Thankfully I splurged and got a sleeper car for the night train from Madrid to Lisbon, otherwise the trip would have been miserable. I arrived into Lisbon early in the morning and made it to my hostel without too much trouble. I really lucked out with the hostel I´m staying at, Goodnight Backpackers Hostel, the staff immediately welcomed me in and I felt as if I was staying at a friends house. At dinner time everyone gathers in the kitchen cooking then hangs around the common area sharing stories about their travels, by far the best hostel I´ve stayed at on my trip!
I ended up meeting a girl from Philly on the train in from Madrid and we grabbed lunch in the afternoon. It was intriguing to watch how the beggars approached her as we sat at an outdoor cafe (she´s originally from India so naturally has dark skin), it wasn´t until she repeatedly told them no that they would try their case with me. I spent the afternoon hiking around Lisbon (it is an extremely hilly city) and found my way up to Caselo de Sao Jorge (Castle of St. George) which had an unbelievable view of the city and river (crazy fact: Lisbon has a huge bridge spanning over the river that is identical to the Golden Gate bridge). After spending several hours walking up and down the hills I was so tired and sweaty I called it a day and headed back to the hostel. Several of my roommates and I cooked dinner and sat around talking about college football.
I got up the next morning and went for a run around town, if I had known how much hiking and running I´d be doing later that day I would´ve just stayed in bed! Myself and one of my roommates and I decided to catch a train to Sintra ( as small town just outside of Lisbon). For some reason I thought is was going to be right on the beach, turns out it´s up in the mountains, so I was completely unprepared for all the hiking we did!!! Thankfully my flip-flops (yes, I wore flip-flops to go hiking... not smart decision!) held up and I only came away with a skinned up knee. We spent a couple hours hiking through a park then made it up to the Palácio da Pena (the Palace of Pena, on old palace that was built in the 1800´s). The palace was straight from a Disney movie with it´s bright exterior, draw bridge and multiple look out towers. Unfortunately just like the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, our view was completely fogged out. We tried to make it to the top of the mountain to the lookout point but gave up after getting lost several times.
Later that night we wandered over to the Praca de Comerico (one of the main spuares) after we saw a bunch of people getting ready for a run. Given it was the first day of summer they were having a solstice celebration which included a night run (Corrida da Luz, loosely translated it means "run from sunrise"). After taking pictures with a couple Portuguese guys and joking about doing the run ourselves we thought "why the hell not..." We ran back to our hostel, changed, and joined the run. Keep in mind we just had dinner of pork, chips and a coke!!! It was amazing, here I am running the streets of Lisbon with locals cheering me on in Portuguese... only in Lisbon!!! I quickly learned Portuguese runs are alot different from American runs! I´m used to in the States having water stations at every mile, here in Lisbon you don´t get water til half way through the race, which was a little over 3miles... needless to say I was exhausted by the end of the race!!!
I´m leaving Lisbon today and heading to Cascais (a small beach town), the hostel I´m staying at rents out surf boards so I´m going to try my luck at surfing.
Adeus! ("goodbye")
Lauren
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
A Few Days in Madrid
I´ve been in Madrid now for several days and while it´s quite a big city, I´ve come to enjoy it. My hostel is located down a side street, away from the crazyness of Puerta del Sol (which is in essence the heart of Madrid) but even down the side streets, partying is going on at all hours of the night... thankfully I have ear plugs and a sleep mask so I´m out cold every night.
I was very suprised to learn the underground subway is quite possibly the easiest mass transit system I´ve ever used, I took from the airport to my hostel without a single problem. I ended up meeting a fellow American traveler on my quest to find Hostel Posada de Huerta (i.e. my hostel), she had been working in Dublin since the beginning of May and was taking one last trip before she headed back to the states. We met up for dinner later that night and ate at a traditional Spanish restraunt just outside the Plaza Mayor (the plaza featured in the movie Vantage Point, where the President gets shot). I spent the next day doing the tourist thing, riding around on the "hop on/hop off" tour bus... definitely a great way to see the city and figure out where everything is!
I decided to go and have my first solo cafe lunch... what an experience!!! As I walked around trying to find a place to eat, I heard a loud comotion ahead of me. Just then a group of guys go running by me holding huge sacks over their shoulders, come to find out they had just robbed all the street merchants on the road. There were wallets, purses, DVD´s, spralwed everywhere and once everyone realized what had happened they went running into the streets to take what was left. The biggest suprise to me was that security guards and police just stood by and watched this whole ordeal without doing anything. To add to my interesting day, I was then harassed by a homeless man while I tried to eat my lunch. I had finally found a good outdoor cafe to eat at, and after accepting the fact that outside dining=smoking section, I sat back and tried to enjoy my lunch. Out of nowhere a homeless man comes up to the cafe and starts beginning for food and money from everyone eating outside, when he first came to me I politely told him no and he went on to another table but once no one would give him food he came back to me. I´m was completely thrown off by this since in the States if someone came into a cafe doing this a manager would be right there and would escort the individual out... that´s not the case in Spain. I tried to be nice again, saying I was going to eat it all but he would not give up, I ended up losing my temper and yelling at him... he finally got the hint and moved on to another table. Apparantly I handled the situation all wrong cause everyone proceeded to stare at me, turns out you´re just suppose to sit there and ignore him and hope that he leaves (I learned that by watching the other customers deal with him)... I´m definitely not in the States anymore!!!
