing the comforts of home, my dog, and maybe the simple life. but i must thank everyone over the past 6 months who've been kind enough to allow me to stay with them. it was great having their company, them playing host, and of course, such a big benefit for the travel budget. so thank you to ricky and paola in barcelona (who've hosted me more times than i can count), alison and sebas in barcelona, philippe and gaelle my french connection in piedralaves, marta in madrid, d-diddy and c-sparks in london (who were kind enough to let me extend and extend and extend my stay), freya in glasgow, renate in norway, and of course lucy in scotland (mami knows papi).
my last port of call on this trip, north berwick, scotland
and getting killed from the backpacker team in north berwick
i now head home ready to start the next phase. not sure what that means, but i'm sure it'll figure itself out.....so yes, this is my swan song. i'm hanging up the backpack, and nothing but 5 star hotels and restaurants for this homeboy.
for michelin's 5-star rated biggest smoothie, check out, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Leaving Spain

2008-09-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

I said my goodbye to Spain yesterday, flying out of Barcelona, and feeling a bit sad. I've spent about three of the last five months here, and it's hard not to get nostalgic. Barcelona has been a home away from home thanks to friends like Rique and Paola and also Alison and Sebas who all opened their homes for me while travelling. It's nice to be with locals, since you see the real Barcelona versus the watered-down Lonely Planet version. Needless to say, I wouldn't have been able to afford Barcelona without their hospitality. I was also nostalgic about my time in Piedralaves....I wrote about this a few posts back, so no sense in re-writing what has been written. I'm going to miss the Spanish culture, lifestyle, and all the wonderful people I met.....(but not gonna miss the food since it's not very vegetarian friendly). But now I'm in the wonderful tropical British Isles where the weather is a balmy 50 degrees F, under rainy, cloudy skies. I'll be here the final 2 weeks of my trip (aii mami!). I haven't been posting much and haven't been taking many photos either. I think it's a sign that it might be time for me to go into backpacker traveler retirement. But I'll make that decision at the end of the season when I return to the states. So this is not my swan song yet....but it could be coming soon.......
hell is not in any Barcelona guidebook

Speaking of white birds, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Dear Mom,

2008-08-28T00:43:00.001-07:00

I know I haven't written in awhile, but I've been busy back here in Spain. Everything is fine, don't worry, I'll be home soon. Having fun, wish you were here, hugs and kisses, etc. etc.
My new Spanish friends and I enjoying deep conversation.
For deep intellectual conversation, you'll need to answer, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Leaving Norway

2008-08-15T06:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to write about how expensive this country is. I think I pretty much covered that in the last blog entry. But since then, nothing has changed. It's still f*ng expensive.
I leave Scandinavia tomorrow, but I did manage to get up into the mountains for some hiking and taking in the alpine scenery. Unfortunately the weather was shite most of the time with rain and clouds, but somehow I managed to avoid getting wet while doing a two day trek. I stayed in huts run by the Norwegian Mountain Something (called DNT), and they're similar to the Colorado Mountain Hut system in guess which state, or the refugios that you find in Patagonia in Argentina. But can you believe it cost $40 a night for a measly dorm bed? Or that meals cost $20 each?!? Oye vay, I'm bitching about price again. Needless to say, I lived on bread cheese and tomato sandwiches. I'm becoming manorexic.
Anyway, here are some photos of the trip. They're not that great due to flat light and general travel exhaustion. But hey, what better things do you have to do right now.
Sheep and lake in Jotunheimen National Park
Gjende lake
Lake on top of lake on top of lake is the Norway norm. If you look at a map of Norway, it looks like it just rained and left puddles on the map since the entire country is lake after lake after fjord after lake after fjord.
Introducing reindeers Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, blah blah blah blah, no Rudolph
Sun came out long enough to capture the turqoise color of Gjende Lake
However, the DNT lodges were kept real nice, warm and cozy. The showers were hot and there was even a sauna. The most interesting thing I noticed though, were the toilet seats. They look more like basketball rims than seats. Overall, the Norwegians are tall, but not so gigantic as to have 22” rim seats. It made me curious since when I go to the bathroom, I usually throw down slam dunks. I wonder if Norwegians take jump shots. I was also concerned that if an eight year old used it, they might drown.

He's toilet seat is a 360 tomahawk jam,Dónde está Che Pelotas?

High Taxes x Semi-Socialistic Society + Crappy US Dollar = Really Expensive Norway

2008-08-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

or in a simple equation form, HTx3(S)+CrUD=REN
I finally found the cure for drinking too much cheap rioja wine in Spain, or the binge drinking drink till you absolutely collapse mantra of the British. Head to Norway. Your cheapest drinking option is picking up beer at the grocery store which costs a whopping $16 for a 6-pack of crappy lager. And if you go out to drink at a bar, drinks are at a minimum, $10 a drink. But don't worry, if you decide to nurse your hangover, a cup of coffee costs around $5 a cup. Food isn't cheap either. A bag of chips cost about $8+. Entertaining isn't cheap at around $30 to get into a club. Low-income entertainment isn't cheap either. Renting a DVD costs $11. It would be cheaper to have NetFlix ship a DVD from the states to Norway.
It looks like I'll be losing weight on this portion of the trip and doing a lot of reading.
No these aren't models. Everyone here looks like this, chock full of caucasian goodness.
I think this was the original SMART car

I'm grateful that I've got friend's places to crash at. Don't even let me tell you what lodging and transportation costs......
Oslo street art near where I'm staying

The grave of Oslo's most famous artist, Edvard Munch
You know, the guy who did 'The Scream'. He painted some of the most depressed looking paintings that I've ever seen. But then again, tragic artists are the most talented. Maybe not the most likely to attend a company barbecue, but talented nonetheless.
The one good thing here in Norway is that they have the world's best health care. Full coverage and absolutely free. Education is free at universities as well......It's just too damn bad that none of this applies to me.
With these everyday low prices, I hope my wallet survives this ass-raping that it's been receiving............

Speaking of ass rape, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Coming Full Circle

2008-08-05T02:44:00.001-07:00

Fifteen years ago, my first long overseas trip started here in Glasgow, Scotland. And like a prodigal son, I have returned. Some things are still the same here such as the weather is complete shite, drinking till you're absolutely pissed is the norm, and the Indian curry is still incredible if not even better.
like a tropical beach paradise with a UV index of 8+
But I also noticed some differences such as the value of the US dollar being equivalent to the Indian rupee has made things expensive here, there are a lot of security cameras everywhere as in an Orwellian police state, and this last one confused me. While walking the streets of Glasgow, there's a lot of people just sitting in cars doing nothing. There's a lot of this, but I'm not sure what it means or if it existed so prevalently 15 years ago. Usually it's just one guy just sitting there in his car.....just sitting there. It's a bit creepy, like Facebook.
a bunch of heads at the Kelvingrove Gallerythe cloisters at the University of GlasgowPosting bills in glasgow is illegal. To combat this, the city council came up with the brilliant idea of tagging all illegal bills with a 'CANCELLED' bumper sticker. I wonder if they see the irony of this, cancelling the next coming of god.He can never be cancelled, we just don't know where he is, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

A Religious British Institution

2008-07-29T00:27:00.000-07:00

Went down to Cornwall this weekend, which is England's tiny version of summer beachfront living.
England's only turquoise water. It's surprisingly clear water, but you'll freeze your bollock's off.
Just like all towns in England, St. Ives in Cornwall has many many pubs. One might say that they're a religious institution.
The Golden Lion Pub in St. Ives
And doing a pub crawl is akin to making a holy pilgrimage to Mecca. For instance in this one pub called 'The Three Ferrets', I saw this holy prayer to all ye faithful to drinketh plenty on the wall.
Our Lager, Which Art in Barrels, Hallowed Be Thy Drink.....etc. etc., get pissed.
Speaking of religious institutions, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

