Last Day of my Trip

The last 28 days have been unbelievable. From Athens to Damascus I travelled by land and sea, and I have come a long way. The things I have seen are unforgettable.

I will always remember…

how I was the only one in the ruins of Palmyra, and how the 3000 year old towers cast such long shadows in the Valley of the Tombs,

and how I arm wrestled a Turk named Husayn at a bus stop… who later on the night bus to Istanbul, explained the meaning of Islam to me in Turkish but somehow I could understand every word of what he was saying,

and how when walking down the dangerous Acropolis path high up in Bergama, the call to prayer sounded out and I could hear it sound from as far as I could see in a unison of voices…

and of course I’ll remember how stupid I was in Instabul…hahaha

and I’ll remember how when the 2^nd rocket goes off at 8am in Pamplona, there is a wave of fantastic energy that runs through the crowd that cannot be explained… it can only be felt and recalled by those who ran

and I’ll remember how shitty it was to sleep in a park in 15 degree temperature

and how good those fish sandwiches along the Galata bridge in Istanbul were

and how I taught those Iraqis in Aleppo how to say “Deew” in Cantonese. And how those other Iraqis scared the shit outta me in Aleppo

and how crossing the street in Syria is an extreme sport

and how Genghis and this little brother from the water pipe shop drew me pictures of their home, and how I taught them my disappearing card trick…

…my internet time is running out, but these are some of the things I will remember and I hope I will never forget.

I ran with the bulls

... this morning. It was incredible, and it marked the end of my trip. My first thought was that... hey this isn´t so dangerous... but as I walked back to the start of the run, I saw all this blood on the streets and then I learned this morning´s run was the longest and bloodiest one in Pamplona´s history.... check out this article.

But I´m fine, and I´m going back to Madrid today to chill out... I feel my trip is officially over, and I´m just relaxing now.



Here's a picture of some blood on the street after I ran.

Seven gored by Spanish bulls in one day

July 12, 2007 - 6:54PM

Charging bulls gored seven people and seriously injured several others as this year's San Fermin festival in Pamplona served up its longest and most dangerous run on Thursday.

Thirteen people in total were hospitalised, seven for gorings and six for treatment of head injuries and other injuries, the local government said in a statement. Three were reported to be in very serious condition after undergoing operations

The pack of six 590-kilogram bulls and six steers - meant to keep the bulls running in a single pack - disintegrated shortly after the animals set off on the dash through the cobblestone streets of Pamplona in the sixth of eight planned runs.

One stray bull turned around and ran the wrong way. Herders with long sticks smacked it in the rump to get the animal pointed in the right direction.

The loose bull charged and tossed several runners - some of them clad in the traditional red-and-white garb of San Fermin - on its way to the bullring.

Several runners were trampled and seven runners were injured by bulls' horns.

One 48-year-old man from Pamplona was gored in the chest and reported to be in very serious condition. A 23-year-old Mexican was gored in the stomach and also reported as very serious.

The other runners who were gored were from Poland, Norway, Spain and the United States, with ages ranging from 23 to 50, officials said. They were all reported to be in serious condition.

The run lasted 6 minutes, 9 seconds, compared with the normal length of about 2 minutes, because the bulls separated - the most dangerous thing that can happen at Pamplona.

The festival in this northern town, renowned for its all-night street parties, dates back to the late 16th century. It gained worldwide fame in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises.

Since record-keeping began in 1924, thirteen people have been killed during the runs, the most recent in 1995.

© 2007 AP DIGITAL

On the Road to Pamplona.

I am ALIVE! Sorry haven't posted since Syria, but for some reason after my first Syria post I couldn't access my blogsite anymore.... I have no doubt its the government.

Anyway Syria was simply amazing, and I will write about it later. Damascus rocks.

Going to party my ass off. Talk to u folks later... after one moreflight and a train ride.

J


This was the pandamonium when I arrived.














Scenes from the street.

Finally in Syria

Im finally in Syria after a 35 hour train ride. Wow, it was hardcore.

My first impression of Syria: this is the Middle East. No doubt about it. This is utter chaos. But the people are very friendly and helpful.

Don't have much longer on this internet.... but yeah so I'm here, and I'm safe.

Post more later.
Peace
J