"Come Sail Away" - Styx

After Nevada time flew by. I was packing and getting everything ready for my sailing adventure. It is hard to pack everything you may need for 6 months. I was busy visiting family, coxing in Charleston (like I had never left) and catching up with friends. And of course mandatory visits to Skins and Grouchos. The time flew by and soon it was time to head back to Charleston for the haul out. I met Sheila, Capt. Bruce's wife, and Jay, the other deck hand, and we got to work. We pulled the boat out of the water, sanded and painted the hull and sides. We cleaned the inside packed and organized all our supplies and got everything ready. Too soon I was meeting all the guys for the sail down and saying goodbye to my family.

The sail down the coast was fantastic on the beautiful Bahama Star. I have never seen so many of the places we went and I have never sailed down a coast especially when its 4 am and there is not a soul to see or land or boats of any kind. The stars, as you can imagine, were the most brilliant and beautiful things I have ever seen the wind a brittle cold even wearing everything in my swollen suitcase. The group we sailed down with were great. There was a group of 8 guys that Bruce is close to and they all try and do the sail down and back up every year. All the guys know Bruce somehow or another. There was Don who is a pirate at heart. He would arrr and wear a johnny rogers on everything and had his hair braided with sculls. He even had a business card that said “cargo redistribution and rum disposal specialist” (apparently the politically correct description of a pirate). Then there was Richard who wants to be on Survivor and that is the best way to describe him. He is the active older guy who seems to know and has done everything.

Wayne who was the techno guy who brought his own gps and would constantly update us on every movement and degree turn. Pennsylvania Pete who had the long if not graying hair and was always a character to talk to and very entertaining. Naked Pete, who thankfully did not live up to his name, Ron, who was tanner than everybody yet felt the need to sit up at the bow and soak up the sun in his speedo no matter how cold it still was, and Jerry who would tell great stories about his mishaps in the navy. There was Doug who I got along with really well. He loved to travel and him and his wife have done so many crazy things I always enjoyed talking to him. Crazy thing was when Cody met him before we left it turns out they knew each other. Cody went with Doug on some boy scouts canoeing trip years ago! Small world. Then there was Charlie who is around my age and actually staying on for a month as extra crew, and Jay who has been great to work with. We are sharing the tiniest cabin and getting close (by force) very quickly. I should take the time to try to describe Captain Bruce. He is an out going crazy and fun guy who has more stories than anyone I have met, exaggerates the perfect amount to make any story goose laugh worthy. He has a strong love for dancing and is just the most joyful person I know. There is also probably no other captain who knows the Bahamas better since he has been sailing them for 30+ years and makes everything look easy.

So we set sail saturday morning and two dolphins swam with our bow as we left the Charleston harbor! Supposably a very good sign. We were off towards Florida and a long night of sailing. We took turns doing 2 hour watches in groups of 2 (which works out well since there are 12 of us). After the first night out at sea with strong winds right against us I decided at dinner if I don't throw up tonight I am defiantly not going to get sea sick all season. I haven't been that worried about it because I have never gotten sea sick before but I also haven't been that far out to sea before and my sister and mom are both very prone to motion sickness so it was a possibility. After 4 hours in bed falling asleep and then waking up because the bow of the boat was lifted so high in the air it lifted me out of bed and then slammed me back waking me up with a jolt. Instead of feeling sick I just loved it. We landed the next evening in St. Augustine. Jays parents and a group of Bruce's friends where there to meet us with food and beer and we spent the evening eating BBQ Bill's amazing ribs and pork chili and me struggling with sea legs. Other than getting kicked out of a bar because Bruce stood on a chair when the band saluted our soldiers it was an uneventful night. The next day we set sail for St. Lucia and it was another rocky but fun trip. The guys were easy to get along with and there was so much for me to learn. We didn't make it to St. Lucy after another all-nighter of sailing because we had the wind directly at our bow so we stopped in Ft. Pierce where we had a great dinner at the marina and I learned more about how to throw lines and swab a deck.