British Signs

2008-07-25T01:14:00.000-07:00

I know the English invented the language, but some of the stuff is just funny if you're an American.
this is asking whether you are hungry, not if you're a chicken with feathers up your ass
as funny as this may seem, you would not believe how many times these signs on the road have saved meevangelical rant is universal...so is pick up your dog shit...or dog foulingmust be the hooker district the next 1/2 mile......and this must be the street where to find them
I love British sarcasmThis lady kept walking back and forth. I guess her priorities in life kept switching back and forth
His smoothness is universal, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Jolly Old England

2008-07-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

I've temporarily left Spain and have headed up to Northern Europe, first stopping in London (the weather sucks) catching up with old friends. It's a different change of pace, lifestyle and scenery (the weather sucks). I've taken in some cultural gems such as the Tate Modern Gallery (the weather sucks), walking along the Thames (the weather sucks), visiting Borough Market (the weather sucks), Hyde Park (no sunny Sunday walk in the park, the weather sucks) and so forth.
truffles for sale at Borough Market
sunflowers for sale.....
and chilling in a vase at home
Have also caught a couple music shows in central London (the weather doesn't suck too bad when indoors), and many pints crawling from pub to pub (the weather especially sucks after leaving the warm indoors).
a rare blue sky spotting
a bicycle sitting in the warm summer sun with the Thames and St. Pauls Cathedral in the background
The one thing I've been having trouble with though (besides the crappy weather), has been the crappy dollar exchange rate. London is expensive (and guess what the weather is like), and with the dollar being worth half a British pound, expenses are tight. But thankfully I've got friends to stay with which helps things a lot (the weather's not so bad, I haven't gotten frostbite yet).

If he was English, he'd be knighted by now, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Sadness and Architecture

2008-07-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

Sadness
After spending the last two months in Piedralaves, I left my house in the Spanish sun, leaving my pool, my neighboring horses, and all the people of Piedralaves who I had no idea what they were saying. I will be back in mid-August for a couple of days spending time with the owner and his family. But it will not be the same since it's no longer my house all to myself and to my few esteemed guests. I left the house to a large French family, the brother and niece's of the owner. We overlapped our stay by 18 hours, and instantly the house was transformed and was no longer mine. When my friend and I left the long driveway of the property, I felt a tinge of sadness for everything I gave and received from this little Spanish house in the sun.
This is one of the things I left behind.....33 bottles of wine over the kitchen cabinets (don't worry mom, I had help drinking this).
Architecture
Contrary to popular belief, I'm still an architect. I felt an obligation since I'm in Spain again, to see the building that revolutionized (btw, this is a matter of opinion) architecture in 1997. Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. But I'm not going to get into the details of the project, enough has already been written about this project (plus, Frankie has been copying himself way too much lately with his designs). Instead, here's a few pictures of the aforementioned revolution.
Front elevation. But I can't help but think that Jeff Koons Flower Cat sculpture dominates the picture and steals the show.
titanium clad goodness

Sphincter balls on a stick.
Sunset reflection
He's a cat that always steals the show, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

The Circus has come to Town

2008-07-14T03:42:00.001-07:00

Everybody loves a circus. Especially when you get to see such things as a piranha show or Spain's youngest clown. Well, the circus arrived last week in Piedralaves and with no other forms of entertainment out here than Spanish cow-tipping, we were quite excited. However, the 12 euro price of admission pissed down on our excitement. So instead we took photos of the Piranha Show trucks and a bunch of their posters. So instead of going to the circus, we went to a Barbarella-esque 1970's art show. We did see a bunch of carni's (remember the Simpson's episode) leaving their trailers, but no bearded ladies or general body manipulated freaks. And don't worry mom, I haven't joined the circus.
Is it me, or do clowns still freak you out? Ronald McDonald reeks of child molestation.
Spain's youngest clown. I wonder if this kid will have a normal well-adjusted to society life when he gets older.
I especially like the bleeding times roman font in 'Pirana'. And who thought of putting a turtle in this creatures of death shot.
I don't understand why this scene is happy with a smiling chick with a snake wrapped around her. Even the crocodile is happy.....
while in this shot, this girl is petrified. And how does this art piece succesfully attract the target market of pre-adolescents?.....oh, wait. now i understand their marketing plan....
This girl looks like she's boogie boarding on a giant snake floatie. This artist reeks of Stockton, California.
See what I mean by Barbarella. She looks just like Jane Fonda...and I'm not just speaking of the crocodile.

He's a one-man freak show, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

My Life as a Peasant Farmer in Piedralaves

2008-07-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

tranquilo Everyday, I wake up bright and early (if you call 10 AM early) to tend to the chickens and milk the cows and (what chickens? there are no chickens, and I don't even drink milk). Usually after breakfast, I work the land (I need to cut the grass maybe once a month) which is back breaking work (this is sort of true since it takes 2 or 3 days to mow the lawn...more like machete-ing a jungle).
my neighbor 'tusocks' feasting on some tasty weeds
During this time, I usually see my neighbor Juan and his lovely dog Yeti (bastard dog won't stop barking at me), and we discuss the latest events and our simple life here in the country (half the time...no, most of the time, I have no idea what he's saying). I then usually head into town to the bread store and the farmer's market, exchanging bread, vegetables and other food items with the fresh eggs and milk that I collected earlier in the morning (or maybe I use the euros that I just withdrew from the ATM across the street). At around 2:30 PM, I take a siesta after a long morning of work (work is sort of true since I'm sort of working on a film......but the siesta part is definitely true). Afterwords, I take the herd of cows to the field to graze, and to the stream to drink (this is a whole new level of bullshit......at this time, I usually do cannonballs into the pool). At the end of the day, I'm quite exhausted from a long day's work (sitting in the hot sun drinking sangria around the pool can wear a guy out). After a hot shower, I cook a hearty meal and watch the sunset over the hills with a glass of vino tinto (this is possibly the only truth in this entire passage). At night, I retire around the fireplace reading classic literature pieces (not even close, it's been watching the EuroCopa every night, especially with España winning it all....a por ellos!). Two or three times a week, I head into town for my only connection with the outside world, using this revolutionary new invention, the internet information superhighway (what can I say, things come really slow out here). On the following day, I follow the same routine (did I mention I've also got a cleaning lady? I'm a spoiled bastard) as a simple peasant farmer here in the Spanish countryside.
my field of blood, sweat and tears, the piscina
my other neighbor, sueño

He's a little bit country, and a little bit rock n' roll, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Price Check, Aisle 3

2008-07-05T02:05:00.000-07:00

From this photo taken in a Spanish supermercado, either one of these two questions comes to mind:
Q1: In Spain, where do you find The Simpsons?
A1: Usually in between a bunch of Filipinos.
Q2: In Spain, where do you find Filipinos?
A2: Usually watching The Simpsons.
I knew with a name lake Renato José, I had to have some Spanish blood in me....obviamente, mi cuerpo tiene sangré con chocolaté...
Feel free to add your own questions to this posting. Hopefully on my next trip to the market, we can find out where other ethnics hang out.

his blood is filled with dulce de leche, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

ESPAÑA CAMPEONES!!!!

