First off, sorry if some words are screwed up. Just to mess with Americans, the Germans switched the Z and Y keys on the keyboard.
Anyway, have 5 hours to kill before my overnight train from Munich to Venice, so I thought I'd drop a line. I had contemplated going to another beer house to pass the time, but I don't think I need any more beer after the past three days. You might not be able to tell from the pics, but I've put on over 320 lbs in my trip thanks to all of the delicious libations. But I'm becoming incredibly cultured. I can say "cheers" in 4 languages.
Speaking of pics, I'll have to throw some more up soon. Still need Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and now Munich. Forgot my camera adapter in the locker at the station.
Anyway, Munich was a great time. The first day I wandered around alone to see all the sights. There really aren't a whole lot of famous buildings and stuff to see as they got bombed in WWII. Saw the famous Glockenspiel, essentially a giant cuckoo clock type thing. Also caught the treasury building where they keep like crowns and other expensive stuff. Along with a couple churches that was pretty much it.
Went back to my hostel and I ended up meeting 2 girls and a guy traveling together from Seattle. We did a pub crawl that night with a ton of other Americans/Canadians/Brits/Aussies hitting up a few of the local beer houses. Yesterday afternoon we went to the English Gardens, the largest public park in Europe which happens to house the biggest beer garden in Europe (seats 9000). It also has a perpetual wave thing going on the small river (I think it's the Eisbach) that runs through there, so people surf on the wave one at a time. Pretty cool.
Today I went out to Dachau, the original concentration camp. Unfortunately it's closed on Mondays for some reason. I could still walk around the buildings and read the plaques outside, but didn't get to go inside any of the buildings. Still pretty powerful stuff.
And now I'm sitting here typing this, so I'm up-to-date.
Hopefully I can get a chance to throw some pics up soon. For now though, c ya later.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Update (with Pics!)
More picture fun. Here we go:
First, Athens. Here is the Parthenon on the Acropolis. For those not in the know, Acropolis in Greek means "Huge, winding hill that you pay $20 to walk up."
It is a great view at the top though. You can see the entire city in 360 degrees. Here is where Yanni made his historic appearance. I'm sure we all remember that.
Greece has only the most beautiful women...
... and the most current pop music. Screw Corfu. I wanted to stay in Athens to see this line-up.
Here is the lake where I spent a day laying around. The sea is on the other side of that little cliff.
On to legendary Corfu. This is the island where Odysseus washed up and decided to hang out for a while because it was so nice. Good call. This was the view off my front balcony.
We took the four-wheelers literally all over the island up on all the mountains. This is the view off one of them.
I've got a few more pictures, but I was too busy having fun to snap a lot of shots. Not to mention Iwas afraid I would wreck my camera by bringing it in the water. Not an unfounded fear as after cliff diving I realized my wallet was in my shorts. One of three times I brounght my wallet in the water. Whoops.
This is in Thessaloniki. Only spent half a day there, but there really isn't a lot to see in the city. Here is the White Tower on the beach. I forget why it's important and I can't spend the time to Google it right now.
So from Thessaloniki, Icaught a train ride to Romania. 18 hours of hell. I was in a 3 bed cabin in the train with 2 drunk, loud Romanians. I was in the top bunk in the cabin, with no AC. I don't think I've ever been less comfortable for 18 hours. Anyway, I started by flipping the switches near my bed to see what they did. One turned off the lights in the cabin so I said, "Oops" and turned it back on quick. I'm not sure what "Oops" means in Romanian, but apparently it's incredibly funny. For the next 8 hours, literally, the drunks were yelling and talking and occassionally flipping the light on and off saying "Oops. Booey Booey. Oops." I'm not sure what Booey means, but after 6 hours of them doing that over and over, I said screw international relations and I told them in not so kind words to be quiet. Funny they didn't know any English except a few 4 letter words that I let fly. They caught the hint and for the most part shut up. After all that, I got into Bucharest around 6 pm. I decided I'd try to get all my traveling done at one time since I could get into Sigishoara (Siggy) at 11, so I got on a train to Brasov immediately. Got into Brasov and my next train was cancelled. I was stuck in Brasov. So I had a choice. Sleep in the train station for the night, or wait until the midnight train into Siggy. I wanted a real bed after all the train crap Iput up with, so I decided to get on the midnight train. Ended up getting into Siggy at 3:30 am. The gypsies were all over the train station, and if you're in Europe for any period of time, you hear some bad stuff about gypsies, so I was a bit concerned. The info booth happened to be 24 hours, so I asked where the hostel was. She said straight out of the station. So I went straight out of the station and walked. and walked. and walked. I found nothing. Went on a few side streets and ended up on a dead end where a bunch more gypsies were. Sprinted back to the road Icame on and headed back to the station. On my way back, thankfully, I see the hostel is right next door to the station. It was open, so I went in and got some much needed rest on a real bed. Anyway, the next day Isaw the town. Here it is from the big clock tower:
The place is old. Here's a bust of Vlad Tepes (i.e. Dracula)
Out of time on the internet, so Budapest and Vienna will have to wait. Cyas later.
