Apr 30, 2011

Road Music: Friends, Laura and Monica

Presenting songs from two artists I've met in my travels. Unfortunately my time spent with them was brief but they feature in some of my more memorable nights in those respective countries. Laura Bean, an American from Kentucky who's made her life in Berlin and Monica Cipollone a sweet bella from Roma.

1) Laura Bean - Myspace page and official website
VIDEO: Laura Bean Record Release Party @ Bassy Cowboy Club Berlin


2) Monica Cipollone - 'My Baby Will' Official blog
VIDEO: 'Strong Oak Tree' by My Baby Will

VIDEO: 'Golden Chimes' by My Baby Will

- Find the entire 'Road Music' Track listings here

Apr 27, 2011

Camera games: The Corner collection in Spain

There are 100s of photographers but they all have a different perspective.
- American in Barcelona
You see a ridiculous amount of people travelling behind a lens. Countless amateur photographers with bulky setups. I found it quite comical initially but having now gotten a camera I'm beginning to see the appeal.
Some people "Go. Look. Then leave". Others "Go, Look, SEE. Then leave"
- Bulgarian in Valencia
When I wasn't taking photos I smugly believed I was more in the moment. Chilling at parks and overlooks for hours I would observe people glide past, pose for photos then move on. I considered my experience more real, now I realise the only difference was the privilege of time. There is no definitive way of being in the moment, everyone develops their own experience in the dark room of their mind.

It can be overwhelming/numbing seeing too much of the same thing, no matter how spectacular. Being immersed in stimuli it becomes difficult to process it all. Being behind the lens compartmentalises everything into manageable chunks. Its literally putting the world into a box, a simpler frame of reference. A picture is an abstraction to be admired for later but i'm beginning to wonder if there's really a difference between a moment and the memory of it? For myself, the camera is less an impediment to absorption than it is to participation.

Another thing I've found with photo-taking is that it can be a companion. The only thing more frightening than being without company is being alone with your thoughts. With a camera you can start playing games, create a diversion to mask the fact you're lonely or have nothing cooler to do.

I'm calling this the 'Corner Collection':

puerto monaita, granada
Bottom/Left - Hippies
Bottom/Left - Baby
amelie, guapas, chicas
Bottom/Right - Amelie
bull fight, matador, bull, toro
Bottom/Left - Matador
The Camera Games Collection
Spy VS Spy in Portugal
- Day 177: My second camera's 100 Day anniversary
- The Corner collection in Spain

Apr 25, 2011

Mixtape: 'Loz in Translation' Sampler (Spain)

All the different genres in one post, a sampler if you will.
  1. Poetry in Motion
  2. Road Movies
  3. Road Music
  4. Road Reading
  5. A question answered with a quote
  6. Spotted in:
  7. On top of:
1. Poetry in motion

Thought for Food
Traveling is eating
Thinking is chewing
Conversing is digesting
Blogging is shitting
- by Loz in Transit (2011)
Update 2012: Download poem in Wallpaper form here
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2. Road Movies
The unfortunate reality of being on the road - Friendships lead to loneliness, thinking leads to cleverness.
fight club, plane, narrator
Tyler Durden and the Narrator meet in 'Fight Club'

Fight Club (1999)
Narrator: Everywhere I travel, tiny life. Single-serving sugar, single-serving cream, single pat of butter. The microwave Cordon Bleu hobby kit. Shampoo-conditioner combos, sample-packaged mouthwash, tiny bars of soap. The people I meet on each flight? They're single-serving friends.
later...
Narrator: Tyler, you are by far the most interesting single-serving friend I've ever met... see I have this thing: everything on a plane is single-serving...
Tyler Durden: Oh I get it, it's very clever
Narrator: Thank you
Durden: How's that working out for you?
Narrator: What?
Durden: Being clever
Narrator: Great
Durden: Keep it up then... Right up
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3. Road Music
Live the language - Barcelona

Great song. Great vid. Some will say it loses points because they actually speak Castellano in Barcelona and as a fiercely proud people that might not fly.
Music by 'Magnus The Magnus'

