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Sailing the open seas of Alaska As always, I'm completely transparent with these blogs. I traditionally like to start off with an interesting fact about the said destination. In this case, Alaska. As the title implies this voyage was taken by a crusie. I wont get into the cruise liner or any of the festivities or amenities of the cruise. One day I might do a blog on sea and air travel but not today. What is this fun fact I teased you about or peaked your interest with. Well if you read my prior post about London - if you haven't yet you'd be helping a brother out if you check that one out after this. You'd know I'm a homegrown Floridian from the decently safe streets of Orlando and with Port Canaveral being 45 minutes away, after 35 years, I never once been on a cruise. Until now, in Alaska. Had to fly across the continental US to pop my cherry, but hell either go big or go home, right? Before getting into the skinny of it, I think before traveling or on the way to where you are going you should have an objective. And I'm not talking about just having daiquiris by the pool while reading a book and nothing else. Let me rephrase if that's what you want to do and if that's how you define a successful trip, if that's how you make each day count, give it the green check mark icon and live your best life. But go into a trip with intent. Things you want to see, try, learn. So what did I want to get out of this trip? Well having a curiosity for human behavior I wanted to learn about the people and what would prompt someone to want to stay in Alaska or even move there. Rather than writing a single blog per city, I've decided to write one long one covering the total experience of all 6 Alaska ports, 1 Canadian port, and 1 glacier. So apologies ahead of time for the length, I bet you never heard an apology for that before, eh eh. Horrible, lame joke, enough of that, counting it down 3, 2, 1 first up at bat is: Anchorage Desolate. If I had to describe the city of Anchorage it would be, desolate. The downtown portion anyway, the outer banks, the forrest regions -- national parks. Where I'm sure you can see some beautiful wildlife. Going to a resort to go snowboarding or skiing, river rafting, I'm willing to bet can be amazing. But downtown where you can meet up with other groups in order to get to Seward to depart on the cruise, can feel isolated. So unless you work for a oil company or are in shipping there isn't much to do in downtown Anchorage. The one place I would go back to Anchorage for is trip to Humpy's. It's a local bar with great energy. Great food, people are very friendly. Now for the fun fact on them. There are hardly any people actually from Anchorage that work there. Most people are seasonal - I'll swing back to that point later on. Or they are in a student exchange program from a nearby or faraway country. Understanding the local life, pretty much non existent. Seward Not much to say about Seward other than it's a small port town that's about 2 hours or so from Anchorage. There's a hotel and perhaps people go out there to go fishing or hunting. I'm not entirely sure. Again maybe there's more to the town than just getting on and off of cruise ships but hey I can only write about what I experienced. Hubbard Glacier Hubbard Glacier Maybe I'm not the intellectual type, but when I think of one of those Alaskan glaciers I think of large pieces ice falling off the the sides causing massive waves like in those cool videos you see online. Maybe that's an interpolated notion as I did not see any of that. What. A. Gyp. Nonetheless the Hubbard Glacier is a beautiful sight. For being 400 years old, ol' Hubbard still looks awfully good for his age. Taking it in on a clear day maybe far and few between but we got lucky. It was a extremely clear day so the view was spectacular. It is an amazing thought that this large chunk of ice has been frozen and refrozen for hundreds of years. There's something about seeing a, I don't know if you can classify a glacier as a 'monument' but either way, seeing this monumental piece of ice that's been around way longer than you and I have been around and will continue to be around long after you and I. Is truly special and puts time in perspective. Juneau I was so looking forward to Juneau and it was, I'm not going to say disappointing because it wasn't, it was just different than what I expected. My main issue with Juneau - and look I get it, I get it - it's remote as hell excluding the gas, oil, and mining sectors, tourism is a large benefactor to Juneau's economy. So my expectations should have been tapered ever so slightly. In my own meaningless opinion the city reminded me of Gatlinburg, TN. If you removed one side of the main strip in Gatlinburg and replaced it with water and crusie ships, ta -- da. It's Juneau. And again this is just my own bullshit, because when you have a port in a otherwise unfrequented part of the city, it only makes sense to have as many tourist outlets as possible so you can bring some souvenirs back to little Timmy. There are a lot of merchants who will badger you to come into their shop, want to bargain and sell you jewelry. Every other shop is selling the same hoodie or artifact that is routinely 30% off. Now word on the street is there is a lot more to Juneau but you need a vehicle in-order to indulge in what else Juneau has to offer. We did not but so be it. Back to my point of how workers are seasonal and not from Juneau, Alaska. Remember there are not a lot of natives in these areas. But the question becomes, why come to Alaska? What is about Alaska that would drive someone to stay there or go there when there are so many other places that more readily available and connected to the world. For that, we have to talk the seasonal bartender that we got to chatting with at the Hangar On The Wharf because he was from all place Hollywood, Florida. I travel across the US from Orlando, Florida to Alaska to run into a guy who's lived 2 hours away from me for my whole life. Why did he travel such a vast distance when he could've poured a drink anywhere? If this was