I'm BACK! First order of business: watch too much TV.
HELLO New York. You're looking fine.
I'm hanging out and birthday celebrating in New York this weekend. Then I'm off to Ohio to save money and work on my portfolio from March 4-April 2. Then I'll be back in Brooklyn for good. And that's the plan, Jan!
Today was great and lovely! The weather was sunny and 45 F. I didn't even wear a coat! I'm in Iceland if you've lost track.
somewhere in Iceland idk
on the set of Prometheus
After finding my long lost love (cottage cheese) at breakfast, I was off to Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon is a geothermal mineral pool and spa thing. A wee bit pricey but I was really looking forward to this.
beautiful Blue Lagoon! Little man, I want to Photoshop you out so baaaaaad
Gorgeous darling.
It was so beautiful and relaxing. I was just swim-swamming around in February in Iceland. The whole place smells faintly of farts due to the sulphur, but I didn't mind. I need to shower because I still kinda smell faintly of farts (moreso than usual).
The water is mineral-rich and very good for your skin. They have the boxes of silica mud you rub on your face like a mask. It's totally unattended and free. Naturally I took giant handfuls and covered my entire body with it. Sorry, but that's what you get when you leave me around free beauty/skincare/anything unsupervised. I also went to the steam bath and sauna. Then I got an ice cream bar at the swim-up bar and everything was perfect.
Tomorrow I will undertake a quest for some shark. It's their national food and I would like to try shark. Then I'm BACK!! My flight leaves at 5pm tomorrow and I'm supposed to land at 6pm in NYC because we're flying against TIME. It's a 6 hour flight. I have plans for a couple trip-end posts over the next day or so. Reflections, art dump, stuff I made, etc. We ain't done here yet son.
Hi guys, it's time for my favorite kind of post: hungover. Currently self-medicating said hangover with a giant cup of coffee and chocolate cake because I like to reward bad decisions with delicious cake. There's something a little beautiful about hangovers. I'm so enveloped in feeling sorry for myself that I forget I'm a tourist in a strange Deutsche-land. I'm just a human lookin' for that cake. Cake cake cake cake. I was quoting poet-laureate Rihanna at the end there.
I'm still in Berlin! I've seen a lot of museums. So. Many. Museums. I'm tapping out. I've gotten so spoiled and sometimes I buy a ticket and speed walk through the joint. It's happened a couple times. I'm not terribly proud of this fact. But it is what it is.
Museum Island
I went to a 19th centuryish art museum, a 20th centuryish art museum, a DDR museum (East Berlin), an "alternative Berlin" tour, Bauhaus archive, and the abandoned airport Tempelhof.
Bauhaus was cool. I finally learned its pronounced "bow-house" so I can stop embarrassing myself. Unrelated: Lime in the Coconut just started playing in this cafe. I bought a poster! I buy nothing ever, so that it significant.
Bauhaus Chairs
I miss art school!
The DDR museum was really well done. It was largely about daily life in East Berlin. Here's a photo, idk man..
Who is this Party informant snooping around my East berlin flat?!
Tiny naked people! East Berlin didn't have enough swimsuits so everybody went naked. And then 25 years later someone felt compelled to make a diorama about it.
Tempelhof was so cold. I imagine it would be wonderful in the summer. They had BBQ spots. In the winter though, woof. The wind just impaling you from those flat empty runways. Like trekking Siberia. I took a photo of myself so I could remember what I looked like before my nose fell off from hypothermia. Isn't it nice to know I'm still so dramatic even when it's just me?
Tempelhof aka Siberia
in remembrance of my nose
I also have successfully undertaken the bahns, as I affectionately refer to them. U-Bahn and S-Bahn. Berlin public transit. Apparently ticket inspectors check sometimes, but I have yet to see one of these fellows. I keep buying tickets though because I'm terrified of getting yelled at in German.
I've also been pretending to be German as much as possible. To accomplish this, I just say "Hallo" and then nod when people talk at me. I also maintain a bored face and hide my panicked confusion. It's been working out for me. It got me a fork at Starbucks, interestingly.
Other things with me. I've been watching a lot of vice videos. I think I will send them a letter re: giving me a job. These guys went to North Korea! Makes me feel like a lame little baby for not jumping head first into some weird underground Berlin club with like those pierced people hanging from a ceiling and an animal sacrifice. That's probably happening somewhere in Berlin, right? Who knows. But I like wifi and chocolate cake and art museums.
