Homes
Canton, Massachusetts: This is my hometown and where I have spent the majority of my life. My family moved to the home of the Bulldogs a year before I was born, and I spent time in 3 different homes here. I was a product of the public education system until high school, when I took the 15 minute commute to Xaverian in Westwood. I owe a lot to this place; to my friends, to former teachers, and even my enemies. I can honestly say I wouldn't be the man I am today without the warm and comfortable confines of Canton.
Bronx, NewYork: Home of Fordham University and the New York Yankees. I spent 4 years here (2003-2007), two of which inside the beautiful, gated campus and the other two at 2488 Hughes Avenue. The Bronx has a hard reputation, but the northern section that I called home includes The Bronx Zoo, The New York Botanical Gardens, and Arthur Avenue ("Little Italy"). I heard one gun shot and saw one dead body, but rarely did I ever feel afraid or threatened. As an 18-22 year-old, this was a playground. I had 24 hour access to $1 22s and $3 sandwiches while being surrounded by the best pizza in the world. I was also lucky enough to experience the first Red Sox World Series win in 86 years while celebrating with fellow Massholes at MugZ's. The best part; Manhattan was only a van, train, subway, or cab ride away.
South Boston, Massachusetts: Home to my ancestors before becoming my own in September of 2007. I spent three years on the east side split between 57 M and 19 Ticknor Streets. It was a haven for recent graduates looking to leave home and get a start on their young careers. I worked down the street in Dorchester, but spent most of my time sitting and reading on M Street beach, ordering tall Sam Adams at the Beer Garden, singing karaoke at The Farragut House on Fridays, playing basketball at Saint Bridgid's, and getting burgers and dogs from Sullivan's on Castle Island. It was a great place to reconnect with old friends after a long stint in New York, and to start new relationships with young Bostonians I was unfamiliar with.
Visits...
In the States:
- Cape Cod and the Islands, Massachusetts: Quite possibly my favorite place in the world. There is no feeling like the one conjured by driving over either bridge, knowing that the next day, week, or month will consist of nothing but relaxation and happiness. I don't own a house yet, but I am lucky enough to be blessed with many generous friends who have been willing to share their homes and geniality with me. I hope to have one of my own in the future so I can repay such hospitality.
- The Rest of New England: There are simply too many specific places to name them all, but some of the more important and memorable for me are North Conway, Lake Winnipesaukee, and the Pemigewasset River in New Hampshire. In Maine, there is Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Ogunquit Beach, and York Beach. Vermont is home to some of the best winter sports in the region; Stowe, Jay Peak, and Killington are all very close to the state capital of Burlington. Lastly, the tiny state of Rhode Island has one of the coolest and most breathtaking coastlines. The hub of which is Newport.
- New York, New York: I wrote previously about my experience in the Bronx, but that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of my love for New York City. Nowhere in the world can you find the diversity housed here, which includes the food, entertainment, architecture, and general culture of the city. It truly acts as a microcosm of the flattening world, acting as a potpourri of opportunity and activity. There is no way you can go wrong when you visit, except if you don't spend enough time. There is so much action, if you spend too much time sleeping, you are bound to miss something.
- Arizona: I have family here so I've made the trip to the southwest a couple of times, but not in a number of years. There is something that can be said for the transparent night skies and the red deserts. The heat is not as "dry" as you think, and there are more golf courses than you'd ever expect given the climate. I haven't been to The Grand Canyon yet, but I hope to in the future. I spent time exploring the pristine dunes of Sedona in a Jeep and drove through the enchanted Joshua Tree National Park in California en route to the next stop on this list.
- Las Vegas, Nevada: My experience in this city is more unique than most. The reason; I was about 10 years too young to experience the nightlife which makes Vegas so famous. I drove from Arizona with my family in order to attend my cousin's wedding. I remember the bright lights of the strip, staying in a castle, and wandering through the most innovative arcade a 10-year-old boy could ever dream of. I had a good time then, but probably a better time now.
