Two women were taking photos on the street and were handing out these flyers.
Barcelona
Thank goodness I ended my European tour in this city. The weather and the sun were a blessing. Every single city was cold up to that point - I was over it.
My sister hated Paris, loved Barcelona and I 100% agree. Why?
Maybe it is the colors. The city's colors are vibrant, the architecture is so different. In many European cities the building's architecture starts to duplicate - you will get tired of it quickly. Paris, Budapest, and Prague you will see numerous similarities. In Barcelona, you will see no such thing. I spent more time looking up at the buildings than doing my normal people watching. I am convinced that I could really grow as an artist in Spain. Picasso even said he grew so much from working in Spain despite spending most of his career in Paris. If you have a chance to go - visit his museum! No pictures are allowed but it is totally worth it. I spent nearly three hours there and it was not nearly enough time.
Everyone is friendly. Limited English skills but they are very patient and you can manage. You will hear a lot of warnings about pickpockets - 'best in the world' I was told. No ubers and cabs are very expensive. Stick to the bus and being on foot.
My photos of the buildings may or may not do the city justice. However, here is some lovely snaps of tourists and residents.
Paris
Paris is a gloomy place. Photogenic, but gloomy. The atmosphere is rather eerie and it is anything but romantic.
The first city in Europe Americans will name is Paris. You can thank 'We will always have Paris' and 'American in Paris' for that. I could fall in love with the city if it was my first European stop, but being a seasoned traveler that was not the case.
The French are not rude, they are just obsessed with being French. It was surprising they are not curious about any visitors and their English skills are very limited. Very polite but again, no interest in speaking English or learning about you.
Another thing - want to take their picture? No, thank you. Be sneaky and be prepared to be confronted by someone who catches you. I did not find myself in that situation and I hardly took any photos. Paris is such a love/hate relationship. I did not get that warm feeling but perhaps on another visit. I will come back to visit the Paris Opera. Paris, I am bored with you but I am not done with you.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the European Chicago. Well, almost.
Never go in the winter. I experienced a cold I have never felt before. It was so unbearable I bought another North Face. The city has a canal that runs through it so that breeze will leave you helpless at any given moment. My goodness.
What makes it worse is that I had not seen the worst of it. Yikes.
Not a fan of bikers? Stay home. Bikes are EVERYWHERE. The most efficient way to get around is to have a bike. Cars cannot fit in many of the narrow streets. How can anyone find anything? The buildings are so homogeneous I constantly got lost. Ack!
This city is home to the infamous FOAM Amsterdam - one of the most prestigious photography institutions in Europe. I was lucky enough to attend an opening of Lucas Foglia - Human Nature. What a victory if I could have my work exhibited there.
The residents are the most friendly people you will ever meet. I recall visiting a wine store and reviewing a pamphlet in Dutch. The shop owner asks if I wanted him to translate it for me. Repeated visits to retail stores was frustrating as the security bars kept beeping when I entered. One associate said she was concerned for me and asked if she could help. I have never experienced this in the states. Have you?
Everyone speaks English so communication was a breeze. In Germany where cash is king, Amsterdam is all about the plastic.
I took very little photos. Too cold. Not too many people out. No one was standoffish about it but I was taking the time to enjoy my surroundings rather than consistently having a camera in front of my face. I was lucky enough to snap this one:
Berlin
I am at a lost for words on how I can explain why I like Berlin. If you are looking 'charm' and 'European' style architecture you will not find much of it here. WWII left the city in ruins, but Berlin through culture art, and its residents is pushing themselves into the new age.
Berlin is not stuck in the past visually and culturally like Paris or Prague. Any emerging artist should jump at the opportunity to showcase their talent here. The C/O Berlin's exhibition on Meyerowitz is a prime example of how serious they take art. I stayed in the charming neighborhood of Kreuzberg known for its prestigious art galleries and social clubs. Yes, I am talking about the infamous Kit Kat Club. Once the place closes down at 8 AM any local will gladly take you to another club that will be open till 11 AM. Party on.
Germans are not fond of credit cards so be sure to take cash with you. I found a Burger King that would not even accept credit cards. Are Germans friendly? Yes, once they get to know you. They are consistent in their charms and behaviors. Blunt and succinct, but are open to hear about your thoughts and perspectives. Finding someone who speaks English can be tough so be prepared for some humorous interactions.
Many shops are closed on various days and the city itself virtually shuts down on Sundays. The mall is not even open! I told my Uber driver and he was stunned when I said American Malls are only closed one day a year. Germans work hard but they firmly believe in rest.
I am not a huge fan of ISO but my photos this leg of the trip had other plans. ISO can give a photo a little more character and a somewhat film effect to the final products. Agree or Disagree? Take a look and send me your thoughts!
Wien
No new post this year - A shame I know but I have been around the world. I have always wanted to take a large European trip and I managed to have time to pursue it. My first stop was Vienna or Wien in German.
I am not sure why I believed it would be warmer - it is still winter after all. I did not pack heavier clothing as I would have liked but it is difficult to do so when you have a long trek ahead of you. When I left the city [Chicago] the weather was fifty degrees and tolerable. Wien had a relentless cold wind that would not let up - along with some rain and snow. My body went into complete shock the first day.
