The Misadventures of Pippa

My Newest Blog...My Newest Adventure!!

2010-03-27T01:48:00.006-04:00

I have started a new blog to chronicle my new adventure! Check it out! I will be transitioning this blog into a more personal narrative of all things Pippa!

The new blog will focus on my travels and adventures! My current project is an in depth tour of North America with a specific focus on the young American experience!

So, if you'd like to keep up with my misadventures in the heartland, check it out! And I will see you on the road! =)

http://adventuresofpippa.wordpress.com/

TheatreLand

2007-05-29T08:45:00.000-04:00

So yesterday was a cold and dreary day here in London. It was pouring and only about 50 degrees, if that. I had a pretty down day, opting to take it easy. It was, after all, a Bank Holiday! So, I ran a few errands and stocked up on fun Brit bits and bobs to tote back with me! I got a jar of Sticky toffee and I hope that it is considered a solid. I don't want to have to check my bag! The security guards are going to think I'm mad! Sticky Toffee, Jaffa Cakes, and Build-a-Bear regalia! Good times! So, after grabbing an early dinner, I headed back to the hostel. My roommates and I got into an interesting discussion and we spent a couple of hours debating American politics, including the Supreme Court and the threat of prayer in school and the ban on abortion. I spoke about the integrity of the constitution and 1 girl (a 20 year old American christian) said I was being very reductionist. I said yes, I was. I had to be! In a room full of people, you will not find even 2 people who wholly agree on every last thing. It boils down to the constitution. You have to remove everything else. The constitution is the bottom line. And if prayer in school is instituted, it is an attack on the very foundation of the United States. The United States will no longer exist as it was conceived. And what then?? What will be next? Once the 1st amendment is shattered, the country is exposed and vulnerable. It will no longer be a secular or free society. Great men and women have given their lives to fight for these very basic rights and freedoms. They are probably rolling over in their graves! The US has veered so far away from what is was and what is was supposed to become. It was be a dark day in history and the beginning of the end. What's upsetting is that the US has the opportunity to be something truly amazing. Unfortunately, too many people are wrapped up in their own "morals" and their own demand that everyone assimilate to what they feel is right to realize what they will be giving up. To live in a free society, you must have a certain amount of tolerance. You may not like something, in fact you may loathe it, but you must recognize and accept that they are free to do as they like - just as you are. It is part and parcel of living in a free country. If rights continue to be stripped away, the US will succeed where the Nazis and the Fascists failed. The passage by Martin Niemoller, a Protestant minister and Dachau survivor, sums up the dangers of apathy and self righteousness:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Anyway, the girls said they never thought about it that way. All I can hope for is that they start to think beyond their upbringing and their bibles. And they enlightened me, as well! I had no idea that Obama has a huge following in the collegiate world! That's interesting! They say that he is "young and hip." Ok.... well, he's not my first choice, but I'll take him. Anyone other than a white, christian republican male will do. That night, deep in thought, I fell asleep loving the view over South Kensington that my room affords me.

Today has been a good day, so far! I woke up early and realized that it is my last full day in Europe. So, my mood has been somewhat diminished. I headed out early and boarded the tube to Leicester Square. I had to go to British Actors Equity!! I sat down with the Membership Manager and hashed out all the details of my move to London! I got the London Actor's "Bible" which lists everything you need to know about a performer's life in the UK! He also directed me to the website that I need to get myself on. It's similar to Actor's Access and Now Casting, except you are only allowed to post your CV if you are union and have professional credits! So, it truly is an online database for Casting Directors and so forth! AA and NC are overloaded with anyone and everyone who claims to be an "actor." We chatted for awhile about the UK industry and life in London! It was great! So, glowing from the prospect of living and working in London, I headed over to Leicester Square and had a quick lunch.

And that brings to right now. Sitting in an internet cafe on Charing Cross Rd., writing my last blog in Europe. Wow.... I don't want to leave, really. But I'm so sick of hostels, that I'm looking forward to my own bed. So, I have really intense mixed feelings. And I don't know what I'm going to do.... I have a lot to think about. And some big decisions to make. If I move to London, my life and career take a very different path. Plus, it will take at least 6 months, because of my cats. Hmmm.... it's not something I can jump into lightly. I'm planning on continuing this blog even after I get back, so I'll let you know. I'm also going to post a blog summarizing my time in Europe. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Well, my time is almost up. I'll see you on the other side of the pond... tomorrow. Yikes.....

Due to a Person Under a Train....

2007-05-27T11:16:00.000-04:00

Equus was absolutely amazing! It is one of the best plays I have seen! Having read the play many times, I knew what to expect and the production still left me with goosebumps! Daniel Radcliff is a fantastic actor and after 5 minutes or so, you completely forgot that he was Harry Potter. He became Alan Strang. The set design was incredible - stark and effective. And the dancers who portrayed the horses were unbelievable. It was a powerful, moving production and was worth every last pence, plus some! Wow.... I am quite sure that I will be talking about this show for a while, so I'll fill you in on all the details when I get back! I think I was the only American in the Orchestra... perhaps the theatre. I suppose they were all off seeing Mary Poppins or the Lion King or some other equally vapid happy musical. Not to diminish musicals. They have their place and I enjoy them once in awhile, but plays offer so much more. I love theatre! And I love London's Theatre Land! I can honestly see myself living here quite happily!

Anyway, the evening was completely ruined by news that my mother shared with me via telephone. If you read the blog this morning, before I deleted it, then you know what I am speaking of. If not, email me and I'll fill you in. Suffice to say that I am not a happy camper. But I've been told no bitter diatribes or venomous spitting allowed. Not on my blog anyway. So, I spent the evening pouting and chatting with this guy about ceramics and the evolution of nanotechnology with particular emphasis on energy application. Good times....

I woke this morning to heavy rain. Seemed appropriate, given my mood. So, I pulled out my jacket and rain gear. No rain was going to keep me from the markets! By god, this is England! They don't stop for rain! So, my first stop was Petticoat Lane! I spend a couple of hours wandering the stalls and found some great jewellry! I bargained with this round Cockney gent and walked away with 4 new necklaces that I love! They are very typically me...

Soaking wet and in dire need of a Loo, I popped into a little place near the Tube station and had an early lunch. Then I hopped on the train headed for Camden Town! Unfortunately, someone had thrown themselves in front of the train at the Camden Town tube station and they were drug under the train. So, while on board the Northern Line train headed straight for that stop, we were informed that we would not be stopping at that particular station. Damn. So, after an intersting bus adventure and a good walk in the rain, I finally found myself in the heart of Camden! I love Camden! It is a bit grungey - but in a good way! It is full of funky shops and cheap eats!! Colorful people and TONS of great shopping, including a bunch of market all within a few blocks of each other!!! Oh, it was great!! I bought some fabulous toe socks and some rainbow trainers! I had a blast just wandering through the tightly packed stalls, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of Camden on the Weekend. On the way back to the the distant tube station (Camden Town station was still closed), I popped into the 99p Store and came across a bunch of tack from Little Britain which is a fabulously sick and twisted sketch comedy show on BBC! I highly recommend it - it's shown in the US on BBC AMerica!! So, I bought a few things, then headed into the tube. A dull British voice greeted me with: "Due to a person under a train in Camden Town, please expect severe delays." Blunt and very polite. It was amusing. By the time I made my back to South Kensinton, the rain has eased up a bit. So I think I will visit Nando again.... I love his pitas!!

I'm not sure what I'll be doing tomorrow... I'll let you know when I know....

The Boy Wizard and Build-A-Bear

2007-05-26T07:59:00.000-04:00

I finally made it to London! As I stepped out into Waterloo station, I felt at ease. I was back in my favorite city! I let a sigh of relief slip and I made my way to the Tube. I emerged in South Kensington, where I would be spending my final week in Europe. Pushing thoughts of leaving from my mind, I made my way to my temporary home and settled in. I was exhausted, the the evening was spent relaxing and running mild errands before I collapsed into bed.

The next morning, I was up and out early. I walked from South Kensington over to Regent's St. on a quest to find Build-A-Bear. It was attached to the famous Hamley's Toy store! Wow! That is a cool toy store! I made my way upstairs to the Workshop and set about finding the perfect outfits for my niece and nephew! I seriously considered buying them the UK Bear, but decided against it - though I may return before I leave! After about an hour of hemming and hawing, I had decided on a Palace Guard outfit for my nephew and a Queen Victoria outfit for my Niece. Of course, no British bear is complete without a Union Jack flag strapped to their arm!! The manager loved my "enthusiasm" - really guarded sarcasm - and offered me a job! When I get back to London, I'm to see her straight away! Hey, if I'm ever hard up, at least I know I can get something! She gave me 2 notebooks and 2 pins for the kids as a bonus! They will love it!

So, £26 lighter, I headed out and shopped my way down Regent's St. I stopped into Virgin to see if they had any new Jamie Cullum releases, but apparently there has been a snag with his new album. Damn. It was worth a try. I made my way back out to Knightsbridge and walked back towards Kensington. I stopped at Piccadilly Market and had a wonderful conversation with a woman about Immigration, tea, and London! I love walking in London. The smell of Jasmine seems to follow me. I thought about returning to Kew Gardens before I leave. Before long, I was standing in front of Harrod's. I decided to pop in and pick up some tea. I was hung up in cosmetics, testing new products and chatting with the girls. I eventually made it the teas and spent a ridiculous amount of time deciding what I wanted. I finally settled on 3 boxes of various blends. In case you are wondering, Harrod's is renowned for their tea. By the time I left Harrod's, it was getting late. I stopped and had a late dinner then caught up with some friends and email.

The next morning, I headed over to the Victoria & Albert Museum. It was fascinating! My favorite areas were the cast courts and the photography! The Indian Textiles were incredible! My next stop was the Museum of Natural History. Set in an amazing Gothic building, the museum is interesting. Though it is more family oriented, so I only stayed about an hour. I had a quick lunch and went about gathering information regarding immigration. After getting what I needed, I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring South Kensington! I popped into every store that caught my fancy, wandered down narrow side streets, and thoroughly enjoyed people watching! As I was on my way back, I came across this restaurant called Nando's. I decided it looked interesting and had a nice dinner! It was just a casual place that served Portuguese chicken pitas and such! It was hot and spicy and I loved it! I will definitely go back! With my belly full, I tucked in for an early bedtime.

Saturday brought a cool and cloudy day, which I actually didn't mind. I did some silly little chores, then I headed out to Leicester Square. My goal was to do everything possible to get tickets for Equus - the one play that I really wanted to see while I am in London. So, after standing in several lines for the better part of an hour, I did walk away with Orchestra Stall center seats - 10th row! I paid £37 for them, but at least I get to see the show!! All other tickets were sold out. The show starts in less than an hour and I can't wait! Even if this is the only show I see while I'm here, it's worth it. This is a Bank Holiday weekend, so everything is a bit crowded and Londoners have jumped ship for the beaches of Brighton and Cornwall. Monday will be a pain in the ass, since everything will be closed. But, perhaps that will be the day I go to Kew Gardens. I'll remember to bring a loaf of bread for the ducks and birds.

I suppose you are wondering what I found out regarding UK Immigration. Well, I need to get my Artist's Visa first. That gives me the right to work for 2 years as an actor in the UK. Once I have the visa, I need to go to British Actor's Equity with my visa, my US Union Cards, and my contracts and they will process my membership ASAP since I'm already eligible. Once I have all of that, I need to contact the agencies who are interested in signing me. So far, only 3 are interested and 1 is American. They all require a visa and BAE membership before they can proceed. So, once I get set up as an actor, then I can go out and find a regular job to tide me over. This is obviously the condensed version, but you should have a general idea.

Well, I'm off to the show! I'll write my thoughts on the show tomorrow! And no worries, I'll let you know what Harry Potter's penis looked like! I'll be close enough! I love London's TheatreLand!

Treno di Notte

2007-05-25T07:29:00.000-04:00

So my final day in Rome was long. The minutes picked away the hours at an agonizing pace. I woke early to find creepy old man packing to leave. Figures. So, I climb out of the hateful coffin like bunk bed and stumbled through the thick, humid air. I slowly got myself ready for the day, packed my bags, and headed down to breakfast. After eating yet another chocolate filled Brioche (wonderful the first couple of morning, but the sickeningly sweet filling got old) and about 4 cups of espresso, I dropped off my clothes at the laundry center and wandered through the markets. They suck in Rome! Especially compared to Florence. Oh well. I headed to the store to buy those coconut cookies I love and grabbed lunch while I was at it. I visited my New J ersey friend at his family store and stocked up on cigs. After picking up my finished laundry, I found my way back to the hostel and repacked my bags in preparation for the big departure. The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up with other travelers, researching which shows I wanted to see in London, and so orth. I was terribly bored and ready to go! Impatience got the best of me, and I decided to head out to the train statin early. Burdened with my pack and bag, I found a quiet place to grab a bite to eat and headed out to the platform.

Carriage after carriage, the run down Treno di Notte stretched on for a mile. I walked or what seemed like an eternity, attempting to find my carriage. It was the last one. As I approached the train, the conductor spied me. He checked my ticket and introduced himslef. His name was Roberto and he was wearing large diamonte studs - one in each ear. I immediately thought of the Adam Sandler film Waterboy and had to swallow a giggle. His english was broken, but he managed to inform me (well, my breasts really) that the cabin was towards the back. As he turned to assist an elderly french woman, I checked my watch. I had just enough time to smoke. So, I set down my bags and lit a ciggie. As I smoked, looked around the platform. The sun was setting and it was casting a soft light that caught the dust in a sort of ethereal glow. The busy shadowy figures created an appealing contrast and I enjoyed the moment. The train whistle shattered my thought. I snuffed out the cig and boarded the train.

I had bought an upgraded seat in a "Confort Cabin." Obiously, Italians have a very different idea of what constitutes comfort. The cabin was small and confining. There was a woman already sitting there. She barely acknowledged me as I settled into the seat across from her. Lovely. 14 hours with a bitch. As the train pulled away, we were still alone and I hoped that it would be just the 2 of us. I couldn't imagine 4 people in this cramped cage. The train gained speed and Rome dropped away, giving the countryside priority. The sun hung low casting shadows through the dim cabin. I leaned my head against the thick plastic window and watched Lazio melt into Tuscany. The soft rolling hills, sunburned and ablaze in a fiery palate, lulled me. I closed my eyes and let the Italian countryside slip away.

As we pulled into Firenze, we were nformed that 2 more passangers would be boarding. Damn. As the young couple entered the cabin, their eyes were locked on me. They nodded, knowing that this chubby girl before them was an American, and said "Bon jour." As it turns out, the woman who I'd been sittng with was also French. They were all from Paris and returning home. I was the odd man out and they made no real attempts to incorporate me into their French club. As they closed the cabin door, the smell hit me hard. I hung my head and willed myelf to ignore it. Did I have any Oust spray left, I wondered as we pulled the bunks out. As ew all climbed to our perches, they argued about whether or not to lock the door. They opted not to. The women were concerned about having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Whatever. I read or a bit, but the rocking of the train was hypnotic and before I knew it, I was alseep.

Finding it difficult to breathe, I awoke in a sweat some time later. The train was still and eerily quiet. The cabin was stiffling hot - the A/C turns of when the train is not running. We were at the border and the French guards were taking their time. The heat was unbearable and I wanted a smoke, so I went in search of Roberto. He directed me to the bathroom. As he informed me to blow the smoke out the window, he winked and studied my body in a way that made my skin crawl. I smiled and thanked him, then shut and locked the door. I felt like I was back in high school. Smokin' in the girls room. I got out of school suspension one time because I was caught smoking in the girls room. Briefly, I wondered what the French military might do to an American caught in the act of violating their train rules. I shrugged the thought away, and as I finished my cigarette, the train began to roll. I made my way back to the cabin and carefully climbed onto my bunk. Sleep came readily, and I fitfully rested through the night.

I woke early, the first in my cabin. I quietly gathered my toiletries and tiptoed out into the passageway. I went to the bathroom. It reeked of piss and BO. I brushed my teeth and hair, frowning at my haggard face in the sheet mirror. I was tired. And I was ready for a morning smoke. I passed Roberto and he ushered me to the side and allowed me to light up. We started chatting, lightly, in a manner reserved for people who really don't share a language. He asked if I had a boyfried. Uh oh. Slightly panicked, I smoked faster and lied. Yes, I do have a boyfriend. In fact, we are meeting up in London. An elaborate version of my standard, but I hoped he understood. And he did... he simply did not care. He grabbed my face and before I knew what was happening, he planted his full lips on mine. I pulled away, feeling trapped and looking for the exits as he set about convincng me that my boyfriend didn't matter. I should stay with him and have sex. A brief flashback to the mexican in the laundry room hit me like a ton of bricks and images of all the men before him flipped through my brain like flash cards. As Roger's face smashed into my conscience thought, I chucked the cigarette and made a very diplomatic exit, the breath catching in my throat, threatening to choke me. To gag me. Like before. I scurried back to the cabin, shut the door, and did not leave until we pulled into Gare du Bercy in Paris. I rabbed my passport without looking and hurried out the door.

The Paris air was cool, but not cold. It felt nice on my flushed face. After a quick glance over my shoulder, I rushed to the Metro station. I had to get away. Run. I hate Italian men. I made it to Gare du Nord without too much difficuly. And for the next couple of hours, I pouted and dodged the Gypsies with a new found alacrity. I ha lunch at a place just outside the terminal and ended up having quite a conversation with 2 American boys. Polotics, the state of the Union, civil liberties and the rights of women, where is America headed? The discussion perked me up and I headed to the Eurostar terminal with a lighter step. After all, I was headed back to London - my favorite city!

As the train hurtled itself under the english chanel, a sadness swept through me. I would be leaving soon. This was my last train ride. As I stared out into the pitch blackness, my thoughts drifted to all that I had seen and expereinced. All that I ad learned and unlearned. And how some things will never, ever go away.

I am.... Batman!

2007-05-21T13:36:00.000-04:00

Ok.... so the past couple of days have been interesting. When I went back to my room Sat. night, there was this disgusting old man was sprawled out on a bunk wearing nothing but stained, translucent tighty whiteys!! Oooooohhhh! I so did not need to see that!!!! So, between the heat (they still have not fixed the damn A/C), the bugs, and the dirty old man.... well, I had a restless night.

The next morning, the bites were making me miserable so I actually headed out to the pharmacy to see out some professional assistance. Italian pharmacies are amusing! I did get a tube of cream and headed back to the hostel to slather myself up. I ran into Kate and her friend. We decided to grab dinner at this diner Kate had visited a few nights earlier. So, we hung out drinking wine and eating mediocre italian food. I had the Penne with 4 cheese sauce. It was better tha the Gnocchi. §After dinner, I hung out with this British guy and his Argentinian friend - they both live in Madrid, Spain. It was fun! They are fabulously insane! I love Argentinians! But the cream was wearing off and my patience wearing thin, so I opted for an early bedtime. When I went up to my room, the creepy old man was fully clothed. Thank God...

Today has been very low key. I've made lots of phone calls and read about 500 pages in this book I picked up in Florence. I'll finish it tonight. I woke up with more bites - all the windows in the hostel are wide ope and lacking any screens, so I'm like a buffet. Oy happy happy joy joy. So, I did not really feel like doing much of anything at all. It was so hot that the sweat and oppressive heat were irritating me and my bites. Thankfully, I leave tomorrow and I can't wait to be back in London!! I'm going to go see shows and visit all the markets!! It will be great!! Oh, and my first Diet Coke in quite some time!! Yeaaaa!!! I love London!! So, tomorrow will be errand day! I want to pick up a box of these yummy coconut cookies and do laundry! Then I catch the train around 6pm!! I arrive in Paris i n the morning and have a couple of hours to grab a bite to eat and collect my thoughts before hopping on the Eurostar! I will be back in London by early afternoon!

Only 1 more day in Rome!! Although, I will miss the bats!! Italy is host to the most massive bat population I have ever come across! Starting around 4 -5 pm, the sky is filled with them!! It's like a scene from Pitch Black!! I keep expecting Vin Deisel to come running around the corner to heroically battle the monsties!! I love bats and to see them fill the sky is an impressive sight! And there are 2 distinct kinds - 1 is small with a short wing span and the other is more like fruit bats! Very large wingspan! It's cool!

Any-hoo.... I'm off to grab dinner. My next post will be from London!!

The Fury of Rome

2007-05-19T11:33:00.000-04:00

So, last night was a nice, relaxing, and enjoyable evening! I ended up running into this girl Kate who I met at the hostel! We decided to hang out and grab dinner - of course, it was not before we got in trouble with the manager of the hostel! It's a really long story, and quite funny actually, so if you want to hear about it, just ask me about the "Italian Game!!"

It was about 5pm, so it was sort of early, but not really! When we went into the hostel to get the discount card, they informed us that the restaurant didn't open until 6 pm. Shit. Well, we were hot and tired and feeling incrediably lazy. So, we decided to go across the street and have an espresso and chat for an hour. When the impressively long hour was up, we wandered around the corner and found a seat. We laughed about how lazy we were being, but figured what the hell??!!? So, we had a lovely 4 hour meal.... 5 if you include the hour for espresso! We started off with the breadsticks and fresh bruschetta with a few glasses of wine. Then I had the Gnocchi with Bolognese Sauce. It was ok.... actually I was a bit disappointed. But we decided to have dessert and a few more glasses of wine. We both ordered Tiramisu and it was fabulous!! So, that made up for the gnocchi. We finished off the meal with a strong, sweet apertif. It was great! We staggered back to the hostel and went to bed!

The next morning, we decided to go to the Vatican Museum together! I spent the morning lazing around and researching Bed Bugs (yea.... I know). We met up around 12:30 and caught the metro to Vatican City. When we arrived, the line wasn't too bad and we sped through it in about 20 minutes! We wandered through the museum, and slowly made our way to the Sistine Chapel. It was interesting and I'm certainly glad I went, although it was not quite what I expected. Of course, what ever is??!!? Anyway, the guards in the Sistine Chapel are crazy! They chant thier orders .....Nooooo - Pho - toooooos. Quiii-eeeeet Plllleeeeaaaase! And they would clap at people like they are children! It was very bizarre in ana amusing sort of way! Well, after we were done and at the point of making jokes, we felt it was time to leave. So, after seeing the Pinocateca Gallery, we caught the Metro back to Termini. We were starving and in dire need of sustanance! Neither of had eaten lunch! Ooops! Oh well! We grabbed a quick bite and then headed back to the hostel.

So, here we are! I must say that watching Jesus suffer and die repeatedly is quite exhausting! Dead Jesus, bloody Jesus, crucified Jesus, little baby Jesus! They even had a van Gogh Painting of Jesus??!!!?? I'm tired of Jesus paintings! I never want to see another christian painting again!! Oy vey! In all honesty, I'm tired of museums! I've been to so many places that have so many world class museums, that I'm a little burnt out! And Rome doesn't help the situation, either! Kate and I decided last night that Rome is a very angry city! And since I'm super sensitive to my environment, it's no wonder I'm not happy! We witnessed so many acts of pure rage during our 5 hour coffee break and dinner, that is was ridiculous! The Fury of Rome..... perhaps it's the heat. Who knows?? I mean Italians are already very passionate people, but when that passion turns dark.... watch out! It's a good thing they don't have guns over here.