- Southern California: As a high school graduation gift to ourselves, my friends and I went on a trip to visit my aunt in Los Angeles. Don't make the same mistake as we did; DON"T GO IN JUNE. There is a running joke with the locals referring to the month as "June Gloom". We didn't experience much gloom, but there certainly wasn't as much sun as we expected. We spent our time touring Hollywood Blvd and Venice Beach, while bodysurfing the unforgiving waves of the Pacific. Eventually we made it as far south as Orange County, but spent more time in our hotel and Jack in the Box than anything else. On a side note, we met Andre 3000 of Outkast waiting for our red eye back to Boston. He was one of the nicest and most genuine people I had ever met, never mind for a celebrity. We talked about comedies, music school, and future plans while he munched on Chinese food. We also met and shook the hand of the man responsible for the East/West coast rap war in the 90's that resulted in the murders of Tupac and B.I.G.; Suge Knight.
- Florida: You ever notice that whenever an odd or creepy news story is broken in the united States it involves a citizen of Florida? Well I have, and I'm sure you will too now that you're conscious of it. I've been through Orlando a couple times and spent a few days in Miami. The extent of my knowledge of Orlando is Disney and its surrounding area, which I have mixed feelings about. On my first trip, it almost led to the demise of my family when tensions ran high after a game of skee-ball. On my second, I spent two weeks as a 14-year-old at a baseball tournament and it was paradise; young girls from all over the world, beautiful weather, Hooters, and the freedom to wander around all the parks aimlessly on my parents' dime (thanks mom and dad). Orlando didn't compare to the beauty and overall coolness of Miami. I don't know if it was the feeling that Sonny Crokett and Rico Tubbs were looming, or maybe the topless views of South Beach from Ocean Avenue, but Miami had a vibe that is unlike any other city I've ever spent time in.
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: "The continent of Atlantis was an island which lay before the great flood in the area we now call the Atlantic Ocean. So great an area of land, that from her western shores those beautiful sailors journeyed to the South and the North Americas with ease, in their ships with painted sails. To the East Africa was a neighbour, across a short strait of sea miles. The great Egyptian age is but a remnant of The Atlantian culture. The antediluvian kings colonised the world. All the Gods who play in the mythological dramas in all legends from all lands were from fair Atlantis. Knowing her fate, Atlantis sent out ships to all corners of the Earth. On board were the Twelve: The poet, the physician, the farmer, the scientist, the magician and the other so-called Gods of our legends. Though Gods they were -And as the elders of our time choose to remain blind let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and ring in the new. Hail Atlantis! Well, I spent spring break of my senior year of college here, and by these lyrics I'm sure you can tell where our minds were. Thank you Donovan for the perfect soundtrack to such a strange and memorable trip. This place had it all; white sand, girls from Ramapo, the green dragon, and French topless models. Oh wait, almost forgot; nobody parties like the deaf, period.
- Costa Rica: The reputation for soft, white sand beaches, lush jungles, and diverse bio ethnicity drew me here, but it's the lifestyle and attitude that will most likely bring me back. I stayed in San Pedro, a suburb of San Jose for a month before traveling. First, I attempted to surf the breakers and outsmart the wild monkeys of Manuel Antonio. Then I travelled to Puerto Viejo to celebrate my 26th birthday with new friends where it was happy hour all day, everyday. I sang along with the best rendition of "Jailhouse Rock" ever played and slept in a tent at Rocking J's for 6 bucks a night (you must go to this place). I twice visited the volcanic La Fortuna, a small tourist town in the shadows of Arenal Volcano, one of the most active in the world. Here, I soaked in the only free hot springs in the area, hiked down to the stunning Fortuna Waterfall before hiking up to Cerro Chato, the older, dormant neighbor of Arenal. I spent the second month of my trip in the small, former capital city of Cartago before visiting the rest of this paradise. There you can find the monstrous Irazu Volcano and the valley that stretches for miles. The city is quaint, full of stray dogs, and is home to the popular pilgramage destination of The Bascilica of the Black Virgin Mary. When Christina arrived I brought her to 2 of my favorite places as well as 2 new ones; Monteverde and Tamarindo. Tamarindo is a touristy surf town with big, commercial resorts and expensive restaurants but there are still a few hidden gems like Pura Vida Hostel. The surfing is what brought us there, and the beach had cleaner waves I was able to improve on. Monteverde is famous for its cloud forests and canopy tours. The climate was completely different than Tamarindo as it was at an altitude I rarely find myself. We stayed in Cabinas Eddy, a family owned and operated hotel with a kitchen and clean, spacious rooms. The highlight of course was our canopy tour that stretched across plush valleys and under wild howler monkeys. The entire country is gorgeous, and although it's small, it has such a diverse variety of activities and sites to choose from. I highly recommend a trip here at some point in your life. It is as close to Jurassic Park as you will get, unless of course Newman was able to escape the spitting dino and escape the island with John Hammond's precious dinosaur DNA.
