As you may already know, I am home in the states.
But don't worry, I have more to post here. I have footage from my day trip to France, I have footage from my walk up the Jesus Mountain, and more pictures.
I also have stories about my trip home.
So, more to come.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Mission Accomplished.
I have a list of things that I needed to get done here in San Sebastian before I went home.
I accomplished a ton yesterday.
Weather.com failed me yet again, yet this time in a good way. When I checked on Monday, it said the weather for Monday would be sunny and nice, Tuesday would be rain rain rain, and Wednesday would be super sunny and warm.
Instead, it was SUPER nice on Monday, then later (luckily I was in for the day at this point) it was a HAIL STORM. Yes, it was bright and sunny, kids were eating ice cream, dogs playing in the park, then (while it was STILL SUNNY AND NICE), golf ball sized hail started raining down from the sky along with heavy rain, then there was lightening and thunder. It did this until early evening.
Tuesday was supposed to be terrible, then it ended up being 73 and sunny and cloudless. What!??! Everyone on facebook posted their statuses as "at the beach" "hanging at the playa" "sitting in the sand and soaking up the sun!" It was completely unexpected. To think San Sebastian has NICE weather? I dunno, it sure did surprise me.
And as of now, Wednesday is looking pretty nice too. There are clouds in the sky, but they are wispy and light. Other than that, it is sunny, and it is about 70 degrees.
Anywho, what I am trying to get at is that I got a ton of stuff done yesterday because of the unexpectedly nice weather.
I got to rollerblade around Jesus Mountain, which isn't really called that, but there IS a giant Jesus statue on top. I think it's actually called Mount Urgull or something.
I got to HIKE UP Jesus Mountain. It used to be some kind of fortress back in the 1800's and there are ruins all over the mountain of different stations. There are old cannons, withering stone walls, and lots and lots of greenery. It's also pretty touristy, which isn't what I was expecting. What I mean is not that it was crowded, but that there were signs pointing out what was in which direction, plaques describing what stuff was, and...
When I got to the top where Jesus was, I thought it would just be the statue and stuff. Instead it was a large lookout point with cannons, then some security guide summoned me into this building under the statue and it was a tourist center for the site! You could buy postcards, there was a mini museum of artifacts from San Sebastian, movies playing about the history of the area, posters, maps, etc etc. Up the stairs you could get to the top and see a panoramic lookout of the whole town. It was gorgeous.
After that I went to lunch at this restaurant I've been dying to go to (it was on THE LIST), called La Perla. It is right on the ocean, and there is a fancy restaurant part as well as a cheaper outdoor grill. I got a DELICIOUS cheeseburger with grilled onions and plopped down at a table right on the balcony overlooking the beach. From there I got a wonderful view of the ocean as well as a 65 year old woman tanning topless.
Then I went to La Parte Vieja where I did my last minute souvenir shopping for friends and family. I also got myself a scarf, one of the things here that EVERYONE has.
Finally, I got a "Cookie"-flavored ice cream on the boulevard. That wasn't on the list...but I couldn't resist.
I tried calling up people to do all this with, but as always that failed. Instead I accomplished everything on my own, which was a lot better because I found it more peaceful and fun that way.
Now, all I have left is to get Chocolate y Churros today (wednesday) or tomorrow before I leave for Madrid. It's a super common snack here of rich hot chocolate (basically a liquified chocolate bar served warm) and churros (you know, those fried pastries with cinnamon and sugar...YUM). My host mom recommended a good place to go in Parte Vieja for that, so I am excited.
PS: Sun down here since daylight savings has been around 9:30pm. Like, straight up brightness until 9:30. My parents told me that sundown is like 7pm in the states. That will be weird to come home to.
I accomplished a ton yesterday.
Weather.com failed me yet again, yet this time in a good way. When I checked on Monday, it said the weather for Monday would be sunny and nice, Tuesday would be rain rain rain, and Wednesday would be super sunny and warm.
Instead, it was SUPER nice on Monday, then later (luckily I was in for the day at this point) it was a HAIL STORM. Yes, it was bright and sunny, kids were eating ice cream, dogs playing in the park, then (while it was STILL SUNNY AND NICE), golf ball sized hail started raining down from the sky along with heavy rain, then there was lightening and thunder. It did this until early evening.
Tuesday was supposed to be terrible, then it ended up being 73 and sunny and cloudless. What!??! Everyone on facebook posted their statuses as "at the beach" "hanging at the playa" "sitting in the sand and soaking up the sun!" It was completely unexpected. To think San Sebastian has NICE weather? I dunno, it sure did surprise me.
And as of now, Wednesday is looking pretty nice too. There are clouds in the sky, but they are wispy and light. Other than that, it is sunny, and it is about 70 degrees.
Anywho, what I am trying to get at is that I got a ton of stuff done yesterday because of the unexpectedly nice weather.
I got to rollerblade around Jesus Mountain, which isn't really called that, but there IS a giant Jesus statue on top. I think it's actually called Mount Urgull or something.
