The Secret to Successful Female Action Hero Films

SFF author Joel Shepherd wrote an interesting guest blog for SF Signal. Here's an extract:

In Hollywood, there's a feeling that movies with leading female action characters don't do very well. This in turn makes it hard for more movies of that ilk to get made. Now let's be fair to Hollywood -- rather than just blast the many film industry folks who believe this stuff by listing all the big movies with leading female action characters that have done good or great, let's acknowledge that there are plenty that have done poorly. It's not that Hollywood is wrong to say female action leads have a mediocre record, it's that they're wrong to attribute that record to a lack of audience interest. The poor record is because most of these movies stink, and audiences, unsurprisingly, don't like bad movies.

Why do these movies stink? It's this...

If Hollywood make a movie about a 'male hero', they will focus upon the word 'hero'. Hollywood tells hero stories extremely well -- the great powers, the great responsibilities, the tortured origin story, the moral and existential conflict. It's all there, and Hollywood can tell these stories as easily as LeBron James can make a layup, and for similar financial reward.

But if Hollywood makes a movie about a 'female hero', they'll focus upon the word 'female'. They'll lose emphasis upon the hero story, and focus on sex and gender instead. Our female hero will be dressed in ridiculous outfits, and will have action scenes dedicated less to showing how kick ass she is, than to how many teenage boys she can give erections while kicking ass.

[...]

Because audiences, male and female, want a hero story. Sex appeal you can get from the internet, where hot women will do all sorts of things that Hollywood just can't compete with for teenage erections. What Hollywood can do much better than the internet, or better than anyone else in the world, is tell a tale about a great and unique individual who faces insurmountable odds, and conquers personal demons, in pursuit of justice, truth and inner peace. Or something like that. If Hollywood would actually tell that story, with women in lead roles who were allowed to be genuine heroes, audiences would turn up -- they have in the past, on the rare occassion Hollywood (meaning James Cameron) made this kind of movie, and would again.

This is not to say that sex appeal is not important, quite the contrary. Christian Bale's Batman made many millions from female movie goers due to sex appeal, and straight male viewers like to see that their hero's 'got it' too, for street cred purposes. But sex appeal can't be the focus of any dramatic narrative, because it tells no tale worth telling -- which is of course why porn movie plots are so bad. I hear.

Follow this link for the full article.

By the way, you can download Joel Shepherd's Sasha for free on Kindle here.

Yeah, yeah, I have it. . .

Okay, so quite a lot of you have been asking me whether or not I received a galley for George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons (Canada, USA, Europe) .

The answer is yes. Trouble is, it's waiting for me at home while I'm traveling around the Balkans. . .

So yes, I do have it. And if not for this latest Eastern European adventure, I would already have read it. Don't know if I would have been allowed to post my review, for I had to accept a non-disclosure agreement in order to get my hands on an early read.

Guess what I'll be reading when I return home this weekend!?!

An All-American Blitzkrieg Takes Germany by Storm!

Germany, Abercrombie & Fitch has its eyes set on you! | Photography by Bruce Weber

For quite a while now, we've been well aware of the growing presence of Abercrombie & Fitch in Germany. The Company is steamrolling into the German market with all the shock and awe of a blitzkrieg! In 2009, A&F unleashed a cool wave Hollister store openings that have been awesomely huge throughout the land! SoCal wipe-out, dudes! Germany is dotted with HCo stores - six piers staffed with the hottest crew and clothes from the iconic brand. And to make things even hotter, the Company will be giving its stoked Deutsche fans an A&F flagship of their very own - A&F Dusseldorf opens in December! But this alone is just the beginning, people...

Apart from its preparations for its Dusseldorf flagship, Abercrombie & Fitch has since put into full gear its plans to open up a second location in Germany - in Hamburg! Announced in early-2011, the second Abercrombie & Fitch in Germany will be located at Poststraße 11 inside the Post Alte structure. This particular, historic building has undergone recent renovations and happens to be among the most known in the area for its cultural worth; it was first built between 1845-47 by the Alexis de Chateauneuf (renown in his day, but apparently not of note in the English world - there's no English language article of him in Wikipedia so good luck reading in German!). The location also happens to be on a corner (at the intersection of Poststraße and Große Bleichen) - A&F has a penchant for such locations. A&F Hamburg will possibly be a secondary flagship store and is slated to open doors in Spring 2012 (although this may change)...

