Parrot eats the corn, parakeet gets the blame

(Para ler em Português: Papagaio come milho, periquito leva a fama)

According to Samaritans’ last annual report, an UK registered charity aimed at providing support to anyone in emotional distress, every year about 200 people throw themselves in front of a train in the Netherlands, leaving the country in the 4th position in the European railways suicidal ranking. The suicide rate in the Netherlands is not that bad, around 0,0098% per year, but currently 12% of them are rail-related…

Sunny morning of May 3rd 2013. I was at Bergen op Zoom train station, but my train didn’t show up. I heard an announcement from the station speakers – in Dutch! What the hell are they saying??? Is my train coming or not? Was it cancelled? Is it broken? Is it being fixed or replaced? When is it coming? What am I supposed to do??????

The older you get, the better you get – unless you’re a banana

Uriah Heep | Sometimes dreams come true

(Para ler este post em português: Galinha velha é que dá bom caldo) 

In the southern Netherlands, close to the Belgium border, there is the enchanting little town of Bergen op Zoom, a city that hosts one of the last Medieval Gates remaining in the country. But the reason why I included this village of such a picturesque name on my travel plans was much more special than that:

Set a beggar on horseback and he will ride to hell

The Belgians and the Bacon in disguise

(Para ler este post em português: Quem nunca comeu melado, quando come se lambuza)

I went to Belgium more because of a bug on my plans than any other reason. I had booked a hotel in the Netherlands starting on May 1st while my lodging in London would finish on April 30th. It was only on Apr 29th that I realized there was a one-night gap on my schedule. So, one day before my departure I still wasn’t sure (a) Where I was going to sleep the next night and (b) How I was going to get to Bergen Op Zoom in the Netherlands – being a rookie at it, on the web I couldn’t find a train connecting these two cities. After a lot of research I concluded that Brussels would be the best option, being conveniently located and very beautiful, and last minute I found a place to stay and bought a train ticket.

Thus at 4pm of April 30 I arrived Brussels Train Station, traced a route with Google Maps, took the subway and next I began pushing up my bag cheerfully and bouncy through the half-dozen blocks indicated by the GPS… when I realized I was in a black neighborhood.

10 awesome things about trains

(Para ler este post em Português: 10 Boas Razões pra Viajar de Trem)

On April 30th 2013 I left London through St Pancras International Train Station (which btw has a stunning Victorian facade and is super modern on its inside at the same time), and for the very first time in my life I’ve boarded an European train. Since then I have rambled over the world more than 14 thousand miles just on railways……….

… How did I find it??? I’m totally crazy about riding trains!!! To me it’s a thousand times better than flying!!! And to prove my unconditional ♥ LOVE ♥ I did a small list of AWESOME THINGS ABOUT TRAINS:

Dog’s Bollocks things to do in London

(Para ler este post em Português: Apanhadão Geral de Londres)

After having wandered around London for two and a half months I’ve prepared a summary of the things I liked fancied the most about the city and some general handy information. I skip places such as Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, London Bridge, and etc cause I assume everyone’s tired knackered of hearing about them.

There’s no smoke without fire

EXTRA: BRAZILIAN RIOTS | It’s not about R$ 0.20

“Under Construction”

(Para ler este post em Português: EXTRA: Onde há fumaça há fogo)

My purpose on this blog is not talk about politics or social problems of my country but, being on the other side of the Atlantic, my sister asked me to share how the riots against the increase in bus fare are re

verberating internationally…

The man who sleeps with dogs wakes up with fleas

A Jerk, Skid Row, The Fox, Brazilians, a Cassino…

(Para ler este post em Português: Galo que acompanha pato morre afogado)

April 13th, 2013. What does London city have to offer to a rocker on a Saturday night??? I will tell you: much more than one could imagine…! You never know how the night is gonna end…

I started the evening attending to a Skid Row gig. Even though I’ve never been a big fan of these guys I decided to give them a chance, and went to see them live at O2 Islington. And I’m glad I did it!!

Coquettish as a fly circling a syrup stopper

A Folk Evening @UpstairsRitzy

(Para ler este post em Português: Faceira como mosca em rolha de xarope)

April 11th, 2013. For those who enjoy folk music… Attending an invitation of my lovely English teacher at LITE College Sophie, I went together with a few colleagues to Upstairs at the Ritzy to watch one of our teachers playing folk music. As the Brits say, it was ‘marvelous‘!