2008-06-30T06:25:00.005-07:00

I tried posting video of our celebration after Spain winning the EuroCopa on Sunday night, but the spinning hamsters that run the internet here in rural Spain were overworked, but I was able to post it on youtube today, a couple days late. Here's a photo of us celebrating after Spain made a good defensive play.
Last night Spain won the Euro Cup for the first time in 44 years beating Germany 1-0. Needless to say, the entire country is celebrating right now, and I'm trying to write this with a giant hangover after singing, dancing and celebrating last night. Here's video of the celebration with some of my Spanish friends right after the whistle blew ending the game. It's pretty tame compared to the madness in Madrid, but it was pretty spectacular to be a part of nonetheless.
Go to this YouTube page for the video: ESPAÑA CAMPEONES

I'm pretty sure he's a fan of Spanish Fútbol even though he's in Germany, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

streets of madrid::thursday night::26 june 2008::11:17PM

2008-06-26T23:33:00.000-07:00

Spain has just defeated Russia in the semi-finals of the EuroCopa, three to nil. The temperature outside is hot, about 90 degrees hot. The streets erupt. People fill the fountains in the plazas dancing in red and gold and in the flag of Spain. The sound of car horns fill the streets.
The streets are mobbed, and many young testosterone filled boys play toreador (bullfighter) with the cars passing by, using Spanish flags as the lure for the bull...or in this instance, the car.
Trash cans are tipped over, and beer bottles are being smashed. Not on purpose though......more by accident from passing cars. I think it's a crime in the European Union to waste beer.
And what am I doing during all this? Celebrating with a friend of mine, and singing 'Viva España' along with hundreds of others (for the most part, I'm lip syncing). We're also taking photos, although on her cell phone, they're not the highest quality. We're also just observing the crowd of testosterone filled youngsters. As their celebrations start getting a little more aggressive towards cars going by (rocking them back and forth, and playing drums on passing cars), and some kids start jumping on garbage trucks passing by, then in comes the riot police. It looks like the start of something, so my Spanish friend says we should go.......really? Go now, it's just getting interesting.......Police helicopters circle overhead, so we walk to a different celebration, a more mild mannered one.....even though I'm curious to see what's happening in the other scene, I guess I should always listen to my Spanish host in her home country.
antes de la policia....Ole!
The entire city is celebrating making it to the finals. What's it going to be like if they beat Germany in the final on Sunday? Unfortunately, I won't be in Madrid to find out, but at least I'll be in a small village in Spain to report it to you once the story breaks out.
Good night, and good luck.
I think he's in Germany, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Spanish Pride

2008-06-24T01:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday night was a big night for the country of Spain. In the EuroCopa 2008 (fútbol tournament that takes place every 4 years), they defeated Italy in penalty kicks to advance to the semi-finals. I've been following the EuroCopa every night (not that I have any other entertainment options out here) and have been routing for Spain throughout the tournament. But for Spaniards, this win is especially sweet since they've had a long history of collapsing in the quarterfinals, and in soccer, Italy is a perennial powerhouse and are the defending World Cup Champions.
Cesc Fabregas celebrates after scoring the winning goal in penalty kicks
But what was more interesting for me was witnessing the game with a friend of mine in a small bar in Piedralaves. It's interesting to see how people from a small Spanish pueblo react while watching the game. For one thing, there were a lot of exaggerated hand and body gestures when the call didn't go there way (I'm guilty of this as well....quite fluent actually), and of the 25 people in the bar, only 3 were female, yet they were the most vocal and expressive of the bunch. They also looked like they were missing a few teeth and could easily kick my ass. There was one old, smelly guy who was supposedly the millionaire of the town who was in love with my friend. He tried to woo her by saying sweet little nothings, but since she doesn't speak any Spanish, his pick-up lines were wasted. I understood most of what he said, but he wasn't my type.
Iker Casillas making a save during an Italian penalty kick
The guy standing next to me kept praying and kissing his necklace. I thought it was a cross he was kissing since catholicism dominates here, but it was actually the coat of arms of Spain as his pendant. He was so used to Spain self-destructing that during the penalty kicks, he couldn't bear to watch the TV. But everytime Spain scored, he gave me big high fives, then started kissing his necklace again and praying. When Cesc Fabregas scored the final goal, he gave me such a big hug, that his perfume of eau de countryside farmshit transferred onto my clothes. But it was all good. Everyone left the bar happy, and it's always a highlight to be in a country when their national team does well. Especially watching it in a small town where everyone knows each other. So next up is Russia on Thursday, and if they win that, it's off to the finals on Sunday. Podemos! (We can! is the slogan that the TV channel broadcasting the EuroCopa came up with). Just for the record, they've been saying Podemos! throughout their broadcasts with annoying frequency. The only correlation I can think of is when people in the Bay Area say hella. Me molesta la palabra hella.

Puede! (He can!), Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Shameless Self-Promotion

2008-06-20T03:01:00.000-07:00

Hey you....yeah you. Read this article I wrote on Antarctica last year. It was finally published by South American Explorers (Thanks Lucy!) on page 42 and 43 of this month´s edition. Obviously, after writing this great piece of literature, hundreds of offers from publishers everywhere will be rolling in the door.........obviously.
iceberg = cold
you can download the actual magazine here once they update to the latest issue - currently last month's issue is still up. ((south american explorers))

But don't try to book a trip with this boat. It sank last November.
The M/S Explorer during happier floating-on-water times, right before we took off for the icy continent
he's the captain of the SS Smoothness, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Morocco Revisited

2008-06-17T01:54:00.000-07:00

This post is 2 months in the making.....well no, not really...but I just received some great photos from my friend Pamelas who I met in Marrakech. These are photos of the traditional Moroccan custom of buying rugs. Buying rugs can be an all day event as you'll see in these photos....The amazing thing, is that this dude Mohammed, remembered me from shopping there a year before. He gave me such a big hug that I thought he was trying to give me a wraparound.
I don't think this store has a website, but if it did, this photo would be on the opening page. Everyone looks so overbearingly uncomfortable.
And it would be one of those old cerca 1996 webpages with lots of blinking action and extra-crappy dual-color graphic presentations. The headline of the page would say 'Many Happy Touristical Memaries! Shopping Carpets Marrakech for Your Big Vacations Funs! Also Touring Guides for All Touristaical Highlights of Deserts and Adventours! Best Pricing! As recomendid by Lonely Planit and the Rough Guys' It would make no sense, but that's what the actual signs in English, would say in Morocco.
There is no acting done in this photo....we were seriously exhausted after about 3 hours in the rug store of doing 'many happy touristical shopping mamories with big funs'
this is a poster on one of the juice stands in Marrakech that we drank from. I'm pretty sure I'm banned from entering Morocco again....or possibly any Muslim country.....I might also be banned from returning to San Francisco by the Politically Incorrect Brigade...and definitely banned in Berkeley, but it be pretty neat to have a protest march dedicated to me. (btw, I mean no offense by this photo. It was just to hard to resist, and the juice guy thought it was funny)
speaking of happy touristicial menmorys, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Anoche, Vè 'Cabeza del Radio' en Barcelona

2008-06-13T02:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took a day off from my life as a country peasant, and headed to the big city to see traditional Spanish Music. After a bus ride from Piedralaves to Madrid, I caught one of the high-speed AVE trains to Barcelona.
Photo on the AVE as I'm getting close to Barcelona, with Montserrat lurking in the background. You'll remember Montserrat in one of my postings a month ago because I know you read this blog religiously,......right?
On the train, there was a tv screen that played the traditional Spanish movie, Sueñas Chicas, or Dreamgirls in English, starring Jaimè Foxx and Eduardo Murphy. The movie was all in Spanish, but fortunately for me, the songs that were sung in English were subtitled in Spanish. I appreciated the simple dialogue since it's easy to follow, but I noticed Jaimè and Eduardo had trouble with their lips when they spoke....but anyway, that's not important. What's important is that I saw the traditional Spanish ensemble called 'Cabeza del Radio', or Radiohead in English. They played at the Daydream Festival along the Mediterranean Coast in Barcelona. Here's photos from their Spanish Musical Performance:
Cabeza del Radio just as they took the stage
The light show got better and better.....
They played all ten songs from their latest album En Arcoiris (or In Rainbows for our English readers).
...as the show progressed
The lead cancionista, Tomás Yorque had a lot of energy as he belted out other classical Spanish tunes such as El Himno Naciónal, Optimista, and Androide Paronoico. But my favorite part was when they played Suerte, or Lucky in English. I was singing the line in the song that goes 'cause I'm your suuuper heeero...etc.', when a Spaniard standing next to me corrected me by singing the proper verse of 'cause I you sooopa hieeelooo', or to translate, 'I you soup-ice' in English. Ahhh, I stand corrected. Because everyone knows that Gazpacho is a traditional soup served cold in Spain. This is why it's so special to see a Spanish band play in a Spanish country amongst the Spanish people. Obviously it's an enlightening cultural learning experience. Because on a hot Spanish day, what would be better (or 'Lucky') than to have a friend nearby who was a bowl of cold Gazpacho soup. Now that I'm corrected, the whole song finally makes sense to me.
Suerte!, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Slow News Day in Piedralaves

