Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Days 7-13
Day 7: Still in Barcelona, we took the metro to the more offbeat beaches of the city, which were near several small skate parks and an urban mall/plaza known as the Forum. Explored the more rocky area of the beach, found some deft street art. Traveled back to Sant Jordi to check out, and began the night train to Paris.
On the train, David and Ian were separated from Lauren. One traveler got an adequate amount of sleep, two did not.
David and Ian practiced their Spanish and played cards with three girls traveling to Amsterdam. Que guay.
Day 8:
We were coughed onto the streets of Paris, shelterless and in a new language. We eventually found a cheap hotel near the train station, close to a great Indian place at which we ate thrice. Got oriented in Paris, wandered by the opera and eventually to the Arc De Triumph. Had the world's best macaroons at Ladurèe.
Day 9: Tried to walk around Louvre, succeeded. Had to find a specific bank for some dough. After that, Hiked up the Eiffel tower, then lounged around the park below...went crawling for some Thai.
Day 10: Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year, a perfect day to be entombed. We visited the catacombs, very cool, in more than one way. Trained over to the island containing Notre Dame, and embarked on a night of live music--a free concert near the catacombs, among other spectacles. David and Ian wandered out for more around midnight and observed a sparkling Eiffel tower, also quite cool.
Day 11: travel day to Lyon, train was a commuter train (oops) and took us on a 6 hour crawl. So that was pretty much the day, we had our only meal and perhaps our best meal down the hill from our hostel. Three courses, a giant ham salad, sausage or fish, and then expertly crafted crepes.
Day 12: Awe inspiring hillside views in Lyon, some beau church mosaics. Smaller French cities seem to enjoy imitating Paris, with mini Eiffel towers and alternate Notre Dames. The food in Lyon definitely lives up to the city's reputation as gastronomic capital. More traditional French cuisine. Unfortunately we lost Lauren midday, she could be just about anywhere right now. Chance so had it that a dorm mate was a grad student at MIT. Big soccer commotion in the hostel. Found Lauren.
Day 13: No lyonnaise malaise, the city is pretty relaxing, even though the town center is lower in elevation and hotter than our hillside hostel. Today is mainly just a day to regroup and plan the rest of our trip.
Where will we go next? The Alps, the Pyranees, Italy?
what miracles or disasters shall befall us? Will we survive?
Find out next time,
Au revoir
On the train, David and Ian were separated from Lauren. One traveler got an adequate amount of sleep, two did not.
David and Ian practiced their Spanish and played cards with three girls traveling to Amsterdam. Que guay.
Day 8:
We were coughed onto the streets of Paris, shelterless and in a new language. We eventually found a cheap hotel near the train station, close to a great Indian place at which we ate thrice. Got oriented in Paris, wandered by the opera and eventually to the Arc De Triumph. Had the world's best macaroons at Ladurèe.
Day 9: Tried to walk around Louvre, succeeded. Had to find a specific bank for some dough. After that, Hiked up the Eiffel tower, then lounged around the park below...went crawling for some Thai.
Day 10: Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year, a perfect day to be entombed. We visited the catacombs, very cool, in more than one way. Trained over to the island containing Notre Dame, and embarked on a night of live music--a free concert near the catacombs, among other spectacles. David and Ian wandered out for more around midnight and observed a sparkling Eiffel tower, also quite cool.
Day 11: travel day to Lyon, train was a commuter train (oops) and took us on a 6 hour crawl. So that was pretty much the day, we had our only meal and perhaps our best meal down the hill from our hostel. Three courses, a giant ham salad, sausage or fish, and then expertly crafted crepes.
Day 12: Awe inspiring hillside views in Lyon, some beau church mosaics. Smaller French cities seem to enjoy imitating Paris, with mini Eiffel towers and alternate Notre Dames. The food in Lyon definitely lives up to the city's reputation as gastronomic capital. More traditional French cuisine. Unfortunately we lost Lauren midday, she could be just about anywhere right now. Chance so had it that a dorm mate was a grad student at MIT. Big soccer commotion in the hostel. Found Lauren.
Day 13: No lyonnaise malaise, the city is pretty relaxing, even though the town center is lower in elevation and hotter than our hillside hostel. Today is mainly just a day to regroup and plan the rest of our trip.
Where will we go next? The Alps, the Pyranees, Italy?
what miracles or disasters shall befall us? Will we survive?
Find out next time,
Au revoir
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Days 2 - 6
Many of you are wondering what has happened.
Why no updates, you ask?
The simple truth is that we have been on the streets for five days.
Five long days, full of trauma. Here´s what happened:
DAY 2: Woke up in our Madrid Hostel, snacked on some churros. Four possible directions from our hostel, wandered in all four. Eventually ended up at the botanical gardens of Retiro Park, where we took a siesta on the benches. From there we went to the Museo del Prado and tried to look at every piece of art. That took about a day.