Anyway... I'm rambling! I'm going out with Kate to get Gelato in a little while! That should be fun! I have no idea what I'm going to be doing tomorrow! My plans keep changing!! I'll let you know tomorrow!!

Aye Dios Mio!

2007-05-18T08:50:00.000-04:00

Last night was amusing! now that all the Study abroad programs have let out, there are A LOT of Americans running about in the big bad European cities generally making asses out of themselves. And the ones at the hostel here in Rome are no exception. I went outside to smoke a ciggie and was met by 2 very young American boys. They were both drunk and attempting to drink more, but were having great difficulties opening there bottles. Oh, they were obnoxious but at least it was entertaining. A few girls I had met the previous evening wandered up and we started chatting. Of course the boys joined in and they conversation quickly turned south. Way south!! LOL! Suffice it to say that the Roman Catholic institution would not have approved!

This morning, I drug my ass and took forever to head out. I tried to get a refund for the hostel so that I could leave early, but they wouldn't budge. So, I changed my Eurostar departure so that I only have to spend a couple of hours in Paris and figured out what the hell I'm going to do over the next 4 days! I have decided that tomorrow, I'm going to go to Anzio. It's a small town on the Pontine coast just south of Rome. It has a lot of WWII sites and memorials, including the American cemetery. It's supposed to be nice. Then, on Monday, I'm going to go to Ostia Antica to explore the ruins. Apparently, it's more interesting than Pompeii and much less crowded. Not to mention closer! Then, on Tuesday (my final day in Rome), I will brave the Vatican once again to visit the Museo Vaticani and the Sistine Chapel. After all of that, I'm off to the UK!

After I figured out the next few days, I went and grabbed a bite to eat and made my way to the Spanish Steps & the Piazza Spagna. It was okay, but nothing special! I don't know why people think they are so great??!! In all honesty, they weren't all that attractive. Rome isn't attractive. I find Florence and the surrounding Tuscan countryside much more artistically appealing. I'm not alone, of course. Many artists and writers of all types have flocked to Tuscany.

Anyway, after pushing my way through the throngs of tourists, thieves, and beggars I was hot and annoyed. So, I hopped on the Metro and went back towards the hostel. I am in the middle o a siesta. I wish I could take a nap, but you know I can't sleep during the day!! Arg! I'll be heading out pretty soon. I'm going to get dinner at a local Trattoria. I am hoping that the rest of the evening is spent relaxing. I haven't been sleeping too well because the heat and my roommates. But we will see!

Well I'm off in search of homemade Gnocchi!

Worship of False Idols

2007-05-17T10:42:00.000-04:00

Ok... let me start off by saying that Italians are completely insane! Generally, it is in an amusing and endearing sort of way. Romans are a bit less amusing, though. More crazy. I think it's the heat and humidity. It is intense and the inevitable chafing is bound to bunch anyone's panties.... even a Mediterranean. Rome is complete chaos and exhaustion comes rapidly. Spending the day dodging scooters, rabid drivers, thieves, and peddlers in the blazing heat certainly takes its toll. I hate humidity and I am very tired from 2 months of travel. So, I think I would have enjoyed the city a bit more if I had come at the beginning of my trip. Although, to be perfectly honest, I simply do not understand why Americans like Italy so much?? It's filthy, hot, crowded, expensive, and overrun with North African peddlers and Gypsy thieves! Obviously, it is not my favorite country. I would have much preferred Spain and I do regret choosing Italy over Spain and Morocco. Oh well.... c'est la vie. And another lesson learned! Wow.... I've certainly learned a lot in 2 months....

Any-hoo.... today has been exhausting and somewhat intense! This morning, I headed over to the Cappuccin Crypt. I walked through the dark and cool tunnel and was actually quite disturbed! The bones are older and much more in your face than in Kutna Hora! And, they have children's skeletons as well, including a child's skeleton hanging from the ceiling that is arranged as the Grim Reaper. Oy... they also have lots of skeletons dressed in monk's robes. Very creepy. So, still a bit distressed, I wandered over to the Piazza Repubblica and had a bite to eat before boarding the metro. I was on my way to the Vatican. Even though I am not Christian, I was looking forward to standing in the Sistine Chapel!

After a very hot and sweaty ride, I got to the walls of Vatican City and walked... and walked.... and walked! I was looking for the entrance, and the lines!! But there was none!! After asking several people, I found out the door marked exit was also the entrance. Shit. Their was no one there?! So, I walked back, fearing that the museum was closed, and of course, it was. The one day this month that it was randomly closed was today. Well, I could still go to St. Peter's Sq and the Basilica. So, I headed back in the direction I came and finally came to the archway leading directly into the square. As I stepped through, I marveled at the incredible colonnade. I stepped out into the massive square and took stock of my surrounding. For some reason, I was disturbed. And I walked further into the square, I actually became angry. I'm not really entirely sure why.... pensively, I headed over to the entrance to the Basilica. As I waited in line, I took a good look at everything in the square. There was a banner with the Pope posing for a picture for some special something. Isn't vanity a sin? And greed? As I entered the Papal tombs, this feeling of unrest simply grew. As I briskly walked through, I looked at all the people. It was sad and rather frightening. As I came up to Pope John Paul II tomb, I slowed nearly to a stop. People had fallen to their knees and were deep in prayer. They had lit candles and left flowers and other offerings, including money. As I walked past them in slow motion, I wanted to yank them up off of their feet and shake them. I wanted to scream "The Pope is not God! He is a man !! Don't you realize how far away from God you really are???" Since you can be thrown in jail for speaking ill of the precious Pope, I kept my mouth shut. Although, I could not help shaking my head as I passed. Even that caused the numerous guards to go on alert. They watched me very closely until I had left the tomb. But, to put it in Christian terms, they are essentially worshiping a false idol - the Pope - and that is a big no-no according to the bible!

With my anger mixing with sadness, I went into the Basilica. As I walked in, it was the coldest place I have ever been. God certainly doesn't live there. Although it was gorgeous and an incredible architectural gem, it was spiritually dead. The entire Basilica was created to outdo everyone else, not really as a place of worship. Antithetical to what they preach. Whatever happened to Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. Or does that only apply to those they rule? I was disgusted, and more than ready to leave. With my heart heavy, I slowly made my way back to the Metro, thinking of how many millions of innocent lives have been cut short in the name of this ridiculousness. It's sad, really. Christians, Catholics in particular, have no idea. They are completely clueless, for the most part, and prefer to be as such. It's a spiritual cop out and equivalent to taking the "Easy Road." They don't realize how far from the truth, and consequently God, they really are. And it is not only Christians. It's most organised religion. They offer "answers," when a true spiritual journey should never provide "answers." you should always find more questions. That's the journey. That is how your soul grows. Religion is so dangerous. Is this really what God would want? And why do people want to believe in a God like that?

OK.... enough of my spiritual diatribe! By the time I got back to the hostel, I was hot, soaked in sweat, and exhausted. This evening has been spent simply relaxing and reflecting. I may go see a movie tonight with this girl I met, but I'm not sure! Tomorrow, I think that I'm going out to Ostia Antic, but I'm not sure yet. I'll let you know tomorrow where I ended up going! I have to run.... I think I deserve a Gelato!

All Roads Lead to Rome.....

2007-05-16T12:43:00.000-04:00

I'm in Roma!! Wow... this is my last major city before heading back to the UK!! I can't believe it!! This adventure has flown by! It actually makes me a little sad to think that in less than a month, I'll be returning to the US. Even though some things have really sucked, this has been amazing! I've experienced and seen so much!!!! Going back will be difficult....

Anyway, I got on a train headed for Rome around 12pm. It only takes 1 1/2 hours and since this was the Italian Eurostar, the trains were nicer though still packed! I ended up sitting next to 2 americans who had been studying in Greece and Italy. We chatted about art and culture before the conversation drifted to politics, the economy, and the future of America. After discussing American History, we decided that the current fight in America is for freedom from religion and conservative oppression. It was a fabulous train ride to say the least. I love conversation like that, especially over a glass of red wine.

So, the train pulled into Roma Termini about 2pm - yes, it was late. I found the street that I needed without any hassle and walked towards the hostel. Damn.... Rome is filthy. And as I continued to walk, it simply got dirtier and seedier. Yikes. this isn't good. I finally find the hostel and it is in the worst possible area. Think South Bronx or Bed Sty. Tentaively, I ring the bell. The door buzzes and I walk up the stairs. I'm greeted by these 2 Italian girls who spoke little English and were missing teeth. The few teeth they had left were stained dark brown or even black in some places. Oh dear. So, they were full (thank god) and they sent me to their other hostel. This one was in a better area and was cleaner, but it was still cramped! I mean sleeping right on top of one another. Well, that simply will not do! I dumped my bags and went on a quest to find a decent place to stay! I eventually found myself at a nice hostel and I'm only paying a few Euros more. Satisfied, I went the restaurant around the corner. I was starving! I had a wonderful dinner! I had a 1/4 liter of delicious red wine, breadsticks, fresh bruschetta, a huge bowl of Fettuccine Alfredo, and a fabulous Apertif.... for 10 Euros!! You can't beat that!! Especially when the pasta was fresh and made from scratch!! Oh, it was wonderful!

With my belly full and warm from the sweet apertif, I slowly made my way to the crappy hostel. When I got there, my roommates had returned. They were from Oregon and we had a great time discussing everything under the sun. Of course, the conversation eventually came to the impending primaries and Hillary Clinton. We even discussed abortion and woman's issues! I loved it!! this was the 2nd time in one day that I had an intellectual conversation!! It the hostel seem a little better.....

The next morning, I woke fairly early. It was terribly hot and there was no A/C. I got dressed and packed pretty quickly, and went out into the office to get "breakfast." It was awful! Fake OJ and this strange stale cake thing??? I don't really care what is was, because it sucked. I have no desire to repeat the experience. After choking it down, I grabbed my bags and booked. I got to the other hostel in record time, dumped my bags, and hit the town! Wow, Rome is filthy and very crowded! Not just with tourists, but with Romans, as well!! The traffic is horrific! I'd compare it to LA!! The scooters and motorcyles are everywhere and are driven by psychotic Italians hell bent on death and destruction! To make matters worse, there are very few pedestrian lights! If you want to cross the street, you simply walk out into traffic and hope they stop. They are supposed to.... in theory. They usually simply go around you. It feels like I'm stuck in a bizarre Frogger game.

Any-hoo.... my first stop was the National Mseum and the Baths of Diocletian. Very interesting! It's amazing to stand in front of a sculpture that was created nearly 4000 years ago!! After wandering the grounds, I headed to the Piazza della Republica. A few Frogger leaps and I was on my way to Trevi Fountain!! I worked my way through the narrow alleys and found myself in front of the gorgeous fountain! It really is a wonderful sight! I threw in 4 coins, just in case!!

After making my wishes, I walked over to the Forum! Wow!! It's pretty incredible!! It must have a wonder! After exploring the ruins, I headed down Via del Fori Imperiali. The Colloseum loomed ahead! It was incredible! I decided that I would brave the line and check out the interior. As I rounded the corner, I saw that there were a bunch of people up on the lookout shouting and blowing whistles and chanting! I figured it was simply a school group or something. I didn't pay it any attention and got in line. After about 30 minutes, the line had not moved and neither had all those people. I asked someone what they were saying. The chant was "Occupado Tutto - No Tourist" - which means, loosely translated, that they had fully occupied the Colleseum so no tourists could enter! They were demanding that 1 million affordable houses be built in Rome. OK.... now everyone who knows me knows that I am a staunch supporter of affordable housing and the general right to protest without fear. But this was ridiculous! they should have chained themselves to the Arc or something!! Anyway, the police and the news crews finally arrived and they CLOSED the Colloseum. They pulled out the few non - protesting people and SHUT THE GATES!! I thought there was going to be major drama, so obviously I hung around as did most people! But, the people left peacefully. As they filed out, it had be 500 of them!! Wow! Lots of them were hiding their face from the news cameras and photographers. Stupid! If you are going to protest, do so proudly! Well, after they got them all out, they reopened the Colloseum and I went in!! Coooooool! Worth it!! I loved wandering through the same passageways that Gladiators took on their way to battle!

So, after the excitement, I wandered over to the Pantheon. It was cool, but I suspect it was MUCH better when it was a Pagan Temple. The Christians came along and destroyed it by pulling out all of the original pagan statues and replacing everything with christian ones. Stupid. But the temple itself was very cool! Afterwards, I headed over to Piazza Navona and checked out Bernini's wonderful work!! At this point, I was completely exhausted and my feet were killing me!! So, I walked.... hobbled.... my way back to the hostel.

Whew! I've had a very busy day and it's only 8 pm!! I dropped off my laundry so in a few minutes, I will ahve clean clothes!! hooray!!! Rome is ridiculously hot and dirty, so I will do it again on my last day! I want to have clean clothes for London!! It is so weird to think that I'll be back in London in 6 days!! I'm very excited about heading back to London, but I'm also a little sad. It means that my adventure is coming to a rapid end. Hmmmmmm..... what to do....

Any-hoo, I go to the Vatican tomorrow! I'm going to stand in the Sistene Chapel! I also want to go into the catacombs, crypts, and tombs! It's supposed to be very cool! I'm not sure what I'm doing on Friday, but I will let you know tomorrow! Well, I'm off to rescue my laundry!

In the Ghettoooooooo

2007-05-15T03:18:00.000-04:00

So, yesterday was a pretty interesting day! I spend a bit of time in the morning updating everything and I even uploaded some pics! So, check my Myspace page, if you are interested!!

After I grabbed a quick lunch, I headed over to the train station and boarded a train headed West! I was going to Pisa! Everyone kept saying that there really isn't anything to see, except the Leaning Tower and the Duomo! Well, I was to find out for myself in about an hour! When I got on the train, I looked around. Wow, this was a ghetto train! It was filthy, hot, and looked about 50 years old! So, this is the Italian trains that I've heard so much about! Oh well! I took a seat and as the departure grew nearer, the train filled up. By the time the train pulled away from the station, it was packed! There were even people standing. Damn. And it was sooooo hot!! I was sweating buckets, even with all the windows open! So, a very long hour later, I rushed off the train and out into Pisa. Wow.... what a shithole! The buildings were decaying, it was filthy, and the people were rude. I continued walking, hoping that t was like Bratislava! The farther you walk, the prettier it gets. But, no. I got to the river and it was the ugliest body of water I have ever seen. Gross.... So, realizing that everyone had been right, I simply walked on. A few miles later, I came to the Roman Wall and some ruins. Cool, but the one in Chester is soooo much better!! Another 10 minutes of walking and I was at the Leaning tower and the Duomo! OK! This is prretty cool! The tower really is something to see and the Duomo was beautiful, although it was run down. So, after capturing the requisite photos anf buying some postcards, I headed back to the train station to go back to Florence! I decided that a well deserved Gelato was in order! So, I found a cheap shop and got a huge waffle cone for 2 Euro. Wayyyyy better than 7 Euro!! I thoroughly enjoyed my yummy gelato as I walked to the train station, ingnoring the ugliness around me. The train ride back to Florence was even more crowded than the first. Arg!! So, an annoying and hot hour later, I tumbled off the train and walked back to the hostel!

I was leaving in the morning and I needed to figure out where I was going! I ran into Eric in the dining room and he told me that Culture week had just started and that it would be going until until 20 May!!! Well, that was all I needed to know! Rome is where I'm off to this morning! 'm going to see all off the museums and festivals and performances I can!!! And, since it is all free, my budget will be bolstered!! Sweeeeeeeet! The Vatican isn't free, but no worries!! I'm probably going to take a tour to skip queues. It's only like 30 - 40 Euros and well worth it in my opinion. The queues in Italy are outrageous! But worth it, ultimately. And, because they only allow a certain number of people in at a time (hence the long queue), it makes it more enjoyable! So, bring a book, your journal, and some water and chill!

Well, I'm off to Roma!! They say all roads lead to Rome.... well, I will let you know!

Pictures!!!

2007-05-14T06:53:00.000-04:00

Hey! I added a few pictures to my MySpace profile!! Go to http://www.myspace.com/pipsnyc to check them out! I only added a few from Munich and from Paragliding, but I will try to add some more tonight when I gte back from Pisa!!

Penis, Penis.... Everywhere!!

2007-05-14T04:52:00.000-04:00

So, I woke up after 10 am on Sunday, still reeling from the traumas of the previous day! I chatted with the owner of the hostel and found out that I had actually lucked out by coming to Florence early!! I caught the last day of Culture Week and all the museums were FREE!!! So, after checking out the map and listening to her suggestions, I headed out towards l'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David! After waiting for 2 hours in the blazing Italian sun, I finally got in. I walked through the hallway that was filed with Jesus paintings - bloody Jesus, dead Jesus, tortured Jesus. Dear god, it was depressing. The antique musical instrument display was interesting. Then, I rounded the corner. Oh my god! There was David at the end of a long hallway standing magnificently under a glass cupola. Wow! The hallway was full of various pieces by Michelangelo, some finished some not. As I got close to the David, the detail took my breath away! From his hands to his ripped 6 pack, he was perfect! I walked all the around admiring this massive man and in awe at the artistic genius. I came around to the other side and gazed up at his face. The expression that Michelangelo was able to capture was brilliant. It was a look of fearful determination and resolve. The furrow of his brow, his eyes, everything. It was amazing. After going through the lqast bit, I headed out to grab lunch. After a quick bite, I headed towards the Duomo (Santa Maria Cathedral). En route, I ahppened to pass by an open air market. Oh, there was no way I could pass this up!! So, I headed in and spent the next 2 1/2 hours having a blast, haggling away with colorful market vendors! Ohm I got some bargains!! I got my neice and nephew each and embroidered t shirt with with Pinnochio on it and Italia! Very fun! I got a fabulous necklace for myself! It's fun and funky! I then came across a guy selling silver jewellry. I saw a bracelet that I liked and inquired about the price. He said 20 Euros! No way!! I didn?t like it that much and after some haggling , I walked away not even thinking of buying it. He called out ""Ok, 5 euros for you!" I stopped. Hmmmmm.... 5 euros is pretty good! So, I bought it. After I had paid, another vendor came over and asked how much in Italian. The guy answered and the other vendor, completely shocked, said in Italian, "For that American?!?" I was pleased and knew I had gotten a bargain! The last treasure was actually the most difficult to haggle. I wanted to get the kids either a Pinnochio marionette or jumping jack. I finally got them each a cute lttle Pinnochio jumping jack that was made in Italy for 2 Euros each! Yeaaaaa! Now, let me just say that there was tack everywhere!! The most common thing (hee hee) was David's penis!! They had it on EVERYTHING!! That boy really gets around!! I almost bought my mother a penis apron - you know she likes to cook!! But in the end, I did not!! LOL! So, after my successful bargain hunting, I felt that I deserved a Gelati. I was sweaty and gross and the cold ice cream would be wonderful! So, I pop into this little Gelateria and ordered a cone with Bounty Ice cream (chocolate and coconut - mmmmmm!) . I went to the cashier and he said 7 Euros. I nearly choked on the mouthful of coconut deliciousness. I thought about giving it back, but I had already licked it so I just paid with a grimace. Ouch. The cost of enjoying a Gelati in the shadow of the Duomo! It was wonderful though and as I enjoyed my gelati, I wandered around the glorious Cathedral!! It really is amazing!! So, after the Duomo, I headed towards the Uffizi and finished every last bite of that cone! As I approached the Piazza dell Signora, All the sculptures took me by surprise! I knew that they had a replica of David, but I had no idea that they had replicas of all the major sculptures! I took my pictures and, as I was snapping a photo of the fake David, I couldn't help but think aboiut how....fake... the fake was! There is absolutely no comparison and if you skipped seeing the real thing and settled for the fake.... well, you really missed out. If you find yourself here in the future, make damn sure that you spring for the real deal!! It's worth it! I headed over the horrific 2 + hour line for the Uffizi. OK... the Uffizi, while it is an impressive collection of Renaissance art, was not really worth the wait!! Just a bunch of bloody or dead or tortured or mutilated Jesus paintings. Ok.... that's an exaggeration, but I was tired and probably suffering from sun stroke at that point. There is actually some wonderful pieces, but they are very spread out and only 1 or 2 from the major artists.

After buying a phone card and take away dinner, I sat in the Piazza di San Marco and ate my dinner enjoying the Florentine evening! I headed back to the hostel and met some really cool people, including Eric who is a PA for the show 30 Rock with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin! We talked shop for most of the evening (some interesting info which I will share later when I see you) and then hung out with a bunch of people drinking and having fun! So, my 1st day in Florence was wonderful, despite my rocky introduction to Italy!! Oh, Italian men are certainly aggressive!! I have had so many men tell me that I am beeeeuuutiful and that they luuuuuvvvvee me!! Bella!! Bellisima! Ohh ohhh! Wow! You know I like it!! LOL!

Anyway, today should be interesting! I'm about to head out to Pisa to check out the Leaning Tower! Wooo hooo! I leave tomorrow for a destination yet to be determined! I've had so many suggestions, that can't decide!! Eric and I are going to be in Rome, so we are going to hang out! It's really cool, if random, to run into people you've met on your travels! I love it!! Especially when it's some unexpected place, like a store in Bratislava!!

Well, I'm off! It takes about an hour to get to Pisa, but really the only thing to see is the Duomo and the tower. That's it! So, hopefully, I will be able go to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the Tuscan sun set over Florence!

