Hey everyone, I know it's a been awhile since I've added anything new to this. I've heard a couple requests for a big finish, but honestly it has been crazy since my return. I actually got back to the USA on August 14. I flew into Minnisota to and spent a week adjusting and winding down with my girlfriend Kate. (hopefully those of you who haven't met her will get the chance soon as she has become a large part of my life.) Then I got back to Ta-Town on the 21st of August about 10pm. I had school and a job both starting on the 22nd at 8am. Talk about a jolt back to reality. It was much harder than I had anticipated to adjust back to regular life. I realized that we really dont do a lot of things as great as we think we do. For instance, we work the most hours per week of any country in the world. In all of Europe it is standard to give your employees 6 weeks paid vacation every year! Health care is free and available to everyone. And, just our overall attitude twards life forces us to feel busy, stressed, and overwhelmed 99% of the time because we are all so damn worried about making the almighty dollar. (Side note: the dollar isn't so Almighty anymore either, the exchange rate was basically 1 Euro for 2 Dollars....hmmmmm). Now, dont get me wrong. We do a lot of things right here too. Free toilets, water fountains everywhere, airconditioning, trash services, etc. But, just remeber that you don't always have to work so hard America, take time every so often to stop and appreciate what you have. I know I certainly do much more often.
I'm also working on making some video montages that I will post on here as they come along, because I realized you only got to see about .1% of the more than 300 pictures I took over there.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Spain is like McDonald's cause I'm lovin' it! Not like Burger King tough cause I couldn't always have it my way!...lol.
Seriously though, Spain was my favorite place next to Switzerland that I have seen in all of Europe. Switzerland because of the beauty and the company i was with at the time, and Spain because it was just the Vibe! (stolen with pride from my friend in Barcelona). I actually had to buy a new ticket back to London 3 days later than my original because I just needed more time to see all of Spain I could. So where to start? Well, my original flight was scheduled to arrive in London the same day that all the crazy terrorist shit when down. What a crazy thing to have happen. I mean it's one thing when you live in Kansas and hear about that happening and it freaks you out, but try luckly changing your flight that you had planned to fly into that actual airport on the same day. Although, it might have been some good pics if i could have seen all the police taking these guys out. I honestly still don't know the complete story becuase all the news was in Spain-ish. I say Spain-ish because it's not really spanish like in mexico. Although the best way i can describe Spain was that it was Mexico with out all the poverty and everyone spoke with a lisp. Example, Gracias (normally pronounced gra-see-ahhs) is pronounced (gra-thee-asth) a little flaming if you ask me?...just kidding.
So as soon as i got to Barcelona I asked my friend Tommy what I had to see first. He immediately started telling me about the Sagrada Familia, a church designed by Gaudi. At first i was thinking, man I've seen so many freakin' churches all over Europe and they are amazing, but after awhile they all look the same. Well not this one! This place was F-ing amazing. We are talking jaw dropping when you come out of the Metro stop and first see it. In fact, it's the only Muesem/Church that I actually bought something from the gift shop! That means it was cool, cause usually that stuff is really touristy and expensive, but if any of you ever come to me casa for an ice cold beverage you will see my solid purchase. Afterwards I decided to hit up the Aquarium and it was the first time I've ever seen a shark up close! I got an awsome photo which I'm pretty proud of cause it was hard to take photos through the glass.
The next day on a long shot e-mail i recieved a phone call from one of my good friends from the class I had taken earlier in the trip. Come to find out he was in Barcelona that day and on his way to Valencia. After lunch and some gigantic beers I decided on a whim that I was going to kick it with him and his girlfriend in Valencia with only the clothes on my back for a couple days. For those of you who dont know, Valencia is know for two things. Beaches and Naranjas (oranges). This is where the first oranges were grown and let me tell you time has only made them better. I dont know how many freakin' orange drinks i had in Valencia, but it really wasnt enough.
Tonight is my last nigh in Europe. Currently, I'm getting ready to go to bed soon so i dont miss my flight home, and i treated myself to the best Mediterainian meal I've ever had in my life tonight. Got to go cause this place is closing down, but I will see you all very soon, and dont worry too much about me cause I'm going to spend the next week with one of the most important people in my life right now. See you soon.
Joyce...Out!
Seriously though, Spain was my favorite place next to Switzerland that I have seen in all of Europe. Switzerland because of the beauty and the company i was with at the time, and Spain because it was just the Vibe! (stolen with pride from my friend in Barcelona). I actually had to buy a new ticket back to London 3 days later than my original because I just needed more time to see all of Spain I could. So where to start? Well, my original flight was scheduled to arrive in London the same day that all the crazy terrorist shit when down. What a crazy thing to have happen. I mean it's one thing when you live in Kansas and hear about that happening and it freaks you out, but try luckly changing your flight that you had planned to fly into that actual airport on the same day. Although, it might have been some good pics if i could have seen all the police taking these guys out. I honestly still don't know the complete story becuase all the news was in Spain-ish. I say Spain-ish because it's not really spanish like in mexico. Although the best way i can describe Spain was that it was Mexico with out all the poverty and everyone spoke with a lisp. Example, Gracias (normally pronounced gra-see-ahhs) is pronounced (gra-thee-asth) a little flaming if you ask me?...just kidding.
So as soon as i got to Barcelona I asked my friend Tommy what I had to see first. He immediately started telling me about the Sagrada Familia, a church designed by Gaudi. At first i was thinking, man I've seen so many freakin' churches all over Europe and they are amazing, but after awhile they all look the same. Well not this one! This place was F-ing amazing. We are talking jaw dropping when you come out of the Metro stop and first see it. In fact, it's the only Muesem/Church that I actually bought something from the gift shop! That means it was cool, cause usually that stuff is really touristy and expensive, but if any of you ever come to me casa for an ice cold beverage you will see my solid purchase. Afterwards I decided to hit up the Aquarium and it was the first time I've ever seen a shark up close! I got an awsome photo which I'm pretty proud of cause it was hard to take photos through the glass.
The next day on a long shot e-mail i recieved a phone call from one of my good friends from the class I had taken earlier in the trip. Come to find out he was in Barcelona that day and on his way to Valencia. After lunch and some gigantic beers I decided on a whim that I was going to kick it with him and his girlfriend in Valencia with only the clothes on my back for a couple days. For those of you who dont know, Valencia is know for two things. Beaches and Naranjas (oranges). This is where the first oranges were grown and let me tell you time has only made them better. I dont know how many freakin' orange drinks i had in Valencia, but it really wasnt enough.
Tonight is my last nigh in Europe. Currently, I'm getting ready to go to bed soon so i dont miss my flight home, and i treated myself to the best Mediterainian meal I've ever had in my life tonight. Got to go cause this place is closing down, but I will see you all very soon, and dont worry too much about me cause I'm going to spend the next week with one of the most important people in my life right now. See you soon.
Joyce...Out!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
ROMA!!!
Wow, Rome. I mean it was the basically the beginning of it all, and is considered to be the Capital of the World by many. I'm pretty sure all i have to say is Collesium, Pantheon, Forum, Spanish Stairs, Vatican City, Sistene Chapel, the Pope, Fountains, I mean it had everything.