Excellent dinner...and a fight.
DAY 3: Travel via train to Barcelona. Pretty fun train ride, we met a grad student from Hong Kong who was named Kai-Shek, or something like that. Played Vietnamese cards. Found the hostel in a bohemian district, nice facilities, interesting area. Later in the evening, went on a backstreet tour of the plazas, ate some delicatessed pizza
DAY 4: Hit the streets again, visited the famed Sagrada Familia, among other Gaudi architecture. Scrounged for a cheap lunch, somehow found our way back through some other landmarks to the hostel. Siesta-ed in a childrens school party, walked Las Ramblas, the best known shopping area.
DAY 5: Hiked uphill to Parc Guell, another Gaudi. A beachy day overall. Lots of water, swam in the Mediterannean, walked the coast, found a cool rock park by the water, came back to the hostel and talked to some interesting folk. Also, saw a neato light and water show at the Magic Fountains.
DAY 6: Turns out we hadn´t seen Kai-Shek for the last time. We met her for an incredible seafood lunch on the coast, complete with mussels and baby squid. Dawful. Then we took a funicular up to Montjuic where we saw the olympic stadium. And that brings us to the present. We just made and ate Tapas, with a loci (see picture below).
So far, we have done much and seen little. The trip is out of its infancy, and a vast new country awaits. Spain has been an incredible place to meet interesting people and do interesting things. Adjusted to the late night culture, beginning to feel the local spirit.
Adios
Why no updates, you ask?
The simple truth is that we have been on the streets for five days.
Five long days, full of trauma. Here´s what happened:
DAY 2: Woke up in our Madrid Hostel, snacked on some churros. Four possible directions from our hostel, wandered in all four. Eventually ended up at the botanical gardens of Retiro Park, where we took a siesta on the benches. From there we went to the Museo del Prado and tried to look at every piece of art. That took about a day.
Excellent dinner...and a fight.
DAY 3: Travel via train to Barcelona. Pretty fun train ride, we met a grad student from Hong Kong who was named Kai-Shek, or something like that. Played Vietnamese cards. Found the hostel in a bohemian district, nice facilities, interesting area. Later in the evening, went on a backstreet tour of the plazas, ate some delicatessed pizza
DAY 4: Hit the streets again, visited the famed Sagrada Familia, among other Gaudi architecture. Scrounged for a cheap lunch, somehow found our way back through some other landmarks to the hostel. Siesta-ed in a childrens school party, walked Las Ramblas, the best known shopping area.
DAY 5: Hiked uphill to Parc Guell, another Gaudi. A beachy day overall. Lots of water, swam in the Mediterannean, walked the coast, found a cool rock park by the water, came back to the hostel and talked to some interesting folk. Also, saw a neato light and water show at the Magic Fountains.
DAY 6: Turns out we hadn´t seen Kai-Shek for the last time. We met her for an incredible seafood lunch on the coast, complete with mussels and baby squid. Dawful. Then we took a funicular up to Montjuic where we saw the olympic stadium. And that brings us to the present. We just made and ate Tapas, with a loci (see picture below).
So far, we have done much and seen little. The trip is out of its infancy, and a vast new country awaits. Spain has been an incredible place to meet interesting people and do interesting things. Adjusted to the late night culture, beginning to feel the local spirit.
Adios
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Almost
Now into the heartland of the old world. We almost missed our first flight because of childhood companion B Lan, aka Brennan Lanier, who was updating us on his life story. All went smoothly, until the airport almost lost David's bag. Almost, he got it back. From the port we sailed to our hostel via an intricate subway system, walked around for a few hours before check in, and then checked in. And here we are, day 1 
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
0.0 Hello World
This blog shall document the exploits of three young travelers:
David Brhlik
Ian Chesser
Lauren Bostick
David is known for his ability to climb everything. We are placing bets on how long he will survive.
Ian is known for his illustrious street juggling career. He intends to pay for his trip with money earned in the back alleys of France, les rues.
Lauren is a master planner and a pillar of stability on the trip. She intends to meet her long time idol Flula in France. Unfortunately, Flula does not live in France.
Ian, David, and Lauren have been assembled, perhaps by chance, perhaps by fate, to trek through Spain and France together.
Herein lie the adventures of said travelers.
29daysinEurope starts now.
David Brhlik
Ian Chesser
Lauren Bostick
David is known for his ability to climb everything. We are placing bets on how long he will survive.
Ian is known for his illustrious street juggling career. He intends to pay for his trip with money earned in the back alleys of France, les rues.
Lauren is a master planner and a pillar of stability on the trip. She intends to meet her long time idol Flula in France. Unfortunately, Flula does not live in France.
Ian, David, and Lauren have been assembled, perhaps by chance, perhaps by fate, to trek through Spain and France together.
Herein lie the adventures of said travelers.
29daysinEurope starts now.
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