Soon we were sailing down the inter-coastal towards St. Lucy to make our cut across the Gulf Stream towards the Bahamas. The cut across was extremely calm (so I was told, I've never done it before). We had this delicious beef stroganoff that the wonderful Pete cooked and Doug and I had an appetizer of raw biscuit dough because the can had burst open. I was very excited there was someone else in the world who loved raw dough too. That night Bruce and I had the 4-6 watch... not ideal but it turned out to be great. It was a near full moon and I watched it set over the water. It turned orange and pink and disappeared on the stern as Venus, the morning star, rose out of the water at our bow. I steered in the very dark night while Bruce magically told me where the islands and rocks were as we were coming into the Bahamas. It was beautiful. I could see the milky way and the big dipper and the stars were all just brighter than I have ever seen them. Then we watched the sunrise over the islands. I have never felt luckier.

"The Circle of Life" - Elton John

Nevada! Yep I headed out to Nevada which was a whole new experience for me! My good friend Erin is working at Safe Haven Rescue Zoo, a large animal rehabilitation zoo in Imlay, Nevada (Population 237) and I went to visit her. She picked me up in Reno and we drove 2 hours back to her place. She lives on the zoo property with another girl, Lindsey, and her bosses, the couple who own Sweet Haven, and of course the 3 tigers, 2 lions, 2 foxes, 2 bob cats, 2 cougars, and 1 crazy coyote. I loved it.

There was not much to do when you live in a valley with only two other “neighbors” as far as the eye can see and 45 minutes from a restaurant, but I managed to find things to do. Erinworked some days and I would come out and run alongside the tigers cages, watch them tackle boxes for the raw turkeys inside, or sneak up and scare the lions. It was very entertaining, however I did learn that cougars are TERRIFYING. I think it is by far the greatest mascot to have, they always had that don't even think about messing with me look. The tigers loved to play and I fell in love with Layla and Choi Hu. Kovu, the lion, had a thing for me and would chase me for hours. I miss those cats...

Lindsey was also great. We all went into town for mexican one night and stuffed crust pizza another, watched Calender Girls and the Office and I decided she fit in easily.

Erin and I stayed busy. We went driving around one day and

I got some homemadedelicious beef (or deer or something) jerky which Erin hated me for (it smelled up her car). We saw some concrete thing some guy made out of trash, not really sure how to explain it... One day we took the 4-wheeler up into the mountains and had lunch at the top of a mountain I forced Erin to climb. In my defense, I had no idea it was 80 degrees uphill... but the view was amazing and we had fun. I was a little worried the whole time because apparently there are cougars up there and I had already decided that cougars are the one animal (now more than pumas) that I don't ever want to cross.

Erin and I headed into Reno the day before I flew out because my flight was so early, and we had to try some gambling. We found a bar with free drinks, had dinner at a brewery in our hotel (grilled cheese burger mmmmm) and hit the casinos. I won 20 bucks at the slots but then somehow after Roulette and more slots I was negative 25 by the end of the night.... It was really fun though. It was hard to say good-bye to Erin since neither of us know what we will be doing next. I really loved Nevada. I see the appeal of heading out west. I couldn't get over the space and driving for miles before you see anything other than mountains and of course all those black cows.

"I just can't wait to get on the road again" - Willie Nelson

So before I go off telling about my sailing adventures I should take some time to fill in that time between Europe and the Bahamas...

I got home exhausted on December 13^th. I had a blast in Europe but was ready for a real and clean shower, my own bed in my own room and to sleep in as late as I want and then get clothes out of my closet instead of a backpack.... and of course see my family.

December flew by with family and friends. Last minute christmas presents, unpacking, wrapping, laundry all kept me busy. The whole family came down for christmas and the extended family made it the day after christmas and we had a blast! New Years was spent out with friends and too soon it was January. As much as I love Anderson, I couldn't stay there until March so I went on a road trip!

My first week was spent driving the good ol' chevy truck (yes the bug is gone) up to West Virginia to spend time with the cousins. Nights spent reading and drinking hot tea with Aunt Karen, days spent fighting the snow and honey bears yaps to build legos with Frankie and Colin. A couple days at Jamie and Fathoms laying on the couch with the 24 hour bug while “babysitting” Raleigh and Will. More like them watching me but I got better and got to enjoy some time with them in the end. After a night with Frank and Carol, and a quick repair on the radiator.... I was off to Roanoke.