Now I will take a train to Frankfurtty and get a hotel by the airport and hang around. So close to being home! Are you coming to my birthday? Come to my birthday!
TV Tower
Hey-o! I'm back in Berlin. I think I may have left Munich a bit prematurely because after I got to Berlin, I realized I actually know THREE people in Munich! Whoops, I screwed up! I'm happy to be back in Berlin though.I totally did have another super weird night train dream again. I dreamt that I was watching a Beyoncé WWE pay-per-view fight. And I kept asking who she was fighting and everyone would just say "haha um Not Beyoncé."
Yesterday I was planning to go the Bauhaus Archives and that was a 32-Double D BUST. Short version so as not to dwell: spent an hour getting there, museum closed on Tuesdays. Bad job, Liz.
Last night was great though! I went to a "Living History" talk that my hostel out on with a man from West Berlin that occasionally did work in East Berlin. When I was last in Berlin, I met with a man from East Berlin. It was really interesting to hear stories and perspectives from both sides of the wall. It really blows my mind how recent that history is. When I was a wee babe, the wall was still up! I was pooping my pants in Texas and Berlin was divided! Bananas.
Did you know there were two subway lines that ran from West Berlin, underneath East Berlin, and back to West? The train would just slow down in the East stations, but never stop. The East Stations were guarded with machine guns. Once a train lost power IN East Berlin, and they refused to let anyone off or even have contact with the West Berlin passengers. I can't imagine, but I'm really fascinated by the whole thing.
Okay, here are my Berlin goals: Bauhaus Archives, Topography of Terror, Museum Island museums, now-closed Tempelhof Airport. If I do not do these things, you should yell at me.
After wandering around Munich and spending a half hour smelling all the celebrity perfumes in Sephora, I went to Haufbräuhaus! I had a beer and pretzel for lunch, which I felt was nice and Bavarian. An oompa band was playing!
Hoflighthaus
Bier!
Haus
Then I went to the Residenz, the home to the electors/dukes/kings of Bavaria (they kept getting upgraded). I recommend it! I was in a "eh, this will kill some time" mind frame, but it was very interesting! Really expansive and they give you a free audio guide. Very opulent and fancy-schmancy.
Seashell Lady
Hermes and MORE SHELLS
They also had a chapel for all their relics. Relics, dude, relics. They say they have the head of John the Baptist, but the Catholic Church says that's in Italy, so I'm not really clear how that counts.
Love the Lana del Rey headpiece, John the B
So intricate!
Why isn't science all over relics? Shouldn't Bones be out here telling us what's what? Is that happening and I just don't subscribe to the right periodicals?
And on that note of old saint body parts, I gotta go find some dinner! Icky.
This is not the Hofbraubaus
Yo Munich! Yesterday I went on a walking tour that was quite nice. Munich's name comes from monks! There used to be a bunch of monasteries here and people would just say "Oh I'm from that place with the monks." I also saw my first ever real monk in Zagreb! Brown robes, rope belt, whole thing.
Munich
Munich
After the tour I did a wee bit of shopping (got a birthday dress oh yeaaaahh), grocery shopping, and laundry.
Today is Sunday, as you may know. So everything was closed. Everything except museums! I did FOUR museums today. On Sunday admission is only one euro and all the museums I wanted to go to are in a little block. Good day good day. Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, Museum Brandhorst, and Pinakothek der Moderne.
Side story to tell you about this German woman. I was just checking my map and she offered to help me. She was probably like 70 and had so many lady whiskers! Basically a full beard, but all white. And big fat tears were just coming out of her eyes whenever she blinked and she didn't seem to notice or care. I think I'm going to make up some German folklore about her. She was nice though.
Ok, so that German lady told me "Pinakothek" is basically Greek for "place to keep important things." Take that as you will. It was four different art museums for various time periods. I really enjoyed myself.
Art
I'm drawing!
No.
Seriously, mom?
Monkeying Around
DESIGN
Warhol
Tomorrow I'll do some more Munich stuff then I'm heading BACK TO BERLIN. Crazy, right? I really liked Berlin and my hostel there though. I think there's still a lot for me to see there and it's slightly cheaper than Munich. Another night train by the way, so lets see if I have another vision quest.
