Switzerland: Vacation and Bucket lists

Well, I'll try to be brief.

Highlights of Switzerland:

Zurich: Relaxation
Rainy, Shopped, ate Swiss fondue and Swiss chocolate (not much to do in Zurich).

Interlaken: Adventure
Climbed (er, rode) to the top of a mountain
Hiked in the Alps
Stayed in a Swiss chalet on the lake with cows for neighbors
Paraglided
Bungee-jumped (from the second highest bungee jump in the world! Bucket list: check.)

Lausanne/Montreux/Gruyere: Indulgence
Walked through the vineyards of Lavaux (a UNESCO World Heritage Site!)
Took a wine-tasting tour
Visited the Chateau de Chillon (Chillon Castle)
Admired French architecture
Basked in the sun by Lake Geneva
Rode scenic trains through mountains and colored trees
Saw a cheese-making factory and the Nestle chocolate factory (yep, gained a few kilos here)

A great way to end my trip. Home was only 3 plane rides and 24 hours away! I'll try to give a post-trip update soon. Cheers!

Berlin: On History Lessons and Street Art

So this post is a little late, but I still have to tell you guys about Berlin. Such an awesome city with so much history. You can't beat seeing remnants of the Berlin Wall and standing on top of the spot where Hitler's bunker used to be (now just a parking lot for some apartment buildings).  The city publicly and openly displays its history from WWII and the Holocaust. They are not proud of this history, but they share it vulnerably and without shame. It's amazing to think that the city's history is so recent too. The Berlin Wall fell exactly 22 years ago. For most of your reading this, that's probably within your lifetime. Crazy. And the story of how the wall fell is pretty amazing (look it up for yourself and have a little history lesson if you don't know it) and it really shows how the people of Germany are passionate and tenacious.

Berlin is a really alternative city. Most Germans (including Berliners) would say that Berlin is unlike anywhere else in Germany (I would say it's unlike anywhere else in the world). It's not your typical Bavarian style Germany (besides the food: mmm Brautwurst and Currywurst). But the city is alive and constantly changing. The people are down to earth, orderly, and fun-loving.


My favorite part of Berlin, besides the history, is all of the art. There is, of course, the East Side Gallery. This is the longest remaining portion of the Berlin wall that has now been turned into an international memorial for freedom full of paintings from artists all over the world. It's so beautiful that these cement slabs which once stood for division and power are now a work of art. One of the most famous paintings is the "Brotherly Kiss" by Dmitri Vrubel:

Berlin also has the most amazing street art. It was especially cool when I started to notice work by the same artist in different areas of the city. Artists anonymously leave their mark all over the city, some making political statements, others just for the sake of public art.

One of my favorites: Little Lucy (upper right) was always finding clever ways to kill her cat

Street art is alive and always changing. Since artists are continually painting over other works, a wall may completely change over night.
I could have spent so much more time in Berlin, just looking at all the art, learning more about the history, and shopping in all the awesome second-hand shops. Berlin, I will definitely see you again one day.

Copenhagen: Land of culture and hippies

After Sweden, I had to say goodbye to friends and continue the travels on my own. My next stop: Copenhagen. I went there not knowing much about the city, and left thinking it is one of the coolest cities I have ever been to, but hard to say why. Just the feeling I guess.

I had good timing and happened to be there on the one night of the year when the city has its "Culture Night": an annual event with various activities throughout the city. All of the museums and churches are open until late at night, there are various outdoor concerts, sampling of local foods, art exhibits, hands-on crafts and activities booths, and so much more. The whole city comes alive and all of the locals come out to enjoy the festivities. The streets were packed all night! It was a great way to see the city, and I had made friends with some locals that were my guides for the night, showing me all the best that the city has to offer.

In Copenhagen, I also had to make a visit to the infamous Christiana. This is a neighborhood or commune/community in Copenhagen that is a self-proclaimed free town. They do not follow any of Copenhagen's laws, only their own as established by the 800 some residents that live there. In fact, when you enter the area there is a sign that says "You are now leaving the EU." Basically, it's one big hippie community. The people freely sell weed on the streets in the neighborhood, and the local authorities seem to look the other way. It was bizarre, but really cool at the same time. The place almost looks like a slum: shanty houses, random things hanging from trees, artwork plastered everywhere, painted trees, colored picnic tables everywhere, and people that are dressed like homeless people sitting around everywhere. You would think by the looks of it that it was a dangerous place to be, but it was just the opposite. As I walked through the community, it felt so peaceful and full of life. The people make their own "laws", some of which were written on the sides of the houses: no hard drugs, no war, no fighting, share with others, live simply (I think all of the residents share a communal pot of money as well). Yes, they are total hippies in every way, and the place is considered to be pretty controversial, but it was one of the coolest places I've ever seen.