Vatican City and Inside the Colessium
As of now most of what i can remember about Rome is having to watch all of the people that i had become so close with over the last month drive away on a bus to catch thier flights back to the States, and wondering where the hell i was going to live that night, because my friend that was intended to meet me in Rome was unable too. I was absolutely alone in a country where i didnt speak the language and had no idea where i was going to sleep. Looking back on it now it was actually a really great experience but i have to admit at the time i was really kinda freaking out. I ended up finding a hostel called colors that was quite nice and fairly priced. (you like the ryhme there...its tricky) I was scared at first going from such posh hotels the last months surrounded by 40 people my age that spoke my language and lived in the same country as me. Also, guided by a two people that were with us the entire time and could fix any problem you had. But, i found that the hostel life is actually quite fun and very safe. Everyone there is in the same boat as you and there is a general rule that no messes with your stuff cause they dont want you messing with theirs. I was a little unprepard though with things like laundry and towels. I guess they dont provide towels in hostels and i sure didnt find that out til i was sopping wet getting out of the shower looking for a towel. Of course i improvised because there was a blow dryer attached to the wall. (side note: it really takes a lot longer than one might think to dry your entire body with a blow dryer...lesson learned). The second day was great, i strapped on the ipod and covered Vatican City, the Sisten Chapel, the Fountain, and the Pantheon in about 5 hours. You can definately cover more ground when traveling alone, and you get to have some pretty interesiting convo's with yourself as well as stangers. That night my two roomates were going to a pub crawl and i decided that i didnt have anything better to do so i went along. It turned out to be an absolute blast and I met an Englishman, a guy from Scottland, several Aussies, and a couple fellow Americans. The cool thing is that everyone there is again in the same boat as you and just want to meet people so it makes it really easy to make friends fast. All around it was great and i made it to the airport no problem the next day to fly back to London where i have been for several days, with a 4 day side trip to Newquay...Ill tell you about that next time though.
My new mates and I on the pub crawl:
I almost forgot too, on our last evening/night in Rome myself and everyone else in our group decided that we were going out with a bang in Rome so we sported Toga's to the Colessium, Dinner, and eventually the roof top bar of out hotel. It was night to be remembered and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to spend the last month in Europe with.
Sportin' the Togas:
PS - If you ever doubted the fact that you can buy a beer at McDonald's I have the truth and the answer is YES!!! No idea the brand but this is definately a McChicken, McFry, and an not so cold (of course we are in Europe where nothing is cold) McBeer!
Wow, Rome. I mean it was the basically the beginning of it all, and is considered to be the Capital of the World by many. I'm pretty sure all i have to say is Collesium, Pantheon, Forum, Spanish Stairs, Vatican City, Sistene Chapel, the Pope, Fountains, I mean it had everything.
Vatican City and Inside the Colessium
As of now most of what i can remember about Rome is having to watch all of the people that i had become so close with over the last month drive away on a bus to catch thier flights back to the States, and wondering where the hell i was going to live that night, because my friend that was intended to meet me in Rome was unable too. I was absolutely alone in a country where i didnt speak the language and had no idea where i was going to sleep. Looking back on it now it was actually a really great experience but i have to admit at the time i was really kinda freaking out. I ended up finding a hostel called colors that was quite nice and fairly priced. (you like the ryhme there...its tricky) I was scared at first going from such posh hotels the last months surrounded by 40 people my age that spoke my language and lived in the same country as me. Also, guided by a two people that were with us the entire time and could fix any problem you had. But, i found that the hostel life is actually quite fun and very safe. Everyone there is in the same boat as you and there is a general rule that no messes with your stuff cause they dont want you messing with theirs. I was a little unprepard though with things like laundry and towels. I guess they dont provide towels in hostels and i sure didnt find that out til i was sopping wet getting out of the shower looking for a towel. Of course i improvised because there was a blow dryer attached to the wall. (side note: it really takes a lot longer than one might think to dry your entire body with a blow dryer...lesson learned). The second day was great, i strapped on the ipod and covered Vatican City, the Sisten Chapel, the Fountain, and the Pantheon in about 5 hours. You can definately cover more ground when traveling alone, and you get to have some pretty interesiting convo's with yourself as well as stangers. That night my two roomates were going to a pub crawl and i decided that i didnt have anything better to do so i went along. It turned out to be an absolute blast and I met an Englishman, a guy from Scottland, several Aussies, and a couple fellow Americans. The cool thing is that everyone there is again in the same boat as you and just want to meet people so it makes it really easy to make friends fast. All around it was great and i made it to the airport no problem the next day to fly back to London where i have been for several days, with a 4 day side trip to Newquay...Ill tell you about that next time though.
My new mates and I on the pub crawl:
I almost forgot too, on our last evening/night in Rome myself and everyone else in our group decided that we were going out with a bang in Rome so we sported Toga's to the Colessium, Dinner, and eventually the roof top bar of out hotel. It was night to be remembered and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to spend the last month in Europe with.
Sportin' the Togas:
PS - If you ever doubted the fact that you can buy a beer at McDonald's I have the truth and the answer is YES!!! No idea the brand but this is definately a McChicken, McFry, and an not so cold (of course we are in Europe where nothing is cold) McBeer!
Wow, so I just read my blog and realized that a lot has happened since the last update. I really tried to keep this up to date, but once i got deeper into Italy i had quite a struggle with the computers all being in Italian and not uploading photos correctly. I guess I'll try and start from where i left off. I believe it was somwhere around the Feast of the Redeemer in Venice (man that seems like a long time ago).
Anyway, the Feast of the Redeemer was absolutely out of control! It was the most people ive ever seen in one place at one time.
This is how packed it was and my flash only went so far but it was like this for a solid square mile if not more!!!
The firework show was amazing and being that we were all deprived of our Fourth of July this year we were a little over excited. Excited to the point that we started singing a little remix to the song Proud to be an American and i dont really think the Venecians around us liked that very much. I guess i gathered this because some guy came up to me and started yelling at me in Italian (i think) and i was of course standing up for myself when all the sudden at third guy (we call him the squirrel master - from the movie Half Baked) came out of left field and cleaned this guy out. It was kinda scary cause one second this guy is there and then in a flash was gone. The Venice police even showed up and arrested one of them. Anyway, definately woke up the next morning and my roomate said it best. Feast of the Redeamer 1, Dustin and Johnny 0.
Ok, on to Florence. By this time in the trip all the cities and churches we had visited were starting to blur together. I call it power traveling now because we covered so much ground in such little time. The first few nights in Florence I honestly didnt travel to far from our hotel in fear of getting lost because every street in Florence looks exactly the same. Until you find the Duomo which is what pretty much every thing is based off of. If you dont know the Duomo is the 4th largest church in the world and is absolutely overwhelming the first time you see it. On the Third day though the fun really kicked into overdrive because my good friend Tay and I decided to rent scooter and see the rest of the city. I have to say that the 25 Euro we spent was definately on of our top 4 best purchases of the trip. The other three are as follows. 1) The Pontoon Boat in Lucerne (that will never be topped), 2) The Vinyard we visited in Tuscany (but ill get there later), 3) the dinner in Paris next to the Notre Dame Cathedral and 4) these freakin' awesome 50cc scooters that we took on the highway on accident in Florence.
You better get out the way when you see me on the highway
It was by far the most dangerous thing we did on the whole tripp and thats why only Tay and I participated cause we both had previous riding experience. Nothing compared to this though. In Florence, well Italy in genral people drive like freaking cRaZy! there are traffic lights and the lanes are marked but no one seems to pay attention to them. Tay almost got taken out about three times from a Truck, a Bus, and a Minin that pulled out infront of us. Whew, we made it all right though. Eventually, we found this road that took us up to the top of a smaller sized mountain just on the other side of the river from Florence. The view from the tope was amazing and you could really appreciate the size of the Duomo from there.
The View
Also, we found this little cafe' up there where we both grabbed a noon'er and talked about how the only thing that would makes this better would be to have our two amazing g-friends on the back of out scooters. Then, the craziest thing happend. Because I girl friends couldnt be there i started singing "You cant always get what you want" by the rolling stones. there had been no musice for a good half hour when all the sudden out of this cafe' about 15 min. after i was singing it the same song started Blarring!!! It was more than weird so we both decided to bounce. The scooters though definately gave me a new appreciation for Florence and I would recommend anyone who goest there to try it out. Plus, I have video of me ramping off a road block as well if anyone wants to see it...lol.
Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention that by this time in the tripp my beard had gotten pretty burly and I was dared to do somthing with it. So of course in true Kansas style I decided to go with a handle bar mustache which was a huge hit, except our tour guide Marc couldn't even look at me with out laughing.
Thats right mom and dad this is what you son looks like with a handle bar stache (Dont worry I dont think it will ever happend again :)
PS - No i did not start smoking on this trip, but it does complete the look i was going for :)
Anyway, the Feast of the Redeemer was absolutely out of control! It was the most people ive ever seen in one place at one time.
This is how packed it was and my flash only went so far but it was like this for a solid square mile if not more!!!
The firework show was amazing and being that we were all deprived of our Fourth of July this year we were a little over excited. Excited to the point that we started singing a little remix to the song Proud to be an American and i dont really think the Venecians around us liked that very much. I guess i gathered this because some guy came up to me and started yelling at me in Italian (i think) and i was of course standing up for myself when all the sudden at third guy (we call him the squirrel master - from the movie Half Baked) came out of left field and cleaned this guy out. It was kinda scary cause one second this guy is there and then in a flash was gone. The Venice police even showed up and arrested one of them. Anyway, definately woke up the next morning and my roomate said it best. Feast of the Redeamer 1, Dustin and Johnny 0.
Ok, on to Florence. By this time in the trip all the cities and churches we had visited were starting to blur together. I call it power traveling now because we covered so much ground in such little time. The first few nights in Florence I honestly didnt travel to far from our hotel in fear of getting lost because every street in Florence looks exactly the same. Until you find the Duomo which is what pretty much every thing is based off of. If you dont know the Duomo is the 4th largest church in the world and is absolutely overwhelming the first time you see it. On the Third day though the fun really kicked into overdrive because my good friend Tay and I decided to rent scooter and see the rest of the city. I have to say that the 25 Euro we spent was definately on of our top 4 best purchases of the trip. The other three are as follows. 1) The Pontoon Boat in Lucerne (that will never be topped), 2) The Vinyard we visited in Tuscany (but ill get there later), 3) the dinner in Paris next to the Notre Dame Cathedral and 4) these freakin' awesome 50cc scooters that we took on the highway on accident in Florence.
You better get out the way when you see me on the highway
It was by far the most dangerous thing we did on the whole tripp and thats why only Tay and I participated cause we both had previous riding experience. Nothing compared to this though. In Florence, well Italy in genral people drive like freaking cRaZy! there are traffic lights and the lanes are marked but no one seems to pay attention to them. Tay almost got taken out about three times from a Truck, a Bus, and a Minin that pulled out infront of us. Whew, we made it all right though. Eventually, we found this road that took us up to the top of a smaller sized mountain just on the other side of the river from Florence. The view from the tope was amazing and you could really appreciate the size of the Duomo from there.
The View
Also, we found this little cafe' up there where we both grabbed a noon'er and talked about how the only thing that would makes this better would be to have our two amazing g-friends on the back of out scooters. Then, the craziest thing happend. Because I girl friends couldnt be there i started singing "You cant always get what you want" by the rolling stones. there had been no musice for a good half hour when all the sudden out of this cafe' about 15 min. after i was singing it the same song started Blarring!!! It was more than weird so we both decided to bounce. The scooters though definately gave me a new appreciation for Florence and I would recommend anyone who goest there to try it out. Plus, I have video of me ramping off a road block as well if anyone wants to see it...lol.
Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention that by this time in the tripp my beard had gotten pretty burly and I was dared to do somthing with it. So of course in true Kansas style I decided to go with a handle bar mustache which was a huge hit, except our tour guide Marc couldn't even look at me with out laughing.
Thats right mom and dad this is what you son looks like with a handle bar stache (Dont worry I dont think it will ever happend again :)
PS - No i did not start smoking on this trip, but it does complete the look i was going for :)
Friday, July 21, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Chiao From Venice!!!
Sorry about the lack of pics in the last two posts, as the trip is progressing its getting harder to sit down and update everything. So where to start? How bout with how difficult it is to operate a computer when everything is in italian and you have a keyboard with buttons that can do this è § à ° ò ç é £! Crazy foriegners what will they think of next, definately not ice, airconditioning, or free public restrooms. On a serious note though i just left Lucerne a couple of days ago and i have honestly never seen a more beautiful place on this planet. I really wish i could put pics up for ya and i will eventually but not on this post. So close your eyes and picture a beautiful blue lake that you can see 20 feet deep because there is no polution. Now surround your self with flowers up and down the boardwalks with beautiful swiss architecture all around in the most quaint city youve ever seen...wait for it...wait for it! now put the most gorgeous snow caped mountains youve seen in the background and youve got your self a little place called Lucerne. Oh yeah, now picture me with 5 of my best friends on this trip in a pontoon boat swimming and drinking and rockin out to paul simon acapella provided by yours truly...thats right "you can call me al"
So Switzerland, good stuff. Now im sitting in Venice, the one place that i have wanted to see all my life since i first heard of it. Unfortuanetly i think everyone else in the world had the same idea because this is by far the most touristy place ive been so far. the city has a pop. of 64,000 and they get 17 MILLION, THATS RIGHT 17 MILLION tourists a year. So other than the fact that is so crowded it is quite a sight. there are no cars and more bridges than there are in Madison county (i dont even know if there are a lot of bridges there but i figure theres at least a few since they made that movie :) Yesterday was another rough one though. we had to go to this place called the lido which is this amazing beach on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, i know sounds rough. Oh by the way i havent mentioned it but there is some actuall class going on from time and i got a B on my first test!!! SLAM PIG! ok, back to the sea. This thing was awsome it was salty you almost didnt have to swim you could just lift you feet and you would float from all the salt. Tonight should be a kicker though because tonight is the once a year festival in Venice where everyone dresses up in masks and body paint parks all there boats in the Grand Canale and tie them together and have a massive fireworks show, oh yeah, and its actually required that you have a bottle of wine in your hand. I really am serious! our teacher told us today that its considered very bad manners to not bring wine and that even if you dont drink it you should have one in your hand! What a crazy world we live in, again, crazy ass foriegners.
Well, i gots to go get ready for the party now so ill leave you with this: America = Colder, Fresher, Faster, and Less Expensive. Cherish every aminity you have back in the states including organized trash systems to keep your city clean, free restrooms, people that where gloves when they prepare your food, water fountains next to every restroom in America, and most importantly the people you care about. As amazing as this trip is Ive discovered its not really where you are that matters at all, its the people that you surround yourself with and a truly love all of you that are reading this.
LIFES A GARDEN ... DIG IT!!!
Sorry about the lack of pics in the last two posts, as the trip is progressing its getting harder to sit down and update everything. So where to start? How bout with how difficult it is to operate a computer when everything is in italian and you have a keyboard with buttons that can do this è § à ° ò ç é £! Crazy foriegners what will they think of next, definately not ice, airconditioning, or free public restrooms. On a serious note though i just left Lucerne a couple of days ago and i have honestly never seen a more beautiful place on this planet. I really wish i could put pics up for ya and i will eventually but not on this post. So close your eyes and picture a beautiful blue lake that you can see 20 feet deep because there is no polution. Now surround your self with flowers up and down the boardwalks with beautiful swiss architecture all around in the most quaint city youve ever seen...wait for it...wait for it! now put the most gorgeous snow caped mountains youve seen in the background and youve got your self a little place called Lucerne. Oh yeah, now picture me with 5 of my best friends on this trip in a pontoon boat swimming and drinking and rockin out to paul simon acapella provided by yours truly...thats right "you can call me al"
So Switzerland, good stuff. Now im sitting in Venice, the one place that i have wanted to see all my life since i first heard of it. Unfortuanetly i think everyone else in the world had the same idea because this is by far the most touristy place ive been so far. the city has a pop. of 64,000 and they get 17 MILLION, THATS RIGHT 17 MILLION tourists a year. So other than the fact that is so crowded it is quite a sight. there are no cars and more bridges than there are in Madison county (i dont even know if there are a lot of bridges there but i figure theres at least a few since they made that movie :) Yesterday was another rough one though. we had to go to this place called the lido which is this amazing beach on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, i know sounds rough. Oh by the way i havent mentioned it but there is some actuall class going on from time and i got a B on my first test!!! SLAM PIG! ok, back to the sea. This thing was awsome it was salty you almost didnt have to swim you could just lift you feet and you would float from all the salt. Tonight should be a kicker though because tonight is the once a year festival in Venice where everyone dresses up in masks and body paint parks all there boats in the Grand Canale and tie them together and have a massive fireworks show, oh yeah, and its actually required that you have a bottle of wine in your hand. I really am serious! our teacher told us today that its considered very bad manners to not bring wine and that even if you dont drink it you should have one in your hand! What a crazy world we live in, again, crazy ass foriegners.
