Basket of Thoughts

Thoughts from my mind to the internet

January 25th, 2020 11:58 A.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 17, 2020

Currently sitting with Jason and Matt as they eat some oysters. I had a glass of champagne. We are seated outside and it’s a beautiful day as we sit by the port. Matt also ordered a couple of sea urchins. He told me try some. I refused at first but then he made a good point that it wouldn’t be good journalism unless I did. Therefore, in the name of journalism I had a little. I didn’t like it. I’m not much for seafood anyways but the urchin to me tasted like I just ate sea water. I suppose if you like salt you may like it. I’ve been observing a couple of people sitting nearby. One of them is a relatively attractive woman and the other is a man who looks older by perhaps a decade or so. I’ve created a story in my mind that she is a young aspiring artist and he is the professor taking the student out to lunch only to lead to seduction and a broken marriage for the professor. I don’t know why that’s the story I’ve created but it is what it is I guess. I suppose it’s because she seems to look at him and smiles often while they talk. He acts a bit more nonchalant and turns away now and again just driving her to want him more. I say she makes me think of her as an art student because she is wearing dark colors and jeans with rips in them. An outcast look it seems, which is why I think of an artist. Anyways, enough of my self made French soap opera. I suppose I should give the guys some input on where to go next.

Where we stayed in Marseille was gorgeous. We were fortunate to get a room by that was on the street right by the marina/seaport. There was also a castle in the distance up on a mountain or hill that looked a lot like the castle from Beauty and the Beast. I did some research and apparently it’s not, it was taken from some other castle in France. When I looked that castle up it made no sense to me. The castle in Marseille, to me, looks more like it than the one they supposedly modeled it after. I know it takes place in France but am not sure exactly where. The version of Beauty and the Beast I am referring to is the animated Disney version. The one I was tortured to watch on damn near a daily basis thanks to my little sister who is 7 years younger. Overall, it was funny to look out from the hotel window to see that castle up there and the first thought that popped in my head was that it was the Beast’s castle. I’ll let you judge from the photos I took. Hopefully you’ll agree and won’t think I’m crazy. We only had that night and about half the day in Marseille so we didn’t really explore too much of it. Our next destination was going to be the small city/town of Aix, pronounced ex. Matt had done some research on some of the place in France so he was more or less the guiding force on where we headed to in France and that was a place he had wanted to check out. So, later on in the day we took a bus that took us there. What would that small neighborhood hold in store for us?

Is that Beast’s castle?

January 24th, 2020 9:49 P.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 16, 2020

Currently on our flight to Marseille, France from Palermo, Italy. During the day we went to some ruins. Segesta Ruins to be precise. It’s amazing how some of the things from back in the B.C. times still stand. There was some staging holding some of it up so they are trying to preserve it. It was a bit of a rough ride and I was feeling pretty green on part of it because there were some winding roads. I made it through without vomiting so that’s a success. This flight is bare bones and feels like a traveling sales pitch. Several times the attendants have come through to sell food, drink, cologne, and God knows what other shit. Nothing complimentary on this flight. I’m hoping they don’t charge us for checking our backpacks. We were forced to at check in and I’m not sure why. I could’ve gotten mine in the overhead bins easily and so could Matt and Jason. On thing’s for sure these fuckers better not lose our luggage. I’ll be having flashbacks of South America. In reflection, I really enjoyed Cefaulu, Italy. It was a beautiful area and the hospitality was good as well. Let’s see how it compares to France. I’ve always had an aversion to France for some reason. Hopefully, it changes my mind. Well, we are on our descent it feels so I will close for now.

Thankfully, there was no charge on the checked bags and the luggage was not lost. It was only a 2 or 2 1/2 hour flight but I saw the attendants go up and down the aisles trying to push shit on you in that time period than I saw on the flight from Boston to our layover in Munich to start this trip. It was unlike anything I had really experienced and the fact that even a complimentary beverage (non alcoholic) wasn’t even included was really puzzling. Some of the attendants seemed kinda bitchy too so that put a hinder on the flight experience as well. It was a short flight so that was good at least. Also, worth noting was how sick I was feeling from part of the ride to the ruins was largely in part to the hangover I had as well. My health seemed to decline as soon as we landed in France. My left ear never unplugged and I was in the beginning stages of getting a cold or sinus infection. As I think back on it, I think being a drunk dumb ass and jumping into the Mediterranean may have been the reason I started to get sick. Plus my immune system was probably already weakened from all the wine we had drank the day before. There was no rest for the wicked. The journey had to continue.