First, Athens. Here is the Parthenon on the Acropolis. For those not in the know, Acropolis in Greek means "Huge, winding hill that you pay $20 to walk up."
It is a great view at the top though. You can see the entire city in 360 degrees. Here is where Yanni made his historic appearance. I'm sure we all remember that.
Greece has only the most beautiful women...
... and the most current pop music. Screw Corfu. I wanted to stay in Athens to see this line-up.
Here is the lake where I spent a day laying around. The sea is on the other side of that little cliff.
On to legendary Corfu. This is the island where Odysseus washed up and decided to hang out for a while because it was so nice. Good call. This was the view off my front balcony.
We took the four-wheelers literally all over the island up on all the mountains. This is the view off one of them.
I've got a few more pictures, but I was too busy having fun to snap a lot of shots. Not to mention Iwas afraid I would wreck my camera by bringing it in the water. Not an unfounded fear as after cliff diving I realized my wallet was in my shorts. One of three times I brounght my wallet in the water. Whoops.
This is in Thessaloniki. Only spent half a day there, but there really isn't a lot to see in the city. Here is the White Tower on the beach. I forget why it's important and I can't spend the time to Google it right now.
So from Thessaloniki, Icaught a train ride to Romania. 18 hours of hell. I was in a 3 bed cabin in the train with 2 drunk, loud Romanians. I was in the top bunk in the cabin, with no AC. I don't think I've ever been less comfortable for 18 hours. Anyway, I started by flipping the switches near my bed to see what they did. One turned off the lights in the cabin so I said, "Oops" and turned it back on quick. I'm not sure what "Oops" means in Romanian, but apparently it's incredibly funny. For the next 8 hours, literally, the drunks were yelling and talking and occassionally flipping the light on and off saying "Oops. Booey Booey. Oops." I'm not sure what Booey means, but after 6 hours of them doing that over and over, I said screw international relations and I told them in not so kind words to be quiet. Funny they didn't know any English except a few 4 letter words that I let fly. They caught the hint and for the most part shut up. After all that, I got into Bucharest around 6 pm. I decided I'd try to get all my traveling done at one time since I could get into Sigishoara (Siggy) at 11, so I got on a train to Brasov immediately. Got into Brasov and my next train was cancelled. I was stuck in Brasov. So I had a choice. Sleep in the train station for the night, or wait until the midnight train into Siggy. I wanted a real bed after all the train crap Iput up with, so I decided to get on the midnight train. Ended up getting into Siggy at 3:30 am. The gypsies were all over the train station, and if you're in Europe for any period of time, you hear some bad stuff about gypsies, so I was a bit concerned. The info booth happened to be 24 hours, so I asked where the hostel was. She said straight out of the station. So I went straight out of the station and walked. and walked. and walked. I found nothing. Went on a few side streets and ended up on a dead end where a bunch more gypsies were. Sprinted back to the road Icame on and headed back to the station. On my way back, thankfully, I see the hostel is right next door to the station. It was open, so I went in and got some much needed rest on a real bed. Anyway, the next day Isaw the town. Here it is from the big clock tower:
The place is old. Here's a bust of Vlad Tepes (i.e. Dracula)
Out of time on the internet, so Budapest and Vienna will have to wait. Cyas later.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
A few minutes to kill
In Thessaloniki in northern Greece right now and have some time to kill before my train to Bucharest so I thought I'd get a bit more up-to-date. I'll have to do pics later though since my camera adapter is in luggage storage at the train station.
