Chicago

After my trip to Europe I headed to Chicago to spend a few days. Went to the beach and into the city to shoot batman style photos. I'm not sure they look like something from batman but it was still fun working around Chicago at night.

New Forest

SO! After bath We headed to New Forest! Such a beautiful place even if its raining and having no idea where you are at in the forest. So we arrive and make our way to rent mountain bikes (that were actually good), We got lost and could not find the path to the trail we were suppose to luckily we ran into two women on horse back and knew exactly were we wanted to go!

                 We found the trail and was it a site to see! you can't tell but its raining here.

                   Met this woman searching the field for mushrooms, suppose this is normal?

Back to London!

BATH

The temple was constructed in 60-70 AD and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the next 300 years. The thermal waters contain sodium, calcium, chloride and sulphate ions in high concentrations and the taste sure is present. 

Inside of the entrance of the building, i'm quite sure its modern.

London, England

Hi again!
I spent the most time in London and the main reason I went on the trip was in London. I do not have any photos other then iPhone photos of the event. I got to see at the Roundhouse, Devin Townsends Retinal Circus and it was quite an event. He had put together his songs as a 
story which went along evolution to space aliens.
He had played 2 song from his previews band Strapping Young Lad which was amazing to see! Anyway on to London! 

 Of course I had to see the London eye and Big Ben, both were impressive and very exciting to see! So to view it I took a boat tour which docked at popular points. (I also think locals use it to commute)

 We had took a walking tour of the city and saw many things including the street art, Jack the Ripper the city walls, markets, etc.

                  Hungerford Bridge was a sight at night I was really looking forward to walking on :)

  This is in the Tube late at night which is why no people are in the tube. SO I snapped a photo!

 Here you see the British museum, A stop I really had to see, also I got to see a real mummy out of it's tumb! :)

      I spent along time photographing Big Ben and the photo I didn't try to hard on turned out the best!

Calais, France

I could have sworn I wrote about this city already so here we go again.
I got into Calais, France and I was really excited about seeing Cap Blanc Nez one of the beach's on the English Channel. So we got there with no idea as to how to get there and we couldn't figure out how to rent the bikes after trying to find a bus that may take us there and finding out they dont run that time of the year, we ended up taking a Taxi. The ride there was very scenic and pricy and even more so on the way back. It was about 23 pounds to get there and about 40  to get back, im not expert but thats closer to 100 then you'd think our exchange rate isn't good.

Brugge

Brugge is a city I pictured all belgium to look like, cobble stone roads and brick or rock buildings and lots of bicycles. This city we had rented bicycles and traveled outside if the city with no aim except head towards the coast wich we never found. The ride was quite cold in the beginning but because we were moving it became 

After finding a great place to eat on the way back (I thought i took a picture of it guess not) but it was really good! Wish I could remember it. Sorry.

                                 This was a channel on the way back to the hostel so pretty!

                                              Now on to Calais, France 

Ghent

Ghent was one of the cities I was really looking forward to, meeting up with a friend I had met on the interweb and been talking to her for a long while.
So, my friend Caroline and her fiance met up with us at the train station to walk us back to her place. Normally they greet you with a kiss on the cheek instead of a hug as we do in America but they were unsure if we were comfortable with such a thing so I figured I'm in Europe so I might as well.

The next day Carolines friend Nick showed us around the town as she made her way to the Dr and then to the store!  So our first visit was to a Castle that was built in 1180!!!

                                 

                                           From here we headed to Brugge!

Dinant

I wish I would have taken more photos of this city, now i'll have to go back some day and do all the adventures that they offer such as Climbing, Kayaking, Caving, hiking and more. First thing that comes to mind when I think of Dinant is how none of the residents speak English and it's either French or Dutch. So trying to get around the city wasn't the easiest for a dumb American but I ended up eating at some nice places and getting some dang good fries! I realize now I could have documented this place better but now I have another excuse to go back maybe by then i'll know French.
 We started out by checking out the Dinant Citadel which is pretty much in the center of the town and not so pretty from the outside but very pretty from the inside! And when we got inside I had noticed the chanting and the bells from the outside and that was ever so soothing, So I just sat down and listened.

Next we had taken a lift up to castle and had an amazing view of the City, I also gazed at for a while.

                                     As I said, the view of the city was impressive!

After this we had taken a hike on one of the trails to make to another "castle" which turned out to not be a castle just a look out that was probably a part of the defense for the castle. Regardless of that it was a good hike and I'd like to go back because I found myself a cave that was unmarked and pretty well hidden. And you may ask yourself "did he go in" Well, YES I DID! It seemed to go in pretty far I couldn't tell simply because I did not have a headlamp with me and no rope, I went in about 40 feet and when the cave came to a stop I looked down and saw a hole going down which I really want to go into! 

On our way to the Hostel I saw a funny sign and had to include it in this blog.

Next stop GHENT

Brussels

 When exited the train station from the air port and walked out into the cold wet lifeless streets of Brussels this is going to be a great spot for some good photographs. We made out way into the town center and luckily enough I had time to see all the dump trucks ruining what I thought was going to be a great photo Op for the city in the morning. So, we had 2 hours to waste till we could get a map of the city so we could roam with out finding our selfs in the gutter.  

Heading back to the town center (i'm sure thats now what it's called) I had gotten lucky and most of the morning clean up crew had left and was able to capture a few photos before it was packed full of people!

Making our way around the city we find a church and what a beautiful one at that! I wish I could remember the name or had written the church's name down. Maybe i'll find out in due time.

So after a late lunch and some beer we headed back to the train station to take a nap to our next destination!

                                              Off to Dinant! and time for a nap!

Start of Europe Trip!

Alright, Finally getting to my trip in Europe! I'll write as if I was on the trip!

After a smooth ride into NYC and taking the night to explore the city and have some food at Birreria which very was good. Then explored Central Park and off to down town to see all the lights!
We headed back into the Hostel after seeing the cluttered downtown city of NY!

Morning came and we headed out to China Town! WOO! Really wanted to see this and the food we had was quite good too, I would like to visit that area again! The shops are much different from what I'm use to seeing they have the look of colture to them.

Then to the Empire State Building, that was a good sight to see again, I had for got how nice the city looks from above! 

That night we walked to the Brooklyn Bridge to see the mass of it! I didn't realize how large the bridge supports were and how someone could have even built such a thing!

Next morning was probably my favorite now because of what it is. The Grand Central Station which is mistakenly given the wrong name but is actually named Grand Central Terminal because its not a station! Thanks to Misty Parker we were given access to some parts of the building most people never see! I wasn't allowed to take photos in these spots expect for one and that was the walk ways at each end of the terminal which I never noticed. Lots of History in this building.

                                  This is the view from the top walkway in the Terminal

And as you can guess this is the walkway!!!

This was the last day in NYC and I was ready to see Belgium! Cheers!