So far, I'm loving traveling on my own. It's nice to go at my own pace, see what I want to see, turn when I want to turn, and to just explore. It has also been a good experience to push myself out of my comfort zone, making friends with other travelers and meeting some awesome locals as well. It makes traveling on my own not so lonely, and much more exciting. I have met so many new people with different perspectives than me, living totally different lives than me. It just makes me believe more and more every day that people are so extraordinary and our differences are beautiful. Maybe that's just my inner-hippie talking now. But one thing I can tell you is you've got to be free. Peace and love people, that's all you need.

Sweden: Land of "Lagom": Just Right.

It's not that I thought I wouldn't like Sweden, it's just that I didn't know how much I would love Sweden! I think staying with friends in each of the 3 cities I visited definitely helped contribute to that feeling a lot. Either way, there is so much I loved about my stay in Sweden.

I stayed in 3 different cities in Sweden: the beautiful capital of Stockholm, the quaint and cozy small town of Jönköping, and the always exciting Gothenburg. In each city, I stayed with and meet up with various friends that showed me around the city and took me to all the great local places. 

Sweden has so much beauty to offer: beautiful nature (so many parks, rocky islands, colors on the trees, even sightings of moose and deer...), beautiful cities (old architecture, eclectic shops, and the cutest cafes), and beautiful people. I mostly love that there is so much green everywhere in the cities! And fika (coffee and treat time with friends) and godis (bulk candy bought by the kilo) need to be  more regular events in my life :) I feasted on traditional Swedish foods (meatballs, lingon berry, boiled potatoes, pancakes, salmon, shrimp salad, and even kebab pizza) and spent a lot of time catching up with old friends and making new ones. 

During my stay, I learned a few Swedish words, but my favorite is the word lagom. It doesn't have a direct English translation, but it basically means: just enough, just right, in moderation, or in balance. This is a word that definitely describes the Swedish culture, and also defines my stay in Sweden. The Swedish people do everything in moderation and seem to have a real balance in life. Whether it's eating just the right amount of food, having just the right amount of coffee, spending just the right amount of time with friends, or having a balance between work and pleasure, the philosophy infiltrates the culture in so many different ways. And it describes my visit as well: it was just right. A pleasant stay that was balanced between fun and relaxation that left me feeling balanced, rested, and energized. I want to I have more lagom in my everyday life. And although it was "just right", maybe my stay in Sweden still feels just a little too short. I know I will return someday, but maybe next time it will be in the summer; I could go for a little warmer weather....but still... lagom!

Finland: On Being Untraditional and Being Human

After spending a day in the cute little town of Gdansk, Poland, I boarded the ferry to Finland and spent the majority of the 22 hours on the ship laying on the sundeck and catching up on rest. I arrived in Helsinki early in the morning and didn't waste any time. I immediately headed to the shoreline and walked around the old market square. The market booths contained a lot of fresh seafood (some people selling it right from their docked boat!), reindeer meat, wool scarves, hats, and sweaters, freshly baked breads, and of course the tacky souvenirs. I continued along the shoreline and walked past the harbor to find a huge leafy green park sprawling on the southern end of Helsinki, right along the shore. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I was so excited to see some trees with colored leaves! Even though there were only a few, it made me so happy that I'm not entirely missing the great Midwest autumn colors from back home. I relaxed in the park before walking farther along the shoreline and then back through the city, passing by tons of designer and antique shops. Then I met my friend Silja back at the train station, and the rest of the time in Helsinki was spent being not-so-traditional Finnish and very untouristy. It is so nice to stay with a friend who is a local, because you see an entirely different side of the city (not to mention you don't have to worry too much about navigating and getting lost!). Yes, she pointed out some major landmarks and we had a great traditional Finnish meal, but I also saw the other side of the city. Silja lives just outside the main city center on a small island. It was so quiet and peaceful, and we were just steps away from the rocky beach and a beautiful nature preserve area. We spent a lot of time just hanging out with her friends, having fika (Swedish tradition of getting together for coffee and treats), and going out for coffee or drinks. On the first night, Silja invited a bunch of people over for a tapas and sangria party (hmm...are we still in Barcelona?) and I had the chance to meet a lot of her awesome friends. I found that the stereotype about Scandinavians being cold and unfriendly was very untrue, at least among these ones. They were so kind to me, always speaking in English and immediately treating me like a friend. They said the stereotype is true, but I didn't sense it at all, except for maybe with strangers. We also went to see some of her friends perform capoeira (a Brazilian martial arts dance), which was incredible to watch. Maybe we didn't see everything Finnish, but I loved just seeing what they do on a daily basis and having the chance to just relax and hang out with friends rather than be sightseeing all the time. It was a nice change of pace and I had an awesome time. One of Silja's friends asked me if Europe was really different from the U.S. or what differences I noticed. While it's hard to compare all of Europe to all of the U.S., in general I think it's not so different. Well, maybe the language, customs, food and buildings are all very different (ok that's a lot), but when it comes to the way people interact with each other, we are all really very much the same. I can see how culture affects people, but in the end we are still all human beings with the same basic needs and the same desires to have love, community, and a high quality of life. I know that seems so obvious and I always knew it, but at the time it was a striking realization to me and I have never believed it to be so completely true until now. We are so different and yet really all very much the same, and that is beautiful.   Tonight, I will board another ferry, and in the morning I will be in Sweden! I'm excited to be staying in Scandinavia for a while more, since I really love it here (despite the rain and the cold), and I'm especially excited to visit more friends while I'm there.

