My Backpack Goes Both Ways

Guest Posts - Ross French - June 1, 2011

By, Stevie Trujillo (www.sprinterlife.com)

Who in their right mind wants to go to school while they’re on vacation? Well, I did, but I‘m crazy about both school and traveling—so much so, in fact, that when I first heard about taking a Learning Vacation, I immediately started organizing my backpack: 2 pens, 1 dictionary, and a notebook in the front with 5 bikinis, 2 dresses, and a pair of flip flops in the back. Ahhhhh, heaving my pack up on my shoulders I couldn’t help but note how right it felt. I guess deep down I always knew my backpack went both ways.

The hard part, though, was figuring out a time for me to get away, because, well, I am always away. On April 18th, 2010, my husband and I set out from our home in Venice beach in our converted Mercedes Sprinter van to drive around the world. Everyday we’re on the go, usually not for very far or for very long, but nonetheless, we are nomads: we are moving. Up until now, we’ve driven from Los Angeles to Canada (wine tasting the whole way), and then back down through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama (Tequila, Mezcal, Belikin, Aguardiente, Havana Club, Flor de Cana, Tona, Guaro, and Balboa tasting the whole way). (Hint: this may be why we’re so slow). Not that we have a set schedule anyway, but still we’d like to be to the tip of Argentina in January, during the southern hemi summer.

So, given our lifestyle, our seasonal preference and our copious alcohol intake, there really isn’t a lot of down time to go to school, nor a real need for a vacation.

But finally, as luck would have it, an opportunity came up. My husband had to go back to the States for two weeks to attend to some shit last month, and I was able to parlay his absence into my chance to attend the School of the World in Jaco, Costa Rica.

I chose to study Spanish and surfing, as opposed to yoga or digital photography (which are also offered at SOTW), because they just seem more relevant to where I’m at today, sitting on a beach in Central America.
This was my first time having ever experienced a Learning Vacation. I’ve done the backpacking thing across Europe, the dirt bag Americana road trips sleeping in Flying J truck stops along the interstate, and the five star all-inclusive resorts with cute towel animals sitting at the foot of the bed. But never have I traveled abroad with the explicit purpose of learning something—well, something useful anyway—and I have to say that it kicks motherf’n’ass. Por que, me pregunta?

Intention. As annoyingly new agey as it sounds, when you set an intention, you get more shit done than you would have otherwise. Case in point, I learned more Spanish in my two weeks at School of the World than I did the entire seven months prior to simply living in Spanish speaking countries. Yes, you can ‘pick up’ words by osmosis, but I have found that if you really want to learn something, particularly a foreign language, you need to set the intention to do so.

Intensity. Learning Vacations are intense. I spent four hours a day studying Spanish and two hours a day learning to surf. Everything hurt. Left to make my own schedule, I would not have been that disciplined. And honestly it takes that insane level of practice and repetition to get good at anything.

Inspiration. There were days that I would not have made it without the support of my teachers and fellow students at SOTW. Facing roiling mountains of brain washing whitewater, a surf instructor would paddle out by my side, cheering me on as I turtled my way to the lineup. And then when I wouldn’t stop paddling until I was in my safe zone a good 30 meters past the break, said surf instructor would patiently coax me back in from the open sea, “Please, chark bait, you come back now. “ And then there I’d be sitting in the lineup next to my beginner buddies, when one of them would go for a wave, and we’d all yell “Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!” as she vanished behind a wall of water to either make good with Mother Nature or get her ass kicked all the way to shore. Either way, I felt inspired, but it was the wipeouts that really got me going. I may admire athleticism, but I relate to desperate acts of survival.

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Move Around Barcelona Like a Local

Destinations, Guest Posts - Ross French - May 26, 2011

By: Maria Climent Huguet
Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady. After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger. This is how she’s now a mother of no one and a better person. She also likes to cook!

Since I’m an inhabitant of this city, I can show you the best things you can do in Barcelona, which, of course, will not be the typical ones all the tourists do when they visit it (or guiris, as we call them, no offence!).

Before I get started, the first thing you need to know is that flip-flops plus socks are not allowed. The second one is that Barcelona is not in Mexico, so please do not buy one of those Mexican hats they sell in Les Rambles. Now that we have cleared that up, we can proceed with useful tips:

Fresh fish tapas in Barcelona – as long as you don’t want to spend $100 on a meal- can be found in the district of La Barceloneta. There you’ll find a typical fishermen neighbourhood, plenty of traditional fishermen bars where you can have good fresh fish tapas and cold beers at an affordable price. Use your common sense to detect the more glamorous bars and steer clear if you don’t want to spend a lot of money. Also, remember: The less glamorous, the most authentic.