In the last episode our hero had just landed in Greece. Hopped off the ferry and directly on a train to Athens. Spent 3 nights there, but the cool stuff is so close together you can see it in an afternoon. This gave me a whole free day, which I used to finally do some real vacationing. I hit up a natural mineral lake 30 minutes south of Athens and kicked it there all day swimming and reading.
Was kind of undecided where to go after Athens. I wanted to hit the Greek Islands, but that was going in the wrong direction. Ended up making a compromise and going to Corfu, a Greek Island off the west side of the country. I don't mind saying it was a brilliant move on my part. Took an 8 hour booze cruise my first day and got to do cliff diving, hit up a private beach, and go swimming in a bat cave. Once we got back it was time for dinner, then dancing and after a few hours of dancing some guys in a traditional Greek outfit came out and they did their dances and then, of course, there was plate smashing. The next day I needed to take it a little easy, so I sat on the beach and did some swimming. Later that night a bunch of us got together and went to a karaoke bar in the nearby village where I dazzled everyone (or at least that's how I'll remember it). My last day, which was yesterday, I went on an ATV safari where they take you all over the island. You hit some secluded beaches, go up on a couple of mountains where you can look over the entire island, see some old monastery, then do some off-roading through the forests. That was supposed to be my last night there, but I was seriously contemplating staying another day or 2 even when I got on the bus to leave. If I have some free time at the end of the trip I may have to go back or hit up the Greek Isles which are supposed to be just as good.
I stayed on the bus though which ended up being late into Athens. I had 10 minutes to sprint 10 blocks and get on the train, but I made it. This is where things took a turn for the not so pleasant. Mom, don't worry I'm still fine.
I'm running out of time at the internet cafe, so I'll have to get all the way up-to-date later. Hopefully I'll have some free time in Budapest or Vienna, but for now I'll go out on that cliffhanger.
I'm running out of time at the internet cafe, so I'll have to get all the way up-to-date later. Hopefully I'll have some free time in Budapest or Vienna, but for now I'll go out on that cliffhanger.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Finally Some Pics
Took the ferry from Italy to Greece overnight. At a hostel in Athens now and there is free internet so I finally have the time to get some pics up. Not throwing them all up here since that'd take forever. Here we go:
I had a connection in Dublin on the way into London and saw these coasters. Figured I'd get a few for Mike and Di...but there were no Moroney coasters. Just how Irish are you, Mike?
Got into London and started seeing the sites. Big Ben with the London Eye (that ferris wheel) in the background.
This is the Princess Di Memorial in Hyde Park. It moves the water in a circle. The other side looks like a waterslide. Not sure what they were going for.
The Rosetta Stone in the British Museum...a museum full of non-British stuff.
St. Paul's
Was walking from Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London when I happened upon this sign in the theatre district. Wonder if I know her.
Here's the Duomo in Milan. Cool stuff. And they let you walk on the roof.
Me in Michelangelo Plaza overlooking Florence.
A cool arch in Liberty Park in Florence.
Everyone else was holding it up, so I thought I'd be the bad guy.
A view from the top of the Leaning Tower looking over their duomo, baptistry, and the rest of the city.
Here is Castelfiorentino, the small town between Pisa and Rome I spent a night in. I walked up to the highest church in that pic thinking it'd be a great view down, but the whole area was roped off for construction.
We all went to the Pantheon too. They used it as a sundial back in the day.
Mom and dad on the Spanish Steps.
Pete's Place
Me on top of Castel Sant Angelo looking over Rome.
Original or extra crispy? ... Is it still too soon?
Stray dogs are all over Pompeii. No one seems to mind. Here were some waiting for the train.
This is Patra, Greece. Caught the ferry into here.
I had a connection in Dublin on the way into London and saw these coasters. Figured I'd get a few for Mike and Di...but there were no Moroney coasters. Just how Irish are you, Mike?