The next 2 days were spent wandering around Madrid, looking at all the different Plaza´s and Cathedrals.
Last night I was invited to dinner by a couple of my french hostelmates, after spending a couple hours playing cards in the common area our dinner group turned into the "dinner of cultures" (as we nicknamed it... 1 guy from the UK, 2 guys from Virginia, 2 girls from Washington DC, 6 guys from France, and myself). The french guys knew of this tiny little restraunt on one of the side streets... we were quite a sight to see!!! After several long debates and using my translation book we finally ordered. While there was major communication difficulties (only one of the french guys spoke english and it was very little) it was really cool to have such different people all eating dinner together!
I spent most of today in Parque del Retiro (a massive park just outside the city centre) trying to escape all the honking and yelling that takes place on every street. I´ll be catching a night train tomorrow to go to Lisbon, Portugal and have scheduled to stay there for atleast 3 nights. I´ve been taking note of all the cultural differences I´ve experienced and will soon make a post of them... it´s amazing everything that I´ve been able to experience in such a short time.
Adios!
I was very suprised to learn the underground subway is quite possibly the easiest mass transit system I´ve ever used, I took from the airport to my hostel without a single problem. I ended up meeting a fellow American traveler on my quest to find Hostel Posada de Huerta (i.e. my hostel), she had been working in Dublin since the beginning of May and was taking one last trip before she headed back to the states. We met up for dinner later that night and ate at a traditional Spanish restraunt just outside the Plaza Mayor (the plaza featured in the movie Vantage Point, where the President gets shot). I spent the next day doing the tourist thing, riding around on the "hop on/hop off" tour bus... definitely a great way to see the city and figure out where everything is!
I decided to go and have my first solo cafe lunch... what an experience!!! As I walked around trying to find a place to eat, I heard a loud comotion ahead of me. Just then a group of guys go running by me holding huge sacks over their shoulders, come to find out they had just robbed all the street merchants on the road. There were wallets, purses, DVD´s, spralwed everywhere and once everyone realized what had happened they went running into the streets to take what was left. The biggest suprise to me was that security guards and police just stood by and watched this whole ordeal without doing anything. To add to my interesting day, I was then harassed by a homeless man while I tried to eat my lunch. I had finally found a good outdoor cafe to eat at, and after accepting the fact that outside dining=smoking section, I sat back and tried to enjoy my lunch. Out of nowhere a homeless man comes up to the cafe and starts beginning for food and money from everyone eating outside, when he first came to me I politely told him no and he went on to another table but once no one would give him food he came back to me. I´m was completely thrown off by this since in the States if someone came into a cafe doing this a manager would be right there and would escort the individual out... that´s not the case in Spain. I tried to be nice again, saying I was going to eat it all but he would not give up, I ended up losing my temper and yelling at him... he finally got the hint and moved on to another table. Apparantly I handled the situation all wrong cause everyone proceeded to stare at me, turns out you´re just suppose to sit there and ignore him and hope that he leaves (I learned that by watching the other customers deal with him)... I´m definitely not in the States anymore!!!
The next 2 days were spent wandering around Madrid, looking at all the different Plaza´s and Cathedrals.
Last night I was invited to dinner by a couple of my french hostelmates, after spending a couple hours playing cards in the common area our dinner group turned into the "dinner of cultures" (as we nicknamed it... 1 guy from the UK, 2 guys from Virginia, 2 girls from Washington DC, 6 guys from France, and myself). The french guys knew of this tiny little restraunt on one of the side streets... we were quite a sight to see!!! After several long debates and using my translation book we finally ordered. While there was major communication difficulties (only one of the french guys spoke english and it was very little) it was really cool to have such different people all eating dinner together!
I spent most of today in Parque del Retiro (a massive park just outside the city centre) trying to escape all the honking and yelling that takes place on every street. I´ll be catching a night train tomorrow to go to Lisbon, Portugal and have scheduled to stay there for atleast 3 nights. I´ve been taking note of all the cultural differences I´ve experienced and will soon make a post of them... it´s amazing everything that I´ve been able to experience in such a short time.
