So I was walking around downtown Istanbul trying to find a pub to cozy up in when a guy started chatting with me. He told me he was traveling from Cyprus and was looking for a bar too. We walked for a bit and then he said his hotel recommended this spot close by so we rolled there. A couple of dodgy turns and alleys later we walked into this very dimly lit joint. I was thrown off right away when there was a group of 12 or so girls dancing and looking at themselves in a big mirror. The guy ordered 2 drinks but the old gut was saying something was off here, I quickly asked how much beers were and of course they were 4 times the price. I remembered hearing that this was a type of scam so I grabbed my jacket and told the guy to screw off and was out the door into the next pub to sip on a very reasonable priced Efes.
Beer in Amman During Ramadan
4 AugWe searched high and low but finally found an establishment that served beer during Ramadan. We felt like addicts walking up Rainbow St. in Amman asking every bar if they served beer and every time we got the answer “no Ramadan”. We had just about given up all hope for a glass of a frothy beverage when we stumbled across Bifröst, it is located at the first circle on Rainbow st. They invited us in and poured us some Amstels the beer from Holland that Jordanians claim as their own. After countless more pints we closed the place down and walked back to our hostel feeling like explorers of yesteryear coming across a brand new discovery.
Foggy
Ramadan
4 AugRamadan is an Islamic month of fasting. Muslims will not eat or drink any liquid between sunrise and sunset. You are also not allowed to smoke during these times so you can imagine how cranky people can get. It is pretty hot in almost all Muslim countries so you can tell how difficult this could be. Restaurants are not open during the day and if they are it is for take away only. It has been difficult for me because as a traveler you are allowed to eat or drink but it is hard to slam back a nice bottle of cold water on a bus full of people dying to do the same thing. All my eating and drinking is done in private so it is like being back at a high school dance chugging alcohol in the bathroom, except this time it is sneaking a drink of water.
Another downside to Ramadan is that all bars close and it is next to impossible to find a drinking establishment willing to pour you a cocktail. It was a neat experience for a couple of days but I am glad to be back in a non-Muslim country enjoying the sweet nectar of water on a 40 degrees day. Always keep a look out for when Ramadan starts as it changes every year, or you may also be stuck in the fasting world like me enjoying your meals in truck stop restrooms.
Foggy
First Couch Surfing Experience
30 JulFor those of you not familiar with www.couchsurfing.org it is an online database of travelers who are willing to put you up for the night or take you out for a drink. I decided to use it for the first time in Muscat. My guy Rob picked me up from the airport and we went back to his house to drop off my stuff then we hit the beach for some beers. He was from Maryland and his wife was a dentist in town. Marie and Rob were super cool and were up for anything. After our first big night out they made me French Toast (Awesome!) for breakfast before we had another beach day. The next night we hit the town hard with their friends from Oman, where we found ourselves partying with one of the Royal family. We shut the bar down before going back to their house where I grabbed my bags and went right to the airport to catch my flight. Not the greatest day of travel in my life, but eventually made it to Jordan in one piece. First experience went great now I hope the rest of them are half as good as they were.
Foggy
A Night in Riga, Latvia
12 JulThe night started out like most others on this trip, my parents and I wandering around the old part of town looking for a place to eat. We found a nice little place off the main square called D-Style. We ordered some drinks and food and had a quiet sit down while checking out the nice scenery passing by. After dinner our server invited us back later because one of the owners was throwing her music video release that night.
We sauntered off down to another bar and sat outside to watch some live music. It was a little uncomfortable for a while as I had to endure some creepy girls snapping pictures of me from another table. A couple more Zeltas (Latvian Beer) down the road my parents left for the hotel and I was left to peruse the streets.
I stopped in at a dance club where there was a bachelorette party going on, I shared a couple of dances and accepted a few of their drinks until I felt it was time for the next spot. I found a change of gears at a quieter Irish Pub, grabbed a pint and stood on the patio. A couple of tall dudes walked by so I asked if they played ball, after a little chatting they came in and bought me a beer. One of them ended up being the assistant GM of the Raptors and the other used to play. They were over watching Jonas Varound the in the U19 world championships (still think it was a lousy pick). We shot the shit about ball for a while and then went our separate ways.
I wandered back to D-Style but had sadly missed the premier, but the music video was still playing on the TV. I recognized the blonde in the bar and walked up and asked her how the premier went. We watched her video for a while and told me about making it and how she was part owner of the bar. She bought me a few drinks and then took me outside to meet another one of the owners. I couldn’t believe it when I saw that the other owner was just as gorgeous. I spent the rest of the night talking with the other owner; she was a big hockey fan so perfect in my book. I didn’t spend a dime the rest of the night, we drank Canadian Club and Zelta, the Canadian and Latvian pairing. The clock struck 5 and it was time for this traveller to stumble back to his hotel room, with the birds chirping and sun out it was quite a civilized stroll home.
Oslo Travel Tips
27 JunHere are a few tips for travelling Oslo.
Drinking– Alcohol in restaurants and bars are ridiculously expensive, around $12CAD for a pint of beer. To be able to afford a night on the town without having to give out special favours in the men’s washroom I strongly suggest a power pre-drink. Beers in the store are about $3CAD for a 6 pack of tallies, a much more affordable price.
Women– Women here in Oslo are gorgeous; they will leave you with a sore neck. They are very approachable and will enjoy speaking with you in English. So get off your ass and cozy up next to that blonde girl at the end of the bar.
Transportation– Public transportation is fantastic here. The metro will get you almost anywhere you want to go, and when it shuts down around 2am the bus will take you where you want to go all night long. As far as taxi’s go, good luck trying to get one around 4am after a Saturday night, the streets seem busier than during the day.
Sights– For those interested in things other than partying… any more readers still with me? There are a few great sights to see in Oslo.
Opera House– If you are into architecture, head down to the Opera House on the water front. It is quite a sight with a lot of the building under water. It is a very impressive building and I strongly suggest a visit.
Frogner Park- The other great sight to see is Frogner Park which houses the Vigeland Sculpture Park. It is a huge green park with tons of trees and grass fields, a perfect spot for a day in the sun. The sculpture park is definitely a sight, with hundreds of statues all in different poses. The park brings out everybody’s immature side as they are all naked, and you will find many people taking various sexually suggestive photos.
Foggy Travels Himself
Foggy Travels 