Oh yeah, and Gilly Hicks is rumored open shop in Deutchland, too! That's right! The Company is being said to be working on expansion of the Gilly Hicks brand in Germany. However, this is merely speculation (founded on reputable sources I must add) at this point as the Company has yet to confirm this. Should this be true, a German store would make the second GH location for the European market.

Why the immense focus in Germany? The consumer base has proven particularly strong. After all, Germany is the most powerful economy on the European continent, and the four in the world....it is a wealthy nation with a strong consumer market. The Company has a FIERCE fanbase that has given it the foundations it needs to successfully growth in said German market. If you haven't noticed, store openings are focused in Western Germany - the wealthier area, densely populated, and at close distance to other densely populated western European major cities. No doubt Germany is going crazy for Abercrombie & Fitch!

It first seemed to me that it would be Japan that was to become the first country (outside the United States) to become dotted with stores from the A&F Family - its economy (third in the world) and market are huge. And indeed there are two A&F flagships in Tokyo and Fukuoka. However, Japan has been a stagnant economy for a decade; it's still an important market, but now a difficult one to operate within is all. Germany not only has numerous HCo stores already, but it will soon be home to two amazing A&F flagships by the end of 2012! And on top of that, the possibility of a Gilly Hicks, store, too!!! Verdammt, much! It seems to me that Abercrombie & Fitch has become quite a Germanophile...

Get your passports ready, my friends - we may not speak German, but we do speak Abercrombie & Fitch!

2011 ICFF Trend Report

Contributed by Lori Dolnick

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York draws more than 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries and showcases the best in contemporary design. It’s a high-energy show that’s well attended by the design community from students to celebrity designers – all on the prowl for the latest new products, colors and concepts. Here’s what we saw:

High Style, Recycled

IceStone is known for their green, durable surfaces - made from 100% recycled glass and cement and certified at the Gold level of Cradle to Cradle™.

Sail Away in Comfort

With its sail-like shape, the Spinnaker chair simulates the feeling of floating on a cloud. And you can customize it to fit your décor — they will even use your old sails for added saltiness.

Iconic Chef Style, Redefined

BLANCO’s CULINA faucet offers a refined chef’s style with an innovative magnetic hook up feature. It’s easier to clean and fits beautifully into today’s more sophisticated transitional kitchen styles.

Tools at Schools

Tools at Schools is a learning partnership program between Bernhardt Design, Aruliden and The School at Columbia University. The result is a series of school furniture designed by kids, for kids. www.tools-at-schools.com

Softlight Clouds

Molo’s award winning soft collection of flexible walls, building blocks, seating and lighting exemplifies their exploration of production processes and experiential space making.

Modern Outdoor Living

Herman Miller's Eames Aluminum Group returns to its roots by creating a new outdoor collection that received the ICFF Editors' Choice Award for Best Outdoor Furniture. www.hermanmiller.com

To Infinity and Beyond

A first of its kind, this new tile drain from Infinity Drain incorporates tile or natural surface material to make the grate literally disappear from view.

Sculpted Relaxation

Hand sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, the EAU Soaking Tub, by Stone Forest will make a stunning visual statement in any contemporary bathroom.

Functional Art

Lladró offers their new Metropolis collection that melds avant-garde building shapes with functional objects such as lamps, vases, mirrors and boxes.

Shapely Washbasin

Too pretty to be called a bath sink, the Laufen ILBAGNOALESSI One Tuna sink offers graceful curves in a white or warm grey finish. 

Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.

Provisional speculative fiction Top 5 of 2011

Well, we've almost reached the halfway point of the year, so once again it's time for my provisional speculative fiction Top 5 of 2011! I've also include the runner-ups, so you guys won't bug me with the rest of the short list!