Travel Trauma

2007-05-14T04:02:00.000-04:00

OK... so, I didn't have the best day on Saturday. I woke up early and caught my train to Venice. It was a gorgeous ride through the Austrian - Italian Alps and I was really looking forward to Venice! I got there around 1 pm and it was hot & muggy - a bit of a shock soming from the mountains!!!! Iwent straight to the TI since I did not have reservations for a place to stay. Uh oh. The TI wasn't overly helpful and it was the first one that did NOT book hostels!!?? They only book hotels! Shit. So, burdened with all of my stuff, I headed out in search of a bed. 2 hours later, soaked with sweat and miserable, I hadn't found a place for less than 150 Euros a night!! Fuck! So, I made the decision to simply walk around Venice and see all the major sights, then head out to Florence. So, for 6 - 7 hours, I lugged all of my shit al aroud Venice, fighting the crowds and desperately trying to stay hydrated! I crossed the Rialto Bridge (several times, actually), went to St. Mark's square and was assaulted by pigeons (yes, I have a picture!!), and got lost in the winding narrow alleyways! That would have been a lot more fun if I did not have my backpack. But oh well!! While wandering, I did find the mask maker who created all of the masks for the film Eyes Wide Shut, which was very cool! Wow! The masks were amazing!! So, once I hit the Grand Canal around 6pm, I decided I would take a Vaporetto back to the train station. So, I waited in line, but the surly clerk demanded exact change - did I have it?? No, I did not. So, I walked. And for a good hour, I was terribly lost. I finally found the train station and hopped on the next train to Florence. I had a 45 minute layovr in Bologne, which was fine! I hadn't eaten all day and I was starving! So, I grabbed a quick bite and headed over to Platform 3 - which is where I was told to go. So, as the minutes pass by, I fight off the homeless italian men and wonder why no one else was there! As the departure time rapidly approached and there was no sign of the train, I went and asked at te office if there was a delay. No, there wasn't. I was on the wrong Platform 3!!! They have like 5 Platform 3s aand no distinction between them!!! Fuck! I missed my train and had to catch the next one. It was a seedy slow local train. I was staning in the corrider looking out over a pitch black Tuscan countryside, when this girl came up to me andsputtered something in Italian. I was so exhausted that I couldn't understand her, so I said (in English) that I don't speak Italian. She laughed right in my face and hurried into her compartment and told her companions about the ridiculous American who said "I speak Italian" to her. No, I said I don't, you hateful little bitch!! I said nothing to hr and simply stewed as the train slowly made it's way to Firenze - Campo Marte. Around midnight, the train finally pulls into the suburban station. It was dark and deserted and immediately I wished I wasn't alone. So, I pulled up my big girl britches, and found the night bus station to go to the Santa Maria Novella station in the center of Florence. The next bus towards my hostel was not for another 40 minutes, so I decided to walk. The nice gentleman at the newstand assured me that it was only a 10-15 minute walk to Via Cavour and showed me on the map. It seemed simple enough, so I headed off. Over an hour of wandering through dark and deserted Florentine streets, I finally found my hostel. I rang the bell and they buzzed me in. Well, the building was devided into 2 section with 2 stairwells, but I was so exhausted that I just did not grasp this! I walked up and down the wrong stairs I don't know how many times. When I got to the lobby for the final time, I broke down and started to cry. Oh god, I was going to have to sleep in the train station spending the night being molested by horny Italian men!!!! Nooooooooo!!! sob sob Fortunately, I saw the little passageway that led to the other stairs and as I rounded the corner, there was a guy getting off the elevator. He told me to go up 1 flight of stairs and the hostel is right there. sob sob Thanks! So, I walked up the stairs and the hostel was right there! Luckily, they had 1 bed left!!! So, at 1:30 am, I checked in and passed out.

So Long, Farewell! Auf Weidersein, Good nigh - ight!

2007-05-14T03:41:00.000-04:00

So, my last day in Bad Gastein, Austria was lovely! I had to do laundry, so after I hung it out to dry in the crisp Alpine air, I caught a bus to Bad Hofgastein, the next village over! I wanted to get my pics burned to a disc in preparation for Italy! As I walked from the bus stop towards the center of town, I came across a bridge. I stopped to check out the view and it was AMAZING! Because the town is in the valley at a lower elevation, there is a nice view of the glaciers! Wow! Now that is an incredible sight!! After a bit of contemplation and reflection, I headed into town and dropped off my SD card. For several hours, I wondered around the town simply enjoying being there! I stopped for a quick lunch of Shredded Potato Soup (weird) and as the day the day grew long, I headed a bus back up the mountain! The rest of the evening was spent hanging out and saying goodbyes.

I was sad to be leaving Austria! And the Alps!! I had an amazing time! I really do love the mountains! So, my train leaves early in the morning for Venice! I can't believe that it's my final country before heading back to the UK!!! That's weird!! I've been traveling for 7 weeks already!! Wow.... well, Italy, here I come!!!

Yo - Deh - Leh - Hee - Hoooooooooo

2007-05-11T05:11:00.000-04:00

So, I never managed to post a blog yesterday - I was just far too busy aexperiencing amazing new things! What, you ask? Patience, my friend!

So, yesterday morning, I awoke early. The pounding in my head had vanished and I felt ready for the day! I went out on the balcony and it was a lovely, clear day! After getting ready, I headed downstairs and had a very filling breakfast. I asked at the reception desk about paragliding! So, they gave the guy a call. But after an hour of back and forth, he said that if it was a go, it wouldn't be until after 3 pm. It was something to do with the wind? Since I had a good amount of time, I decided to hike down the mountain a bit to the center of town. It was lovely!! The waterfall is absolutely amazing! The town is full of old mountain resorts and tiny shops! They have all of these fountains that spill out fresh "thermal wasser" and you can drink straight from them! I's supposed to have healing properties! But you get the same thing from drinking tap water! Straight from the glaciers! So, after wandering around a bit and hiking some on the emporer's promenade, I had a quick lunch of grillwurstl mit pommes and started my hike back up the mountain! When I got back, I still had a bit of a wait, so I hung out - anxiously awaiting the pilots call! A bit after 3, he called and said that he would pick me up around 4:30!! Oh my god!! I'm going go paragliding over the Alps!!!!! Wow! I was nervous, but very excited. 4:30 came around quickly! Since the chair lifts wouldn't be running until next week, we had to drive up the mountain. Talk about a white knuckle ride!! Louis, the pilot, was taking the hairpin turns going very fast and I could see the valley thousands of feet below!! But I calmed myself down -after all, I was about to leap off of a mountain with the man. I suppoose I can muster enough trust that he knows these mountains and roads like the back of his hand. Yea. So, I was glad when the car finally stopped. But as I got out, I realized that I was literally on a ledge. Oh shit. Admittedly, I was a little afraid. But, the things that you fear the most are generally the most worth doing. So, I embraced my racing heart and the ensuing adrenaline rush! I listened intently as he buckled me in (how is this supposed to hold me???) and gave me instructions. Here's how it goes: Once the wind is just right, you run down the mountain towards the ledge and keep running until you are off. I was very concerned that I would fuck up the running part. So, the adrenaline pumping, he yelled "GO," and off we ran! As the ledge approached, my feet lifted off the ground and we were flying! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was amazing!!!!! We were flying thousands of feet over the valley!! We kept twisting and turning and he was actually able to take us a bit higher than where we jumped off!! There are no words to describe it!! You simply have to do it!! So, the flight lasted for about 30 minutes, and we came to a landing in a golf course! It was great!! There were people all around watching us fly and waiting for us to land!! We packed up the parachute and headed for the pub. We all had a beer and while the pilots chatted in German, I glowed and reveled in the moment! Yet another beer that I thoroughly enjoyed!!

The rest of the evening was spent hanging out and drinking wine! It was an incredible day and worth every penny!! I can't wait to go again!! WOW!!!

Mountain Mama

2007-05-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

The train from Munich to Bad Gastein took about 3 1/2 hours, but oh was it gorgeous. Well, the last hour was. As soon as we passed Salzburg and crossed into the Alps, the scenery was breathtaking! As the train climbed higher into the mountains, I saw more and more chalets nestled among roiling rivers and bright green Alpine meadows! I was so excited! I really do love the mountains! The train tracks were often built right into the side of the mountain!! If I looked out one side, there was nothing but mountain, the dark rock just inches from the window!! If I looked out the other side, there was a vertical drop with the valley well below! It reminded me of those old movies where the steam engine would circle around the paper mache mountain! So, after an hour of gawking out the window, the train pulled into the Bad Gastein train station! As I walked out into the crisp mountain air, The snow capped peaks encircled me! It did not matter which way I turned, or where I looked! They were all around!! Wow! I`m very happy that I chose to spend a few days here! So, I found my hostel without any trouble and checked in!! And yes!! I have a private room with my own shower!! Yeaaaaaaaa! I put my bags in my room and went for a walk. There are tons of great shops and the Thermal baths are right there!! But, it is a sleepy Austrian village, so most were closed. No matter! I will be here for at least a few days!

So, after my invigorating walk, I headed back to the hostel to grab a bite to eat. I ended up spending the entire evening drinking a lot of red wine and some austrian shots of nastiness. Oh they were terrible! Yes... I was very, very, very drunk and did not stumble back to my room until around 1 am. Oh dear....

I woke up at about 7 am this morning to the lovely racket of construction. And my head was throbbing and still spinning. I was still drunk and exhausted from not enough sleep. I don`t like to be drunk. I don`t know how alcoholics do it?!? I dragged my tired ass outside and walked to the store. I needed to buy some water, and since I was still drunk, I apparently needed more Mozart Balls, some kind of strange cookie (?? haven`t tried them yet), and a package of organic Fair trade coffee to take back to the US. Whatever! It amused me at the time. I went back to the hostel just in time for breakfast!

As the day wore on, my headache worsened and all of my plans for the day went right out the window! And it rained for a good portion of the day, so I couldn`t go hiking anyway! Oh! When I woke up this morning and looked out the window, my jaw hit the floor! I have a balcony outside my room with a view of the mountain! I looked out the window and was confronted with clouds!! I am so high up that I could nearly touch the heavy rain clouds!! It was unbelievable!! Even in my stupor, I was amazed and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the clouds slowly dissipate. It almost looked as if the mountains were smoking!! The movement of the clouds gave the mountain life. I imagined the jagged, snow capped peak jutting out above the cloud line!! I love it!! I want to go skinny dipping in a clear Alpine lake after a picnic of weiners and strudl! I want to find a hot Austrian Alpie and have sex on the mountain! It`s very Ron Burgundy of me! Do you have a visual yet? What for it.... yeaaaaa.

Any-hoo.... I`ve had a very relaxing day! Except for the headache. Tomorrow should be fabulous!! I`m planning of walking down the mountain some to the main part of town. I want to explore the village! And, there is a waterfall that runs right through the town!!! Houses and building are built right next to it! The Europeans love to build things in water!! And good for them! It gives me something to take pictures of! Then, time and weather permitting, I`m going to take a hike up the mountain towards the peak! This Swedish guy I met said he would go with me. Hmmmm.... he`s not Austrian, but he could be my Mountain Man and I`ll be his Mountain Mama!! :)I`m going to be here at least 3 nights, and maybe 4! As long as the weather clears, I`m going to go Paragliding over the Austrian Alps!! And it`s a high flight!! How awesome is that??!!?? I may also go rafting, but I`m not sure!! Oh, it`s going to ROCK!!

Well, I`m off to nurse my hangover! I`ll write all about my adventures tomorrow!!

The Bearded Lady

2007-05-09T05:16:00.000-04:00

Despite the evening of debauchery and beer, I woke early Monday morning. My day pack is starting to fall apart, so I was on a quest to find a cheap, cool bag to replace it! It`s about time, really. That bag has seen a lot! Anyway, I headed off to the main shopping drag. I stopped in a bunch of the Arab and Asian run shops, but the bags were ghastly. Glitter and sequins and metal accoutrements. Oh no. That won`t do at all. So, I popped into the first department store and found a black slouchy bag that would do, but it was almost 30 Euros. Hmmmm.... I better keep looking. After many unsuccessful visits to a variety of Bavarian bag peddlers, I finally found a cheap black bag that was ok!

With that taken care of, I headed down to the Town Hall with the famous Glockenspiel! I continued walking and enjoying the hustle and bustle of Munich! I eventually wound my way back to the Viktualienmarkt, which is an ancient open air market selling everything from handmade straw puppets to fresh meat and veg! It was fun to wander through! After all that walking and shopping, I was in need of a siesta! Oh wait!! Beer Gardens!! I found my way to one of many beer gardens, got a giant pretzel and a stein of beer, and sat down under a chestnut tree!

With my belly full of beer and sour dough, I headed back to the hostel! I ran into Tania and Krista, and after some deliberation we decided to go to Löwenbräu for dinner and.... oh yea.... more beer! We ran into this guy that Krista knows, so he joined us and we went and found Julianna. After a 15 minute walk, the Löwenbräu Beer Hall loomed ahead! Yeaaaaaa! Weiners and beer! When we get in, the place is packed! When the beer wench finally decided to come over, she spoke no English. And, no.... they did not have a menu in English. So, we all had a laugh trying to figure out what the hell we were ordering! I ordered the Brätwurst mit Kartofelpuree. Poor Julianna! She had absolutely no idea what she ordered. She simply pickjed something and hoped for the best!! So, after our drinks came, the beer wench brought each of us something "special" from the kitchen! Oh my! It was a slice of hell. It was a small square of what appeared to be some strange meat and a colorful assortment of veggies congealed in a gelatin loaf with a dollop of white fluid on to. Wow. My stomach turned, but we all agreed to take one bite. So, after much inspection, I did. And honestly, it didn`t taste all that bad. But I couldn`t get past the gelatin. Ugh! I couldn`t quite place the taste of the meat. Krista said it was probably horse, and I was finished. But I don`t think they eat horse in Germany. That`s more of a French and Italian thing. They eat a lot of horse in Italy. Why?? Anyway, the rest of the meal was great! Julianna had ordered chicken cordon bleu, so she was pleased! We left around 9 and headed back to the hostel.

After Krista left for her date, Tania, _Julianna, and I hung out and had a laugh! Tania had an overnight train to catch, so we walked her to the train station and said our goodbyes! Munich won`t be the same without her! She`s.... dangerous!! Tst tst! (I`ll explain this when I see you all! There are pictures that must be shown!)

Any-hoo.... I headed to bed. All the beer was catching up to me! And unfortunately, of my roommates got piss drunk and forgot his key. So, at around 5 am, he pounded on the door until I drug my exhausted ass out of bed and let him in. Arg!!! I only got another couple of hours of sleep before I was woken up by another roommate who was leaving that morning. Damn it!! So, I just got up. I had to go pay for my room anyway. So, exhausted, I slowly got dressed and headed downstairs. My plan was to go to Neuschewanstein Castle for the day, but when I got to reception, they informed me that the girl had neglected to make the reservation for me and that I couldn`t stay in the room. Oh. Well, I guess I`m leaving then. So, I decided to head to Bad Gastein early! So, since it was time to check out, I had to rush around and pack up all my shit. Since the train wasn`t until 1:30, I stored my bag and headed to Deutche Post. For a nice chunk of change, I shipped my final box back to the States. Feeling much lighter, I decided to grab an early lunch. I tried to find a Falafel shop that had chicken, but all the shops in Munich onlya have veal or lamb! So, I went to McDonald`s. Yea, well it was quick and cheap. Whatever. After I sat down, I looked at the .... person.... sitting at the table across from me. She/he had long gray hair done up in braids and a long gotee, twisted into a point. How very Kung Fu of her/him. I could not for the life of me, figure out if it was a man or a woman!! She/he had breasts and long finger nails, so it`s probably a woman. But that gotee! Oh, she`s the Bearded Lady! Oh my god... she`s a carnie!!! And you know how much they freak me out! I spent my entire meal watching her and trying to figure her out! I never did, though.....

So, after my rather interesting lunch, I rescued my bag from the depths of left luggage storae and headed to the Munich Hauptbanhoff. Wow. It was a zoo! There was some issue with the S-Bahn and a failed electrical thing-a-ma-jigger. But, after a 55 minute delay, I boarded a train heading south. I`m off to Bad Gastein in the Austrian Alps! I can`t wait!!

Oompas and Flaming Nipples

2007-05-07T06:04:00.000-04:00

So, Sunday was a very interesting day, full of contrast. After Dachau, my new friends and I decided to head back to Munich and grab a bite to eat, then take the traditional German kuchen. An afternoon coffe with cakes! So, we got back on the S - Bahn and made our way back. We agreed to go to the Agustiner Brauhaus (beer hall), which was great since checking out a beer hall in Bavaria was a high priority! The Brauhaus was interesting! It was like an old cafeteria! I got the Weinerwurst mit Kartofalsalat - sausages with potato salad - and a large beer! It was great! We then walked through Marienplatz and found a cafe that seemed interesting! So, we sat outside and had our coffe and cakes. Well, I got apple strudel with vanilla sauce... I'm being a vanilla whore. By the time we finished, the sun was setting and we were a bit drained from a busy and emotional day. So, we headed back to the hostel. As we reached the corner near the hostel, we were consumed by a rowdy group of British boys in ridiculous costumes! Tania and I made it across the street and we started to chat with the boys! They were there for a Stag party and seemed to be having great fun! One of the boys pulled his trousers and pants down and put a cleaver in his crack! we were laughing so hard! Yes, I had my picture taken with them and we all had a laugh! So, finally, I headed back to the hostel. Krista and I decided it would be great fun to head over to the Hofbrauhaus to see if we could find the boys! Now, the Hofbrauhaus is a big, old beer hall that is still state run! Hitler gave a lot of speeches at the hall. Weird to think that we were drinking in the same place as Hitler.... especially after Dachau. On our way there, we ran into another girl form the hostel, and we asked her to join us! It didn't take any convincing, so our threesome became four!

We got there about 8:45 pm, but there was no sign of the boys. Damn! No matter, the place was bursting at the seems, so we decided to stay! We had trouble finding space, but we finally found a table with only a few old people sitting there. But, as we were about to sit down, these boys called over to us and begged us to sit with them! OK! So, as luck would have it, we found a stag party after all! And, would you believe it, they were British as well! What fun!! But, oh boy, the evening was insane! I have some great pictures, because everyone was grabbing my camera and taking shots! It was fabulous! The boys were pissed beyond rational thought, and one of them started to catch his chest hair on fire! Little flames would dance around his nipples! We just about died! I danced an Oompa dance to a traditional Oompa band with quite a few of the boys! By the time we left, my cheeks were stiff with slober from being kissed - a lot! I can't wait to show everyone the pics!

So, Tania and I decided to decline an extended evening with the boys at a local bar called Boobs and instead, we headed back to the hostel! We laughed all the way back looking at the pictures and swapping tales! It was great! And after Gi-NORMOUS Steins of beer, we were loopy! Good times!

Anyway, I had a great first day in Munich! It was packed full of new experiences and new friends! Wonder what tomorrow will bring in the Beer Capital of the World??!!??

Dachau - Arbeit Macht Frei

2007-05-06T12:59:00.000-04:00

I awoke this morning to a chilly morning shadowed by angry clouds, threatening to drown the day. Seemed appropriate, since I was heading to the Dachau Concentration Camp. I headed to the Hauptbanhoff and boarded to S - Bahn 2 headed for Dachau. I stepped off the train and caught the next bus to the memorial site. I met a couple of girls from my hostel on the bus, and chatted with them on the way. As the bus slowed to a stop at the entrance, I looked out the window and couldn't help but notice the how harmless it looked. It was deceptively serene. So we got off the bus, stepped firmly onto the gravel path, and headed to the information container. There was a tour in English at 12 pm, so we agreed to go together. I bought a ticket, as well as a book on the Concentration Camp. Then I headed over to the museum. But first, I had to walk through the main gates of the camp. As I rounded the corner, I saw the building which houses the one and only gate into the camp. As I got closer, the words "Arbeit Macht Frei" became clear in horrendous black iron lettering. As I stepped through the gate, just as hundreds of thousands of victims of the Nazi Final Solution had, tears stung my eyes. I stepped through the gate, knowing the fear and pain, and was overwhelmed by the enormity of the place, both physically and emotionally. I slowly made my way to the museum, attempting to grasp the assault on my mind, body, and soul. I stepped into the museum, which was the former administration and maintainance buildings. Almost everything at Dachau is orginal. People lived and died there under horrifying conditions. Every step I took had been taken before. Everything I touched had been touched by homocidal madmen and their victims alike. Tears fell from my cheeks as I made my way through the history of hatred and evil. Of pain and torture and relilence and heroism. Kindness and compassionate even in the deepest shadow of the darkness of man.

Quietly, I stood at the entrance of the museum and waited as people started to mill about. The guide came along promptly. She was a german volunteer who had been doing the tours for years. In Germany, learning about the Holocaust is an important part of their education, and everyone is required to visit at least 1 of the major camps at least once and report on the experience. Many go to Dachau because it is the first major camp, and the one that set the standard for all the rest. The system of identification and mass murder was created and implemented at Dachau.

The tour began outside the main gate. The gravel walkway is the same pth that the prisoners were forced to walk as they were brought into the camp. She explained the role of Dachau and how it began. She also gave the history of how the village of Dachau was kept in the dark about what was really going on. Of course, near the end with liberation rapidly approaching, they were killing people as quickly as possible and the on site crematorium was not sufficient. So, they burned bodies day and night, and still had to create several mass graves in the surrounding area. After the detailed depiction, we all headed back through the gate and soberly made our way to the camp prison, the most feared building in the camp. This was where some of the most horrific torture took place. It was also where all of the priests were placed. They were forced into tiny cells, or worse, the standing cells. They were beaten, tortured, and often were brutally murdered. Sometimes, the guards simply gave the prisoner a length of rope and left them to kill themselves. If a guard was particularly blood thirsty, then they would tie their hands behind their back, then hang them from a pole for at least an hour. This dislocated the prisoners shoulders and, because they were worth nothing at all if they could not work, they were shot in the back of the neck only after the guards had had their fill. They were shot in the back of the neck because people survive being shot in the head, but not when their cv spine has been severed. Quite a few people, men and women, were crying at this point. I was worried about taking a tour, but my concerns were unwarranted. Everyone was respectful.

After she finished speaking, we went into the camp prison and saw the cells. It was overwhelming. I walked the length of the block, including the priests cells. And exited the other side. As the tour continued, it began to rain lightly. I looked up at the dark sky with a heavy heart. They say that if it rains the day you die that the earth is weeping the loss. As the rain mixed with my tears, it seemed right that it was raining. I didn't bother to put on my rain gear. I simply walked on.

The tour took us into the main barracks, where the prisoners were housed. This is one of only a few reconstructed buildings in the memorial, but the effect was the same. We made our way through the cramped darkened rooms and back out into the afternoon. As we looked down the wide gravel pathway, there were long "boxes" that seemed to go on forever. These were the foundations for all of the living quarters. Oh my god. To think of all those innocent lives. ... and at the end of the path stood large memorials to the various victims of the Third Reich. We walked towards these, and consequently, towards the crematorium and the gas chambers.

After about 10 minutes of a gut wrentching stroll through the dark history, we arrived at a small stream. There was barb wire all around and a small bridge to cross. I had walked into the most horrific part of the memorial. I had arrived at the crematorium and the gas chambers. This entire area was completely original and remained largely unchanged. As I stepped across the threshold, a chill went up my spine. I had stepped into the "Waiting Area." This was where prisoners were to wait for the "showers," which was really the gas chamber. The next room was the "Shower Room." Oh my god. With tears streaming down my face, I looked around the small room in horror. All the original fixtures were still in place. I stepped into the next room, which was the 1st "morgue," where they dragged the bodies after gassing them. It was a dead space. In the middle of the building was the crematorium with 5-6 ovens. They were run day and night in an attempt to keep up with the mounting bodies of their victims. They even forced other prisoners to run the ovens. Then, after approximately 3 months, those prisoners were murdered and replaced with new ones. After walking through the rest of the building, I stepped back out into the dreary May afternoon. There was a slight chill in the air, and I shivered as disgust and horror washed over me. This was the end of the tour, just as the Crematorium and Gas Chambers had been the end for countless innocent people. I milled around the memorials for a few moments, trying to absorb all that I had seen and heard during the previous 3 hours. I caught up with Krista and Tania, and we headed back to the museum for the documentary showing. It was an intense 30 minute show which focused on the Dachau installation and ultimate liberation. Fuck. After the film, we headed back towards the bus. I stepped back through the infamous gate and looked back over the camp. How many people entered this gate, but never came out? I slowly closed the gate and pensively made my way to the bus stop.