a meal the view would be the starter. When you hear talks about being on the edge of the world, looking out into the vast distance in Alaska, you understand what they mean. The views are one in million. There's just nothing like them. So remote, so isolated, so beautiful. Another reason, it is a tourist area so you can make a shit ton of good tips while enjoying the landscape and pleasures that only so many people go and experience for themselves. As we heard numerous times, it was a once and a lifetime opportunity so they took it. And if they are lucky they'd be invited back to work the season again. The various expeditions are cool. Especially in the cool weather. Role eyes here. Question. What's better than going out on a sightseeing boat tour to go witness Orcas and Sea Lions in the open sea? Going out on a sightseeing boat tour for Orcas and Sea Lions with some local flavors. My choice, Alaskan White Ale. A tried and true habit, a tradition, a custom, or practice, insert whatever word you'd like. But a great way to understand the local culture and agriculture is to partake in locally brewed beers and spirits. Nothing puts you in a locals' shoes than drinking what they would drink after a hard day at work. Now you can't go to Alaska and not get Alaska King Crab. For that you have to head to Tracy's Crab Shack. This little big restaurant has benches, paper tower rolls, ice cold water in the pipes to wash your hands and when I say 'ice cold' I mean it. It's almost uncomfortably cold becauses the water comes from the water that's right outside their front door. As for the King Crab, there's no finer Alaska Crab than in Alaska. Large thick pieces dunked in sweet butter. Hmmhmm, bitch. After that initial bite it makes you want to shake the hands of the captain and crew on Deadliest Catch to show your appreciate for what they do while indulging in the pleasures from the sea. Skagway The Main Strip of Skagway If I was to paint a picture of Skagway, it would look like. ..it 's like a small cowboy western town meets an up and coming amusement park. It's known and main attractions are the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway that goes up through the mountains into Canada (where you don't need a passport), helicopter rides to go up and land on a glacier, and of course hiking. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway is the thing everyone who goes to Skagway does. So why not do it? Why do they do it? Because it's a couple hours off your feet passing through the natural landscape that is Skagway, Alaska. Now there is a lot of history that you'll learn while on the train regarding the passage you're on. Rather than boring you with all the cupious amounts of facts and details, this isn't a seminar, if you want to know go the train station or look it up. But I will say those facts and details will wake you up to appreciate you're taking the train rather than walking and climbing the trail like the OGs did back on the maiden voyage. And along this relaxing train ride are some of the most gorgeous scenery you'll ever see. From the rivers, to the mountains, to the mountains escarpment over looking the town and down to the sea where the cruise ships dock. Near the top of the mountain on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway Now when you do these type of tours you'll have a guide who'll fire off some corny jokes and one liners like they're doing improv so be prepared. However occasionally you get one that sounds original with good timing, and when that happens their comedy can be rather refreshing. We had a good one. Hell, when you got a tour guide who encourages you to visit and drink with his girlfriend who works at a brothel, that's the Red Onion Saloon Brothel, again if you can makes jokes about that you're in good hands and it's going to be a good day. Speaking of brothels and drinking. The Red Onion Saloon Brothel is a fun experience if you're in the need for a escape. And no, it's not the sort of brothels that you see in Game of Thrones. This one is classy and fun, in all respects staying in spirit with the original saloon during the gold rush days. While the girls are running up and down the stairs having their fun, enticing the out of towners to wonder up the stairs and behind the curtain to see the museum of artifacts and a show. But if you choose to stay in the bar and want some local favorites. I'd recommend the Margherita Pizza and a Spruce Tip Blonde. That sounds like a madame. Which could be fun on a Friday night, pizza and a Tip Blonde on your lap, but that sort of thing is illegal in most states so your game better be sharp. No a Spruce Tip Blonde is a local beer from the Skagway Brew Co. that's just as sweet as any tall blonde out there. Our bartender was homegrown right out of Skagway. With harsh winters and summers are based around tourist. Why would she stay in Skagway? Because in the summer it's nice, it's home and always will be. She works the bar, her husband works for the city. It's home, during the winters they get away but after that, they are back were they've always been. Doesn't get more understanding than that. Sitka If you've seen The Proposal then you know Sitka, Alaska. Unfortunately what you seen in the movie is not what I saw in Sitka. They must of shot that movie in the few days of the year that it doesn't rain because it rains roughly 250 days a year. We enjoyed Sitka on one of the 250 days that it rains. Starting with taking the tender from the ship to the mainland. A not so smooth journey to say the least. If motion sickness is a real thing for you then sitting this one trip out would've been in your best interests. But once to Sitka and taking a school bus ride to the where we were to kayak. This is where I learned a little Sitka trivia for the first time, Sitka was actually the first capital of Alaska. It was here where the transfer ceremony took place after an agreement was reached for the United States to buy Alaska from Russia. But when the fur and whaling trading slowed down and in Juneau the gold business went uh booming, the mining and shipping industry skyrocketed naturally more people flocked to Juneau it became more populated thus the state capital. The small town vibe is the vibe in Sitka. 