I got to HIKE UP Jesus Mountain. It used to be some kind of fortress back in the 1800's and there are ruins all over the mountain of different stations. There are old cannons, withering stone walls, and lots and lots of greenery. It's also pretty touristy, which isn't what I was expecting. What I mean is not that it was crowded, but that there were signs pointing out what was in which direction, plaques describing what stuff was, and...
When I got to the top where Jesus was, I thought it would just be the statue and stuff. Instead it was a large lookout point with cannons, then some security guide summoned me into this building under the statue and it was a tourist center for the site! You could buy postcards, there was a mini museum of artifacts from San Sebastian, movies playing about the history of the area, posters, maps, etc etc. Up the stairs you could get to the top and see a panoramic lookout of the whole town. It was gorgeous.
After that I went to lunch at this restaurant I've been dying to go to (it was on THE LIST), called La Perla. It is right on the ocean, and there is a fancy restaurant part as well as a cheaper outdoor grill. I got a DELICIOUS cheeseburger with grilled onions and plopped down at a table right on the balcony overlooking the beach. From there I got a wonderful view of the ocean as well as a 65 year old woman tanning topless.
Then I went to La Parte Vieja where I did my last minute souvenir shopping for friends and family. I also got myself a scarf, one of the things here that EVERYONE has.
Finally, I got a "Cookie"-flavored ice cream on the boulevard. That wasn't on the list...but I couldn't resist.
I tried calling up people to do all this with, but as always that failed. Instead I accomplished everything on my own, which was a lot better because I found it more peaceful and fun that way.
Now, all I have left is to get Chocolate y Churros today (wednesday) or tomorrow before I leave for Madrid. It's a super common snack here of rich hot chocolate (basically a liquified chocolate bar served warm) and churros (you know, those fried pastries with cinnamon and sugar...YUM). My host mom recommended a good place to go in Parte Vieja for that, so I am excited.
PS: Sun down here since daylight savings has been around 9:30pm. Like, straight up brightness until 9:30. My parents told me that sundown is like 7pm in the states. That will be weird to come home to.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Regalos Video!
My parents wanted to know how my host parents reacted to their gift.
In their own words...
(well, translated)
In their own words...
(well, translated)
iYa esta!
Nik nire klaseak bukatu ditut. Nik nire etsaminak bukatu ditut. Osteguna ni etxera joango naiz. Hala ere, asteaztea nik maletak prestatuko ditut...
I'm done with classes, I'm done with exams. Thursday I go home. However, I'll pack on Wednesday.
Whew, time flew! Especially finals! Well, it helps that they were all ON THE SAME DAY.
But I think I did well. On all the art tests I have been getting A's, and in Euskara our teacher graded the exams so we could know what we got before we left.
I got a 99 on the midterm, a 98 on the final project, a 96 on the exam, and my final grade was a 97. As Natalia (my teacher) said, "ZORIONAK!" I am not sure what that means, but I think it's congrats or something.
And she was so sweet today, telling us that she cannot say "agur" (goodbye) because she'll get too sad. Instead, she says "gero arte" which is "see you soon."
"Agurrik ez, gero arte baizik!"= No goodbyes, but instead a see you soon!
After she told me my grade, she insisted that I continue with the language because I am so good at it. I would love to, but being in Chicago with 3 people who know basque (the three Loyola students in this program), that won't be very likely. I am sure I will say "Kaixo"(hello) and "ongi"(good) a few times, as well as "neska"(girl) here and there.
I am definitely going to miss Natalia, but I plan to keep in touch by email.
And finally I had my Track/grammar exam, which wasn't too bad. I was actually surprised by how easy it seemed, but we shall see how my grade turns out. Looks like I'll be getting a B in that class, but a high B, which isn't too bad.
Aihnoa (my Track teacher) had chocolates and cookies for us at the test, which was a nice treat. We gave her a card wishing her a good summer and an early congratulations for her baby (she is pregnant, and BIG TIME showing...I think august 3rd is when she will "dar la luz" aka give birth). It's gonna be a boy, and she has a name picked out already, but I can't remember what it is.
But wow. The semester is over. Now I have two full days of nothing until Wednesday evening when I catch a bus to Madrid at 7pm. THEN I am waiting there for 5 hours until my 7am flight, then I am off on my long journey home. I wish the travelling times weren't so cruel.
I'm done with classes, I'm done with exams. Thursday I go home. However, I'll pack on Wednesday.
Whew, time flew! Especially finals! Well, it helps that they were all ON THE SAME DAY.
But I think I did well. On all the art tests I have been getting A's, and in Euskara our teacher graded the exams so we could know what we got before we left.
I got a 99 on the midterm, a 98 on the final project, a 96 on the exam, and my final grade was a 97. As Natalia (my teacher) said, "ZORIONAK!" I am not sure what that means, but I think it's congrats or something.
And she was so sweet today, telling us that she cannot say "agur" (goodbye) because she'll get too sad. Instead, she says "gero arte" which is "see you soon."
"Agurrik ez, gero arte baizik!"= No goodbyes, but instead a see you soon!
After she told me my grade, she insisted that I continue with the language because I am so good at it. I would love to, but being in Chicago with 3 people who know basque (the three Loyola students in this program), that won't be very likely. I am sure I will say "Kaixo"(hello) and "ongi"(good) a few times, as well as "neska"(girl) here and there.
