"Beer is our local culture. Support the culture." Beer is not just a drink in Europe, its a way of life. Europeans are actually required to drink a minimum of three beers a day here. It is custom is to imbibe at least one drink before dinner (in conjunction with the oft-heard phrase, "meet me for drinks in the conservatory at 7), as well as partake in a drink during dinner, and finish with a sweet port or go for "after dinner drinks" later in the evening. This is a massive problem for someone who hates the taste of beer. [View Full Entry]

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I was just in the middle of writing an angsty letter to Robert about the distance between human beings. I cited rudeness to strangers in foreign places, religious intolerance and the way that people manage to have glazed eyes on the subway--essentially ignoring other people. I was sick of it. And then came Couchsurfing.com. I had read about this website during some of my travel research. It was a way to bring traveling strangers together by linking a traveler with a host who can provide a couch or futon or bed for the night for free. So we tried it--and its [View Full Entry]

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The train pulls into the station at six o'clock in the evening. You throw on your backpack, grab the smaller daypack, and join the crush of people leaving the station. You've never been here before, but then again, it's just like all the other stations. It isn't difficult to find your way out. The people at places like these move in herds, all you have to do is follow the crowd. The only thing that sets you apart is the fact that you are carrying everything you own and even if you know where you want to go, you don't [View Full Entry]

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Its snowing here. I woke up to a coat of whiteness on all of the rooftops in Krakow. What a bizarre sight for this Texas girl in November!!! It solidified our decision to go to Berlin TODAY. The cheapest option is to go by bus for 11 hours from Krakow. It will be a long day. It did make me glad that we did Auschwitz and toured Krakow BEFORE the snow and that we came to Poland early in the trip. Yesterday was a holiday throughout Poland-it was All Saints Day. It is similar to the Mexican holiday Dia de [View Full Entry]

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Since we arrived in Poland, we have taken day trips to the Salt Mines and Auschwitz. Completely different places, but both close to Krakow. The salt mines were rather impressive in sheer size and dedication (who would carve a life-size Pope John Paul 2 out of salt?) but unremarkable otherwise. Something interesting I did not know was that the miners kept horses in the salt mines for their entire lives-they never saw sunshine! They would work all day, then be led into the stables in the mine at night. It was a pretty unbelievably cruel life. The miners, on the [View Full Entry]

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Last night all of my train fantasies came true. We traveled from Prague, Czech Republic to Krakow, Poland via a train and slept in a COUCHETTE!! Our options were as follows: 2 bed, 4 bed, 6 bed couchette, or regular seat. For 8 hours?!?! What do you think? We got the 6 bunk sleeper. The last three cars of the train were all for sleeping, and I felt very privileged to be shown to my own room. They even provided bedding! (if you could call a starchy cotton sheet and a heavy wool blanket sheets). I was so excited, it [View Full Entry]

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We had quite the adventure exploring Giants Causeway in Ireland, and discovered the generosity of strangers. Ive decided that those who live in Northern Ireland have been the most friendly. So the story goes... We leave Belfast on a bus, and after an hour journey along the northern coast, we are the only people on the bus. The bus driver invited us to the front of the bus for a "wee chat", where he asked where we were from and where we were going. "Ballintoy" was our answer-a tiny village on the northern coast of Ireland that only consisted of a [View Full Entry]

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Where to begin? We arrived in Belfast after bussing it up from Cork three days ago. We will fly to Prague on Sunday. Upon arrival to Belfast, we wandered to the Queens University area, in a residential district and discovered Arnie's Hostel. Most hostels we have found, we walk in, wait on reception, and throw our bags down on a wooden slat of a bunk bed. Here, we were greeted by the barking of little Wishbone-like dogs, and invited in by Arnie himself to have tea and coffee. The next day, he booked us and our new California rafting friend [View Full Entry]

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An Irish Blessing May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rain fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. These words whirled around my head all of yesterday as Adam, Kaitlin, and I biked the 20-mile Dingle penninsula. You see a lot more on two wheels and get to take it at your own pace. We brought chicken and bread to make sandwiches and just as I was about to keel [View Full Entry]

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In order to compensate for my lack of updates, I have decided to publish twice today. Since my last entry, we have left Scotland behind in search of greener pastures. The last days of Scotland I took a tour on a ferry to the Isle of Mull outside of Oban. My intent was to explore the Isle of Iona, where St. Columba is said to have singlehandedly continued Christianity. There is only an abbey and a cafe there now, and I greatly anticipated spending the day in deep contemplation on a hard, cold, concrete abbey floor. Instead, the weather was gusty, [View Full Entry]

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