Friends, Memories, and History

     Here I sit, on a quiet Saturday morning in Berlin, waiting for the world around me to come to life.  A wonderful breakfast of a few different kinds of breads from the bakery just down the way, was choice to start a fairly packed day.  I have attached myself to the liking of different breads, as it is common tradition amongst German culture.
     I last left off with Verona, where I started off with not knowing much about the city, to adding it to the list of places I would love to go back and visit.  It grabbed my attention more than I had imagined it would, and brought me to want to explore it further.  I didn't get enough of chance to see everything the city had to offer, but did walk about the more well known parts of the city.  Included in that was the House of Juliet, which was hard to imagine that I was standing in a setting of such an inspiring and well known story that everyone has heard.  The Arena was also another spectacular sight.  Similar to the Colosseum in Rome, but on a slightly smaller scale.  Also, the view of Verona atop the hill where the Roman theater sits is breathtaking.  Quite a workout to get to the top with climbing hundreds of stairs leaves you with a spectacularly rewarding view of the horizon and the cityscape.  I did not have time to find any vineyards, so that is my motivation and reasoning for return someday.
     On to the next country, I flew to Düsseldorf, Germany to visit a friend I hadn't seen in over two years.  It was good to make connections again,  and was nice to once again have someone local to point me in the right directions and guide me through the city. 
     I am thoroughly convinced that I have tried just about every kind of traditional German food, so many in fact that I couldn't even begin to start naming them all.  I have also had a nice tour of Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Münster, each having a unique array of history and people.  We spent some time in Düsseldorf, where Lukas attends the university, meeting new people, trying new foods, and seeing new sights.  I had watched a German soccer game, took part in a party with the medical students after a local soccer game, and apart from anything I had done on the trip thus far, I sat through a Sonography class with Lukas, which being in Germany, was respectively all in German.  However it was still interesting, but still reassured me that I have no desire in medicine.
     A friend of Lukas picked us up after class, and gave us a ride to Münster, where Lukas grew up.  We stayed with his family in a small suburb town just outside of Münster, and aside from being next to a big city, it reminded me a bit of back home.  There were actually fields and farms around, which I hadn't seen since my departure, and it was just a nice local village where everyone knows everyone.
     I am in Berlin for the weekend, with a list of about 20 things to do and see.  On that list is to go down to an area of town, where they hold the largest public viewing event for soccer in Germany, and watch Germany play in another game of the world cup tonight.  Just a bout 12 hours ago, I was at the top of the TV tower in Berlin, which put me at 680 feet above the ground.  A spectacular 360° view of Berlin, a 5 star restaurant, and high priced drinks were amongst what you would find in that giant glass sphere.  But it was worth the wait to watch the sun set over Berlin.
     I plan on visiting some of the city and countries past this afternoon.  The Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial, and the Topography of Terror for starters.  A history that I do not believe many Germans are quick to boast about.
    