I spent a week with the always beautiful Katie Perdue. She and I spent the first

year and a half at CofC together on crew before she left me for bigger and better things at UVA. She is marrying the always fun Josh this summer and I unfortunately am missing the wedding. So I decided to spend a week at their very beautiful new home and spend some time catching up. It was my first time in Roanoke and I loved it. We saw the star, had pizza, went sightseeing and I “helped” with some wedding planning. Had my first Red Robin experience and learned all about all you can eat fries...

From Roanoke I took a flight down to Flordia to visit Aunt Valerie and Uncle Brian. Aunt Karen was there as well and we spent our time reading and eating out and meeting up with Val and Brian's friends. Karen and I went to the Clearwater aquarium and rescue center and saw tons of sea turtles and dolphins, including Winter who has a movie about her coming to a theatre near you! Valerie also took off work on monday and we went swimming with the manatees!!!! It was so fun. Karen came along, though wasn't up for the cold water. We saw tons of them. They would swim up to us and we got to pet them. A couple even rolled over so we could rub their bellies (they even had bellybuttons). My dad flew in the day before I left so I got to see him for a bit (my parents swore I was being elusive). After my week in Florida it was hard to go back to the cold and snowy Roanoke but I survived. I spent one more night with Josh and Katie before heading home.

The driving was fun, specifically because I was listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on tape. Getting ready for the last movie! Yes there is a movie theatre in Nassau I already checked. But after a month of traveling, my visits were not over yet....

"Like a drifter I was born to walk alone" - Whitesnake

One, this is a great song. Alright a while ago (over a month... October 4-8) I was in the beautiful Prague, Czech Republic. Eilis and I had decided to split up while she went to visit her family in Denmark, I headed to Prague for a few days of solitude before meeting up with Ginny in Budapest, but you have to wait for my next blog for that one...

My lovely sister, Meg, had a friend from college who actually moved to Prague and opened a hostel with another friend. I soon got to meet Daniel and David and they showed me the most wonderful hospitality as well as all the staff at the wonderful Mosaic House. My bus unfortunately got in at 5 am, and after going to the metro only to realize I had the wrong currency, back to the atm where I realized I had no idea what the exchange rate was I was just thankful to make it to the hostel. Thankfully they let me check into my room early and after brushing my teeth in the beautiful bathroom I pulled back my curtain to my bed (feeling like I was in a Hogwards dorm with dark red curtains) and slept till noon. I went for a run that afternoon, purely because I took my laundry to the laundrymat and all the clean clothes left that I was wearing were my running clothes. It was a grey day but I headed out for a park less than a km away. Well the run was beautiful and I quickly learned that I loved Prague. I ran past the theatre, churches, over one of the many bridges, and started making my way up a mountain which was the park (the guy at the desk failed to mention this). The views at the top were spectacular and I was glad I did it. On my run home well lets just say my 30 minute run home turned into an hour... But it finished with a sense of accomplishment.

At the hostel I made friends with a girl from australia and we had dinner at the hotel restaurant which was amazing! Nachos and non other than a BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger! Needless to say I was happy at the end of the day. The delicious Pilsner Prague is famous for washed it all down perfectly.

The next day was spent doing the free walking tour, having a bagel, yes Bagel in europe! I really enjoyed hearing the history of Prague, though a sad one. The most interesting part was my guide had lived in Prague for 25 years after marrying a man from there. Her mother-in-law had passed away two years before but while alive had lived SEVEN countries but never moved! The country changed that many times from its time with Slovakia, under the communist rule, etc. We also saw the Jewish district which is one of the largest in Europe because Hitler decided Prague should be the city to keep documentation of a distinct race. After the tour I was off to wander the streets. That night I went out with my Australian friend and her two other friends she had just met up with. I had traditional Czech goulash, which was delicious (Mom you would be proud of all I have eaten this trip).

Day three was spent sleeping in, meeting with Daniel and David to pick their brains on how they came to Prague and opened a restaurant. I wandered around that day as well seeing the Castle, crossing the famed Charles Bridge full of people rubbing the statue of the Saint who was thrown from the bridge for good luck. My favorite part of the day was when I found the amazing Lennon Wall full of quotes and graffiti of love and peace, all good things! That night was spent at dinner with David, his wife Brooke, and her parents. They treated me to a delicious dinner and great conversation. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality including David putting me in a private room for the night! It was great! I had my own bathroom and even a computer to skype Erin and wish her a Happy Birthday!