I am definitely going to miss Natalia, but I plan to keep in touch by email.
And finally I had my Track/grammar exam, which wasn't too bad. I was actually surprised by how easy it seemed, but we shall see how my grade turns out. Looks like I'll be getting a B in that class, but a high B, which isn't too bad.
Aihnoa (my Track teacher) had chocolates and cookies for us at the test, which was a nice treat. We gave her a card wishing her a good summer and an early congratulations for her baby (she is pregnant, and BIG TIME showing...I think august 3rd is when she will "dar la luz" aka give birth). It's gonna be a boy, and she has a name picked out already, but I can't remember what it is.
But wow. The semester is over. Now I have two full days of nothing until Wednesday evening when I catch a bus to Madrid at 7pm. THEN I am waiting there for 5 hours until my 7am flight, then I am off on my long journey home. I wish the travelling times weren't so cruel.
Mother's Day
In Spain, Mother's Day is May 3rd or something like that.
Yesterday I would have wished you all a Happy Mother's Day, but it isn't Mother's Day yet.
My mom changed it officially until I come back home.
Yesterday I would have wished you all a Happy Mother's Day, but it isn't Mother's Day yet.
My mom changed it officially until I come back home.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Weird French Commercials
Being so close to the French border, we get French TV stations here in SS.
When I was at Peter, Angela and Megan's place the other day, we were watching the French channel because there was a soccer game on.
This Nicole Kidman commercial came on.
And now it is circulating the web as a "what the hell?" moment. I guess French commercials don't have to make any sense at all.
When I was at Peter, Angela and Megan's place the other day, we were watching the French channel because there was a soccer game on.
This Nicole Kidman commercial came on.
And now it is circulating the web as a "what the hell?" moment. I guess French commercials don't have to make any sense at all.
Friday, May 8, 2009
The gifts have been received...
I gave my host family the gifts and caught it on camera, but i have to put up subtitles so you can understand.
Pues, it'll take a bit.
But, patience is a virtue.
Pues, it'll take a bit.
But, patience is a virtue.
Another blog?
After keeping up with this blog, and after having a video camera for four months, I kind of want to copy this guy:
http://daveydanceblog.com/
"Davey Dance-BLOG. A project started while traveling Europe during Spring 2007. Armed only with an ipod and a Canon PowerShot, Davey picks a location and a pop song. Then Davey records an improvised dance."
It's weird because I have already started thinking of places and songs. I was gonna do "A million ways" by OK GO at Peter, Megan and Angela's apartment b/c the entrance of their place is EPIC. I also thought about doing the song "homecoming" by kanye west in front of the bean in chicago.
Looks like Davey already combined my ideas a while ago:
http://daveydanceblog.com/
"Davey Dance-BLOG. A project started while traveling Europe during Spring 2007. Armed only with an ipod and a Canon PowerShot, Davey picks a location and a pop song. Then Davey records an improvised dance."
It's weird because I have already started thinking of places and songs. I was gonna do "A million ways" by OK GO at Peter, Megan and Angela's apartment b/c the entrance of their place is EPIC. I also thought about doing the song "homecoming" by kanye west in front of the bean in chicago.
Looks like Davey already combined my ideas a while ago:
Davey Dance Blog -44- CHICAGO - OKgo "A Million Ways" from Pheasant Plucker on Vimeo.
Farewell from USAC
Today I got this in the mail from the USAC office here:
Estimados estudiantes,
¡Qué rápido ha pasado el tiempo!
Esperamos que lo hayáis pasado muy bien este semestre en San Sebastián, que hayáis aprendido mucho y que hayáis hecho buenas amistades aquí.
¡Suerte en los exámenes! ¡Os echaremos de menos!
Esperamos que lo paséis muy bien este verano y que algún día nos volváis a visitar aquí en Donostia.
Un abrazo,
Patricia, Tito, Aizpea, Cecilia , Asun
Translation:
Look how fast the time passed!
We hope that you have had a good time this semester in San Sebastian, and that you have learned a lot and have made good friends here.
Good luck on exams! We'll miss you!
We hope that you have a good time this summer and that some day you'll come to visit us here in Donostia (the Basque word for San Sebastian).
Hugs,
Patricia, Tito, Aizpea, Cecelia, Asun
Estimados estudiantes,
¡Qué rápido ha pasado el tiempo!
Esperamos que lo hayáis pasado muy bien este semestre en San Sebastián, que hayáis aprendido mucho y que hayáis hecho buenas amistades aquí.
¡Suerte en los exámenes! ¡Os echaremos de menos!
Esperamos que lo paséis muy bien este verano y que algún día nos volváis a visitar aquí en Donostia.
Un abrazo,
Patricia, Tito, Aizpea, Cecilia , Asun
Translation:
Look how fast the time passed!
We hope that you have had a good time this semester in San Sebastian, and that you have learned a lot and have made good friends here.
Good luck on exams! We'll miss you!
We hope that you have a good time this summer and that some day you'll come to visit us here in Donostia (the Basque word for San Sebastian).
