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Published: January 3rd 2007
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On the eve of the new year, it is customary to reflect back on our previous 365 days. In the past year, Ive been a pretty lucky girl. I have graduated from college, traveled to New Zealand, dived in Costa Rica, and backpacked almost all of Western Europe. Reflecting back on just the past 3 1/2 months of travel, I compiled a list of superlatives for outstanding sights in selected categories. Be fully warned that these categories divert slightly from the norm.
*Best bridges-Glasgow, Scotland for lighting up in neon colors at night
*Rockin Park-Guell Park-a failed community turned park that was designed by Gaudi in Barcelona Spain
*Fabulous Hostels-Fort William Backpacekers in Ft Willie Scotland even though it rained every day
Sir Tobys Hostel for its cozy pub and fabulous tour guide
The Flying Pig in Amsterdam for its rowdy lobby bar and massive "chill out" couch
*Craziest Night Club Scene-The Cross Club in Prague, Czech Republic because the owner was an ex-plumber who welded the entire club out of metal pieces.
*Least Bang for your buck-Colosseum Tour, Rome Italy. I don't even want to tell you how much we paid a
tour guide to screech at us about the importance of returning her audio head sets. I included her picture so that she would forever live in infamy.
*Most fascinating history-Black Cab Tour in Belfast, Ireland discussing the clash between the Protestants and Catholics.
*Best Dairy Products-Dingle, Ireland for its yogurt and milk straight from the cow.
*Most fun in a plastic box-Museum on the Mound (of the pound) in Edinburgh, Scotland for having a combination lock that you had to figure out based on clues around the museum. The prize? Chocolate Euro coins.
*Only place to buy a Rolex at any time of day-Switzerland. "We dont care who you are or where you come from, only that you have money".
*Yummy snack-Fartura, a warm, fried doughnut covered in cinnamon sugar from Lagos, Portugal
*Freaking awesome cannon-The Mons Meg on Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. Its twice as long as me. The cannon ball is the size of a car tire.
*Most efficient transportation-TGV in France or any given train in Germany. Typical.
*Bizarre architecture-Gaudi's Sagrada de Familia in Barcelona, Spain. More of a testament to man than God.
*Most flagrant use of graffitti- (old) Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic and (new) Berlin. Its even on the chimneys.
*Incredible Polylingualism-The Netherlands. They all speak at least five languages and put us all to shame.
*Most tourists taking the exact same picture-Leaning tower of Pisa, Italy. Yep, still trying to hold that building up.
*Must-See Cathedral-Salisbury, England. Wow.
*Amazing rock formation-octagonal rock piles on the coastline in Giants Causeway, Scotland.
*Bad Ass Bird-The cormorant for eating a live snake.
There have also been a litany of people that have helped us along the way. Many of these people will never know our appreciation, but I felt that I owed them something in order to try to share our gratitude.
To the LADY IN LISBON who held open the toilet stall door for me, saving me the monstrous .50 fee.
To the Christian BUS DRIVER in Northern Ireland, who drove us outside of his route all the way to Giants Causeway and later called our hostel to make sure we had arrived back safely.
To IAN and ROBINA WHITEHORN, who above all, gave us a home when we needed it most. Also for providing us with wonderful conversation, bottomless wine and beers, History of England 101, barn dancing, guided tours, and inviting us back.
To MARION and PAUL for our dinner party in Petersfield and making us feel like part of the neighborhood.
To KAITLIN in Dingle, Ireland for hosting us with a constant smile on her face, showing us one of the most amazing bike rides ever, and being true to herself.
To PHIL and REBECCA in Brighton, with no prior knowledge of who we were, Rebecca offered her husband (as a host) and Phil offered his best beer, curry dinner and living room.
To ALLISON, who lived in Belfast and put us in contact with her friends Hannah and Paul and Fitzroy Presbyterian Church.
To NICO, our sailing instructor host in France who showed no fear in the face of adversity (maelstrom and fishing line) while sailing us into the open sea.
To DENIS and ISABELLE for sharing their home, hospitality, and incredible French cuisine in order to celebrate Thanksgiving abroad.
To MAX and GAEL for showing us the true meaning of French Savoir Vive.
To COUCHSURFING.COM for an all night party in Paris and connecting us with a multitude of fellow travelers.
To GRIET and PJ for giving us a positive, fun and encouraging start to Couchsurfing, and patiently sat through an entire accordion concert that I dragged them to.
To AL and ALI for being a great example that couples can still be cool after they are married (on a glacier).
To SACHA COHEN for making us laugh so hard it hurt while watching BORAT in Berlin.
TO MACBACKPACKERS for giving us a fun, educational, and comprehensive view of the highlands (and up our tour guides kilt).
To STEPHEN in Prague-an ex-German professor with cancer, who turned down an opportunity to teach at Harvard because of his complaint with the Patriot Act, that shared with us his wealth of knowledge on politics, tourism, Germany, and Prague.
To the owners of LETTING CAFE In Amsterdam for incredible mint tea, bleu cheese broccoli soup and making us feel like we were in our own kitchen.
To STEEVE in Paris for teaching me the names of body parts in French and not laughing too hard.
To ZACK WARREN for an unforgettable Halloween with the green faeries.
To ANNE FRANK for giving the world an inside glimpse of her personal account of war.
To the AUSTIN COLLEGE CREW IN GRANADA: Audrey I blame for introducing me to Sangria, thanks to Bucky for being the ringleader and rousing the troops, Beth for intelligent conversation, Sam for Chinese candy and Greys Anatomy, Austin for frisbee and Becca for the Arab baths.
To JO in Bordeaux for introducing us to Senegalese rap, grafitti art and the history of Bordeaux upon arrival.
To PABLO in Barcelona for meeting us at the train station, giving us a very raucous taste of European futbol and showing us a realistic perspective of Colombia.
To the BAUMANNS for bringing much-needed reinforcements of socks and reading materials and choosing to spend a non-traditional Christmas in order to be with me.
To ALL OF MY FRIENDS at home reading this, thanks for reading and writing back.
I wish you all a very educational, interesting, adventurous, fun, memorable 2007.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
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