All Because of U2
Map of Itinerary:
29 July - 16 August 2005

Map courtesy of the CIA.

Mattifacts

• Pints of Guinness Consumed: 19.5*
  (the sole half pint was in Hendaye, France)
• Pints of Heineken Consumed: 23.08*
  (converted from centiliters)
• Biggest Surprise: The size of Bordeaux (it's tres, tres big)
• Second Biggest Surprise: The Zutons
• Sexiest Moment: Booking a train reservation in Bordeaux (yeah, baby, it was sexy)
• Best Wienerschnitzel: Stoop & Stoop, Amsterdam
• Best Steak: Cafe des 2 Moulins, Paris
• Worst Meal: Steak Tartare, Monte Carlo
  (restaurant name withheld); the skin still curdles at the very thought of it, but I ate the whole thing nonetheless
• Best U2 Crowd: Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastian, Spain
• Number of Night Trains Taken: 2
• Number of Train Reservations Unused Because of Last-Mattopian-Minute Changes in Plans: 4
• Most Scenic Train Ride: Traveling between Nice and Monte Carlo; simply awesome
• Among the Treasures Brought Home: Two half bottles of Bordeaux wine, three bottles of Absinthe, a 25 cl Heineken glass, a hardcover book on the history of Heineken, and the obligatory soaps and shampoos from all those hotels (merci beaucoup)
• Number of Photos & Video Clips Taken: A record-breaking 1,114 - that doesn't include many redundant and botched shots deleted along the way

*Note: The unscientific nature of these numbers cannot be stressed enough.

- Mattopian Videovision (Mvv) -

Paris: La Vie en Rose (Violin Solo)

Nice: The Way We Were (Accordion Solo)

The Train from Nice to Monte Carlo - Part I

The Train from Nice to Monte Carlo - Part II

The Train from Monte Carlo to Nice

Beach Therapy in Nice

Departing Amsterdam