1- Steven Erikson's The Crippled God (Canada, USA, Europe)

2- C. S. Friedman's Legacy of Kings (Canada, USA, Europe)

3- R. Scott Bakker's The White-Luck Warrior (Canada, USA, Europe)

4- James S. A. Corey's Leviathan Wakes (Canada, USA, Europe)

5- Robert McCammon's The Five (Canada, USA, Europe, and Subpress)

------------------------------------------

6- Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes (Canada, USA, Europe)

7- Patrick Rothfuss' The Wise Man's Fear (Canada, USA, Europe)

8- Alastair Reynolds' Troika (Canada, USA, Europe, and Subpress)

9- Paolo Bacigalupi's The Alchemist (Canada, USA, Europe, and Subpress)

10- Mark Hodder's The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man (Canada, USA, Europe)

You don't agree!?! You don't know shit!! :P

A bit of humor. . .

"I think I'm missing a few pieces."

Indeed. . . ;-)

The Five

Something about the blurb from this book talked to me as soon as I received the ARC. Add to that the ringing endorsement by Stephen King, and I was hooked! But prior commitments prevented me from giving Robert McCammon's first contemporary novel in nearly twenty years a shot. And yet, the ARC kept mysteriously returning to the top of my pile, demanding that I read it as soon as possible.

When the time came to select books to bring on my latest Eastern European adventure, McCammon's The Five simply wouldn't take no for an answer. So it went into the suitcase, awaiting its slot in the rotation.

Now that I'm done, all I can say is this: If you love rock and roll; if you have ever been in a band, dreaming of one day making it big; if you have ever written a song, or composed music; this is a work that will speak to you on a very profound level. Robert McCammon's The Five is brilliant!

Here's the blurb:

Robert McCammon, author of the popular Matthew Corbett historical thrillers (Speaks the Nightbird, Mister Slaughter), now gives us something new and completely unexpected: The Five, a contemporary novel as vivid, timely, and compelling as anything he has written to date.

The Five tells the story of an eponymous rock band struggling to survive on the margins of the music business. As they move through the American Southwest on what might be their final tour together, the band members come to the attention of a damaged Iraq war veteran, and their lives are changed forever.

The narrative that follows is a riveting account of violence, terror, and pursuit set against a credible, immensely detailed rock and roll backdrop. It is also a moving meditation on loyalty and friendship, on the nature and importance of families—those we are born into and those we create for ourselves—and on the redemptive power of the creative spirit. Written with wit, elegance, and passionate conviction, The Five lays claim to new imaginative territory, and reaffirms McCammon’s position as one of the finest, most unpredictable storytellers of our time.

The premise is pretty straightforward. We follow the tribulations of a struggling rock and roll band called The Five. Things are tough, but they have a new video out and they are embarking on a new tour to promote their stuff. When the tour manager and one of the band members announce that they are calling it quits after this series of gigs, no one knows how to deal with the fact that this is The Five's last tour together. And then, the band comes to the attention of a deranged decorated veteran whose life was changed forever while he was fighting in Iraq. What follows is a terrorizing tale of violence that could break The Five before their tour comes to an end in Austin, Texas.

The backdrop is a richly detailed tapestry of the music industry and the life on the road of a small-fry touring rock and roll band. If you are into music, for that alone The Five is a worthwhile read. But the novel is much more than that. Yes, understandably there are speculative fiction elements -- mainly horror -- to give this story its own unique flavor. Yet what truly sets this work apart is that it's a thought-provoking exploration, beyond the rock and roll angle, of themes such as love, friendship, loyalty, creativity, patriotism, family, and much, much more. When all is said and done, The Five is a powerful and rewarding work that leaves an impression which shall remain with the readers long after they have reached the end of the book.

The characterization is by far the most interesting aspect of this novel. Though the author sometimes jumps from one POV to the next without any clear breaking point in certain scenes, all in all everything works out just fine. Seeing events unfold through the eyes of a somewhat dysfunctional group of protagonists makes for a memorable reading experience. Little by little, McCammon reveals portions of the band members' pasts, fleshing them out in a way that adds another dimension to an already compelling story. I really enjoyed how McCammon also plays with our own preconceptions regarding the characters' personalities. Nomad starts off as the kind of rebel without a cause everyone wants to punch in the head. But before long, as you learn more and more about how he grew up to be like this, it becomes well nigh impossible not to root for the guy. When you reach the last page, you can't help but appreciate Nomad, Ariel, Berke, Mike, and Terry. But there are also poignant moments involving George, the Little Genius, the demented Jeremy Pett, and agent Truitt Allen.

