57. Travel On An Overnight Train

This is another bucket list item I completed on my trip to Europe this spring.  Our journey started in Paris where we toured for three days and then we boarded a train that traveled overnight to Florence, Italy.  It was a slightly stressful experience, the train arrived hours later then expected because someone committed suicide by jumping in front of it at a previous destination.  This cause confusion because the train changed platforms at the last minute.

Riding in a overnight train is a unique experience, six people to a small quarters, three tiered bunk beds and the disgusting bathrooms with toilets that empty onto the tracks.  I didn't sleep as much as I would have liked because I found the top bunk extremely could, while others I traveled with fund the bottom bunk unbearably warm.  Overall it was a fun way to travel that I hope to eventually try again.

3. Stand At The Top Of The Eiffel Tower

Sadly I don't get climb up all the stairs to get to the top, but because of a limited amount of time I had to take the elevator, not the stairs. I went in the evening so the extraordinary view was lit up the horizon with twinkling city lights.  I was surprised to learn the Eiffel tower is covered in lights, and every so often twinkling ones turn on for thirty seconds or so, creating a spectacular sight.

I took the above picture in the afternoon the same day.  Before going up the Eiffel I went on a tour down the canal on a boat.  This was the first day of my trip, and I was extremely jet legged.  After seeing the seventy-second old building, while floating down the canal, I leaned my head on the seat in front of me, when I woke up we were pulling into dock, it was dark, and there was a twinkling Eiffel Tower in front of me. Next time I will definitely take the stairs, and climb all the way to the top.

55. Go Whale Watching

In grade eight I went on a school trip to the Gulf Island, which are along British Columbia's coast.  The highlight of the trip was meant to be sailing, but when we heard that a pod of Orca whales were in the area we dropped everything to go find them.  Our captain had connections with the captain of a whale sight seeing company, so quickly we found a large pod of whales called the 'J-pod' and followed them for the majority of the day.

The next day we found out about another Orca, T-14 a large male transient and went to find him.  T-14 was capture in 1976 along with five other Orcas to be put in captivity.  Because of public protest T-14 and his mother were released.  His mother later died so now he travel alone.  I was lucky to see T-14 and he is still spotted around Vancouver from time to time.

45. See the Mona Lisa

Everyone has heard of the Mona Lisa, one of Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous master pieces.  I wondered what made this painting so special, so I put seeing the unique painting on my bucket list.

I went to visit the lovely lady this spring when I went to her home in France.  The painting is kept in an art museum called the Louvre.  The Mona Lisa is accompanied in this museum by hundreds of other paintings and sculptures, most of them containing naked people and are boring and infamous.  I ventured to the crowded room Mona Lisa was kept in, made my way to the barrier a couple meters in front of the painting and took this photo.  I have no intention of returning to the Louvre, but I'm glad to say I have seen the famous Mona Lisa.

14. Grow an Avocado Plant

Ok where should I start...?  Well a couple months ago I was watching the movie 'Red' which wasn't incredibly interesting, but in the movie the main character had a pet avocado which sat in a cup water on his kitchen table.  This confused me so I brought it up later with friend, where I was surprised to learn it is possible for average citizens in any country to grow an avocado plant from an avocado pit.  So I tried it:



It seem quiet simple,  all I had to do was get an avocado from the grocery store, remove the pit and put three tooth picks in so when suspended in a cup the bottom of the Avocado touches the water.  In six weeks the shell should crack and a little green plant should come out.