I must say that there are no words capable of describing a visit to a Concentration Camp Memorial site. No amount of pictures, films, or books can even remotely prepare you for actually being there. To know that people were tortured, humiliated, and murdered in the most horrific ways right where you stand is overwhelming. It becomes very real and undeniable. What if it had been me, or you? If I had been alive and in Germany during the rise of the Third Reich, I certainly would have been sent to a camp. Many of my friends would have been. Not for being Jewish, but for being an "A-Social," for refusing to bow to the twisted demands of the Nazi regime, or for being homosexuial. For one reason or another, most everyone I know would have found themselves behind a gate facing the words " Arbeit Macht Frei" - Work will set you free.

Prost Wohl!

2007-05-05T16:45:00.000-04:00

I'm in Munich, the capital of Bavaria! Land of Lederhosen, Brats, and gi-normous beers!

First, let me start of by filling you in on some interesting happenings! My last meal in Vienna was funny! I went to this restaurant called Mozart Stubl. They offered a Weiner Schnitzel dinner for 5 Euros for backpackers! It was a HUGE plate of food! While I was waiting on my nummies, _an older Austrian man who was sitting in the corner booth began grunting. It became louder and more pronounced as he slurped his soup or goulash or whatever the fuck he was eating. He then started to growl and said "Sehr Gut! Das ist sehr sehr gut!" And continued to grunt and moan his way through his meal. I sunk down in my chair to hide my chuckling! He obviously enjoyed it immensely! Good for him! And I had a laugh .... so, good for me! My dinner was good, but not enough to throw me into orgasmic moans.... unfortunately.

The other interesting, and far less amusing, event happened on the train from Slovakia. I was sitting in my compartment with several other people. Since I bought the ticket, of course it was in 2nd class. So, there were children and people all about. One of those children started to whine. Annoying under the best of circumstances, but after his/her mother picked him/her up, that child burped and threw up in the passageway just outside the compartment door. Fuuuuck! The stench was great. That child vomited 2 - 3 more times, my stomach turning with each subsequent splat. When the child was finished, the woman went about mopping up the awful mess with paper towel. It took several trips. Dear God... thank you for the travel size Oust Spray and train windows that open!! It was oh so special!

Anyway, I took a very early train this morning and left Vienna in a haze of drizzle. I arrived at Munich around 12:30 and went to the hostel. I couldn't get into my room until after 2 pm, so I put my main pack in the storage room and went in search of sustainance. I got a quick bite to eat and then popped into what looked like a supermarket. It was actually a discount store, kind of like the stale store! Hooray! After getting a few necessary items, I headed back to the hostel to put my bags in the room. I pulled a bunch of shit out of my backpack and headed to Deutche Post. I'll be sending one more box back to the States. Wow, my last one! Maybe... Anyway, I got to the post office and the line was horrific. Saturday afternoon. Yikes! Well, I assumed they closed at 5, but after waiting in line for about 40 minutes, the german boy behind the counter informed me that they closed at 4 pm. So, I got the box and took everything back to the hostel. It's all good! I'll just wait a few days and throw in whatever I may accumulate hear in Munich! My pack will be super light for the next 5 weeks. Well, we will see how long that lasts!

The rest of the evening was spend chatting with a bunch of fun people! It was a very interesting night! Saturday night in Munchen is amusing to say the least! Everyone was drunk on Bavarian wheat beer and running amuck! Wow! I was outside smoking, and this cab driver stopped in the middle of the road, turned around, and pulled up on the sidewalk next me. He informed me that he was Jamaican and loved big woman. So, I lied and said my boyfriend was inside, hopnig that he would go away. But he persisted and said that it didn't matter! A boyfriend doesn't mean married and that I should accompany him to a Reggae concert later in the evening. Oy vey. But it was funny! When I came back in, I was confronted with a very drunk Irish boy who asked me if I knew where his luggage was! Then his room. Laughing, I asked if he was ok and, in incrediably slurred disjointed speech, he said,"I'm Irish. I'm fine." I met a bunch of characters last nights! Boys in Kilts, an Aussie Actress, and a Good Ole Corn Fed American Boy. Despite the hullaballoo, I did manage to get to bed before 1 am. I was exhausted!

So, today is Sunday and it is truly a day of rest in Europe. Nothing is open! I've come to accept this after 6 weeks and plan accordingly. So, I bought picnic supplies yesterday and I will be going out to Dachau Concentration camp in a little while. I was going to take a tour, but decided that it was something I needed to do on my own. So, that's what I'm doing. Dachau was the first camp and the model for all others.... including Auschwitz. Munich was the seat of Hitler's regime and there is still a bunch of his shit around. Anyway, I'll write a seperate post specifically for Dachau. I'm off.....

Back in the USSR

2007-05-04T09:08:00.000-04:00

I'm in Bratislava, Slovakia! Wow! Talk about a different world! In case reading Bratislava has invoked graphic images from the film "Hostel," worry no more! While the bulk of the city is very Eastern Bloc, the Old Town is gorgeous and it is kind of like Prague, only grittier and less touristy! There are hardly any Americans running about! And, thus far, I have yet to run into any wealthy homicidal psychopaths looking to torture and disembowel an innocent young lass in the comfort of an abandoned warehouse! Well, not many. And if you immediately were reminded of the film "Eurotrip," well, I hate to disappoint you, but the exchange rate is not that great! Spending a nickel here will not dramatically alter the Slovack way of life! $1 USD buys you 25 Slovakian Krowns (Sk). A pack of Marlboro 100's costs 60 Sk, a McDonald's cheeseburger costs 25 Kc, and an ice cream cone with 3 scoops costs 30 Kc. So, you can see where my devotion lies. LOL! That"s approximately $2.40, $1, and $1.10 respectively.

So, the train ride from Vienna was interesting! I met an interesting older Slovakian woman. She did not speak any English, but somehow, I was able to understand her??!!?? She was rapidly speaking a mixture of Slovack and German, and maybe something else as well! She told me all about her family. I learned that her son had married a Czech woman and they moved to Africa. She told me about her grandchildren and her bible and how important it is to her. I honestly have no idea how I was able to understand all of that. Interesting. And she fascinated me. To think of all that she has seen. She was at least 70. I hope she made it home ok. Her bags were very heavy.

Anyway, just over an hour after leaving Vienna, I found myself in a completely different world. Still thinking of the old woman, I made my way outside to smoke a cigarette and get my bearings before changing money and visiting the Tourist Info office. When I stepped out of the train station, I stepped into another world! I speak no Slovack and it was very... industrial. Very Eastern European. Briefly, I questioned my decision to visit. But, I finished my ciggie and headed back in. I found the TI and thankfully, the woman spoke english. She ran down a laundry list of safety precautions (oh, fuck), gave me a map, and wished me a lovely day. Hmmmm... I went to the ATM and tried to pull out a few hundred crowns. I wasn't planning on spending much. Unfortunately, with an American card, there is a minimum of 1000 Kc. Damn. So, I got my $40 worth of Slovakian money and headed out to discover Bratislava.

After dodging thieves and mad homeless Slovacks, I was headed in the right direction. After about 10 minutes, I found myself standing in front of the Presidential Palace. It was nice. The guards were funny! I looked around, and it still seemed like a city to me. Lots of severe lines and uniformity. Characteristic of former communist rule. But, after another 5-10 minutes of walking, I found the Old Town. The requisite Castle on a hill loomed above the city center. It was nice, but rather plain - for a castle. The Old Town is lovely and I can understand why they recommended it! I walked around for awhile, then stopped to get some lunch. I spend the next few hours wandering the narrow cobblestone streets and enjoying the contrast between the old and new! Just like Prague, they have all these hidden alleys and passageways that make it fun to get lost! I stumbled across this big tent with tons of A/V equipment all around. What could it be, you ask? Well, I wondered the same thing! So, I walked around to the front and it was an Avon tent??!! They were gearing up for some big promotional event! So, I made my way back over later in the day! Oh my!! They were blasting 80's music and peddling Avon! I had a flashback to my formative years!! they even wear socks with dress shoes and sandals! Oy vey! The 80's are alive and well! George Michaels is even performing - live! That's, like, totally awesome! He's such a babe! Oh dear - I'm getting old.

But after 5+ hours of hard walking on rough roads, I am tired and my feet are killing me! So, I decided to pop into an Internet cafe and update my blog! I leave for Munich in the morning, and I'm hoping to catch an early train. That way I won"t have to transfer. How lazy is that?! But my pack is heavy and I'm tired. 5 weeks of hard travel is definitely starting to wear on me! I love it, though! But my next adventure will only be 4-6 weeks long. Unless I can afford to stay in single rooms with my own bathroom! And what is the likelihood of that? But the next few weeks should be great! I've decided to spend 5 nights in Munich and do day trips to Fussen (for Neuschwanstein Castle - the "Disney" castle), Rothenburg, Dachau Concentration Camp, and at least one other Romantic Road village! Then, I'm off to Bad Gastein in the Austrian Alps for a few days of rest before heading to Italy. Believe it or not, Italy is the end of my continental travel! After Rome, I head back up to London where I will do a bit more of the UK before heading back to the US!! Hmmmm... that's kind of sad! I love Europe and I am having a blast. Man, Reality Bites! :)

Any-hoo... I am off to find some dinner before heading back to Vienna! My next post will be from the Southern Bavarian city of Munich! I love Lederhosen!!

Gothic Glory

2007-05-03T11:36:00.000-04:00

I really like Vienna! It's urbane and funky all at once! Very cool!! It's an incredible blend of many cultures and it has a very cool vibe!

I had a great day today! I headed out early this morning, looking to get lost! I turned down Neubaugasse and loved window shopping in a the little specialty shops! I found a tiny Viennese toy shop and got a great holiday present for my cousin! I hope she still likes giraffes! It's a cute little wooden one! I thought it would be fun since it's from austria! Now, I have to find something for her brother... you have to make things even when it comes to siblings!! I still have quite a few stops, so I'm sure I will find something! Oh... and excuse to shop!! Hooray!!

So, after walking the entire length of the street, I turned in the general direction of the Old Town and ran into City Hall! Oh my... it's gorgeous!! It is an amazing example of Gothic architecture! Right across the way stood the amazing Burg Theatre! Actually, it's officially the Hoffburg Theatre, but I call it fabulous! They have busts of famous playwrights all around and they produce some amazing shows! So, after having my picture taken in front of both, I headed down towards Votiv Cathedral, which is another stunning example of Gothic Architecture! Wow!! I stopped for lunch and headed back towards the Museum Quartier! I stopped in this little outdoor cafe and enjoyed a cup of real Viennese coffee in Vienna! For about an hour, I sipped strong coffee and people watched! I loved it! I watched an older Viennese woman leisurely sip her coffee. She was wearing all black and she smoked her cigarettes out of a vintage holder! Fabulous! I immediately liked her! And apparently, the Goth / Punk movement is strong in Vienna and I enjoyed watching those crazy kids wander by! So, lifted by the caffeine, I meandered my way back to the hostel!

I am really looking forward to Bratislava tomorrow! It should be intersting!! It's in Slovakia! Apparently, it is beautiful and cheap! A winning combination in my world! It will be a fun day trip! Then I head to Munich on Saturday!! Well, I'll post a blog tomorrow and let you know how it was!!

Choos (Austrian for Good bye!!!)

I sink you are in louve vis youra massah....

2007-05-02T13:08:00.000-04:00

I'm in Vienna! And it's great!! A very cool city!! I left Salzburg early this morning, and boarded a very comfortable train headed East. I must say that I am thoroughly enjoying my First class railpass!

I got to Vienna around 1 pm and found my hostel without too much difficulty! The hostel is nice! Well, as nice as a hostel can be! I dumped my bags and headed out to discover Vienna! I'm staying in the "new town", so I decided to walk to Old Town instead of using the metro or trams. It was a really fun walk.... long, but fun! There were TONS of fun shops and lots of discounts stores! You know me and bargain shopping! After about 45 minutes, I found myself in the Museum Quartier! Gorgeous architecture! I continued walking into the Old Town, home to Sigmund Freud and classical culture! It was fabulous! Although the guys walking around in Mozart outfits peddling tickets for various shows was a bit tacky... well, it was still fun! I walked to the famous St. Stephen's Cathedral and it was stunning!! After wandering the platz for a bit, I decided to head back to the hostel and grab some dinner on the way. All of a sudden, I got very light-headed. So much so that I had to sit down. I actually thought I might faint. It scared the shit out of me. The pressure between my eyes was intense, so I am assuming it's sinus related. I probably caught whatever that Czech guy had... you know, the one that hacked on me for 3 hours on the way to Cesky Krumlov. Fuck! God, I'm going to have to get a TB test when I get back. Everyobe in Europe is sick. I 'll take it easy tomorrow. Once I felt a little better, I headed back to the hostel. I stopped at the first place I saw and had a quick dinner, then hopped on the Metro to go back. I figured I shouldn't push myself to walk the few miles back. I stoppe into the store to grab some water and fruit. I figure I need the vitamins, so I got some OJ, banana, and grapes. I stood in the water section for like 10 minutes desperately trying to remember what the word was for "still" water. Wow... nothing makes an intelligent, educated woman feel like a complete idiot than not being able to figure out the difference between still and sparkling water. And no, shaking the bottle doesn't help. Yes, I tried. I finally just grabbed one that had "Ohne" on the front. I was pretty sure that meant "without". And what do you know, I was right!! Yea!! I hate sparkling water. So, loaded down with fruit and water, I headed back to the hostel!

So, I'm going to take it easy tonight, maybe have a glass of red wine in the bar and go to bed early. God, I'm getting old. Tomorrow, I'm going to explore the eastern section of the city and see the Parliment building, Burg Theatre, and the Opera house. Oh, and I#m going to sit in a cafe and sip Viennese coffee! It should be great! Oh, by the way, Vienna is actually not that expensive! Lots of cool, cheap options!!

I was going to take a trip to Mauthausen (it's halfway between Vienna and Salzburg) on Friday, but the only way to get there is by train. So, I need to decide if I want to use my last extra travel day on the trip. Otherwise, I will go to Bratislava, Slovakia for the day! I cost like 12 Euro round trip!! And apparently, it is a very cool place! So, I'll let you know!

Well, I'm off off to check out the Viennese wine selection! Mmmmmm... I love reds! Internet is pretty cheap here, so I will update my blog again Friday!

Do ... a Deer, a Female Deer

2007-05-01T08:42:00.000-04:00

Yeeeeaaaaa!! I slept until 11 am this morning!!! For the first tim ein 5 weeks, I have had a decent night of sleep! Woo hoo!!

OK... now that that is out of my system! I took my time getting ready this morning. Obviously, I did not make it Mauthausen or the Ice Caves. So, I headed out around 12 to find some lunch and wander. I first stopped at Mirabella Gardens. They are beautiful, but there isn't much to them. I danced around the Pegasus Fountain singing Do Re Mi just like the von Trapp children. OK, I didn't. But I thought about it and I did take a picture! After relaxing under the clear blue alpine skies, I headed across the river Salzach and made my way to the Old Town. I wandered for a awhile, perusing menus of over priced italian and chinese food (??), before finally finding an open Wurstl stand. It'S a bank holiday here in Austria, and most everything is closed! Anyway, I got a spicy "hot dog" called a Kaiser. It was good, but probably not very healthy. Hmmmm... I better have some warm apple strudl to balance things out. You know... it's fruit!! So, I walked back to Mozart Platz and sat in the garden of a little cafe. The strudl was amazing!! I decided to try it with the warm vanilla sauce, like the Austrians do! Oh... it was good!!!! I enjoyed every bite! After wandering around Salzburg for awhile, I headed back to the hostel!

So, today is a very relaxed day, and I am enjoying it immensely! I leave for Vienna in the morning, so it was good to have a down day before the hustel and bustle of Viennese life!

Mozart's Balls

2007-04-30T13:16:00.000-04:00

Let me start off by saying that Austria is breathtakingly beautiful! I love it here!!

My journy across the Czech border and into Austria was interesting! It was a van and crammed with other travelers. The driver was a bit crazy and drove with reckless abandon! Once we hit the mountains, I was clutching my seatbelt, white knuckled, and convinced I would die in a tragic fiery crash. When we approached the border, we had to stop and hand all of our passports to the Czech guard. He did his thing, and then we had to go through it all again with the Austrian guard. About 15 minutes later, we were on our way to Linz. After a gorgeous ride through dramatic scenery, we were dumped off at the Linz railway station. Since all the hostels were booked in Vienna, I decided to go ahead and make my way to Salzburg. I hopped on a train and after an amazing train ride through the Alps, I was in Salzburg!! Land of Mozart and The Sound of Music! I popped into the Tourist Info office and headed to the hostel!

So, I dumped my bags and hit the streets! Salzburg is fabulous! The narrow cobbled streets are accentuated with the tiny shops with black wrought iron signs - a requirement set forth by the Salzburg government! I stopped at this Austrian restaurant and had a true Austrian meal of Grillwurstl mit Pommes! I tried it with the spicy mustard and I actually liked it!! I made my way to the Old Town, across the Salzach river. It was incredible! I wove through narrow streets, getting lost in the centuries! I stumbled across the entrance to the Funicular that takes you up to the Castle! Why not? So for 7 Euros, you get a round trip ride on the car and access to the castle!! It was fabulous!!! It's like a city up there! They have medeival shops and restaurants, museums (including a Marionette museum that was awsome!!), and breathtaking views!! After exploring every nook and cranny, I made my way back down to the streets below. I found an Austrian Christmas shop and an Easter shop. My mother would pitch a fit!

Exhausted and grubby, I headed back to the hostel and hung out for the rest of the evening! I did decide on where I would be going after Munich. I realy really really want to go to Switzerland, but I just don't think my budget will allow for it. DAMN IT! Swiss trains are expensive! ARGGGGGG! Disaapointed, I will be heading to Grunau and Bad Gastein in the Austrian Alps for a few days of rest and relaxation and crisp mountain air before heading into Italy! Not quite Interlaken, but I suppose it will suffice.

So, today was devoted to The Sound of Music! I started the day off by watching the movie while doing my laundry! I ran to the the store to by Raffaello's for a certain someone, and I ended up buying some Mozart balls, as well. They are really tasty... a bit ... stale, though. Anyway, I then headed off for the tour! It was a huge, tacky bus, but kitchy and fun! They played the soundtrack while the guide wasn't talking and encouraged everyone to sing along - which a surprising number of people did!!! It was great! Once we got out of Salzburg and headed into the countryside, I could NOT believe my eyes! It is unbelievably beautiful! We headed straight for the Lake and Mountain district. Our first stop was Fuschl, a gorgeous lake and town!! The real treat, however, was the Rodelbahn. This is a long metal slide kind of thing! It snakes its way down the mountain! You take a "kart" which is a seat with a stick in the middle, and you get attached to this cable and drug up the mountain... backwards!! So, all the way up, you get to see how far it is down!! It's great!! Once you get to the top, you take your kart over to the slide, sit down, and push off! You then go flying down the mountain!! You have to be really careful around curves.... if you lean into it, which is what you want to do, you will tip over and go tumbling down the mountain! When you make it to the bottom in one piece, all the people who were too chicken to go themselves stand there and cheer! It'S awesome!! OK... so here's what happened to me. There is always some tragic event surrounding me! But at least I have stories! So, I am at the top of the mountain and I go to sit on my kart when I hear, and feel, a loud rip. Yes, my trousers ripped. In Paris, I was squeezing around a metal stool and caught my trousers on the corner, which caused a small tear in the seat. I sewed it up and all was well.... until today. So, laughing, I said Fuck It and pushed off, thoroughly enjoying my run down the mountain! As I stood up, the rip went almost to my waistband. I felt the crisp alpine air touch my bum. Great... at least I was wearing underwear. Not necessarily a given with me. And they were a fun leopard print, so oh well! For the next few hours, anyone walking behind me was given a show! :)

So, after having a laugh with some older British ladies about my torn trousers, we got back on the bus and headed to St. Gilgen. Oh my god! Gorgeous!! I can only imagine vacationing here??!!?? Which is what Europeans do!! Wow! There really are no words! The last stop was Mondsee, which is where Captain von Trapp was married to Maria... in the movie. Apparently, Hollywood took many liberties. More on that later! So, Mondsee was a very nice little Alpine village! I had an ice cream cone with this American woman who took the tour alone. Her husband was in a conference during the day. I think she was bit lost and I didn't mind the company. We headed back to the bus and took the auto bahn back to Salzburg.

So, the real story behind the movie is actually quite interesting! Did you know that the Trapp family settled in Stowe, VT after escaping Austria??? They have a lodge that is still owned and operated by the Trapp family??!! Weird!! And they did not hike out of Austria. They pretended like they were going hiking, but got on a train to Italy instead. They then took a boat to England before going to America. I now want to read more about the family!

After a wonderful day, I am exhausted! I'm just hanging out in the bar and going to bed early. I think I'm going to Mauthausen tomorrow. Either that or the Ice Caves. I'll let you know in my next blog. Then I'm off to Vienna on Wednesday!! Wow!

La Vie Boheme

2007-04-28T11:57:00.000-04:00

I'm in Southern Bohemia and it's gorgous! Cesky Krumlov is beautiful! Touristy, but wonderful! The castle is amazing! It looks like it is right out of a fairy tale!! So, I spent the entire day wandering the cobblestone streets and I hiked up to the castle! The views from up top are stunning! I wandered my way back down and started looking for something to eat. All I saw were sit down restaurants. OK.... I kept walking and still had not found anything! So I walked back to the TI and asked if there were any super markets and cheap places to eat. No.... there are not. Oh well. I grabbed a pizza and a diet coke for about $5 USD. Not bad at all! And after I finish this blog, I fully intend to enjoy a Czech Ice Cream Sundae on the banks of the Vltava river watching the sun set! It will a great end to a great day!

So, Cesky Krumlov is definitely cheaper than Prague. If they had a supermarket, you could easily get by on $20 - $25 / day. But since they do not, $40 / day is about right. Still not too bad! The thing about smaller towns, especially touristy ones, is that they lack street food and variety. Street food is what makes eating cheap when there is not a suprmarket around! But oh well, it was a great place to visit! And did I mention how fabulous the castle is??