Greetings from Munich! Home to Oktoberfest, Hitler, Hofbräuhaus, Olympic tragedies and who knows! I'll have to find out!More importantly though, I took my first night train. I can only speak of my one experience, but whoa, night train dreams are like some vision quest stuff. A bunch of my friends were all having an elaborate tea party on the train station platform and we kept arguing about which train to get on. Poetic?
It wasn't bad except this German guy slept like a log the first 2 hours (when we still had to go through border patrol every couple of minutes) and then kept getting up every hour during sleepy times! Duuuuuuuude. He and his wife were okay though. I, however, was a sloppy mess. Shirt kept riding up, blankets twisted all over the place, belly hanging out. Not cute.
I suspect it's related to traveling alone, but a lot of my thoughts are occupied with "what if." For example, last night it was "what if I just took my pants off in this sleeping car?" Would anyone say anything? Would they ask me to put some pants on? Would no one care? Would the conductor/ticket man say something? Too gauche? Their English wasn't great, so I wonder how it would translate. I did keep my pants on, for the record.
Now it is 7am and I will go eat some hostel breakfast, explore Munich, and come back to check into my room. That's how my day's shaping up.
Oh I did have a very Bridget Jones moment in Zagreb. I'd been walking in the snow all day and my little head was saying "wine wine wine wine." I went to open my Hungarian wine, but the cork kept breaking so I started stabbing it furiously with a knife. I think I'm the only one who didn't see this next bit coming. I pushed the cork in too forcefully and wine went all over my face and shirt and hair. I legitimately had to go wash my face. Anyway, I smelled like an alcoholic for the day but that didn't stop me from enjoying my wine with the accompaniment of deli slices and popcorn. C'est magnifique.
Update: I've hit a wall. Big wall. It's now 9:19 am and I'm killing time till the free walking tour at 10:30. Dying. So sleepy. I wish I could be cute and say I've hit a BERLIN wall, but I'm in Munich so screw it.
I went to Bratislava! Being able to say that was a large part of my reasoning for going, so mission accomplished?Bratislava (in Slovakia) is just an hour from Vienna and en route to Budapest. So why the heck not! Also, Rick Steves recommended it and he is my mentor.
I ate some Slovakian food: an onion & sirloin soup and some cheese dumplings. Those cheese dumplings could kill a man. It's like macaroni and cheese on steroids with cheese fondue on top. It was an intensely cheesy experience. But "death by cheese" may be a good way to go.
Then we walked around and saw the Reader's Digest highlights. Check out those photos. Bratislava, bb. Next we hiked all the way up to the castle, with Vanessa and I stopping like every 15 minutes because UGH. Anyway, check it off the list.
Just a general note: Europeans love Django Unchained. It's weird. I've heard the Django soundtrack in 3 different countries. My Berlin hostel played it every morning during breakfast. My new "line" to start up a conversation with any young European? "So Django." Literally all I have to say. I'm tempted to try to analyze this, but I'll resist.
Now I am in Budapest! I'm happy to be here. I also just bought a new shampoo that I am SO EXCITED ABOUT. And my hostel here will do my laundry with a DRYER for $10. I'm giddy about this. Clean and non-stretched out clothes will be mine tonight!! I'm always pretty chill about big things and weirdly enthusiastic about little things. What's up with that?
Aw Prague
I finally took the Segway tour! It was two hours and quite fun. Freezing cold though. Shockingly, I wasn't as terrible as I expected to be. There were definitely a few moments of pure terror, but nothing catastrophically dramatic happened. It was just me and the guide as well, and she was very patient. I also think she could read the terror in my face occasionally because she would say things like "You hanging in there?" But later she took the speed governor off and I was zooming along and I felt like Tron.
The funniest moment was at the end when I was trying to get off. I took one foot off and the things just started spinning, going around in a little circle. I was standing there with one foot dangling off, doing that kind of panicked "ahhhhhhhh" groan. This guy from the front desk ran and had to help me. Luckily, it was pretty minor mishap, in the grand scheme of my life. How fucking cute do I look on this Segway though?
Segway!!!
I went to Prague Castle and a toy museum that morning. Prague Castle was nice, but I'm getting a bit spoiled with cathedrals and old things. They did have some very cool Muchas stained glass.
St. Vitus Cathedral
The toy museum was great though! They had old toys from the WWI and such. Really interesting to see. I already tweeted it, but let me say it again: Thank you Northeastern for not putting a date on my student ID. I've gotten so many student discounts.
