Manchester for Free!

Very few things in life are free, so I was really surprised to visit Manchester and see all the freebies up for grabs. From Picadilly Station, there are free buses that take you all around the city center and China town. They run every ten minutes and take you to where the action is. I stopped first at the Town Hall, right in the heart of the city. The architecture was glamorous Gothic and the spirit of the city was strong.

 There was a winter wonderland of a Christmas market with stands of meats, cheeses, mulled wine and a variety of goods. Of course if you want to buy something it's gonna cost you, but there were free samples to try. I really enjoyed the Raclette cheese samples.

It's a bit cold in Manchester at the moment, so I headed indoors. There are many museums, all very close to each other, and they're all free! First I went to the Cornerhouse where they had a unique gallery full of abstraction and dislocation. Very artsy indeed. Then I stumbled upon the Manchester Museum which is a natural history museum of sorts. I was really intrigued by a bug exhibit and somewhat bored by the bird section. The mummies in the Egypt section were things I had seen before, but always like to see again. The Whitworth Art museum was my last stop. I really enjoyed some of the distinct pieces in the Shadows exhibit but did not like the Air Pressure film instillation. Nevertheless, the price was right! There's also the Museum of Science and Industry which is free, but I ran out of time to see it. So if you're looking for a place to visit and can't afford the pounds, Manchester is the place to do it.
For more information: visit http://www.visitmanchester.com/

Joan of Arc: Vieux-Marché in Rouen

I visited the site where Joan of Arc was burned for heresy at Vieux-Marché in Rouen.

It was a short stop on the way and unless you're a real history buff, I wouldn't say that this place is a must see on any France itinerary. Nevertheless, I was glad to see it. Joan of Arc is a symbol for following ones destiny. She was from a small village and rose to prominence when she was a teenager. She was just a simple, uneducated peasant. She had a divine calling that she filled without question. We must all find that purpose, that divine calling. Follow our feet and never look back. No matter what the cost.

Concert Review: Hanson in Paris

It's always good to get a taste of home when you're away so I was excited to see that Hanson was coming to Paris. The venue was right downstairs from where I stay so there was no way I was going to miss the show~

Fans were lined up at 6am! I think they slept there. I was happy to see that Hanson kept a following here, but I will never understand why, or how, people can be that die hard. I, on the other hand, peeked from my window all day and when the line was inside, I walked right in.

It felt like I was meeting an old friend. Hanson always seems to sing the soundtrack of my life. Early in the show "Been There Before" brought me back to the old days in Milwaukee.
On a block I live on in the place I'm from.
"Hey" shines light on all my years in Hollywood, a time and place I've had some distance from to gain new perspective on it. When I'm making my movie, you keep saying all my lines.
"Strong Enough to Break" resonates with the constant struggles of everyday life that I inevitably face, even in France! Just a figure in a big monopoly game. The struggle is the price you pay. You get just enough just to give it away.
They reminded me once again that fear has got to go "This Time Around."

They really show their range throughout the show by riding the waves of duality, feeling good with "Crazy Beautiful" while soon after addressing the stresses of keeping relationships strong in "Go." They ended on a bit of a shallow note with "In the City" but the Parisians seemed to really like it.

Throughout the show Hanson spoke entirely in English. I wondered how many people understood what they were saying because even when I speak French they try to act like they don't understand. Props to Issac for a few Merci Beaucoups. Taylor rocked the french flag at the end which was another nice little touch. The crowd was overall pretty hype and it was fun to see such an American band rocking Paris. Shout it Out!

For tickets to the Shout It Out Tour visit http://www.hanson.net/site/sections/22

Occupy Versailles

Versailles is a symbol of glory and opulence. The massive estate screams decadence, from the golden gates to the never ending gardens that make up the "back yard."

 As I walk through the labyrinths of the gardens, I imagine all the shady business deals and scandalous love affairs that must have occurred between the bushes, away from the eyes of the court. As you walk up the steps and look out on the property, you can't help but wish all of that was yours. That's the thing about opulence. The beauty of it is exclusivity. All of this for me and my own. I think about how the royals would turn in their graves to see all the "peasants" walking around their property.

As the sun sets, I imagine a scene when the 99% burst into Versailles to end the reign on the grandiose opulence of the 1%. To take such a marvelous place away from royalty and turn it into a place for the public is truly remarkable. I feel the duality of the situation. We all want the glorious castle for ourselves, but when is enough enough? Could the Occupy movement be the next French Revolution?

 We all crave beauty in our lives, but there's enough to go around for everyone~

How to Travel on a Budget

I've been traveling for the last seven months; France, India, the States, England, Italy and even more France. I'm not rich and I really haven't spent an exorbitant amount of money. So how do I do it? I've had a lot of help from my friends. I've very rarely stayed in hotels which saves more money than I can imagine. Shout out to Razvan, Shark, Julien, Kappa, Atmika, Kim, Annalis, Courtney, Randi, Claire, Marine, Paolo, Fabio and especially Ben. Without you all, this life-changing journey would not have been possible.

Don't have friends you can crash with? There's a website called CouchSurfing where you can hook up with people from all over the world who are willing to open their homes to you. Although I have never tried it, I have explored it a little and it seems very safe. You can choose whether you want to stay with males, females or both and many members are verified by people who have stayed with them. Hostels are another way to save money over hotels. Although you share a room with up to 13 other people, they are actually fun and secure. Read reviews before you book.

There are lots of other little ways to save money along the way. Discount airlines are great but make sure to read the baggage requirements or else you could end up getting charged hidden fees. Take the metro or bus to and from the airport instead of a taxi. Go grocery shopping as often as you can to save on restaurant bills. Your waistline will thank you as well. If you're going to be in a place for a while, get a local pay as you go phone to save on roaming charges. Avoid tourist traps by researching the place online first. Many attractions, such as museums, offer discounted rates on certain days or to students, etc. Get informed. Hanging with the locals is generally the best way to see a city and it will save you the expensive admission prices of overrated attractions that suck anyway. The most important travel tip ever: be open minded and you will be surprised where each day takes you: most likely without spending a lot of money. 

How to do an Absinth Shot

I recently got schooled on the proper way to do an Absinth shot and I'm excited to pull out this new fun trick at a party someday. It took some trial and error, but I finally got it. Give it a try, it's fun!

Step 1: Place a bent fork over an empty shot glass. Add a sugar cube to the top and slowly pour the Absinth on top of the sugar cube.

Step 2: Light the sugar cube on fire. Try not to get the fire inside the glass, otherwise it will get very hot.

Step 3: Once the sugar is properly melted, dump it into the glass. Try to keep it on fire and try not to burn the rest of the house down. If it goes out, relight it.

Step 4: Slam your hand over the fiery glass to create a suction cup. This works best with the meaty part of your palm. The glass will stick so you can shake it up a few times.

Step 5: Pop the glass off your hand and slam it back! Bonus points for the best victory dance~

This may sound easy, but it's kind of tricky so practice at home first. The more times you do it, the better (and drunker) you'll get!