- Dublin, Ireland: The first stop on the trip, I spent 3 nights battling jet lag while staying on the famed campus of Trinity College where I was shocked to witness cricket matches being played in the twilight up to 9:30 at night. Most of my time was allocated to drinking fresh Guinness in Temple Bar while trying to meet fellow travelers and avoiding the rain. I also toured the Guinness factory, read by Saint Patrick's Cathedral, and watched the opening rounds of the Euro Cup 2008 with two lads from Manchester, England.
- London, England: I spent five days in this city at a point in which the pound was doubling the measly dollar. Considering I was paying $12 a pint, I still thought it was one of the best cities I've been to. I stayed in former roommate's flat near Tower Bridge, which granted me easy access to the panoramic views of the London Eye, a viewing of "A Midsummers Night's Dream" at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and the rest of the royal city. I even had the opportunity to ride "The Tube" out to the country where I drank Pimms and people-watched at day two of the 2008 Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: I can honestly say that I spent four straight days getting lost in this wonderous canal city. Luckily, I met two interesting travelers hailing from New Zealand. One was an artist, the other a student, but they were childhood friends and were generous enough to invite me to join them. This was the first time during my trip that I stayed in a hostel full of strangers. It is also when I fell in love with hostel life and the people I would meet. I went to the Van Gogh Museum twice, frequented a few of the coffee shops, walked through the famed Red Light District to see the sights, and wandered through the streets admiring this incomparable city. I have no reason to document the details of this stretch of the trip, but I will quote my new Kiwi friend; "We drank, we smoked, we did the usual, but the night is still young and so are we..."
- Berlin, Germany: Next was the huge, developing city of Berlin. You could still see the way the city was still rebuilding from the damage inflicted during World War II. There is no way you don't experience an eerie feeling walking by Checkpoint Charlie or The Berlin Wall. This was the point of my trip when reality struck; I had almost run out of money. Because of this, I spent my three days on a self-led walking tour listening in on tour guides as they supplied information to tourists. This was also where I learned that there is no law against open containers in most of Europe. I stayed in a hostel in the hipster section known as Kreuzberg where I met two Scottish travelers that consumed more alcohol than anyone I've met, two Irish lads that ironically don't drink and many others that made me feel at home. Nightlife consisted of grabbing a 6-pack and playing pool in our common room, but I did have a chance to attend one of the 24-hour techno clubs Germany is famous for.
- Torun, Poland: Finally, I made it to the eastern-most portion of my trip, where I would spend five days on my cousin, Richard's farm with his family. His wife, Basia and son, Filip were gracious hosts allowing me to eat local food and tour the countryside. This was a great opportunity for me to rest, get my bearings, and learn from the philosophical and intellectual conversations I had with Richard.They brought me to Tunic ruins, the home of a Polish sculptor to drink vodka, and to a place where they extract salt from underground springs. I almost killed their dog, Gatsby while playing soccer, which would have ruined my entire trip, but luckily he was ok after a visit to the vet. Other than that, it was wonderful to learn about a part of my family I was unfamiliar with while exploring another new country.