2,800 square miles of land so seeing the same stuff over and over is bound to happen. It rains and it's small why do people stay? Becuase it's home and that's all there is to it. I think you're starting to see a theme beginning to form. Sea plane taking off while kayaking Water sports is a very common thing when you live by the water. Now that's not news, but experiencing it is. Kayaking on the Sitka Sound is nothing but tranquility. Peacefulness, except for the occasional sea plane taking off, which by the way watching the take off while on the water is one of the coolest sights ever. Paddling through the small tides, seeing the wildlife in the raw, giving your fellow tourist a simple wave or headnod while they enjoy their fly fishing expereince. It's like resort life without the resort. Now downside to this Alaska thing. Prices for goods at your typical supermarket or sundry store are exorbitantly high. When shipments of milk take weeks not days, just imagine the aggravation fee that you'll have to pay. Sitka isn't the only one, Skagway and all the other cities are the same. Unfair yes, understandable more so, but that's life on the Last Frontier. Eat what you catch, pay for what you don't. Ketchikan Ketchikan. It might sound like I'm beating up on Ketchikan but hey, it's my opinion and my opinion don't mean shit. But if I painted Juneau as souvenir central, Ketchikan is where it was conceived. It's a bigger port so more people from all over the world wonder the open streets. Thus the souvenir shops, the mugs, the rugs, the half cut rocks all one of a kind until you walk three stores down and see the same thing at the next place. I do have to say, in Alaska, but this is true anywhere. Some bars/restaurants are doing themselves a disservice in terms of interior decor. They need Jon Taffer and the crew of Bar Rescue to give them a total make over. A lot of them have those like 80's looking tables, thin carpets that are torn in the corners. Maybe it's the cold weather and the foot traffic from the pier that the owners don't feel the need to invest into the overall theme and presentation of their establishments. However, when they are charging market value for lobster or crab legs even though you're in Alaska it's still something to not want to order a particular item because of the atmosphere and ambiance doesn't match the menu. Ketchikan felt like a town that never really tried. It's being itself, but not putting in any effort either. That might be part of the charm that I'm missing and/or never understood. However good things do come from misunderstandings. What it is, I'm not sure yet. I'll just have to pontificate the imperturbable and self possessed aura that is Ketchikan while I enjoy an Alaskan White. Vancouver It was nice to have a sea day after the experience of Ketchikan. It almost acted as a reset when arriving into Vancouver. This being my first time in Canada, the previous attempt did not go so well, that's another story for another time. My initial reaction to Vancouver was it's much cleaner and safer than New York and Chicago. It's a beautiful grand city, tall buildings, plenty of stores and restaurants that run along the safe streets. I mean that literally, while walking down these streets you never feel like you're going to be mugged. And this is coming from someone who is hyper-observant and on guard in protective mode when in a strange place. Digital Orca in Vancouver A very cool sight to see, over looking the water is the Olympic Cauldron, where they light the torch for 2010 Winter Olympics. Along with the Digital Orca Sculpture and the Convention Center if you're in town for a conference or whatever. And if you want to grab some chow while having a view of these wonderful artifacts, the Cactus Club Cafe is where you want to go. Now be sure you choose the correct Cactus Club cause there's like 3 or 4 of them around this gorgeous town. If you do decide to stop by the sushi is impeccable, specifically the Tuna Temaki. If you're willing to stay with fish as I did, the Baja Fish Tacos is a banger. Crunchy Cod, pico de gallo, how can you go wrong? Now normally I don't favor big cities. I really don't. It's weird, it's not the 'big city' vibe that I mostly find off putting. I think cities that are nice and safe, clean, can be really fun to be in. I do enjoy walking down those streets and have the variety of shops and restuarants, markets. The thing I really don't like about them, actually two things, now that I'm thinking about it. They're expensive. On average anyway they are more expensive so there's that. But also I find living in the cities, claustrophobic. But that's my own shit. Vancouver had space and there are parks so seeing green is possible. Also the suburbs are not far away from the city so really if you prefer the house, yard or have some ancreage you can and only be 10 - 15 minutes away from the city. All in all Vancouver checked a lot of boxes for me and it's differenty a place I'd like to revisit and spend more time exploring. Final Thoughts Of The Last Frontier Setting out I had the nagging question, why would someone want to live or even continue to live in Alaska? Why would someone purposely go out of their way to go work in one of the most isolated parts of the world? It's isolated in terms of geography. It's the biggest state in size, but most of it is uninhabitable. But not isolated when it comes to people. Alaska brings people together. Natives, outsiders, tourists. It brings people together. I think it's the only way people could have survived up there. But retrospection of Alaska's geography and social functions still doesn't answer the question. The only thing I can conclude is, pure wonder. Wonderment is a hell of a thing. CoolWorks is a website where you can get seasonal work and our train tour guide was one of them. Again why would you spend your youth in a remote part of the US talking to strangers on a train? The once in a lifetime opportunity. The opportunity to have some of the most beautify scenary as your