The pace can be a bit uneven at times, especially at the beginning of the book. But when the story kicks into high gear and the narrative grabs hold of you, there is not a dull moment till the end. And the emotional last chapter pulled on my heartstrings in a way that made my eyes water.

If you are looking for something different to bring with you on vacation this summer, look no further. Robert McCammon's The Five is for you!

Long live rock and roll!

The final verdict: 8.25/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe, and Subpress.

The Art That Is an Abercrombie Bag...

The Abercrombie & Fitch Summer 2011 shopping bag. | This image: by C.E.R. | Original Photography by Bruce Weber

There is something quite compelling about an Abercrombie & Fitch bag. Many of you even have yourselves a modest collection stashed somewhere in your rooms, or you even use them as art on the walls... Because that is what a bag from Abercrombie & Fitch is - it is art. These bags are not like the average shopping bags from other retailers. No, Abercrombie & Fitch bags are a form of art that you - the A&F customer - are privileged to walk about with...a carry-around art type of deal. We all are obsessed with the iconic FIERCE bags that the brand hands over with our purchased goodies....Walking about the shopping center with an A&F bag makes you an instant attraction! Sure, the chiseled torso of the guy has a lot to do with it, but there's more to it than that...

What is it that makes an Abercrombie bag just so visually compelling? Yes, the well defined bodies have a lot to do with it. And even if your the archetype heterosexual male who says he doesn't take interest in bags plastered with men, I know you know you're still thinking that's a cool looking bag...There is nothing wrong about a male appreciating the male form in art - modern society has attached an ignorant social stigma to it - the ancient Greeks and Romans (masterful, exemplar, and founders of western art) were champions of the male aesthetic. And as I have stated in the A&F page on this blog, Abercrombie & Fitch is the modern embodiment of this classical aesthetic. The glorification of athleticism and the male form.

Abercrombie & Fitch bags are art because they are printed with the high photographic work of Bruce Weber. This is a photographer that has a passion for the idealized human form - primarily that of the male. (If you're thinking he's gay, your obviously ignorant, and you need to reread the paragraph above). Weber can be said to be a modern incarnation of Polykleitos...now expressive in modern American romanticism. Well, Weber is a monumental photographer and his workmanship, craft, and work is highly revered in the world of photography. His search and discovery for the perfect form is powerfully commanding and beautiful expressed in his timeless and wholly iconic imagery. Weber revolutionized underwear marketing with his Calvin Klein Underwear shots; he set the perfect image for Ralph Lauren that we now associate with the brand; Vogue and numerous other establishments are patrons of his work; Abercrombie & Fitch, however, is where he seems more at home - where he is given the liberty to express his artist's love affair. Need I mention photoshoots with Bruce Weber will run you in the millions?

A month ago, I received my purchases in the official bag for Summer 2011....I began to see it - to analyze it - as an expert at the Louvre would of a David (I happen to enjoy his work very much). Well, let me assure you that I am no virgin to the studies of art. I enjoy scrutinizing a piece of work; attempting to find its meaning, what it is trying to convey to you, its meaning. Yes, I took my Summer 2011 bag simply stared at it in contemplation for the longest while....

This image illustrates the composition (by sectionalizing
the photograph) and previews the visual movement (by
means of the white arrows).

I discovered that the image can be broken down into three main sections - what makes up its composition. (Refer back to the image at the left of this paragraph while you read this). One section is dominated by the "Abercrombie & Fitch" label; this is followed up by the section enclosing the male torso; and then it leads to the section encompassing the shorts. Notice the amazing dimishiment in size from one segment to the other - from a large rectangle to a small square. Isn't that amazing?! That there are three sections may be the Rule of Odds at play: when one object of focus is complemented by two other objects. Another awe-inspiring finding is that the section with the male torso - the most prominent of the three - actually comes close to the proportions of the Golden Rectangle in following with the greater Golden Ratio! Revered by Western artists (including architects), the Golden Rectangle was even incorporated into the design of the ancient Greek Parthenon....When you attempt to produce an appealing image to stand the trials of time and space, laws of geometry (as in mathematics) arise - this is found in everything throughout nature!