Adios!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
I'm Off To Spain
At the moment I'm sitting in the Dublin airport waiting to board a plane to Madrid, completely random!!! Originally I was going to save Spain for a future trip but on a whim I booked a flight and 3 nights in a hostel, so here goes nothing!
Justus is currently on his way back to the States, so it's just me now :) We had a blast in Ireland, Dublin was a little big for our liking but Galway was incredible. We took a 3hr train ride to Galway and wandered around there for about 4 days. It's small town on the west coast of Ireland. By far the friendliest individuals I've met in Ireland and quite possibly the best hostel I've stayed at... Kinlay House. We took a ferry out to the Aran Islands, rented bikes and spent the day riding around the island, it was absolutely gorgeous!!! We had bright blue skies and even got a little sunburn (go figure, 2 Texans getting sunburn in Ireland). And while my bike came a part and we had to hitch a ride back into town, it was by far my favorite day in Ireland!!!
Given we had had pretty good weather since we got in, it was time for the traditional Irish weather to kick in... windy, rainy and cold. The next day we decided to go to the Cliffs of Moher, we were told is was a beautiful sight by the locals, unfortunately all we saw was fog.
After Galway we went back to Dublin and spent one of the days in the small coastal town of Dun Laoghaire. The weather wasn't great but we spent the day walking along the coast checking out what Ireland had to offer :)
While parks are limited in Dublin, it's been great to grab lunch from a Spar (small food stores) and walk to a park to eat. I have learned that there are NO picnic tables and a very limited number of benches in the parks. Apparently parks are just for looking at. Playing sports, laying in the grass, and grilling are "strictly forbidden." We did spend a lot of time at St. Stephen's Green in Dublin (a larger sized park near the city centre), it actually had a few park benches and a few areas where you are allowed to lay in the grass.
Looks like my flight's about to board.
Cheers for now! (as they say here in Ireland)
Justus is currently on his way back to the States, so it's just me now :) We had a blast in Ireland, Dublin was a little big for our liking but Galway was incredible. We took a 3hr train ride to Galway and wandered around there for about 4 days. It's small town on the west coast of Ireland. By far the friendliest individuals I've met in Ireland and quite possibly the best hostel I've stayed at... Kinlay House. We took a ferry out to the Aran Islands, rented bikes and spent the day riding around the island, it was absolutely gorgeous!!! We had bright blue skies and even got a little sunburn (go figure, 2 Texans getting sunburn in Ireland). And while my bike came a part and we had to hitch a ride back into town, it was by far my favorite day in Ireland!!!
Given we had had pretty good weather since we got in, it was time for the traditional Irish weather to kick in... windy, rainy and cold. The next day we decided to go to the Cliffs of Moher, we were told is was a beautiful sight by the locals, unfortunately all we saw was fog.
After Galway we went back to Dublin and spent one of the days in the small coastal town of Dun Laoghaire. The weather wasn't great but we spent the day walking along the coast checking out what Ireland had to offer :)
While parks are limited in Dublin, it's been great to grab lunch from a Spar (small food stores) and walk to a park to eat. I have learned that there are NO picnic tables and a very limited number of benches in the parks. Apparently parks are just for looking at. Playing sports, laying in the grass, and grilling are "strictly forbidden." We did spend a lot of time at St. Stephen's Green in Dublin (a larger sized park near the city centre), it actually had a few park benches and a few areas where you are allowed to lay in the grass.
Looks like my flight's about to board.
Cheers for now! (as they say here in Ireland)
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Dublin
I've finally figured out this traveling thing, it helps to have a friend with you that's been doing for a couple months (i.e. Justus). We've spent the past couple of days wandering around Dublin, checking out the many churches and parks.
I have several distant relatives in Ireland, one of which lives in Dublin so we were able to meet up with my cousin Mary for lunch yesterday. It had been over ten years since we'd last seen each other but it was great to see family so far from home. After lunch she gave us a personal tour around Dublin explaining the different buildings and the history behind them.
We're jumping on the train to tomorrow and heading to Galway for several days, I can't wait to get out and see the rest of Ireland. Dublin is pretty big city and it can get overwhelming after a while with all the people and traffic.
For all those beer lovers we're doing the Guinness tour later this afternoon :)
I have several distant relatives in Ireland, one of which lives in Dublin so we were able to meet up with my cousin Mary for lunch yesterday. It had been over ten years since we'd last seen each other but it was great to see family so far from home. After lunch she gave us a personal tour around Dublin explaining the different buildings and the history behind them.
We're jumping on the train to tomorrow and heading to Galway for several days, I can't wait to get out and see the rest of Ireland. Dublin is pretty big city and it can get overwhelming after a while with all the people and traffic.
For all those beer lovers we're doing the Guinness tour later this afternoon :)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
I Made It!
