Differences and Random thoughts

Just some things I thought I would share =) Enjoy!

London Leftovers…

Couple things about London I forgot to post.

 We speak American, not English =P regardless, some words stood out to me that didn’t make sense like…

-Scheduled .. is pronounced.. shed-uled
-Garage .. is pronounced..  char-Age
 When people asked what I was studying in London, I would say ‘TheateR’ all American sounding =P I needed to say it like ‘Theetar’ for them to understand me!

British say ‘I reckon’ a lot.
There is dried gum on the sidewalks- Everywhere! It's pretty disgusting.

But I miss my second home so much <3

Differences

• They take their chocolate very seriously here, and it’s all ten thousand times better than Hershey’s!
• Being bilingual blows my mind, don’t think I will ever be.
• No one over here has any perception of where any of the states are in America.
• So many people smoke, but they usually roll their own cigarettes. The smoke from them isn’t as disgusting as normal ones.
• I don’t care for the German language. It is not very pleasing to the ear, especially with the words that involve the huacking sound.. which seems to be almost all of them! But it does depend on the person speaking.
• There were windmills and solar farms EVERYWHERE in Germany.  My host in Rothenburg said that they get money from the government if they install solar panels, so everyone has them. But only about 4% of Germany’s energy comes from them.
• Italians (so far) do not seem as stylish as the English. In London you could wear whatever you can imagine, you would get crooked looks in Italy. Not to be rude, but they are fatter too.
• Cell phones are called- ‘Mobile or mobile phone’ in England and ‘Handys’ in Germany
• It really bugs me when people think they speak English. I hate it when someone will say something totally wrong in English with complete confidence and look at like you’re stupid that you don’t understand. Don’t think it’s right; I wouldn’t do the same in the reverse situation. I’d be more considerate.
• Italians walk so slow, and are always outside- like I don't understand how these people have jobs! 

 Random

• Since I am traveling alone, I have never felt unsafe. But I am the target of solicitors and I take a lot of pictures for people. Lol
• I love traveling by myself! Yes I would like to have someone else with me but I love doing whatever I want to do and go wherever I want. Very liberating.
• My hosts have mainly been guys, but I send so many ‘couch requests’ to women, but they all get denied.        
• Everyone stares. When I had my black eye, it was just rude. Now it’s annoying because I am not doing anything in order to be stared at. But I’ve gotten used to it.
• Red Bull is the only free thing in Switzerland. (They were handing out promotional cans at the stations)
• I do my best to not seem like a tourist when I can, and apparently I am damn good at it. I always have people asking me for directions or a question not in English.
• I have spent more time at Starbucks and Mcdonalds in Europe than in America by far; I only go there for the free wifi if/when I need it. Feel a little lame but it is hard to find free wifi.
• Julin, one of my hosts in Berlin, asked if all the European cities start looking the same.. I try not let that happen by finding the character and personality of each destination.
• I need to stop listening to old dance songs while I’m on the train. It makes me miss home too much.
• I’m a pro at trains now. I prefer them over flying (in Europe) because you are taken right into the center of the city. With airports it takes so much time and money to get to and from the airports.

 And to finish, my host in Dusseldorf summed up the difference between Americans and Europeans simply and perfectly..

•  Europeans think 100 miles is far, Americans think 100 years is a long time.

Venice =)

Simply put, Venice was amazing. Such a unique and interesting city. 

I stayed with two hosts in Venice; both sent me invitations to couch surf with them.

Giovanni was my first host; he lived outside of Venice in Mestre, just a fifteen minute bus ride into Venice City. Giovanni was a nice guy; there was a language barrier so it was hard to talk about anything interesting. This was annoying at times. For instance, he asked me to help him with his English but anytime I would, he would think that I am asking him a question in a way- it’s hard to describe. His place was nice but cold and he smoked- a lot, but at least it was outside. Bleh. He made dinner for me both nights I stayed, which was very nice- Pasta both times. Lol Giovanni was very nice, suggested things to do, and made sure I could get to and from the bus stop and Venice. I was his first surfer from the states and he wanted me to tell him anything about the US, but anytime I tried to- he didn’t understand or wasn’t interested.

