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The Estonian Philosopher.

When I hitched from Spain to UK many moons ago I went through Arles and Avignon. Lovely places and both fond of artists, especially Arles.
 
I woke up outside the very magnificent castle in Carcassonne with an almighty hangover. Gone are the days of invites to dinner parties with the French middle classes. I am now mixing it with Mick from Cumbria (half dead fulltime alcoholic perpetual street dweller) and Dave from Walsall who happens to have worked with a relative of mine on the doors of Black Country casinos in the past. The World can be all too small at times!

Carcassonne is a beautiful little town. The fortress, or castle is very much a seperate village (known as the city) from the main town (which is pretty old also). Not wishing to sound like a snob, but my plan is to make enough cash to leave my new friends A.S.A.P.

This is RyanAir country. Cheap flights from Nottingham. I should be sorted for cash by lunchtime. Then onto Montpellier to find some quality work. I haven't had to dip into savings yet, but the past week has been expensive hotels. I am shocked at how much more France costs than Spain. Morning coffee in Granada - €1.20. Here - €3!

My plan was to save enough enroute to get a flight back from Tallin to Madrid. I am beginning to worry that the homewards bound journey may take a year, or Two.
 
So, in summation, you've learned that begging is easier in developed France than developing Africa, and especially so when you're in RyanAirLand?
 
London_Calling said:
So, in summation, you've learned that begging is easier in developed France than developing Africa, and especially so when you're in RyanAirLand?
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Fuck off now.

I can only guess, but I would imagine these things are relative. I've never tried begging myself, not in Africa, nor Europe.

Walsall Dave (names have been changed) tells me he makes about €12 a day by simply sitting outside the supermarket with a hat on the ground, head down. He lives in a car with the laziest person I have ever met. The guy even refused to walk to buy his own beer that someone offered to pay for. A 10 minute walk. This guy has a very contageous apathy. Difficult to find any sympathy.

I met some Spanish speaking beggars in Nador. They told me they make their money (not all from begging - a bit of selling also) in Morocco and then cross the border into Mellila to buy their beer and tobacco becuase it's much cheaper. "The work and money is not in Spain" they told me.

As for me; I'm finding this city to be the most ignorant I have ever visited. I have completed Two large sketches to try and sell. Sketch number One has already been destroyed by a car driving on the pedestrian precinct. Somewhere in the region of 50 footprints, cycle and pram tracks. I've written it off already. Second sketch is beautiful, but absolutely no-one is looking. Perhaps the city itself is too much of a pretty distraction to the tourists. I've had hassle from a bunch of teenagers. Hotels are mega expensive (on my budget). And, I have a new problem. A new law stating 'bags are not to be left unattended' in public spaces. I'm only 5 Meters away, but apprently that counts as breaking the new law all the over hyped local police are so keen to enforce. I use my bags to stop people walking, or driving over sketches. I need to nick some traffic cones. Traffic cones could never hide bombs???

RyanAir tourists? I had forgotten! They're not here to spend money these days :(

I need a new approach to get the fuck out of here. I have a positive feeling about Montpellier. It's not easy ATM. I reckon begging in Marakesh would be far easier.
 
This city gets worse. It looks so romantic and stuff. I've just had my entire days takings stolen by a couple of Romanian beggars. Yes - some beggars just beg. But, it's common amongst Romanian beggars to steal, and beg agressively. Time to declare war on Romania I think.

It's raining. I have 40 Centimos. No cigarettes. No beer. No food. Banks are now closed until Monday. I'm stuffed :(

Somewhere in this poxy little lie of a city there has to be a workable all weather pitch??? I need a miracle.
 
Jesus fucking wept!

I take 1 minute to go buy water from the supermarket, before I even get to the check-out I'm behind someone who's just stolen my sketch! She guiltily handed it back, explained she was just saving it from the rain and then told me how magnificent it is. I'm beginning to wonder if the castle is just a fucking lie also. No-one will tell me exactly when it was built. It's a preserved castle they say. Bit too well preserved I say.

I hate this, and I'm stuck here until someone other than the occassional 4 year old takes any interest in my work. Fuck all interest at all. Unless it's there to be stolen for free.

Everyone is preparing for rain. I am hanging on to the hope that it will blow over within an hour.

Ah, fuck it. I'm walking :)
 
From Wolverhampton - Switzerland - Holland - Portugal. Return trip (immediate) Madrid back to Liverpool.

Not my travels. Walsall Dave's life as a long distance truck driver. How many days? About 6. No sleep. €150/week speed habit. Do you believe it?

He may agree to a photograph.
 