2008-06-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

Things happen slow here in Piedralaves....no really, I mean slllooooooooowwwww. So there's not much to report here other than the weather has been complete shit.
Another cloudy day. I think I'm in Scotland.
Yesterday's biggest news was that I hit a rush hour traffic jam of about 100 sheep on the dirt road I was jogging on. It was bumper to bumper moving at about a walking pace, but cleared up just past the oak tree interchange.
In other news, I learned some Spanish colloquialisms. When you walk by someone's farm and say 'hola' or 'buenos dias', they usually say 'adios' instead of 'hello'. I remember someone telling me this earlier. But I'm still not sure if it's true or they just want me to keep walking and go the fuck away. Also, I've learned that Spaniards love saying the word 'coño' when frustrated. It's a deregotary term for the female genitalia much like the 'c' word in english. Everyone says it. I've even heard a few 80 year-old ladies yelling it. I guess old habits are hard to break.
Another thing I learned is that if you ask for directions, no one ever tells you exactly how to get there, but they sort of point you in the right direction and then tell you to ask someone once you get closer. One time I had to ask five different people directions for something two blocks away. And this is in a town of maybe 100 people....aye coño
token religious photo
token religious figure, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

The Rain Got Me Again

2008-06-05T02:34:00.000-07:00

Well the weather is finally changing for the better. After a cold and rainy May, it's been mostly sunny the last couple of days, an I've started to fill the pool with water.
This photo was taken at the beginning of the week after an all too common rainstorm. The pool is being filled as we speak.
But Mother Nature had to show me who was in charge.....The other day I was walking home from the market after purchasing some groceries. On the way back home, a 2 km walk from the market, it started to drizzle. The skies ahead didn't look so promising, so I decided to run home through the countryside before it started to rain. It was a bit difficult running with my messenger bag filled with groceries, and also being tired from doing a run earlier in the day. But I made it home just in time before it really started pouring. However I was presently surprised to find the large container of yogurt that I bought exploded in my bag while running home. My bag now smells like a giant frutas del bosque (fruits of the forest) cheescake. Thank you Mother Nature for the freak weather patterns due to homo sapien global burning.

In the end, he's gonna get you, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

The myth of sunny summers in Spain

2008-06-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

Since I returned to Spain from Morocco last month, it has rained everyday in northern Spain except for the first week of May. So much for the myth of Spain being warm and sunny. This global warming thing that's screwing up the weather patterns of the world sure is throwing a monkey wrench in my goofing off.
Photo of the church in Piedralaves. I hope these women are praying for some sun.
The rain did give me this perfect rainbow on my front porch though. It be really nice if it gave me a pot of gold at one end.
He's a non-stop rainstorm of smoothness, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Valdelavilla Poeta

2008-05-28T03:22:00.001-07:00

I'm at the Pueblo Ingles english teaching program here in Valdelavilla (the place is in the middle of nowhere...but it's got wi-fi amazingly enough), and one of the waitresses here gave me some poetry that she wrote about her life here, living in San Pedro Manrique, a nearby tiny village. I thought it was quite lovely.
mountain view from Valdelavilla, Spain
He hablado con la noche,
Quiero que baje la luna,
Bese a mi amor en la frente,
Bese a mi hijo en la cuna,
Lo arrulle hasta que vuelva,
En una nube de espuma,
Al hijo que yo mas quiero....
Quiero que baje la luna

I have spoken with the night,
I want the moon to fall,
To kiss my love on the forehead,
To kiss my son in the cradle,
Overwhelming them until it returns,
In a cloud of foam,
To the son I love most....
I want the moon to fall

Cierro los ojos al silencio,
Oigo la voz del recuerdo,
Memorias de mi infancia,
La tierra de donde vengo,
Mi Extremadura del alma,
La familia que alli deje,
El pueblo donde naci....
Los ecos de otros tiempos.

I close my eyes with silence,
I hear the voice of memory,
Memories of my childhood,
The land where I come from,
My extremities of my soul,
The family that allows me there,
The town where I was born....
The echoes of another time.

his words are pure poetry, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Pretty Porto

2008-05-22T00:50:00.000-07:00

After a week traveling in Salamanca, Spain and Porto, Portugal, I now take-off for my second week of teaching English at Valdelavilla in Northern Spain. The tricky part about speaking English to non-native speakers, is that you need to simplify everything, use basic words and phrases, and thus, you end up not speaking like your normal self. It can be a bit excruciating at times, almost as painful as speaking colloquial Spanish. So on that note, for these photos from Porto, I'm going to explain them in the simplest terms to prepare myself for this coming week.
pretty roofs
pretty view towards top of Porto
pretty city of Porto
pretty bridge in front of pretty city
pretty similar photo
pretty smooth, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Salamanca es salarific

2008-05-20T00:42:00.000-07:00

The first time I heard of Salamanca, Spain, it was because of a bootleg Radiohead disk that I had from them performing live here in 2002. But after being here, in my humble opinion, it's an incredibly lively, young city due to the large student population. It's got beautiful cathedrals and an incredibly ornate Plaza Mayor. It has a great arts scene, and the standard start the night out at 3 am. Unfortunately there was a Feria de los Libros (book fair) here this week, with these ugly orange mobile book stalls staining the Plaza. On the other hand, there was free music all week long in the Plaza, so that was a tradeoff.
I've been surviving the last few days on falafel, since I'm getting tired of the standard Spanish fare. Unfortunately it's not like the falafel sandwiches back home, but the Spaniard version of it. So rather than hummous, eggplant, and tahini with the falafel in a pita, it's crappy iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, and this mayo concoction. It's more like eating a Big Mac without the meat.
The cathedral viewed from the Puente Romano
The dome inside the Catedral Nueva
Everyone loves a wedding

I wish I could have stayed for the reception
Climbing to the top of the Catedral
A church with a building in front with a scallop shelled facade
views from the top of the cathedral

Plaza Mayor
The view of Plaza Mayor at night from my hotel room with the damn book fair ruining the shot.
The concert stage is nice, but that ugly yurt tent thing is a real eyesore
Never an eyesore, just silky smooth, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

A Week in Spain of No Spanish, Only English

2008-05-17T06:47:00.000-07:00

Just spent the last week in a little town outside of Salamanca called La Alberca. For the last seven days, I´ve been working in an Adult English Teaching Program with the company Pueblo Inglés. In exchange for free room and board and wine, we worked in a fairly intensive program where no Spanish was allowed. The Spaniards in the program could only speak English. I´m not gonna kid you, I originally volunteered to get free accomodation for the week, but I ended up leaving with many new friends. I cherish especially the Spaniards who taught me essential curse words and hand gestures.
The only bad part of the experience was the food, especially being a vegetarian. Everything was pretty much ham, meat, ham, ham or ham. Vegetable dishes consisted of overcooked, oversaturated, drippy, bland tasting, concoction of canned products from the Franco era. I ended up having to eat a lot of eggs, more than I´ve ever eaten in one week. I think I ate so many eggs that I might grow feathers out of my ass.
Vino, si si si.......Jamon, no me gustaBut now I´m in Salamanca and then heading to Portugal for a week before starting the next Pueblo Inglés program at a different location with hopefully better food. I know the next place Valdelavilla has free laundry, so that´s a good start since I´ll be going on 2 weeks since the last wash......thought I´d share that with you.
A mini procession in the neighboring town of Miranda del Castañar
This should have the photo I used for my friend Chad who passed away tragically. Sun and tree reflecting in a pond in La Alberca.
He's more ham than cheese, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

for chad

2008-05-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

descansa en paz......from la alberca, spain

for my boy chad, who took this photo back during our riding days in vail. hope your still going big wherever you are...