office. Opportunity to meet new people. To experience a place on earth that very few people would understand until they not only see it, but feel it for themselves. The word 'serenity' came up when people spoke of Alaska. I think it's because it's so isolated that the only thing you can do is to be absolutely present. Meaning you, your kids aren't on their phones, their ipads, not worrying about your work, your boss or your team's bullshit. For the time that you are there you are able to take in and be free from distractions. Getting around the US is pretty easy. But to get to some of the cities in Alaska it takes effort. A plane ride or an ungodly long drive. If you're in said car some cities require you to hop on a ferry. A sense of adventure in other-words is what is needed in someone's DNA to live there or to go work there and travel there. It's that same need for adventure that propelled Alaska forward. It's the same sense of adventure and wonder that cause people to go to Alaska for new beginnings.

What a better title than the famous song from The Clash, than well, 'London Calling?' With that rhythmic guitar intro and then the lead vocals of the Turkish Joe Strummer. Isn't it odd that such a song, an iconoclast for British music is as it turns out, sung from someone who isn't from London, let alone the United Kingdom? Yeah this took a turn. Let me start over. Photo of Big Ben from Trafalgar Square Taking the Chunnel from France into the United Kingdom and arriving into London's St Pancras. I've arrived to a place I was already in love with. The train station. No, kidding, although it is a nice train station. No, London. Never been, but knew I'd love it and wouldn't want to leave. It is my favorite city in the world. Everyone there speaks as if they're from a Harry Potter novel. Where everything that comes out of their mouth sounds like they're super smart and intelligent. If you're in a suit it must mean you're James Bond. Where everyone is an alcoholic, womanizing, globe totting, world saving superhero. Now all that's part of the zeitgeist, but their culture is beyond what I consider my cultural costume. Now growing up where I grew up. In the heart of Orlando, where I kid you not the street, International Drive, was right up the road. You can only imagine all the different people, from all different parts of the world I saw, met, and interacted with. Majority of the visitors were from England, based on the accents and their complexions. But that accent, I got really good at identifying that accent. And being from Florida, where its seasons are hot and hotter. I want the opposite. I'm the George Costanza of weather. Give me a cold, gray, drizzly day and I'm as happy as a bright sunny day. So I've grown up hearing the accent, I love the weather that most people bitch about. I'm there, I'm game. Okay shut up, Steven, no one wants to hear about where you're from, we're suppose to be talking about London. Yes but I feel it's important to understand the genesis of my love and affinity with London. When I got there it was within half a week of the coronation of Charles lll. So needless to say the sentiment of patriotism echoed throughout the United Kingdom. The British flag hung largely and proudly across all the major roads and intersections. People coming from all over to experience this perhaps, once in a lifetime event. Unless, of course, you live there and just like - wink wink, Paris, read that blog if you haven't, shameless plug - then chances are you don't actually live in London because it's so exorbitantly artificially expensive to reside in the city so instead you live on the outskirts where it's less populated and more cost efficient. And you know you have country spirit when you have native country men and women who can't wait for the coronation to be over because all it does is add wait times for traffic and longer lines at the pub which can feel like a grueling eternity when you're finally off from work and want to catch a pint with your mates. You know you got your feet on the ground when you have this big production, this honor, I guess it's an honor for Charles lll, not for Nicholas a driver for London's official black cab. In fact when you have a sense of humor, you can enjoy satire about your own people and country you know you're going to have a good time. It's going to be a good day. And it was. Realizing how much of a sense of humor, a universal sense of humor the English have was one of my biggest enjoyments. And listening to your average waiter, bartender, cab driver, about what it was like with the eerie backdrop of a post - but really - present day apocalyptic setting with vacant roads; not seeing anyone outside for days during Covid. How they like their work, how they like their countries politics i.e. electric vehicles. Taxes, joking about working all day and their wife taking all their money. It was my first awakening of everyone everywhere are the same. People have the same problems everywhere you go. Black Cabs on Regent St. days before the Coronation Speaking of black cabs. Use the black cabs for transportation if and when needed. This is two fold. First the amount of education and training they go through elevates your English experience. How much education and training does it take you ask? It takes 3 - 4 years to become a black cab driver. That's because it's not only learning the roads, the in and outs to get from point A to point B. You also learn about the landmarks, the countries history at a very high level. So these guys know their shit, try getting a Uber who will not only just talk to you, but can teach something at the same time. Good luck. Which leads me to my next point. This was a blessing in disguise really. Our day tour reservation got fubared so not knowing what to do; the lovely doormen at our hotel got us set up with a black cab and the driver agreed to driver us around and taught us exactly what we would have learned as if we were on a tour. Not only that, he waited for us as we walked over to see the front of Buckingham Palace. Surprisingly even after negotiating on a price, it was still cheaper than doing the regular