The sections in the image not only show you the hidden composition of the image, but they also show you the visual movement in the photograph. Remember when I told you how mostly everyone always looks at the male torso first? Well that is their staring point in their observation. Their eyes may naturally guide from the torso, to the shorts that male model is wearing, and then their eyes will come to a stop at the "Abercrombie & Fitch" printed on the bag. The torso commands the attention when the viewer first sets eyes on the bag...then they notice the shorts and finally identify the brand. This is the visual movement - a cycle of aesthetics and a display of high-grade photography. And the overall effect is marketing at its best.

So there you go. I've finally presented to you the artistic view of an Abercrombie & Ftich bag. I myself am a "curator," you could say, to a proud and impressive collection of A&F bags. I take collecting and the their preservation very seriously. For someone to treat a bag with disrespect and for them to throw them away as garbage is simply an offense! Honestly, if you do not collect, at least have the courtesy of recycling - these are bags - millions and millions of bags - that are being produced for consumers the world over at the expense of the environment (also affecting on a global scale).

But on another note, the main reason for shopping at A&F may often times not be just for the clothes, but for the amazing feeling you get when you are handed over one of those iconic bags...Art and Sex! Abecrombie lead the way!

UPDATE (13 September 2011): I just re-read this post for the first time since I posted it, and noticed some grammar errors! I typed it up late, late at night and I guess they passed my eye! Sorry about the confusion this may have caused. I've since corrected everything. Again, sorry to to those of you that read it before this update.

A little decorating news

It's been two weeks since my last post and I think this has been the longest I've gone between posts in nearly 5 years. I miss you all! There's been a lot of great things happening on my side of the planet which I can't wait to share!

I've several projects in various stages development. I've been working on a living room plan for a young couple who wants more sitting and lounging room in their living room, plus improved wall storage and display. Here are two of the plans for the wall cabinetry that includes a fireplace and the television and components hidden behind the cabinets on the right. Currently, all these shelves are open and the television set is above the fireplace. The first plan shows 2/3 height doors with open shelving above.

In this version, we pulled out the cabinetry on the bottom 18" to be flush with the projection of the hearth to create bench seating and hide the a/v equipment. A second set of recessed cabinets is above hiding the television set. And over top is open shelving to the ceiling for display. The ceilings are relatively low, so the floor to ceiling cabinetry will help draw the eye upwards, giving a feeling of height.

 

Below is a sketch I did of a custom tufted sofa with over scale ottoman to create a versatile and modular sofa/chaise.  Ultimately, this was nixed due to the high cost, but it was fun to flesh out the design and get it quoted from my upholsterer.

Another new project I've been working on is a home for a retired couple who will be using the house when they aren't wintering in southern climes or staying at their beach cottage on the outer Cape. This is part of the first floor plan. The colors are not set in stone yet, but I do like the idea of blue and cream for the sun porch.  We are selecting wall colors, ordering Plantation shutters for the windows, new sofas and dining room set, carpeting in the bedrooms and loft space. They are using some of what they already own and we're mixing in new pieces.

I've also just started a new beach house project which I am incredibly excited about. It's such a new project that I don't have drawings or floorplans done yet, but it's going to include a new kitchen, entry way, mudroom wall, lavatory, dining room and living room that has three distinct areas. One of the areas is a tiny step-down place that has a small vaulted ceiling. My plan is for a private reading nook with library shelves and a super comfy built-in day bed that will also provide extra over-night sleeping accommodations. We're meeting at the cabinetry shop this week to select styles and finishes for the kitchen and then we'll be off and running.   One thing I am loving about this project is that it's going to be comfortable and casual, appropriate for the age of the house and the beachy atmosphere of the neighborhood. Yet, with all that it will still be pretty!

