Barcelona is breathtaking!

I arrived in Barcelona after a cancelled moring flight, walking and traveling for 10 hours with my 40 pound back pack on and finally a 5 hour wait for a night train to get out of Paris 8pm to 8 am. I loved Paris but was never more happy to get out of a city. I think I must have taken 10 different sub lines. I guess I needed one travel horror story.

Barcelona is absolutely wonderful and my hostel is a small family owned place with family meals and free activities. It is like a home away from home. I walked to the beach and just took it all in. Big cities have so much to offer, but this one surrounded by water makes me feel reminicent of home with out the cold. I listened to a band playing with the marina as a back drop. I am so excited that I know some Spanish. I really want to learn more languages. I actually spoke to the taxi driver with one or two word spanish sentences.

I discovered that like colleges, families, and countries all have a certain feel or culture, so do cities. Some I have arrived feeling just at home and relaxed the minute I set foot in the city. Others have been trying at first. I leave each one with a part of it with me and a longing for my next adventure. I feel relaxed and on the count down for home. My prespective on life, living, travel and how I move in this world is forever changed. Nothing I could have every imagined can compare to what I have encountered. It is going to be hard to come home. The learning curve is constant and thrilling. There is so much we don't know until we see it for ourselves.

I want everyone to have the chance to travel to other countries. Nothing you read or see at home can compare to what actually being here can give you. I have a even larger respect for other cultures and people!

Tonight I am going on a night walk to see the best view of Barcelona with the owner of the hostel. He says it is striking!

Adios

I made it for the last day of Octoberfest

I spent 7 hours on the train to get to Munich yesterday, October 5. I checked into my hostel and followed all the drunk people to Octoberfest. I had no idea how big and loud the party would be and I was trying to join on the last night at about 7 at night. It took me about an hour to figure out how it worked and how to get a beer. I sat in one of the outside gardens and met a couple from Italy. Together we tried to order food in English which proved to be quite a challenge. We got pork something and the waitress pointed to her calf muscle to indicate it was that part of the pig. It was hysterical and I liked the meet put the potatoes tasted like sauerkraut with a sweet jam on the side. A older overly friendly German man sat with us and insisted that I eat the jam with the potatoes. I had a little and gave the rest to him. We sang and everytime we drank we toasted. I only had one huge beer and them wandered in the tents which are really huge buildings with balconies, stages and everyone jumping on the benches and tables. A sea of people all celebrating and many dressed traditionally with the younger girls finding a sexier version of the dress.

I am taking a walking tour today and then to a concentration camp tomorrow. From Cinque I went to Sirmoine a city where I think the lake is bigger than Chelan. The view was breathtaking and we just relaxed and met one of AJs friends that she met on Skyp. It was fun having someone do all the talking, ordering and translating the sites and sounds for us. He lives in Venice and gave us directions to a local restaurant known for the seafood cuisine. Venice was the most stunning city with the boats for buses and all the music waifing through the air. It was how I imagined Italy to be. We went to Alla Botte for lunch and I had crab linguine. I know you are probably thinking miss picky eater has gone crazy. I must tell you that I have been excited to eat the traditional food in each city and country I have and will visit. I do not always like it but I am always up for a new challenge. I truly have enjoyed experiencing the food. It helps me get a feel for the people and traditions. When I go to a restaurant alone I still feel like it is an event or an occasion. I look forward to it now and feel like I am taking myself out for a date. I might add that I like it when I am a cheap date.

Miss and love you all, but I am getting a little sad that I only have about 18 more days to see, touch and feel Europe. I definitely can not wait to visit again!

I am in Cinque Terre!

I feel much more relaxed and seasoned as a traveler. I can not believe how easy it is to meet people and the locals are really friendly. It's a totally different way of life here and it's amazing and I wish I had longer, but a I miss every one!

I visited Tuscany, Siena, San Girmaino, and Pisa and will be leaving Cinque Terre to meet AJ a girl from South Africa at a lake outside of Venice. I will stay there 2 days and then we'll visit Venice and I will be on may way to Germany.