I finally made it to Dublin!!! It was a long and tiring trip but I made it safe and sound. I almost missed my flight from London to Dublin after I fell asleep in the airport, thankfully I woke up just in time to hear "last call for flight 163 to Dublin," I took off running through the airport and made it just in time. I also managed to make to my hostel using the city bus, no thanks to the rude bus driver.
Before I headed off on my trip I had invisioned what Dublin was going to be like and the local culture that I would encounter... after stepping off the plane all my preconceptions changed. I was expecting to encounter a warm and inviting atmosphere, much like in Texas, that was not the case. Dublin reminds me much of New York, a fast paced big city, where everyone is constantly rushing to get everywhere.
Finally after giving up on figuring out the phone system here and wandering into a local deli for dinner, I decided to call it a day. As I walked back to my hostel I began to second guess my abilities to spend 2 months traveling alone through foreign countries and cultures. Then I realized that I've never given up that easily before and it's going to take a lot more than rude individuals and hard rain to keep me from continuing on!!! I've decided not to have any preconceptions on the future places I will be visiting and the individuals I will meet... that way nothing will disappoint me. Thankfully my friend Justus is getting into town today so I'll have a friendly face with me as we go through Ireland!
All in all, I may have doubted myself for a moment but I refuse to give up so easily. I am determined to make it through this summer traveling through Europe alone!!!
Before I headed off on my trip I had invisioned what Dublin was going to be like and the local culture that I would encounter... after stepping off the plane all my preconceptions changed. I was expecting to encounter a warm and inviting atmosphere, much like in Texas, that was not the case. Dublin reminds me much of New York, a fast paced big city, where everyone is constantly rushing to get everywhere.
Finally after giving up on figuring out the phone system here and wandering into a local deli for dinner, I decided to call it a day. As I walked back to my hostel I began to second guess my abilities to spend 2 months traveling alone through foreign countries and cultures. Then I realized that I've never given up that easily before and it's going to take a lot more than rude individuals and hard rain to keep me from continuing on!!! I've decided not to have any preconceptions on the future places I will be visiting and the individuals I will meet... that way nothing will disappoint me. Thankfully my friend Justus is getting into town today so I'll have a friendly face with me as we go through Ireland!
All in all, I may have doubted myself for a moment but I refuse to give up so easily. I am determined to make it through this summer traveling through Europe alone!!!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Count Down Begins!
Passport... check!
Eurail... check!
Backpack... check!
Plane ticket... check!
Every thing's finally coming together for my summer travels! It seems like years ago that I decided I would take this summer off and spend it roaming around Europe but the time for me to head-off is just around the corner... kind of scary! In years past, every trip I have taken has been planned, organized, and completed with reservations weeks or months in advance... this trip is a little different.
While most of you think I'm completely crazy heading off to Europe alone, a rookie at "backpacking," and fluent in just one language... English; I think this will probably be one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Thankfully I won't be all alone when I first start off, I'll have a good friend meeting me in Dublin and we'll be spending a couple weeks roaming around my "home" country. For anyone who doesn't know, my family is from Ireland and I have cousins in several different areas that I hope to be meeting up with.
After Ireland the rest of my time is unknown. I have a 2 month eurail pass, a backpack full of clothes, and the desire to see as many places as I can.
I hope to keep this blog as up-to-date as possible, I won't be taking a laptop with me so I'll be relying on internet cafes so you'll have to bear with me. But this way you'll know I'm still alive and kicking. I'll be leaving Austin in the early hours of Tuesday morning (June 3rd) and will finally reach Dublin around 2pm on June 4th, please pray for a safe flight and summer of travels as I get ready to start my summer in Europe.
Eurail... check!
Backpack... check!
Plane ticket... check!
Every thing's finally coming together for my summer travels! It seems like years ago that I decided I would take this summer off and spend it roaming around Europe but the time for me to head-off is just around the corner... kind of scary! In years past, every trip I have taken has been planned, organized, and completed with reservations weeks or months in advance... this trip is a little different.
While most of you think I'm completely crazy heading off to Europe alone, a rookie at "backpacking," and fluent in just one language... English; I think this will probably be one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Thankfully I won't be all alone when I first start off, I'll have a good friend meeting me in Dublin and we'll be spending a couple weeks roaming around my "home" country. For anyone who doesn't know, my family is from Ireland and I have cousins in several different areas that I hope to be meeting up with.
After Ireland the rest of my time is unknown. I have a 2 month eurail pass, a backpack full of clothes, and the desire to see as many places as I can.
I hope to keep this blog as up-to-date as possible, I won't be taking a laptop with me so I'll be relying on internet cafes so you'll have to bear with me. But this way you'll know I'm still alive and kicking. I'll be leaving Austin in the early hours of Tuesday morning (June 3rd) and will finally reach Dublin around 2pm on June 4th, please pray for a safe flight and summer of travels as I get ready to start my summer in Europe.
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