On my first night in Venice, I joined Giovanni and met up with other couch surfers (about 8). Everyone was very nice, got to try a Spritz- a Venice classic. It was so sour and bitter, I didn’t care for it. But the other couch surfers were really cool. I got to meet a Couch surfing legend! His name is Mastro and he wrestles (Juno) surfers in order for them to stay at his place! He was an awesome guy and had such pride in Italy, told me why it is so unique and that it has anything anyone would want. I really enjoyed talking with him. I also met another girl Chole, the only other girl in the group! She was really sweet, she is working for someone through HelpX and couch surfs too. She is very well traveled and met a lot of people, yet I was the only American girl that she has ever met traveling alone!

Christian was my other host. He was probably the worst host I have had. He had a very heavy Italian accent and spoke very fast, so I could only understand a quarter of what he said. I asked him to either slow down or speak clearer a couple times, but he never did. His place was disgusting, very smelly, cold, and dirty. I did have a room and bed to myself, but it had no door, only a curtain. Christian was not very talkative, never asked me anything about myself etc. It was so awkward. But at least he made me dinner the two nights I stayed. He claimed to of had a boat on his couch surfing page, he didn’t. He was part of a rowing club (I think).

I also met my personality twin- Joellen! You can search for other surfers in your destination to hang out with; I found her and sent her a message. She is an American, dancer, dog sitter, and traveling alone too! It was really weird and interesting to find someone basically just like me. We meet up for an afternoon, and it was so easy to get along- like didn’t even have to try. She had her host’s terrier, Nana, with her (lucky!). So the three of us explored for a little and got pizza.

Tourism aspects

-It was all bloody tourists in Venice. They all were just very inconsiderate and oblivious.  It got pretty annoying. Yes I realize I am a tourist too, but I’m a better one! ;)

-Judging from the different places I was at in Venice, they were all rather rude. They don’t need to be nice because Venice will always attract visitors- no matter how poor the hospitality.

-Venice especially sinks at night. During high tide, parts of the city’s sidewalks become water.

-There shops everywhere, all seemingly selling the same thing. Also, illegal street vendors- specifically ones who were trying to sell these gel toy things. When you throw them at the ground they splat then ooze back into its original shape. So anytime you would walk by, they would throw those down trying to get your attention.

-The Ritalo, the famous bridge, is covered in graffiti. The graffiti is small, but it takes away the beauty of it. It looked like it was there for a while too, with no attempt to remove it. There are also two rows of shops on the bridge.

-Venice is a cruise ship port too. Took my breath away when I saw a massive cruise ship passing by Piazza San Marco- it was so huge, especially against the small island in the background. 

Every water alleyway is so pretty =)

The busy Grand Canal <3

Rialto Bridge

Basilica di San Marco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So beautiful <3

<3

Cimitero (the entire island is a cemetery, and it's beautiful!)

=)

View from St Mark's Campanile Bell Tower

Cruise ships are massive to begin with, but seeing one against the tiny island and buildings was ridiculous!

Venice at night was my favorite, so quite and uncrowded!

Self Reflection =P

This trip is such a ridiculous, memorable, and amazing time. I love traveling by myself! Yes- I would like to have someone else with me but I love doing whatever I want to do and go wherever I want. It’s all very liberating. I love the ‘travel high’ I get! Best way to describe it I suppose!

I am really learning a lot about myself. I really appreciate my freakishly good sense of direction, it really comes in handy. I also appreciate my independence. I’ve never felt scared or unsafe. I know what I need to do and I know how to carry myself. Being homesick is a new feeling for me, was never homesick in London- because it was my home away from home. This constant moving somehow makes me homesick. Also, these last few weeks have been the hardest because I am so close to coming home.

I’m really finding out about how I like to travel and what I want from a destination. Yes, I do still like the popular tourist destinations- but they have become so sterilized, you just visit- you don’t experience the destination. I have really enjoyed visiting towns that I have never heard of before and that other people are unfamiliar with. It makes me feel unique and less disposable.