Well, i gots to go get ready for the party now so ill leave you with this: America = Colder, Fresher, Faster, and Less Expensive. Cherish every aminity you have back in the states including organized trash systems to keep your city clean, free restrooms, people that where gloves when they prepare your food, water fountains next to every restroom in America, and most importantly the people you care about. As amazing as this trip is Ive discovered its not really where you are that matters at all, its the people that you surround yourself with and a truly love all of you that are reading this.
LIFES A GARDEN ... DIG IT!!!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Bonjior from Paris!!!
So i've now been in Paris for the last 5 days and leave tomorrow morning for Lucerne, Switzerland. I cant wait for that cause i heard there is lake there surrounded by mountains where you can rent a paddle boat with a water slide on the back. I'm kinda feinding for some swimming action since it's summer and all. Oh yeah, and it's hot as hell here and i've lost about 5 lbs. from all the walking so far (my pants are starting not to fit) Anyway, Paris, what a place! Wine is cheaper than water, the people smell horrid, and i cant tell what they are saying cause i've never taken a french lesson in my life. My roomate and I have figured out the solution though. We can it the French Sandwich because all we do is sandwich our english language with the words Bonjior at the beginning and Merci at the end. It seems to work fairly well most of the time. Except for the shower curtain incident! LOL. Now i have to tell it right. Ok, so a couple days ago I slept in til' 2pm (whoops, the night before was a little out of control) and so the cleaning crew didn't clean the room. So, later i'm just sitting in ther room whatching a little Wimbeldon action when all the sudden some guy that appeared to work for the hotel came in and i though he was there to clean. So he mummbles a bunch of stuff in french to me and I'm like yeah Bonjior...yeah do what ever you need to do...Merci (you see how the sandwich works:) and so he goes into the bathroom unhooks the shower curtain and leaves with it. I'm like hmmm. that was kinda wierd (I mean I'm not that smart, but am well educated) that's a quote stolen from my roomate, but it seemed strange. Anyway, the curtain has never returned and we think it was officially stolen from under my nose now. (good story huh?)
Ok, other than that i can see the Eifel tower out my window which is another good story in it's self. I went to the tower alone from the rest of the group cause i had slept in that day (this is the same day as the shower curtain day) and i decided to go check out the tower cause i couldn't wait for the rest of the group. When i get there i'm pretty proud cause i figured the train system out all alone and i took a ton of great photos. Then, when i get the entrances, there is one on each foot, i see a line of people that looked like it would take about 3 hours to get through at two of the feet. The other two feet look like about a 15-20min. wait. Of course all the signs are in French so i cant figure out why these lines are so short, but i figure Hey, what the hell i'll just jump in the short line. Well, some of you are probably already laughing cause you figured out that the reason those lines are short is because those are the lines for the freakin' stairs! So I walk my ass up i dont know how many flights of stairs, but it took me a good 45 min. of straight stair climbing to get up there. We are talking people stopping all over to catch there breath, kids crying cause they dont want to go any farther, and then me trying to convince myself that i'm 22 and in good enough shape to make it with out stopping. Of course i did cause im competive like that, but was sweating like a pimp with one hooker when i got to the top. The view was amazing though and worth all the effort when i got there.
Here is the pic of me when i got to the top and did a little cool down:
Last night was definately and experience too, cause it was World Cup Final game between Italy and France!!! If you dont know soccer is called futbol here and it is taken like a religeon. Even the police cars yesterday were flying flags and yelling crazy french talk over there loudspeakers. So we spent all day at the Palace of Versi and the Church in Chartes pronounced (Shart)yeah that's right shart! Those of you that have seen Along Came Polly know I had a lot of fun with that one yesterday. Oh, and speaking of Sharting when we were in the church on our tour some smell crept in from hell in the form of a liquid that seriously had people dry heaving and gagging and running for the door. Normally, i would think that's funny but it was so bad that i couldn't even laugh at the Shart jokes cause i was concentrating on not puking. Beautiful church though, I've never seen anything like it in my life, kinda overwhelming at first (even without the smell). So back to the game, we got back to Paris about an hour before the game. (to be cont.) i have to go to dinner righ now!
So i've now been in Paris for the last 5 days and leave tomorrow morning for Lucerne, Switzerland. I cant wait for that cause i heard there is lake there surrounded by mountains where you can rent a paddle boat with a water slide on the back. I'm kinda feinding for some swimming action since it's summer and all. Oh yeah, and it's hot as hell here and i've lost about 5 lbs. from all the walking so far (my pants are starting not to fit) Anyway, Paris, what a place! Wine is cheaper than water, the people smell horrid, and i cant tell what they are saying cause i've never taken a french lesson in my life. My roomate and I have figured out the solution though. We can it the French Sandwich because all we do is sandwich our english language with the words Bonjior at the beginning and Merci at the end. It seems to work fairly well most of the time. Except for the shower curtain incident! LOL. Now i have to tell it right. Ok, so a couple days ago I slept in til' 2pm (whoops, the night before was a little out of control) and so the cleaning crew didn't clean the room. So, later i'm just sitting in ther room whatching a little Wimbeldon action when all the sudden some guy that appeared to work for the hotel came in and i though he was there to clean. So he mummbles a bunch of stuff in french to me and I'm like yeah Bonjior...yeah do what ever you need to do...Merci (you see how the sandwich works:) and so he goes into the bathroom unhooks the shower curtain and leaves with it. I'm like hmmm. that was kinda wierd (I mean I'm not that smart, but am well educated) that's a quote stolen from my roomate, but it seemed strange. Anyway, the curtain has never returned and we think it was officially stolen from under my nose now. (good story huh?)
Ok, other than that i can see the Eifel tower out my window which is another good story in it's self. I went to the tower alone from the rest of the group cause i had slept in that day (this is the same day as the shower curtain day) and i decided to go check out the tower cause i couldn't wait for the rest of the group. When i get there i'm pretty proud cause i figured the train system out all alone and i took a ton of great photos. Then, when i get the entrances, there is one on each foot, i see a line of people that looked like it would take about 3 hours to get through at two of the feet. The other two feet look like about a 15-20min. wait. Of course all the signs are in French so i cant figure out why these lines are so short, but i figure Hey, what the hell i'll just jump in the short line. Well, some of you are probably already laughing cause you figured out that the reason those lines are short is because those are the lines for the freakin' stairs! So I walk my ass up i dont know how many flights of stairs, but it took me a good 45 min. of straight stair climbing to get up there. We are talking people stopping all over to catch there breath, kids crying cause they dont want to go any farther, and then me trying to convince myself that i'm 22 and in good enough shape to make it with out stopping. Of course i did cause im competive like that, but was sweating like a pimp with one hooker when i got to the top. The view was amazing though and worth all the effort when i got there.