My last full day at Prague was uneventful. I decided to sleep in, traveling, though amazing, is exhausting. After seeing a few sights I headed to the hostel and meet two girls from New Zealand and another girl, Liz, from Australia. We spent the evening together, had dinner and great conversation. Before an early night for my early train ride to Budapest to see Ginny!

Traveling alone was great. It was suppose to give me time for solitude and to contemplate what I wanted to do with the rest of my time in Europe and when I returned. Unfortunately all that really happened was I decided I had to come back to Prague and send anyone I met there as well! Really it was a great break and I was extremely lucky to meet Daniel and David and see Prague and just immerse in its history and raw beauty.

Unfortunately, I have just learned I can not put my photos up on here once they are on shutterfly... that will be interesting when I get home, but here is the link! Prague photos!!!

Eins … zwei … g'suffa! Prost! - German cheers song

See pictures at my new photo site. Click here.

This was by far the experience of a lifetime! Eilis casually brought up Oktoberfest about 2 days before it started (which is actually mid september... go figure) and we said oh we should try to go. I immediatly thought of my friend Ginny who is living in Germany as an au pair for the year, so I emailed her saying we were talking about going to Germany and Oktoberfest. Sure enough she was going for the last weekend of the festival and we decided to meet up with her!

Now incase you didn't know, unless you live in Munich, you don't just decided to go to Oktoberfest one week before and plan to find a place to sleep, tickets to a beer tent, and a way there and back, but thats exactly what we did. We got on the always trusty hostelworld and realized that any room would cost us easy 100 euros a night, so we decided that we would worry about it later and did nothing.

God was taking care of us mom, dont worry, because it all worked out. Ginny said we could stay with her bc her host parents got her a private room in the hotel! We were so excited. Thursday, the day before we were leaving for Munich and meeting up with Ginny, I get a phone call she might not be coming. Her host mom was really sick and might not be able to go so Ginny would be able to go. I told her to buy a bus ticket and get down to Munich, and we could work on getting a tent at a campsite we heard about that was outside of the city. Well turns out the parents didnt come, but the grandparents (who dont know any english) were coming so we met up with Ginny in Munich! After a very confusing time on the metro, a few wrong turns, and a confusing exit, we made it to Ginny and were so happy!

So Friday night while Ginny had dinner with her host extended family, Eilis and I headed to Oktoberfest to get a taste and it was the most overwhelming and exciting thing ever. I always pictured Oktoberfest as a few tables under a group of white tents (like festivals in Marion Square) and a couple of dinky rides like at a small local fair, boy was I wrong! We come up the metro escalator to lights and sounds and thousands of men and women of all ages in leaderhosen and corsette dresses and rides everywhere! It was sooooo crazy. The "beer tents" were infact real buildings, each the size of a convention center (there were 10 I believe) and the food, out of this world. After wandering around jaws on the ground, Eilis and I treated ourselves to chocolate covered strawberries, sugar coated pecans that seriously made me stop in my tracks and buy they smelled so good (and tasted even better)! We then had a 1/2 meter bratwurst! I was very excited about that (for those non-metric thinkers that is 1 1/2 feet). We then had our first experience of the deliciousness that is Oktoberfest liter beers (they only costed 10 euros and had an alchol content of 6.3% aka not dangerous in any way). Ginny met up with us after dinner with the family and we wandered for a bit, learned that Oktoberfest ends at 9:30, very early in my mind! But we werent worried because we knew the next day would be fun.... but really we had noooo idea!

So we slept in because we could! It was so nice being in a room just the three of us. I still wonder what the grandparents thought of us showing up and bunking with Ginny! They got us and we met up with a group of about 10 germans outside the hotel. We met the cousin who planned everything and bought the tickets ect. Then we were walking and enjoying how half our group had on leaderhosen and dresses. The next thing I know we are at a house and there are 40 germans, other than the cousin who planned it and his wife who were in there 30s, they are all over 50, most over 65! They are all friends and family of the host family and they all were sooo nice to us! They even gave us the host parents beer tent tickets and made sure we were taken care of the whole way to the festival. Only two knew english in our group of 40, and off we went to Oktoberfest with a group of germans dressed to the T and feeling like this is how it should be done!