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4. Road Reading
Found in the Alhambra Libreria in Granada, Spain

mc escher, book, magic
The Magic of M.C. Escher
"Which reality is actually more powerful; that of the present, instantly absorbed by the senses and discernable, or the memory of what we experienced previously? Is the present truly more real than the past?"
- MC Escher
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5. A question answered with a quote

dr ruth, how bigQuestions shouldn't be limited

montreal newspapers, headlinesI'm slangless

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6. Spotted in: Valencia, Spain
Abril 5, 2011. 6pm
A huge Cartman doll floating tranquilo in a stream near the 'Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias'

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7. On Top of: Jardín del Turia - Its no picnic on hanging rock
The Jardín del Turia in Valencia was formerly a river but has since been turned into a long, sunken park. In it you will find fountains, picnic areas and football fields but best of all the wall that lines the park doubles as a 15ft free climbing obstacle. I made this discovery when I saw kids using an archway and the various holes and curves of the stonewall as footholds. I wish someone had been with me when I climbed it.
1) To take pictures of the wall and the climb
2) To witness my miraculous recovery after losing my footing midway
3) A buddy system had I fallen

As it was, only 2 people watched my climb. Both were on the footpath at the peak. The first, a black gentleman who peered over the edge to see how high I was. The second, an old man who reversed course as he wanted no part of my misadventure. By this point I'd been hanging on for dear life for several minutes, regathering my strength for the final hurdle.

I had submitted an entry in Atlas Obscura on this interesting find. The post has since been edited, with the "climbing" portions removed.

- Mixtape: 'Loz in Translation' Sampler (Spain)
- Mixtape: 'Loz in Translation' Sampler II (Turkey)

Apr 21, 2011

Me and my Girlfriend: Ride or die, Sevilla La, la la (2 of 3)

Plaza de España, fountain
So me and my girlfriend are going steady.
Second date: Plaza de España

pringles jamon, sangria don simon, Plaza de España
Comidas y bebidas


King's Cup final: Real Madrid VS Barcelona + Semana Santa

semana santa, real madrid, FC barcelona
Since I've been with Ana-Lucia I don't really do stuff or meet people.
We kinda just hang out and spend all day together. She's my first bicycle.

sevilla, river, puente isabell II
I don't know if I'm happy.

- Me and my Girlfriend Pt1: Riding high in Andalucia
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt2: Ride or die, Sevilla La, la la
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt3: Bye Bicicleta Bye!

Baloncesto: I love this game - Basketball in Europe (PtI: España)

house of hoops, barcelona, ricky rubioI've been a terrible viajero. I'm watching far too much basketball, since I'm in Europe I really should be embracing football. The 2011 NBA Playoffs have been so compelling you can hardly blame me. Whilst I do as the Romans do I also like to honour what I enjoy at home when I travel. Thankfully Spain has delivered my twin joys of wrestling and basketball.

Baloncesto is Spain's number 2 sport. Whilst most are aware that Spain are current World Cup title holders for football. The Spaniards are also reigning FIBA European basketball champions, having bested Serbia in 2009. There are many Spanish players represented in the NBA, the most well-known being perennial All Star Pau Gasol. His brother Marc and national teammate Rudy Fernandez have been key for their teams this playoffs. The Association awaits the belated arrival of the much-hyped Ricky Rubio.