 

Flying solo, flying free.

Well folks, I'm on my own now! And this marks the half-way point of the trip for me.

Becca and I spent a few days in beautiful Krakow, Poland before she headed back home to the states. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to her. It's a little scary to be traveling on my own, but also really exhilarating. It will be nice to go at my own pace (and a little slower the second half of the trip too). And even though I'll be traveling alone, for the rest of my trip I will mostly be staying with friends, so I won't even really be alone at all. Starting with my friend Barbara, who picked me up in Krakow and took me to her town, Wroclaw. I didn't know what to expect in Poland at all, but it's actually really cool her. Despite not knowing a word of Polish, it has been really great to explore here.


My first night on my own was one of the best nights of my life, for no real reason at all. Barbara was busy, so I took the night to explore Wroclaw on my own. I walked past the Cathedral, which was hauntingly beautiful at night and then came to some small islands that are all connected by bridges. The first bridge I crossed is covered in locks. It is also completely COVERED with spider webs and huge spiders! Since the bridge was lit up at night, I could see all of the webs glistening in the light. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Maybe it wasn't anything special, but the fact that I discovered it on my own and found beauty in it just made it really special to me, like I was catching a secret glimpse of something that no one had discovered before. I felt alive and empowered in that moment, and excited for the next month ahead of traveling on my own. I walked a little further, past the hoards of college students, hanging out on the lawn by the university (the whole city is a college town), and then to the city center and hung out there for a little bit before meeting up with some of Barbara's friends for the night. Maybe it wasn't anything crazy or exceptional, but it was an awesome night.


Spent the next few days exploring Wroclaw some more, and now I'm off to the train station to head to Gdansk, a cute little seaside town on the northern coast of Poland. I'll spend a day there before taking a ferry to Finland on Friday. It's exhausting to think I still have another month left, and yesterday I did get a little lonely and homesick feeling, missing my family and friends. I think it was mostly because I've been able to slow down and take some down time, which is really nice and also necessary. However, when I'm not as busy, I don't have the excitment to distract me from home. But today, I was already excited again to be on the move. Feeling energetic and empowered again to keep trekking!

Moving Eastward: Vienna and Prague

We left Venice and took an overnight train to Vienna for one day. Did our usual walking around, seeing the churches, museums, parks, public squares and admiring the architecture. Vienna is really a lovely city with a lot of culture. If we had stayed longer I would have loved to go see some classical music, since a lot of famous composers had a large influence on the city. Vienna also has a lot of great coffeeshops, so we found one and enjoyed a melange (basically a cappuccino), the richest chocolate cake I have ever had, and a cheese danish that tasted like real cheese. We also happened upon a circus/festival going on, so we took advantage of trying some schnitzel and preztels. So much eating in Vienna. It was a nice halfway point between Italy and the Czech Republic.

So another overnight train to Prague! Prague is such a cool city. A lot of "culture" (I need to work on my descriptions, I know). The old main square is where everything happens and where we spent a lot of time. We also saw the Prague Castle and the famous Charles' Bridge. Took a free walking tour to learn about the main square, some churches, the birthplace of Franz Kafka, the old Jewish quarter, where Mozart performed, and where the protests happened that created what is today, the Czech Republic. So much history to this city. Also found some great second-hand shops. Bonus.

Of course, we had to say goodbye all too quickly, but we are thankfully staying in Eastern Europe for a little while longer. I like it here: maybe not as "fancy" as Western Europe, but it seems very real and down-to-earth. From Prague, we are headed to Poland!

Don't be fooled folks: This traveling business may seem so glamorous, I know. But taking overnight trains and being in 4 different countries with 4 different languages in 5 days is just insane. Didn't have a bed or a shower the whole time, but it was really cool to make some stops and see things that I would never have thought to see. But I'm really happy that the next portion of my trip will be at a slower pace and I'll have the chance to stay in cities for longer than just one day. Next time, I will definitely pick one place and stay there for an extended period. This method of traveling is just too exhausting. But still worth the journey!

Italy: Whirlwind Part Three: Venice

Ciao bella!
(If I had a nickel for every time I heard that while in Italy....)

