Europe Sketch-A-Thon 2024!
/Yet another world travel has come and gone, where did the time fly too? This one a fifty day run starting in Spain then heading east to eastern Europe. My third trip to Spain but first for Barcelona. Can’t understand the lingo but some I can. Goal once again, a sketch a day for everyday on the road. Usually, the first ten days are kinda slow then once I’m back to eating normal for other parts of the world game on. First draw was of an Antoni Gaudi facade. Note to self warm up drawing before starting a sketch of this magnitude. Quick stop to an old friend Joyce in southern France then onward to Marseilles & Nice. Nice is very nice but beware of the mosquitos. They feasted on me heavily. From there onward to Venice via Paris. They say “Venezia” please make a note of it. Train to Venezia you depart Venezia Mestre heading for Venezia S. Lucia platform unknown till last minute. Should be called the canals and step adventure. Toss in a few thousand of your closet luggage hauling friends you get the picture. This was the best place I had for food so far. Italian every night right across from hotel. Man that was good. That was until I hit Budapest. Was occupied by Soviet troops up until 1989 welcome to Soviet style buildings. Big and burly, bomb proof. You have “Buda” with the castles on one side of the Danube river. “Pest” on the other side with the big Parliament building. You get Budapest. Most excellent food here. Go directly to the big Market and your nose will point you in the right direction for good food. One nights wandering I found the best restaurant entire trip. Music was playing by a guy on fiddle, another some type string instrument and sitting outdoors streetside. Very nice. From there quick stop in Poland, yet another word for toilet check! Finally Amsterdam and yet another huge walk a thon, think my feet are going to fall off at this point. Amsterdam has more canals than Venice and doesn’t have stairs, I will take that! Van Gogh to red light district, leaning buildings too. Average stay was around six days in each place, some only a few. A week wasn’t long enough in some of these but was an amazing way to see how your life changes with a new set of goals. Go explore everyday. Sketch what you see along the way. Finish your days sketches then log in the journal days events. Too many cool things to remember you have to log it to remember. How fasicinating to go back and read that particular days events and walkabouts. Enjoy!