The City On Water

     Towards the top of the list amongst my favorite places on Earth is Venice.  Just like in the movies, it is a serene and tranquil place.  Set apart from swarming crowds of people, it is a fairly quiet city.  A choice location for an escape from everyday life.
     The majority of the streets being rivers is a bit frustrating at a first, but once you have found your bearings it becomes an adventure.  The uniqueness of rivers amongst the narrow corridors of alleys between buildings is adventerous.  Ducking into an path that's not near broad enough for two opposing people to walk down makes for quite the challenge, but is rewarding once you emerge amongst a vast selection of sight and scenery. 
     I arrived in Venice, and took a walk around for a bit.  I looked for a place to reside for the night, and found nothing but 4 and 5 star hotels.  Hostels are always tucked away and never marked very well, so I asked for a list of them in Venice, picked the one with the most beds, and went to locate a payphone.  It was seven p.m. and I explained to the woman who answered the phone where I was at in the city.  She had mentioned that they closed at eight, and she was uncertain if I would be able to make it in time.  Apparently everyone in Venice walks slow, because what she made sound like a 45 minute walk took me no more than ten minutes.  Needless to say, I had a place for the night.  A shower was more than needed after the train ride.  Then it was on to supper.
     Rome was an experience.  More of your typical metropolis, Rome is full of people, it is never quiet, there are homeless people everywhere, and it is fairly dirty.  A quick day trip was more than enough to be able to say I've been there.  A walk about the main touristic locations brought me around to see all of the cities major sights.  I would, however, love to go back to be able to experience it in greater detail.  It is just not the place to be when traveling alone.  Which brings me to my arrival in Venice.
     I thought I would try out a train from Rome to Venice, which instantly brought me to learn several things.  A second class seat on the slow train which has no air conditioning is an awful idea.  It was absolutely unbearable, and I am almost certain that I came quite close to passing out from heat exhaustion.  I will never do that again.  It is more that worth it to pay a little extra for a high speed train that cuts the time in half and has A/C.  It was a six hour train ride from Rome to Venice, and thankfully I managed to sleep for roughly half of it.  I had been exhausted from walking around Rome and trying to find a place to sleep, and also from staying up until five in the morning on the beach in Barcelona the night before. 
     Back to Venice, where I decided to endulge in my favorite kind of food in the world.  More settled in Venice than Rome, I felt that a 4 course meal was more than necessary.  I had found a place set apart from the main river that runs through the city, nestled up along a quite street set right off a river road.  It felt a bit off to ask for a table for one in a city that should be ment for couples, but I was famished.  As I sat down the waiter brought me a complimentary glass of the house wine, which was fairly tasteful.  However I ended up with a bottle of chardonnay that was recommended, and thus began the arrival of the exquisite cuisine. 
     A basket of fresh Italian bread for a starter was spectacular.  Light, warm, and soft, it had an enticing aroma that would bring anyone to want to devour it.  Secondly, a plate of spaghetti was presented, which was nothing shy of delectable.  After the pasta, I had a place of lightly grilled chicken, which bathed in a sauce that was a mixture of heaven and freshly squeezed lemon.  For dessert, a piece of homemade tiramisu was served, which was the top of its class.  I had never had a piece as succulent as that in my life.  As I polished off the last of my bottle of incredibly savory chardonnay, the waiter brought my bill.  Aside from the bill, he also brought a complimentary shot of something that started sour, but ended sweet.  I have no idea what it was, but it was also incredible.  Italy has now proved itself with the food, and still remains my favorite.
      I am now on a train to Verona, Italy for the afternoon and night, as I have a flight to Dusseldorf, Germany in the morning.  I think I will go out and search for an Italian vineyard to tour, and hopefully I can find one to add to my list of experiences.  You know what they say; When in Rome.....

Coast to Coast

     Today marks the end to what has been an incredible part of this journey.  Memories and friends have been made all throughout, and not one will be forgotten.  As it is hard to say goodbye to the ubiquitous beauty and lively atmosphere of Barcelona, I open a new door to carry on this journey that I could live day in and day out forever.  From one coast of the shimmering Mediterranean to the next, I look forward to Rome coming later in the day.
     As for the past couple days, it has been quite a ride.  The days spent exploring new places and relaxing on the beach.  The nights filled with meeting new people and expanding our languages by more than double.  Learning a small bit of Catalan, Basque, French, Sweedish, and German had left us seemingly unable to remember how to communicate in English. 
     It is quite different from the states, however, in the matter of when people go out at night.  The hour a normal night back home might end is when everyone is just beginning here.  Not more than a quick shuffle of people here and there between the hours of 10 p.m. and 12 a.m., but after midnight, the city comes to life with vibrant energy.  People fill the walkways, streets, and beaches, and no one stops the rush until the sun pierces the horizon.  Back to back nights of staying out until the break of day has left me in a state of dreariness.  A couple cups of coffee at our local cafe down the street has proved to be much more than a necessity this morning.
     Barcelona has proved itself to me, and I will most certainly be back to visit again someday.  Perhaps for a while longer to expand the area in which I have visited, as Spain has an incredibly vast amount of things to do, places to see, and cultures to embrace.  In the more immediate future, Rome has my undivided attention for the next few days.  I am engulfed with excitement.

Kickin' back; Waves and Rays

     Sitting back in the hot Barcelona sun, cold drink in hand, and only amongst the sounds of waves and seagulls; yeah, it really is the life.  Here, we have made camp in the sand, not a worry in the world.  The coastline is tucked into the countryside, with the mountains to my right, and endless kilometers of soft sandy beaches to the left.  Clear blue skies and waters of the glistening Mediterranean Sea come together on the horizon as if there is no end to it no matter how far you travel.  This place on Earth is empyrean and surreal. 
     Yesterday, we found ourselves touring Barcelona, being sure to pass by and admire all the big tourist attractions, as well as the incredibly elaborate architecture throughout the city.  The Gothic style of the city is astonishing.  The detail and craftsmanship of the buildings inside and out is unbelieveable. To think that these kinds of structures were created hundreds of years ago is mind-boggling.  It is my dream to be able to design with such incredible detail someday.
     Now tonight, we sit in preparation to witness the resounding reputation Barcelona has for its nightlife.  Guided by friends we have accrued in the past few days, alonside Sara Larabe, we will be led throught the cities clubs scattered along the coastline.  Supposedly we are in for a night that only Barcelona can provide, but we will let you know how the judges score comes back within the next few days.  However, I don't expect anything less. 