I'm heading out to Austria tomorrow! I'm very excited! The shuttle bus will take me directly to Linz fior about $20 USD and it only takes an hour. Better than the train, and WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than the damn bus I had to take from Prague! Oh my god!! It was horrendous! First of all, it was PACKED! All the seats were taken, plus the aisle was crammed full of people. That's right! Apparently the Czecks are not too worried with roadway safety! I had people hovering over me for 3 hours, grunting and groaning because of the heat! Oh yes... it was HOTTER THAN HELL! And of course the bus did not have A/C. So, it was packed and it reeked of BO. Plus, this guy who was pushed up against me (my shoulder was intimate with his penis, which was lovely) kept caughing right on my head! It was blowing my hair forward! I really wanted to turn around and scream "Cover your fucking mouth" at him. But he wouldn't have understood me, so I kept my mouth shut and tried not to breathe. I couldn't wait to get off the bus. But now, it's kind of funny! Unless I get sick again.....

Anyway, I loved the Czech republic! But I'm looking forward to austria and my first taste of the Alps! My next post will be from Vienna! I can't believe I've been traveling for almost 5 weeks??!! Wow.... so much has happened! I'm exhausted, but am having a great time!! The whole hostel thing is getting old. I hate bunk beds. And, of course, I have had to sleep on the top bunk on numerous occassions. Each time, I can't help but think of the movie Tommy Boy, where Chris Farley demands to sleep up top and comes crashing down in the middle of the night. ~~~Fat girl in a little bu - unk~~~ Do the little dance when you sing that, and you will get the full effect!

Any-hoo, I'm off! That ice cream sundae is calling my name! Pippa .... Pippa...

Czech Macabre

2007-04-27T16:09:00.000-04:00

Today has been an interesting day! I got up late this morning, so I wasn't in the best mood when I headed out to the bus station. I left in plenty of time, but I couldn't find the damn bus station!!??! I wandered up and down the street thinking what the fuck?!? I finally found someone who spoke a little english, an accomplishment in this area of Praha. She pointed across the street and said "pink building." I turned and saw this ghastly pink building with peeling black paint that simply stated "Praha Florenc." It was the bus station. Oh..... fuck. I'm going to die on some rickety ass bus at the hands of a mad Czech. Oh well. Feeling like a complete idiot, I crossed the street and bought my ticket, but the next bus wasn't until 12:50. Great. I had 1 1/2 hours to kill. So, I grabbed lunch in the Praha ghetto. While I was wandering, I came across a market. Unable to resist this dingy open air affair, nestled quite comfortably between the bus depot and an overpass, I entered and was greeted with shoes, bags, brass knuckles, lighters, clothes - well, you name it, it was there. It was great fun and I I had a blast haggling with this asian woman under a bridge in Prague! I ended up buying the sandals - they were too cheap to resist! And since I have officially retired my regular shoes, the extra pair will be good. It is HOT! And it still hasn't rained??!! Global warming...

Anyway, the market successfully devoured a good chunk of time, so I headed over to the bus platform. I boarded a VERY crowded bus headed east. 1:30 minutes later, I stepped off the bus into the middle of nowhere. Oh, shit! Where am I??? Usually, there is a tourist information center nearby. But none were in sight. I've just been dropped off in the middle of nowhere. So.... I found some info on buses and figured out which one to take to get to the Ossuary. Not an easy task, mind oyu. I finally made it to the church. It seemed normal.... from the outside. But as I was walking around, people who had just left were talking about it. They were speechless.... this is going to be awesome!! So, I stepped across the threshold and into a different world. Skulls and bones of all kinds were there to greet you. I paid my 70 Kc and descended into the darkened church. Oh my god! What kind of a sick twist created this??!!! It was AWESOME! There was a massive, ornate chandelier made of bones, huge pyramids made of skulls and topped with crowns, there were bones EVERYWHERE!!! All in all, there are the remains of about 40,000 people decorating the church! Creepy in a cool sort of a way! So, in a very strange mood, I headed to the town center. It was quite a hike, approx. 3 miles. But it was an interesting look at Czech life. I finally made it to the Centrum and found the Tourist Info office. I got a map and wandered the town for awhile, had a nice dinner, then headed back to the bus station. The town is lovely and I highly recommend it to anyone! I was exhausted, and I have not felt 100% for the past couple of days. So, I was kind of slouched on the bus, just watching the scenery fly by. About 20 minutes into the journey, Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill started to play on the bus drivers radio. I love that song, and as the music washed over me, I suddenly felt better. The sun was setting and casting a hue of deep reds, blues, purples, and oranges over the rolling Czech landscape. It was wonderful, and I certainly enjoyed the rest of the ride. Lost in thought and the beauty of the countryside, time seemed to fly. Next time, I will bring my iPod.... soundtrack to my life.

So, I made it back to the hostel and I'm getting ready to go to bed. I have to catch an early bus to Cesky Krumlov in the morning! I'm really looking forward to Southern Bohemia! Just not the 3 hour bus ride! It should be interesting!

I Stepped in Vomit....

2007-04-26T16:08:00.000-04:00

So, I'm in Prague! I stepped off the train Wednesday afternoon, dragging my ass. The hostel is ok and the location is great! Right in the center of Old Prague. Despite my fatigue, I decided to head out and check out the town! I wandered the narrow cobblestone street and made my way to the Astronomical Clock. Every hour, this clock that is hundreds of years old, comes a live! Little men dance about and a skeleton plays music! It lasts about 30 seconds and the crowd cheered. Wow.... it was very anti climactic. But cool! You know I love kitch! Anyway, I meandered through the streets as the sun slowly set. I was searching for sustinence, but the prices were frightening! Oh god! I thought Prague was cheap??!!?? This is NOT cheap - this is actually expensive!! After an hour or so of searching, I was exhausted and starving! I hadn't eaten in like 10 hours! So, I stopped at this cafe and paid about $15 USD (300 Kc) for a shitty dinner! It came with like 5 chips - literally! OUCH! I nearly cried. So, I had to get cash because the hostel did not accept credit cards. I walked to the ATM and pulled out 3000 Kc (about $150 USD). There was a man lurking by the corner. I noticed him as I walked to the ATM, and felt I needed to keep an eye on him. Boy, was I right. As I rounded the corner, he stepped behind me. Being the savvy NYer that I am, I stopped to give him the opportunity to pass. He seemed to be taken aback by this. He turned and started to go back around the corner. I continued on my way. Knowing better than to let my guard down, I knew immediately that he had started to come my way again. This time, I stopped dead in my tracks and spun around to look him in the eye. He stopped and I took my glasses off. He turned and quite quickly walked in the opposite direction. I put my glasses back on and continued on my way, confindent that he would not bother me.

So, after much searching, I have come to the realization that Prague is a very expensive city. My dreams of eating well and seeing fabulous shows and concerts have been destroyed. So, I found a grocery store. Uh oh... I don't speak Czech, let alone read it! FUCK! So, I got some orange juice (I think) and some pasteries. Hey, at least I'll get my sugar fix! By the time I left, I was completely exhausted! So, I was in a bit of a daze walking back towards my hostel. Now, I had to cross this rather large square to get to the alley leading to my hostel. I took a diagonal path - the most direct route - and ended up walking right into a huge pile of what looked like vomit. I felt it squish and splash up on my foot. Aloud, I said, "That did not just happen??!!??" FUUUUCCCCKKKK! So, I hobbled back to the hostel, eyes watering. Not to worry... all was well with a good long shower and a lot of cocnut creme douche.

This morning, I was woken up early by a girl who had to catch an early flight. God! So, I decided to go ahead and get up. I spent the morning in the Jewish Quarter. I went to the Cemetary which was very cool, but expensive!!! It cost about $15 USD to get in!! And it was REALLY crowded. You know how i feel about crowds! Prague is more expensive than Amsterdam! What the fuck??!!? Anyway, the cemetary was intense. So many people.... wow. And to think that the Jewish population in the Czech republic has been reduced to nothing. Wow....

In a pensive mood, I fought my through the crowds and out into the street. I got a cheap pizza slice ($2.50 USD) and headed for Charles Bridge. It was beautiful and I did manage to rub St. John - with my left hand, of course! Prague Castle loomed ahead, and I huffed and puffed my way up the steep hills and a million stairs! The castle grounds were lovely. I walked all around the free area, but I did not go into the actual castle. It cost like $25 USD!! Oy vey! Oh well, I had fun anyway! Except that my feet were KILLING me!! So, I hobbled my way back to the Old Town, where I wandered a bit and ran some errands before heading back to the hostel! The evening has been cool! I hung out and watched Czech music videos with the Lithuania philosopher who is in my room! He is fabulous!

Any-hoo... I am going to Kutna Hora tomorrow! I'm really looking forward to the Bone Church!! I'll write all about it tomorrow night! I decided to cut my stay in Prague short, so I will be heading out to Cesky Krumlov on Saturday. Since the rest of the Czech Republic really is very cheap, I may stay a few days and explore South Bohemia. I'll figure it out when I get there! I do think I'm going to treat myself to a truly private room, either in a hotel or a pension. I can get a nice room with my OWN shower for about $25 USD. I need a good night's sleep!!! And since I'm a few days ahead, I think I'm going to go to Switzerland!!!! Either that, or I will do some more in Bavaria or in Italy. I'll let you know when I decide!! Despite the expense, the blisters, and stepping in vomit, I'm having a blast!! :) I love europe!!!

The Green Fairy

2007-04-26T04:13:00.000-04:00

Ok.... so I tried Absinthe! Not the silly knock off variety either. I tried the real deal! 70 Proof Alcohol and a high Thujone content! Oh... it was intense! It truly burned going down and the fire lingered for a moment. It was great! Honestly, I did not feel anything out of the ordinary, but it was great fun! I've been ruled by the Green Fairy, just as many artists and genius before me! I love europe! There is so much here....

Curry Wurst & Communism

2007-04-26T03:06:00.000-04:00

After a crazy weekend in amsterdam, I drug my tired ass to the train station and boarded a train heading East. About 5 hours later, I found myself in Berlin! The hostel I had planned to stay at was completely full, so I headed over to the Mitte Backpackers deeper into East Berlin. After getting checked in and all that jazz, I headed out to check out Berlin!

As I walked the streets that were once owned and occupied by Soviet Communism, my thoughts drifted to what I remember of the Berlin Wall and it's ultimate fall. As a 12 year old in america, it was huge. But I thought of the people living and working in Berlin who were my age. What must it have been like to have such a massive change take place.... esp. for a child living in the East. I bought a piece of the wall for Chloe and Rhys, knowing that they will have no idea what it is. It won't have the same weight that it did for me when I was a kid. But, it is important to keep these stories alive. To make certain that it does not happen again. Without knowledge and understanding, responsible action cannot be taken.

Anyway, Berlin is pretty cool. I literally spent the ENTIRE day walking! About 8-9 hours straight. I took a 4+ hour walking tour, then went back to sites that I really wanted to explore. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews was intense and beautiful. Checkpoint Charlie was interesting. I walked all along the last remaining portion of the Berlin wall and the Topography of Terror exhibit which dealt with the rise and fall of the Nazis, including the Nuremburg Trials. It's really interesting to walk around the city. You see all these new buildings with really old and dingy statues perched on top. Apparently, Hitler's obbsessive love of art actually had a positive outcome. Before the start of WW 11, he removed all of the statues from the buildings and buried them away. After the war, they were dug up and put back. I do want to say that Germans want to forget Hitler. I saw the site of his bunker where he supposedly killed himself. They have blown it up and made a car park. The only thing that remains is a temporary placard that they will be removing in the next few months. Interesting....

So, I saw everything that i wanted to see in Berlin in the first 2 days. I even tried Curry Wurst! It was by accident, of course. I had ordered a wurst mit pommes, but I guess the woman misunderstoodme. So, I got curry wurst with fries instead. So, I had a dilemma. I was running short on time and hungry! But, it was a diced sausage drowned in ketchup and curry powder. How bad could it be?? I decided to go for it, and guess what?! It was actually pretty good! It had this sweet and spicy thing going on! So that was fun!

Wednesday I will make my way to Prague! I'm VERY excited! Fairy tale Castles and Marionettes and black light theatre! Rock on! Plus, I'll really be in Eastern europe! How cool is that!

Retard Capsules

2007-04-21T10:29:00.000-04:00

I'm in Amsterdam!! And I love it! The train ride from Bruges was ok... a bit boring. There was not much to admire. But oh well! I was on my way to Amsterdam! I stepped out of the train station into a zoo. Friday afternoon in amsterdam is a busy time indeed, and it was a bit of an assault on the senses. But I found my tram without much ado and got off at Leidseplein. I found my hostel, walked in, and .... oh shit... I'm high. The smoke was thick and pervasive! So, I dumped my bags and headed for the bar. I met Jasper, a cute little Dutch boy, and he gave me lots of good info, including where to go to find my sandals! So, off I went! I found the store in a narrow, pedestrian only alley. And I finally bought my sandals!!! Yeaaaaa! So, glowing from my victory, I wandered the streets and canals for a bit. I found a pharmacy, and because I had this damn cold, I decided to see what medicine they had. I was hoping for Robitussin, but found Retard apsules instead! I laughed so hard! I almost boought it just for the package, but decided that would be silly! Retard Capsules.... very appropriate for amsterdam!!It was getting late in the day, so I headed over to the coffee shop that he had recommended. A bit hard to find, but worth it in the end! I bought some... coffee.... and felt very strange about it. That American fear of the police kicked in. Thankfully, it passed rather quickly. So, I did not want to enjoy my ... coffee.... alone - how sad would that be- so I headed back to the hostel. I sat at the bar and asked for a bowl. He gave it to me, but then he said, "You know, that's not how we smoke it here." I'm all about "Going Local" so I really enjoyedthe lessons in Dutch Rolling. Wow... it's like an art form here!!!! It took a weekend of practice, but I eventually was able to put together a functional Dutch Roll. I spent the entire evening hanging out and having a blast!

The next day, I got up early and headed over to the Anne Frank House. When i got there, the line was wrapped all the way around the block. Oy vey. So, I stood out front and reflected on the enormity of what was before me. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I had gone in, with all of those people pushing and shoving. So, I headed to the red Light District. The walk was nice! I found a really fun carnival that is a permanent fixture in Dam Square! How fun!! then, I found myself in the Red Light District. Hmmmmm.... kind of blah. The hooker sin the window were really just lounging there in their knickers, smoking cigarrettes and chatting on the cell phone. And there were all these gross old men coming out of the brothels. Ewwwww. So, I kept walking, and in the space of about 15 minutes, I got offered about 10 "jobs." Apparently, fat white american girlies are a hot commodity! I was also propositioned about every 50 ft by some nasty old fuck. I just kept walking, but this one black guy actually grabbed me and pulled me back to him. I yanked my arm free rather forcefully and was about to kick his ass. I suppose I had pure murder in my eyes because he turned and pretty much ran away. So, that was the end of the Red Light district for me. Lesson Learned: Never go into a Red Light District as a woman alone unless you are willing and prepared to handle any situation.

Well, in a snit from being man handled - ohhhh, I hate that - I stormed up to Waterloo Market which was very touristy. So, I meandered my way down to Albert Cuyp Market. Much more local! You could buy anything from fresh meat to shampoo! It was fun and lasted for probably 15 blocks?? I eventually made my way back to the hostel. There were these American girls in my room who had been in Spain studying abroad. Anyway, they decided that they were going to try 'shrooms for the first time ever. Now, in Amsterdam they are fresh and prepackaged, just like any other produce. I told them what to expect and said that they should take it very slow and only take a couple at a time. Well, they decided that since the package said 1 serving, they would just take them all. They refused to listen to me that one serving doesn't mean all at once!! So, they each ate an ENTIRE package of FRESH mushrooms ALL AT ONCE! And it was their first time and they did not have a trip sitter. Recipe for distater, and when I came back into the room about 4 hours later, they were huddled on the bunk bed. Apparently, they had kicked in while they were walking to the park and the bikes, people, trams, and smart cars.... well, it was sensory overload. They bugged out and ran back to the hotel. Hey, they were warned! Knowing that they were miserable, I coaxed them out and took them to the coffee shop. Nice and dark and comfortable. But the ... coffee.... was a bit too strong, esp. since they refused to mix it with tobacco. Oy vey. It was ridiculous, but I saw it many times that weekend from lots of people. Americans in particular. Get trashed as quickly as possible, instead of respecting and enjoying it. So, it was an interesting night!

The next morning, I ended up hanging out with this gay guy from California. We stopped by this cafe for lunch. Now, I REALLY wanted a cheeseburger and fries. But when I ordered, the waiter said, "No! You should try something ducth!" OK.... I could see the logic in that. So, I asked for a suggestion and he offered Beef Croquettes. Done, I'll try those. Oh god! They were NASTY! They were fried logs filled with this greyish ooze. Ugh!! But I was hungry, so I ate them anyway and got a good laugh! We then headed over to the Van Gogh museum. When we got there, we were shocked to discover that is cost 13 Euros to get in! So, I stood out front, threw my hands in the air, and said," Van Gogh, I love you. But, as a starving artist I simply cannot afford it. I had croquettes for lunch! I know you understand!" Yes, I'd had some ... coffee! So, after making the crowd laugh, we headed over to Vondel Park. OH WOW! Very cool! There were people EVERYWHERE, dogs off their leash, kids playing, juggling, performing, art, and so much more! It is how I imagine Haight - Asbury to have been like in the 60's! I spent the rest of the afternoon lounging and enjoying the park! My last night in amsterdam was pretty laid back.

So, I really enjoyed Amsterdam! Even without the drugs and sex, Amsterdam is a very cool place! Very artsy and creative, liberal, intellectual. It's fabulous and I will definitely go back someday! I met so many cool people! I could never live there, though. I'd be a 300 lb pothead lounging day in and day out in Vondel Park! But I would really enjoy being able to go a few times a year! Yea... Amsterdam is definitely in the running for my fav place thus far.....

Waffles & Frietes

2007-04-19T14:14:00.000-04:00

After only an hour, I found myself standing in the Brussells Midi train station! Glad to be out of Paris... but oh shit! I speak ZERO dutch! Good thing EVERYONE in Belgium speaks English! Brilliant! So, I found the right platform, and within 30 minuten, I was on my way to Bruges.... speeding past the rather dull Belgium countryside! An hour later, I was in Bruges! The very first thing I saw when exiting the building was the hundreds, if not thousands, of bicycles!! They had an entire LOT filled with them!! And all the bikes look like they should be driven by Miss Gulch aka the Wicked Witch of the West! It was GREAT! As I rode the bus into the town center, I loved the Medieval city! It's beautiful! The hostel was pretty cool, no real complaints. Especially after the shitholer in Paris! So, I stashed my bags and went for a walk! I walked all around the Markt and the Bourg and headed down "Feet Street" it's a shopping corrider. Lots of Belgium chocolates and shoes! Oh, and I finally found a "health & beauty" store!! Soap!! I forgot to mention that I could not find ANY soap in Paris??!!?? To this day, I have no idea where they buy their soap??! Maybe that's why they stink so bad.... Anyway, I found a lovely coconut soap, although I did have to ask 3 different people to verify that it was indeed shower body wash. It's called Creme Douche in Belgium.... makes a girl pause! Don't want to use that to wash... well, not my body anyway. I aslo tried a real Belgium waffle in BELGIUM!! It was fresh off the iron and topped with chocolate ice cream and whipped cream! Yum!!! The entire day was spent enjoying the very cool vibe that eminates from Bruges!! The people here are wonderful!! They are the nicest people as a whole that I have encountered thus far!! They always smile and nod when they pass you! And if you are eating a meal outside, they say "spose lick" which means "enjoy your meal! How nice is that??!!?? Random, but too cool! And that is a phonetic spelling. I'm not even going to attempt to really spell it!!

This morning, I was feeling a bit better, but I decided to take it easy. I will be leaving for Amsterdam tomorrow morning, and I DO NOT want to be sick for Amsterdam!!! So, I attempted to do laundry, but all the launderttes in town are closed for "Modernization." So, I wear my stinky clothes for a bit longer! Oh well... I have soap now! At least my body will be clean. Your standards of cleanliness certainly go south when backpacking! Anyway, I hung out and rested a bit before taking a nice walk through the town. I stopped and got some real Belgium Frietes (fries). They were ok.... I prefer British chips! And the rest of the afternoon was devoted to enjoying a couple of ridiculously cheap Belgium beers. I simply sat there at the cafe table set up outside and really enjoyed people watching and having nearly everyone say hello or nod in my direction! I am generally not a beer person, but I enjoyed these. A Lot...

So that brings us to right now! I know.... I really slacked the past 1 1/2 weeks! But I have been busy AND internet has been REALLY expensive, so I only hopped on for a few minutes for this and that. There is free internet in Amsterdam, but it might be the ridiculous kiosk kind and I won't use those for anything other than checking email. Of course, I might be having too much fun and enjoying too much... coffee.... to be bothered with silly little things such as email and blogs! I will definitley be able to in Berlin next week! Wow! My adventure is certainly in full swing!

So, here is the epiphany I had in Paris: I have had the most fun and been the happiest doing nothing significant! In Paris, my FAVORITE things were not the L;ouvre, Eiffel Tower, or any other monument. It was sitting in the park with new friends, drinking wine, and seeing the Eiffel Tower twinkle. It was randomly running into Emma and having a travel buddy for a few hours and a fabulous picnic in the park. It was sitting outside drinking belgium beer in Bruges and window shopping in Salisbury & chester! So.... I realized that I was going about things in the wrong way. I was getting stressed about seeing & doing things! But, I was missing the best part! I was missing just being... Sooo... I have decided to not push myself anymore. No more passes! I feel compelled to "get my money's worth" which really means me racing all over the city, fighting my way through crowds, and missing what is really happening! Don't get me wrong.... I will go to the important stuff! In fact I look forward to it, although I will probably be disappointed again in the future. But for as annoying as the Louvre was, in the end, it was worth it just to be able to stand in front of Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks, the Mona Lisa, and Michelangelo's Death of a Slave. And I suspect that will be the case with any disappointment to come. And other than that, I'm going to go with the flow! Experience the city! Enjoy be right there, right now! I have always worried too damn much but a lot of things.... for once, I'm going to relax....

Any-hoo.... I'm off to Amsterdam in the morning! I'm SO excited!It should be CRAZY fun! I'll update this blog again as soon as I'm able! Oh, and make sure you read below! I'm completely caught up! From Chester up until now! I'm going to enjoy last Belgium beer and hit the hay.... Amsterdam awaits!

Gypsies, Gypsies.... Everywhere!