tour that we thought was scheduled. And being a cabbie, the personality, the humor, the levity was much more relaxed than your garden variety tour guide. So if you don't have a tour guide set up, talk to one of the black cab drivers and you too can perhaps get a great tour at a really affordable rate. They are so clean and spacious you will have a great time in them. Lastly, London is famous for them, you have to do it. It's so goddamn English, why bothering going if not going to get into a black cab. You'll feel connected to your UK heritage by doing it. And if your heritage doesn't connect to the UK it will now since you were able to instill the UK spirit into your bloodline through osmosis of the black cab. Okay, that might've been more like 4 or 5 fold. Maybe even 6 fold, sue me I'm enthusiastic. So what does one do when in a foreign and unfamiliar place after spending a couple hours in a cab touring the city? Go to as close to a familiar place as possible, I suppose. What's the natural habitat? A pub for a bite and pint of Guinness. A local suggestion was made and got there quick. Luckily we were already in a cab. God, I've been waiting for that Guinness, could have chewed my arm off for that first ice cold Guinness draft in London. An Irish beer tasted ever as foamy and rich in London as I assume it tastes in Ireland. But certainly more rich and foamy than in America. Something about it made sense. Peroni is always a safe choice but when you're digging into your fish and chips wrapped in a newspaper, 'where you can eat and learn something at the same time,' - Ted Lasso. With salt and vinegar to dip your chips into. You need a something delicious to wash it down with, that compliments the salt, the fried, and fish flavors. Therefore you need a solid sidekick. With that, Guinness... he's the man. As British as Guinness and Fish and Chip can be, every once in a while you have to slow down and smell the afternoon tea. First time ever in my life did I have a full on traditional English Tea Time. Yes, fully complete with Earl Grey and an assortment of delicacies. I don't know what it is, but the finger sandwiches add a touch of class that I wasn't expecting. Maybe it's cause I'm used to a footlong hoagie that falls apart, but the trays, the variety, the cookies, the break from life for a moment. It's classy without being overtop. If you'd like to get a little 'posh' with your English Afternoon Tea, the Connaught Hotel has a wonderful set up to enjoy your tea while watching the world go by through the floor to ceiling windows. It's old, it's elegant, it's classically modern, it's hard not to feel immersed in English history once you've stepped into the Connaught. Moving on, starting to sound like an annoying booking agent. Can't escape London without a visit to the town that played host to one of Julia Roberts best and more remembered films, Notting Hill. On the weekend the town puts up on a street market where vendors and food tents line the street and showcase their talents. Stores open to sell chachkies to the tourist that pass through. Food proprietors open their doors to patrons to take in and digest some of the best local flavors. Speaking of if you want good paella check Jamon Jamon Paella. Trust me there's enough to go around. And yes saw the famous book store that was featured in Notting Hill the film. What I couldn't help notice is the fact everyone was so damn nice, welcoming (unless you go into a bar with the sole purpose of using the toilet), and forthcoming. And these were the native folks. They play their part. It's amazing how a country at its inception was about control and tyranny. I mean that literally, wars took place when colonies that were under British control wanted to emigrant. But now they are welcoming and almost enjoy visitors that want to take in their culture. So oddly they gone from not wanting anyone to leave to welcoming those with open arms. Hyde Park I digress, better than that was the walk up the hill to, Sun In Splendour. Where you can walk up to the open window and grab a beer for the road when you make the trek back to the city. If a walk is what you want then you're in luck. This isn't just a great walk it's a really fuckin' great walk. From Notting Hill, it's a short journey to Hyde Park. Regardless of where you're at I'd still encourage anyone to check out Hyde Park. You can gander over to Kensington Palace, but the views in the Park are worthy of their own. You can people watch and/or just chill. After walking through the park barefoot, grass between your toes like Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. I know gone from Hugh and Julia references now to Julia and Richard. It's Julia's fault for making great rom-coms. By now you gotta be hungry, you've worked up an appetite, head over to the Mayfair Chippy, it'll either be a short walk or a long walk depending where you're at. But it'll be worth it to meet up with your old friends again, Guinness and basket of Fish and Chips. The most interesting or intriguing experience in London that really made London feel like London to me were the alley ways. In the rain walking down an alley felt right. Something about London and their alleys. I blame Harry Potter, Diagon Ally to be specific if you aren't a Harry Potter nerd like me. And of course Jack the Ripper. Don't worry Uncle Jack ain't coming to get ya. The alleys, they felt safe, unlike New York or Chicago where you kinda know shit can hit the fan at any given moment there. Sure you can still go down the wrong alleyway in Europe where something might happen. But the main ones with shops and hole in the wall restaurants/bars felt extremely safe. Apparently there's a whole underworld type of history when it comes to London and their alleys. Rightfully so, there's an awful lot of alleys in London, so statistically speaking some historical shit had to have gone down in them. Some are so old they can transport you to old London. Some can transport you to hidden courtyards, others are just architecturally beautiful. So if you're in Mayfair and are in the mood to wonder down one of these alleys. I suggest going down Avery