I've been doing a lot of freelance writing recently and wanted to share some articles that have been published around the country:

Working with Designers on Small Interiors Projects - Philadelphia Inquirer

Six Window Dressing Tips from a Design Pro - Chicago Tribune & LA Times

Nine Hardware Store Design Finds - The Arizona Republic

And for Williams Sonoma's Designer Marketplace: 

Ten things I wish someone had told me When I started my design business

Tips for New Designers

Have you been watching Million Dollar Decorators? I think it's a gas and, in its own crazy way, very inspiring.  It's fun to watch such high end decorators have all the same problems the rest of us do and to hear them say "I know what's right". While it sometimes sounds very pushy, the reality is that people hire design professionals because they want the job done right and said professional will stand up for what he or she feels is the right choice. Btw, I may be interviewing one of the decorators later this week, if we can make the schedule work!


What are you doing for the Fourth? I am headed out to Tanglewood at the end of this week. James Taylor is performing with the Boston Pops on Friday night and I will be there with bells on and a picnic on the lawn!

Whew. Well, hopefully this won't be my last post of the week, but if it is, you'll know what I'm up to!

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks!

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Bulgaria: Shopska salad, I will miss you! (And why do Bulgarian men carry purses???)

I was a bit sad to be leaving Romania behind. Aside of perhaps having rabies, I did have a good time during my Romanian stint. Yet all good things must inevitably come to an end, so I found myself in a train bound for Ruse, Bulgaria.

The funny thing about Bulgaria is that I had absolutely no expectations about it. I had been meaning to travel to Romania since 2004, when I visited Eastern Europe for the very first time. Couldn't fit it in my itinerary, so it got postponed. Tried again last year when I visited the Balkans for the first time, but again I was forced to scrap it from my plans. So when the Tokyo earthquake fucked up my plans to fly to Indonesia earlier this spring, I knew that a return to Eastern Europe was in order. Romania was the first country to make the list, but I had 4 weeks to fill up. At the beginning, I was considering going to Moldova and the Ukraine. But I would have been forced to backtrack because of flight problems. Hence, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Belgrade, Serbia, were added to the mix. I dearly wanted to visit Albania, but trips are like that. There are choices to make and you must live with them. So Albania will have to wait. . .

So when I boarded that train bound for Ruse, I had no idea what Bulgaria would be like. I feared the Cyrillic alphabet, for my encounter with it in Belgrade last summer had left me more than a little bewildered. They say that all you need is an hour and a beer to figure it out. Well, I beg to differ! I've had plenty of beer, yet I'm no closer to deciphering the stupid thing! The good thing about it is that, in most places, at least for major streets and sights, indications are often found written with both alphabets. Pat was a very happy camper when he found out about this!

Vesi, the manager of The English Guest House, picked me up at the train station, insuring that everything would get off to a great start in Bulgaria. Located near Svoboda square, the guesthouse is great and offers very good value. Vesi and her sons are helpful and friendly, and they're always there for you. Soon I was on my way to the bank to exchange money and then it was time to do a little sightseeing.

As I made my way along the pedestrian street Aleksandrovska, two things became obvious right away. First and foremost, Bulgarian women are among the most beautiful in the world. Nearly got a crick in my neck just from staring this way and that! :P Secondly, about 80% of the men carry purses!!!! WTF!?! Purses!!! Don't they know that rule from the male code? If it doesn't fit in your wallet, you don't need it! Funny thing is that a good portion of Bulgarian men are big fellows. Tall as the Dutch, but much more corpulent. And yet, walking around with a purse takes some of the manliness away, I suppose. Didn't find it in my heart to raise the issue, however. It's quite enough that I must visit hospitals to get those rabies shots, I had no desire to lose a few teeth in the process of trying to understand this issue. . . ;-)

Ruse might not be the Bulgarian city which has the more to offer. But if you are traveling South from Romania, Ruse just might be the best Bulgarian primer you can find. Since they don't get that many tourists, the people are much more friendly than they are in Varna. Ruse was also the place where I discovered that Bulgaria doesn't attract many Canadian tourists. The shock and disbelief every time they asked me where I was from was incredibly funny. "Canada!?! Wow, that's very far! But why come here???"

