I awoke the next morning with only one goal on my mind. I simply had to find a professional bull-fighter and interview him. I quickly dressed, grabbed a pastry for breakfast, and headed out the front door of the hotel. It didn't take long before I found who I was looking for.
I found a young matador dressed up in his bull-fighting attire a few blocks from where I was staying. I was saddened to learn that he was not on his way to a fight, but I took the opportunity to ask him about his profession. He explained to me that he considers it an honor to be the one to take the bull's life due to respect for the bull. He explained that the art of bullfighting is not seen as a gross display of animal slaughter, but an opportunity to admire the courage and nobility of the bull as it fights for its life.
After our long conversation, the young matador invited me to come with him to the Plaza del Castillo for several rounds of drinks (www.tripadvisor.com). I accepted his offer, but after one round, I thought it best to call a cab to take me to the airport. I paid $26 for my cab fare, and when I made it to the airport, I bought a ticket to Paris for $1101 (www.tripadvisor.com). I was ready to get out of Spain.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Pamplona, Spain: Day 2
I woke up the next morning to the sound of the garbage trucks hauling all of the trash away that remained after the San Fermin Festival. I went down to the lobby for breakfast, and I ended up eating what appeared to be some form of Spanish oatmeal with fresh fruit. After breakfast, I made my way down into the streets of Pamplona for a look around.
After nearly thirty minutes of walking, my eyes met with the Pamplona Cathedral (www.tripadvisor.com). I thought it appropriate to stop in a say a few prayers for those that were injured in yesterday's "festivities." Hemingway himself was not a strong religious man, but one of his wives was a devout Catholic. For this reason, visiting the cathedral seemed like a good way to tap into the psyche of Hemingway once again. After I attended an evening Mass, I went back to the hotel to reflect upon my travels thus far. I was asleep by 11:00 pm.
After nearly thirty minutes of walking, my eyes met with the Pamplona Cathedral (www.tripadvisor.com). I thought it appropriate to stop in a say a few prayers for those that were injured in yesterday's "festivities." Hemingway himself was not a strong religious man, but one of his wives was a devout Catholic. For this reason, visiting the cathedral seemed like a good way to tap into the psyche of Hemingway once again. After I attended an evening Mass, I went back to the hotel to reflect upon my travels thus far. I was asleep by 11:00 pm.
Pamplona, Spain:Day 1
I woke up in Pamplona, Spain at 8:30 in the morning. From the airport, I took a cab to the hotel I stayed at while in Pamplona. When I arrived at my hotel, I paid the driver $27, and I unloaded what luggage I had from the taxi. Next, I checked into the Residencia Eslava, and I paid the $84 per night fee in advance (www.tripadvisor.com). Directly after I had checked in, a local man informed me of the San Fermin Festival. The Festival was one of Hemingway's favorites as it involved the running of the bulls.
Rather than get trampled and gored by a bull, I viewed the running of the bulls from the balcony of my hotel room. I watched in amazement as the bulls ran unchecked through the streets of Pamplona. I must have seen at least fifty people escorted away in ambulances. They were just young thrill-seekers who, apparently, had no concept of fear. I wasn't sure how to consider the actions of those that were down among the charging bulls; were they courageous or were they foolish? I went down later on in the evening to survey some of the damage myself just out of curiosity. As soon as I lost interest, I went back up to the safety of my hotel room, and I went to sleep. It was around 10:00 pm.
Rather than get trampled and gored by a bull, I viewed the running of the bulls from the balcony of my hotel room. I watched in amazement as the bulls ran unchecked through the streets of Pamplona. I must have seen at least fifty people escorted away in ambulances. They were just young thrill-seekers who, apparently, had no concept of fear. I wasn't sure how to consider the actions of those that were down among the charging bulls; were they courageous or were they foolish? I went down later on in the evening to survey some of the damage myself just out of curiosity. As soon as I lost interest, I went back up to the safety of my hotel room, and I went to sleep. It was around 10:00 pm.
Ketchum, ID: Day 3
I awoke the next morning to the sound of songbirds. It was 7:35 am when I checked my watch. For breakfast, I ate leftover bass from the night before. I bathed in the lake after breakfast simply so I could say I did, and then I packed up my camping gear and loaded it back into the rental car.
From my campsite, I drove into town to visit the Gail Severn Gallery.
Admission into the gallery was $30 (www.tripadvisor.com). I walked all around the gallery admiring various works of art. Once again, I was reminded of Hemingway's own artistic ability as a writer. He made it his mission and purpose in life to pen one true sentence into existence. It was a purpose that took him all over the world. Hemingway wrote about what he knew. From his travels he came to know the world, and the world is what he wrote about. In doing so, he accomplished his goal and completed his purpose as a writer. That is why Hemingway is viewed as one of the best authors in all of history. Yes, my travels have been fun and special in their own way, but the real reward has been found in tracing the life of this extraordinary man. It has been an honor to travel in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway. His shoes, however, no amateur will ever fill.
From my campsite, I drove into town to visit the Gail Severn Gallery.
Admission into the gallery was $30 (www.tripadvisor.com). I walked all around the gallery admiring various works of art. Once again, I was reminded of Hemingway's own artistic ability as a writer. He made it his mission and purpose in life to pen one true sentence into existence. It was a purpose that took him all over the world. Hemingway wrote about what he knew. From his travels he came to know the world, and the world is what he wrote about. In doing so, he accomplished his goal and completed his purpose as a writer. That is why Hemingway is viewed as one of the best authors in all of history. Yes, my travels have been fun and special in their own way, but the real reward has been found in tracing the life of this extraordinary man. It has been an honor to travel in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway. His shoes, however, no amateur will ever fill.