- Rome, Italy: Back to The Party and hostel living, I spent three days in a hostel in Rome. I arrived after a short plane ride late at night, unpacked, made it for last call at the hostel bar. I went for a walk around the area for a couple hours and retired to my empty room at 2 am. The next morning I was surprised to see that my 5 roommates had come back after me; two Australian girls, and three Americans. We spoke in the morning and decided to give ourselves a walking tour of the old section of the city. We saw ruins, The Colosseum, The Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps, and the biggest McDonalds in the world. Two of my new friends were traveling from wine country in California and it turned out we had a lot in common. The next day we visited Vatican City where we gazed at spectacular paintings of our Christian history, looked up in awe at the ceiling of The Sistine Chapel and had confession in Saint Peter's Basillica. We also bar crawled, ate a ton of good food, and ate Indian food with a bunch of Aussies.
- Venice, Italy: After having my soul cleansed, it was time to continue onto the last leg of the trip. I planned a one day trip to Venice knowing that I could probably see the entire city a short period of time before heading off to France for Bastille Day. I booked a trailer at Camp Fusina, a campground just a short water taxi ride away. I arrived in the afternoon, took a shower, and set off for what many consider to be the most beautiful man-made place on this planet. I was fortunate enough to cross the sea as the sun began to set, and arrived on land with a couple hours worth of daylight. On the recommendation of Ernest Hemingway, I bought a bottle of wine to substitute as my companion. It wasn't ideal however, as the beauty and romance of Venice overtook me in a negative way making me feel alone for the first time of my trip. This was not before I had a chance to wander the streets and canals following the elusive Venetian moon. When I returned to the campground, a good buzz in tow, I found what can only be described as a bash. There were roughly 100 Australian teenagers pouring out of the bar with tall, colorful drinks in hand. I got one and was nearly wiped out, after two I was back on track. I ended up partying late into the night and watching the night turn into morning over the enchanted city. Moral of the story; stay at Camp Fusina.
- Nice, France: I missed out on celebrating my favorite holiday, the 4th of July back in the States, so it only made sense I made it to France for Bastille Day. I arrived so late at night that it could also be described as early in the morning. After a tumultuous train ride from Venice to Milan, through the gorgeous Italian Riviera, en route to Nice, I immediately grabbed a towel and took a soak in the Mediterranean. I had dreamed about it the entire month, but it wasn't nearly as exotic as my imagination as a forged across rocks and broken glass to find the soothing water. I woke up the next day and found my way to a sandy beach on the recommendation of the concierge at my hotel. I was able to soak in the sun for a few hours before it began to rain, giving me a perfect opportunity to explore the breathtaking hillsides and peer in admiration at the luxurious toys of Monte Carlo. I returned that night to reunite with my west coast friends and to eat, drink, and be merry. We watched fireworks over the Mediterranean with more wine and continued to tour the bar scene until close. We somehow found ourselves back on the beach later that night in a near fight with some Canadians while French guys had our backs. We decided to call it a night when we came across two American girls bleeding from their feet after walking across broken glass. Just a typical celebration of independence if you ask me...
- Paris, France: Then there was Paris, the last of the many stops on this short journey. I can honestly say that I didn't have a chance to fully appreciate the wonder of this place. I was exhausted, hungover, and simply just wanted to go home. My biggest regret of the trip was not sprinting toward the finish. I immediately attached myself to the only other young person in my horrendous hostel, a physics graduate student from Chicago that turned out to play into his stereotype perfectly. We went to The Louvre where we waited in line to be shoved from tourists all over the world to see the Mona Lisa which was tiny, and a collection of other artworks I was numb to. I can say though, that after this experience, I will never go to a "famous" art museum again. there is no word to describe how rude the patrons are. Then we made it to the Eiffel Tower which would have been great to share with a loved one, but I was with Mr. Nerd, and experienced mild vertigo looking over the sides. My time was saved on my last night however, as I sat and ate with two girls from Latvia. We talked about many things; politics, culture, and experiences. Upon finishing our conversation, they told me that I successfully changed their opinions of Americans. I guess Paris wasn't a failure after all.