With the world at your feet

Affordable London | Car-Boot Sales

(Para ler este post em Português: Pra deitar e rolar)

Do you wanna know where London’s trendsetters buy cool stuff without burning all their pennies…? The answer is: in Car-Boot Sales.

London is well known as one of the most expensive cities in the world, but thanks to my friend Jim I discovered that yes! there’re ways to spend your days here in an affordable way – and buy all sorts of  things for really cheap prices!!! 

Good things come to those who wait

Steve Harris British Lion

(Para ler este post em Português: Quem espera sempre alcança)

March 26, a Tuesday night – it’s time to rock! Tonight Steve Harris (Iron Maiden’s bassist) is going to play with his new side project British Lion for the first time in London! And I have a ticket!!! 😀

I arrived at the venue – O2 Academy Islington – by 7pm. The venue is located in the inside of N1 Shopping Centre and because I was following google maps directions I walked all around the place until I reached the dock entrance, at the back of the building. When I got there I saw a man standing outside the building smoking in front of a service door, wearing short trousers and a beanie, and it passed through my mind that this guy could be one of the crew members….

In a piranha-infested river alligators swim backstroke

Living With Strangers

(Para ler este post em Português: Em rio que tem piranha jacaré nada de costas)

Living in a shared house can be quite odd. For the last 10 days I’ve been sharing my place with a German guy, two Asian girls from Singapore, and ‘some’ strange Indian guys (I don’t know exactly how many they are!).

Every single day the Indian guys spend daytime sleeping, they go out for partying when the sun goes down (sun?!? what sun???), they arrive back home after 1am with more friends and cook rice with curry. Then they lock themselves into their room and stay there cheering till morning…. The other night I was in the kitchen chatting with Kalle, the German guy, who is the only normal person here besides me (what’s normal anyway?? how pretentious I am!! heehee), when these guys arrived. Two of them stayed with us in the kitchen to cook their rice. I was drinking beer so I was in need to pee…

I went upstairs to use the bathroom but it was busy – one of the Indians was taking a shower. The hall was smoky and there was a bland smell of tobacco in the air…

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

The Intrepid Fox of Soho

(Para ler este post em Português: Nem só de pão vive o homem)

Last Friday I was looking for a pub with live music (preferably free of charge) to hang out with my friend Jim and after a research on Songkick I discovered that a local hair metal band called Damn Dice would be playing that night. Before taking the final decision we checked out on YouTube and we found out that the band seemed to be quite good although not outstanding. The aspect of this evening that worth a highlight indeed is the venue: The Intrepid Fox.

The Intrepid Fox @Soho

Pool table upstairs @The Intrepid Fox

The Intrepid Fox is an alternative rock’n’roll joint situated in Soho area. It’s a two-story building with its main bar and lounge space located at the ground floor and upstairs there is the stage and also a pool table. The place has a terrific atmosphere and it’s “beautifully” decorated with gargoyles, skeletons, posters and everything else that makes headbangers feel at home…

When the well dries you realize the value of water

Is WWWanderer Going to Freeze???

(Para ler este post em Português: É quando a fonte seca que se percebe o valor da água)

Late night yesterday I was alone in the house when someone knocked on my door (remember my room in located on the facade of the building – and for this reason I’ve been helping all the other guests that lodge here). When I opened there was a strange Indian guy standing there arguing me for instructions on how to get the key to his room from the locker. I friendly introduced myself, as usual: ‘hello, I’m Claudia from Brazil‘ but in response he just stared at me impatiently. I helped him get his key and then I noticed there was a suspicious car parked in front of my room.

A burnt child dreads the fire

Meeting with a Voodoo Man @London Tube

(Para ler este post em Português: Gato escaldado tem medo de água fria)

It’s a freezing Sunday morning in London – expecting snow late tonight. So there’s not much to do, I was planning to go to Brick Lane but it won’t be very fun with this cold weather… Well I assume there’ll be another chance.

During this first week in London I haven’t done very much to be honest, but nonetheless it’s been an interesting week…

On Wednesday I met Jim here at the house and we drank scotch together till late night.

The sleeping shrimp is washed away by the wave

Lost in the Night with Jack The Ripper

(Para ler este post em Português: Camarão que dorme a onda leva)

Yes UFO will be playing in London tonight and guess who was invited to attend to their gig?????

Me, Myself and I!!!!