After a week in Piedralaves, heading to La Alberca to teach English

2008-05-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

A sign on a building letting you know that you´ve arrived in Piedralaves. If you´re in a car, 30 seconds later is a sign letting you know that you´ve left Piedralaves.
So I had this wonderful week in Piedralaves. Typical Spanish countryside of warm sun, bottles of vino tinto, and siestas everyday. Today, I had to make the move to Madrid to start this English teaching program just outside of Salamanca. The unfortunate part is that I don´t have a car and have to rely on public transport to get to Madrid from Piedralaves. The really unfortunate part is that I had to walk 3 km uphill from the house I´m staying in Piedralaves to the bus stop. The really really unfortunate part, is that of all days, this morning was the day that it started to rain. Super-duper unfortunate was that no smart Spaniard would pick up a dripping wet backpacker trying to hitch a ride to the bus stop. So by the time I got onto the bus, I was soaked. Puta madre.
He´s just as silky smooth, wet or dry, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Sobrino Numero Tres - I'm an uncle again

2008-05-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

Since February 1, 2005, my sister and her husband Dave have had 3 children, with the newest one Charles David being born last week on May 1st. They are single-handedly populating the world. If they were Hindu, they would make a killing at their sons weddings come dowry time.
I am the only sibling of my sister, and of her 3 childbirths, I've managed to be out of the country for 2 of them. Henceforth, I am fulfilling my uncle duties above and beyond the normal call of duty. Obviously if anyone needs a babysitter out there, I'm your man.
Charles David Zahn born on May 1, 2008 at 10:17 PM, weighing in at 7 lbs. 10 oz.

For everything else, he's your man, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

A Quick Pit-Stop in Barcelona and a Sneak Peak into Next Month's Peasant Life in Piedralaves

2008-05-04T02:31:00.000-07:00

Left Marrakech, Morocco and made a quick pit-stop in Barcelona for a couple of days. Spent one of those days hiking up Montserrat, a mountain about 1 hour outside of Barca.
The monastery high up in the hills of Montserrat

Pek, one of Jessie´s old dog friends before he moved to Barça with his owners. Unlike my dog, he doesn´t mine carrying shit on his back
A tiny hermito (refuge) high up in Montserrat
After Barcelona, I headed to Piedralaves for a week. It's a tiny pueblo in the countryside, about an hour and a half outside of Madrid. I'm here with the father of a French friend of mine who I met last year while volunteering at the Tibetan Refugee Center in Kathmandu, Nepal. He's showing me the ins and outs of his country home (turning on power, turning on water, land maintenance, and most importantly pool operation and maintenance). The house is 2 km from the main town (and about 15 km from internet....how will I survive without Vitamin I) and is located in a wide valley. The entry to the house is a long dirt driveway flanked by trees. On the property there are newly planted fruit trees, flower beds, and a 2 year old olive garden (still needs another 3 years to bloom). The house has 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, a separate workshop, a parilla (barbecue hut), and let's not forget la piscina.
Mi casa nestled in the hills, for 1.5 months starting in June
A green field next door
So I basically have this big-ass house for a month and a half starting next month on june 1st.....all to myself.......I am resigned to the fact that I will be one or a combination of possible things. Leading a peasant life tending the land (mowing the lawn, planting and watering, etc.), being a cabana boy (cleaning the pool and tanning my speedo-clad body), and also working on my own projects (a book and/or a film). I will either become Henry David Thoreau in Walden, Ernest Hemingway in Cuba, or Jack Nicholson in The Shining, or a combination of all three. But I'm not completely isolated (feel free to visit though, so I don't go crazy. My neighbors are this old guy Juan Gonzalez and his dog Yeti. Nobody around here speaks English (yeah, I think it would be a good idea for you to visit), so I'm anticipating my Spanish to improve greatly. There's also lots of cows and frogs to keep me company, and a bonus of a cleaning lady stopping by once a week.
One of my neighboring cows. This one I call Marta
Over the last couple of days, me and Philippe (the owner of the house) have been working the land. A couple days ago, at about 2:30 PM, while mowing, I started to get in the groove of working, when he shut me down for siesta. It's an unwritten rule that you can't make loud noise during siesta time (about 2:30 to 5:00 PM) since the neighbors are taking their siesta. I have to remember that Spanish time is not necessarily getting the work done, buy not pissing off the neighbors when they're napping.
Yesterday I transformed this pool from a green mucky, frog and beetle infested, smelly swamp, into a newly painted lovely piscina that I will appreciate a lot more than any other pool when I jump in it in June, since I scrubbed it completely clean by hand. I think that was a run-on sentence.
Starting June 1st, this will be my peasant life.....care to join me?

He's muy popular con la gente en el campesino, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Photo Heavy Last Couple Weeks in Morocco Without Much Text Except in Title of Entry

2008-05-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

here's photos from the last 2 weeks in morocco. i think last year's photos were better (go here to judge for yourself). i'm back in spain now and will be here till mid-july. blah blah blah blah blee blah blah, can't think of anything to write. here be them photos i promised:
sunset photo in assilah while a skinny guy who looked like he was tripping was eying my shit
the most splendid gate in all of morocco, bab el-mansour in meknes
moroccan models in front of bab el-mansour. they follow direction well. here, sit.
and here, stand.
in this game in the plaza, you try to get the ring on the bottle. it´s like spin the bottle, only no kissing since it´s an islamic country. big fun.
acrobat
acrobat again
some countries are dog countries, like india or most of south america. morocco is definitely cat country.
some people are just born with good style
a big ass mausoleum in the distance at this cemetary in meknes
i walked into this mosque, took a photo, then they kicked me out for not being muslim. what happened to the fourth of the five pillars of islam, charity?
zellig and stonework detail
a really rad door and accoutremants more detail
and even more detail
minaret kissing the sun
i want this courtyard in my house. so peaceful looking
in marrakech, there are these gigantic storks making nests on top of all these ruins and even in some of the minarets.
ceiling is pretty
ceiling is beautiful
renato is running out of ideas to describe this ceiling
stonework detailing in marrakech
it was really really really hot when i took this shot. i found it pointless to try to sell knit hats in 100 degree weather.
my homeboys trying to get their gang sign shit together
ouzzazade falls just outside marrakech. a full on brodeo with an occasional female swimming, albeit fully clothed.
inside the souqs of marrakech
Where there's a will, there's a Che, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

My Homeboys at 114

2008-04-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Anyone that's been to Marrakech knows abuot the great plaza and spectacle that is Djeema el-Fna.
The plaza at night
At dusk about 100 food stalls are set up, each serving the same food, each having the same exact menu and each having about 4 or 5 touts trying to get you to eat at their establishment. Last year I ate at abuot 4 different food truoghs, but stand #114 stood out the most beacause the touts there had the most charm, charisma, and dished out as much verbals shit as I dished out to them.
So now I've returned to Marrakech after one year has passed and looked for my favorite stall. When I walked by, my favorite 114 homeboy was doing a hard sell on a French tourist when I saw him. When his eyes saw mine, his eyes lit up (I guess it's true, you can always read a person by their eyes), and he yelled out a big 'HEEYYYYYYY!!'. He then grabbed me by the arm and gave me a gigantic bear hug. I couldn't believe after one year of serving a hundred or so customers a night, hundreds of thousands of people a year, that he remembered little old me. He replied 'I never forget nobody!'. I wanted to tell him that while a double negative is acceptable in Spanish, it is considered a grammatical faux pax in English. But I was too caught up in amazement and emotion to get into a discussion about semantics. A couple of the other guys came over and yelled out 'California!!' and gave me hugs. One of them showed me the west coast gang sign, but I had to correct his thumb placement since it looked more like a 4 fingered Simpsons character than Tupac's 'W'.
More 'Backstreet' looking than 'street'. A couple of English tourists asked if I came here often. I told them I was here one year ago. I should have thought of something more profound to say like 'it's not the places you see, but the people you meet'...or maybe, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'...but instead I just ordered some couscous, some grilled eggplant and peppers, and a bowl of harira (Moroccan soup). I then watched my homeboys pounce on tourists like vultures, flipping between 4 different languages with ease. As I ate, In noticed their sales pitch was stronger when attractive women walked by. It's good to see that my homeboys on this side of the world are the same as my homeboys back home.....stay tuned for more pics with these guys next week....
He's everyones homeboy, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