Hugs,
Patricia, Tito, Aizpea, Cecelia, Asun
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The Final Weekend
So this being the last weekend, the USAC kids are gonna be ragin'.
Normally, the USAC kids go to bars on weekends. The people who stay out REALLY late (like 4 or 5am) go to a club at 3 or so. But, imagine it like this metaphor: The bars are like dinner, and the club is like dessert. People only get the dessert if they are in the mood, and it is only a once in a while thing, not every night like dinner is.
It's Alex I's bday this weekend, so she plans to hit up La Rotunda, Bataplan and Espala (the three big clubs that they go to occasionally) on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, respectively.
Um, three nights of clubs? Her and her group that go with her are gonna have a sugar coma after eating dessert three nights straight.
Also, I wanted to go to Biarritz this weekend since I didn't have a chance last weekend. Unfortunately (but what could I expect) the weather is RAINY. Oh wow, San Sebastian, thank you for gracing us with a Tuesday and Wednesday with sun, and Wednesday being a two-fer with sun AND a high temperature of 72! THANK YOU. But of course, I know how much it strained you and you now have to revert back to clouds again for another two week period, which includes my final days here. But THANK YOU. Seriously. For those ENTIRE 3 days this entire four month semester that were above 70 degrees? Thanks. I know it was SO HARD.
But anyways. Today's weather was fog and clouds. And tomorrow is rain! And the next day is rain! And the next, and the next. But then Tuesday it changes it up with RAIN. Oh, and all these days are an awesome 50 or so degrees, and probably windy, too! So just fantastic weather for the final list of stuff I have to do:
-Take a day trip to Biarritz, France (Right over the border)
-Go to Irun's (neighboring city) Cider festival Saturday night
-Go to Herri Urrats festival Sunday
-hike to Jesus (statue, that is. If you need a visual...
(it's the lit up thing way up high)
-hike to the mountain with ruins of something
(that's Megan H up there, and her and a few other people went here, I saw pics, and now I wanna go!)
-eat Chocolate con churros (hot chocolate with CHURROS.)
-eat at the beach restaurant "La Perla" and grab a burger there
-rollerblade around Jesus Mountain
-I was gonna surf, because I know I can (remember that time I was in the Hawaii surf magazine? I have copies if you want me to send you one), but with two surfable days this entire semester, looks like that's a negative.
-finish editing spring break vid. Also...BEGIN to edit spring break vid.
-buy last minute souvenirs.
Oh, and study for all my finals, since they are all on the same day, MONDAY.
But at least that gives me tuesday and wednesday to finish my "list."
Some updates about today:
--since I am getting to the end here, I wanted to wear the clothes I haven't worn yet. That includes a shirt-dress I bought this past week. I wore it with tights b/c it was slightly chilly today, and it's a good thing, because I just took them off and remembered that I put like a dozen bandaids on my feet so I could protect them from my shoes giving me blisters. Seriously, I am glad I had tights to cover up my bandaged toes or people would ask me if I fed my feet to the sharks or something.
--My host parents were telling me that if I were ever out with friends, and they were to get drunk to the point that they couldn't stand and stuff, that there is a 24 hour emergency place near the boulevard that administers shots of B12 to people who are super drunk and it wakes them up or alerts them or something. I have never heard of this! The way my host dad described it, he made it sound like it just magically made you better after one injection! Which makes me wonder if it is real.
--Tomorrow I plan to give my host parents and host sister my parents' present for them. I also hope to video tape it, if it isn't too awkward. That way you can see how they react to a gift of Loyola apparel, Frango mints, Hershey's, and BBQ sauce.
--I took note of this today: since I began this trip I was on page 295 of Harry Potter book five, and now I am on...PAGE 295 of Harry Potter five. Isn't that amazing, how time sure flew.
Normally, the USAC kids go to bars on weekends. The people who stay out REALLY late (like 4 or 5am) go to a club at 3 or so. But, imagine it like this metaphor: The bars are like dinner, and the club is like dessert. People only get the dessert if they are in the mood, and it is only a once in a while thing, not every night like dinner is.
It's Alex I's bday this weekend, so she plans to hit up La Rotunda, Bataplan and Espala (the three big clubs that they go to occasionally) on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, respectively.
Um, three nights of clubs? Her and her group that go with her are gonna have a sugar coma after eating dessert three nights straight.
Also, I wanted to go to Biarritz this weekend since I didn't have a chance last weekend. Unfortunately (but what could I expect) the weather is RAINY. Oh wow, San Sebastian, thank you for gracing us with a Tuesday and Wednesday with sun, and Wednesday being a two-fer with sun AND a high temperature of 72! THANK YOU. But of course, I know how much it strained you and you now have to revert back to clouds again for another two week period, which includes my final days here. But THANK YOU. Seriously. For those ENTIRE 3 days this entire four month semester that were above 70 degrees? Thanks. I know it was SO HARD.
But anyways. Today's weather was fog and clouds. And tomorrow is rain! And the next day is rain! And the next, and the next. But then Tuesday it changes it up with RAIN. Oh, and all these days are an awesome 50 or so degrees, and probably windy, too! So just fantastic weather for the final list of stuff I have to do:
-Take a day trip to Biarritz, France (Right over the border)
-Go to Irun's (neighboring city) Cider festival Saturday night
-Go to Herri Urrats festival Sunday
-hike to Jesus (statue, that is. If you need a visual...