January 24th, 2020 9:39 A.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 15, 2020

Woke up this morning suffering from the effects of all the wine drunk yesterday. Splitting headache and feeling like my brain was floating in water. After leaving the Enotecca we headed out for dinner. We ate at Al Portiecielo. I had spaghetti with bolognese sauce. I can tell the difference in the pasta here from back home. It is thicker and you can tell it is made and not processed. After dinner while walking back to the hotel we took a quick dive into the Mediterranean. It was chilly but not as cold a the Atlantic. It was an experience I won’t forget. Tonight we fly to Marseille. Not sure what the plan is for the day yet. I suppose I should get in the shower now so we can check out.

That was a gnarly hangover that morning. I wasn’t going to jump into the ocean at first because I was calling Jason and Matt’s bluff until they stripped down to their underwear and went running in. I had no choice but to join in then. It was only for about 5 minutes or so but I can say I took a swim in the Mediterranean in the winter. It was a totally drunken thing to do as we didn’t have towels or anything to dry off with. Jason and Matt just threw on their clothes but I put on my jacket and walked back in just my underwear and barefoot. While walking back to the hotel we walked past the Enotecca and they were laughing and clapping as we walked by. Jason or Matt gave them their phone to snap a picture of us. We realized that they may have seen us jumping in from the outlook where we had eaten earlier and could explain how they seemed prepared to greet us when we walked by. I don’t have the photo myself but will post it up once Jason or Matt texts it to me. Later on that night when we got back to the hotel I remember Matt and I jamming out to Allman Brothers and playing air guitar. Stupid goofy shit almost like we were little kids again. I felt fine that whole night and didn’t even expect the hangover I was greeted with in the morning. I survived so despite the morning after, all the events of the day before were a grand time.

January 23rd, 2020 5:20 P.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 15, 2020

Just about had four bottles of red wine at the same Enotecca we went to yesterday. You just can’t beat the view and the charcuterie plates are amazing. It’s well earned as we did do a real nice hike up a mountain that gave us a great view from above of the ocean and the city below. I believe it was called Terra Della Rocca. It was a beautiful sunny day throughout the hike. We came back down and headed to the Enotecca again for our lunch. Jason thought due to the weather that it may be difficult to get a seat by the out look on the ocean. Thankfully, there was no issue and we got seated easily. Another great reason to travel off season. My wife love a good charcuterie plate. This only means I need to bring her here someday. I look forward to the day when that will happen. I can’t thank her enough for supporting me in all things I do. She truly is amazing to me. I don’t mean to be sappy and I doubt she will even read this but if she ever does I hope she knows that wherever I go she is still included in my heart. I’m not really listening much to Jason and Matt at the moment but I can tell they are discussing where we go from here. This place was a real nice place to visit. I’m happy I was able to do this trip. I think there are good things to come.

I don’t know why I say it was a mountain we hiked because it really wasn’t something you can consider a mountain. I realized how out of shape I was while going up it I can say that much but I did it nonetheless. It was probably a 45 minute to 1 hour hike to get up to the top of the “mountain”. At the top was what had once used to be a fort of some kind. There was also an old structure that had been built in the B.C. period up there. At night there is a cross on the top that would light up and you could see it from what I would consider to be the town square. I would definitely go back to Cefalu. There was just something about it that I really enjoyed about it. Perhaps it was because the weather was so nice but the people were also friendly as well. I remember when we were sort of taking pictures later that evening down by the sea wall an old Italian man came up to us and was speaking in Italian and he was trying to tell us something. He was making hand motions and noises that represented fighter planes and such. He was either 82 or 92 judging by the number of times he held up his fingers to show us his age. We came to realize afterwards on the next day, that during World War 2 there was some dog fighting so to speak going on there and one of them crashed down on the beach and there was a sign where it happened. That was a cool experience even though at the time we couldn’t really understand what he was telling us I was glad that we found that sign as it sort of showed what he was trying to explain to us. I think he was saying he remembered seeing it happen. I could be completely wrong but that’s a cooler story to think of than him just telling us about how a plane had crashed and that there is a memorial to show it. If you get the chance to visit Sicily I highly suggest going to Cefalu. I would also recommend going in the off season. The beach bars aren’t open but they aren’t needed to enjoy the area in my opinion.