Nightmare Fuel
Umm
Just a fun alcoholic sailor toy
Very Fantastic Mr. Fox I thought! For Eric Allen
Lil Devil Doll
Trains planes and automobiles
The toy museum had a big collection for 50 Years of Barbie. I was nostalgic looking at all the sweet 90s Barbies I had. Thanks for all the Barbies, Mom & Dad.
girls girls all types of girls, girls I do adore
If you ever want to feel stumpy, take a photo next to Barbie
I'm currently killing an hour and a half in the Prague train station, waiting for my train to Vienna. In other news, I got my first European nosebleed! It wouldn't be a Liz Kelley Adventure without a nosebleed.
I'm now thinking the rest of my trip will be: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Zagreb, Venice, Munich, Frankfurt, Iceland, NYC.
Let's talk about Prague baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that can be. Let's talk about Prague!!* Well I had a very bad taste in my mouth about Prague initially. But I think it's just because I was hungry and a dog pooped in the train station Claire's. 4/5 times I'm in a bad mood, I'm actually just hungry.
Yesterday I was super hungry (and therefore grumbles) and decided to get some food from a street vendor. "I'm so cool and adventurous!" However, I didn't fully understand what was happening and ordered "Parma Prosciutto Ham" from the menu which I thought was a thing, but now realize was just multiple translations. I received two giant hunks of ham. Seriously, two tennis ball sized cubes of ham. So as far as things go, this wasn't a terrible outcome. Good ham at least. I always know I've screwed up somewhere when the guy taking my order says "Really?" But at that point, I'm in too deep and just say "Yes." To add insult to dumb-American injury, it was in the touristy part and overpriced. I ate $12 of nothing but ham on the streets of Prague. Put that on my tombstone.
Prague
Today I did a walking tour. Prague is very very pretty. There's a huge Art Nouveau and Baroque presence here that I was unaware of. I'm excited to go to the Muchas Museum.
Then I went to a random cafe for dinner and an old Czech man adorably harassed me. He used to live in San Fran and kept holding my hand and telling me how New York is the coolest. And America is SO BIG. He was pretty drunk, but very sweet. "In Czech Republic it is very cold outside but very warm inside!" His name was George. He looked like Alan Arkin if you need a visual.
Tomorrow I'm going to Kutna Hora in CZ that has a BONE CHAPEL. Oh yeah yeah yeah.
Ok, here's some photos of Prague.
Prague
Prague
Prague
*this blog will get me a Pulitzer.
Sit down child, and listen to my Tale of the Weetabix. *throws Are You Afraid of the Dark powder onto a campfire* I bought this carton of Weetabix in London. It's a cereal, but instead of all loose, it's in pressed cereal pucks that you put in milk. It was £1.50, 8 servings, 135 calories per serving, and filled with protein and fiber. "What a great, cheap way to start my day!!"
Well I have yet to eat my Weetabix. I have carried it from London, to Belgium, to Amsterdam, to Berlin, and now to Prague. Inexplicably, I am highly dedicated to this box of Weetabix. My hostel in Prague has a guest kitchen and breakfast is not included; WILL I FINALLY EAT IT?? Stay tuned for the gripping conclusion.
As you may have guessed, I am still bored on a train to Prague.
I'm on a train from Berlin to Prague at the moment. I think it's dumb we have different words for cities. We should just call it whatever the locals call it, ja? So Praha. But now I sound pretentious. First, a somewhat important announcement for my Brooklyn clique (let's keep that pretension going). I have officially decided to go to Ohio for the month of March. I'll be in NYC from Feb 29 to March 4. My birthday is March 2. Let's hang out. Then I go to the magical land of a free bed and Mom-made meals that is Ohio. There I will prepare myself to be a grown up again and get a portfolio in order.
And since I am bored on a train, I will share some travel trips. You've been warned.
I've had seriously wonderful hostels so far, all thanks to HostelWorld/Trip Advisor reviews. Thanks guys.
Hostels are full of snoring, sniffly monsters. Earplugs are my savior and magical, and just a little bit frightening with their effectiveness. Allegedly, a British boy dropped a handful of change on the floor at 5 in the morning the other day, and I didn't even stir.
Ok, pub crawls are gross in principle. But they are pretty much an instant way to make a couple temporary friends. Walking tours ain't half bad either. BTW, last night I went out with the hostel bartender because I said "What would Rick Steves do?" and you KNOW he'd want to go to bars with a local.