As Allah Wishes

2008-04-24T11:53:00.001-07:00

The consumption of alcohol is forbidden according to the Koran. Because of this, I'm convinced that the people in Islamic countries overdose on other vices such as caffeine and sugar. They're connected by IV to coffee drips in cafe's, and consider sugar to be one of the five major food groups.
The sweet section in a souq in the Meknes medinaMy new Moroccan friend introduced me to this glowingly purely highly superduperly concentrated sugar cookie that simultaneously made my arteries hit a traffic jam, my arms felt like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket, and my teeth started to disentegrate like a beach sand castle.
Sweet evil
But despite these minor setbacks, I'm addicted to this confectionary crack, and I'm gonna take another hit. Allah akbah.
He's twice as sweet as sugar and always fat-free, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

An Ass in Assilah

2008-04-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

This had to be one of the funniest things I've seen in awhile. I'm sitting here in Assilah enjoying a cup of tea, when a lovely peasant farmer lady and her donkey look to occupy the table next to me.
The donkey scratches his forehead on the chair to claim it as his. And then he proceeds to try to systematically eat the tablecloth made of paper. It looked like that 'pull the tablecloth from under the silverware trick' only he was trying to eat his way to stardom vs. pulling it away quickly.
Here's the lady trying to stop him, but not until two plates crashed to the floor.
Speaking of dumb donkeys, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

asilah update

2008-04-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

so after a week in chefchaouen, i've finally moved on. it rained here the last 2 days and i couldn't be bothered to move....plus the people watching in the plaza was too good, and many games of cribbage couldn't pull me away (thanks katie, jenais and casey).
a rare break in the sun during my last few days in chefchaouena goat with it's master
i'm now in the coastal town of asilah which also has blue doors just like chefchaouen.
another blue door in a different townit's a pretty coastal town with white washed walled buildings inside a medina originally built by the portugese. it's the off-season, so not too many tourists, but a lot of kids playing annoyingly loud video games at this internet cafe.
this guy is almost as big as this carthe tilework on this fountain is neatwhite washed alleys in the medinaa pretty white minaret at a mosque in asilah. don't let it's innocent look fool you. the 5 or 6 prayer calls a day, and especially the sunrise call, and that nasty 3 am chant has been wrecking my beauty sleep.the sunsets on the medina walls along the atlantic coastwhite walls are purtyasilah is also an artsy town with a few art festivals happening here during the year. some of the medina walls have artwork painted on them...although a lot of them are pretty bad. but then again, i'm an art snob covering my own artistic insecurity by crapping on their work.
the a love you art wallthis dude is shutting the window to show off participatory artyeah i know, this wasn't one of my better entries. but even michael jordan had an off night every once in awhile.
he never has an off night, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Chefchaouen Blue

2008-04-17T03:24:00.000-07:00

Any solo traveller will tell you that the greatest part of travelling solo is the freedom, not having to live on anyone else's schedule, the freedom to go where you want, when you want, and being completely free from the menial stresses of the everyday. They'll also tell you the hardest part is dealing with occasional bouts of loneliness when out there on the long haul. I deal with the latter by sketching a lot more, writing a lot more, and of course taking a lot more photos.....
and of course, you do realize that I'm doing this all for YOU, right????
But when was the last time that you thanked me for this or at least gave me a hug.....or how about access to your bank accounts for this????......yeah...that's what I thought. No response.
Anyway, not to make you feel guilty, but here are more of MY photos for YOU,....and just to let you know, these French-Moroccan keyboards are a real bitch...putain de merde!
Blue is the theme in the blue hilltown medina of Chefchaouen
Blue alleys
Blue doors
Blue butts
Tiny blue doors for midgets
Blue door and zellig archway
spice cones
When in Morocco, there's a carpet for sale nearby

This kid, in Arabic, asked me, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Sensory Fès

2008-04-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

This is what Fès smells like at aroud 1pm in the medina.
Lamb kebabs smoke the air in the tiny streets of FèsThis is what Fes looks like for a vegetarian.
Fresh fruits and vegetables at the market, viewed from a cafe above
Tingly is the feeling when you see menswear at rock bottom prices with the medina fortress walls in the background.
The sunsets on the clothing market outside the Fès medina
Warm is the feeling in your loins when you think of this, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Fotos From Fès

2008-04-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

After a long day of two Barcelona metros, one cross continental flight, two trains and a shared taxi (I'm not complaining though.....), I was finally thrown into the middle of the old medina of Fès (...it's still better than work). I instantly had flashbacks of being in Morocco a year ago zith the smells of the souqs filled with tajines and spices mixed with fresh donkey dung wafting in the air.....and the sounds of muslim prayer call echoing of the sandstone medina walls. Fès feels like a highly concentrated, yet unfiltered version of Marrakech. The mazelike streets and alleys are tighter and harder to negotiate, and the touts are more persistent, more professional, and are always in mid-season form. But Fès isn't all about tourism. It's known as the heart of Morocco, has the self-proclaimed oldest university in the world, has 350 mosques (wonderful synchronization at sunrise to wake me up when I don't want to wake up) in a 14 km square area, and about 350 people per hour interested in selling you a tour, a carpet, a blanket, leather goods, hashish, or introduce you to a cousin who could do the same. I'm never embarassed to tell them I'm American (I'm not responsible for my government's actions), but sometimes I resort to telling them that I'm a photography student........photography explains the expensive camera, while student translates to being poor. On that note, here's some poor ass photos of Fès:
intricate zellig (tilework) at a fountain next to my room greeted by rain my first morning in Fès
they have something like 7 billion of these intricate water fountains throughout Fès
I can't enter a mosque since I'm an infidel, but remember the game 'Where's Waldo?'...see if you can find the dangling foot at the foot of the steps entering this mosque
A man in a jellebah (traditional Moroccan robe) walks past the guilded doors of this medersa (Islamic university)
these are the taxis, trucks, and all other motorized vehicles of Fès

The tiled floor of the Qaraouirine Mosque is much nicer than the rain drenched donkey-dung filled alley that I'm standing on when I took this shot
No, this Moroccan woman isn't shaking her ass to the latest in jellebah fashion, she stepped into my shot of the entry into the Andalucia Mosque
It's easy to get lost wandering the medina maze. I was rewarded with this beautiful fountain for my lack of direction
panoramic views of Fès

cemeteries are apparently good for burying the dead as well as grazing livestock he's half provider of death as well as life eternal, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Back on the backpacker trail