Once we got to Theresienwiese, the field its held in, after an exhausting and overwhelmingly packed metro ride we had the cousin waving his wife's scarf for us to follow him and we meandered through the crowds single file behind tents, past many beirliechen (what germans call people passed out - beer courpse) and finally into the tent. We shuffle past crowds hanging outside in line till people leave so they can get in or just drinking outside in the beergardens. We are immediatly taken upstairs and are suddenly on a balcony overlooking the entire tent Hacker-Pschorr. We have four reserved tables and the family pushes us in one where we can overlook the entire going-ons down below! It is overwhelming. We learn that the tent holds just under 7,000 people as the worlds most delicious salty largest pretzels are placed before us! We also learn that our tickets that we were given have to be bought TWO YEARS in advanced and that HP is one of the first and most famous beer tents! We were overwhelmed with gratitude and joy as the grandparents continued spoiling us with coupons for one free beer each (basically giving you 10 euro)!

We had beer, talked, people watched a ton and took photos of the interesting things going on below. We also enjoyed the wonderful band we had in our tent, especially when they played the "Prost" song every thirty minutes where you had to cheers at the end. Not to mention it was one of the few words Eilis and I knew in German so whenever any of our german family made eye contact with us they would immediatly raise their glass and say Prost! It was awesome. The table behind us had people our age and we soon made friends and I was asked to dance a couple of times! It was so much fun and I loved every minute of it, even the long lines for the bathroom, especially the time I snuck in the exit when a girl was being held by the guard for doing the same thing! Also while waiting for Eilis and Ginny outside the bathroom, none other than John Denver "Country Roads" came on! Not only where they playing the lovely song that makes me think of thanksgivings with the cousins, but everybody knew it! All the Germans were belting it out at the top of their lungs! I joined in just in time for an old beer bellied leaderhosen and hat wearing German to walk by, stop, sing with me and proceed to give me the biggest hug, even lifting me off my feet! Crazy!

We ate brats and talked to Germans, danced, singed and had a good time. After my second liter I looked over at my new german drinking buddies only to see that they were all drinking me under the table! All of them were at least finishing their third! It put us to shame!


At 5:45 our table reservation ended and we unfortunatly had to leave our great seats and lovely family. We of course were not done and went down to face the masses with two new german friends from the table next to us. After 30 minutes fighting the crowd and smoke we left to wander the fair. No one would do any of the rides with me, next time I will go with braver people! We left the park and went to a couple of bars, talked a lot about music and ate delicious fries and of course more sugared pecans! All in all it was a phenominal and all things german day!

The next morning was an early wakeup from Ginny's grandparents picking her up to leave! The grandpa walks in and has a huge scratch and bruise on his nose and two black eyes! Ginny asks him what happened but she didnt really understand them (lack of German kicking in) I find out later from her that he has no idea. All he knows is that he all of a sudden he was gushing blood from his nose and rushed to the hospital in an ambulance where the Grandma had to go and get him after a phone call and expensive medical bill. How he broke it, who was with him, how he was lost by the Grandma is just a part of Oktoberfest that we will never know. I am sticking with the story that he got in a huge fight after sticking up for a girl being harassed and the broken nose came from a liter stien, although the more likely culprit is the ground from a hard fall. I also took about the entire day to recover and decided people that spend more than one day in those tents are crazy and have some deeper reserve than I ever will!

Eilis left in the early afternoon to visit family in Hamburg and Denmark and I had a bus to Prague but not until 11 pm. So I had the afternoon to myself. I wandered around the city, saw the sites and sat in the beautiful park. It was the first beautiful sunny day in a while and I took advantage of it before my long bus ride to Prague. I also found out that there was a small church in the city doing a mass in english at 6! It was so great going to mass and understanding it and the feeling that somethings, no matter where you are, are still the same. In the end I decided that Germany has indeed stolen a piece of my heart! I loved all of my time there and everyone was so friendly, the history rich, and the food impecable! So thank you to all those who insisted I go to Germany, and any one who hasn't, you are missing out!