Hello U75 people :)

I am in a beautiful little placa. My sketches are displayed. Town is quiet. The rains have come, posssibly gone. Walsall Dave is sleeping safely in his Vauxhall Omega Estate. We'll talk about petrol consumption another day.

........ :)
 
This is bleak. Very fucking bleak.

4.30am. The freak market people are taking over the placa. Strange people. Very strange. I just want out of here.

I have lost my rolling papers. I have no cash. My sketches are going to get trashed. The castle is fake. This is the most ignorant place I have ever visited. A little city full of cunts and lies. Nothing good to say about the place :(
 
It's one of those nice local French farmers markets.

They have just taken my cash again. Ripped up all my sketches. Left me skint once more. This is the ugliest attitude I have ever come across. 8AM. I should have walked. Instead I am going to do a big sketch of the train station to sell for a ticket out of hell :)

Photo comes...
 
mitochondria said:
wtf? did you get in a fight with French farmers?
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Didn't even exchange words. They just ripped up my sketches and took all my money.

This place is just one big lie. The 'medieval' castle was built in the late 19th Century in a style that was not seen in the area. It's like a bit of mock Bavaria brought to Southern France. The tourism people actually do try to 'sell it' as a genuine medieval city. Somewhere in there is a bit of Roman wall, but that is about it. The whole place was 'reproduced' by a very imaginative architect circa 1870.

I think I'm heading straight to Switzerland. I have seriously fallen out with the French and Romanian gypsy people. Philistines. Thieves. Cunts. Liars. Cheats. ALL OF THEM!
 
Mrs d is wishing you better luck. She suggested you should go back to Spain and settle down there and be happy.

For someone who claims hasn't met you, she is quite fond of you, is there something I should know?
 
Idk what route you take Stanley but I would suggest longer trip through eastern Europe: Hungary - Czech/Slovakia - Poland/Ukraine - Lithuania - Latvia - Estonia. Less money to be made and had but people are much more friendly because of that. The less one has the more happy they are to share it.
 
dessiato said:
Mrs d is wishing you better luck. She suggested you should go back to Spain and settle down there and be happy.

For someone who claims hasn't met you, she is quite fond of you, is there something I should know?
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What's her name :D


I'm sketching Le Terminus hotel and using McDonald's WiFi from across the road. First €10 that comes my way goes straight to the TGV cashier to wherever :)

Fucking raining. My weather luck has also run out. Ups and downs!
 
not-bono-ever said:
I dont think you wil find the Swiss as tolerant of your itinterent ways Stanley
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These stereotypical views are often very wrong. Many Swiss people have invited me to visit them. I have found the French police to be very friendly so far. I was expecting very different.

Anyway...

There is a canal here that has a nice easy to walk tow path to the next reasonable town. 60KM. I can do that in a couple of days. Fuck the train. I have cigarettes and beer - all I care about ATM :D
 
phildwyer said:
Your racist attitude is hardly likely to endear you to them is it?
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I don't think you really understand the meaning of the word 'racist' do you?

Anyway...

My very special French friend is in no way a cunt, but ATM all Frenchies are fuckers, and the Romanians who stole my money to spend on fucking icecream...ICECREAM FOR FUCKS SAKE!... have left me a little bit anti Romanian for the time being even though I have many Romanian friends in Granada.

But... you're right in one sense. It's why I am spewing vile here rather than on my blog. My pilgrimage blog was very painful reading when I was pissed off. Not good stuff to sell. I need a vent sometimes.
 
This is not a nice town. Not nice at all. I've just had to put up with some old guy cycling over my sketches and a bunch of ignorant fucking 20 somethings walking all over them. I've sold nothing here. Just taken loads of abuse for not speaking French (and being English) even though if the ignorant twats bothered to look they would see my blurb is all written in French. 'Je suis un ariste Anglais qui voyage...".

I have spent my last shracknel on new paper and pens. I'm going to jump the train to Montpellier, or the next closest town. Pissing it down now, and cold - not walking weather. Well, they won't send me to jail if I get caught. Will they?
 
I think I'm heading to Narbonne. Didn't get as far as the train station last night. Met someone who invited me to a squat party. I am lucky to be alive! Took a photograph of the place this morning. Woke up surrounded by broken glass everywhere. And, a huge burn in my jeans in the shape of a heart. I haven't a fucking clue. They are my only trousers. I have to buy new tomorrow. Crazy fucking bunch of people. Think I'm lucky I woke with everything still intact bar my jeans. If they had known what was in my scruffy backpack...

Most dangeroius place I have ever slept.

To the beach...
 
So, in short, if a few people from a particular country do you wrong, you decide that you hate everybody from that country? Is that about the size of it? Wouldn't want to misinterpret your ramblings.
 
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