My love for the game whilst at times proving a distraction has also allowed me to connect with locals:
  • Played full court pickup games at Olympiapark in München
  • Hung with kids playing streetball in San Lorenzo, Roma
  • Shot hoops for hours with a local in Barcelona
  • 2 on 2 with locals and attended a 3 on 3 tournament by the beach in Porto, Portugal
  • Caught a regional bus to play ball with Amsterdam Noord locals in the pouring rain. Hookup courtesy of a Dutch guy I befriended after asking about his "STAT NY" shirt. This hip hop bar became my regular Amsterdam hang with a Dutch bball crew
  • Shot around with a Greek Jake Shuttlesworth. I found a court whilst biking from Rotterdam to Scheveningen (near Den Haag). Incorporating his knowledge of basketball and music-making, he imparted some great life advice.
  • Memorable first night in Brighton, England. After spending a good deal of the night hangin' with street performers. We longboarded and had a competitive game of 2-on-2 with charming lesbians at 2 in the morning.
  • Won my inaugural 'Three-Point Shootout' in the Panevėžys Fan Zone. Got to go on stage in front of a big crowd to collect my prize and do an interview. This makes it the second time I've gone on stage to collect a prize after a last-minute entry. I went on to compete several more times in Šiauliai, diluting my winning percentage. This includes being torched by a 12yr old in my second finals.
  • Pickup games in hoops-mad Lithuania whilst they host an international tournament means you're playing ball with people from all over the world - From France to Australia, Lithuania and Portugal
  • Have always wanted to visit "Clutch city". Waited in line for a half hour with hundreds of people, one shot from the FT line to win a 'FIBA shirt'. Banked it, totally didn't call it. Missed the second shot to win a reversible. Chatted to staff later and I ended up being given one anyway, leapfrogging the others. Probably didn't deserve either prize but I never turn down hospitality
  • Watched a BBL (Baltic Basketball League) game hosted by BK Ventspils. Participated at the halftime show poorly aping a cheerleader's acrobatics. The crowd awarded me the 2nd prize, winning the Ventspils t-shirt I'd bought earlier
  • Watched another BBL game, this time in Tartu, Estonia. Was spotted by a CouchSurfer who noticed me at the game, this fellow basketball fan graciously hosted me for two nights. Days later I shot hoops at the the foot of the Parliament in the capital Tallinn.
  • Through a CouchSurfing connect, I befriended a collection of athletic Germans who studied at Sporthochschule Köln, the most respected sports university in Germany. I managed to ball with them in their school gym.
Its also just been an enjoyable way to pass the time
  • Watched 4 NBA/NCAA games go into OT, including the 'Noche Latina' 3OT comeback thriller between Los Suns and Los Lakers. Witnessed both Western Conference Game 1 upsets
  • Floored by highlights of the greatest Baloncesto comeback during siesta TV time - UNI vs RMB
  • Scouted Ricky Rubio in person, watched Barcelona drop homecourt against Panathinaikos in Euroleague competition
  • Hanging at Iberico, Tapas Bars and pubs watching the Euroleague
  • Watching the 2011 playoffs till sunrise at laptops around Spain and Portugal
  • Watching Eurobasket 2011 games in various arenas around Lithuania - Panevėžys, Šiauliai and Vilnius
  • Connected with several basketball journalists, fans, staff and players during EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania
  • Mingled with EuroBasket players from Georgia, Russia, Finland, Macedonia and France in nightspots in Vilnius and Kaunas
  • Chillin' by the Riga Opera House watching streetballers Jurtchix, Elmis and Mixtyper doing their thing. The boys had just formed a new crew and were filming a joint project
  • Enjoyed a heated match between Beşiktaş at Antalya in Turkey. Saw former NBA players Adam Morrison, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Carlos Arroyo in action for Beşiktaş.
  • Befriended a former Laker intern for the 09' Champion Lakers on the bus from Göreme to Istanbul. Hooped at the Nike Beyoğlu courts Kobe unveiled in 2011. The Galatasaray Euroleague game was sold out, we befriended young Turks and made the best of it. We were distracted saying our goodbyes when this hail Mary went in. Doh! We sat back down to watch the overtime.
I love this game!
- Krepšinis: I love this game - Basketball in Europe (PtII: Lietuva)

>> Check out my Basketball & Travel blog - 30HomeGames.blogspot.com

Apr 19, 2011

Me and my Girlfriend: Riding high in Andalucia (1 of 3)

Its been super tranquilo here in Sevilla. I've had the fortunate pleasure of being taken into a home by distant family friends. I have full use of my own Granny Flat but unlike a hostel in the heart of the city the catch is my time here hasn't been too social.

Its not a bad thing, I just need to calibrate for the different energy. I must admit the NBA playoffs have proved some distraction.

I have made one good local friend however, she's sweet.

bicycle, sevilla
Meet Ana-Lucia.