2008-04-09T05:48:00.001-07:00

After a 10 month leave from call of duty, tomorrow I reinitiate my service in the backpacker brigade, as I head back to Morocco. I´ve enjoyed my week as a civilian in Barcelona, staying with two groups of friends and steering clear of anything resembling tourists or tourism. The last few days have been spent in the barrio of Poble Sec, which is Barcelona's version of the Borough of Queens. There's a healthy mix of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, China, India, Pakistan, etc., as well as there's the neighborhood drunk who sings in the street and gets pelted with trash and eggs by the locals. Life happens in the streets and on the balconies. When I walk out onto my friend's balcony, I'm guaranteed to see at least three old ladies on their own balconies. They look at me. I look at them. And then somehow the world keeps spinning around.
Anyway, here's some photos of everyday life as a civilian in Barcelona.
fresas fresas fresaspescado frescosweet tasteI don't know if this is a problem, but for some reason I like to take photos of laundry drying on building facades. If you followed my blog from my last journey, you'd certainly have to agree.<Did you know that Barcelona is the first city in Europe to start a recycling program? That's what those big yellow and green thingys are at the bottom right of the photo, that are also ruining this shot.An antique door next to the Design School in Barrio Gothic. I want to steal this door for myself'Bicing' is Barcelona's version of a car-share program, but different since it uses bicycles instead of automobiles in case you haven't figured this out yet.<
A bunch of boats with La Barceloneta in the backgroundBarcelona is a port town. Here is the luxury boat portthis bar must be the last stop for a few of my friendsWorse than hell, is what awaits here, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

Barcelona update

2008-04-06T04:42:00.001-07:00

Last time I was here, this Casa Okupa (squatter house) had a different sign painted at the top left. The sign said 'Why do they call it tourist season, when you can't shoot them?'
Casa Okupa in Barcelona, Spain
Now the sign says 'We know your capitalist tendencies'....I love it when advertising campaigns are successful in hitting their specific target market. The squatter's advertising team must be very proud.....these guys throw legendary parties by the way.
A squatter house with a view of Barcelona, Spain and the Mediterranean Sea
Speaking of squatting, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

compré crema falso

2008-04-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

so i went to the store to buy body lotion, to help keep my skin looking fresh and radiant. i bought this stuff by nivea thinking it was normal moisturizer for people with darker skin since it said 'for darker skin'. little did i know that the stuff was actually lotion with skin tanner. so now i look like this fake-bake kid from new jersey......oh wait, that's where i'm from.
how's that for being an experienced traveller.....and i even bought the stuff in san francisco, so i didn't have the excuse that it was in spanish.
the gaudi funpark of parc güell in barcelona, spain
Speaking of vibrant moist skin, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

some random first thoughts....

2008-04-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

random first thoughts on this year's edition of my trip overseas...

i hate using the word 'adventure' to describe a trip. it sounds so pretentious or lonely planet-esque/r.e.i. generation.
leaving my dog jessie is always the hardest part. and when i'm packing and getting ready the last couple of days before taking off, she gives me this sad look constantly which makes me feel guilty........hmm, i wonder if you left your kids for a trip would they give you a guilt complex.
thank you to the people who came out monday night at kilowatt. that was fun...even jessie said so. she was hungover the next day.
this last week i was a bit stressed with anxiety because of getting everything ready for the trip, finishing work, cleaning house, saying good bye to friends, etc. etc. because of this stress, i developed a big zit on my nose. but somehow, the day i let for my trip, my zit went away. it's as if my zit knew that it was time to go...for both me and for it the zit.
this is the first time that i've started an overseas trip by staying with friends. i'm also starting it where i ended it on last trip from december 05 till last june.
sometimes i wonder if travelling is something i just do for a living the same way people go to their jobs everyday. .....make money...enjoy life.....make money....enjoy life.......there's got to be a balance in their somewhere.
new airports look more sterile than some hospitals i've been to.
this one is for the fellas: the female flight attendants are smoking hot. for the ladies: i have no opinion of the dude flight attendants.
five months goes really fast and i'll be home before you can whistle dixie.

the first photo of this years trip. redeye sunrise over the english channel on air france flight 83 to my connection in paris en route to barcelona where i'm sitting right now.
He's smoking hot to both the ladies and the gents, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

and i'm out

2008-03-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

tomorrow i'm returning to this place here. i'll be back on the trail for the next 5 months, travelling mostly in spain, morocco, scandinavia and the uk. i hope that the dollar still exists by the end of my trip.....any gift requests, speak now or forever hold your peace.
barcelona, spain
He's got a Spanish accent....or maybe Latin American.....or was it Hungarian? Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-27T12:34:00.001-07:00

5 more days and I'm outta here.......and also, we knew it was just a matter of time before maxi rodriguez posted a rebuttal to che's pathetic desert claims. ((go here to view))
un mensaje.....
He's always on Interpol's Most Wanted List, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

6 more days and I'm outta here.......and also by the way, has anyone seen what che pelotas has posted on his blog. ((go here to view)) it seems like it will just be a matter of time before a rebuttal is posted online from our favorite interpol agents.....
Where is he?
He gets way too much air time, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

The countdown continues. 7 more days and I'm outta here.......
A frieze in a Buddhist temple outside of Nagarkot, Nepal
He's his own blood-red temple, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

The countdown continues. 8 more days and I'm outta here.......
Refugio Frey, just outside Bariloche, Argentina in Patagonia
He's actually quite overrated, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-23T09:50:00.001-07:00

The countdown is in single digits now. 9 more days and I'm outta here.......
A statue in the Wat Phra Kaew temple in Bangkok, Thailand
His body is a temple, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-20T18:45:00.001-07:00

Remember the good old days when the greenback was the most powerful currency in the world. And when you could travel on the cheap in Europe. I miss those days.....especially since I'm going back there with US dollars in my pocket.....they might as well be pesos or rupees.
Prague, Czech Republic when you could survive on $15 a day
His currency is silky smoothness, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

Making snow angels in the snow in Antarctica.
One of the first things I did when landing on the seventh continent
He's a guardian angel to some, the angel of death to many, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-17T08:53:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day. I haven't been to Ireland yet, but this is the greenest photo I've got.
Something green is in the water in Jodhpur, India
He's not Irish, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

Dear China, the message is clear....
In a Tibetan enclave in Pokhara, Nepal
Dear China, the messenger is clear, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-15T10:20:00.001-07:00

Buddhist temples as far as the eye can see....
Looking around in Bagan, Myanmar
A temple of smoothness for all eyes to see, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-13T11:16:00.001-07:00

On this day last year, I was taking showers and using the most shittiest of shit bathrooms I've encountered in all my travels. It looks like the bathroom from the movie Saw. It was so skanky that I think even germs and diseases couldn't survive here.
Our lovely shared bathroom in Mumbai, India
He's got nothing to do with shitty bathrooms, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-12T11:01:00.001-07:00

Two years ago, I landed here on Antarctica to play with a bunch of penguins.
Sunset on King George Island in Antarctica
He's classically styled like a penguin tuxedo Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

Neighborhood kids during a baptism and first communion fiesta at the eco-hostel I volunteered at Ecuador.
In the cloudforest of Las Palmas, Ecuador
He has a strong influence on children as a religious savior, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

The outhouse I used while staying on Amantani Island, an island without electricity, telecommunication, mail, hotels, restaurants, or a police force.
A simple outhouse on Isla Amantani on Lake Titicaca, Peru
Even his outhouses deep in the jungle are silky smooth Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-06T10:27:00.001-08:00

This is what I feel like today, red-eyed, pissy and dragon breathy.
A dragon statue at a temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Even when he's red-eyed and pissy, his breath is still silky smooth Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-04T09:45:00.001-08:00

As shown in this sign, the nuclear-free zone of El Bolson in Patagonia.
El Bolson is Argentina's premiere hippie town, pronounced 'eeepie'
His smoothness is all natural nuke-free silk, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

A year ago today, I was in Rajasthan watching a transvestite dance during the colorful Holi festival in India. This year, I'm also in a colorful city with a bunch of trannies.
Transvestites are revered as holy here in Jodhpur, India
He's right at home with transvestites in any part of the world, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-03-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

Waiting for my flight home in JFK Airport in New York, in the jetblue free wifi area. This guy sat next to me without a computer and a million other seats around. I don't know why I like to travel since I'm so big on maintaining personal space. Yet 'they' always find a way to encroach on my personal space no matter where I am. I must of had a lot of personal space in my past life, and karma is biting me back.
He's not bothering me but I might like him better if he sat on the other side of the tarmac here in JFK Airport, New York City.
He can enter my personal space anytime, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the saddest photo I've ever taken. Victims of the Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge genocide before their subsequent torture and death in Cambodia.
Taken at the Tuol Sleng Museum which was a former school converted into the main interrogation, death and torture facility in the late 70's in Vientiane, Cambodia
A helper of all political victim's, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-26T15:38:00.002-08:00