(it's the lit up thing way up high)
-hike to the mountain with ruins of something
(that's Megan H up there, and her and a few other people went here, I saw pics, and now I wanna go!)
-eat Chocolate con churros (hot chocolate with CHURROS.)
-eat at the beach restaurant "La Perla" and grab a burger there
-rollerblade around Jesus Mountain
-I was gonna surf, because I know I can (remember that time I was in the Hawaii surf magazine? I have copies if you want me to send you one), but with two surfable days this entire semester, looks like that's a negative.
-finish editing spring break vid. Also...BEGIN to edit spring break vid.
-buy last minute souvenirs.
Oh, and study for all my finals, since they are all on the same day, MONDAY.
But at least that gives me tuesday and wednesday to finish my "list."
Some updates about today:
--since I am getting to the end here, I wanted to wear the clothes I haven't worn yet. That includes a shirt-dress I bought this past week. I wore it with tights b/c it was slightly chilly today, and it's a good thing, because I just took them off and remembered that I put like a dozen bandaids on my feet so I could protect them from my shoes giving me blisters. Seriously, I am glad I had tights to cover up my bandaged toes or people would ask me if I fed my feet to the sharks or something.
--My host parents were telling me that if I were ever out with friends, and they were to get drunk to the point that they couldn't stand and stuff, that there is a 24 hour emergency place near the boulevard that administers shots of B12 to people who are super drunk and it wakes them up or alerts them or something. I have never heard of this! The way my host dad described it, he made it sound like it just magically made you better after one injection! Which makes me wonder if it is real.
--Tomorrow I plan to give my host parents and host sister my parents' present for them. I also hope to video tape it, if it isn't too awkward. That way you can see how they react to a gift of Loyola apparel, Frango mints, Hershey's, and BBQ sauce.
--I took note of this today: since I began this trip I was on page 295 of Harry Potter book five, and now I am on...PAGE 295 of Harry Potter five. Isn't that amazing, how time sure flew.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
50 things to do before I die
According to the list at
http://thetravelersnotebook.com/activity-guide/50-things-to-do-before-you-die/
I have accomplished quite a few!
The bolded/italicized are those I have completed.
50 Things to do Before you Die
1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.
2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window.
3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever.
4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next. (obviously, a semester is much better)
5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues? (This is not the first time I have seen Chicago praised in a list of things having to do with the ENTIRE WORLD. I can now fully appreciate living in such a great city)
6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process. (English, Spanish...Basque?)
7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience.
8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries.
9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one.
10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world.
11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties.
12. Dance Tango in Argentina.
13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves. (If the weather actually gets nice here in Spain, maybe I can try it here, but if not, I've already completed the task in Hawaii)
14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment. (Well, I put on some scuba goggles and went fishing around in Hawaii, does that count?)
15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think.
16. Volunteer abroad for a month.
17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place?
18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife.
19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience.
20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings.
21. Climb an active volcano. (okay, it wasn't active, but I walked across dormant ones in Hawaii)
22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is.
23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics? (like the time we picked potatoes in southern illinois and brought them home to eat)
24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India?
25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers.
26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be.
27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.”
28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle.
29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating. (I will bring home to Chicago my wisdom of travelling along with my skills of making a tortilla de patatas. Hey, if the gastronomic society said I was good, then I am GOOD.)
30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime. (I taught classes that one day at the Toki Alai school near SS a couple weeks ago)
31. Attend a music festival in another country.
32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry. (I think nine buses in two weeks across Portugal and Spain counts under this category...plus the trips to Burgos, Barcelona, and Toledo also count)
33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere. (of all the places I have gone with my family, I know some are storied. Like the one in Silverton where I almost died by falling in the bathtub...that place was like the hotel from the Shining)
34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet. (Maybe in 2016 in Chicago...?)
35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it.
36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet.
37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.
38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments.
39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and drinking song singers is one of the biggest parties in Europe.
40. Stand at the North or South Pole.
41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population.
42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important. (I've been to JFK's grave)
43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise?
44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source.
45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures.
46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna.
47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly.
48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway. (maybe not, but I have ridden a bike over the Golden Gate Bridge)
49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country.
50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran).
http://thetravelersnotebook.com/activity-guide/50-things-to-do-before-you-die/
I have accomplished quite a few!
The bolded/italicized are those I have completed.
50 Things to do Before you Die
1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.
2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window.
3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever.
4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next. (obviously, a semester is much better)
5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues? (This is not the first time I have seen Chicago praised in a list of things having to do with the ENTIRE WORLD. I can now fully appreciate living in such a great city)
6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process. (English, Spanish...Basque?)
7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience.
8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries.
9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one.
10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world.
11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties.
12. Dance Tango in Argentina.
13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves. (If the weather actually gets nice here in Spain, maybe I can try it here, but if not, I've already completed the task in Hawaii)
14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment. (Well, I put on some scuba goggles and went fishing around in Hawaii, does that count?)