Here is the pic of me when i got to the top and did a little cool down:
Last night was definately and experience too, cause it was World Cup Final game between Italy and France!!! If you dont know soccer is called futbol here and it is taken like a religeon. Even the police cars yesterday were flying flags and yelling crazy french talk over there loudspeakers. So we spent all day at the Palace of Versi and the Church in Chartes pronounced (Shart)yeah that's right shart! Those of you that have seen Along Came Polly know I had a lot of fun with that one yesterday. Oh, and speaking of Sharting when we were in the church on our tour some smell crept in from hell in the form of a liquid that seriously had people dry heaving and gagging and running for the door. Normally, i would think that's funny but it was so bad that i couldn't even laugh at the Shart jokes cause i was concentrating on not puking. Beautiful church though, I've never seen anything like it in my life, kinda overwhelming at first (even without the smell). So back to the game, we got back to Paris about an hour before the game. (to be cont.) i have to go to dinner righ now!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Amsterdam...I think?
Wow, what can i say about Amsterdam. Well, first off it's one of the most lawless and craziest place I've ever been. Experience wise it rates up there pretty high (get it high). No I'm just kidding, obviously everyone automatically thinks Drugs, Sex, and Hookers when they hear Amsterdam, but it's actually got a lot more. The whole city is shaped like a cresent and is designed with 3 main canals that pretty much keep the city in motion at all times.
Also, it contains the Anne Frank Huis (that's Dutch for House), and the RijkMuseum. I have to say that the red light district is one of the creapiest places i've ever been and probably wont ever go back. Plus, being one of the only guys in our group it was more than a giant task to protect and hear a group of 10 girls through there, but at least i can say i was there.
Probably my favorite part of Amsterdam though was the bikes! They basically have three major ways of transportation and the bikes are actually so dominant they have there own bike street and stop lights separate from cars or trams. So basically Jordan, Draiper, and I decide we want to rent some bikes and take a nice leasurely strole around Amsterdam. No, wasn't like that at all. This bike ride was intense!!!
First off we didn't know all the rules, for instance, our bikes had bells on them which we though was cool and fun to ring and wave at people. In reality your bell is a serious deal that you use like a horn on a car to tell people they are idots and should get out of your way...Whoops! Also a lot of the paths are one way and we sure didnt realize that til' it was too late. Oh yeah, and we never ride bikes so a two a hour speeding death trap race around Amsterdam kinda took it out of us.
Wow, what can i say about Amsterdam. Well, first off it's one of the most lawless and craziest place I've ever been. Experience wise it rates up there pretty high (get it high). No I'm just kidding, obviously everyone automatically thinks Drugs, Sex, and Hookers when they hear Amsterdam, but it's actually got a lot more. The whole city is shaped like a cresent and is designed with 3 main canals that pretty much keep the city in motion at all times.
Also, it contains the Anne Frank Huis (that's Dutch for House), and the RijkMuseum. I have to say that the red light district is one of the creapiest places i've ever been and probably wont ever go back. Plus, being one of the only guys in our group it was more than a giant task to protect and hear a group of 10 girls through there, but at least i can say i was there.
Probably my favorite part of Amsterdam though was the bikes! They basically have three major ways of transportation and the bikes are actually so dominant they have there own bike street and stop lights separate from cars or trams. So basically Jordan, Draiper, and I decide we want to rent some bikes and take a nice leasurely strole around Amsterdam. No, wasn't like that at all. This bike ride was intense!!!
First off we didn't know all the rules, for instance, our bikes had bells on them which we though was cool and fun to ring and wave at people. In reality your bell is a serious deal that you use like a horn on a car to tell people they are idots and should get out of your way...Whoops! Also a lot of the paths are one way and we sure didnt realize that til' it was too late. Oh yeah, and we never ride bikes so a two a hour speeding death trap race around Amsterdam kinda took it out of us.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Cheers!!! Day 6
So this is the last day in London and i have to say i definately feel that i made my mark in this city, or the city made it's mark on me? Either way there was a mark made. I am absolutely exhausted from lack of sleep and male nutrition, but am slowly adjusting. I have to say as cool as this place is GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Two things i'm doing as soon as i get back to the states is buying 100 lbs. of ice and rolling around in it, and second is eating a turkey party sub from subway. Aparently no one ever told London what turkey's are because you absolutely can't find it anywhere!!! If you cant tell i've been here long enough to know the downsides so that's pretty much what this installment will be. Also, it really pisses me off for the fact that people think americans are rude. For example, ordering a glass of water for dinner should not only be a simple task, but it should never be taken as rude. Most places here you have to ask for water and i'm sorry but everytime in my entire life when i have asked for water there are no follow up questions. So on several occasions now i say glass of water. then the waiter mumbles somthing so fast i cant understand it but i can tell he's giving me options? and i'm like uhhh, just a regluar glass of water is fine and he looks at me like i'm stupid and mumbles it again. eventually it works out but when it comes it's the smallest glass of water ever (we are talking dixie cup) with one ice cube if your lucky. no problem but its the only one you will ever get and you wont see your waiter again til' you have to flag him down and ask for your bill. So tonight i was prepared and brought my own gallon jug of water to dinner, aparently that is less rude than bothering someone who you are paying to wait on you. Whew, glad i got all that off my chest.
Ok, enough negativety what else has happened right? Oh yeah, finally getting to know the people im with better and making some really great friends. Two nights ago Jordan, Draiper, Claire, and I all decide to go to happy hour. It was a happy hour! afterwards we ate in this semi-nice but cheap Indian restraunt. Oh yeah another thing food over his isn't so great. I mean some of it has tasted good but it is scary how unfresh and unrefrigerated things are and honestly it scares the crap out of me, and im sorry that i would love to eat a healthy COLD deliciously juicy turkey sandwich with fresh bread and lettuce and tomato with spicy mustard and a little cream chease toasted on on a bagel from time to time...mmmmmmmm. Anyway, we eat dinner wich was really great at this Indian place, but i'm sure we feed into the loud obnoxious american stereotype because we just came from happy hour, but oh well. Then we just got a couple bottles of wine and went and sat in the park. Those of you that know me best know thats my idea of a good night, it's not neccesarily my favorite thing to go to loud clubs and dancing, would much rather chill on some wine with a few close friends.
From left to right Claire, Jordan, Draiper, and you know who
Oh yeah, the freaking World Cup Game was out of control! the pubs here go insane and you litterally have every pub wall to wall with people sweaty profusely while the locals yell and sing the most obnoxios songs i've ever heard. But it was definately and experience. Don't know if you heard back home, but there was roits later all over the city after we lost i missed out on the action but i heard the aftermath, crazyness.
This is me and my main mate Jack at the local pub where we have happy hour (mate means friend so keep your mind out of the gutter :)
Today Tay and I walked down by the river and went to camden town. It was pretty sweet, this is wear all the punk rockers hand out and it definately is a wierd place that makes you feel way out of place, but being with tay made it easier cause he definately blends in to that whole seen.
Tay and I after doing to bungey jump trampalene that shoots you 40 feet in the air next to the London Eye (it was sweet!!!)
Last night we went to the Hip...Hip Hop? Hip-Hop-Anonomous...Damn it! you always give hime the easy ones!!! (if you've seen the movie Big Daddy that will makes sense). Actually, we went to the Hip Hop Club in Liecester Square (that's pronouned Lester) it was like being in a tin can with a billion people and was the hottest most unpleasent place i've ever been, but we managed to make it fun.