Got into London and started seeing the sites. Big Ben with the London Eye (that ferris wheel) in the background.
This is the Princess Di Memorial in Hyde Park. It moves the water in a circle. The other side looks like a waterslide. Not sure what they were going for.
The Rosetta Stone in the British Museum...a museum full of non-British stuff.
St. Paul's
Was walking from Trafalgar Square to the Tower of London when I happened upon this sign in the theatre district. Wonder if I know her.
Here's the Duomo in Milan. Cool stuff. And they let you walk on the roof.
Me in Michelangelo Plaza overlooking Florence.
A cool arch in Liberty Park in Florence.
Everyone else was holding it up, so I thought I'd be the bad guy.
A view from the top of the Leaning Tower looking over their duomo, baptistry, and the rest of the city.
Here is Castelfiorentino, the small town between Pisa and Rome I spent a night in. I walked up to the highest church in that pic thinking it'd be a great view down, but the whole area was roped off for construction.
Villa Borghese, a big park in Rome.
Mom, dad and me in front of the colosseum. It's quite large.
Mom, dad and me in front of the colosseum. It's quite large.
Mom and dad on the Spanish Steps.
Pete's Place
You weren't supposed to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel, but I did sneak a few. I was not struck by lightning as I left. Didn't use flash so it doesn't look the clearest.
Right after the Sistine Chapel (and actually before it too) is a big museum with lots of priceless stuff such as the Pope's personal pie serving dinner set.
Next for me it was off to Pompeii. Here's looking over a small section of the city. The city ruins are huge, and still in good shape for being 2000 years old.
Original or extra crispy? ... Is it still too soon?
Stray dogs are all over Pompeii. No one seems to mind. Here were some waiting for the train.
This is Patra, Greece. Caught the ferry into here.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Checking in from Rome
About time for another update. Kicking it in Rome at the moment and planning on meeting up with mom and dad later tonight and hanging out with them tomorrow.
Getting up-to-date, I tried to get in to see The Last Supper in Milan, but I guess you have to reserve way ahead to get in, so I missed out on that.
From Milan, I went down to Florence and saw some more old paintings and old buildings. It used to be the cool place for all the artists to hang out while they painted and sculpted, so there's a ton of stuff to see.
After a few days in Florence, I went to Pisa. Not really a whole lot there besides the Leaning Tower and another big church. Climbing the tower is weird. Since it's so slanted, sometimes you're walking up steps, but only traveling in a straight line and other times you're going way downhill.
After Pisa I decided I needed a break from the normal museums and churches, so I went to a small town called Castelfiorentino. It was a nice change as I just took it easy all day. Not a whole lot more to write on that because that was literally all I did.
Got into Rome 2 nights ago and yesterday was the first day I walked around. Saw the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese, a huge badass park. Just kinda lounged around the park for most of the day as I was a bit hungover. I'll probably hit up the Vatican today and see what all the talk is about.
Time to get out the door. Hopefully I'll find a way to get some pictures up soon.
I'll check in later.
T
Getting up-to-date, I tried to get in to see The Last Supper in Milan, but I guess you have to reserve way ahead to get in, so I missed out on that.
From Milan, I went down to Florence and saw some more old paintings and old buildings. It used to be the cool place for all the artists to hang out while they painted and sculpted, so there's a ton of stuff to see.
After a few days in Florence, I went to Pisa. Not really a whole lot there besides the Leaning Tower and another big church. Climbing the tower is weird. Since it's so slanted, sometimes you're walking up steps, but only traveling in a straight line and other times you're going way downhill.
After Pisa I decided I needed a break from the normal museums and churches, so I went to a small town called Castelfiorentino. It was a nice change as I just took it easy all day. Not a whole lot more to write on that because that was literally all I did.
Got into Rome 2 nights ago and yesterday was the first day I walked around. Saw the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese, a huge badass park. Just kinda lounged around the park for most of the day as I was a bit hungover. I'll probably hit up the Vatican today and see what all the talk is about.
Time to get out the door. Hopefully I'll find a way to get some pictures up soon.
I'll check in later.
T
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