Row. It's close to Regent St. which is the 5th Avenue of London. Tons of shops and boutiques, it's famous, you'll love it. You'll also love Avery Row, the walking path is formed from polished brick and cobblestone adding to the London vibes, it's not like there's not already a lot of that there. I know it's a minor detail, because many vintage neighborhoods have that in their DNA, but it's those little things to me that make a place feel special. If you're in the mood for something other than Fish and Chips and like a little variety, in Avery Row is a quaint Italian restaurant, Sparrow Italia Mayfair. Different isn't always bad. It's common in London to have different types of food, you don't always have to get, Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, Beef Wellington, you should have them, they're fucking staples, they're amazing! It's also okay to try their versions, their spins of other international cuisine. Remember London has a lot of immigration, Europe is convenient in the sense countries are so jam packed together it's not difficult, it's almost normal, for people to move around. And London being a large, viable, affluent metropolis - has a lot of people from all over near by countries who bring their own history with them so therefore you can get some really solid food from around the world that isn't necessarily born in England, but still incredible. Thus the Sparrow Italia Mayfair is top notch for Italian. And if your going to dinner, taking the seat belt off, throwing your MyFitnessPal out the window, damn those macros and the only goal in mind is to pack in as many carbs as possible, get the Chicken Parm. If you're thinking London is all Beatlemania, Harry Potter (yes, there are tours and stores), James Bond, red buses, rush hour on the tube, armed guards that can't laugh or smile. A close shave on Fleet Street. These things more less, more on the more side or more on the lesser side, it's all contingent on your interest. It's not my intention to convince you that London has more to offer than those things. In fact London has tons more to offer than the things I got to experience. I'm confident I've done a poor job trying to articulate why this city will always be my spirit home. And I'm very confident I've done a highly unsuccessful job of articulating what this particular blog was suppose to be about. Is it about why I love this city? Is it a history lesson? Is it a 'must do' type of blog. My answer is, yes. All the above. Cause unfortunately when it comes to love, it comes out in moron. Rest assured I'll get a mulligan to redo this blog one day. Next time it'll be more precise, more articulate, more effective. It's one of those city's that need to be visited more than once. With that I say: London, Steven Jankovic will return.

I figured since the first place I ever traveled to outside the continental US was Paris. It only made sense to me to start this journey where it all began. Paris, the city of love. The city of romance. The city of lights. All that shit, ignited a desire, a yearning for more. More knowledge, more adventure, more stimulation. In a way one can't put into words but can be guided by intuition in a magnetic way. 'All you need was that one little match, to start that whole fire.' (Michael Jordan, The Last Dance) Paris was my one little match that started my wildfire. But why? Why this city, that tourist come and vist every year? That people have spoken at length that the locals are rude, mean, and fully aware of the line and crossing said line into being full on disrespectful. Where people have said the city is dirty and it's pungent. Disclaimer time. This is not a review of any sort. It is not a top 10 list of things to do while in Paris. If that's what you are interested in, go see any number of the pariarticles written on TripAdvisor, US New Travel, or any other blog. I'm solely sharing my experiences based on my observations, opinions, and outlook. Paris has everything that one could offer: history, charm, style, culture, dining all pegged down and squeezed onto one island. Yes before Paris got too big it was initally an island in the Seine River. And now it's known for what it is today. Walking down The Champs Elysees and you'll see the Arc dr Triomphe. Photos from World War II when Nazi occupied France and then the liberation afterwards flood my memory. Then a split second later recognizing the set piece from John Wick 4 enters my mind. Or from Inception. Most of my references are usually from movies if you couldn't tell. Home to the 2024 Olympics and being able to say, "I was there," during the Olympic ceremony. That's depth. The only thing that races faster than all these call backs are the cars that take corners and veer between lanes where there are no lines to indicate which lane you are in. Or the busy streets that are mostly filled with tourist racing to get to their next tourist attraction. Here in lies the perfect critque of Paris. Paris is juxtaposition of itself. As fast as she moves the best way to take in Paris, to see Paris, to really feel and understand her - is to slow down and do nothing. Nothing but watch. Grab a morning espresso at any cafe and sit out on the street and watch Paris come to life. Have a croissant and enjoy the camaraderie that'll appear. That'll have you wonder what people do for living that they can sit at an outdoor cafe, smoke a half a pack of cigerattes and not have a care in the world. Then after while you can roam around, don't rush to see anything, skip the tourist stuff. No need. The big bus tours where you have someone sticking their phone in your face to snap a polaroid because they didn't get a window seat. Pass. Find somewhere interesting to eat. Walk some more. Have an afternoon wine. Go back to your hotel or Airbnb, go make love to someone if you can. But if that isn't happening maybe you swing by the Moulin Rouge. Then go and take a nap before dinner. Perhaps not in that order, dealers choice. As for the inhabitants, the French are not stand offish. I didn't think any of them as rude. Instead I found them to be misunderstood. The easiest way to put it is they know who