One final city in Italy: Venice! We had heard that you could easily do Venice in one day, so we arrived early in the morning and only planned to stay one day and catch a train that same night. So we arrived ready to go to see the sinking city. We began to walk through the streets and quickly found that what they say is true: Venice is one big labyrinth of tiny streets (or more like alleyways), canals and bridges. There are no cars in the entire city: every street is only for pedestrians, because most streets aren't even big enough for cars. Men make deliveries via cart. There are no buses or taxis, only water buses and water taxis that take you along or across the canals. Otherwise, you go everywhere by foot. They say even the locals get lost frequently. We didn't really have a map, so we just depended on a few signs directing us to major points, and when all else failed, we would just pick a direction or follow a canal until we got where we wanted to go. As you can probably guess, we spent most of the day wandering and getting lost (sometimes intentionally). The city is small enough to see quickly. A few more churches/bascilicas, Piazza d. San Marco, and a major bridge, Ponte Rialto, which is hoarded with touristy shops and of course, tourists.

Ok, every time before when I thought there were a lot of tourists, I was lying. Venice REALLY is the most touristy place I have ever seen. I knew that it was one of the most visited places in Europe by tourists, but I had no idea how crowded the city would be (and it wasn't even high season!). I guarantee that 90% of the population on any given day in Venice is tourists.The other 10% probably all work in the tourism/hospitality industry. The whole city seems to exists solely for the purpose of tourism. Kinda sad, in some ways. The city really is so pretty with all it's winding streets and canals, but it seems to have a lost a lot of culture. At night, the city completely dies. There doesn't seems to be any local culture: no events, no nightlife, no festivals. Just the souvenir shops and the gondolas.

We couldn't resist: we took a gondola ride through Venice! One more quintessentially (er, touristy) Italian thing to check off the list. We met up with some Australian friends that we had met in Rome so that we could all split the cost, bought some brie and crackers and wine, and we were off. It really was quite lovely to see the city from the water, and our gondola man liked to sing songs and point out historic buildings along the way. Maybe a corny thing to do, but it was definitely a highlight of the trip.

We finished off the day with some dinner sitting alongside the water, and then headed back to the train station to say goodbye to Italy and take an overnight train to Vienna!

Italy: Whirlwind Part Two: Florence

After Rome, we headed back to Tuscany to Florence for a few days.
Ah, Florence. So beautiful (I know, I say that about every city, but European cities are just so beautiful). I seriously wanted to take a picture of every single street we turned on to: they were all so cute and so quintessential Italy to me. I'm not sure why, and I can't really describe why they were so cute:: the architecture, the curved cobblestone roads, shutters and flower boxes on the windows, and cute old Italian women carrying home their loaves of bread from the bakery. I love the streets even more than the sights themselves! That being said, we did get out and see some sights: a lot of public piazzas (same as anywhere in Italy), more beautiful churches/basilicas, and the famous bridge, Ponte Vecchio. We climbed up hill at the edge of town to find a little church on the top of the hill, and Piazzolla Michelangelo, from which you can see a gorgeous panoramic of the entire city of Florence. We hiked up just in time to grab some gelato and to sit and watch the sun set behind the Tuscan hills. It took my breath away. I breathed  in the sweet aroma of fresh air, and I could feel every ounce of stress from the trip just melt away. It was easily one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

While in Florence, we also took some time to get out of the city a little bit and took a bus ride to a nearby small town called Fiesole. It is set up in the hills, so we could, again, see a view of the entire city of Florence below us. It was even more gorgeous than from the hill in town, because we could see even more of the city and more of the surrounding Tuscan countryside, hills and mountains in the background. I could have stayed up there all day. The town was really cute too: a sleepy little town with nothing more than a single piazza and a modest cathedral in the center. We explored around the residential area for a little while (and dreamed about what it would be like to have the Tuscan view right outside your window every morning) and then headed back down to Florence. We had been staying at a quaint little hostel; and by quaint I mean too small and crowded (3 rooms, each with 6 beds, everyone sharing one bathroom), but kinda adorable at the same time, run by an old Italian woman, who didn't speak any English and  had just converted an old apartment into a hostel. But for our last night in town, we ditched the hostel and were able to stay with a couchsurfing host, Anna, who was so sweet and generous. She is originally from the U.S. and moved to Florence after falling in love with it when she studied abroad there. She currently works with a study abroad program, helping students have a good experience in Florence, just like she did. Sounds like a dream job to me. Anna cooked us a delicious Italian meal for dinner before sending us off to Venice in the morning with wishes for safe travels.

Italy: Whirlwind Part One: Pisa and Rome

My entire time in Italy was a whirlwind: 4 cities in one week!

I started by flying into Pisa. Hopped off the plane and walked through the little Tuscan town to the Leaning Tower, of course. It exists solely for the purpose of tourism. And boy, were there a lot of tourists. This is so far the most touristy place we have been. So many people trying to snap the perfect "leaning" picture (and of course, I had to get my own). We then walked around the town a little more, had our first Italian gelato, and then decided there was not much else to do in Pisa, After only a couple of hours, we were on a train to Rome. Sorry, Pisa, we just came to say hello.