Eager to try Bulgarian food, I headed out to a restaurant called Mehana Chiflika for dinner. That's where I fell in love with shopska salad, the traditional Bulgarian salad. I've been eating this salad once or twice a day (they have it in Macedonia too!) and it's delicious. It's made of tasty tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, parsley, and cheese. My mouth is watering as I'm typing these words! But Bulgarians are a devious bunch, believe you me. Locals will tell you that this is a salad made for drinking. Everywhere, people eating it as they're downing half-liters of beer. You see, the salad prevents the alcohol from dehydrating your body, hence allowing you to drink more and not suffer from a bad hangover. How brilliant is that!?!

My second stop was in Varna, on the much-pimped Black Sea coast. I won't go on and on about this city, but I pretty much hated everything about Varna. Some say that it's supposed to be the Miami Beach of the Balkans. That's bullshit. It's got more to do with New Jersey's nickel-and-dime beaches than anything you'll find in Florida. I wasn't expecting anything like Thailand or Hawaii, but I was expecting more than this, for sure.

I stayed at the Flag Varna hostel. It was all right, but nothing to write home about. I was rooming with two Belgian men who turned out to be the two dumbest fucks I have ever met. I mean, I've stayed at more than 100 hostels in 44 countries. I've had weird and/or stupid roommates before. But these two take the cake. Didn't realize it at first, so I asked one of them if he was in the mood for a drink that first night.

"Would you like to go out for a beer, or something?" I asked one of them, since there was no one else at the hostel.

"Yes, sure," he replied. "But there's supposed to be prostitutes near the cathedral," he was quick to add. "Maybe we could each get one."

I laughed, thinking it was a joke.

He made a face when he realized I wasn't taking him seriously.

After an awkward silence, it dawned upon me that I wasn't exactly rooming with Captain Cool. . .

The only positive things I took back from Varna was a Refan eau de toilette and a taste for Bulgarian gelato that never quite left me!

Took a train to Veliko Tarnovo after two nights in Varna and that place blew me away. The old town is beautiful and the fortress makes for an awesome visit! I stayed at the Veliko Tarnovo Hostel Mostel, one of the best hostels I have ever visited. If ever you are in VT, there is no other place where you should book a bed. The hostel was built in an old Turkish house, giving the place a lot of character. Although it's supposed to be almost impossible to get a table on the outside terrace, I did manage to score one two days in a row at Shtaslivetsa, what is likely the best restaurant in Veliko Tarnovo. I can tell you that this is where they make the best shopska salad in the country!

If you want to visit the nativity church in Arbanasi, hiking up the trail through the hills might not be a good idea at the moment. At least not until they sort of clear the way. To my dismay, the trail sort of disappeared 300m from the summit. Which means that I had no choice but to go through brambles to reach the top, emerging from the vegetation leaking blood from several cuts on my legs. I stained my beloved O'neill shorts and tore my Carey Price Habs shirt in the process. Not a good way to end an afternoon, let me tell you!

After beautiful Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv was kind of lackluster. Sadly, there was no way the city could measure up. The old town and the Roman theater are kind of nice, sure. But a single day is more than enough to see it all. The Plovdiv Hostel Mostel is kind of a work in progress as we speak, so it's nowhere near as nice and comfortable as the ones in Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia.

Basically everywhere I went in Bulgaria, there were signs or people in hostels warning travelers not to go to Sofia. It is the ugliest and most polluted city in Bulgaria and no one should waste a second of their lives there, or so they say. Again, I beg to differ. True, Sofia may not pack a powerful punch the way Prague, Paris, or Berlin do, but it is nevertheless a nice place to visit. As far as its ugliness and pollution are concerned, I found it more beautiful and less polluted than Bucharest, so that's that. Okay, so there is not enough here to capture your attention for a week, but two or three nights will allow you to make the most of your experience there. It will also give you the opportunity to visit the gorgeous Rila Monastery.