2007-04-18T15:34:00.000-04:00

Sunday, I got up at 5:30am to get ready to take a very early Eurostar train to Paris! There were no major mishaps and the train was okay. It's a pretty easy ride! I talked to a couple of American girls who were backpacking as well. So, I arrived in Paris in good form. Smoking is not allowed on any trains in France, so I went outside to smoke a cig and take in the Parisian atmosphere. I walked out the door, my heart and head filled with great expectations of Paris, but I was met by the stinking reality. Gypsies were en force, milling around with blackened bare feet, begging for change. I had at least 15 come up to me in a matter of 10 minutes. It reeked of urine and BO. And it was horrifically dirty. Well, I figured I was at the train station - often not the best area of town. So, I made my way to the TI, got a map of Paris, my museum pass, and directions to the hostel. I found the metro and hopped on the appropriate train. The Metro was awful... way worse than NYC. When I got off the train, I tried to find the street the hostel was on, but it was no where on the map. This older gentleman came up to me and asked if I was looking for some hotel. I said no and we started chatting. Hisname was Serge and he was very nice. He helped me find the right map and even walked me to the main street and explained how to get there. The TI had sent me to the wrong metro stop. I had a bit of a hike ahead of me. Oh well, a chance to see Paris! I thanked Serge and we said our goodbyes. Heading in the direction of the hostel, I couldn't help but notice how filthy the city really is. And the smog is awful - it's worse than LA. Even though I was in a very affluent area, it did not feel all that safe. So, my dreams of Paris in the Spring were slowly crumbling. I finally found the hostel. The bar looked nice, so I went ahead and paid for 3 nights, but once I got to the rooms, it was a real shithole!! It was like stepping into a 3rd world country! One girl said it reminded her of thailand. The toilets AND the showers were outside in the damn courtyard!! And this was supposed to be a nice one!?! It certainly was expensive enough. And it was NOT at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.... more like a 15 - 20 minute walk away. The only redeeming factor was that I met a lot of cool people staying there.

Anyway, they had a lockout (yuck!!) until 4 pm. I asked the guy at the bar/reception where the post office was and such. He was rude and of no help! He said, "walk down Rue de Commerce for awhile, you'll find something." My feathers ruffled, I sulked around the corner. Everything was closed. It took me about 10 minutes before I remembered it was Sunday. Asshole... he could have said something. Whatever. So, I decide to try and find a grocery store since I had not eaten since about 6 am. But after an hour or so of walking around in the blazing heat, there was nothing! When I saw McDonald's (yes, I know) I made a beeline. The prices were horrendous! About $8.50 USD for a meal!! And to add insult to injury, they had no "Dollar Menu"! In the UK, they had the "Pound Saver" menu which sits quite nicely with ravenous backpackers. But I was hungry and everywhere else was closed. So, I gave in. After eating, it was just after 4pm, so I headed back to the hostel. After getting my bags situated, I changed into my flip flops. It was so hot!! I'm going to have to get a pair of sandals ASAP!! Anyway, I chatted with this guy for a bit, then i decided I could walk down to Champs elysees .... in my flip flops. This was a huge mistake, but I'll get to that ina minute. So, I head out and as i'm approaching Champs de Mars and the Eiffel Tower, this guy on a bike passes me and smiles. So, I return the smile without much thought. He loops back around and follows me. He says something to me in French and although I do speak a little French, I did not get what he said. I asked if spoke English, but of course he did not. So, he started talking again and asking me questions. The only thing I got was "Promenade." I thought he was asking if I was going on a walk. So, I said yes, I walking to Champs Elysees. At that point he hopped off his bike and started walking with me. So, I guess he had asked if I wanted to promenade with him. He was a rotund french man who seemed harmless enough. Why not? So, I didn't argue. He pointed stuff out, I took pictures, so on. All was fine until about the Hotel des Invalides. At that point he started to try and hold my hand!!??!! Boy, French men move quick! I tried to explain to him that I was not interested. He kept walking with me until I was right at the beginning of the Champs Elysees. I decided to lie and say I had a boyfriend. A petit ami.... well, for some reason he thought I had a baby??? So, a bit more effort and he finally got what I was saying. So, thankfully, he went away. And went down the Champs Elysses. It was big and long, crowded and dirty. A lot of very expensive shops and restaurants. So, I didn't really stop. Just took it all in. I came to the Arc de Triumphe, took my pics with the other tourists and headed back towards the eiffell Tower. The plan was to find a shop and buy some wine, cheese, and bread and have a picnic on the Champ de Mars beneath the Eiffel Tower. Well, I popped into a shop and walked right back out! The prices were unbelievable! So, I gave up and wondered how I could ration the chips I had left. At this point my feet were killing me and they were literally black from the digusting filth of Paris. French people don't seem to like pavement, so there is a lot of dirt and gravel paths. Gimping down the Rue, I found a shop that was open and I popped in to by some cigs. I asked the gentleman behind the counter if he spkoke english very politely and en francais! He glared at me and saod "NO!" He then turned his head in disgust and loathing. I stammered for a few moments trying to piece together my french.... see, in American schools, they don't teach you the proper way to by cigs in a french class. Why?? I hear a voice from behind me ask if I needed help. I turned and it was a young middle eatern guy who spoke with an American accent. We laughed and I said "Yes, please!" So, he helped me buy cigs and then he asked if I wanted to join him and some other people for a picnic! I agreed, but where to buy wine and such?? He took me to a shop that was open. No good cheese, but who needs food when you have cheap french wine? So we headed back over to the Champ de Mars. There was a guy from South America (all over), a Bulgarian, a french girl, and 2 American guys. Apparently, they had been in the park for awhile! It was nice! We shared all the wine, laughed, and watched the Eiffell tower light up - every hour from like 8pm to 1 am it actually twinkles! Very cool! At around 10pm, I decided to head over to the tower to see about riding up. The line was horrendous, so I headed back to the hoistel. By the time I got back, I was actively limping and my feet were on fire. Damn flip flops. Damn dirt and gravel. I had gotten the first major blisters of this adventure.... right on the balls of my damn feet. Ouch.... that night I had to take a shower. It was awful. It was filthy and dirtyy and outside ! I'm not French! I don't walk around naked! And it was just a push button one temperature kind that only came on for about 10 seconds per push! So, I started to cry.... I don't like Paris.

The next morning, I dealt with the blisters as best as I could. After mailing my first package back to the States, I went to the Louvre. I was excited! But, when I got there, it was a bit much. It was PACKED! I mean shoulder to shoulder, people pushing and shoving kind of crowded. And the ENTIRE museum was filled with a dull constant roar. Now, you are NOT supposed to see art in that kind of an environment! You can't reflect and absorb what you are seeing when people are screaming and pushing all around you. So, I saw what I wanted to see - primarily Da Vinci's work (they don't have as much as I thought), the Mona Lisa, and Death of a Slave. - and I got the hell out of there. I spent about an hour in there. I was not happy when I left. I had hoped to really spend time just enjoying the art. I asked if there was a good time to go, and apparently it is always that way. So, I went to the Pantheon, since I know had an afternoon free. It was OK, but I lingered for about 1/2 hour since they had the A/C on. I then hopped on the metro and made my way back to the eiffel Tower. I braved the lines and made my way to the very top. Honestly, it was nothing special. I would have been happier just going to the 2 nd level. The smog was horrible and greatly reduced visibility in a cloak of brown nastiness. So, I took the stairs back down since the line for the elevators was ridiculous. I found the damn post office finally and got the post cards stamped and on their way! The kids should have them soon! After the draining day, I was very tired and decided to head back to the hostel. I saw a Supermarche on the way and popped in. I got a Quiche and a cheap bottle of wine thinking it would be great to simply enjoy the evening sipping wine in the courtyard. Ha ha... no such luck. The hostel doesn't allow drinking of any alcohol but theirs. If they catch you, they take it away. God! It's PAris! Europe! You are allowed to walk down the damn street drinking! So, my hopes were dashed. To make matters worse, the hostel did not have an oven. So... no quiche, no wine. Instead, I spent the evening chatting with fellow residents and my Brazilian roommates shared their pasta with me! So, that was a lot of fun! But I was getting stopped up and not feeling too well....

The next day, my feet were really killing me and I had a full fledged cold, so I decided that I need to take the day easy. I figured I would go to Notre Dame and Versailles and then just hang out. I took my time getting out because my head and throat were killing me and I could not breathe through my nose. I arrived at Notre Dame and toured the Cathedral, which is actually free (!!). It's very beautiful! Then I walked around the corner to get in line to climb the Belfry. OK... let me just say that I pissed off some French people, because I had someone take my picture in front of the Cathedral acting like Quasimoto. Actually, I did it more than once. Tee hee. It's fun to act like a child sometimes. Anyway, as I was walking to the back of the line, I hear someone call my name. Well... that's odd! I turn around and Emma, a canadian girl I met at the hostel was already in line! She asked if I wanted to climb the tower with her, and I said yes! So, we climbed the tower stairs which were terribly narrow and steep, spiraling up into oblivion. After much huffing and puffing, we reached the first level! It was great! The Gargoyles were fantastic! We even saw one gargoyle that was eating some animal alive!It looked like a dog. We laughed about it, but decided not to take a picture.... impossible to capture the true horror of that discovery! To we proceeded into the place where the Great Bell is hanging! It was great! It looked like something right out of Jekyl & Hyde! And they had these tiny doors that you had to climb through! We then headed up to the very top, enjoyed the view and made plans to have a picnic lunch in the park. after all, I had carried that cheap bottle of wine all the way up the tower, might as well share it! So after we decended and regained our vision, we went in search of food. We headed straight into the Latin Quarter, which is a very cool place indeed! Lots of cheap places and colorful people! We found ourselves a bit lost and decided to head into this pedestrain alleyway! It was fabulous! The narrow alley was lined on either side with shops and restaurants, each one with a person standing out front trying to get patronage! We continued on until we found the Gyro windows and decided that they would be ok with wine. They had pix of them being served with wine.... so, what the hell! They were MASSIVE!! We laughed so hard at how ridiculous they were! It's a giant flatbread stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, whatever you want, fresh doner meat (i chose Poulet... chicken), and a fabulous white sauce! Then, they dump a bunch of fries on it and wrap it up into a cone! So we walked with our yummy picnic lunch to a park near the Sorbonne and chatted over wine for a couple of hours! Much fun! And not to worry, I have pix of all of this! So, we parted way around 3:30 and I went to the RER station to catch the train to Versailles. I went to the desk to ask how I got my free ticket and the guy screamed at me! Using the damn microphone! So the entire metro station could hear him screaming at me in French. I hate PAris. I tried to find the right train, but I did not know if I had to have a regular ticket or what??!! So, I found another ticket desk but this woman told me that I would have to use a whole travel day on my pass to go. So... that's free?? I was pissed and she was smug. So, I stormed out and went back to the hostel. Paris had already chewed into my budget a bit, so I did not go. Instead, I hung out with everyone at the hostel, which was a lot of fun! Cool people from all over the world! Talking about everything under the sun! Since I was leaving Paris in the morning - thank god - I went to bed around 1am.

The next morning, I was up and out really early! Goodbye PAris.... hello Bruges!

Stonehenge & Avebury

2007-04-18T15:33:00.000-04:00

Let me start off by saying that the day was absolutely amazing - despite the difficulties I encountered. I woke up early so that I could catch the first bus to Avebury. It's about 1:40 bus ride through the southern English countryside, which is gorgeous! Nearly all of the houses have thatched roofs! I even saw a crew putting a new thatched roof on an old cottage! Strange, but very cool! As the bus rounded a bend in the narrow roadway, I caught my first glimpse of the stones! It was incredible! Out of the blue, theses massive stones greet you and welcome you to the tiny village. I got off the bus in front of the local inn and made my way to the TI, which was located in a 12th century chapel. I got a map of the village and the stone cirlce and began to walk. I wove my way through and around the stones and the village for several hours. It was indescribable, really. Many of the stones towered over me. And to think that they are older than Stonehenge is mind boggling! 6000 years of history.... you can almost feel it resounding off of the stones. I imagined all of the people over the past 6 millennia who have walked among the stones. It was incredible.

I headed back towards the inn and the bus stop around noon. I needed to be back in Amesbury no later than 3pm to catch the last bus to Stonehenge. So, I sat on the side of the road and started to enjoy my picnic lunch. Shortly there after, A bus came from the other direction, and 2 older men stumbled off. The stench of urine and cheap beer was impressive. Drunk and stammering, the banter was hilarious! The older gentlemen's trousers kept falling down... and since he had neglected - or chosen- not to wear undies.... well, I had a wonderful view of his lilly white arse. A few minutes into this scene, and disrupting my thoughts of Monty Python, they stumbled over to me. The younger one asked if I knew where the toilet was. I pointed him in the right direction, and after several attempts, he finally got it. Then he asked where I was from. Curious as to where the conversation might lead, I told him. Apparently, his sister lives in Arlington, VA and he was there just last year! Hmmmm... what are the odds!?! It was hilarious! So, yes they were drunk and reeked of their own piss and sick, but they were amusing and quite a few people were grinning! It definitely a great story, and I must incorporate it into my character studies and my writing!

So, the bus came about 15 minutes later, and I headed out to Stonehhenge. I got to Amesbury about 2:30pm. I walked around a bit, but there was not much to the town, so I headed back to the bus station. The last bus for Stonehenge was due to arrive at 3:18pm. When it pulled up, I waved to the driver to let him know I was coming and started to walk to the bus. Well, the driver did not even stop! He just pulled right out and left me! Oh... I was NOT a happy camper!! So, after talking to the other driver in the office, I hit the pavement. Yes, I walked to Stonehenge. I was not about to let a pissy driver keep me from enjoying it! So, I walked...and walked....and walked. Until I reached the very busy motorway. Of course, I had to cross it. I felt like I was in frogger. But I survived, and I could see Stonehenge up the hill in the distance. I finally arrived at about 4:45 or so. Since my ticket included regular admission as well, I went ahead and walked around like the other tourists. There were hundreds of people there and as expected, it was very sterile. Although, the stones are still impressive if you let them be. I sat on the picnic tables and chatted with a woman for a bit while waiting for it to close. I was getting incredibly excited!! A small group of us gathered and right at 6:30pm, they took us across and the roped off area was opened. I stepped through slowly, and made my way to the stones. As I crossed into the circle, I nearly started to cry. I don't know why, exactly, so don't ask. I'll let you know once I figure it out. I ran my hands along the stones and carefully made my way around the circle. The 2 different stones actually feel different! The blue stones have a warmth to them.... it's indescribable. After about 20 minutes, most of the people had taken their pictures and left. How ridiculous.... but I stayed until security said time was up (they actually gave me & the other girl about 15 extra minutes). I walked into the circle and simply experienced being there completely alone. The other girl was a photographer, so she was way out in the field trying to get good shots. So, there I stood with the sun setting and darkness approaching.... there are no words.

After all that had happened, both good and bad, I decided to take a cab back to Amesbury to catch the bus to Salisbury. I really did not fancy the idea of walking back in the dark, esp tireed and pensive. After a pricy cab ride and a rattling bus, I made it back to the hostel around 10 pm and passed out.

The Market, the Stones, & Me

2007-04-18T15:13:00.000-04:00

So, I made it to Salisbury.... FINALLY! The train ride was an ordeal! The hostel was nice, but it was way out of the way, up a hill, and in the woods! And it was VERY expensive!! But I made up for that by eating a REALLY big breakfast and bagging up enough to make sandwichs for lunch and dinner. So, it was ok.

My first full day was pretty busy! I got an early start and headed to the Tourism office. I got a good city map and my Explorer bus ticket for Stonehenge and Avebury. I then headed over to the Cathedral and explored the Close. It was gorgeous and the Spire is definitely tall! The rest of the afternoon was spent window shopping and wandering the narrow streets and marketplaces! I was on another quest to find a camera neck strap. Since it was actually bordering on hot, I was no longer wearing my jacket. So, I had no where to put my camera. I did find on eventually, and boy do I look like a tourist with it around my damn neck. But oh well. If I didn't do that, I'd bang it into something and/or leave it somewhere! The rest of the evening was spent hanging out with this cool german girl I met and planning my big day!@! I have no idea how I slept that night!!! I was so excited!

the next morning I woke up bright and early and ready to go! I've decided to devote and entire entry to Stonehenge and Avebury, so I'm just going to continue on. After the amazing day I had, I crashed out! The next morning, I was supposed to leave Salisbury and head to Paris. But there was some issue with the trains and I ended up having to take the bus. It was half to cost, so ok! But the next bus did not leave until 3 pm. So, for about 5 hours ona hot day, I wandered around Salisbury with my heavy ass backpack. I went to the market - the one that has been going on for nearly 1000 years - and found a watch for 5 pounds. Then I sat in the park like a hobo for a while, until i spyed a photo shop! I used the remaining time to have my photos put on a disk so I cleared out 2 SD cards. Yes, I had 2 gigs of photos in about 2 1/2 weeks! Hmmm.. Anyway... I got on the bus at 3pm, and the damn A/C was BROKEN!!! So, foe 3 1/2 hours, we ROASTED and sweated like pigs. We were all miserable!! No one could do anything but stare blankly ou the window, desperately wishing they opened. The interior thermometer said it was 28 C inside but it felt even hotter. Well, when we got to London, we all rushed out of the bus! I had booked a room at the Astor Museum Inn, so I was happy to know exactly where I was going! I stopped by Waterloo to pick up my eurostar tix, then went straight to bed... I had a VERY early train to catch! Paris here I come!!!!

Medieval Disney

2007-04-18T14:55:00.000-04:00

Chester is pretty cool! It may not be very big, but they certainly pack a lot into such a small space! I got into town around 3 pm, and after checking into the hostel and dumping my bags, I hit the town - pretty much my MO! I headed straight for the city centre, which was about an 8 minute walk from the hostel. Chester did not seem like anything special until I caught a glimpse of the clock tower! It's the beginning of the medieval city centre! Very cool! It's a brilliant fusion of old and new! There was a Disney Store in this old black and white timbered building! Medieval Disney!! So, I wandered around and window shopped. I was on a quest to find a decent pair of walking sandals. It was really warm and I realized that I will need a pair sooner rather than later. I should of brought a pair with me. I thought about it, but decided that it would be cold and rainy in March and april. I was wrong. Oh well. Shopping is turning into an adventure! I headed back to the hostel around 8pm without shoes I'm afraid. My quest continues!

The next day, I was up and out well before 9 am. My first stop was the Post Office. I really needed to ship a package back to the States, but it was going to be like $60 USD, so I decided it could wait until I got to Paris. Perhaps with the Euro, it will be a bit more reasonable! So, I continued my quest for sandals, but the only ones that were acceptable were WAY too expensive! So, once again, I decided to wait until i got to Paris. So, abandoning my mission for the time being, I headed to the Cathedral. It was lovely! I then walked over to the Roman Amphitheatre and the ruins of St. John's. Then I walked to the edge of the River Dee and got on the Roman Wall! I walked the entire perimeter and it was VERY cool! Tired and stinky, I headed back to the hostel.

My last night in chester was uneventful! I hung out and chatted with a bunch of different people! I made friends with quite a few, including a German couple who I'm going to hang out with once I get to Berlin! I checked out the next morning and headed to Salisbury! Stonehenge is only a couple of days away!!

So, Here's What I've Learned about People... & Myself

2007-04-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that I've been in Europe for 2 weeks already! I've seen and experienced so much, but it feels like it has flown by! I hope my whole trip doesn't fly by! Although, I do wish this day would go quicker!

Today is Easter, and it's been a terribly dull day! I'm going out of my mind with boredom. Especially since, for the most part, the past 2 weeks have been crammed full of sightseeing and general merriment! Over the past 4 days, I ran about seeing everything here in Edinburgh, thinking that the city would be shut down for Easter. It really isn't. Everything is simply keeping Sunday hours. So, I did my laundry and went through my pack and have kind of roamed around aimlessly. I would journal, but this hostel is so damn crowded that I can't find a quiet place, let alone any privacy. This hostel SUCKS!!! It is the worst place i have stayed! It is loud, filthy, and full of drunkards and thieves! I booked a 38 bed dorm room which was the dumbest idea I have ever had! Last night was the worst! People were stumbling in drunk at all hours. The whole bathroom reeked of vomit this morning and apparently, someone had chunked in the hallway. there were people passed out all over the place... even on top of the pool tables. There is hard house music blaring through the hostel day and night. There is no escaping it. It is definitely a "party" hostel. And some miscreant stole my food! Oh, I was pissed! And the hostel could have cared less! All of the other hostels I've stayed take that very seriously! It was only about £4 worth of stuff, but still! That's like $8 USD that comes out of my budget! I had to go back to the store! When I told reception, they said that it happens all the time because there are so many people at the hostel. Plus, it's right next to the bar, so drunk people go and help themselves. Fuck.... I'm getting old.

Any-hoo.... I've learned a lot since being in Europe. I've learned that all tourists are obnoxious in their own special way. Americans are definitely the worst - if for no other reason than arrogance and disrespect. Asians are close on their heels. And Spanish people are horrifically loud, which came as a surprise to me. Not really sure why.

I've learned that I'm getting rigid in my old age. And I prefer a modicum of comfort. I much prefer a few friends, some fine wine, and brilliant conversation to a bar. I hate crowds, but love cities - esp. London and NYC. I've outgrown partying, although I think that happened quite a few years ago at this point. I need to be in an Urban, intellectual environment that offers a bit of everything, or I will get very bored! One of the reasons I hate Richmond so damn much, I suspect. And, perhaps most importantly, for my creativity to really be on point, I need stability and somewhere where I can be alone and in my head. I'm not one of those free spirited, nothing phases them, the world is my oyster, I-can-be-creative-when-living-in-a-box kind of artists. Oh no, no, no. I'm of the brooding, overly sensitive, borderline mad, reclusive variety. Lovely. Oh well... no sense in pretending to be otherwise. Fodder for my art. I simply need to bear this in mind when charting my next course of action. It certainly helps explain why I have not written anything of consequence in many moons. (I'm in a weird mood. Can you tell I'm bored?) Prior to Steve, despite all the turmoil, I was doing well as an artist. Wow... Almost 6 years. That's a long time to be drowning in creative purgatory.

Moving on.... the first day I got to this shitty new hostel, this Italian guy named Andre happened upon me. He has not left me alone since. My god, I want to smack him! He's like a lost puppy. Yesterday, I was on the computers for awhile uploading pictures, and he sat there chomping his crisps - with his mouth open, no less- and annoying the hell out of me for at least an hour. Then, I told him that i was heading out to get some chips. For a normal person, this should have been taken as a very polite way of saying Fuck Off. no such luck. He decided that he would come along and get something for his supper. Being a decent human being, I didn't argue. And this is how it went the entire evening! I finally had to be a bit firm with him, just to get away! I wasn't mean - he didn't deserve that. He's lonely. But Oy Vey! So, I've tried to hide as much as possible today! Not that has worked all that well... he's in one of the 38 beds in my room. Oh wonderful.

Anyway... despite this hateful hostel, I'm having a great time! Edinburgh is a great little city. Although Scotland is a bit rougher than England and they have a higher crime rate. Sirens are common. The Old Town is brilliant! I love all the Closes and Wynds. And the countryside is breathtaking! I'm looking forward to Chester and North Wales! And of course, my Stonehenge adventure!!!!!!!!

So, I will be heading out tomorrow and will arrive in Chester at about 3 pm or so. My plan is to spend Monday evening and Tuesday exploring Chester and then spend the whole day in North Wales on Wednesday. I need to be in Salisbury by Friday for my Stonehenge Circle Access! But I'm sure I'll blog again before that! Tada for now (tada is what they say in West cornforth!)