Rome! Boy, it sure is old. And beautiful, of course. And even MORE tourists. We did the essentials: the Colosseum and Ancient City, and the Vatican (including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica). All were beautiful (especially seeing Michelangelo's "Creation of Man" on the ceiling of the chapel. Once in a lifetime experience), but all were hard to enjoy just because of the hoards of tourists. We spent more time trying to maneuver our way through crowds and avoid being in other peoples' pictures than we did actually spending time reveling in the beauty and magnificence of the art and beauty of the old city. Rome is definitely a little too touristy for me, but still enjoyable nonetheless.
Favorite part about Rome (no contest): getting to see my good friend Dylan who is currently studying there! We hung out with him and his friends one evening in a really fun, hip part of town, chatted in the public piazza and found a cute little sidewalk wine bar to enjoy some pizza, bruschetta, and of course, Italian wine.
My second favorite part of Rome: Becca and I rented a cute little Vespa scooter and drove around the city! It was terrifying and so exciting at the same time (don't worry mom, we wore helmets). I was too nervous to drive, so I let Becca take the controls (since she had already mastered the scooter skills on her previous trip to India) and we hit the open (er, crowded) road! I enjoyed the view from the back, trying to snap pictures and hang on tightly at the same time. It was definitely the best way to see the city. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and travel via scooter.

Spain: On the Pursuit of Happiness

I know, I know, I'm so far behind on blogging! It was a priority at first (and still is), but I would rather be out exploring than sitting at a computer. Sorry, I know you are all waiting with bated breath over there on the other side of the Atlantic. So let me back up a couple weeks and review:

How can I describe my love for Spain?
Madrid and Barcelona were both filled with beauty, relaxation, good food, amazing culture,art, music, friends.....basically all the things that combine to create one big pot of happiness

In Madrid, we did a lot of wandering (as I mentioned before), took siesta in the lush Parque del Retiro, ate too many tapas, saw the royal palace, and explored grand churches and shopping districts. My favorite part was probably just sitting in the plazas at night, watching all the Spaniards and tourists hanging out and drinking there. Our hostel was situated right in the heart of the city, near Plaza del Sol, with some al fresco dining right outside our door. Even though Madrid is such a large city, being in a central area made it feel like a small town. We didn't even mind the fact that we couldn't fall asleep at night because people were out in the streets dining and drinking wine on the patios until close to sunrise. The city really doesn't get busy until after midnight, and it doesn't stop til close to 6a.m. We would sit in the plaza til the early hours of the morning, and it would still be packed with people when we left. People here really know how to slow down, enjoy life, relax and not worry about the hour.

Barcelona was amazing in a whole different way. The city has incredible art all throughout the city, with an exceptional influence by Gaudi on nearly every block. His buildings and mosaics are art that you can experience, touch, walk around in, and feel connected to. We saw a few of his most famous buildings and also visited the Parc Güell, which is a park that overlooks the city and is filled with his artwork and influence. Since we stayed with our friend, Fran, in Barcelona, we also spent a lot of time walking around some not-so-touristy parts of the city, sitting in more plazas, and finding hidden gem restaurants with amazing food. Spending time at the various beaches and ports was also a significant (and relaxing) part of our visit. My favorite part of Barcelona was probably an area called Las Ramblas, a wide pedestrian street filled with little shops, cafes, souvenir and flower stands Although it is filled with tourists and not many locals, the area is bustling and filled with energy. It also includes La Boqueria, the largest outdoor fresh food market in the world! (I think) We saw and sampled fresh and local fruit juices, seafood, meats, cheeses, nuts, vegetables, ice cream, candy, empanadas....I could go on. (Behind wandering/walking, the number 2 most frequent thing I've done on this trip is eat, but no regrets. No holding back, only indulging allowed! Thankfully we walk a ton, so I hopefully won't come back and be a blimp!)


I was so sad to leave Spain. So far, it has definitely been my favorite place on this trip, but there's still more to come! I know I'll return to Spain one day, if not to live there, at least to visit and experience the true sense of happiness I found in the culture.

Not all who wander are lost: to live like a flâneur

"Not all who wander are lost."

I'm not sure where this quote came from, but it is one of my favorites, and definitely describes a lot of my trip so far. A lot of what we have been doing is just wandering the streets of the cities we visit. We don't always make it to every hot tourist place or see every corner of the city, but wandering seems to be a really great way just to get a feel for the culture and the people of the city, especially when we wander away from the tourist spots. And as a bonus, we usually come across some really cool things that we would not have found if we weren't wandering. I love wandering just for the sake of wandering. When we do have a specific destination, Becca and I both have the tendency to walk quickly. So we've gotten into the habit of reminding each other to walk at a "tourist pace," that is, to walk slowly, enjoy the journey, and keep your eyes open for things along the way. It's not just about getting from point A to point B, but about what you also see along the way as well. This also relates a lot to another one of my favorite quotes, found at the top of my page: "Life is a journey, not a destination."