Wonderwall - Oasis

Eilis and I headed to Germany with no idea what we were in for! I had no desire to go to Germany a year ago, but I had friends that kept saying, Germany go to Germany, and they were right! It was an adventure with food, beer, people, history, and life from the minute we got there!




We got of the train early in the morning only to see road blocks for the Berlin Marathon! It hadn't started yet, so we made it to our hostel, put down our bags and headed to a coffee shop (a normal one, were not in Amsterdam anymore!) nearby to have breakfast. We crossed the path of the marathon and I thought it would be cool to watch people run by while eating in a warm cafe (it was very chilly and rainy). There was also a very cute band playing for the runners. We sit down and get bagels! I am always happy to find a bagel. Then the first runners come by. Sure enough, 45 minutes later, the street is still full of runners with no breaks in sight. We sat at that coffee shop for well over an hour only to learn that over 80,000 people ran, and it is one of the top 5 marathons (up there with boston and nyc... Who knew?) It was very cool and hilarious that we couldnt get back to the hostel. The rest of the day was spent resting and working on plans for Oktoberfest, which we had decided to go to and meet up with Ginny (a friend from college, Going Deutsch) and our time apart when I head to prague.



The next day, Monday, we did the free walking tour and it was so great. We really enjoyed all the history. We heard about Berlin being seperated, what happened to the city in WWII and all the hardships Berlin saw for so long. We saw the memorial for murdered jews of the holocaust and it was my favorite memorial I think I have ever seen. It was very simple but beautiful. It was over 2,000 concrete slates of all different hights but all about the length and width (to me what a coffin would look like), spread out along an entire city block right in the heart of the city. Our guide said it was to be a constant reminder of all those who lost there lives and that power can corrupt. We also got to see the wall and Check point charlie. During our break we snuck off from the tour to go to the Currywaurst museum to have our first of many currywursts. It was basically a hotdog-brawt with tons of ketchup and spices, but I loved it! We finished the tour with an amazing story of the fall of the Berlin wall and it was so cool to see something you had only read about in class!



Our tour guide told us about a guided tour that they did to Sachsenhausen, a workers concentration camp outside of Berlin. We decided we really wanted to do it because we didnt think we would make it to Poland for Auschwitz. So the next morning we woke up and went on the tour. It was about 5 hours total and it was very moving. I feel like in the states, it is easy to never think about the past, especially when you are as bad as I am about paying attention in history, but this really hit home. In Sachsen house an estimated 56,000 people died. It was first used for political enemies, gehovinus witnesses who refused to hail Hitler, handicap and others unfit for the perfect race but only men. After Hitler found the excuse to arrest jews an entire wing was added on and Jews were brought in, and later sent on to Auschwitz or other camps to be murdered. The camp was later taken over by the soviets (being in eastern Berlin) and used for another ten (I believe) years to arrest and torture political enemies. The camp had a dark history and was hard to take in, but it was interesting, in a I need to see this sort of way.



After our tour we grabbed a bus (it was more difficult than that but we wont go into that) and headed out of the city to an area we were told had great seconhand clothing stores. We were freezing so we had to buy jackets (mine pictured below with a delicous currywurst). That night we went out with Greg, a guy we met at the hostel to Zapattas, a bar/club we heard about from two different locals and decided we had to see it. No one was there, so as we left we ran into three Israeli guys I had met at the hostel the night before. We went to a bar with them and then on to zappatas later for some great dancing! It is always fun making new friends.

Our last day was spent wandering around, going to the Pergamon musuem and seeing the Gates of Babalon! Very cool. Eating currywurst and delicious kebabs and wandering around the East Side Gallery. The East Side Gallery is just a stretch of wall covered in graffiti and it was soo beautiful! Overall I fell in love with Berlin and it is a top rated city so far!

It Goes On and On - Avett Brothers

Amsterdam, home of beautiful canals, crazy bicyclists, bridges, "coffee shops", the weirdest language I have ever heard, delicious two day old chocolate covered waffles, amazing fries with mayo, leaning houses, terrifyingly steep and skinny stairs, and of course the red light district!

