Eating to Survive, Drinking to Experience

Traveling alone is quite a unique experience. It makes you put yourself out there, go a bit outside your comfort level. But the advantages of doing so are so much more rewarding than one can imagine. Let me give an example-

A few nights ago, just minutes after getting back to my hostel after a long day of walking and a three hour hike in the rain, a new traveller came into my room and three minutes after I said "hello", I was on my way with her to visit her Swiss friends in another hostel for a home-cooked meal. Over our meal of some sort of hot, gooey rice stuff with little chopped vegetables, they told me stories of traveling together around the UK, and the strange people they met. Lisa, the girl from my Hostel is originally from Slovakia, but has lived in the US and Mexico for the last few years. The Swiss girls, Yvonne and Stefanie, are sisters finishing up an 18 day trip around the UK before going back for school. After dinner we had drinks in town and talked about everything from living in Switzerland, religious views around the world, to economics (yeah I know, what!?) and it was fascinating. To think I almost didn't say Hi.

Similarly, the night before that I had met a group of German friends in the common room of the hostel, by saying Hello. Within seconds they too had invited me to go to a bar with them to meet up with one of their childhood friends that lives in Edinburgh. The bar we went to was originally the first bank of Edinburgh, and the old vault is still proudly shown in the back room where we were having drinks and talking about Germany, America, and Scotland. They had been watching the MTV show Jersey Shore when I met them in the hostel, so I had to make sure to represent Americans a bit better.

After having drinks with the Swiss girls and Lisa, I met up with the German group again in a club on the other side of town. The details of the night aren't too important, just know the night ended with those drunken "NO! YOUUUU guys are awesome" and exchanges of names and contact info. And yes, for those wondering, we did talk about the German past and yes, I did eventually tell them I was Jewish, and no, it was not awkward. (I pictured my brother asking me those kind of questions, so there you go Mike). And again, it was fascinating. I've always been told how straight edged and boring Germans were, but these group of friends could not have disproved that misconception more. I could write an entire entry on conversations like that, and I'm sure I will soon. Just know one thing- the past is the past, and never let stereotypes stop you from getting to know someone.

Speaking of stereotypes, I also met a group of Irish college students on holiday last night, and yes, we went drinking. And YES, THEY CAN DRINK. I feel like these little entries don't give justice to the experiences these groups of travelers and vacationers have given me, it almost feels like a shame to mention it all without thorough descriptions of the nights, but it would just take to long, and like I said, I don't really like to write. Sorry, I guess you will have to talk to me when I eventually make it home if you want to know those stories. Here is what I will do: I will sum up the night in a series of single words or small phrases, in chronological order of the night, and you can let your imagination do what you want with them -

Jagger-bombs, shots, dancing, sweat, shots, hugs, yelling, cheers, dancing, sweat, shots, beer, bike races, ID problem, sneaking into bar, shots, getting caught, car dent, police, hassle, poor police work, handcuffs, no handcuffs, new bar, shots, beer, dancing, losing people, home.

No I was never the one in trouble, and everything worked out. Relax mom.

Just know we had a lot of crack...

Which is an irish word meaning fun, actually spelled 'craic', but they were saying it all night/morning at breakfast and its pronounced like crack, so now you know why I would laugh when they said it all night.

I've been writing too long. Sorry its been a while, but its been a crazy few days. On a train back to London now, we'll see where I decide to go tomorrow.

Oh jeez, I forgot to mention going to the Highlands. Hey I went to the Highlands yesterday, northern Scotland, to Inverness and of course, Loch Ness. Turns out I was wrong, there isn't a single Loch Ness Monster. There are actually about eighteen.

Picture to be added shortly.

- Matt

Location:Edinburgh, Scotland

Cricket Game In London

Watched a semi-professional game in Lords Stadium, birthplace of Cricket! With the help of a couple Aussie friends, even learned a thing or two about the ridiculously long sport.