January 22nd, 2020 8:20 P.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 13, 2020

After getting off the short flight from Rome to Sicily we rented our car. Matt had been interested in the seaside location of Cefalu. We were able to find it relatively easy, however, once we got further into the center it was a bit dicey. Now the roads in Ireland I’ve come to know as narrow were nothing compared to some of the streets we went down here. We were able to navigate around safely thankfully. We found a hotel not too far from the center of the town and walked around. We discovered this town was really neat. We discovered some spots we didn’t find while driving. We had lunch at an Enotecca that served a nice plate of sliced meats, cheeses, and some bruscetta. it was much more filling than I had thought it would be. On top of it was that we had a great view of the ocean where we sat. These are the things I enjoy about traveling in the off season. Less people to interrupt our joy. I know it’s selfish but I like to be able to enjoy things without the worry of competition. I’m a competitive person by nature but not when it comes to my travels. We also went out and checked out a house of Aleister Crowley’s. Now, if you’re not familiar with him just know that he was into the dark arts. The house is rather dilapidated but we were still able to get in and check most of it out. It was a cool dark touristy thing and I was happy we were able to find it. As a matter of fact we had some slight assistance from a local. He saw us looking around and he asked “Aleister?” Matt knows a little bit of Italian so with the added direction of the local we were able to find the house amidst the overgrown shrubbery and trees. We may not have found it despite being right near it. Also, no buskers that I noticed at all in this area and it was very nice. I’m sure that changes come summertime. The beach area around her is nice so I bet it gets quite busy. I experience it where I live in the summer. The ocean draws much attention for tourists come summertime. I haven’t enjoyed the beaches by where I live in several years. It’s sad that despite the good tourism does for the area it really ruins it for the natives like myself. Well, it’s getting near bed time so I shall rest for now.

I was happy I was able to visit Cefalu. We enjoyed it so much it was where we stayed for the few days we had in Sicily. We figured why ruin a good thing plus it was only about 45 minutes or so from the airport so no sense in driving all over Sicily. The landscape seemed to be pretty consistent so we didn’t think there would be a whole lot more we would discover down there. I also enjoyed discovering the house of Aleister Crowley’s. If you are unaware of him I suggest googling him. He was, let’s just say, a relatively undesirable character. I was glad that Matt had done some research on the area and that we were able to explore that as that is also a unique thing to go see. I prefer doing unique things that aren’t the ordinary when traveling. Why go see what everyone else has seen when you travel? I guess just to say you’ve seen it for yourself. I can understand that, that’s why I wanted to see the Coliseum but like I mentioned, it didn’t blow me away. Aleister Crowley’s house, to me was much more entertaining. There is a lot of vandalism that has gone on there and you will see it in the pictures I post. There is some original stuff but what is original and what is not I am not completely sure. I hope you enjoy the pics!

Pics of Crowley house
Pics of Cefalu day one

January 22nd, 2020 8:22 A.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 12, 2020

Currently, on our plane to head to Palermo. Matt has a car rental for when we get there so we can drive around and explore Sicily to the best of our abilities. Matt mentioned that Aleister Crowley has a home somewhere there. We may try to find it if we can. After dinner last night we went out for one more drink. One thing I won’t miss about Rome is the pushy buskers there. They, in my opinion, hinder the tourist experience. If I want something from you I’ll ask, otherwise please leave me alone when I am trying to have conversation with my friends. It’s annoying and uncalled for. I hope the same doesn’t happen in Sicily. I very well could be hoping we took another trip to Ireland if that shit happens too much on this trip. I’ll remain optimistic though. I don’t know of many people who have visited Italy that actually make it to Sicily. Usually they go to Venice or Rome it seems. At least I can have Sicily under my cap. I think it should be fun going around in the car. Well, we are getting ready for take off. Ciao!

The particular busker I am referring to was some dude who had a crappy ukelele and he came right up to us to play a dumb ass song about legalizing marijuana. I’m an advocate for that but dammit leave me alone dude. I just wanted to have conversation and a drink with my friends without having to listen to that jerk off play a dumb ass song. Rome had a lot of buskers that were pushy and that is what put me off as far as Rome being a place to visit again. I’ve been to a lot of cities but Rome for pushy buskers took the cake for places I’d experienced. Surprisingly, even more than I recall in South America. So, if you find yourself in Rome prepare yourself for being bugged by people your probably don’t want to be bugged by in the first place. I don’t have much more to elaborate on as far as this entry so I guess that’s all for my reflections on this one.

January 21st, 2020 6:29 P.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 11, 2020

Met up with Jason in Munich, then took a flight to Rome. Took a quick nap in the hotel before rising again to shower and head into the city center of Rome. Jason and I checked out the Coliseum. It wasn’t as awesome as I’d expected to be honest. I was hoping to be able to go in and touch the ground where blood had been spilled. Currently feeling fatigued as we are now finally seated to have dinner. We are at a restaurant called Il Duca. I’m hoping it’s good as at this point I’m famished and feeling a bit faint. Traveling with these two is a pleasure and a chore sometimes. We walked around for at least a half hour trying to decide where to eat. Thankfully, we are about to order. That’s all for now.