What have I learned, being on your own opens you up to a lot of good and a few bad things. I have felt isolated when I am lost or unsure of my surroundings. When I see a breath taking sight it is all an internal appreciation. I met a guy from Shanghai traveling along and he expressed the same things. I have only been lonely when I am frustrated, but since Rome it has been relaxing and surreal. I had dinner with a couple from Seattle and I will be meeting them tonight also. For those of you who know me well you would laugh if you knew how many people stopped to say hi how are you doing when I was out to dinner. I met tons of them at a little bar, tratorria and the couple from Seattle just kept laughing at how I only had been in town for 5 hours and already had lots of friends. People are so friendly. What can I say, I even met people on a tour a couple days ago and they saw me again and stopped to say hi. I am know as the blonde girl with the turquiose jacket.

I must seem to look like I know what I am doing because people ask me for directions and how to get from train to train etc....scary thing is I seem to get it now. Wait to see what German trains are like! Sorry no pictures....the computers here won't let me post my pictures.

I hope all is well at home although I here the economy is shot!

I made it to Rome

I made it to Rome safe and sound. It is a huge city and I am tired from traveling all day. Tommorrow I am going to take a double decker bus around the city and stop at all the famous sites. I have walked around for a couple of hours on my own and now am going to get something to eat and stay in my little room with out a window. Feeling homesick today, but I always feel anxious and disoriented after traveling. Not sure where I am headed next.

It is harder to find my way around in Italy. In Greece everything was in English too. At least people are friendly and helpful! I miss my family and friends.

On my way to Rome via Athens first

Sorry it's been so long, but I've been busy living. I've tried different Greek food and even like their fresh tomatoes.

I've met lots of incredibly nice and fun people. Tina from Scandinavia, Pavlo and his friends (they own businesses in Mykonos). I an American that lives in Dubai and his friend Daniella who is a girl from Germany on leave from the military.

I've spent time on Paradise beach, seen a guy wearing an elephant shaped thong entertaining the customers, and a Pelican so big I couldn't believe it was just walking around the town.

The highlight for me was visiting the Archeological site of Delos. I took a ship to the island where I walk around the ancient city and touch engraved words carved there over 2000 years ago. It was so powerful and moving I wanted to cry. The energy was still alive to be shared with visitors of today's time. What an impact. The mosaics were breathtaking and the tools they had and fishing gear aren't that much different than some of our tools today. It's must have been truly magnificant.

I feel like I'm leaving a home, but I am ready for my next adventure. Me in the big city of Rome trying to figure out what bus to take out of 100 different choices. Oh well I'll take several deep breaths and remember as I always tell my family. I'm just making memories!

It's strange how different traveling by myself has been. People around me I hear fighting in some of the most beautiful places on earth. I'm busy enjoying the moment. Besides who am I going to fight with myself. I'm all I got :)

Got to go soon and take a 4 hour ferry ride. In Athens I'll go meet my friends who are waiting to here how I liked my island visits.

Moved from the Bates Motel to Paradise :)

This morning I moved from a creepy hotel reminisent of the Bates way to far away from town. They moved me to an incredible hotel with a gorgeous pool over looking a beautiful beach that you can get to by three stairs. The manager met me on the walk way. What a difference.

It's raining here but it's pretty muggy! Just drops now and then. I'm hanging out with a friend from Australia that I met in Santorini. I happened to run into him this morning while I was walking. He and his brother are entertainning business contacts from their company. They chartered a yaht, but it is too choppy for them to sail. I'm here for 4 more nights then back to Athens for 1 night and on to Rome.

At the Parthenon

The history is fascinating. It's hard to believe I really got to see this wonder with my own eyes. Funny I studied it in Art and now it seems tangible and real to me. To see places and experience culture first hand makes it all reality that can't be explained until you have seen it and touched it yourself. It was tremendously hot and dusty, but worth every minute.

My first Greek friends

These are my first friends in Greece. On the left is George who took me by scooter to the little Acropolis not very far under the main Acropolis. It was lit at night and people sat on the slick marble rocks playing music and drinking beer. It was amazing. The only person missing is Peter.

My Hotel in Athens

Every business has a gate they close in the evening. It is much prettier in the day.

Pool at my hotel in Santorini

Me at Sunset!