Alas.... PICTURES!!!!!

2007-04-07T10:34:00.000-04:00

I have found aplace to upload pictures! So, at the end of this post, you will find a link to my online album! None of the pics have been edited in any way,so I apologize for that! Once I get to a place where I can, I will edit them!

Anyway, today has been interesting! With the aid of Xanax, I actually slept OK last night in the ridiculous 38 bed dorm room that I chose. It was the bathrooms this morning that was about the kill me! Too many people! The entire hostel, as is every hostel in the city, is booked solid through the weekend! I thought it would be good to save some money! There are definitely some interesting folk staying here. Think of every type of person imaginable, and they are in my room! Oh well.... it's only for a few nights.

So, this morning i got an early start and made my way to the Scottish Museum of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery. It was great! They had some REALLY interesting work by contemporary artists! I then caught the free museum shuttle and stopped at the Scottish National Gallery. They had some great Impressionist works! After getting my fill of Degas, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Raphael, so on etc, I headed over to the Royal Scottish Academy of Art. WOW! Some of the work that was being offered was incredible! I wish that I was able to buy some of it! There were 3 or 4 pieces that I LOVED!!

Any-hoo... after wandering the various museums and galleries, I was famished. So, I did the unthinkable! I went to McDonald's for lunch. I swore that I wouldn't.... but I caved. It was quick and cheap (£3.69 for a value meal) and there. It tasted exactly the same. But the Monopoly Pieces were fun!

After, I popped into Marks & Spencer (my favorite store in the UK so far) and picked up a few things that should get me through tomorrow night. I also splurged and got a couple of Chaux Buns for dessert! They are basically giant cream puffs with chocolate fondant on top....oh yea! I also picked up some more of my probiotic toffee yogurt!

So.... now I'm back at the hostel, uploading pics and hanging out. I'm actually a bit bored! And tomorrow will be worse! I'm just going to hang out, do laundry, and... um....hmmmm. Not really sure what else! It's Easter, so everything will be closed! Oy Vey!! It will be good to have a day to get my shit together before heading down to Chester and North Wales! I wish that i hadn't brought so much damn stuff! I think that I will be mailing some stuff back to the US when I mail the first round of Prezzies and souvenirs!! I want to get to the point where I only have the one pack to schlep around! I want to be able to put my day pack in the main pack and be done with it!

Any-hoo... without further ado.... drum roll, please..... the link to my online photo album:
http://pippaseuroadventure07.shutterfly.com ! Yes... there are A LOT of pictures (about 250), but it's worth it! And believe it or not, this is NOT all of them - I had to chose from about 500!!!! LOL! I will upload some more tomorrow probably! Hope you like them!

Roslyn Chapel and Da Vinci Manure....

2007-04-06T12:39:00.000-04:00

I headed over to the new hostel this morning and got checked in without too much of a hassle. It's not as nice as the other one, but for £8 a night, what do you expect?!? Anyway, after dropping off my bags, I set of to discover the New Town. I don't know why it's called that, because it's incredibly old and rich with history as well! It is more of a residential area, which means things are a little cheaper.

While i was exploring, I found a store called £ Mania. It is essentially a dollar store and I found some cool little trinkets! I have already checked out £ Stretcher, which is like Big Lots! I have a knack for finding these kinds of places! So, after a bit of bargain hunting, I decided to take on a more historical challenge. I hopped on a bus headed for Roslyn.

Once outside of Edinburgh, the Scottish countryside unfolds. It is gorgeous! And the bus ride did not take that long! I was dropped off on a quaint little village street in Roslyn. I followed the sign to Roslyn Chapel. Walking down this pathway, the scenery took my breath away. On the way, I passed by a small farm that was offering "Da Vinci Manure" for 50p a bag!! Ewwwwwww!! Gross!! LOL!

I finally arrived at the Chapel and was disappointed to find scaffolding. But it's part of the restoration and conservation efforts. Once I stepped inside, nothing else mattered. It is UNBELIEVABLE and there are no words! There is SO MUCH to see and process that you do not know where to look first! Plus, it is a working Episcopal church, so they were having Good Friday services the entire day. It was an interesting experience! And the history is incredible! I mean it is almost 1000 years old!! It has seen so much! And you can look at pictures of the Chapel all day, but it pales in comparison to actually stepping in and being there! After a pensive bus ride, I found myself back in the New Town.

I am having the best time! I can't believe that I've been here almost 2 weeks! And I really can't believe that I will be in Stonehenge, in the Circle, in ONE WEEK!!! Next Friday is the day! Then, I head on to Paris!! It is weird to think that i will be in France in just over a week!! Yeaaaa!! Also, I found out some information regarding work permits and such. It looks like London may be within my reach, which is VERY exciting! Even if it's only for a year, it would be INCREDIBLE to work and study in the birth place of Theatre!!! That would make me very happy.... something I haven't been in awhile.

I'm a Bonnie Lass!

2007-04-06T12:15:00.000-04:00

I arrived in Edinburgh tired. The train had been delayed several times for unknown reasons. But the scenery was gorgeous! I walked up and ungodly steep stair case (bear in mind that i have all my stuff), and made my way to the Tourist Information Office. There, I got info on what to see and do, maps, and booked my hostel since I was a couple of days early! I chose a place in the old town right on the Royal Mile! So, I headed over there and got checked in. After dropping off my bags, I hit the streets of Edinburgh! It's a fabulous city! VERY hilly with LOTS of steep stairs!! But that's ok! There are all these narrow alleys and streets called Closes and Wynds that are amazing! You look down into them, and it is like you are looking into the entrance to another place and/or time! So, I walked all around Old Town Edinburgh for awhile and did some shopping. I started to look for somewhere to eat, but it was futile. I found nothing for less than £12. So, I broke down and went to Subway. It was just as disgusting as in the US. But, it was relatively cheap. and that was pretty much my first night in the capital of Scotland!

The next was BUSY! I headed out early, walking up the Royal Mile to the Castle. I got there just as they were opening. WOW! The Castle is amazing! I saw the Crown Jewels, the Prisons of War, museums, and STUNNING views of all around Edinburgh! After the castle, I stopped in a Mary Kin's Close! How fun! It's more of a history tour, but they did have a cheesy ghost story towards the end. The real ghost in the Close is that of little Annie. You are supposed to bring a doll to leave for her. I left 50p in the basket for the Children's Fund instead. It was incredible to wind through this underground city!

Speaking of ghosts, Edinburgh is like the World Capitol of ghosts! And you know that I LOVE that! So, I had decided to make the evening entirely about ghosts! I started at the City of the Dead tour, which starts at St. Giles Cathedral and ends in the Greyfriar's Cemetery. It was AWESOME! Jerry, the tour guide, certainly helped - cute little Scottish boy! Once in the cemetery, I immediately felt funny. As I walked a bit further in, I felt like I was being watched and when I past by this open crypt, I felt like something grabbed my wrists from behind and it left this tingling sensation that lasted for quite awhile. It was like the sensation you get when holding dry ice. I did NOT want to go near this one crypt and after we all were in the Black Mausoleum, I found out why! It was where the main ghost of the graveyard was last seen as a full figured entity! It completely freaked me out! But it was great! I then headed back to the Royal Mile to catch the 10:30 pm Terror Tour. This one was just OK. It walked around to St. Gile's Cathedral - this was the site of all the torture and witch burning - and up and down VERY steep Wynds and Closes before going into the Torture room. It was really just a cheap display of old torture implements. then we went down into the underground and saw the working wiccan temple and the area of the south Bank poltergeist. The tour ended at Nichols Pub. Now they say that it's the most haunted pub in Scotland, but whatever. I wish that i had just done the underground tour.... would have saved a couple of quid. But all in all, it was a great day! And i am really enjoying Edinburgh! Tomorrow, I move over to the New Town, which is where I will stay through Sunday night!

Where you Headed, Love?

2007-04-06T11:48:00.000-04:00

So my last day in Glastonbury was fairly uneventful!I did end up going to the pub that night with some folks I had met earlier that day. It was Karaoke Night and the pub was packed. The first song i heard upon nearing the front door was an Irish bloke bellowing Country Roads. How bizarre!! But great fun!

The next morning, I had to get up early to catch the bus back to Bristol so I could catch a 10:59 train to Durham. My family was picking me up at 5 pm, so I needed to be on time! I was in the kitchen when I heard the bus outside. I figured there would be another bus in 30 minutes or.... I was wrong. I looked at the bus schedule and the next bus wasn't for nearly 2 hours!! So, I was offered a ride by a guy I had met in the pub the night before. Yea.... I know. But I arrived in one piece! So no worries! He fancied me.... if you want all the details of the VERY interesting and adventurous day, email me!

So, I made it into Bristol and managed to get on a train that would put me in Durham at 4:30 pm. I had to transfer at Birmingham, and this boy of about 10-12 came up to me on the platform and said, "Where you headed, Love?" It was the funniest thing and I think it embarrassed his mother! It made me laugh! Anyway, My family picked me up and we headed over to west Cornforth. It was FABULOUS seeing them again! I also got to meet all of the family that i hadn't met yet! That evening, we had Fish & Chips and Mushy Peas! Loved it! Esp. the chips w/ salt & vinegar and the mushy peas! Then we headed over to the pub! I tried John Smith ale and it was ok! Now, I lost track of how much i drank because there was always a fresh pint waiting for me even before I was finished the one I was drinking! But it was brilliant fun!

The next day was cold and dreary, so, after a hearty breakfast of Bacon butties, we decided to go shopping in Darlington! I found a fabulous scarf for £2! We then popped into Crombie's for dinner (lunch) and I had Minced Beef w/ Yorkshire Pudding and Roast Tatties. After, I tried Spotted dick! It was all wonderful! After a very filling dinner, we headed over to the old market that had everything you could ever need! The Butcher, the Baker, & the Candlestick Maker! We headed back to West Cornforth to regroup.

After a bit of relaxation, Anita brought Kyle over! He just turned 2 and is too much! He was all smiles when he walked in the door.... until he saw me. His entire face dropped and he said YUCK! We all laughed! After a few minutes he warmed up to me. Every time something didn't go his way, he would say DAMN ! Very funny! So, after they headed out, we had afternoon tea, which is more like a small meal. I had Pork Pies, Savory Eggs, lettuce w/ Salad Cream, and of course ham. It was good! Later that evening, we went over to Joanne's and hung out drinking wine and ale and having a great time! It was a lovely way to end my stay!

So early the next morning they took me to the train station. And after buying my tickets (they knew someone at the train station, so I got incredible bargains fares), they walked me over to the platform. we said our goodbyes and i promised to come back soon! After hugs and kisses, I boarded the train to Edinburgh!

The Tor, the Chalice, & King Aurthur

2007-03-31T11:02:00.000-04:00

My first full day in glastonbury has been interesting! I woke up early and headed out to visit the Abbey Ruins. The Abbey was the first christian church in England and the ruins are nearly 2000 years old. It is also the site of King Aurthur and Guinevere graves. It was lovely and I enjoyed walking about the grounds.

I then walked up to the Chalice Well, about 1 1/2 miles from the center of town. It was a gorgeous walk and I saw a lot of very old English houses. Houses that were built in the 15th and 16th centuries! It's incredible! I arrived at the Chalice Well in good form and I decided to buy a large bottle to take some healing waters with me. In case you are unaware, the Chalice Well has been a sacred site for thousands of years. The Druids and the Celts first used it and there are Yew trees (Sacred to Druids) all about. The Christians came later and there is a lot of Christian legend surrounding the well. So, today, it is still considered a sacred site by all. I saw Druidic High Priestess using her wand to summon the energy of the rocks right along with Christians lighting votives and leaving them at the site of the well. It was fascinating. The gardens are gorgeous and as I wound my way around the waterfall, I found myself at 2 Yew trees that had been there for centuries, if not longer. It was incredible and I placed my hand on the trunk of both. There was a light wind softly rustling the leaves, and i imagined that they were speaking in whispered voices as they most certainly had for the ancient Druids. I continued along the path to the Lion's Head. This is where the healing waters rush out of the earth for the first time. This is where you drink and reflect. There is also a wading pool that you can submerge yourself in. It was a bit nippy, so I simply ran my hands to the cool water. I filled my large bottle and took a sip. It was heavy with iron and minerals, but the taste went away after a couple of drinks. So i sat on a bench and quietly drank my water and thought about this and that. I then refilled my bottle and continued up to the well itself. It was very peaceful and i can understand why people are drawn to it. It has a wonderful energy.

After I found my way back to the gate, I headed over to the footpath that Leads up the Tor and ultimately to the Tower of St. Michael. I had no idea it was so big. It is quite literally a vertical climb to the top. It was a sunny day, so i was determined. It actually was not that bad - perhaps it was the healing waters. I made it to the top of the Tor and the views were astonishing. You can see all of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset counties from the top. Yes, it's that big! I stepped into the Tower and the moment I entered an incredibly strong wind suddenly tore through the Tower. I thought it would dissipate, but it was sustained and continued. In fact, it continued until I had begun the descent. The wind was so strong that I nearly was knocked over. I walked around the top for a bit, then headed back down. With the Tower on my back, the wind suddenly died abruptly. It was very disquieting. The air was completely still. So, I continued back down and walked the 2 miles or so back to town. I opted for a different route which took me through more of the neighborhoods. I loved it!

Once I got back into town, I stopped by the supermarket and picked up a few things for the next couple of days. Oddly enough, Glastonbury seems to be more expensive than London! I suppose because it's a very touristy place. restaurants are ridiculous. Since I forgot to eat lunch, I decided that i could afford dinner out. I had a beef burger and chips for £8. It wasn't that good, but it was organic and fair trade and sprinkled with faery dust.

OK... so Glastonbury is a fascinating place. It's a mix of old hippies, young hippies, schizophrenics, and tourists. The shops are very cool and offer everything from tarot cards and crystals to faery wings and hand made organic beauty creams and such. The town seems to be centered around the avant garde... around Paganism and ancient tradition. It's a fusion of old and new and I think it's great. I certainly would not want to live here... a bit to manic and chaotic for my taste. Odd for such a place place. But it is definitely worth a trip! Although, I really did not need to stay 2 full days. I saw everything today. So, tomorrow will be a relaxation day full of shopping and reading (they have a lot of great books here!!") and such! Then I head out to Durham on Monday.

Well, I'm off to wander. I'll post again after I get to Durham!

Psychics and Mystics and Crystals... Oh MY!!

2007-03-30T14:30:00.000-04:00

So, I left London this morning. There was a series of misadventures and miscommunication that made the day very interesting! I went to Paddington Station to catch the train to Bristol. All was going well and then I missed the first train because the 2nd digit on the front board wasn't working or something so I went to Platform 1 instead of platform 13. Oh well... there was a train coming at 11:30. So, I make my way to the correct platform, but my ticket wouldn't scan. The conductor came over and told me that my ticket was only valid from the Waterloo station. Ok.... so, I headed all the way across town to Waterloo station, and waited for the next train there which left at 12:20. Finally, I boarded the right train at the right station! Oy vey. I just kept thinking that this little drama was played out for the amusement of my Buddhas. So, I chuckled to myself and thought of what lessons I could take from it. Hmmmm... perhaps make certain that i go to the right station?

The train ride was very long. It took about 3 hours to get to Bristol. the ride was Nice! I journaled the entire way, so it passed by very quickly. A sad girl sat across from for part of the journey. I wondered what she thinking of. Arriving at Bristol Temple Meads, I headed to the TI office to find out which bus I needed to take for Glastonbury. That is right... Glastonbury is a weee bit of a town that is not serviced by any trains. ~So, I walked down the hill and found the bus stop. I stood there waiting and struck up a conversation with an older gent waiting as well. he was interesting and heading for Glastonbury as well. The bus took over an hour to get to the little town. I thought I would die several times. The bus was going like 60 mph around these tight corners and hugging the edge of the road, which of course dropped off into a ravine. But I made it alive and in one piece and Richard walked me to the hostel and gave me some pointers about pubs and such. By the time I checked in and paid (£42 for 3 nights), it was well after 5pm. So, I decided to drop my bags off and take a walk. Immediately, I met a guy named Steve. I was admiring some New Agey type books in a shop window. He came out of the store and came up beside me and started chatting me up. He was a long haired, hippie teacher from North Yorkshire here on holiday. He had terrible teeth but was a genuinely nice chap. He told me that there is a Psychic Fair going on tomorrow, so that should be fun! We said I goodbyes and I headed out to window shop (everything seems to close at 5 or 6 here) and find something to eat. While I was out and not doing much, I decided to update this blog!

So.... that's brings me to real time. I'm here now typing away in Glastonbury, England... right in the heart of Somerset! I travelled through the Cotswolds and it is gorgeous. Lots of sheep! Any - hoo.... tomorrow should be fun! I'll be visiting the Abbey ruins, the Psychic Fair (Of Course), and wandering!! It will be great!!!

Oh... don't forget to read below. I've been posting in segments, so there are often more than one in a day. Well.... I'm off to ride the Astral Plane back to my hostel!

Don't Rain on My Parade....

2007-03-30T13:48:00.000-04:00

So, my 3rd day in London was off to a sleepy start! After my night of boozin' with the Scottish boys, I was bit out of sorts and didn't get out of bed until after 9am. I didn't even get down the stairs until a bit after 10am, so I missed the free breakfast. No worries, the breakfast sucks anyway. My feet were still hurting from all the walking I had done so I took the Tube to Westminster Abbey. The line was not too terrible, so I was lucky. When I left, the line was nearly at the street. It was still crowded and I can't imagine even more people crowding in. So, I began around the Royal Tombs. I was attempting to revel in the history, when the Americans flooded in. Now this will further illuminate the "Ugly American" comment I made in the last post! The Abbey is an amazing place, even for a non Christian like myself. It contains centuries of history and human drama. The Americans were loud and obnoxious, their voices resounding off the abbey walls. I could not escape it. They were everywhere. And the mother and daughter duo that seemed to be following were the worst! The daughter was a student at some college and and was making comments about useless she thought European history was and so forth. They were speaking so loud that everyone around could here them. I tried to walk away and skipped several tombs because I wanted to get away, but I could still hear them. That's how loud they were being. I tried to block it out, but I went into the next and there were different Americans lounging LOUNGINg on one of the tombs!! It was incredibly disrespectful! At that point I gave up any attempt to get away, and simply went through the Abbey. I made a bee line for Poet's corner and of course the memorial to Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. I found it ironic that I was in a christian church viewing a memorial to scientist, considering the church set out to murder all free thinkers and scientists and imprisoning those they did not kill. but that is a blog for another time.

I enjoyed the rest of the Abbey and thought of the many people who have walked the halls. After the Abbey, I walked across Westminster Bridge to visit the Florence Nightingale Museum. t was OK, but nothing worth mentioning. She was an amazing woman, but everyone knows that. So I headed over to the London Eye and took my flight. It was cool, but I'm not certain it was worth almost $30. After my flight, I walked across to Jubilee gardens and had a picnic lunch of extra mature English cheddar, organic Toffee yogurt, banana, and carrots. Yes, I'm eating very healthy! i continued to walk along the Thames. I stopped by the National Theatre, which was fabulous and I plan on taking in a show when i return, before heading to the Tate Modern. It was a wonderful museum! I really enjoyed seeing Jackson Pollack's "Birth" in person. I had already seen Degas, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, etc etc at the National Gallery, but I have not yet seen any Chagall?? I love the modern artists. I wanted to go to the Dali Universe, but it was a bit expensive, and as much as I love Dali, I had to pass. Perhaps when I come back....

Anyway, after I finished at the Tate Modern, I walked across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral, but it was closed for some special ceremony. So, I walked back over the Millennium Bridge and headed for the Globe Theatre. I took a tour and it was great! they were in rehearsals for an original play, which was fabulous! I also chatted with a guy about working in London! Very exciting! Since it was getting late at this point, I decided to head back to the hostel. I walked down to Blackfriar's Bridge and crossed the Thames (again) and caught the tube back to Kensington.

I decided to stop by the store to pick up some water and turkey for dinner. That's where I ran into Al. I was looking at Pita, and he started chatting me up. He was actually cute and I seriously considered going out with him. He walked around the store with me and suggested a nice Irish Cider for me to try. I have not figured out why so many men are hitting on me... am I different here? Are the men different? Or is it a bit of both? Hmmmmmm...... Anyway, I was so exhausted that I ended up in bed fairly early.

My last full day in London began early and marked the FIRST day of rain! I headed out to Kew Gardens early and arrived right as they were opening! Please see my separate post regarding my visit 2 posts below! It was wonderful! So, after wandering about Kew for a bit, I headed over to Notting Hill. It was fabulous! I love all of the shops and it had a definite artsy vibe. I walked up and down Portobello Rd. and a bunch of other streets I can't remember! Then I headed over to Kensington Palace. en route, I passed by the various embassies, which were amazing. Kensington Palace was actually a bit disappointing. It was interesting to be in the place where Princess Dianna lived. The King and Queen Apartments were interesting as well. And the King's staircase was gorgeous. I headed out hoping to be able to walk through the garden and maze, but it was raining a bit too hard and I was exhausted, so I headed back to the hostel. After all, I was leaving in the morning and needed to organize my bags for the Journey! I must say that the hostel SUCKED monkey's ass. I had to change rooms 3 times and there was no water on the 4th and 5th floors (where I was)!! They are still in construction! They shouldn't be open yet, but oh well. Lesson learned. But all hostels are going to a bit grubby. Goes with the Territory!

I Heart London!

2007-03-29T13:05:00.001-04:00

Let me just start with saying that I absolutely LOVe it here! From the start, I have been very comfortable here. I have not gotten lost once and the Tube is very easy to navigate. I must have lived here in another life... perhaps that is the draw!

Any-hoo... My flight was on time Monday and we touched down a bit after 7 am London time. The flight was horrible and didn't sleep much at all. So, I was exhausted, but the adrenaline pumping and I didn't notice much. I went through Immigration and Customs without a hitch. I wasn't searched or anything. I stopped by the tourist info desk and was talked into buying this damn Big Bus ticket. So, not worth it! But oh well. So, after that I turned myself around and headed for the doors. I stepped out and took my first breath of European air. Heavy with exhaust and anticipation... I loved it. After my first ciggie in a new land, i headed back in to catch the Tube to the hostel.