Adios, I'm off to Amsterdam in T-minus 5 hours! Oh yeah, they run on military time so it was 6 hours when i originally wrote this but it took me an hour to calculate the correct time so it's only 5 now :)
So this is the last day in London and i have to say i definately feel that i made my mark in this city, or the city made it's mark on me? Either way there was a mark made. I am absolutely exhausted from lack of sleep and male nutrition, but am slowly adjusting. I have to say as cool as this place is GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Two things i'm doing as soon as i get back to the states is buying 100 lbs. of ice and rolling around in it, and second is eating a turkey party sub from subway. Aparently no one ever told London what turkey's are because you absolutely can't find it anywhere!!! If you cant tell i've been here long enough to know the downsides so that's pretty much what this installment will be. Also, it really pisses me off for the fact that people think americans are rude. For example, ordering a glass of water for dinner should not only be a simple task, but it should never be taken as rude. Most places here you have to ask for water and i'm sorry but everytime in my entire life when i have asked for water there are no follow up questions. So on several occasions now i say glass of water. then the waiter mumbles somthing so fast i cant understand it but i can tell he's giving me options? and i'm like uhhh, just a regluar glass of water is fine and he looks at me like i'm stupid and mumbles it again. eventually it works out but when it comes it's the smallest glass of water ever (we are talking dixie cup) with one ice cube if your lucky. no problem but its the only one you will ever get and you wont see your waiter again til' you have to flag him down and ask for your bill. So tonight i was prepared and brought my own gallon jug of water to dinner, aparently that is less rude than bothering someone who you are paying to wait on you. Whew, glad i got all that off my chest.
Ok, enough negativety what else has happened right? Oh yeah, finally getting to know the people im with better and making some really great friends. Two nights ago Jordan, Draiper, Claire, and I all decide to go to happy hour. It was a happy hour! afterwards we ate in this semi-nice but cheap Indian restraunt. Oh yeah another thing food over his isn't so great. I mean some of it has tasted good but it is scary how unfresh and unrefrigerated things are and honestly it scares the crap out of me, and im sorry that i would love to eat a healthy COLD deliciously juicy turkey sandwich with fresh bread and lettuce and tomato with spicy mustard and a little cream chease toasted on on a bagel from time to time...mmmmmmmm. Anyway, we eat dinner wich was really great at this Indian place, but i'm sure we feed into the loud obnoxious american stereotype because we just came from happy hour, but oh well. Then we just got a couple bottles of wine and went and sat in the park. Those of you that know me best know thats my idea of a good night, it's not neccesarily my favorite thing to go to loud clubs and dancing, would much rather chill on some wine with a few close friends.
From left to right Claire, Jordan, Draiper, and you know who
Oh yeah, the freaking World Cup Game was out of control! the pubs here go insane and you litterally have every pub wall to wall with people sweaty profusely while the locals yell and sing the most obnoxios songs i've ever heard. But it was definately and experience. Don't know if you heard back home, but there was roits later all over the city after we lost i missed out on the action but i heard the aftermath, crazyness.
This is me and my main mate Jack at the local pub where we have happy hour (mate means friend so keep your mind out of the gutter :)
Today Tay and I walked down by the river and went to camden town. It was pretty sweet, this is wear all the punk rockers hand out and it definately is a wierd place that makes you feel way out of place, but being with tay made it easier cause he definately blends in to that whole seen.
Tay and I after doing to bungey jump trampalene that shoots you 40 feet in the air next to the London Eye (it was sweet!!!)
Last night we went to the Hip...Hip Hop? Hip-Hop-Anonomous...Damn it! you always give hime the easy ones!!! (if you've seen the movie Big Daddy that will makes sense). Actually, we went to the Hip Hop Club in Liecester Square (that's pronouned Lester) it was like being in a tin can with a billion people and was the hottest most unpleasent place i've ever been, but we managed to make it fun.
Adios, I'm off to Amsterdam in T-minus 5 hours! Oh yeah, they run on military time so it was 6 hours when i originally wrote this but it took me an hour to calculate the correct time so it's only 5 now :)
Cheers!!! Day 6
So this is the last day in London and i have to say i definately feel that i made my mark in this city, or the city made it's mark on me? Either way there was a mark made. I am absolutely exhausted from lack of sleep and male nutrition, but am slowly adjusting. I have to say as cool as this place is GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Two things i'm doing as soon as i get back to the states is buying 100 lbs. of ice and rolling around in it, and second is eating a turkey party sub from subway. Aparently no one ever told London what turkey's are because you absolutely can't find it anywhere!!! If you cant tell i've been here long enough to know the downsides so that's pretty much what this installment will be. Also, it really pisses me off for the fact that people think americans are rude. For example, ordering a glass of water for dinner should not only be a simple task, but it should never be taken as rude. Most places here you have to ask for water and i'm sorry but everytime in my entire life when i have asked for water there are no follow up questions. So on several occasions now i say glass of water. then the waiter mumbles somthing so fast i cant understand it but i can tell he's giving me options? and i'm like uhhh, just a regluar glass of water is fine and he looks at me like i'm stupid and mumbles it again. eventually it works out but when it comes it's the smallest glass of water ever (we are talking dixie cup) with one ice cube if your lucky. no problem but its the only one you will ever get and you wont see your waiter again til' you have to flag him down and ask for your bill. So tonight i was prepared and brought my own gallon jug of water to dinner, aparently that is less rude than bothering someone who you are paying to wait on you. Whew, glad i got all that off my chest.
Ok, enough negativety what else has happened right? Oh yeah, finally getting to know the people im with better and making some really great friends. Two nights ago Jordan, Draiper, Claire, and I all decide to go to happy hour. It was a happy hour! afterwards we ate in this semi-nice but cheap Indian restraunt. Oh yeah another thing food over his isn't so great. I mean some of it has tasted good but it is scary how unfresh and unrefrigerated things are and honestly it scares the crap out of me, and im sorry that i would love to eat a healthy COLD deliciously juicy turkey sandwich with fresh bread and lettuce and tomato with spicy mustard and a little cream chease toasted on on a bagel from time to time...mmmmmmmm. Anyway, we eat dinner wich was really great at this Indian place, but i'm sure we feed into the loud obnoxious american stereotype because we just came from happy hour, but oh well. Then we just got a couple bottles of wine and went and sat in the park. Those of you that know me best know thats my idea of a good night, it's not neccesarily my favorite thing to go to loud clubs and dancing, would much rather chill on some wine with a few close friends.
From left to right Claire, Jordan, Draiper, and you know who
Oh yeah, the freaking World Cup Game was out of control! the pubs here go insane and you litterally have every pub wall to wall with people sweaty profusely while the locals yell and sing the most obnoxios songs i've ever heard. But it was definately and experience. Don't know if you heard back home, but there was roits later all over the city after we lost i missed out on the action but i heard the aftermath, crazyness.
This is me and my main mate Jack at the local pub where we have happy hour (mate means friend so keep your mind out of the gutter :)
Today Tay and I walked down by the river and went to camden town. It was pretty sweet, this is wear all the punk rockers hand out and it definately is a wierd place that makes you feel way out of place, but being with tay made it easier cause he definately blends in to that whole seen.
Tay and I after doing to bungey jump trampalene that shoots you 40 feet in the air next to the London Eye (it was sweet!!!)
Last night we went to the Hip...Hip Hop? Hip-Hop-Anonomous...Damn it! you always give hime the easy ones!!! (if you've seen the movie Big Daddy that will makes sense). Actually, we went to the Hip Hop Club in Liecester Square (that's pronouned Lester) it was like being in a tin can with a billion people and was the hottest most unpleasent place i've ever been, but we managed to make it fun.