One of my favorite words is the word flâneur. It is a french word, literally meaning "stroller", "lounger", "saunterer", or "loafer." But it also means "a person who walks the city in order to experience it." It is not someone who walks through the city to get from point A to point B, but someone who walks just for the sake of walking, just to experience it the city. This is the way I want to live. Not only literally, but also as a philosophy, a complete way of living and thinking: to slow down, walk at the "tourist pace," and wander just for the sake of wandering. We so often go through our busy lives just getting from point A to point B. I know especially in a big city, it's all about the fast pace. But you can be a flâneur every day, anywhere, even when you are not a tourist. Try walking like a tourist through your own city. Slow down. Look around. You might see something you have passed every day but never noticed before.

Madrid has definitely helped me to live at this pace, since this is way of life here. Most locals walk at a slow pace through the streets. At first, this frustrated me, since I'm a fast walker. But then, I was glad for the reminder to slow down as well. We have done a lot of wandering through the streets, taking siesta in the park, enjoying tapas, paella, and sangria on the sidewalk restaurants, and sitting in the plaza for hours at a time. I could definitely get used to this pace of life.

¡Salud!

Amsterdam: City of Sin and Streets with really long names

Amsterdam is definitely the most eclectic city I have ever visited. It is a huge tourist city, and people come from all over the world, for all different reasons, to see it. Many people first think of the Red Light District in Amsertdam or the famous coffeeshops (NOT to be confused with cafés). Many people also come to see the beautiful architecture in a city of 100 canals and 1000 bridges. And still others come to see the many museums, markets, parks, churches, bicycles...the list goes on. We checked most everything off the list within a few days, and I would have to say that the city would not be complete without any one of those things (yes, even the things that give Amsterdam it's nickname, the City of Sin, are a part of the city's culture and make it unique). It should also have the nickname "City with Ridiculously Long Street Names". For example, our hostel was on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, and most street names were even longer. Not knowing Dutch didn't help. Thankfully, many people spoke English, and you can mostly just follow the canals to find your way. It is also true that everyone gets around by bike in Amsterdam. There are probably more bikes than people in the city (not including toursists) and so many streets are only a bike lane and a sidewalk for pedestrians. Just don't think that because there aren't cars on the streets that you can walk right in the middle. Stay out of the bike lane, or you WILL get hit. Or spit at. Lesson learned.

I have a strange love for bridges, so I think that is why I found Amsterdam so beautiful. With all the canals in the city, we were constantly crossing bridges, and I wanted to stop and take pictures at every single one (we probably crossed nearly all 1000 bridges by the end of our stay). We also took a cruise along the canals to see more of the city from the water. Thankfully, we had pretty nice weather there, and it seemed that every restaurant and café has outdoor seating right along the canals. We spent a lot of time just sitting on the edge of the canals, people watching (Amsterdam is also a great people-watching city).

We first visited the Red Light District, just for the experience. It's actually not that seedy during the day, as long as you stay out of certain shops. The streets are crammed with tourists of ALL ages, which was interesting to me, but not that surprising I guess. What was really interesting was, at night, seeing all the neon signs plastered right onto the beauitful buildings. The juxtaposition seemed really odd to me, but that is what Amsterdam is: odd, yet strangely very beautiful just for it's uniqueness.
But there was much, much more to Amsterdam. We ventured out and walked to other areas of the city with more eye-catching architecture, and found a lovely Antique flea market filled with a lot of junk and also a lot of really cool authentic Dutch antiques. I wished my pack was larger so I could buy all of it. But alas, that which you buy, you must also carry. So no old sewing machines or lamps or rocking chairs or coffeemakers for me this time. Bought some cheap sunglasses instead and called them a souvenier.

Belgium: Land of Waffles and Frites

Said goodbye to Ireland for a while, and hopped a plane to Belgium! This is our first non-English speaking stop, and with it came the frustration of navigating around a large city with no clue where to go and not many people we asked for help could speak English. We wandered around a very corporate area of Brussels for a while and began to think that it was a really dead city. But we eventually found our way to the Grand Place: a bustling center plaza surrounded by beautiful building and filled with flower stands and street vendors. We happened to come when the "Belgian Beer Weekend" festival was going on, so the plaza was even more packed then usual and was filled with tents selling beer from all local Belgian breweries. We wandered around the surrounding streets to find Manneken  Pis: the famous landmark is a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. It wasn't anything to write home about. I'm not exactly sure why it's famous, except that they dress the little boy up in various costumes. He happened to be wearing an astronauts outfit on this particular day. Wandered around again (see the trend here?) to find some street vendors where, of course, we had to try a Belgian waffle and  Yummmo. Left Brussels with a good taste in our mouths and took a train out to a small town (with some long French name I can't remember) to stay with a friend of Becca's. They treated us to some frites (french fries, as they were first invented here) Yummo #2. They were so hospitable and it felt wonderful to sleep on a masttres on the floor and have a clean shower and a big breakfast. After a long week of no sleep and go go go, a long night's rest was much needed. As a result, my body relaxed and I got a little sick. Not enough to ruin the trip though. The next day, it was off to Amsterdam!