In Front of Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh

Edinburgh, The Only Place On Earth They Measure Rainfall In Pints

I'm gonna be honest, I stole the title of this post off a sign I saw, but I had to share it with you all. Late last night I arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland after five hours on my first national train, first of many to come. The trip was painless for the most part, apart from the kid that wouldn't be quite (said the nicest way possible) and the guy behind me listening to blaring music through his headphones and oddly drinking Budweisers by himself. Edinburgh though is amazing, one of the most effortlessly beautiful cities I have ever seen. In the center stands Edinburgh Castle on top of a hill, towering over the rest of the city. Spent the day wondering around, walking down the Royal Mile, a mile long stretch of road connecting the castle and the Palace of Holyrood House, where the Queen stays if she is in town. There is also the Fringe Festival going on, a mostly comedy festival that also brings a ton of live music, street performers, theatre and the works. Tons of fun to walk through but pretty overwhelming for my first day, so I decided to go for the scenic route and hiked the small mountain nearby with an incredible view of the whole city. Give me a minute and I'll post a couple pictures!


- Matt

Location:Edinburgh, Scotland

London!

In London!

Tea at a Cafe

Enjoying English Breakfast tea outside a cafe in London. Check out how creepy that guy looks getting a walking massage.

British Museum

Me in front of the British Museum, London

Hostel In London Pic

Tired Feet, Happy Soul

At the time of writing this, I am currently sitting outside a small cafe a short distance down the road from the British Museum where I have just come from. This scene could not be more perfect. Currently sitting at the light is a red double decker bus, a man just walked by with an outrageous accent sporting a shirt that reads "If found, please return to nearest pub", and I of course am sipping on a cup of Irish Breakfast tea, immensely enjoying the life around me. I just put milk in my tea. Kind of regretting that. But my tuna fish sandwich looks great, and for the cheapest thing on the menu, it tastes pretty good considering.

Savta, if you are reading this, I hope you know I still think of you whenever I eat tuna fish ;) And hurray! You opened my blog successfully!

Anyways, I just walked around the British Museum for an hour, listening to my Rick Steves Guided Walking Tour from my ipod. After just an hour my feet are killing me and with good reason. Yesterday was a very long day, starting at 8:00am. (Yes mom, early for me I know). But being in a foreign country, and also waking up in a tiny, hard bed, gets you out of bed faster in the morning. The day started with a tube ride to Westminster, where I walked along the 2-3 mile road connecting the Parliament building and of course, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and eventually Trafalgar Square and the National Museum.

I had been inside and took a tour of Westminster before with my family years back, but it was like seeing it for the first time. Though I have to admit I wasn't much into the entire room dedicated to pictures of the recent royal wedding (full of teenage girls of course), I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the burial spots of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, and thought it was funny that they were buried in such an important Christian building considered what they contributed to modern knowledge can easily be interpreted as disagreeing with key aspects of the Bible. In a way though it made it that much cooler that the Church would recognize their importance and give them the honor of burying them in their grounds. The National Museum was also so enjoyable I spent more than two hours perusing the art. I quickly was yelled at for trying to snap a picture, but that didn't stop me from pretending to be on the phone and steal a picture of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers", a favorite of mine since reading Vincent, a book on the life of Van Gogh.

Finally I spent some time walking along the Thames river enjoying the surprisingly nice weather (it then rained 30 minutes later of course) and got some great pics of the heart of London, which I hope to upload to the blog when I get back to the hostel a bit later.

For now its off to St. Paul's cathedral for more stereotypical tourist stuff. Till next time...cheers!



- Matt

Location:London, England

My Burps Taste Like Fish and Chips

Isn't it annoying when you get to the airport and they just give you your boarding pass without a problem? I know, right!? Thankfully I didn't have that problem, instead I had the pleasure to be informed an hour before my flight that I could not get on without a visa or a return flight home. My mom and I had made a deal, where I would buy my ticket out of the states, and she would pay for me to come home. Symbolic, ya know? I guess they thought I would try to live in London as an illegal immigrant or something, but at least I felt better because I was not the only one. Another backpacker from Seattle, Sarah, was facing the same problem when I got to the airport. Long story short the Icelandair girl at the ticket counter was extremely helpful (and sassy/sarcastic) and helped us cut the lines at security after we each had to blow 600 dollars on flights we would not be taking home. Out of this I had made a traveling companion already, so I consider that a good experience and a lesson well learned.

On the plane I met a girl going to Iceland to backpack for a couple weeks with an open itinerary, but dreams of kayaking around icebergs, fly fishing, and eating cute puffer birds. She showed me a picture of what these birds were she was talking about, and I have to agree they did look deliciously cute. The guy next to her was taking an antique bike with him to bike around Iceland. Don't know what else he was going to do but he seemed pretty content with that.