15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think.
16. Volunteer abroad for a month.
17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place?
18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife.
19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience.
20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings.
21. Climb an active volcano. (okay, it wasn't active, but I walked across dormant ones in Hawaii)
22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is.
23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics? (like the time we picked potatoes in southern illinois and brought them home to eat)
24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India?
25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers.
26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be.
27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.”
28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle.
29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating. (I will bring home to Chicago my wisdom of travelling along with my skills of making a tortilla de patatas. Hey, if the gastronomic society said I was good, then I am GOOD.)
30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime. (I taught classes that one day at the Toki Alai school near SS a couple weeks ago)
31. Attend a music festival in another country.
32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry. (I think nine buses in two weeks across Portugal and Spain counts under this category...plus the trips to Burgos, Barcelona, and Toledo also count)
33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere. (of all the places I have gone with my family, I know some are storied. Like the one in Silverton where I almost died by falling in the bathtub...that place was like the hotel from the Shining)
34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet. (Maybe in 2016 in Chicago...?)
35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it.
36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet.
37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.
38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments.
39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and drinking song singers is one of the biggest parties in Europe.
40. Stand at the North or South Pole.
41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population.
42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important. (I've been to JFK's grave)
43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise?
44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source.
45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures.
46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna.
47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly.
48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway. (maybe not, but I have ridden a bike over the Golden Gate Bridge)
49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country.
50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran).
PARTY ANIMALLLL
Stumbleupon.com takes you to random websites that users have marked as interesting, funny, or just intriguing.
I stumbled upon (literally) this website today.
http://matadornights.com/20-craziest-party-hostels-around-the-world/
It ranks the top 20 party hostels IN THE WORLD.
In this semester alone, I have stayed in 10% of those listed: The Rising Cock (Lagos, during spring break) and Hostel Kabul (Barcelona, for a weekend trip).
Funny enough, the reasons we chose the hostels had nothing to do with the fact they were ranked party hostels. We had no idea they were party hostels before we booked them.
Hostel Kabul we booked just because it got a great rating on hostelworld.com and it was cheap.
Cassi booked us the Rising Cock (it was a couple dollars more than other hostels we could have stayed at) just because she wanted to be able to say that she stayed at a hostel named the Rising Cock.
And neither was that bad. Except for the showers. But you can read about that in the previous post.
PS. I just read about the hostel in Louisiana. I really want to go to New Orleans and this just made me want to go home just to be closer to the option of going there. This hostel seems pretty cool, especially with the beer vending machine. Not that I'd use it (I don't drink) but the idea of it just BEING there is interesting.
I stumbled upon (literally) this website today.
http://matadornights.com/20-craziest-party-hostels-around-the-world/
It ranks the top 20 party hostels IN THE WORLD.
In this semester alone, I have stayed in 10% of those listed: The Rising Cock (Lagos, during spring break) and Hostel Kabul (Barcelona, for a weekend trip).
Funny enough, the reasons we chose the hostels had nothing to do with the fact they were ranked party hostels. We had no idea they were party hostels before we booked them.
Hostel Kabul we booked just because it got a great rating on hostelworld.com and it was cheap.
Cassi booked us the Rising Cock (it was a couple dollars more than other hostels we could have stayed at) just because she wanted to be able to say that she stayed at a hostel named the Rising Cock.
And neither was that bad. Except for the showers. But you can read about that in the previous post.
PS. I just read about the hostel in Louisiana. I really want to go to New Orleans and this just made me want to go home just to be closer to the option of going there. This hostel seems pretty cool, especially with the beer vending machine. Not that I'd use it (I don't drink) but the idea of it just BEING there is interesting.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Las Duchas Horribles
While many people may rank their favorite restaurants or hotels while travelling, the thing that comes to mind that can make or break a place is the SHOWER.
Here I will rank the showers at the places I've travelled to in order from best to worst.
Enjoy.
BEST SHOWER THUS FAR: Hotel Abril, in Sevilla.
Pros: It was a private shower, in other words, I didn't need to wear flip flops in fear of catching some viral disease. But it was super nice. Hot water, great water pressure, and the stream spanned the distance of most of the shower's length.
Cons: NONE.
Close second: Hotel Regina, in Madrid.
Pros: This hotel that we stayed in during the Madrid tour was really cold. The benefit was HOT SHOWERS. The only place to be warm the entire trip. The cold really sucked. I mean, we'd go on cold walking tours of the city and large cathedrals that are just as cold as it is outside, then we come back to our hotel hoping for warmth, and the hotel is about 50 degrees inside. It sucked especially since the heater only works when the keycard is in the light switch, which means you have to be IN the room to heat it. So, yeah, it never got warm. But I digress...the shower was hot, nice pressure, and just nice overall.
Cons: It wasn't my own PERSONAL shower, like the one in Sevilla (in Madrid I had a roomie)
Next: Black and White Hostel in Lisbon
Pros: The showerhead was an overhead rain showerhead. RAIN. It was glorious gallons after glorious gallons of water. Even though right next to it the placard said it was energy efficient, it sure didn't feel like it.