Then, if you happen to rent one of the apartments in Barcelona, check if it has a terrace so that you can have a barbecue on it. There’s nothing cooler than watching the sunset with a view of Barcelona in the background with friends and a Moritz (a beer made in Barcelona) in your hand.

When the night falls, Plaça Reial is the place. (There are also cool bars in Gracia, but I’ll tell you about those charms later.) If you want to stay out late, listening to the best alternative music and meet fancy locals, try Sidecar. There are jam sessions, two in the same square at the Jamboree. But also Sala Apolo is one of the best places for good music and nice atmosphere in the city; it’s in the Paralel Avenue. Anywhere, as long as you don’t go to Pachá.

Let’s move to the Gracia district: that’s where I live and I must say I am love my neighbourhood. It’s ok to go out at night if you accept that the bars here close at 3am and discos here aren’t really worth it. So, I recommend you to visit this district in the morning. At vermouth time, before lunch, it’s lively and charming especially on sunny days. All the squares are crowded and there’s usually some performances in the Plaça de la Virreina like twist dancing, or live concerts (last performance I saw there was an amazing concert by the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, one of the youngest swing big bands in the world, whose components range from 8 to 20 years old.

Also in Gracia, there’s a mythical bar, the Heliogàbal where you can enjoy a Vermouth concert on Sundays, which I highly recommend. But please, don’t leave the district without entering one of the traditional bodegas (wine shop – bars) that will take you back to an era from thirty years ago.

And finally, I can tell you that one of the best places to get your Barcelona accommodation is the Borne district. This medieval neighbourhood is full of restaurants and bars and cool people, very close to the city centre and the sea. And remember the terrace thing I told you earlier…Move Arou

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Micro Melbourne

Destinations, Guest Posts - Ross French - May 25, 2011

Guest Post

The Melbourne/Sydney rivalry will always exist. Whichever side you’re on, it can’t be denied they are two very different places. Sydney’s jewel is the harbour and the coastline stretching north and south of those magnificent heads. Melbourne has the Bay, and its own fairly spectacular set of beaches not too far away. But many would argue Melbourne’s social, shopping and music scene is a cut above Sydney even though, in the past couple of years, Sydney has stepped up the pace with its own series of hole-in-the-wall establishments.

Perhaps the one thing that sets Melbourne above Sydney in the ‘city life stakes’ is its set of laneways and arcades. Nowhere in Sydney compares to the maze like network of almost European looking stretches of tiny cafes, shops and boutiques. For anyone Melbourne bound, here’s a ‘where to laneway’ guide:

Liverpool and Crossley Street: Once a ‘lady of the night’ haunt, these two streets now offer less illicit delights. For bite sized Asian eateries Liverpool’s your best bet. Crossley will take you into the world of vintage shopping with a handful of popular lunch and dinner spots.
Meyers Place: Just off Bourke Street, if you were going to spend time in one laneway, this would be it. Bar it, art gallery it, eat it. This is a strip not to be missed.
Street art collections: Impossible to name just one laneway, street art graces the walls of passages all over Melbourne. Much of the work is commissioned, turning brick facades into public art galleries that even give Berlin a run for its street art money. Some of the best examples can be found in Hoiser Lane, Union Lane, Cocker Alley (go here to see acclaimed Banksy!), Caledonian Lane, Rutledge Lane and Spark Lane. That should keep you busy.
Music lovers: If music in a confined space is what you’re after, especially jazz, make a bee line to Bennetts Lane. For a different feel, seek out ‘ACDC Lane’ or Dame Edna Place. Yes, it does exist.
Hitting the shops: In each of the following laneways, you’ll not only find shops and boutiques to satisfy even the most committed shopaholic, but ‘watering and feeding’ pit stops along the way. You want to get to Manchester Lane, Equitable Place, Howey Place (a purely fashion), Scott Alley and Jane Bell Lane.
The must dos: Degraves Street and Hardware Lane. These are the classic laneways no visitor to Melbourne should miss. Think al fresco dining, coffee and hole in the wall shops and bars.
China town: Last but not least, take a spin through the alleyways of China town for some dumpling delights. Head to Little Bourke Street, Tattersalls Lane, Celestial Lane and Market Lane.

With all that under your belt there’s no excuse not to get to Melbourne and wander the eclectic and diverse laneways. Cheap flights in Australia are not hard to come by so, wherever you are, keep your eye out for flights to Melbourne and come and discover the true heart of the city.

If all else fails, take yourself and some good walking shoes out and see what you can discover.