The ride was not that long and I enjoyed the scenery. On the train, this little girl was with her father and after the conductor announced all the stations, she turned to her father and said (please read this in a high pitched little girl british accent),"Daddy, are we going to Cockfosters?" I nearly laughed out loud. She was only about 4, perhaps five, and she was clutching a pink princess lunchbox. She immediately reminded me of Chloe. Once I arrived at the Goucester Rd. station, I headed up to the street. My first thought was that it reminded of NYC and it still does. Cosmopolitan, eclectic, and rich with history and life. My hostel was only a few blocks away, but I wasn't allowed to check in until after 2 pm. So, I splashed some water on my face, locked my pack to the chair, and hit the streets. I had a bit of an adventure finding a toilet, but I will spare oyu the details. I stumbled into the Natural History Museum and all was well. I walked back to the Big Bus stop and caught the bus. I rode on the open top level and took in the city. We rode all around Kensington and I got off at the Marble arch in Hyde park. From there, I caught the red line bus and rode up top through Soho, Picadilly, and Covent Garden... all the way to Westminster. That is where I got off and I thought that I would visit Westminster Abbey. However, it was closed. So, I walked all around Parliament and saw Big Ben. Then I headed to Westminster Pier and caught the boat headed to Tower Bridge. It was included in the price of the Big Bus ticket, so why not! I enjoyed the view from the river Thames. The cruise ended at Tower Bridge and I walked over to the Tower of London. As I walked through the gates, I touched the heavy dark doors, running my hand along hundreds of years of history and realized that I was in London. It was crowed and over run by French children on a school trip. I rode past the Crown Jewels on a human conveyor belt and thought it odd. I strolled the various towers, attempting to absorb the history and drama of it all. When fatigue finally overpowered adrenaline, I found my way to the tube, where I was given an Oyster Card and added credit to the account. I headed back to the hostel, and after showering (an adventure unto itself) and figuring out what I wanted to see the next day, I collapsed.

My second day in London started bright and early! I woke around 7:30 am of my own accord. I got ready and was out the door by 9 am. I walked to the V & A Museum, but it did not open until 10 am. Then I walked to Harrod's, but they didn't open until 10 am. Sensing a pattern, I decided to walk to Buckingham palace, as I was to see the changing of the guards today! I got to Buckingham Palace about 10 am and there was already a crowd. So, I decided to stake my place and simply wait. It was the second sunny day in a run in London, so people were out in force. Anyone who knows me knows how I dislike such crowds. But I stood my ground until about 11:15 or so. The police were preparing the crowds for the ceremony and apparently, I was in front of a gate. So, needless to say, I was moved, and I was pissed. I pretty much missed the entire thing! So, lesson number 1: If you go to Buckingham palace, make sure you are NOT infront of one of the gates that open and get there EARLY - esp. if it is a nice day.

I walked around the corner, lightly fuming to myself, and headed to the Royal Mews. It is in the back of the Palace and is the Royal Stables, Carriage House, and Riding School! It was much more enjoyable and the carriages were lovely! No ugly Americans here! The whole Changing of the Guards fiasco was made worse by "Ugly Americans." Loud, obnoxious, pushy, arrogant people who seemed to be everywhere. They make me cringe and unfortunately, they have colored many experiences. But more on that later....

I strolled through St. James Park, which is gorgeous, and headed to the Guards Museum and Downing St. After snapping pictures of the rather nondescript residence of Tony Blair, I headed to Trafalgar Sq. and ate lunch on the steps of the National Gallery. I headed into the Gallery and thoroughly enjoyed the museum. It smelled of oils and canvass. I then headed over to the National Portrait Museum and walked through the Faces of Fashion exhibit. I wasn't overly impressed with the general exhibit, so I only spent about an hour there. It was getting late in the afternoon, so I decided to stroll through Picadilly Circus, into Soho, and through Covent Garden. After Oxford Circus, I found a grocery store and spent about an hour or so having fun looking at the various nibbles. I had a fun conversation with a punky brit about digestive biscuits and bought enough food to last the duration of my stay in London. I went back to the hostel, had dinner, and was preparing to go to bed when 4 half lit Scottish boys stumbled into the room. They had just come from a concert and were clutching brown bags of cider. They asked if I would mind if they drank in the room. So... I thought about it for a brief moment. I could demand that they go down to the lounge and simply go to bed, or I can have a laugh and chat. So, I said no worries and they offered me a Strongbow Cider. I was surprised to find that I liked it! So, we talked and drank until about 3:30 am. The room was spinning went I finally went to bed.

Ok... so that's is the adventures of my first couple of days. I will write more in a couple of days and fill you in about my last couple of days in London!!

Kew Gardens....

2007-03-29T13:05:00.000-04:00

Ok... I decided to write a separate post about my trip to Kew Gardens. It was unbelievable! I spent about 4 hours rambling the various pathways. I got there about 9:30 am right as they were opening, so I was pretty much alone. It was a bit dreary today, but in a way, it added to the environment. A light misty fog settled over the gardens and the quiet was inescapable . I wound my way through the gardens and purposefully veered away from the main paths, often opting for the dirt walkways. They were generally the best all around. I walked through Badger Sett, which is a man made badger den and strolled past the Queen's former country home. I then sat on a bench beside the Lily Pond and had a picnic lunch with the ducks, geese, and swans. There were so many birds, most of which I had never seen before. Sitting beside this pond, quietly reflecting, it is not difficult to understand why such places has offered inspiration to so many poets. Walden, Emerson, Thoreau....

After I had my lunch, I found another dirt path leading in the general direction of Victoria Gate. A few steps in and around a bend, it was like I was transported to another place and another time. I thought my grandmother and started to cry. I'm sure she loved the garden....
After I composed myself, I continued down the path, crossing under the Ruined Arch and ultimately finding my way back to Victoria Gate.

The gardens are wonderful! If you ever find yourself in London, you must go. Even if you are not into gardening per say, you will find the place magical. Assuming, of course, you have a soul....

Foggy London Town!

2007-03-28T13:57:00.001-04:00

Okay.... let me start off by saying that I L-O-V-E Love London! I have been running around like a mad woman for the past few days! I don't even want to stop! I can't really write a full blog right this second, but I will be able to once I head out on Friday!! suffice it say that I am having a GREAT time!! Just got back from the Globe theatre where I chatted to a guy about theatre and possibly staying in London as an actor!! It was GREAT! I have met so many great people already. And I have never been hit on so much in my life! Not counting trolls... These guys are actually cute! The guy who just walked around the grocery store with me was very cute and I may go out with him tomorrow!

Any-hoo.... I have to run. But I promise to write a proper entry full of aventurous tales in the next few days!

Well... I'm off to try this Irish cider that Al recommened!!

Ohhhh... I'm Leavin' on a Jet Plane....

2007-03-21T20:48:00.000-04:00

Ha ha!! Yeaaaahhhh!! This will be my FINAL post Stateside!!!!!!! I am beside myself! I'm all packed - though not as lightly as I had hoped - and I'm ready to go! I can't believe my departure has FINALLY arrived!! And I have SO MANY AMAZING things lined up!! I still can't believe that I will be walking among the Stones at Stonehenge!! You will have to check back for Pics!!

I'm not really sure what else to say at this point. If you know me, then you know the past couple of years have been really shitty. But not anymore! I've already made some arrangement for my extended stay in London after my little adventure. I will be doing a bunch of Theatre workshops, auditioning, and meeting with London agents (several US agencies have London offices, so that got me started). And since I am a Union actor, I am automatically eligible for British Actor's Equity. Now, that definitely helped TONS!! They have reciprocal agreements with Union members. And, I have found a place to stay that is right in the heart of it all! So, I have plenty to look forward to!!!

Also, my creative energy is starting to spark and stir. Finally. I was wondering if it was dead. I haven't written anything of consequence in a horrifically long time. It will be interesting to see where it leads! Perhaps I will write an amazing play that I will star in and will open in a fabulous West End Theatre!! OK.... that is probablt going a bit overboard, but you never know. And I am dramatic by nature!! Oh, and let's not forget crazy! :)

Anyway... I have to run! So much to do, so little time! The next time I write, it will be from London!

My Pilgrimage to Stonehenge - Amazing News!!

2007-03-09T09:53:00.000-05:00

I am SOOOOOOO excited!!! I have made arrangements for me to have "Special Access" to Stonehenge on Friday the 13th at sunset - after the tourists have left from their roped off prison!!!! What does that mean, you ask?

Well, it means that I will be granted entry to the ACTUAL stone circle!! I will be able to walk in and all around the stones! I will even be able to TOUCH the stones!!!!!!! I only have 1 hour, but it will be AMAZING!!!!! I will be able to watch the sun set over the 5000 years old stone circle!! Can you tell I'm excited??!!?? The vast majority of people who visit Stonehenge are only allowed to walk along this roped off pathway and admire Stonehenge from a distance. However, a select handful of people are allowed special acces a day, at sunrise and sunset.

So, my plan for the day is to visit Avebury in the morning. Avebury is the site of an even larger stone circle / ceremonial ground. Although not quite as dramatic as Stonehenge. It encircles a huge portion of the town itself! You are allowed to walk amongst the stones here. So, it's a great place to really feel the experience. I'll putter around and take an early lunch. I'll probably pack a picnic and enjoy the English countryside! As long as it is not too wet! Then I will head over to Stonehenge and enjoy the area in preparation for entering the circle. After my hour is up, I will grab a quick bite and head back to Salisbury. It will be an AMAZING day - one I will never forget!!

OK... So, Here's Where I'm Headed....

2007-02-26T16:38:00.000-05:00

I leave in a matter of days!! I can't wait!! So, I have my itinerary as set as it is going to be!! I will be spending the first month in the UK, travelling and visiting family and friends. Then, I will head down to France, Belgium, the Netherlands for some much needed fun in Amsterdam, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and then swing back up into southern France and the Cote D'Azur. After all of the hullaballoo, I will head back to London where I plan to hang out for awhile!! I may take some short mini holidays to various regions in the UK & Ireland, but I will be getting involved in the London Theatre scene! Hopefully, that will include a few auditions!!

OK... so, for those of you who do not know me, I am also a writer. However, I have had horrific writer's block for the past couple of years. A lot of the problem is stress. But.... there has been something else. Something eating away at me.... I just haven't been able to write. Not anything good anyway. And I just gave up. So, I'm hoping that I will regain my Spark... my joie de vivre...my creative juiciness! Yea... I told you.... any-hoo... I'm hoping that part of this adventure will help me open up and I can start writing again. I have so many thoughts knocking around my heart and head that I NEED to start writing again soon... or I will lose my mind!!

I will finish this post later....

I'm SOOOOO Excited!!!! I Just Can't hide it....

2007-02-13T09:15:00.000-05:00

So, I bought my plane ticket this weekend and I leave for europe in a matter of weeks! I'm SO excited! I can't wait!!

This trip means the world to me. I have had a shitty few years. I have been planning this trip for well over 2 years now. Then I was in an accident and tore up my back. Everything got put on hold - the trip, my career, my life. Everything. It took well over a year to get to a workable point. Then I had to put all the little pieces back together, which was daunting to say the least. And I had a few trip ups and I've fallen flat on my face once or twice in the process. Including the ordeal with The Terrible Twat of Times Square and you all know about that! Anyway, I'm finally getting steady on my feet again and things are finally looking up! So, this long awaited adventure is much more than a trip. It symbolizes moving forward and ahead! Not to mention new experiences, new friends, and the unexpected!!

I feel like I've been stuck in quicksand.... the more I fought, the more I struggled to free myself from being sucked into oblivion - the harder and faster I was pulled down. Finally, I feel like I'm freeing myself.

So, obviously, I am VERY excited!! And the next few weeks are going to be crazy!! Once I get more details finalized, I will post them here! But to give you an idea.... I will be spending about a week in London staying with friends, then some time around the UK, staying with family in Northen England, visiting Wales and Scotland. I will then go to Paris, Bruges, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland (??), and then back to France for the Cannes Film Festival and some Northern France touring! After all of that, I will be heading back to London for the rest of my stay. I will be auditioning, exploring, having a grand ole time! This is just a general idea, but you get the picture!!

So, I will be getting my travel blog updated and I am planning on making regular updates as my departure nears! Once my journey begins, I will update it every couple of days to share pics and stories with everyone!

So.... stay tuned! The Misadventures of Pippa promises to be anything but boring! But when is my life, for better or worse, boring?!?

My Master Plan...

2006-12-17T00:52:00.000-05:00

Mwha ha ha ha......

Just kidding - sort of.

Any-hoo... I have finally firmed up some plans and made some decisions and so forth. I'm sure this comes as much relief for some of you! LOL!

So... here is the 411 - oh yeah! I will be leaving for Europe on or about March 1. I'll be in Eastern Europe for a couple months, then I will be attending the 2007 Cannes Film festival! After the festival, I will spend a bit of time traveling in Europe and then settle temporarily in the UK! There I will spend some time relaxing and working on some writing and projects that I have been neglecting - myself included. Once I have regained my bearings and bravo, I will return stateside and head back out to LA. I'm getting jerked about - not in the good way - regarding the status of some projects, but in the end, LA is the best place for me at this point. So, that is my Master Plan in a nutshell.... let me know what you think!

Of course, as many of you are painfully aware, my plans are rather fluid and tend to ebb and flow with the tides of the times. So, my wanderlust adventure may be cut short by the sharp sword of opportunity. Oh the drama.... ~sigh~ so it be.... I'll keep you all up to date!

Barring any major upheavals in my plans, I should be back in LA in just enough time to fully prepare for the following pilot season! I think it will be good for me to go back - things are different. I'm different, LA is different, the industry is different. It will be interesting to see what happens this time. The whole "Terrible Twat of Times Square" incident really illuminated certain inaccuracies in my thinking. So, as most of you know, this hateful little bitch threw me into a downward spiral the likes of which I had not seen in years - although, I think it also was a certain backlash from staying with my parent's in "The" house (if you know me, you know what that means). Admittedly, I was more than a bit nutty and decidedly morose. Regardless, the experience almost jaded my opinion of NYC. Then I realized that I was placing a judgment on a location based on a singular experience! That's ridiculous! NYC is not at fault, she and her minions are. LA was not to blame for the heavy baggage I brought with me. In fact, I did very well in LA and it allowed for some of the happiest experiences of my life!! I kept blaming my misery on LA being too fake, too dirty, too lonely. In reality, I would have been miserable no matter where I was. It was where I was emotionally that was dirty and lonely. So, it is with this enlightened thinking that I set my sights ahead. And I look forward to meeting LA once again! Of course, Pinky's, Palm Trees, the Pier, and the Promenade are all worth the trip! Apparently, I enjoy things that start with "P"... hmmmm....

In case you don't know the story of "The Terrible Twat of Times Square", email me and I'll fill you in! Suffice it to say, she is evil and I hold grudges. And since I had to take care of myself first, I wasn't able to follow through as I normally would have. No matter! Everyone knows of her now and knows that she is evil and not to be trusted - or employed. The 1st Amendment is a wonderful tool! Especially when you know so many people. OK... I understand that this is not the most enlightened approach, but I'm a work in progress. I acknowledge and accept this.... so leave it be.

Any-hoo.... I guess that's it for now. As most of you know, I have already left the city and I won't be back before leaving for Europe! I know, I know - I love you all and I will miss you! But you know I'll keep in touch while on the road and when I get back. Of course, I'll see many of you in Cannes for the festival!

For those voyeurs who may be reading this blog for shits and giggles, keep readin! I plan on updating it often while I'm on the road! And I am working on getting into the habit of updating it regularly, so bear with me!

Well, I'm off to bed. I promise I will post again in the next few days! Night!

Well, Apparently I'm a Quitter....

2006-11-22T13:45:00.000-05:00

After many futile attempts and half victories, I seem to have FINALLY quit smoking! As my friends already know, this time of year is not the best for me. A few days ago, my stress levels sky rocketed, but I did NOT start smoking again! So, I'm pretty confident that I have quit for good! My former M.O. was to quit and then immediately start at the first hint of stress. But, I finally seem to have that part under control. It's been so long since I last had a cig that I can't even remember the date!

Now, I loved smoking. But, I did NOT love being chained to them. And the 4 or 5 cigarettes a day that I truly enjoy were not worth the other 10-15 a day that I had to have. ultimatelt, this will make my life easier - not to mention healthier. I've been smoking for almost 15 years - yes, I started very young. So, it is definitely time to quit.

Any-hoo..... that has been taking up a lot of my energy as of late. Not to mention work and so on, etc. Things are staring to calm down for the holiday break. Then, all the fun stuff starts up! Cannes Film Festival is going to be GREAT this year! Hopefully, if all goes well, I will be in Europe when the festival rolls around! If everything falls into to place, I'll be spending a while in London! Oh, the thought of living and working as an actor in London makes me tingle.... ~Grin~

Well, I have to run, but I wish everyone a Happy Turkey Day!!

Jazz & Cigarettes

2006-10-08T21:20:00.000-04:00

I know... I'm not keeping this Blog as up to date as I could... but I have a great "excuse"...

I spent this weekend in DC. I went to the 9:30 Club to see Josh Ritter and Jaime Cullum. It was a B-day present and well worth the wait (my bday was 9/9)!! It ROCKED!!!! For the uninitiated, Jaime Cullum is a British singer/songwriter/pianist who is amazing. He has this raspy soulful voice that touches you unexpectedly! And he puts on a killer show! He incorporates his life into his music that makes it incredibly intimate. His girlfriend is Brazilian, and he uses latin rythms in perfect harmony with his jazz fusion! And he is a nonstop bundle of pure energy - jumping off of his piano, pounding on it with the bench, jumping, etc etc! He is also reviving some old jazz classics with his own hip sexy way. It's awesome to see HS kids swooning over "My Funny Valentine."

If you EVER have the chance to see him live - GO!!!!! You will NOT be disappointed! And Josh Ritter totally took me by surprise! He's a folsky rock kind of guy! I really enjoyed not only his music, but his show as well! If you get a chance, check him out! He too is well worth a ticket, and if you have the chance go see him! Here are both of their MySpace Profiles if you are interested:

http://www.myspace.com/jamiecullum
http://www.myspace.com/joshritter

So... after the show, I went to the back bar and hung out with everyone, getting pissed and having a blast. I met a bunch of really hip fun people! Another band you should check is called Honeychuck! For all my NYC comrades, they play a lot at the Knitting Factory. So, if you are interested, keep an eye out. You can check them out at: http://www.myspace.com/honeychuck.

Now, if you have never been to the 9:30 Club, you are really missing out. I had not been there since they moved, and it was fabulous! GREAT venue!

Any-hoo...

Oy Vey....

2006-10-05T01:39:00.000-04:00

Well, so much for writing regularly. In fact, at this point, I'm going to have to finish in the morning.

My life is awful busy, considering I'm not doing much of consequence....

So... Here We Are.....

2006-09-25T13:57:00.000-04:00

I finally have a few moments, so I thought I would write my first real blog post. My life has been ridiculously hectic. This week, I'm on a pseudo vacation, and I already don't know what to do with myself! So, I thought I would do this. It's interesting.... for as much as I talk and write, I somehow find myself lacking words. For once, I'm not really sure what to say?? Shocking, I know. So, I suppose I will simply write and see what happens. As my previous post suggests, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago. I turned 29, which was slightly more trumatic than I had anticipated. All of my friends keep telling me that my 30's will be so much better because being in your 20's suck. Okay.... I must concede to that. My 20's have definitley sucked ass. So, I hold out some hope for the future. We will see. I have less than a year to go. Over the past couple of months, I have decided to work towards embracing my eccentricities. My friends have always used "eccentric" and "quirky" as terms of endearment, so why not? The harder I fight my basic self, the worse I feel. Besides, it's my fate.Most of the women in my family are intelligent, eccentric, strong, opinionated, quirky ,etc. Of course, there are a couple of exceptions - but let's not discuss such unpleasantries. So, who cares? I don't. Perhaps it's because I'm almost 30....

See, with each passing year, I find myself changing in major ways. I wonder if it is me simply growing up, or am I rapidly catching up. Because of all the shit I went through as a child and adolescent, I missed out on a lot. Even as a young adult, I missed out on a lot of important milestones because I was reeling from the backlash of my formative years. Over the past 8 years, and the past 5 years in particular, I have made leaps and bounds. I have certainly taken steps back occassionally, but not nearly as many as I have made forward. It's really interesting... I've always been counter-culture, anti-authoritarian, bohemian yada yada yada. But now, I seem to be finding a balance in my life. At least working towards it....

I'm still my usual liberal self, but I find myself wanting more. Certain creature comforts. I've discovered that I love foam - pillows, mattresses, etc. And cotton. And my DVR... I know. I'm even thinking about kids and marriage! My career will always be very important to me and a huge part of my life, but now I think I would like a family. I've also been thinking about the type of person I would like to spend my life with. In case you did not know already, I identify myself as bisexual. However, I think I will probably end up with a man. That's where I am at the moment. Of course, that depends on me finding a decent man. I've never been attracted to "bad boys"... but they sure like me. I've been in enough shitty relationships to last 5 lifetimes. I don't need or want anymore. I want a honest to goodness "nice guy." Whoever I end up must be intelligent, compassionate, involved, successful, creative, and very funny w/ a sick sense of humor! Beyond that, I'm open. I haven't really dated for years. Nothing worth mentioning anyway. A few tristes here and there. But now, I think I'm ready to get into the game and put myself on the market, so to speak. Once I get settled wherever I land, I'll actually start saying yes.

Oh, so I'm going to move. Again. I think I need a change. It would only do me good. I want to finish some writing projects, and I haven't been able to really write in awhile. My sitcom has stalled for the time being, and I need to do some major revisions before it can move forward. One of my digital shorts seems to be moving forward, so I have to stay within a couple hours of NYC or LA. I'm grappling with which coast I want to be on. For those who know me, you probably know that I wasn't all that happy in LA. But I'm not sure I would have been too happy anywhere at that time. It was a strange time in my life. But career wise, I really can't complain. I will always prefer NYC and the East Coast in general. I love New England. But, I'm willing to consider other places. I've always wanted to move to London! It would be great to see family in the UK. But, despite my efforts, it is not an option at the moment. So, I really only have a few options. I can move to Southern CA, Las Vegas, or southern New England. Southern CA certainly offers the most opportunities for my career, but making friends is a definite challenge. I suspect I would face the same in Las Vegas. Obviously, I'm leaning towards New England. And that's probably where I will land. I may not have quite as many low budget film opportunities there, but I will be happier and meet more people like myself. And I can always catch a flight to LA, so I'm not too worried about it. The big roles cast on both coasts anyway. It's just the bit parts that I would miss out on. And I can make up for that with the projects that I write for myself. Eventually, I will permanently settle in NYC or London. I just need a short break.... anyone in the city who has struggled understands.

I have my overnight sleep study tomorrow night. I am finally able to get that done. It's only been prescribed to me for like 8 or 9 years. When I went in to see the doctors for the intake, they seemed very excited to see my results. Somewhat disconcerting, actually. They said because of my dream activity and so forth, that I may have some interesting brain wave activity. But with any hope, I may actually get a good night of sleep in the near future. Oh, that would be so nice. I'll let you know how it went!

So, anyway.... I think this post is quite long enough. I'm going to try to write at least a little every day. You never know what's going to happen with me.... so, check back!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....

2006-09-13T00:58:00.000-04:00

OK... so, I'm really slacking on this whole Blog thing. I just turned 29 on Saturday so cut me a lil' slack! Oy vey....

Not to fret! I shall return bearing gifts!