I love trains. I got my Eurail pass for 20% off (off-season) AND discounted Youth rate. So wonderful. I just go to the train station, up to the ticket window and ask which train to take, then proceed to whatever gate they told me. So easy. On a related note, I'm really not looking forward to my flight to Turkey (just the airport part). Oh and Ina suggested traveling on Mondays since many museums are closed Mondays, which is totally smart.
I like to go straight from the train station to my hostel usually around dinner time. Get settled, drop stuff off, etc. Then wander around in the area of the hostel. Get some "lay of the land," find some dinner. Next day do a super touristy walking tour to help me get my bearings. A cool museum in the afternoon.
Duh, everyone says it, but that's because it's true. I have one 23lbs backpack and it is my BFF. I can pack it all up in 20 minutes, throw it on my back and I'm great. Yes, I may accidentally knock into some Germans because I don't compensate for my doubled girth, but hey. I'm so happy to not have a rolling suitcase. I had to abandon two shirts in Berlin due to troubling stains (wine and mustard?) by the way.
I cannot believe I can just ask Google Maps for directions from Berlin to Prague and it WORKS. Train times, everything. It got a little confused with the Berlin metro, but that's ok baby. I still love ya. A sub-tip: walking. I enjoy walking and I find it is a great way to see stuff. If it's within a 25 minute walk, I'm down.
Fees suck. As soon as arriving in a new currency spot, I hit an ATM and take out enough cash for about $50 a day. Keeps my spending in check (Czech hahaha) and I only get charged once for the conversion.
I have been pretty bad with language so far. I finally pick up a decent amount of words by Day 5 in a country, and then I leave. I've tried to learn some Czech in prep, so maybe I'll be better in Prague. Ahoj.
Since I'm traveling in winter, no hostel is terribly busy. The secret I've found is booking the SECOND cheapest room. The cheapest room, with 8 or 12 beds or whatever, will always have at least some people in it. Those people just want the cheapest room, naturally. However, no one books the second cheapest room, so I can get it all to myself for at least a day or two. Worst case scenario, I have roommates, which I signed up for anyway. The difference in price is usually a euro and I have a much better chance of my own room.
Okay, what the hell was this post? Do you think this old German man next to me can hear Rihanna through my headphones? Can you call me Georgia now? I'm trying to make that happen; a bit of an experiment. And Liz has had way too many embarrassing moments in her 23 years and could use a clean slate.
Berlin Cathedral
Hi Berlin, thanks for the wein-rot. Sorry I was lazy.
I was a bit of a bitch to Berlin upon first arriving. I can admit that. It was cold and my hostel has such nice wifi... I didn't do much. But I've been re-energized! Ready to take Berlin by storm and see all the lovely things it has to offer. I've extended my stay an extra night as an apology to the city.
I did however go to a bar called "White Trash Fast Food" and the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum of modern art. Both were way cool and hipster-approved.
Today I did a big walking tour of Mitte, the generally older historical neighborhood of Berlin. Berlin has a dark history. Two world wars, Nazis, and then Soviets. Oof. I really want to watch a James Bond film that takes place in Berlin; there must be like 6, right?
Germany
Germany
I learned today there were 42 known assassination attempts on Hitler. Also the Nazi salute and swastika are illegal here. Apparently a French-Canadian (le sigh) did the Nazi salute in front of the Reichstag and was fined €12,000!! As a result, I have now developed an anxiety disorder where I'm terrified I'll somehow end up accidentally doing a Nazi salute. My arm is tingling. Ahhhh.
I've been properly educated on the history of the division of East and West Germany/Berlin. I think it was always in the part of the history book that we never QUITE reached during the school term. My world history knowledge gets fuzzy after WWIIish. I knew about the wall, people trying to escape to the West, Stalin, the basics, etc. I wasn't aware quite how terrifying it all was though.
Checkpoint Charley
Berlin Wall
Holocaust Memorial
Brandenburg Gate
All in all, a very nice tour today.
I am meeting people, by the way, if you were worried for me. Lots of Australians. It's slightly surreal to meet these people from all over the world and also know how temporary the whole thing is. I will never ever ever see that person again, but lets live in the moment and talk about how shitty the music playing in the bar is and laugh. Strange. I am getting a wee bit tired of the "What brings you here? How long are you here? Where to next?" standard travel convo though. C'est la vie.