On my flight from Iceland to London I sat next to the nicest British couple, that were so kind to me that shared traveling tips and even gave me their contact information in case I got into trouble and needed someone. I told them in the best way possible, I hope I never have to call them.

Once in London, Sarah and I met up at baggage claim and rode the Tube together to our respective hostel stops. In the half mile to my hostel I saw more turbans than I have in the past year combined. For a city that once symbolized white imperialism, it was apparent in seconds how much the city had changed in recent years, and I instantly felt small in this huge, diverse city. So what did I do? Went into the first place that had a Fish and Chips sign and dug in. To be honest...not that impressed. Should probably take a better look of where I choose to eat next time, in hindsight when you look at this "restaurant", you probably shouldn't expect a very good meal. Still, that is how I operate, so when I am in a place that has such a distinct food associated with it, I'm trying the first one I see.

Upon finding my hotel and checking in, I made my way to my third floor, 9-bed dorm room.

ok I'm stopping this thought mid sentence because he did it again! I've been here only a couple hours but this guy that is sleeping in the bed below mine (I'm middle bed in one of the three-bed bunks) keeps walking in and out of the room randomly without saying a word, and without doing anything that I can tell. He's waiting for me to fall asleep to drug me and steal one of my kidneys...

Anyways he's gone I'll continue. The room is small but exactly what I expected. I took a shower in the tiniest shower imaginable, but no complaints there, had hot water and was fairly clean.

I'm getting bored of writing, there is a whole world out there for me to experience. Till next time...


- Matt

Location:Arsenal Backpacker's Hostel, London

Photo test

testing again

Less Than 24 Hours

1:40AM and I'm meeting a friend for breakfast at 7am. But there is no way I'm going to sleep right now because there are 19 hours and 50 minutes until my flight leaves.

Packing Report --

Number of times Matt has packed his bag pack: 0
Number of times Matt has tragically organized how he will pack his bag as he stares down at everything that will be inside it neatly laid out on the floor only to change his mind and start over: 23

Number of times Matt started to reread this post and quickly got annoyed with how he spoke in third person for most of it: 1


- Matt

Location:Home

Test for uploading pictures

A Foreword

It's finally hit me. Maybe it is because I will be on a plane at this time in three days. Or it could be because I just got off the phone with my girlfriend as she boards her plane to Denmark, and her excitement is contagious. Probably both.

I won't actually be getting into London, the starting point of my trip, until midday on the 19th because of a stop in Reykjavik, Iceland. I'm hoping to maybe get a view of the city flying in or out, but I'm not gonna get my hopes up. Always better to be surprised than disappointed.

As I sadly struggled on a word in the last paragraph, which I will not say to lessen the embarrassment of its simplicity, I realized I should mention a couple things regarding my blogging abilities, or rather the lack thereof. To start, it has come to my intention in the last couple years my spelling abilities have actually gotten worse over the years. Probably because I didn't have an English class for the last year and a half of my college career, or maybe I just was naive to my own struggles. That being said, I will do my best, but sometimes your best is only so good and this blogging app doesn't have a spell check, and that's just a recipe for disaster.

I appreciate anyone that takes the time out of their busy day to read about my life a thousand miles away and show some interest in my life. That's a really splendid thing you could do, and I would never want to tarnish that appreciation with making you read some horribly butchered spelled words and grammatical errors, at least not without a warning. So here it is, I am sorry, please don't judge me.

Second, I will not be writing these entries like I am a tour guide and I want to describe everything I learned that day walking around a museum. This will more likely be a way for me to let my friends and family know where I am in this world and what experiences I have had that I feel is worthy enough to share. Oh, also probably to let people know that I am alive.

Lastly, I truly hope that people following this blog get at least a tenth of the feeling I get when I read about other traveler's journeys. If a story I have or even just a description of a place or culture gives you a small idea for an adventure of your own or it gives the extra push you need to follow through with one (cough, cough, dad), then I would think this is all worth it right there.

I also don't like to proofread my own writing and I often end things abruptly without a good closing sentence.

Location:Blueberry Cir,Andover,United States

Test

Testing, one two three. First potential blog post, sitting in my back porch testing the blogging app for the first time. Hopefully I did this right...


- Matt

Location:Blueberry Cir,Andover,United States