Between the jet lag and extreme hunger, I was pretty irritable at the time I wrote this entry. Those two can go on forever between each other trying to decide on a restaurant to eat at. I’m much easier to please on that and am pretty simple but they make it a process sometimes. It was a good meal that night and I had lasagna. It was authentic and I could tell the taste of the pasta was home made. It had a more flour taste to it which I’m guessing doesn’t quite translate back home probably because it is mostly processed pasta I’m used to. Visiting the Coliseum was interesting but like I said it didn’t blow my hair back that much. There was all kinds of pipe staging up and it really our a damper on the authentic historic feel I was hoping to get from it. Plus, obviously it is super touristy. Super touristy things are not the usual I go traveling for. I try to seek out things that truly excite me and not what I’m told to go see. The Coliseum did genuinely excite me because of it’s history but I felt I’d been had after I had gone in to check it out for myself. Oh well, lesson learned I’m still happy to say I have seen it with my own eyes. I wouldn’t say it’s something that has to be seen though if you go to Rome. It’s more impressive seeing it from the outside then when you get in there in my opinion. Save yourself some dough and just take some shots of the outside if you ask me. Judge for yourself with the photos I took.

Pics of the Coliseum

January 20th, 2020 7:22 P.M.

Nathan Smith

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February 10, 2020

In terminal E10 at Logan airport. Getting ready to board in about 20 minutes. We had a bite to eat at Legal Seafoods and a few drinks. There was another patron sitting at the bar a few seats away. He had a nicely groomed mustache. A pornstache if you will. It got me thinking that a mustache is similar to a visor. I mean that in the sense that George Carlin referred to it. A visor is half a hat. A mustache isn’t even a fucking goatee. Grow the rest out, especially if it’s not bushy. A mustache has to be bushy to even be anything worthwhile. A finely groomed pornstache is amateur shit, bub. If you want a stache see top references like Tom Selleck or Sam Elliott. That’s all for now.

I’m not sure why that guy’s mustache irritated me so much. I guess because it wasn’t really necessary for the guy to have. It was literally as if he was a young kid just reaching puberty and getting a that first sign of a mustache. It’s understandable when you’re young like that because when you’re young you want to be older so it would make sense. This guy was at least 21 because he was drinking and I got carded so I sure as hell know that dude did. I’m guessing the guy probably couldn’t grow a good bushy one and he was just happy with whatever facial hair he could grow but c’mon dude, a pornstache just speaks creep, man. At least that’s what I thought. Oh, I should apologize to my best friend right now in case he reads this. He can’t really grow facial hair well and he at one point did grow a stache for awhile and it was mostly a pornstache. Knowing him he probably thought he looked creepy as well. Either way, sorry buddy. My stance on real mustaches is firm. Don’t freak out it’s an opinion, we all have one.

Back in the saddle again

Nathan Smith

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February 10, 2020

Well, after what feels like an eternity, I am back! I just wanted to touch base on a few things. First, my experiment post was a complete failure and I received no input on it. That’s ok. Second, I have returned from my Euro trip of which I will be sharing with you over the next several posts I make. Third, I also have not come back sooner due to while being on my trip and also after returning I have been suffering from a nasty sinus infection which I think is starting to finally wear away. It feels good to be back and I look forward to sharing my European trip with you all. If you enjoy reading this blog I apologize for my absence. You’ll be getting some content coming your way regularly again. I plan to write the journal entries very similarly to how I did my South America journal. I’ll write out the journal entry and write out any reflections or insights I fail to mention in the journal itself. Let’s begin!

Experiment

Nathan Smith

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January 11, 2020

So this may work and it may not but I’m going to try which is why this post is properly titled experiment. A few moments ago I was just started off writing the beginning of a story. I was going along with it and then deleted it except for the few opening sentences. I did it because I had an idea. I thought I could post those opening sentences on here and try to get interactive. That’s right, if you’re reading this and would like to help, please comment on a topic or idea to progress the story. I thought it would be a neat way to write a story. So again this is an experiment and I may just finish the story however I feel but if I get some comments on situations or something like that it will dictate what happens. So anyways, here is how it starts.

It was a cold and stormy night and the most fucking cliche’ beginning to a story. In actuality, it was a warm wintry day. I was sitting on my porch drinking my coffee when it happened…

Please comment suggestions. I think it could be cool to see the different scenarios that people can think up. Either way I will post up when it’s finished but the cool thing about this experiment is if it works I could write several versions and you can feel like a part of it as well. Hope this works, here goes nothing.

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