The Beginning

So here we are, sitting in a Barcelona coffee shop, where we have become regular customers.  It's a cozy little place, good food and great coffee.  With that, let us take a few steps back to where it began. 

     The flights within the United States were nothing out of the ordinary.  Just a few quick jumps from here to there, nothing special.  The flight from New York to Dublin was the longest plane ride I had been on yet.  A total of six hours over the ocean spanning the hours of the early morning.  However, with the time change it put us in Dublin around 7 in the morning, a perfect time to start off and begin a completely different lifestyle for an entire month.
    We began our stay in Dublin by searching for a place to stay.  As our efforts were diminished from being told places were fully booked, we came upon a place that had one room left.  A room to be shared with 10 other people, and let me say that this place had a reputation for being the worst hostel in Dublin.  The building was right near a train track, and the whole structure shook every time the train passed.  It was a roof and a bed, but that is all that is was.  Needless to say, we only spent one evening there.
     We spent the next few days wandering about Dublin, touring the Guiness brewery, walking up and down the streets, dipping in to pubs as we went, and playing cards with locals on the roof of a five story club.  One of the greatest things you can accomplish in your life is to go to a pub in Ireland and have a local man buy you a round while he tells you about his life experiences.  The numerous variations of people and cultures in this world is beyond me, and this was only the beginning.  We only spent a few days in Dublin amongst the crowded and narrow streets, then it was off to the next of destinations, London.
     We arrived in the UK, only to find atrocious prices and a lot of time spent in airports.  It would have ran us dry to stay in what seemed like the most expensive place on Earth.  We slept in the airport that night, which was was nearly as bad as the shanty hostel in Dublin.  Immediately regretting the decision given our financial states, we decided to take the next flight out to Barcelona.  This left the only sightseeing in London to what we rode past on the bus from Stansted airport to our departure terminal in Gatwick airport.  We were glad to be heading somewhere where we actually knew someone who could show us around.
     Barcelona is absolutely stunning.  The gothic architecture intrigues me, the coastline is beautiful, the mountainous countryside is incredible. The first night we arrived, we stayed in a nice hostel, while we waited for the final agreements to be settled on a flat that Sara Larrabe and her family have graciously let us stay in while we are here in Barcelona.  So far, we rode a tour bus that brought us around the entire city, and walked the beach from end to end.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, and it is only supposed to get better from here.  I can't stress enough how greatful we are for Sara's family.  They took us out to eat the day after we got here, and treated us to an immaculate 5 course meal.  There is still so much to do, and so much to see. 

This is only the beginning of Barcelona.

The Countdown

     Here we are, less than a week out from something that had everyone encapsulated with doubt.  Yes, we are actually going through with this journey of a lifetime.  An entire month spent roving about the various cultures and landscapes of Europe.  

     The time spent planning this trip for the last 7 months has gone by faster than I would have ever imagined.  A small idea of a couple of guys scrounging up some cash and flying overseas, has all of a sudden turned into reality.  For a while, I think we even doubted ourselves a bit, but once we actually had a ticket to Dublin, we had a foundation to put everything into.  Our seemingly fictitious idea had all of sudden come to life, and it hit us like a ton of bricks.  The inevitability of the fact that there was no turning back had us mad with excitement.  Dreams turned into reality.  So the countdown had begun.

     Just over a mere two weeks is all we had to wait, and what's a couple weeks compared to 7 months?  Let me tell you that I've never experienced time moving slower in my life.  Minutes seem to take hours, and days seem to take weeks at this point.  Hoping that these last 5 days fly by and actually being in Europe is all I can think about.  7:05 a.m. Friday morning is the only part of the week I can focus on.  The thrill of this adventure consumes me.  

     We fly out of Sioux Falls, SD into Dallas, TX.  From there we have a connecting flight from Dallas to New York City, where we have a 4 hour layover until our flight from NYC to Dublin, Ireland.  It's too bad that 4 hours is not near enough time to go explore New York City even in the slightest.  We would get out of the airport, find a cab, and then have to get right back out a stand in line for security again.  I'm not gonna say that our fingers aren't crossed for a delay in NYC on the way home, because that is without a doubt what we hope.  It would end up being the inception of vacations, a trip within a trip, but first things first;  Europe.