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At the Heart of South Africa Lies Johannesburg

Guest Posts - Ross French - May 23, 2011

District of Soweto

Guest Post

At The Heart of South Africa At the heart of South Africa lies Johannesburg, an exciting and cosmopolitan city that is brimming with history and culture. So why is it only viewed as mere stop off for passengers on their lengthy journeys across the country? My advice would be to leave the terminal and go out to explore all that South Africa’s largest city has to offer.

Johannesburg’s city skyline

If it’s an education you’re after, look no further than the Apartheid Museum in Gold Reef. With a series of twenty two exhibitions, the museum takes visitors through the complete history of the country’s dark past, from the beginning of the apartheid regime in 1948 to the release of Nelson Mandela in 1994. This is a must on any trip to the city. The nearby district of Soweto is also well worth a visit to further an understanding of the apartheid system. On 16th June 1976, Soweto was the attention of the world’s media as mass protests took place against the government’s policies. With twenty three deaths and extensive violence, this event will be forever embedded in the country’s memory. Today, Soweto is home to The National Nelson Mandela Museum. Made out of the former house of Nelson Mandela and full of his personal artefacts, it is no wonder that this is one of the most popular museums in the whole of South Africa. Residents of Soweto conduct private tours of the museum.

District of Soweto

So Johannesburg provides tourists with a stark reminder as to the country’s dark past. But what about the present? Nowadays the city is considered as the business capital of the country; high risers dominate the skyline. Eating places in Johannesburg are also second to none. For an authentic, South African experience head to Moyo in Zoo Lake. Ostrich Bebe and fillet khuzwayo are their signature dishes. Moyo also offers fantastic live and authentic African music to accompany your meal. In Johannesburg you are likely to hear some Kwaito songs (a genre of music that derives from the city). For something a little quieter, look no further than The Grillhouse in Rosebank. With attentive service, classy décor and the best steaks around, this place is not to be missed. Or how about something exotic and colourful? Coco Bongo is the place to be. Enjoy fine wines, royal rib racks and delicious cocktails before you dance the night away to upbeat, live music.

Johannesburg is home to some of the best shops and shopping malls in the country. For upmarket clothes shops head to the Sandston shopping centre or Nelson Mandela Square. However, for a glimpse into authentic South Africa, Rosebank Flea Market is the place to be. Carvings, textiles, ceramics, hand made jewellery, spices and local food are all at your disposal. It’s perfectly acceptable to engage in a good haggle too.

With so much history and culture, it’s clear that Johannesburg is far more interesting and enticing than Johannesburg International Airport. So be adventurous and explore all that this fantastic city has to offer.

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Travelling Alone vs Travelling with Others

Guest Posts - Ross French - May 19, 2011

By: Maria Climent Huguet
Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady. After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger. This is how she’s now a mother of no one and a better person. She also likes to cook!

Freaked out by loneliness or freaked out by people?

Sometimes we would love to go on a trip but often, no one can come with us and, thus, we don’t go. Many may find this normal and others may find it crazy not to go on holidays just because of not wanting to travel alone. Everything has its pros and cons, the important thing is being able to recognize them. Don’t condition your trip by pre-established ideas or insecurities.

These pros and cons can depend on the personality of each traveler; there are people who are more social than others. From the very distant extremes between the hikikomoris who spend years inside their bedrooms without even wanting to see another human being, to the ones who are unable to spend an hour by themselves and when they do, they’re talking on their mobile the entire time. One might consider themselves “normal”, I mean, without any social pathology but still feels uncomfortable travelling alone or one the contrary: one may be very social but sometimes, when travelling, might think their companions are annoying.

However, it doesn’t only depend on everyone’s character but also on the concrete moment of our lives and what our needs are. I mean, if it’s trip for graduation, and your classmates have rented apartments in Seville, of course you should go with them, don’t even think of going on your own.

It’s a good time to travel alone if:

You want to get to know yourself better.`
You want to test yourself, see where your limits are regarding social life, adventure, fears…
You need to reflect; being alone gives you a lot of time to think.
You just want to do whatever you feel like doing at any time, even waking up at three in the morning to go for a walk without giving an explanation to anyone.

It’s a good time to travel with people if:

You’ve recently gone through a bad experience; whether it is a sentimental breakdown, being fired from your job, a death of someone who was close to you… being with friends is proven to help you get over difficult moments.
You want to reconnect with someone; there’s no best way to prove friendship or love than travelling together.
You get along very well with the person(s) you’re travelling with and you are independent, which assures you that you will not really be tied up, you can agree on meeting at the Seville accommodation you’ve rented, for example, at a certain time so that you can do whatever you feel like to during the day.

You just want to have a good time with the people you’re travelling with and that’s it, no better excuse than that.

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