Cons: A shower CURTAIN. Ugh, when this was paired with a small square shower space, I had great fear in touching the possibly moldy curtain. Also, the bathroom was co-ed. Luckily I didn't have issues. And, since it was public, it warranted flip flop usage.
Next: Hotel Codina in San Sebastian
Pros: This hotel we stayed in during orientation was REALLY nice. Read: heated towel rack. The water was super hot.
Cons: No shelves for the soap and shampoo. And the shower was a tiny tiny square. Smaller than the one in Lisbon. Like, this was 1.5 feet by 1.5 feet.
Next: My host family's shower in San Sebastian.
Pros: It's in a home, so obviously no flip flops required. And the water is nice and hot.
Cons: The door is this weird accordian thing that never stays closed...it always slowly opens, and it opens inward, toward the tub, so when I am standing there it seems to slowly close me in. PLUS, the water pressure is like that of a garden hose with holes in it. It doesn't SHOWER you, it's more of a dribbling. And because of this, the hot water isn't as effective since there is a HUGE space in front of you for cold air to circulate while your body tries to adapt to the temperature of the water.
Next: Porto Downtown Hostel in Porto, Portugal
Pros: This was a ONE-MAN BATHROOM. It was great. I could lock the door and not have to worry about walking through the hostel with a towel wrapped around me when I returned to the room to change. The water was hot, the pressure was great.
Cons: The drain wasn't very effective. The rubber foot grip thing was also covering the drain, which made it even MORE ineffective. Plus, it was public, which meant flippy floppys. While the water was hot, the temperature couldn't be adjusted..it was just on or off. Oh, and to conserve water, the water button turned off every 15seconds or so. Which meant you had to press it a LOT.
Second to worst shower this semester: Hostel Kabul, Barcelona
Pros: Erm, the one stall I was in had a door?
Cons: The rest of the stalls didn't have doors. The pressure was not very concentrated, which meant the water seemed to be in a HUGE circle, but not anywhere in particular, so it was a light rinse as opposed to a stream of water. The water button was also like Porto's...it turned off every 10 seconds, so it had to be pushed like 3 times when I was just washing my face. The water was also pretty cold, but it did warm up to a reasonably warmish temperature that was bearable. But, the water was NOTHING compared to...
THE WORST SHOWER EVER (not just in my lifetime, but probably in history): The Rising Cock Hostel in Lagos
Pros: It was a one man bathroom, which meant I could change in the bathroom.
Cons: The drain did not drain water. The water came out of a hand-held showering spout thing, but there was no holder for it, so you couldn't hang it up...you had to hold it. The stream was pretty bad, too. Oh, and the TEMPERATURE, or lack thereof, was the most memorable thing. Seriously, if you gave the people who froze in the ocean after the Titanic sank an option between that and this shower, they would choose the former. Okay, maybe not, but this water was COLD. I thought Barcelona was cold, until I felt this. I think icicles were forming on the showerhead as I bathed. Seriously, it was unbearable. SO unbearable that my showers were approximately 30 seconds long. I would do a swoop with the showerhead, shiver, put on body wash, swoop the water over me, shiver, get my hair wet, shiver, think about shampooing, then decide not to, then turn off the water. Seriously, if I had to shampoo I think I'd lose like 20 degrees of body heat by rinsing my head under that stream. The two days we spent in Lagos, all of us had dirty hair. Shampooing just could NOT be done. I actually filled my water bottle up (a 1.5 liter bottle), then let it warm up, then rinsed my hair over the sink. At least then I could get my hair completely wet without shivering as though I was having an epileptic seizure.
And there you have it.
Here I will rank the showers at the places I've travelled to in order from best to worst.
Enjoy.
BEST SHOWER THUS FAR: Hotel Abril, in Sevilla.
Pros: It was a private shower, in other words, I didn't need to wear flip flops in fear of catching some viral disease. But it was super nice. Hot water, great water pressure, and the stream spanned the distance of most of the shower's length.
Cons: NONE.
Close second: Hotel Regina, in Madrid.
Pros: This hotel that we stayed in during the Madrid tour was really cold. The benefit was HOT SHOWERS. The only place to be warm the entire trip. The cold really sucked. I mean, we'd go on cold walking tours of the city and large cathedrals that are just as cold as it is outside, then we come back to our hotel hoping for warmth, and the hotel is about 50 degrees inside. It sucked especially since the heater only works when the keycard is in the light switch, which means you have to be IN the room to heat it. So, yeah, it never got warm. But I digress...the shower was hot, nice pressure, and just nice overall.
Cons: It wasn't my own PERSONAL shower, like the one in Sevilla (in Madrid I had a roomie)
Next: Black and White Hostel in Lisbon
Pros: The showerhead was an overhead rain showerhead. RAIN. It was glorious gallons after glorious gallons of water. Even though right next to it the placard said it was energy efficient, it sure didn't feel like it.
Cons: A shower CURTAIN. Ugh, when this was paired with a small square shower space, I had great fear in touching the possibly moldy curtain. Also, the bathroom was co-ed. Luckily I didn't have issues. And, since it was public, it warranted flip flop usage.