Adios, I'm off to Amsterdam in T-minus 5 hours! Oh yeah, they run on military time so it was 6 hours when i originally wrote this but it took me an hour to calculate the correct time so it's only 5 now :)
So this is the last day in London and i have to say i definately feel that i made my mark in this city, or the city made it's mark on me? Either way there was a mark made. I am absolutely exhausted from lack of sleep and male nutrition, but am slowly adjusting. I have to say as cool as this place is GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Two things i'm doing as soon as i get back to the states is buying 100 lbs. of ice and rolling around in it, and second is eating a turkey party sub from subway. Aparently no one ever told London what turkey's are because you absolutely can't find it anywhere!!! If you cant tell i've been here long enough to know the downsides so that's pretty much what this installment will be. Also, it really pisses me off for the fact that people think americans are rude. For example, ordering a glass of water for dinner should not only be a simple task, but it should never be taken as rude. Most places here you have to ask for water and i'm sorry but everytime in my entire life when i have asked for water there are no follow up questions. So on several occasions now i say glass of water. then the waiter mumbles somthing so fast i cant understand it but i can tell he's giving me options? and i'm like uhhh, just a regluar glass of water is fine and he looks at me like i'm stupid and mumbles it again. eventually it works out but when it comes it's the smallest glass of water ever (we are talking dixie cup) with one ice cube if your lucky. no problem but its the only one you will ever get and you wont see your waiter again til' you have to flag him down and ask for your bill. So tonight i was prepared and brought my own gallon jug of water to dinner, aparently that is less rude than bothering someone who you are paying to wait on you. Whew, glad i got all that off my chest.
Ok, enough negativety what else has happened right? Oh yeah, finally getting to know the people im with better and making some really great friends. Two nights ago Jordan, Draiper, Claire, and I all decide to go to happy hour. It was a happy hour! afterwards we ate in this semi-nice but cheap Indian restraunt. Oh yeah another thing food over his isn't so great. I mean some of it has tasted good but it is scary how unfresh and unrefrigerated things are and honestly it scares the crap out of me, and im sorry that i would love to eat a healthy COLD deliciously juicy turkey sandwich with fresh bread and lettuce and tomato with spicy mustard and a little cream chease toasted on on a bagel from time to time...mmmmmmmm. Anyway, we eat dinner wich was really great at this Indian place, but i'm sure we feed into the loud obnoxious american stereotype because we just came from happy hour, but oh well. Then we just got a couple bottles of wine and went and sat in the park. Those of you that know me best know thats my idea of a good night, it's not neccesarily my favorite thing to go to loud clubs and dancing, would much rather chill on some wine with a few close friends.
From left to right Claire, Jordan, Draiper, and you know who
Oh yeah, the freaking World Cup Game was out of control! the pubs here go insane and you litterally have every pub wall to wall with people sweaty profusely while the locals yell and sing the most obnoxios songs i've ever heard. But it was definately and experience. Don't know if you heard back home, but there was roits later all over the city after we lost i missed out on the action but i heard the aftermath, crazyness.
This is me and my main mate Jack at the local pub where we have happy hour (mate means friend so keep your mind out of the gutter :)
Today Tay and I walked down by the river and went to camden town. It was pretty sweet, this is wear all the punk rockers hand out and it definately is a wierd place that makes you feel way out of place, but being with tay made it easier cause he definately blends in to that whole seen.
Tay and I after doing to bungey jump trampalene that shoots you 40 feet in the air next to the London Eye (it was sweet!!!)
Last night we went to the Hip...Hip Hop? Hip-Hop-Anonomous...Damn it! you always give hime the easy ones!!! (if you've seen the movie Big Daddy that will makes sense). Actually, we went to the Hip Hop Club in Liecester Square (that's pronouned Lester) it was like being in a tin can with a billion people and was the hottest most unpleasent place i've ever been, but we managed to make it fun.
Adios, I'm off to Amsterdam in T-minus 5 hours! Oh yeah, they run on military time so it was 6 hours when i originally wrote this but it took me an hour to calculate the correct time so it's only 5 now :)
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Is this a Dream?
Ok, so today is day 4 in London and am still in shock. So much amazing stuff has already happened it seems like i've been here for a month. (I just read my last post to see what the last thing was i wrote and i forgot that i had just got here then, so this might be a long post) So, I'll start with the most outrageous boat cruise in history. Kate I'm sorry cause i know your going to hate this, but the facts must be reported to the people :) So my roomate and I both sign up for this boat cruise at our college. It's only for Americans Studying in London, but we thought it would be cool to get to know some people outside of our group so we signed up for it along with some others from our group too. Here's the thing. I guess guys in America don't Study Abroad because the boat held 300 people and honestly there was 20 guys. Some of you may think this is an exaggeration, but that is what is so amazing about it here is that the usaull overexaggerated stories i tell at home are not even close to my reality right now. It's a tough job but someone's got to do it.
Since I've been here there has been some really strange emotions going on. On this cruise was the first of now three major experiences. At one point on the cruise it absolutely hit me what was really happening. As I sat at the table I stopped everyone that i was talking with and was like "Do you guys realize that right now we are on a party boat going down the Thames River, Drinking at an open bar, and Big Ben is going by on our left side at this very moment. Honestly my goose bumps had goose bumps. Oh yeah, did i mention my roomate Johnny and I were the only guys in a see of 270 other girls too :) Just Kidding, but serioiusly we were.
Experience Overload Number 2 came yesterday at the National Gallery. As much as I love art and design i have never had an experience close to what happened yesterday. First of all it was amazing to see so many famous works that i have studied already in my Art History Classes. Then, it happened. I'm sure you all know the famous "Sunflowers" painting by Van Gogh, if not look it up and you'll recognize it. Warning though, no photography on earth can show you how amazing this is unless you see it, but anyway this thing is always surrounded by people constantly and it was on of the things i most wanted to see just because I've always heard that it is 20x more amazing in person. So i get up in the huge crowd of people trying to see this, and like a magic trick everyone left. I was totally alone for about 3 min. in front of this painting and it hit me again that this is really happening. I dont know if this makes any sense to those of you who are reading it, but it's a feeling i've never felt and i want to write about it so at least I'll remember it later.
Last but not least of this happened just last night. We went to see "The Producers" in Picadilly Square. For those of you that don't know, like me before i got here, this is the European equivlent of seeing a Broadway show in New York. Oh yeah, and did i mention that my seat was alright. We are talking Front Row smack in the center two seats right from the conductor (i think i got hit some sweat from the actors they were so close) It was Phenominal. Then, if that wasn't enough I almost decided to take and early evening and not go out last night, but in true DJ Jazzy Joyce form i found an extra gear and put the petal down and went out to a bar/club called Cheers. At first i was regreting my decision til' in walked three of the most stunning looking people i've seen (two girls and one guy) As my friends and i checked out the seen we kept thinking that these people looked a lot like the actors/actresses from the play. So after a little liquid courage i decided to go up and ask. Sure enough they were the girl that played "Oolha" and two of the backup dancers from the Play. It was cool enought just to say hi, but they were soooo nice and they loved our American Accents so they started buying us drinks and we kicked it with them for about 3 hours and we got invited to a party they are having tomorrow night.
Again, this all feels like a dream somtimes but i couldn't ask for anything more. It seems like the things i wished would happen are happening every min. plus, more than i wished.
I love all of you and hope things are going well in the states. Also I need your email address if you want to see more photos. Just send it too jdjoyce@wichita.edu and I will do my best to add you quickly.
~ Joyce...Out
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Holy Shive!!! Europe is a thousand times cooler than i thought it would be. I didn't think it would be that wierd to see the cars on the wrong side of the street, but it really freaks you out the first time you see it. Right now it's 730 in the A.M. here and my roomate and i cant sleep. Those of you that know me know that it has been a while since i've seen 7 am in any countries morning, but between the jet lag and the excitement, i just cant sleep. London, is totally different than i thought it would be. There really is no centralized downtown with tall buildings or anything, but i haven't been around too much yet. Later today we are going on a bus tour, so i'll probably have a better understanding what the rest of the city is like after that. Also, everyone in my group is cool as hell, my roomate and i are a dangerous combination though, definately the two most outgoing guys and you know I'm always down for some good times. That's all for now, i have to go cash some travelers checks and get some breakfast.