Its Holy Week (Semana Santa) here in Sevilla.
That's where I took Ana-Lucia on our first date.

There are several processions throughout the day continuing late
into the morning. I saw families with strollers at 3am.
Its a solemn event with haunting music that moves some to tears.

Puente de Isabel II, sevilla, spain, night
It wasn't all perfect. Her foot pedal broke so I had to ride her "Flintstone" style for a bit.
We also got lost going home. Relationships won't always be a smooth ride.

- Me and my Girlfriend Pt1: Riding high in Andalucia
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt2: Ride or die, Sevilla La, la la
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt3: Bye Bicicleta Bye!

Apr 17, 2011

Spotted: Photos from Sevilla and Córdoba - The first 48

I finally got a "Happiness trapper". After 77 days of traveling I present to you my first 48 hours worth of photos, a selection of shots from Sevilla and Córdoba. Spain as it gears up for 'Semana Santa' (Holy week).

Find more photos in the - LozinTransit Flickr page

Sevilla
flamenco, sevilla, squat
Underground Flamenco
flamenco, sevilla, san marco, castellar
DIY Flamenco
Vomit Siesta.com
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Córdoba
"Si we're a Burger King, just keep it on the down-low"
being john malkovich, spain, door
The portal into Juan Malkovich's mind
Someone called me 'Jason Bourne' for having Sim cards for 3 different countries
lube world, japanese tourists
Read: Lube World
Japan asserts its supremacy once again
mala fama, punk rock, spain
Screamo
mala fama, punk rock, cordoba
Small town Punk Rock, Córdoba.
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Sevilla
"Pimpin ain't easy" - Old school edition
"Pimpin ain't easy" - New school edition
Holy Week. Sunday Best, Sevilla.
sevilla, holy week
Pennance
Other posts from Spain:
- The kids are alright: Subculture in the South of Spain
- Me and my Girlfriend Pt1: Riding high in Andalucia
- 'Loz in Translation' Sampler (Spain)

Apr 13, 2011

Road Music: My farewell Soundtrack

On my final day before my European odyssey a dear friend was kind enough to make me his plus one for The BigDayOut Festival in Sydney. An amazing gift and a spectacular memory to part home with.

Elevator Music. My Farewell Soundtrack. Fitting theme music for "Day -1":
2 great Australian songs and my 2010 anthem.

VIDEO: 'Rock It' by Little Red


VIDEO: 'Big Jet Plane' by Angus and Julia Stone


VIDEO: 'Home' by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros


- Find the entire 'Road Music' Track listings here

Apr 12, 2011

Observation: Traveling is "Super"

I've always had this theory that when you travel you become a "Super" version of yourself - Super [Insert Name Here].

You become more open, take more risks and are action-oriented. I also contend its a state of mind. Travel simply provides a blend of dynamics that bring about this spirit. Feeling awe in a foreign environment, distance from the routines of home life and being surrounded by like-minded people whilst having a sense of anonymity.

I found this T-shirt wandering around Roma jumping on random trams, naturally I was drawn to 'San Lorenzo'. I was flattered to find a hood with grafitti, New York style bridge tunnels and kids playing streetball. I hung out with them a bit. I walked into the Quattrodita Comic Shop and was floored to find this Tee.

superman, san lorenzo, shirt
The tee is [Super]modelled by Ilenia. Fellow superfriends, Michele and Luca not pictured - my Italian "Go Team" in Valencia, Spain.

Update:
A Polish running-mate met in Bogota, Colombia shared a similar theory using a more direct Superman reference. Superman is average amongst his peers in Krypton but on Earth he is an extraordinary being. That's what we're like when we're abroad.

Jacques Henri Lartigue: Why I'm getting a camera

jacques lartigue, camera
French photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue
I befriended a cool chica in a museum in Madrid. She showed me around, pointed out a few things and said something memorable - "I like seeing happy people doing happy things".