Next: Hotel Codina in San Sebastian
Pros: This hotel we stayed in during orientation was REALLY nice. Read: heated towel rack. The water was super hot.
Cons: No shelves for the soap and shampoo. And the shower was a tiny tiny square. Smaller than the one in Lisbon. Like, this was 1.5 feet by 1.5 feet.
Next: My host family's shower in San Sebastian.
Pros: It's in a home, so obviously no flip flops required. And the water is nice and hot.
Cons: The door is this weird accordian thing that never stays closed...it always slowly opens, and it opens inward, toward the tub, so when I am standing there it seems to slowly close me in. PLUS, the water pressure is like that of a garden hose with holes in it. It doesn't SHOWER you, it's more of a dribbling. And because of this, the hot water isn't as effective since there is a HUGE space in front of you for cold air to circulate while your body tries to adapt to the temperature of the water.
Next: Porto Downtown Hostel in Porto, Portugal
Pros: This was a ONE-MAN BATHROOM. It was great. I could lock the door and not have to worry about walking through the hostel with a towel wrapped around me when I returned to the room to change. The water was hot, the pressure was great.
Cons: The drain wasn't very effective. The rubber foot grip thing was also covering the drain, which made it even MORE ineffective. Plus, it was public, which meant flippy floppys. While the water was hot, the temperature couldn't be adjusted..it was just on or off. Oh, and to conserve water, the water button turned off every 15seconds or so. Which meant you had to press it a LOT.
Second to worst shower this semester: Hostel Kabul, Barcelona
Pros: Erm, the one stall I was in had a door?
Cons: The rest of the stalls didn't have doors. The pressure was not very concentrated, which meant the water seemed to be in a HUGE circle, but not anywhere in particular, so it was a light rinse as opposed to a stream of water. The water button was also like Porto's...it turned off every 10 seconds, so it had to be pushed like 3 times when I was just washing my face. The water was also pretty cold, but it did warm up to a reasonably warmish temperature that was bearable. But, the water was NOTHING compared to...
THE WORST SHOWER EVER (not just in my lifetime, but probably in history): The Rising Cock Hostel in Lagos
Pros: It was a one man bathroom, which meant I could change in the bathroom.
Cons: The drain did not drain water. The water came out of a hand-held showering spout thing, but there was no holder for it, so you couldn't hang it up...you had to hold it. The stream was pretty bad, too. Oh, and the TEMPERATURE, or lack thereof, was the most memorable thing. Seriously, if you gave the people who froze in the ocean after the Titanic sank an option between that and this shower, they would choose the former. Okay, maybe not, but this water was COLD. I thought Barcelona was cold, until I felt this. I think icicles were forming on the showerhead as I bathed. Seriously, it was unbearable. SO unbearable that my showers were approximately 30 seconds long. I would do a swoop with the showerhead, shiver, put on body wash, swoop the water over me, shiver, get my hair wet, shiver, think about shampooing, then decide not to, then turn off the water. Seriously, if I had to shampoo I think I'd lose like 20 degrees of body heat by rinsing my head under that stream. The two days we spent in Lagos, all of us had dirty hair. Shampooing just could NOT be done. I actually filled my water bottle up (a 1.5 liter bottle), then let it warm up, then rinsed my hair over the sink. At least then I could get my hair completely wet without shivering as though I was having an epileptic seizure.
And there you have it.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Three pictures are worth about...20 words.
Since I mostly took video on the Burgos/Atapuerca trip, I only have a few pictures from the daytrip. And of the 10 I took, three are uninteresting, two are picture versions of what I already had on video of the super foggy hike, one is the unlit cathedral at night (but it might as well be a picture of a room with the lights off, since it's just black), and one is an out of focus picture of flowers.
PS: Click any picture to see a larger version
Therefore, that leaves me with this picture of the sign on our hike:
Along with this picture of a cool looking shrub.
It's swirly!
Oh, and the picture of the stonehenge-like thing behind an "i-was-just-sleeping-on-the-bus-for-two-hours-can't-you-tell?" Melissa.
My friends took some good pictures too, but as of right now, I only have this wonderful picture, depicting us as a cross between construction workers and lunch ladies with our lice-shield caps and hardhats.
(From left to right: Angela C., Me, Cassi, May, Ana, Natalia)
PS: Click any picture to see a larger version
Therefore, that leaves me with this picture of the sign on our hike:
Along with this picture of a cool looking shrub.
It's swirly!
Oh, and the picture of the stonehenge-like thing behind an "i-was-just-sleeping-on-the-bus-for-two-hours-can't-you-tell?" Melissa.
My friends took some good pictures too, but as of right now, I only have this wonderful picture, depicting us as a cross between construction workers and lunch ladies with our lice-shield caps and hardhats.
(From left to right: Angela C., Me, Cassi, May, Ana, Natalia)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Three Point Turn FAIL.
On our way home from Burgos/Atapuerca, our bus driver attempted a three point turn on a narrow street. The result was a 206 point turn, with each one getting us more and more perpendicular with the road until the windshield was a foot away from a tree, the back end was hanging over a ditch, and the back tires were dug deep into mud.
FUN!
Visual Proof:
FUN!
Visual Proof:
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