I was also unsure what to do - the people of course are hibernating cause of the weather but tourist attractions are few and far in between. Austrians are exceptionally nice,curious, and I had a few brief chats with the locals. The city itself is exceptionally clean - I am sure I never saw a piece of parchment ever on the street. A world of difference from Budapest on trash day!
Austria is the home of Gustav Klimt so I made sure to visit the Belvedere Museum to see the infamous 'The Kiss'. Underwhelming. I have a small obsession with the color gold at the moment and the painting was not as vibrant as I expected. Like the Mona Lisa it is encased in glass (bulletproof?) making it hard to get close and examine it. The Museum grounds were beautiful and it is such a peaceful city to stroll at all hours. No matter how many side streets I explored I always seem to end up in the same spot within the city centre. While the city did not have the excitement I was craving I do believe I would give it a second visit in the warmer months. After eavesdropping on some artists on the train in Berlin, Austria is very supportive of emerging artists. Oh really? I will have to investigate this a tad more.
Life over Love - Budapest
I have been in a serious rut for some time. My photos were not progressing and the season change has made the city mundane and the residents sluggish. At a total loss of how to improve, an acquaintance suggested taking a short trip to Europe. I agreed and off I went. Some people suggested I was mad to go off and meet a stranger in a foreign country. No issue for me - I just wanted to take photos from someone who was farther along in their craft. He is far more advance in his technical skills which can be seen in his . His superior composition and artistic skills are evident in his work partially due to his educational and professional background. If I could say one advantage of going to art school is definitely the discipline they provide you from long studio hours and peer critiques.
When I first arrived I initially freaked out - driving into the city I felt I was in a time warp - a 1980s - 1990s Soviet Union time warp (I found out later the country was occupied until 1990). I will not admit how it has been since I have been to Europe, but I forgot they are not into frills, large elevators, or making tons of small talk. Overall everyone was nice and I ran into no problems. Taking pictures on the streets was a breeze except for the old woman on the bridge who was offended by my camera pointing in her general direction (from 30 ft away) - she yelled in Hungarian and flipped me off. When I approached I tossed the grumpy bird some coins after she shook her cup at me. Only negative interaction that I had.
Overall the trip was a success. My travel companion helped me master night shots and long exposures -something I never done before. What is even more important that I learned more of the mechanics of how my camera functions. Sounds ridiculous I know but nothing like trial, error, and several amazing shots missed that you push yourself to do better. I am very lucky to find someone with the time and patience to help me through this process. Within 24 hours we were already planning our next excursion. Maybe Hong Kong or Europe again? Who knows. Stay Tuned.
Here are some few travel tips if you are planning on visiting soon -
Use cards or Forint
Retail shops and restaurants they take either Euros or Hungarian Forint. The shops prefer Forint so just go with that. The airport will convert your money with no commission (you can find places in the city that will as well)
Book an Airbnb
You are going to Europe so leave your high standards for luxury at home. Yes you can find a 5 star hotel but you will be so busy it is a total waste of money. This trip calls for the basic 'SSS' accommodations 'Sleep, Sh-t, and Shower' and that is all you need.
If you are picky about your hotels and on a budget, I suggest you find an Airbnb. Some will be as low as $10 per night for an entire apartment (yes, you read that correctly) and they are very comfortable. My host provided detailed instructions on how to get there as well a 'things to do' list
Language Barrier?
No, Budapest gets numerous travelers from Europe - especially from France, England, and Italy. You may not be able to have a conversation about the universe but you can get to point A to B fairly easily.
Food
Fantastic. I am not big on 'food' or a 'foodie' (I am a size 00. Food is the devil) but take the time to find some good places to eat. You will not regret it. Definitely check out Cafe Central Ez Bizstro. One staple you will find is duck on almost any menu. If you are not a fan now you will be once you leave. I would stay away from duck liver but then again it is all about preference.
I did not take as many pictures as I anticipated. I realize now I rather go home with 5 amazing shots than 20 so-so ones. On the other hand, what may be so-so to a viewer may be some of my favorites.
Customer Service
Remember, you are in Europe. Unlike the States if you buy a glass of wine and chill for 8 hours no one would bat an eye. If you are in a hurry, then do not bother to be seated as they will get offended if you rush them. Try to be patient. Service is included in most bills (10-12%) and you will have to order (sometimes more than once) everything including water. Alcohol is cheap: 3-7 dollars for a drink but if you are on a tight budget Budapest is open container. Woo!
Public Bath Houses
Ah, yes. The infamous bath houses. Again, not the peak of luxury. I can only speak of the one I visited behind the Gellert Hotel and it was not glamorous. The set up is quite confusing and it is hard to communicate to the staff that you are a foreigner who has no idea what is going on. If you bring valuables then definitely get a private changing room as they are electronically locked with your bracelet. Bring towels and a swim cap if you would like to use the swimming pool. In the summer the entire outdoor deck is open but only one was open for winter. Just try to relax, ignore the smells, and you will walk out refresh and happy.