The next day I visited the 'CaixaForum', a place I wouldn't have known existed if not for the chance encounter. It had an inspiring Exposición on French artist Jacque Lartigue's photographs. Whilst the photos were compelling, I was more enamoured by the blurbs that went with them. I wish I'd written them down so I could share them with you, I had hoped the interwebs would suffice.

This is the best I could find:
A Floating World - Photographs by Jacques Henri Lartigue at CaixaForum Madrid
The Passing of Time
Even from childhood, Jacques Henri Lartigue was obsessed with remembering all his experiences, and it was this obsession that led him to make photography an instrument of memory. This need to remember, so deeply rooted in the young Lartigue, was closely related to his desire to “trap” happiness. He saw memory and happiness as two realities that are exposed to the same threat of disappearing, and his genius was in photographing neither memory nor happiness, but what constitutes their essence: fragility.
I was steadfast (stubborn) in not getting a camera as I had enjoyed the manufactured dynamic when I told people I was without one. I was happy with other people's photos, it became an experiment. It allowed me to live in the moment, any photos of me were candids or documented outside myself. A few things have happened the last few days and now I believe the time is right.

Joie de Vivre! What better reason to get a camera.

Find my first batch of photos here
- Spotted: Photos from Sevilla and Córdoba - The first 48

Apr 8, 2011

Trigger: A Memento year - The first 100 days

Soundtrack for the first 100 days
'Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 1 in G' by Bach

Praça Luís de Camões‎, Bairro Alto, Lisboa, Portugal
Day 97  - 'Luck'
sevilla, river, ponte isabel II, dawn
Day 83  - 'Slow'
plaza dos mayo
Day 71  - 'Glad'
barcelona, cemetary
Day 62  - 'Life'
lloret del mar, mate, argentina
Day 58  - 'Mate'
barcelonetta
Day 52  - 'Only'
le zitelle, Giudecca, venezia
Day 45  - 'Dine'
Campo Santa Margherita, carnevale, venezia
Day 36  - 'Fire'
san marco, venice, night
Day 27  - 'King'
Haus Schwarzenberg, berlin
Day 14  - 'Art'
warschauer strasse, berlin
Day 12  - 'Deep'
munich, olympic park, parkour
Day 8  - 'Jump'
frankfurt
Day 4 - 'Oma'

Apr 4, 2011

Road Music: Away Anthems

Argentinians in Costa Brava
VIDEO: 'Se Viene el Estallido' by La Bersuit

Italianos in Valencia
VIDEO: 'O Bella Ciao' by Giorgio Gaber


- Find the entire 'Road Music' Track listings here

Apr 2, 2011

The Kids are Alright: Coolspotting in Frankfurt and Barcelona

Conmoto. Frankfurt, Germany
conmo, frankfurtconmo, frankfurt
conmo, frankfurt
Cream Barber Shop. Barcelona, Spain
cream barber shop, barcelona
cream barber shop, barcelona
cream barber shop, barcelona
cream barber shop, barcelona
Every city has its cool spots, any hypebeast should have no trouble finding it via the interwebs. One of my small pleasures is stumbling onto these spots and finding a larger network of cool ish from that. To have something peculiar draw your attention, hold your interest and compel you to walk in. The staff at these places are always friendly and willing to drop knowledge on the city and the scene.

'Cream Barber Shop' in the great city of Barcelona was particular welcoming. The juxtaposition of cool caps, fixie bike and Barber Chair from the shopfront was too random to ignore. Once inside you're greeted with a selection of threads, kicks, skateboards and a chilling area complete with couches, XBox as well as a mixing board and decks. Got to hang with the staff for half a day puffing and just chilling. The store hosted a party thrown by its owner 'Mucho Muchacho' who graciously included me on the door list.

VIDEO: 7 Notas 7 Colores - Siete


The Kids are Alright
- Coolspotting in Frankfurt and Barcelona
- Coolspotting: Subculture in the South of Spain
- Coolspotting in Netherlands
- Coolspotting in Netherlands Pt II
- Coolspotting: Nerding out in England - Comics, CosPlay, Video Games and Wrestling
- Coolspotting in Berlin
- Coolspotting in Istanbul
- Coolspotting in Sydney
- Coolspotting in Melbourne