Ketchum, ID: Day 2
I woke up at 9:00 am the following morning. My breakfast consisted of a bagel and a glass of orange juice. After breakfast, I loaded the rental car with a tent, firewood, a sleeping bag, matches, a fishing pole, bait and tackle, a fillet knife, and a hatchet. My day's destination would be Redfish Outlook Lake (www.tripadvisor.com).
When I arrived at the lake after a short drive, I set up camp for the night. Once that was taken care of, I rigged up my fishing pole and prepared for a day of nothing else but fishing and relaxation. It was then that I really came to love fishing. I finally became familiar with that feeling of being in tune with nature that Hemingway valued so very much. With the birds singing and the fish biting, the day proved to be a wonderful one.
By the end of the day, I had managed to catch three small-mouth bass and five blue-gill. I threw the blue-gill back into the lake, but I cleaned the three bass and cooked them over an open flame. The fish cooked well, and I found satisfaction in being self-sufficient. I slept in my tent that night instead of going back to the lodge. I wanted to spend my last night of the trip as close to nature as Hemingway would have wanted to. I was asleep by 10:45 pm.
When I arrived at the lake after a short drive, I set up camp for the night. Once that was taken care of, I rigged up my fishing pole and prepared for a day of nothing else but fishing and relaxation. It was then that I really came to love fishing. I finally became familiar with that feeling of being in tune with nature that Hemingway valued so very much. With the birds singing and the fish biting, the day proved to be a wonderful one.
By the end of the day, I had managed to catch three small-mouth bass and five blue-gill. I threw the blue-gill back into the lake, but I cleaned the three bass and cooked them over an open flame. The fish cooked well, and I found satisfaction in being self-sufficient. I slept in my tent that night instead of going back to the lodge. I wanted to spend my last night of the trip as close to nature as Hemingway would have wanted to. I was asleep by 10:45 pm.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Ketchum, ID: Day 1
I woke up on the plane that brought me back to the States. It was 8:00 in the morning when I got off the plane and found breakfast. There was a Dunkin' Donuts in the airport, so i seized the opportunity and bought a couple of donuts and a cup of coffee for $4. After breakfast, I got into the rental car that the airline provided me with, and I drove to Sun Valley Lodge in Ketchum.
Once I arrived, I made a special request for room 206 because it was once inhabited by Papa Hemingway. I checked in and paid my $129 visitor's fee. It was sort of eerie to be staying in the room where Hemingway stayed in the later years of his life. If I was superstitious, I would've thought that the room was haunted, but I never saw a ghost while I stayed there, and nothing terribly strange happened.
Later in the afternoon, I hit the slopes and gave skiing a shot. As it turns out, I am a terrible skier seeing as I spend more time on the ground than I do on my skis. After nearly two hours of letting gravity beat the tar out of me, I went back inside the lodge, and got in the hot tub to soothe my aching muscles. Afterwards, I sipped hot cocoa by the fireplace in the lobby, and I was in bed by 10:00 pm.
Once I arrived, I made a special request for room 206 because it was once inhabited by Papa Hemingway. I checked in and paid my $129 visitor's fee. It was sort of eerie to be staying in the room where Hemingway stayed in the later years of his life. If I was superstitious, I would've thought that the room was haunted, but I never saw a ghost while I stayed there, and nothing terribly strange happened.
Later in the afternoon, I hit the slopes and gave skiing a shot. As it turns out, I am a terrible skier seeing as I spend more time on the ground than I do on my skis. After nearly two hours of letting gravity beat the tar out of me, I went back inside the lodge, and got in the hot tub to soothe my aching muscles. Afterwards, I sipped hot cocoa by the fireplace in the lobby, and I was in bed by 10:00 pm.
Havana, Cuba: Day 3
After waking up at 8:00 in the morning, I made an early decision to devote the entire day to visiting places Hemingway had been. I ate the remainder of a cold Cuban sandwich for breakfast, and I was on my way. To pass the time and to get plenty of exercise, I decided to walk to all of my daily destinations.
My first stop was Watch Tower Farm. It was the house Hemingway inhabited while he wrote The Old Man and the Sea. The admission price for a tour ended up being $5 (www.tripadvisor.com). I was able to see the very room where Ernest complied one of his most loved works. The room was peaceful; it was the perfect place for brainstorming, and it had to be considered a sanctuary to the man himself.
It was nearly 4:00 in the afternoon when i left Hemingway's Havana residence. Hunger struck, so I found my way to El Floridita. There, I ordered yet another Cuban sandwich and a virgin daiquiri. It is rumored that Hemingway himself aided in creating the daiquiri at this very restaurant (www.tripadvisor.com). When I was finished eating, I paid my bill of $17, and I hitchhiked my way to the airport in order to avoid government sponsored transportation. At the airport, I purchased my ticket out of Havana for $351. Once in Cancun, I bought a ticket to Sun Valley, ID for $516 (www.expedia.com). I slept on both flights.
My first stop was Watch Tower Farm. It was the house Hemingway inhabited while he wrote The Old Man and the Sea. The admission price for a tour ended up being $5 (www.tripadvisor.com). I was able to see the very room where Ernest complied one of his most loved works. The room was peaceful; it was the perfect place for brainstorming, and it had to be considered a sanctuary to the man himself.
It was nearly 4:00 in the afternoon when i left Hemingway's Havana residence. Hunger struck, so I found my way to El Floridita. There, I ordered yet another Cuban sandwich and a virgin daiquiri. It is rumored that Hemingway himself aided in creating the daiquiri at this very restaurant (www.tripadvisor.com). When I was finished eating, I paid my bill of $17, and I hitchhiked my way to the airport in order to avoid government sponsored transportation. At the airport, I purchased my ticket out of Havana for $351. Once in Cancun, I bought a ticket to Sun Valley, ID for $516 (www.expedia.com). I slept on both flights.
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