Ireland: Love at first sight

I'm in love with Ireland! Maybe it is just because this was my first stop on the journey and the excitement of being here just makes everything seem so much better. Regardless, I love Ireland and feel so at home here, especially in Dublin because it reminds me, in some ways, of Chicago. It is a big city, but not so overwhelming like London (like how Chicago is not as overwhelming as New York). Even though it is big and filled with tourists, it still feels really homey and cozy. People are friendly and diverse. There is the stereotypical view of the Irish people being drunk a lot, and I've found that to be kinda true, actually. But they are a jolly people and most embrace the stereotype and fully admit to it without shame, which I kinda like.

(See previous post for first activities in Dublin)
After a much-needed nap in the park, we went to the Guinness Storehouse to see how the famous beer is made. At the end, we got a free pint and a beautiful view of the city from the very top of the storehouse. Called it an early night and headed to our host Peter's place in the south suburbs. After a long flight and a long day, even a half-deflated air mattress on the floor was comfortable enough to sleep on. However, before hitting the pillow I realized that I had somehow managed to lose my American phone on the first day. The last I saw it was on the plane, so it is likely that is where I left it, or I could have lost it at any of the various other places we went that day. I was bummed, but in good spirits so I wasn't too upset. Can't change it now, and not the worst thing I could have lost. I still have a European phone to make calls, so I was only planning on using my phone for internet. Now I can only use internet where I can get to a computer, so expect less frequent and longer posts than I had anticipated. Oh well. Time to sleep and not worry about it.

The next morning, we woke up early to catch the bus to Galway in Western Ireland. It's a quaint tourist town, but among the locals, everybody knows everybody. It has a historic looking shopping street, pretty churches, and a pub on every corner (of course). We dropped our stuff off at a hostel and immediately hopped on a bus to see the Cliffs of Moher.

The Cliffs of Moher: WOW. They have been nominated for one of the new natural 7 wonders of the world, and with good reason! I cannot even describe to you the beauty and vastness of the cliffs, set right next to the picturesque rolling hills filled with sheep, cows, and little stone houses. There were various established 'viewpoints' along the cliffs, but they seemed very limited, so we decided to walk a little ways to see if we could see any more. We came across a sign that said "Please do not go beyond this point." Without hesitation (and because we were not the only ones to do so), we ignored the sign and continued to hike along the cliffs. Lesson learned: Always go past the sign that says, "do not go beyond this point." As we walked further along, the views became even more stunning than from the other side. We hiked along for about an hour, stopping a few times to snap pictures and then sat on the edge  for a while and breathed in the fresh air. It is moments like these that make all the hard work, money, and hassle to travel all so worth it. I wish I could have shared that moment with all of you. Pictures to come, even though, of course, they cannot do it justice (You can see a few photos that Becca took on her phone on my facebook).

Headed back to Galway for the night where we found our way to a local pub to have a pint with the locals and enjoy a live band playing traditional Irish music, or "trad." Galway is supposedly known for having great trad, and this place was quintessentially Irish. Walked around the streets of Galway for a little while with some new friends (it's a small town, so it doesn't take long to get from one end to the other) and they showed us where all the locals go after a night out: Supermacs. It's basically a glorified fast-food court that is open late for all the locals to come grab some greasy food after a night at the pubs or clubs. It was packed to the brim of teenagers and college students ordering cheeseburgers, pizza, and chicken and chips. We ate our fill, and then headed back to the hostel for a good night of sleep (in a real bed!).

Woke up this morning, grabbed some breakfast, and now sitting at the hostel in Galway (abusing the free internet!) and trying to decide what to do with our day before heading back to Dublin this evening...

Day 1: Waste No Time

Made it to Dublin!
A beautiful, diverse city, buzzing with activity and a pub on every corner. Also saw a guy with dreads all the way down to his knees. I applauded his perseverance: that must have taken years! Overall, great first impressions of the city. Friendly people and plenty to see and do.

I was too excited to really sleep on the plane, so when I arrived in Dublin at 8:30AM today, my energy tank was on empty. Nevertheless, I hopped on a bus and went straight from the airport to  a 3-hour walking tour of Dublin. Definitely running on just fumes at this point. After the tour, went to a local pub and grabbed a quick meal of true comfort food: Irish beef and Guinness Stew with cabbage and potatoes. Mmm. Now all I want to do is go take a long nap in one of the many beautiful parks in the city. And that's just what I'm going to do.

Cheers!

Preparation: The Plan

All packed up and ready to go! Before now, I've only ever had to pack for a 3 week trip. Packing for 2 months and for 2 different seasons was a new challenge, but mission accomplished! I definitely over-packed, per usual, but due to my superior packing skills, it all fit in one pack, 30 pounds, and one small carry-on, 5 pounds. Not bad considering I had to pack for 90-degree days on the Mediterranean and 40-degree days in the Alps, all in one bag.

