Brussels.

I came without many preconceptions of, or knowing much about Brussels. Just that I have a friend here and it makes sense to stop by between Paris and Amsterdam. It´s been amazing to have someone who has lived here for a while show us around, it´s always better. It´s very small which is nice after walking miles in Paris. There are brilliant flea markets and vintage and antiques shops everywhere which always give you a bit ,ore insight into the local culture I think - I didn´t mention, but we came across a very strange `market ´ in Paris, where lots of slightly shady-looking men were selling anything and everything - things they had found or the only possessions they had - from calculators to doll´s heads to tea cups and more. very bizarre, and a bit unnerving.
Anyway, on to Brussels. It´s really felt like I have lived here briefly, which i really want to try to carry on with on the rest of the trip. So far the highlight was winning random found goods at a bingo night and seeing an old lady do a high kick. Amazing. Here´s some more eye feasts...

Task #34. Take a picture in every place you visit of the following things: eg - a woman

"Brussels"

Task #4. Spend a day/the whole trip actively ignoring tourist attractions and document the experience: Walk up to the attraction then take a photo in the opposite direction.

"Grand-Place, Brussels"

Task #59. Ask people what they think is a stereotype of that place (before you go), then set out on a mission to find and photograph them

Brussels: "medium build, puffa jacket, American accent..."

Task #68. Take a picture of yourself everyday for the duration of the trip.

"Lindsay, Day 6"

Paris!

So, Paris. Paris was less crazy than i expected. It did remind me quite a lot of london. i decided it would be a good idea to keep track of all the places ive eaten in, stayed at, drank at etc in case i decide to incude practical info. The tasks have been pretty easy to do (if you havent looked, see my links), just trying to keep track of the continuous ones and then also do one offs here and there. But its only 6 days into the trip and i´ve already taken over 600 photos, attempted brief conversations in french many times, and am generally really enjoying it all (you´d be daft if you didn´t). The little tasks kind of feel like little games of eyespye here and there and not like a chore. the couple i´ve found tough are recording all moustasches and also stereoypes - it´s not that i haven´t seen any, just that by the time you have realised or got your camera out its too late - unless you memorise them then draw them later! i definitely want to be a bit more ballsy and ask people if i can photograph them and try and talk to more people. this may be easier/different in Holland and Denmark where they speak really good English. I´m ok at French and can get by, but having a fully-fledged converation is difficult. That´s why i don´t just want this project to be about finding the most real/deepest/purest culture you can; but also having fun and creating art while you travel. I tend to just take photos but I´m going to try a few different visual approaches, as well as including Tom´s completed tasks - as i want to show that anyone can do it, and not all in the same way. Enough blabbing and figuring out a french keyboard, here´s a few completions/examples of continous tasks that will make more sense at the end...

Task #3. Create a series of repetitive images using the bed-linen/patterns in your accommodation.

"Hotel Commines, Paris"

Task #4. Spend a day/the whole trip actively ignoring tourist attractions and document the experience: Walk upto the attraction then take a photo in the opposite direction.

"Lindsay at The Moulin Rouge, Paris"

7. Leave a self-addressed, stamped envelope in lots of places with instructions for the person who finds it to write on it and post it.

"L´Atelier, Rue Au Maire, Paris"

Task #31. Go to a famous building/monumnet/bridge etc., line your camera up as if to take a picture of what's in front of you, then walk straight forward and take a picture as close in as you can (but in focus). Name the picture by the name of the famous structure.

"The Eiffel Tower, Paris"

Task #31. Go to a famous building/monumnet/bridge etc., line your camera up as if to take a picture of what's in front of you, then walk straight forward and take a picture as close in as you can (but in focus). Name the picture by the name of the famous structure.

"Oscar Wilde´s Grave, Cemetiere du Pere Lachaise, Paris"

Task #1. Take a photo of your own shadow but try for it to not look like you are taking a photo.

"Paris"

Task #61. Take a photo of the patterns on the seats of all the trains/other transport you travel on.

"Paris to Brussels"

Task #34. Take a picture in every place you visit of the following things: eg - every table you sit at.

"Near the Sacre Coeur, Paris"

Task #45. Take a photograph of the sky/the sun in every place that you visit.

"Paris"

Task #18. Lay out and draw/photograph everything in your backpack

Lins' Backpack

Tom's Backpack

Beginning the adventure.

And so it begins. What is hopefully the beginning of a long-term project of discovery, creation, self-reflection and cultural integration. Next stop Paris. Then Brussels, Holland, Copenhagen, Berlin, Poland, Prague an potentially more.

The aim at this point is to do as many tasks as possible (see my tasks blog - www.goodfruittasks.blogspot.com) as research into which work and which don't. I'm going to try to keep this blog going over the duration of my month long trip - as I, like many others, prefer to scribble in a diary on a train or in a cafe rather than restrict myself to sitting at a computer when there is too much to see in too little time! But I will do my best to keep it live so you can see the development of my research trip, and show a few of my completed tasks.