Later Mates
Later Mates
Friday, June 23, 2006
Kickn' It at the Cabin
Hey everybody! My Greatest Summer in the History of Summers is officially underway! On Tuesday I landed in Minneapolis Minnisota to find my self greeted by the most amazing girl (officially) that i have ever met. Those of you who don't know her will soon enough. The weather his is amazing and the city seems pretty cool. Haven't had much time to experience downtown other than the airport cause we spent the last two days at Kate's Aunt and Uncle's cabin. Two of the most relaxing days of my life. I honestly would be able to come home right now and say that i had an amazing trip, but i haven't even touched the tip of the iceburg yet!!! Tonight we are going to a comedy club downtown, and it better be good or I'm going to embarass the guy by laughing really loud even if it's not funny. Well, on second thought that my emarass me more than him, but either way it better be funny.
Hey everybody! My Greatest Summer in the History of Summers is officially underway! On Tuesday I landed in Minneapolis Minnisota to find my self greeted by the most amazing girl (officially) that i have ever met. Those of you who don't know her will soon enough. The weather his is amazing and the city seems pretty cool. Haven't had much time to experience downtown other than the airport cause we spent the last two days at Kate's Aunt and Uncle's cabin. Two of the most relaxing days of my life. I honestly would be able to come home right now and say that i had an amazing trip, but i haven't even touched the tip of the iceburg yet!!! Tonight we are going to a comedy club downtown, and it better be good or I'm going to embarass the guy by laughing really loud even if it's not funny. Well, on second thought that my emarass me more than him, but either way it better be funny.
Monday, June 12, 2006
"Joy"ce to the World Pool Party Send Off!!!
Well, even though I'm not leaving for another week it just seemed like a good idea to have a pool party/BBQ celebration send off, and let me be the first to say that it was a hell of a good time. Oh, and in case everyone forgot Chad and I are the offical Kings of the Washers board
Here's a pic of the celebration dance some of you suffered:
so you all better practice while I'm over in Europe so the next time it's not quite so embarassing (talking to you Dave, Carrie, Osu, Nathan, Rich, and anyone else that suffered an embarassing loss to Chad and I) I'm just kidding, but seriously practice while I'm gone :)
Also "Tiny Dancer/Jake the Snake" vs. "Jahn Hoyce" wrestling match somehow ended up with both Dave and I in the pool. Dave, where were ya' on that one?
And of course it wouldn't be a true party with out some tropical concoctions (I think that's how you spell that?)
Well, even though I'm not leaving for another week it just seemed like a good idea to have a pool party/BBQ celebration send off, and let me be the first to say that it was a hell of a good time. Oh, and in case everyone forgot Chad and I are the offical Kings of the Washers board
Here's a pic of the celebration dance some of you suffered:
so you all better practice while I'm over in Europe so the next time it's not quite so embarassing (talking to you Dave, Carrie, Osu, Nathan, Rich, and anyone else that suffered an embarassing loss to Chad and I) I'm just kidding, but seriously practice while I'm gone :)
Also "Tiny Dancer/Jake the Snake" vs. "Jahn Hoyce" wrestling match somehow ended up with both Dave and I in the pool. Dave, where were ya' on that one?
And of course it wouldn't be a true party with out some tropical concoctions (I think that's how you spell that?)
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Ah yes, the first post. What to put, what to put. Well, this is the place to keep up to date on my adventures over seas this summer. Let me be the first to tell you that studying abraod is no easy task. It has been one of the most painstaking processes of paper work and preparation that I have ever done. But, thanks to some really special peopole in my life (you know who you are and sincerely thank you) this trip is becoming a reality. Also, to keep you up to date on where I will be roughly here is the detailed plan.
Tues. June 20th - Fly out of KCI at 11:40am on American Airlines flight 2411 to Minn. to see Kate before leaving for Europe!!!
(What a way to start out a trip :)
Sun. June 25th - Fly out of Minniapolis Minn. to London Europe!!! (flight TBA)
Mon. June 26th - Arrive London. Transfer to hotel. Rest of day free. Welcome Dinner. Night in London.
Tues. June 27th - Morning orientation, Piccadilly Circus in the heart of the West End, the Houses of Parliament on the banks
of the Thames and Buckingham Palace. Plus, the Tower of London.
Wed. June 28th - Into. to English and Euro. Art. National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Evening West End Theater performance.
Thurs. June 29th - Morning Lecture: "The Englishness of Englis Art II: Post War London", Afternoon tour Westminister Abbey
and St. Paul's Cathedral.
Fri. June 30th - Tate Modern, Saatchi Gallery is South Bank.
Sat./Sun. July 1-2 - Free Weekend in London!!!!
Mon. July 3rd - Morning depart to Dover Cross Channel Ferry to Ostend. Drive through Belguim to Amsterdam
Tues. July 4 - Morn. Lecture: "Dutch Art in the Golden Age", Afternoon visit Rijksmuseum artists including Vermeer and
Rembrandt. Night in Amsterdam
Wed. July 5th - Morn. Lecture: "Flemish Painting and the Northern Renaissance" Afternoon boat trip through Amsterdam's
famous canals. Night in Amsterdam
Thurs. July 6th - Depart by bus to Paris. Night in Paris
Fri. July 7th - Morn. Lec: "Rococo Art in France", tour of Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs Elysees and Arc de
Triomphe. the Louvre. Night in Paris.
Sat. July 8th - Morn. Lec: "Impressionists and Post Impressionists" Afternoon visit to Giverny w/ Monet's house. Night in Paris.
Sun. July 9th - Versailles, Palace of Louis the XIV, Chartres medevil cathedral
Mon. July 10th - Free Day. Night in Paris!!!
Tues. July 11th - Musee d'Orsay followed by departure to Lacernce, Switzerland.
Wed. July 12th - Half-day sight seeing in Lucerne, Picasso Gallery, Overnight train to Venice
Thurs. July 13th - Morn. arive in Venice. Lecture:"The Power of the Paast and the Everlasting Myth", Bridge of Sighs and Doges
Palace. Night in Venice.
Fri. July 14th - Morn. Lec. "Bellini, Titian and Tintoretto" Venetian School of Color, Church of Frari. Night in Venice.
Sat. July 15th - Guggenheim Museum, Afternoon Free. Night in Venice.
Sun. July 16th - Travel by bus to Florence. Stop in Ravenna. Night in Florence.
Mon. July 17th - Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Baptistry doors and the Accademia which houses Michelangelo's David,
Santa Croce Square. Night in Florence.
Tues. July 18th - Morn. Lec. "Flornce and the Early Renaissance", Free Afternoon. Night in Florence.
Wed. July 19th - Free day in Florence.
Thurs. July 20th - Morn. transter by bus to Rome. Stop in Siena.
Fri. July 21st - Morn. Lec. "Michelangelo, Raffael and Leonardo", Tour of Rome: ruins, Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Piazza
Navona, Bernini fountains. Night in Rome.
Sat. July 22nd - Morn. visit to the Vatican and its museums. Sistene Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica. Afternoon free. Evening
farewell including assessment of academic program. Night in Rome.
Sun. July 23rd - Aug. 15th - Tripp Henderson meets me in Rome for 3 weeks of more traveling to be announced. (places of
interest: Germany, Prague, Barcellona, and Dublin Ireland)
Tues. Aug. 15th - Depart from London back to Minneapolis, Minnasota to talk Kate's ear off about my summer abroad...just
you wait to hear the stories :)
Sun. Aug. 20th - Depart from Minneapolis back to KCI on American Airlines flight 2466. Arriving at 2:20 mom and dad so i
can talk your ear off about my summer all the way back to Wichita :)
Mon. Aug. 21st - 1st day back to work at Koch and class that night from 535-820pm.
Basically, be afraid world be very afraid. You too bar tabs, you should be afraid as well, just kidding. Seriously though, I am going to try and keep this as up to date as possible while I'm over there. Honestly, I'm not sure what my computer access situation will be over there, but worst case senario I will be uploading a ton of pics to this site as well as snapfish.com (I'll post the correct link at a later point). So check back as often as you like and feel free to forward the link to this site to anyone you think would like to see it.
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