Staying: Circus Hostel
I went on a pub crawl last night! My first ever! I got into Berlin around 6 and was quickly energized by a magical German second wind. Das Winderein. Who knows. This was an "alternative" pub crawl, which meant the bars were interesting. First was a hippie-type bar with really bad murals of Janis Joplin and Bob Marley. Then a gothic bar. It was like a Hot Topic and all the goths glared at us, which was fitting. Next was an indie bar where they played Phoenix and Vampire Weekend and I got into hipster arguments with Brits. And finally some Berlin club thing but I left shortly after that.
Happy Australia Day! All the Australians I keep meeting are freaking out about Australia Day and so excited. I'm going to an Australian bar tonight I think to watch those Aussies celebrate.
By the way, I've developed a very strange speech as of late. I've been speaking with so many different people and so few Americans, I've picked up some weird inflections and accents? I think it will wear off when I'm home. Hopefully. It's very affected.
After train hopping through half of Belgium, I successfully arrived in Amsterdam! But first, here's the train station of Antwerp.
Antwerp Train Station
Amsterdam is lovely! I got in around 6pm on Friday, so I strolled around near my hostel and actually went to see Django. Rick Steves said seeing a movie while traveling is ok, so you aren't allowed to judge me. Let's look at some cute Amsterdam.
Amsterdam looking picturesque
Pretty Canal.
Amsterdam at Night
On Monday I went to the Stedelijk Museum, the modern art museum. I loved it. They had a great amount of graphic design works as well. I made a big list of designers I need to look up. Really well done too. I always feel a bit "lost at sea" with contemporary art, but the SM had really accessible write-ups that definitely helped with context. They had a huge retrospective on Mike Kelley, so I immaturely enjoyed seeing my last name all over the place.
Neon Coolness
A striped selfie
Less Than Perfect
Mike Kelley exhibit
KELLEY SQUARED
Today I went on a walking tour and I'm planning Anne Frank house tomorrow.
Staying: Flying Pig Uptown
'Ello 'ello! I've been bopping around London Town these past two days! It wasn't particularly conducive to photos though, so bear with me.I made lovely friends! A Yankee, a Canuck, and a Spaniard walk into a hostel bar... They're very nice folks and we've been hanging out quite a bit these past 36 hours. Look how adorable and happy we look:
Monday was snowy which was beautiful until it turned to cold rain. We decided to hang out in museums for the day. British Museum (aka setting of the cinematic masterpiece The Mummy Returns starring Brendan Fraiser). Did you know I own The Mummy trilogy? Is that embarrassing? Is it embarrassing I was annoyed the third one included was Dragon Emperor and not Scorpion King? What does it say about me that I like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a platonic and totally non-ironic way? ANYWAY, I saw some mummies and very impressive artifacts. No Scorpion King, but I did see THE Rosetta Stone.
Next up was the National Gallery! Lots of all-star painters in there. Van Gogh, da Vinci, Monet, Gaughin. Very cool. I did some sketching.
Then quite spontaneously, Tim suggested we go see a show. We settled on Spamalot after a delightful exchange with the ticket lady; she could do stand-up. But first, to the pub to kill some time! Great times were had all around, bonding commenced.
Spamalot was fun. A good choice since it's so English. Only complaint is that it was 85% Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which I didn't realize it was a direct adaptation. Same jokes. Good jokes, but same ones.
The next day, Sarah and I went to the famous Camden Stable Markets. Open air vendors covering a huge expansive area that used to be horse trade I believe? I bought a "jumper" and a vintage satin jacket. I wanted to buy so much stuffffffff.
Then I took a nap because I am human and enjoy an occasional nap. Then I went on a Grim Reaper Tour this evening. They covered Tower of London executions, plague, Bedlam, and Jack the Ripper. We walked around the East End for the most part, which was a new area for me.
I got Indian food for the third time since England. HELPME. SAVEMEFROMMYSELF. I love Indian.
Tomorrow is my pilgrimage to Harry Potter Studios! SLYTHERIN OUT*
*originally I meant that to be like a rapper leaving, but it's also like I'm slithering out which is great. Don't you love it when I explain jokes?
Today I was a tourist. I went on a nice walking tour. It was good to get some context and history. I also signed up from a Grim Reaper tour I'll do another night. I love grisly ghostly tours! And here are some nice touristy photos.