they are and they don't try to be anything they are not, not even for the carousel of faces that come through the city. Most will only see Paris once in a lifetime. So why be anything they are not? Which is totally understandable and admirable. They have an appreciation, a higher standard for manners and effort. That's something that can be lost on us. In America we are programmed to always move forward to the next thing. The French are programmed to move slowly and enjoy the now. You can say 'I love you' in a hundred languages. Can you find your native tongue. They say the French are rude, mean, insensitive to a hasty sightseer is unfair. To say they are serious and have little to zero sense of humor is a bogey. It's difficult to have a sense of humor when there's a language barrier. Unless you can speak French and can understand French, the joke is on us. We the visitor are the joke. We just aren't in on the joke. Unless you speak French of course. Once you understand the joke and their cultural standards, then you can have a higher appreciation for their way of life. And after evaluating, some of their customs can be applied to our own. They're attention to detail is on par with their fashion choices. I lost that battle almost immediately and most likely you will too unless you're walking off the runway or red carpet and into the restaurant that needs a reservation. I'm okay with that, they are better at a lot of things than me, so I wont even try to touch that. The only ones who maybe, kind of possibly can compete with the French style without exception are Italians. Move on, get over it, they will look amazing going to enjoy a cup of coffee or running an errand. This attention to detail whether it's intentional or subconsciously runs through many threads of the French. Above all the food. You knew it was coming, can't talk about Paris without talking about the food. Let me Mythbust this shit right here, America. Yes you can eat a lot just like you can eat a lot anywhere and gain weight. The reason you feel like you eat a lot and not gain weight is cause of multiple reasons, but I'm not wearing my training hat so I'll spare you. The food is amazing without question. Things taste just little bit differently. That's all part of the fun and experience. Compare how similar food tastes elsewhere versus at home. I never used to be an adventurous eater, I still like to stick to my staple - steak and veggies. But since traveling is an adventure why not branch out and try something local, different and cost effective or expensive. The adventurous meal was a little whole in the wall that Anthony Bourdain recommended in one of his books or articles. It's pains me to say this, but it's the damnedest thing, I don't remember what we had to eat. I believe heart and liver was on the menu. Half the à la carte items were things I'd never buy at my neighborhood supermarket. Now the best meal or my favorite meal are different, the best meal was the steak frites. My favorite would've been at Le Grand Colbert. And that's because it was the setting of the dinner scene in Something's Gotta Give, which is one of my favorite movies. Now the best thing one can do in order to learn and explore the city and enjoy good food and wine, is well food and wine tours. I would swear by this shit up and down. Find a great reviewed food tour, find a great tour guide and you can check a lot of boxes. Bonus points, the food and drink can be included so you get great varitey, a history and an informed discussion about the food and wine from different regions that you are enjoying. And an overall wealth of knowledge about the city you're in. Its fairly slow pace so you can really immerse yourself in all of the offerings. It's very 'French' in that particular instance. And it beats standing in line looking at a painting, not that there's anything wrong with that. And unlike those things, to a degree, if you like a part of the city you saw or a restaurant you enjoyed you can always go back on your own. View from the Sacré - Coeur Basilica Which Montmartre was for us. On the food tour we explored the back way up to Montmartre, on the way up there we saw and ate things off the beaten track unless you knew what to look for. Once we got to the small town, we took in everything it had to offer, especially the view. Hate to waste a view. And of course with a name like 'Travel the World with Strong Dogs', randomly found a dog park. Where surprisingly, I personally detest dog parks, all the dogs were well behaved. Which tells me these dogs are used to each other. Here is where a woman came up to me and told me I looked like Keanu Reeves from John Wick. Where interestingly enough, Rue Foyatier, the 200 step staircase fight took place which is immediately next to said dog park. And the église of Sacré - Coeur Basilica is where they had the final duel. Fun fact about the staircase, there's an elevator to get up and down, poor John John had to run up those stairs, has to be tough on the knees. But guess taking the elevator isn't as cinematic. Rue Foyatier - 200 step staircase - featured in John Wick 4 Paris the juxtaposition capital. The city is busy and fast, but the people know how to slow down. The locals are mean and rude, but value manners. The city is rich and beautiful, but has an expansive and horrible history. My nationality or lineage is made up mainly of central and eastern European. Have some Austrian and German on my mom's side and dad's side is Serbia, Montenegro, still think some Czech but who hell the knows anymore. Seeing how I'm like United Nations squared. I see both sides of everything. I can argue anyside of any argument. I think this is why I see the duality and complexities of Paris. I see myself in the city. And I think this is why I felt so connected to Paris and wanted to explore elsewhere to see what other places, if it's possible or even probable, could have the same impact as Paris has. London, has always been one of my favorite cities. It's like my spirit home. Even before ever visiting there, I always wanted to live there. That'll be the next blog. I always wanted to live there, but would it have had ignited that wildfire to go travel more? Probably not. So in hindsight, it all started in Paris, because it had to be Paris. .