Mainly I’m discovering how strong, adaptable, positive, and tolerable I can be. I have put up with a lot of shit while I have been gone. I think many people would have really let it ruin their experience and deter them from traveling more in the future. ..But that isn’t going to happen with me. I do become defeated, but then my positive attitude comes through. In my mind, I am getting all of this bad luck and certain situations because I can handle it.

Couch surfing is one of the best things that has happened to me. I absolutely love it. Kind of always felt like I was meant to find it. I had some amazing hosts and some lame ones, but it is all part of the experience. It is such a heartfelt and selfless act to just let a (somewhat) stranger into your home with nothing (tangible) in exchange. You don’t just get a free accommodation with couch surfing, but you get an experience and a new friend. They take you in and you get to experience what it is like to live in the destination, which is exactly what I like. Also, just meeting up with other surfers, not staying with them, has been an amazing experience. Because you have a profile about yourself on couch surfing, you are able to see your interests and what you have in common beforehand. So you already have an idea of what you want to ask them or share. For me, Couch surfing has really proved the kindness this world has to offer. It provides the perfect way to learn about other cultures and share about my own. 

Look out world ;)

Zermatt! =D

            I had to take a few different trains to get to Zermatt from Lucerne. One of them was a regional train that was not covered by my Eurail pass, so I had to pay for a ticket. While on the train there was a British family sitting behind me, I heard one of them on the phone saying that there was an avalanche on the train tracks to Zermatt, so we would have to get off the train and take a replacement bus. But the tracks were thankfully cleared by the time we got there! The train ride to Zermatt was unreal. It was basically going directly through the Alps, like the train was just on a small ledge- above was straight up and below was directly down. It was insane! The views were beautiful; my face was stuck in an awe struck position the whole time!

            When I did arrive in Zermatt, I waited at the station for maybe fifteen minutes for my host to meet me. My host in Zermatt’s name was Peter! He was such a gentleman and insisted to carry my bags for me (of which my past few hosts didn’t even offer). We took my bags to his place- a cozy little single room with two beds. Sunday evening, he had already eaten but he came along with me to get a proper dinner. Peter is from York in England (of which I visited), so it was very easy to talk with him. Not having a language barrier was very nice, so we got into more in depth conversations. I really enjoyed talking with him; he is such a passionate and honest guy. He is also a very simple man; I easily had more things in my bags than he did in his entire flat. He really lives his life in the moment, not worrying about the past or future- just doing what makes you happy. =)

On Monday we slept in a bit, ate breakfast, and then headed into the village. Peter went off to work and I started exploring and doing things that he suggested. Zermatt is a very small village, but very nice. It is mainly filled with hotels and lodges for skiers and visitors. I just explored the town and did some shopping for most of the day. Some super short hiking trails because I only had tennis shoes, so I didn’t want to risk it.

On Tuesday, April 17^th, Peter and I got up early to go up into the Alps on the ski lifts. The weather claimed it would be sunny, but in the morning it was cloudy and you could not see anything from the village. However, once we gained altitude and broke through the clouds it was sunny and beautiful. At our first stop, Gornergrat, there was a beautiful view of the Matterhorn- this being the first time I had actually seen it! It was so amazing. Making it even better, there was an adorable St. Bernard there! I was just petting her but then got my picture with her! (which is why she was there!) The dog’s name was Nana even! (reference to Peter Pan). We got some pictures together in front of the Matterhorn, and some with Peter- of whom was afraid of Nana! Pft! Next we went to another peak, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. There we ate our ‘picnic lunch’ we brought. I was very thankful that Peter was able to come along with me, because I don’t think I would have navigated the different lifts and trains that well. By the time we got to our last peak Rothorn, the clouds raised up so we were unable to see anything. We were still lucky that we had clear and sunny weather for the other peaks. 

Yes Zermatt was cold, but it was not unbearable! I was only really cold a couple times but I wore a bunch of layers, so I was usually warm.

On Wednesday, I got up early to catch my train. I had to pay for a train out of Zermatt because my Eurail pass did not cover that regional train. So I took a train from Zermatt to Brig early in the morning, but was able to sleep for most of it. And then a noisy, crowded, but direct train to Venice! =)

Enjoy the pictures, even though they do not do it justice! 

Me with Peter and Nana! =D Peter was afraid of her!

love my life <3