So we get into Amsterdam a couple hours late because our flight had "traffic" at 6am so we left the ground an hour late, even though there was only one other flight at the airport that morning... We get on the train towards the hostel and eilis tells me that Amsterdam is full of canals and boats! I am very excited and picturing Venice. Well as we wander around trying to find our hostel I fall immediatly in love with Amsterdam. I don't know what it is about me and water but it immediatly makes any place better. First thing we noticed was of course Dutch! This language seriously sounds like a cross between gibberish and baby talk. No offense to the Dutch but Eilis and I would giggle any time we heard anyone speak!

Eilis has been having a really bad cough over the past couple of days so we decide to go to the Red Cross to get it checked out! Turns out she has broncitis! So we get her meds get back to the hostel, check in and take naps! That night we walked to a chinese place that someone at the hostel recommends. We then wander around afterwards. Our hostel is a couple of blocks away from the red light district and I learn why it is called the red light district as well as the difference between an cafe and coffee shop. As we walk around the beautiful canals with bikers ringing bells and attempting to hit you with there bikes and crossing bridges and windows lit red with half naked women and wiffs of pot hitting us at each turn, I felt like I was in a dream. I just kept looking at Eilis mouth open saying "I mean I dont" "I mean like seriously" "Like why... how..." It was very surreal. So in order to take a break from the overwhelming lifestyle of Amsterdam we go to a cafe and have a delicious Palm beer and decide we really want popcorn and that we will go to the movies!



After googling movie theatres we found one near our hostel. After wandering around for about 20 minutes trying to find it, I realize we are in the middle of the Red Light district and the movie theater is in fact called "Venus" and is probably not the movie theatre we want! So we just hightail it to the hostel and ask them where to go. After a long walk (not in Red Light District) we get to the cenimas, but the only movie playing is Salt (Angelina Jolie action movie). All I will say is we enjoyed it a lot even though it was very unrealistic, I don't like her, and the ending was terrible. It was a movie in english and popcorn!



The next day we did the New Europe free walking tour that has tours in a lot of major cities in europe. It was really great and long! We learned a lot about the history of Amsterdam and that many of the houses lean on purpose to pull sugar to the top floor by the hooks on the tops of all the houses (which Eilis and I never noticed!) We wandered around a bit and had a BAGEL! I was soo happy and excited! We explored the city that day but took it slow because Eilis has to get better! We did of course make it to the Anne Frank House. I really enjoyed it. It was very inspiring to remember reading the book in middle school and actually seeing the space she and seven other people lived in for so long. It was amazing to see what Otto Frank said and all the work he put into preserving the secret annex. He is one of my new heros!



Friday we moved out of the hostel and bunked up with my friend Karly's (see brazil blog)
roomate from Brazil, Sophie. She let us stay with her as Eilis did not feel up to bussing quit yet, and I didnt want to leave Amsterdam! So we wandered around with Sophie and went to a brewery that was by an old windmill! Thats Holland to me! They had four or five different brews so naturally we all got a different one and switched! We found our favorites and ordered another round. A couple of guys sat down next to us and we started talking about all thing Holland and then all things States. It was very hilarioius because one guy, Diederick (pictured below as political buddies), kept bring up politics! One he's dutch why does he know/care so much about our political views, and two I HATE talking politics, it always gets heated! At one point he is just over the table about something or another and I am just laughing about how passionate he is about American politics! Needless to say it was interesting. Then they insisted on cooking us dinner! So off to the grocery store we all went! In sophie's kitchen they whipped up a delicious dinner of rice and peppers cooked in something and salad! It was a fun evening and we loved Sophie letting us stay with her in a comfy bed not in a hostel, even if the stairs are frightening!




Saturday we had a late overnight bus yet again to Berlin! We of course still had things to do in Amsterdam though! So we wandered around Leidsipline, had delicious pancakes (mine had icecream), and of course the Van Gogh museum! I really enjoyed it! I have always loved his Sunflowers painting ever since my Grandma had it and passed her love of sunflowers on to me and my sister. So it was really cool to see the original as well as some of his beautiful works! We also walked around the beautiful Vondelpark and just enjoyed the unique crazy of Amsterdam.