Just go. I think it's best to start this blog, first ever blog about traveling to - well anywhere - should naturally cover the reasons why I was nervous about the uncertainties of travel, specifically international travel. But after that initial, visceral response of 'no, no rather stay safe here in the US of A.' And haven seen Taken one too many time. My reservations subsided and especially after popping my cherry and traveling to Europe for the first time did my interest grow and blossom into a full on obsession. To the point it felt more natural to be on a long haul flight to some foreign region of the world, a complete fish out of water, than it was being at home. The only way I can share my neurosis about traveling abroad and internationally is to being 100% honest and unfiltered. And who knows maybe, you the reader, can relate to the things I had to come over or even better yet this could help, you the reader, overcome some the same commonalities that might be holding you back from exploring this big, rich, drenched in history that is the world. So small disclaimer, anything on this blog or any blog about any place that I write about is just me and my own bullshit, there's no love lost, all jokes, bad jokes are inevitable doesn't mean we can't laugh particularly laugh at me or ourselves and learn a few things at the same time. With that being said, 'yeah let's do it, I'm pumped. Let the healing begin.' - Good Will Hunting. The biggest reasons for not - flex - globe trotting earlier in life, is a simple reason of just being a pussy. Yes money, time, resources are real factors for anyone traveling whether it is the Miller High Life version you see in movies or by the cheapest, shoe string budget you can slap together. But honestly for me it was me just being a great giant pussy cause I was scared. Scared of, not knowing how to get around. Not knowing how to communicate with someone where they don't speak English. Scared of the places or presuming people are dangerous. I'd have to say that all those things are two fold. Yes there are place around the world are dangerous and for the most part it's best not to go there. Now like any place, even your home city, it can be nice and want to visit. For instance I live in Orlando, Fl but even here there are streets that you don't want to go down. That ideology, philosophy, thought process even, can be applied to any place. And assuming every place you go to is bad and the people are nothing but criminals and pick pocketers and thieves is an absurd and quite preposterous assumption. Not to mention unhealthy and ultimately no way to live. But that's what happens when you live in your bubble and don't explore anything that isn't known to you. That would be my first piece of advance if someone is afaid to travel to far out destination is stop assuming everywhere other than your bubble is bad. I know the news has done a terrific job of showing you only the bad things that happen around the world to the point you forget or don't realize there is a lot of good as well. And since I'm already rambling about worlds and bubbles. Everything you have going on: work, your boss is dick. Your spouse or your boyfriend, girlfriend, etc is being a pain in the ass. Your government's politics isn't doing right by the people, whatever it is. I say this, whatever problems you have, people have the same exact problems everywhere you go. Once you realize you're not special and people everywhere have the same problems as you, you get over that thought of it's not all bad in a hurry. Once you get over that. That not every place in the world is scary and the people aren't bad. The next thing is to just fucking go. Everything else, you can figure out. Let me give you some peace of mind, most places you want to go, the indeginous people of that area know English well enough. The signage, the landmarks in order to get around are in English enough so you know where you are going. Also before I started traveling when I had all these fears and assumptions phones, internet, maps, translations weren't a thing but now they are normal. So everything else you can figure out. And believe it or not, there's a deep satisfaction of figuring it out. If 'figuring it out' isn't for you, then I'd recommend a good travel agent. A good one, will be able to set you up with hotel, transportation, activities, and can put you at ease on where you are going. To be crystal clear I do not get ANYTHING, NOTHING, ZERO from my recommendations, I could recommend a couple of travel agents but I wont here. I will if only if you message me privately. But I'm not trying to a pimp travel agents cause there is a cost, I have no idea what that cost could be. However you can view it as a peace of mind cost. Because sometimes when you book trips and vacations you can get paralysis by analysis. With someone's help they can narrow your scope and filter in on what exactly you want. Last but not least. I'm totally doubling down on this one because I believe in it so much. Just fucking go. Wherever you want, whatever that gets you to finally go. Even if it's by yourself. GO! Be like Anthony Bourdain. "Be a traveler, not a tourist" Find a place, need help find someplace near you, get out of the bubble bath and wonder. Even if it's a few miles outside of your town. Go to a town outside of a town outside of your city. And do local shit. This time I've had traveling isn't going to the destination's version of 'Disney Land' its doing local shit. What do the locals do? Where do they hang out. Drink in a local bar that serves locally made beer. Talk to a stranger. That's experiencing. Standing and leering at a painting, waiting in line for a ride isn't my jam. But if it's yours and if it'll get you to get out and explore then dope. I'm all for it for you. Hopefully this helps you overcome any illusion, fears, or predispositions you have about traveling. If I was able to get out of my comfort zone then you certainly can as well. Good luck. Talk you next time. Done.