endless summer #28

SanTorini...

i am currently enjoying some time in London. tomorrow i fly out to visit a friend in greece. will be spending two weeks on the islands of SanTorini and Pathmos. i am so excited about the two upcoming weeks like a child anticipating his birthday...

...i have realised the value of friends. i have really been fortunate to visit so many of my firneds around europe in the last few weeks. and at the same time i have made more friends. it is amazing. even though you always have a language barrier between you and them, i find that if you have the right mindset, you can overcome that barrier.

traveling around like i am and have been doing opens so many more doors and opportunities. people you meet. conversations you have. the list of places to go keeps getting longer and not shorter. for every town, city or country i have ticked form the list i have had to add five in its place.

but thats me at the moment. journey of discovery. places. people. cultures. foods. wines. and off course...myself. the journey of discovery starts from within.

endless summer #27

pedro and carina.

nuno's parents.

crazy portugese brothers...nuno and luis.

casel, me and juau.

nuno and his parents.

endless summer #26

me and nuno.

again the same bad boys.

what to say...

my portugese driver for the week...hahaha.

Figueira from the top.

Portugal...

Walking back form the beach a couple of nights ago it hit me – this place feels like home. And it is true. If I make all he comparisons it is exactly that. It’s like having holiday at the beach house. Same lazy days, fun in the sun, going to the beach and doing as little as possible. The perfect holiday. It’s great cause I don’t feel like I have to get up every morning early to go and see things...like visit museums, churches and old buildings. I can just do as I please and not feel even a bit guilty...
...this morning, while having breakfast and coffee with Nuno in “Figueira da Foz”, it felt like I was having breakfast and coffee with DF in a street cafe next to the sea. Same conversation, same relaxed atmosphere, same feeling. And while driving around in the open top Jeep, the rattling and the sound of the diesel engine made me think of the truck I had, cruising down the beach front on a perfect day. Or driving through the Eucalyptus and Pine forests was like cycling Harkerville forest on mountain bikes with my brother Anton. All in one – a perfect week of what feels like home.

My experience in Portugal was like visiting family. I enjoyed some of the best hospitality ever. And I wonder if there are any more prawns, clams and mussles left in the ocean after last week. I have never had so much good quality seafood in such a short time. Not to even speak of the wines. For one of the smallest wine produciing countires around the world they have some exceptional wines...well I certainly had some of the best times thanks to Nuno and his friends.

endless summer #25

me hugging "Papi" Hemingway.....

the gang and some extras....

me with pillar on my shoulders.

maria at breakfast...

the girls that survived the night...

endless summer #24

just see how the PowerAde has lit up my eyes!

maria and pillar...my new friends in spain.

desperado. this guy was sleeping while standing on a electrical box hanging on to a stop sign in desperation to see the bulls.

nervous moments before the start...

victorious "torrero" in the arena.

endless summer #23

PowerAde-er........

beer is for loooooooooooosers and booooooooooosers.

the proof is in the pudding....

what the hec do I have on my face...

what is that?

endless summer #22

nuno partying the streets of pamplona.

legends on the streets of pamplona.

nuno...a little bit later...still on the streets of pamplona.

....later still...and still going strong.

PowerAde-er....this stuff works!

endless summer #21

waiting for the bus to take us into the city...

...still waiting...

...still waiting...

...stillllllll....waaaaaaaaaaaaintinggggggggg......

........where´s the freakin bus?

endless summer #20

"torrero" .

maria and pillar...making "calimochos"...red wine and coke mix...terrible!

me, clara and nuno...ready for action.

clara and pillar.

maria and pillar.

endless summer #19

St Fermin in Pamplona...

Another adventure, another story, as my fabulous week in Spain came to an ultimate climax and left a day that will echo forever in my short history. "Papi" Hemingway wouold have been proud of me I am sure. I could picture him standing in the crwod cheering me on...as I live out another one of my lifelong goals...to run with the bulls in Pamplona on St Fermin...

...but let me start at the beginning.

We planned the week well to make sure that pamplona would be the last part of the action plan. The last night of St Fermin - the Friday night, partying through the night to see the sun rise and the bulls run at the break of dawn. The stage was set for the "grande finale"and preparations were made. I volunteered to be the designated driver to make sure my friends have the best time ever without the hassle the next morning of struggling to find their way home. But I think for someone that drank "PowerAde" the whole night, I was probably the one that had the most energy and the most fun on top of that. Felt funny to be the only sober person in a crwod of thousands of people, but felt great at the same time. I partied like a rock star and I will have to find out from "PowerAde" what they put in their drinks cause it surely works like a charm...

...Seeing that it was about an hour´s drive from home, we hit Panmplona just after midnight. The streets were packed with the stench of beer and the atmosphere of adventure, danger and off course "fiesta" were everywhere. I have never seen or experienced such a mess or vibe and have to say that even though a lot of people around me is not my favourite party trick, this was simply epic.

The time went by way to fast and the sun rose through the cloud cover. My friends did not want me to run so I lost them in the crowds of people to make my way to the start. I had no idea what to expect and I have only seen the clips and videos of people being run over and thrown by the bulls. Seeing that you don´t run the whole way, I found a spot about five hundred meters from the "finish line" - the arena. A gruelling uphill to the finish. I was seriously nervous and as the hooves and the clatter came up the cobble stone road, I knew my hour had come. It was now or never. I said to myself to wait till I see the first bull and then cut my way to the arena. I was running with one eye forward and one eye behind me to make sure I avoid the mob in front of me plus the bulls behind me. I was lucky to avoid the one but not the other. The only battle scar I have to show was picked up while being tripped over by the mob in front of me as I fell over what must have been at least ten others trying to get out of the way of the bulls. With this it was over and I had to chase behind the bulls into the arena.

Once in the arena they released the bulls, one at a time. Here you have the chance with hundreds of other successful runners to get another look at the bulls as they charge around the arena to see if they (the bulls) can get another chance of making their mark....on the runners. It was here that I took my chances and got to touch the horn of the first bull they released. Another milestone for me...the second and the third bull was way to excited and energetic for my tired body and my tank of PowerAde was starting to run on empty. Seeing that I had nothing left to prove to myself, I jump over the rails andleft the arena to find my friends.

A fitting end to an exciting and unforgettable night was catching up with my friends at the statue of "Papi" Hemingway. Hugging the big fellow in a triumphant manner was my way of saying yet again...."At least I can say - I´ve lived!"

endless summer #18

the gang in the vineyards.

nuno pointing...where...the loire of course.

the serious face...is a tired face. another long week of fun in the sun.

endless summer #17

jp.

nuno.

superchef a.

madame c.

jp.

endless summer #16

a rare sight...a braai in france.

legends underground.

legends underground.

legends underground.

what are these two up to...look at those naughty faces....