City of Angels

LA was a city that everybody had been saying that I should skip it. It was on the way and I had tickets for Ducks game so I went anyway.

City was quite challenging for tourist, public transport was quite poor, and also for example when I arrived with Greyhound, there was no signs whatsoever to show me how far i was or which way I should head to get to downtown. I decided to cheat and take taxi from bus station to my hotel.

Couple sights that I managed to see were however quite impressive, Hollywood boulevard with it's Chinese Theatre and The Universal City, both easy to reach and free of charge.

The best thing was outside LA. Disneyland was amazing. It is artificial but somehow so magical at the same time. I saw Asimo, most advanced robot in the world and I have to say it is impressive. I stepped on a star, closed my eyes and made a wish. I grew up with this star but now was the first time when I made a wish. I hope I will find what I'm looking for.

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

#8

Teemu Selänne
- NHL Totals: Games: 1258 Points: 637+703=1340 (and counting)
- Ten-time NHL All-Star
- Three-time top goal-scorer in the NHL
- All-time points leader in men's Olympic ice hockey
- NHL's all-time rookie goal and point scoring records
- First 40-year-old player in NHL to ever earn 5 points with a hat trick in one game

He is over 40 years old but still going strong. As a Finnish hockey fan I felt that as thanks for all great moments he has offered to me I wanted see him on the ice one more time. Last time for me was on the season 90-91 when Teemu was still playing in Finland.

I made it to Anaheim and Honda Center to see Ducks play against Flames. Seven Finns on ice in total but my visit was salute for one of them. Teemu thanked me for being there by scoring one goal and giving two assist. Equaliser at the end of 3rd period and being second star of the game. Not bad from old man.

Lukcy Basartd and Tipsy Crow

Someone recommended bar called Yardhouse for me so went to check it out. Impressive amount of taps, way over 100, but somehow cold place.

68. Stone - Oak Aged Arrogant Bastard

I didn't enjoy this bar at all so after one pint I headed to next destination that proved to be so far the best pub on my journey. The Tipsy Crow seemed to be the place for beer lovers to gather up, enjoy well selected brews and they also had table shuffleboard that I really enjoyed playing. Also staff seemed to have eye for making business as when on one point I was about to leave, bartender gave one for me on the house so I ended up spending long night there.

I also noticed that they had Dogfish Head Midas Touch on the shelf, beer that has amazing story behind it so of course I had to get my hands on that straight away. Beer recipe is an ancient Turkish recipe using the original ingredients from the 2700 year old drinking vessels discovered in the tomb of King Midas.

69. Oscar Blues - TenFidy
70. Dogfish Head - Midas Touch (excellent and the story makes it even better)
71. Stone - Arrogant Bastard
72. The Lost Abbey - Red Barn
73. Ballast Point - Pale Ale
74. Maui Brewing - Coconut Porter (impressive imperial porter)
75. Carl Strauss - Vanilla Imperial stout (cask)

At the Crow I met local beer writer, Jeff, who gave me info about drinkabout event, once a month event when free shuttle bus is driving between top beer bars in San Diego. Luckily enough, I was going to be still at San Diego during the event. If you're at San Diego, check this out. Definitely worth taking part.

Drinkabout event was of course great opportunity for beer tasting but also for meeting local people and enjoying hospitality. Thank you Edna, Christian and David for advice and lovely dinner!

76. New Belgium - Ranger IPA
77. Rogue - John John Dead Guy
78. Anchor - Breckle's Brown
79. Alpine - Token Porter
80. Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA
81. Avery - Imperial IPA
82. Green Flash - West Coast IPA
83. Pizzaport - Porter

I also met Ross, this fellow offered to drive me around to some best beer bars and for starters I wanted to go somewhere to try world famous Speedway stout. This was an exceptional stout but however ABLE stout found from Pizzaport Ocean Beach was even tastier. Thank you Ross!

84. Alesmith - Speedway Stout
85. Bear Republic - Racer 5
86. Craftsman - Honesty Ale
87. Pizzaport - While the Wife's Away IPA
88. Pizzaport - The Jetty
89. Pizzaport - ABLE American Stout (possibly best imperial stout I have tried)
90. Pizzaport - Nickel Bag
91. Pizzaport - Z Man Stout
92. Green Flash - Imperial IPA
93. Avery - duganA
94. Beer Valley - Leafer Madness Imperial Pale Ale
95. Green Flash/Pizza Port Carlsbad/Stone - Highway 78 Scotch Ale
96. North Coast Brewing - Old Rasputin
97. Russian River - Blind Pig IPA
98. Anchor - Steam
99. Stone - Lukcy Basartd Ale (yes, this is how you spell it)

In total San Diego was even better with beers that I had imagined. Brewing culture is quite young but they still manage to brew some of most high-ranking beers in the world. However many of beers are so extreme that it really is hard work to do this kind of tasting trip. Good that I have couple days to chill out in Anaheim and LA before continuing.

“Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes & dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than to be selfish and worry about my liver.' ” - Jack Handey

PS. USS Midway is a helluva ship. Without signs on the wall I probably would still be lost on lower deck.

Why I Sing The Blues

All right, back in business. After chilling out it is time for more serious part of journey; US and it's craft brews. Goal it to head up from San Diego upwards all the way to Vancouver BC. Some of the best beers in the world come from the west coast of US, according to ratebeer.com and of course according to me. Now it is time to find out what these US brewers and beers are really made of.

First night at San Diego, easy start at Rock bottom Brewery. Rock Bottom is chain of brewpubs. they have approximately same beer styles in every pub but beers are different in every place. I like the idea that even within the chain the local brew master can use his skills and recipes.

Rock Bottom, San Diego
59. Pelican Light
60. Hefeweizen
61. Point Break Pale ale
62. Regatta Red
63. Coronado Nut Brown ale
64. Sunset Stout
65. Hop Bomb IPA 3-1-2011
66. Fire Chief Ale 3-8-2011
67. Aged Rum and Toasted Oak Scottish Ale (Cask)

After this I took a small stroll on the town and followed the music. I ended up to weird blues joint that had only few customers, 2 dancing, one girl passed out on bar desk, couple loners sitting on separate tables. 2 man blues band giving BB King sounds: "Yes, I've been around a long, long time". This place is surreal.

68. Speakeasy IPA

"I've Got My Mojo Working" ended the evening and I headed back to hostel. On the bus stop after lowering wheelchair ramp the bus driver announced: "Walk bridge is down, welcome, step in to my kingdom". I like this city.

Basic Training

On my way to San Diego and surrounded by Marines. Quite a few of them are heading for for their first basic training, most filled with excitement and looking for adventure. I sat next to nice young fellow, Nathaniel, who gave me excellent tips about what should I eat when in US and in exchange I told him about Europe, world and it's people. Especially Netherlands and it's openness seemed to be interesting to him.

I can imagine what amazing situation and exciting moments this fellow was going through. full of energy heading to something unknown. First time in aeroplane, first time far away from Kansas, first time meeting someone from Europe. I had somewhat same feeling when leaving for my tour but somehow it seems to be bigger step when leaving from first time, even if it is within your home country.

Good luck Nathaniel and hope you make it to Amsterdam on your holiday. Don't let Marines take your open mind.

Whereyoufrom

Everybody seemed to know one thing in English: whereyoufrom. That was conversation starter from hustlers, beggars, prostitutes and salesmen. You hear those words dozen time a day and it seemed that it you are alone, you will be surrounded by hustlers in no time. Florian who was travelling alone seemed to be genuinely happy to have other travellers as company as prostitutes could be quite a harassment for lonely traveller.

To get it more peace me and Sanna headed to countryside for some beautiful scenery and relaxment. Biking in Viñales valleys in middle of worlds best cigar fields and then hiking in Trinidad and swimming at stunning place at the foot of a waterfall.

On countryside time seemed to be flexible as it took several days until we noticed that we had been hour late from everything agreed as we didn't know that clocks has been changed during our stay.

At Remedios we found one fabulous beach, almost untouched and we were only ones on the whole beach for whole morning. At afternoon group of Cubans arrived and explained that area was out of bounds for Cubans so that's why it was so quiet. One of them actually wanted to take some pictures of him so he could show to his friends where he had been.

Oh, we also managed to get couple old friends back in touch as Jorge, our host in Havana and Lester, our host in Remedios had been in school together but now trough us heard about each other first time in years.

Jamming

De Alto Cedro voy para Marcanè,
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayari.

Locals enjoyed hanging out on the beach and parks. Usually they had bottle of rum with them and quite often someone had some musical instrument. We also enjoyed friendliness of locals and joined them on jamming session in the park. Florian got some guitar lessons while me and Sanna joined singalong. Music is truly universal and you don't need common language for singalong. Paz!

57. Bucanero Fuerte
58. Mayabe Clara

Peso pizza

They have interesting two currency system in Cuba. Normal pesos don't have access to high end stuff like good meat, accommodation, mojitos, soap and many other western stuff. However local pesos can buy you local food, local beer and local uncarbonated soda. Convertible pesos are for high end stuff and most tourist use pretty much only this money.

Our choice as budget travelers was having as much local food as possible and we managed to find lot's off good food with great value. Few examples below:
- pizza 10 pesos (=40 usd cents)
- ice cream 2 pesos
- rice wok and pork 20 pesos
- class of soda 1 peso

Beer industry is of course not that big in Cuba and most beers we found were what you usually would expect to find in warm country. We managed to find one brewpub anyway, only one in Havana and possibly only one in Cuba. They made actually very good quality beers, considering circumstances of course.

Factoria Plaza Vieja
54. Clara
55. Oscura
56. Negra