I will share my favorite factoid from the tour. When Vice Admiral Lord Nelson died at sea after the Battle of Trafalger, they brought his body back in a brandy barrel for preservation. However, by the time they got to England half the barrel was empty because crew members kept sneaking drinks! And that's where we get the term "a stiff drink." Har har har I love it. I'm going to the pub.
I'm in London, or as far as I'm concerned home of Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and nudie Prince Harry. And a rich history and culture and blah blah.
I was positively giddy coming off the plane. I've never been to London before. Makes me feel bad about how neutral I was about Iceland. Not to further shit on Iceland, but I was really excited about daylight. It's the little things that get me excited. Seriously. Other things that made me happy as a clam today: squeezing in TWO movies on my short flight, hearing British children speak, and not being on a top bunk.
My hostel is cute as a lil BUTTON. It's the former home of a cookie heir which puts me at 2 out of 2 for Cookie Related Hostels (Iceland hostel was a converted cookie factory and the wifi password was cookiemonster). **Behind the Scenes Blog: I originally wrote "biscuit" instead of "cookie" in this paragraph**
And here is my bed! I feel like an American Girl doll in this thing and love it. Maybe it's the Lilliputian proportions? I'm SO a Samantha. I also have to duck my head at a few spots around here like a damn Amazonian Princess.
Today was Tate Modern and walking around a bit. I'm currently walking to Covent Gardens and stopped into a cafe for a SPOT O TEA and some wifi that's much better than my hostel's. Btw, click the photos to make them bigger and read my always sparkling captions.
Staying: Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage
I made it. I am typing this from a coffee shop in Reykjavik. Currently pooped because we basically flew past night and I can't check into my hostel for a good ol' American NAP until 2pm. But HERE.I'm pretty proud to think that I got my butt to Iceland totally by myself. Reykjavik is cute; unfortunately Iceland was dark when I was getting in. The sun is finally beginning to peek out at 10:30! And it will set at 6pm womp womp. I also found a Subway which amused me. My hostel is next to a Dominos. People keep thinking I'm Icelandic... until they see my very troubled face when they start speaking Icelandic. Especially that one poor man that was just trying to get a sticker off my back.
Staying: Kex Hostel
So I'm going on a trip. A little two-month solo backpacking excursion through Europe in January and February. Bananas!Here's a tentative plan: Reykjavik 1.9-1.11 London 1.11-1.20 Gent and Brussels Day Trip 1.20 Amsterdam 1.20-1.25 Berlin 1.25-1.28 (Dessau Day Trip) Prague 1.28-2.05 Vienna 2.05-2.07 Istanbul 2.07-2.12 Vienna Day Trip Zagreb 2.12-2.16 Venice Day Trip Basel 2.16-2.19 Blah Blah Blah do whatever Frankfurt 2.25 Reykjavik 2.25-2.27
I google mapped "Europe" and made a little route. I feel like that is a dumb way to plan a trip, but here we are.
Liz, why? Why why why? It's partly a John-Mayer-esque quarter life crisis, sure. But I also never did the backpacking thing after college, and I feel like it's now or never. I started to question the whole thing, so I promptly quit my job and booked my tickets.
I'm also a fan of forcibly shoving yourself out of your comfort zone.
By Yourself? I'm doing it by myself because I really can't expect anyone else to want to spend tons of $$$ to go freeze their tuchus off with me. I'd love to have a friend join me, but I didn't want "find travel companion" to turn into another excuse. I also think traveling solo will result in a totally different experience. Like in a good way. (?)
I'm usually pretty good at meeting people, so I do hope to make some friends while over there. Otherwise this trip will be thousands of instagram selfies.
It's WINTER! I'm aware. Not exactly ideal. However, I'm 23 and going to be unemployed for two months. Everything will be cheaper! The eurail pass is 20% off, and I'll roll around in giant empty hostels. Maybe jump around from bunkbed to bunkbed? Also, I think locals will take pity on me and talk to me and tell me interesting things. And buy me drinks.
What're You Going to DO? I want to draw a lot. I'm not planning on bringing a computer or my nice camera. I just want to see cool things, meet different people, and document that. It's a pretty selfish trip, being honest. Write and draw, draw and write. It's my young adult pilgrimage.
What About After? I'm going to stay in Brooklyn (I'm subletting while I'm gone), work on my portfolio, and start my job search. I'd also love to design a book about my trip, but that may be a bit ambitious. Let's just see how it goes first.