Famous Sunset of Santorini

View at lunch in Fira Santorini

Lesson Learned

After walking to my hotel to change for the evening after the beach the other day, I got sick all night. Now it could only be one of two things the grapes I washed or the dry salami I bought in the morning and ate after it had been in my backpack in the sun all day. I was under the impression that salami would be fine in the heat. Apparently I can't eat grapes or the salami just tasted good but wasn't. Upon reflection I remembered I bot it out of the fridge section. I now know the difference. Last night I sailed on an old ship to the volcano, walked to the top and then sailed to another island to swim in the hot spring and then on to the base of Oia to watch the world famous sunset while the saxophone player played music. It was about 5 hours and one of the most incredible things I've ever done. I leave tommorrow for Mykonos and will try to post some pictures now! Wish me luck!

I'm in the adjusted and loving it stage

Hi all! I just spent the day at the beach after waking up to the sunrise out my balcony doors that I left open because it's such great weather. I met a girl on the bus ride back to Fira and I'm going to meet up with them later tonight at a place called Casablanca. I've met so many wonderful people and I'm relaxed just trying to believe that I'm actually here! My camera should be here today or tommorrow at the latest and I will post pictures! I'm off to take a "sleep".

Santorini

What craziness when I arrived at the port in Santorini. Everyone trying to sell rooms and the driver of the bus to my room acted like he had never heard of my hotel or pension. There is a lot that happens that your just not sure of. The drive to town was amazing with every bus and taxi, or scooter winding up the volcanic, steep hillside. My room last night was horrible (clean but in a non used part of the villa, but today "George", gave me a great room with a small balcony over looking the ocean. It is beatiful. There is so much to see and do and I finally feel adjusted enough to explore. In another day I'm taking a sunset boat to a beach, the volcano and an old port which includes dinner for 45EU. I've met wonderful people from all over the world and just had a beer overlooking the Caldera in Fia. I can't post pictures because I left my camera in Athens because I was stressed and forgot it on my bed. Can you believe they had it and will mail it to me in Santorini. I feel pretty chic having a Greek Island for my address for the next 4 nights.

It hasn't been easy. Traveling to each different destination brings with it stress and anxiety. I push through and end up thrilled with my adventure. The meal times are really different and hard to get on a schedule. I learned I have to remember to eat and drink a lot of water! It helps with the stressful time.

I'm off for a swim and then back to Fira (Thira for dinner and sunset). Sorry if it's not perfect grammar or spelling. I have to pay for every minute.

I can't believe I don't have any picutres of the island yet. I'll get them posted before I leave (if Greek postal is good).

Amazing and incredible

Last night I had a wonderful dinner at an outdore taverne and the food and service was great, however I noticed that all the tourists were on one side and later I asked my new Greek friends and they confirmed that indeed I was stuck with the tourists. I met my new friends George and Peter at a restuarant called Great Pita. George said you will have a beer with me please? I thought he meant buy a beer, but he did mean have a beer with him. While I was waiting for him to get done with work, Niko and Peter were drinking beer from the Kiosk selling all sorts of things. Peter is older and speaks incredible english. We spoke about politics, both Greek and American and about family. When more workers got off work at 1am, they joined us as well. George took my for a drink and we took his scooter to the little Acropolis not far below the main Acropolis. People were drinking and playing music with the view of the lit Acropolis and the city of Athens below. What a fantastic experience. Tonight Peter took me to a student travel agency and I booked my trip to Santorini and Mykonos and my airfair to Rome, Italy. We also ate traditional greek meat and met many restaurant owners. I leave Sunday. I'm learning so much about Greece I had no idea about. I can't wait to show you pictures, but I just found out this dang computer won't let me use the USB. Tommorrow I will find an internet cafe to post pictures. I have never saw so many shoe/sandal shops in my life!

I'm Here Alive and ?????

Have to say it was overwelming but I practiced some deep breathing and hoped for the best. The bus was easy enough, however, it doesn't take you to the hotel. I asked 3 different people how I was to get to Sygnama Square from the bus station. The metro is a subway and another gentleman told me where the map was on the metro. Most things are label with the greek spelling and translation. I got dropped of at the square and wondered around the streets for about 2 hours trying to find my hotel :) Asked another 4 people for directions and finally arrived. Athens is huge, loud and friendly. Slept for 9 hours and it's now 9:00p. I just met an american lady that just turned 55 and has had the time of her life alone.... I'm going to a restuarant she recommended and see the Acropolis lit at night. Tommorrow morning I'm heading for the Acropolis at 8:30a and to see the flea market. WOW! 1 day down 44 to go!

Greece, here I come . . .