It be nice if we could stop global warming so that these guys will have a place to live.
Seals chillin' (literally) on an iceberg in antarctica
speaking of global chillin', Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

After 8 months of being back, I've finally updated my website with photos from my last trip. Go to the 'journeys' section of www.renology.com to see what I'm talking about.
Cold sunset on the 'w' trail in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
After 8 months of being back, I still don't know, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-23T14:00:00.001-08:00

The cathedral in Quito shown in yesterday's post has this on the third level of the right tower, a bar and restaurant. Catholicism + capitalism = religious restaurant
The cathedral built by the Spanish conquistadors in the old town section of Quito, Ecuador
He's to be worshipped and ingested, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-22T12:05:00.001-08:00

The cathedral as viewed from the hostel I stayed in Quito, which has some surprises on the inside, unlike any other church I've been to.
The cathedral built by the Spanish conquistadors in the old town section of Quito, Ecuador
He's a holy sanctity onto himself, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-21T10:56:00.001-08:00

Rowing across the river in an early morning mist.
Up at the crack of dawn in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
He's silky smooth sailing all the way, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-20T09:24:00.001-08:00

The last photo I took on my year and a half journey in '06-'07. A photo on the coast of Spain just outside Barcelona, where I'll be returning this April.
Late afternoon sun on the Mediterranean in Sitges, Spain
And on the third day he rose again, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-15T08:48:00.001-08:00

In the jungles of Bolivia, everything was moist even when it was not raining. All of my stuff, including myself, was dripping wet when we camped out in the rain forest. I guess that's why it's called a rain forest.....man, I'm running out of creative writing material.
A spider web in Madidi National Park in Bolivia
He's known to make everyone feel moist, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

Buddhist alms at a temple in Bali, the only non-muslim dominated island in Indonesia.
Colorful gifts in Bali, Indonesia
He's a temple for all religions, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-13T08:43:00.001-08:00

Sunset washes white walled buildings on the island of Santorini.
Oia sunset in Santorini, Greece
Rumor has it that he's not a full blooded latino, but comes from the island of Santorini, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-12T09:02:00.001-08:00

The gold plated Sule Pagoda
Sunset on the Sule Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar
The gold plated smoothie, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-11T09:04:00.001-08:00

One year ago, this was the view from my guesthouse patio.
The view of the Taj Mahal from the Shanti Lodge in Agra India
He's part ghetto, part romantic splendor, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-08T09:25:00.001-08:00

It's the second largest religious monument in the world behind mecca. It has the tallest minaret in the world topping off at 210 meters. It was also seen by helicopter at the end of the movie Babel.
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco
He's the mecca of silky smoothness, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-07T11:44:00.001-08:00

Boating down peaceful Vietnamese waters amongst Karst mountains and rice fields. Hopefully we can travel through Iraq in 30 years.
A boat ride in Tam Coc, Vietnam
Supposedly the Ho Chi Minh trail was misspelled from it's original name, the Ho Che Minh, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

A new Botero sculpture next to one blown up by terrorists in 1995, killing 23 people. The new bird sculpture donated by Botero was named Bird of Peace.
Botero sculptures in his native city of Medellín, Colombia
He's part bird of peace and part bird of prey, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

Terracotta roofs glisten at sunrise over the Mediterranean. That last sentence sounds like a sales pitch.
Early morning in Kas, Turkey, right before Anderson Lanbridge got vertigo graffiti in El Bolson, Argentina
Speaking of something to make your head spin, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-04T08:49:00.000-08:00

Good news. He might not be leaving the planet, but at least he'll be leaving the white house in less than a year.
Bush out of the planet graffiti in El Bolson, Argentina
Che en frente del planeta Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-03T13:27:00.001-08:00

When ordering flesh balls, make sure to get the old pluck formula.
A sign at a food stand in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Speaking of old pluck flesh balls, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-02-02T09:22:00.001-08:00

Look kids, Big Ben
Looking across the River Thames at Big Ben and Parliament
Look kids, silky smoothDónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-31T12:29:00.000-08:00

Weaving carpets is her future.
A girl at a manual weaving machine outside of Luang Prabang, Laos
Silky smoothness is his future, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-29T08:35:00.001-08:00

Like this elderly Chinese lady, I did a Buddhist prayer, praying for the rain and crappy weather to stop.
A an elderly Chinese woman lighting incense candles at a Buddhist temple in Chengdu, China
She's also praying to give life to all the lost souls, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-28T10:50:00.001-08:00

Tall palm trees along a Colombian trail near FARC land.
In the hills of the coffee region near Salento, Colombia
Supposedly he trained FARC rebels, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-27T12:06:00.001-08:00

I was in Prague relatively soon after the collapse of communism. McDonalds was relatively new there. Now I hear that they've got a wal-mart out there now. Yay.
Artists on the St. Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech
If silky smooth was a chain logo, guess who'd be the spokesperson, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

I think incense sticks smell different when you're in Asia. Maybe more genuine smelling. Or maybe that's because I'm travelling and not dealing with the pitfalls of everyday routine life, and I notice these things more. Ok then, I'm going to start smelling the flowers in my neighborhood more often.
Incense sticks burning in Chiang Mai, Thailand
For another tall and lean good smelling aroma, try Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-25T09:07:00.001-08:00

It's been feeling like this all week, dark, dank, cloudy, rainy and cold.
On an island in Van, Turkey watching storm clouds come in
You do not want to feel the wrath of this storm cloud, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite peaks of all time, Fitzroy, in the Andes along the Argentina-Chile border.
Fitzroy is a short 3-hour hike from El Chalten, Argentina.
This is my absolute favorite peak, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Is it me, or does this collection of plastic babies in a cannister seem creepy.
A toy display on the streets of Istanbul, Turkey
I hear in addition to posters and t-shirts, bobblehead dolls of your favorite characters will be coming out for Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-21T08:55:00.001-08:00

And another llama shot on a roadside stop in Peru.
Two kids and a llama on the way to the Colca Canyon near Chivay, Peru
This road is also part of the Che Pelota trail, while he was fleeing from authorities during the failed Peruvian revolution Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Llamas are everywhere in the Andes, including here working the entry at an Incan world heritage site in Ecuador.
Llamas in front of the Ingapirca ruins just outside Cuenca, Ecuador
He's a world heritage smoothie, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-19T10:43:00.001-08:00

Tango was born in the immigrant barrios of Buenos Aires. It started with immigrant men dancing with each other or prostitutes, longing for their loved ones back home.
Tango dancers on the streets of La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina
He's loved by both whores and men, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-18T09:07:00.001-08:00

Ever see City of God? There are dozens of these favelas throughout Rio de Janiero. You could be in a nice area one minute, and walk a block away and be in the middle of a favela. But I did find some incredible artists here. I would have picked up some artwork, but it was one of the first days of my year and a half away, that I didn't want to haul that stuff around the globe.
Crowded living in a favela in Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Speaking of artistic international globe trekkers, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

In case you're wondering, this is what a condom pack looks like in Burma.
Found on a trail alongside Inle Lake in Myanmar
He uses lots of these, Dónde está Che Pelotas?

RENdom Photo of the Day

2008-01-16T09:11:00.001-08:00

The Pere Lachaise cemetery is the final resting place of some well known dignitaries such as Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, and Camille Pissarro. But none are as famous as this one, Jim Morrison of the Doors. Arrows and graffiti point towards the gravestone when you enter, and a security guard is on hand at his grave due to vandalism
Colorful markets of Puno, Peru
He's put many men in an early grave, Dónde está Che Pelotas?