I got a cab to the venue (Differently from what I thought it would be it’s very very difficult to find a cab in the streets of London. This is not New York. 😛 You need to call them and then they’ll come to you. But it happens that I don’t have a phone……)

Anyway… I got a cab and successfully got to the venue. My name indeed was on the VIP guests list!! Unbelievable! Please do NOT wake me up cause I’m sure I’m just dreaming…

As usual I bought myself a double scotch and went to the front of the stage. I don’t wanna miss a thing…

The gig was awesome but unfortunately for me I wasn’t able to move much. Something happened with my backbone/ neck (probably because of the stream of cold air I took when I was walking naked around my neighborhood earlier this day) and I had this terrible pain that kept me from moving my head up. 

After the gig I met with the band again backstage. And I couldn’t believe when Phil Mogg walked to me saying ‘Hey Claudia look, I have your signed album covers here with me. Apparently I took them by mistake on the other night. They were in my pocket all the time!‘

It’s easy to be a rock, hard is to be a panel

1st muddle @London – Brazilian Goofy Style

I was lucky to have my photograph taken by a charming stranger in the streets of Birmingham…

(Para ler este post em Português: É fácil ser pedra, difícil é ser vidraça)

Sunny Monday in Birmingham. Lovely day for a walk, delicious Italian lunch, time passes so quickly when you’re having such a great day…! Wish that day could l

ast forever

…

By the end of the day I took the road back to London and got at my new home by 9 pm.  The house was empty, the streets were deserted, the only thing I could hear were trains traveling the rails from times to times somewhere not far

Better lose the saddle than the horse

BIRMINGHAM ROCK’N’ROOOLLL ALL NIGHT LONG

(Para ler este post em Português: Vão-se os anéis mas ficam os dedos)

After having a long sleep (finally) and a good hot shower I went for a walk to see Birmingham. I ate my first meal in two days (appetizers and airplane food don’t count) in a French restaurant. Steak with fries and crème brûlée for dessert. The steak was a little tough which made me wonder if I was eating horse meat but the crème was delicious and that was enough for me. Next I found a Starbucks where I ordered a double expresso. That’s all I needed! Now I’m ready to rock! Cause I’ve a ticket for UFO gig tonight!! 😀

The venue was less than 2 miles away from my hotel so I decided to walk. The city looks marvelous at night time! When I got there the opening band was still on stage and they had a full house. I went to the bar to warm my soul with a scotch and stood there watching other people trying to understand how to order my drink.

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs

Getting Into Europe

Para ler este post em Português: Para fazer a omelete é preciso quebrar os ovos)

I’ve landed Lisbon by 10am and since my flight to London was scheduled for 3pm I decided I had enough time to take a walk. During the flight to Lisbon I met Wanda, a Brazilian girl from São Paulo who was born in Manaus. We both had the same flight scheduled to London so I invited her to join me on my ride. We got directions at the airport from very funny and confusing immigration guards of how to get to the historic center of town and we left to the metro station.

The train was very clean and the seats were soft and comfortable. On the inside there was a man playing Portuguese folk songs in a concertina with a little dog balanced on his shoulder, holding the handle of a small bucket for donations with its teeth – which made the poor dog unable to open its mouth!

Distressed as an upside down cockroach

(Para ler este post em Português: Mais angustiada que barata de ponta cabeça)

It’s not easy to explain how I feel right now. I’m inside the plane flying above the Atlantic half distance to Lisbon, still 2,030 miles to roam.
It’s 2:54AM in Sao Paulo and 5:54AM in my destiny.  And I can’t sleep.

I’ve mixed feelings. I’m SAD because I won’t see familiar faces for the next 12 months (except for those few who I plan to meet somewhere during the trip), I’m HAPPY cause I’ll spend a WHOLE YEAR NOT WORKING, I’m WORRIED trying to figure out how to fill the days of an entire year without working, I’m PROUD I’m here now, I’m THRILLED about all the new people and cultures I’ll meet and places I’ll see – even though I really don’t know which places are that.

I’ve been wondering about how did I got into this trip… Tonight I’m feeling insecure and I’m not sure if it was a good idea. Why travel 40 thousand miles within one year, alone?? With one single suitcase?!?

A rolling stone gathers no moss

(Para ler este post em Português: Pedra que rola não cria musgo)

An american woman was recently murdered in Istanbul, Turkey while doing a solo travel, and US people are discussing whether it’s safe or not for a woman to travel alone.
I just want to say that it is much more probable for any woman to die from a heart attack or because of a car crash than while traveling around the world… It’s a wise thing to be careful but never giving up our dreams.
I’d rather die traveling the world than in a stupid accident. I’ll take my chances before it’s too late.