Kudos to the guys and girls running the Sofia Hostel Mostel! Brilliant bunch, they should give seminars to hostel staffs around the globe! So nice and friendly and helpful, always there to answer all your questions and make suggestions. They helped me locate the right hospital where I could get my fourth rabies injection. The Canadian embassy had given me a long list of hospitals and clinics, but it turned out that only a single hospital in Sofia offered the treatment I needed. Thanks to them, I got there in no time and got through everything in less than 5 minutes! And it was free, to boot!

My Couchsurfing experiences sort of went down the crapper after a great start in Bucharest. I was supposed to meet locals for drinks in Brasov, Sibiu, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, and Plovdiv, but somehow we never managed to make our respective schedules work. For, though I am on vacation, they have life and reality to deal with. I was hoping that things would take a turn for the better in Sofia. Didn't quite work out that first night, as I was supposed to meet a Bulgarian fan of the Hotlist named Joro. Emailed him again the second day, to see if we could make it happen. Didn't hear back from him before going out to dinner, but the lovely Maya did email me, saying that tonight was her only free night and I should meet her in front of the Sheraton hotel at 8:30pm if I wanted to have a few drinks. It looked that my run of bad luck with Couchsurfing was about to come to an end!

Maya was beautiful, funny, and great company. An architect, a free spirit, and almost as well-traveled as I am, we had a great time at Toba & Co! The beer and mohitos helped, of course, but it was cool to get the lowdown on Sofia and Bulgaria from someone who had seen the world and could appreciate them on another level.

After an excursion to the Rila Monastery, I met up with another lovely Bulgarian girl named Aniela and her friend Desi. Yes, two Couchsurfing hook-ups in a row! Probably won't happen again. So Aniela was planning on taking me to a super 3D show in the City Garden, in front of the National Theater. Got some beer and set out to wait. Aniela told me that there would also be a meeting of Sofia's Couchsurfers, so we got together with them before the show began. To my surprise, though our attempts to meet had gone down the crapper twice, I stumbled upon Joro among that CS group! I guess fate decided that we would meet, after all! So it was cool hanging out with the girls and meeting all those people, but we did end up waiting about three hours for that 3D show to finally begin. After several delays (another fifteen minutes, the announcer claimed), the show did begin. Only two end abruptly about two minutes later when the computer fucked up, leaving us with the frozen image of a giant swimming turtle upon the façade of the National Theater. Bummer, as I would have liked to see the whole thing...

Anyway, Bulgaria turned out to be loads of fun for me. I had no expectations, yes, but the country somehow managed to "wow" on basically every level. Beautiful women everywhere, great food, good and affordable beer, nice sights and attractions; Bulgaria has a whole lot to offer. Give it a shot and you won't be disappointed!

There is an inescapable vibe emanating from the younger generation. I alluded to that in my posts about the Baltic states, Poland, and the rest of the Balkans last year. After all the shit their countries have gone through, you can perceive that they have drive, that they want to make a better world for themselves. Give these people the means, and they could shake the world. . . Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though their governments plan to do just that. . . But when you consider that nearly 60% of France's youth dreams of becoming functionaries (Are you fucking kidding me), you just know why things have been slowly going down the shitter there over the last couple of years. There is a lot of pessimism in North America. People are disillusioned, they no longer believe in anything, and yet they have it better than in most countries around the world. And then, you visit countries such as Latvia, Poland, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, countries that have been through wars, that are riddled with corruption, that have gone through crisis after crisis, that don't necessarily offer their younger generation the best of prospects. And still, these people are aware that the worst appears to be behind them, that they have bigger and better things they can aspire to, that the sky's the limit. And if they can only catch a break, they would change their world for the better.

God knows Canada could use a few people like that. So would the USA, France, the UK, etc. Heck the entire Western World could learn a lesson from these people. . .

It's kind of rewarding and uplifting to encounter people with such a mindset when you travel around. Trips are meant to be fun, but a vibe like that certainly adds another dimension to the whole experience. Trips often make you appreciate home in various ways, making you realize how much better we have it compared to so many other people. But there are always two sides to any coin. And when you least expect it, trips can make you realize that finacially we might be in better positions than most, but we could sure use some of the positive energy which seems to permeate most emerging countries. . .

Okay, so I ramble. . . Two words for you: Visit Bulgaria!!! =)

A Game of Thrones Parody

And here's episode 7!