Boarding passes printed, passport in pocket, camera charged, phone charged, money exchanged, shoes on, annnnd we're off. Now the hurry-up-and-wait begins. Driving to Chicago from Grand Rapids, then a non-stop overnight flight to Dublin. Thankfully I sleep like a baby on planes.

So here is the rough itinerary/list of places I will be traveling to in Europe:

Ireland: Dublin and the West Coast
Belgium: Brussels
Netherlands: Amsterdam
Spain: Madrid and Barcelona
Italy: Pisa, Rome, Florence, Venice
Austria: Vienna
Czech Republic: Prague
Poland: Krakow, Wroclaw
Finland: Helsinki
Sweden: Stockholm, Gothenburg
Denmark: Copenhagen
Germany: (cities TBD)
Luxembourg (possibly)
Switzerland (cities TBD)

In most of these cities, I'll have the luxury of staying with people that I know, mostly international students that I met at North Park and friends that are studying abroad or working abroad. I specifically planned my itinerary around cities where I knew I could stay with someone I know. This has major financial benefits, but I'll also have a local to show me around, which is an even bigger benefit. In the cities where I don't know anyone, I will either be CouchSurfing (www.couchsurfing.org) or finding a cheap hostel. I won't be living in luxury by any means, but I'm on a tight budget and have no complaints. In my opinion, it will be more of an adventure to travel this way anyway, and that is my goal after all, isn't it?

I can't wait for the adventures to come. Even as I write this, knowing that in less than 24 hours I will be in Europe, it still doesn't feel real. Someone pinch me. Off I go!

Preparation: Philosophizing

My first blog post!

Thanks for reading.
The purpose of this blog is for my family and friends to follow along with me as I trot across the globe.

Tomorrow, I will embark on my first adventure to Europe. Spanning 2 months and about 13 countries, my trip will be primarily for selfish, tourist reasons, although I hope to be anything other than a typical  "tourist." While I do intend to see the sights, have some adventures, and discover hidden beauty, I also hope to make new friends, experience new cultures, and gain a new perspective on life along the way.

When I tell people that I'm going to travel, many people ask, "Why?" This is mostly out of curiosity, as in, what is my purpose for traveling, but  a few people also ask in the "Why on earth would you want to do that?!?" kind of way. My response is usually, "Why not?" A cop-out answer, I know.  But I've begun to think more deeply about why I want to spend so much of my time (and my money) traveling internationally. The one answer that continues to come to mind is: adventure. I desire adventure in life, and I do not feel satisfied without it. I cannot be content knowing that I have only seen such a small part of this world and knowing there is so much more out there to experience. I know that I will not be able to see every inch of the world before I die, but I can't help but try.  I hope that my goal of travel is never in the form of a checklist: going places and seeing things simply to check them off my list. Travel, much like life, is about the journey, not the destination. That, in a nutshell, is my "philosophy of travel."

This philosophy of mine also includes my ideas about what I want to gain from travel. For me, the relationships I make and the people I meet are more important to me than the number of places I visit or the number of crazy things I do. Similarly, experiencing a new culture as deeply as possible is more important to me than experiencing a lot of cultures only a little bit (quality over quantity is the theme here). So then, it would seem contradictory for me to plan my first trip in this way: 13 countries in 2 months, staying in some countries for no more than a day.

When I had originally started dreaming about my travels, I always thought I would pick one place and stay there for an extended period of time, rather than hopping around, living like a tourist/nomad. If, after all, the relationships I make are more important to me than the sights I see, and if fully immersing myself in a culture is more desirable to me than living like a tourist, then it would make sense for me to live in one place for an extended period of time. But as I researched study abroad trips, the peace corps, teaching abroad, and international internships, nothing really seemed to fall into place. But the idea of traveling just for tourism still seemed like a selfish, expensive, and non-meaningful way to travel that was in direct opposition of my philosophy. But I think I'm okay with the idea of it now. There's nothing wrong with living like a tourist, always with open eyes and an open mind to something new every day. After all, I do love a change of scenery and hate being stuck anywhere. I've had to tell myself that this is not selfish, that I have worked hard for the money and the time off to travel, and that I can still live abroad long-term later in life if I want to. And I think I can still maintain my philosophies about travel along the way, as long as I prioritize the people and the culture over the material things and the touristy places.

While there remain a few skeptics who think I'm crazy for traveling (especially solo, at times), most people are supportive and excited for me. Many people say, " Good for you! I wish I had done that when I was your age," or, "Traveling was one of the best things I ever did. You won't regret it!" or, "I wish I had the time/money/lack of commitments to do that."  So I am going to take advantage of the face that I have no commitments holding me down and no time constraints. I know that if I keep putting it off, something or someone else will always come up that will make it more difficult to leave home. So, I'm just going to jump and go for it.  Even if I end up broke in the end (which is highly likely), it will all be worth it. I know I'll look back with no regrets. And hey, traveling abroad solo looks good on a resume, right? :)