Kroller Muller Museum, last night in Europe

Today has been a fantastic last day in Europe. I woke up in Epe, at Roelf and Cecile's, in Northern Holland. Cecile had a full day planned for us. After a full Dutch breakfast, we hopped in the car to head off to the museum that she had told me about a couple of weeks prior. The car ride was a bit odd, as they have a car that they brought from their home in the United Kingdom, so I sat where I would normally sit to drive, and Cecile drove from the usual passenger seat. Very unnerving! I expected the museum to be a small local art museum, with a 'cute' collection of art. I had no idea of the surprise that I was in for! We parked the car, and since it was quite cold, and supposed to snow later, we decided to do the biking first. All over the grounds of this huge national forest are big bike racks with hundreds of standard sized white bikes that are available for the guests to use, in a pick up drop off manner, for free. So we selected two bikes, and off we went! It had been a few years since I've been on a bicycle, so it was very fun, despite the cold! All through this forest we went, and it was just stunning. We arrived at a mansion that was built by the original art collectors, and it was quite an impressive sight. Right outside of the mansion was a small tea shop, and Cecile and I sat and sipped hot chocolates, looking out at the geese on the lake, and the huge house. She is really fun to spend time with, so it was a real pleasure chatting with her. We hopped back on the bikes, and rode the thirty minute ride, this time unfortunately into the wind, back to the museum. I was really in for a surprise by this museum. There were two parts to it, the indoor exhibit of paintings, and the outdoor sculpture garden. As I said, I expected there to be a small amount of random, unknown, local painters work, and a garden in the back with a few sculptures. Well, I was partially correct, in that a local artists work was displayed - VAN GOGH! The museum housed about 40 - 50 amazing Van Gogh paintings, as he is a Dutch artist. Also on display were some amazing Renoir's, Picasso's, Cezanne's and Modrian's, amongst others. My favorite part came after, though, in the sculpture garden. The only gardens I've been to have been open spaces with a number of sculptures scattered about. This museum's sculpture garden was very unique, as there was a huge network of trails winding all through the woods, and every now and then, we would come upon some gigantic sculpture built into it's surroundings. There was one very striking sculpture built into the side of a hill, that was a huge continuous staircase, and at the top of the hill, the staircase continued to rise on stilts for quite a distance longer, as if to heaven. My favorite sculpture, though, was a huge sculpture made of stones, all organized in a circular formation. It was enormous, and very interesting to look at, trying to figure out how it was constructed. We walked around for a couple of hours, finding all sorts of beautiful works of art, hidden in the forest, and being a cold winter day, we virtually had the place to ourselves. When we were finished, it was time to drive me to the train station, where I caught a train into Amsterdam. I arrived at Rob's place, where I am now. He's cooking me dinner as we speak, and in the morning I will head to Schiphol airport, where I will meet Sarah, Jehane, and Pam. Together, we will board our flight to Tanzania! I have had such an amazing time in Europe, so I'm a little sad to be leaving, but I know that an amazing adventure lies ahead, and for this I am truly excited! I'm not sure that I will be able to continue with daily blogs, but I will do my best! Thanks for the interest thus far, and for sharing this trip with me!

Europe trip winding down...

Today, waking up in Amsterdam, it was even colder than it had been the days prior. It was finally quite sunny, but unfortunately I was leaving. I packed up all of my belongings, and headed out. It was very difficult to fit everything I had left in the hotel room into my small backpack. The night before, I had left my larger suitcase with Rob to hold onto for the time that I will be in Africa, and had estimated that all of the items I had left would fit into my small backpack. It was a little tight, so I left with an overstuffed backpack, and bulging pockets on my jeans and my jacket. I made my way to Central Station, and found my train to Zwolle, which is where I was meeting Roelf and Cecile, where my Europe trip had begun. The train ride was beautiful; Holland is such an interesting country, being so flat. And blanketed in snow, it was just beautiful. After the hour train ride, I found Roelf without a problem, and we drove back to his home. It was nice to have come full circle, and I was excited to report to them that my entire Europe trip had gone off without a hitch! They had been a bit worried, as had I. We spent the afternoon eating, and discussing my journey so far, and then set off on a long walk. It was quite cold, but Roelf and Cecile have a son that is my age, and he still had some very warm clothes at the house that fit me perfectly. I felt like an eskimo, but the walk was really beautiful. They live right on the edge of a national forest, so we walked all through there. As I said before, Holland is so flat, so there is no 'hiking', just 'walking'. We did arrive, about halfway through our walk, at a big dutch barn, with a traditional thatched roof, and inside it was full of sheep. Upon return home, I was able to do some laundry, respond to some final emails, and just enjoy a home cooked meal. My counting down of days until Africa has turned into a counting down of hours. It is now Tuesday night, and I had been planning on staying here with Roelf and Cecile for two nights, but I have again changed the plan, and will be returning to Amsterdam tomorrow afternoon. I would love to say that it is because it will be more convenient to get to the airport Thursday morning, but truly, I am very excited to spend a bit more time with Rob. Tomorrow, Cecile and I have a day planned to do some exploring around here in Northern Holland, seeing the local museum, which is only accessible by a thirty minute bicycle ride. Then, in the evening, I will get on a train with my BIG backpack, and return to Amsterdam for my last night in Europe. Thursday morning, I will meet Sarah, her mother, and Pam at the Schiphol Airport in Amsteredam, and we will board our 9 hour flight to TANZANIA!

Canal Tour and the Anne Frank House

Despite the bitter cold (20 degrees F), I had a great day of sightseeing with my Dutch buddy Rob. I took advantage this morning of the breakfast served in the hotel that I am staying in, it is free after all! Rob and I met up around Central Station, and the canal tour boats are right out front. The amount of water in this city is just mind boggling. The boat was lovely, a long boat that was completely covered in glass, with comfortable seating. The boat took us all around the city. It was a real treat to have Rob there with me, because as I was listening to the narration of the guided tour, Rob was also filling me in on local info. For example, right as we pulled away from the station, Rob pointed out to me a structure on the right that was many levels high - it was a parking garage for bicycles with three stories! i have never seen anything like it, but it's no wonder that all the Dutch are in such good shape. After about an hour of winding along the canals, hearing all about the cities history, and just marveling at the integration of city and water, Rob and I hopped out. We started walking over toward the Anne Frank House, which I had been very interested in seeing. On the way, Rob showed me lots of sites, Dam Square, The Royal Palace, and a few other beautiful buildings. Not only was it very cold, but it was also very foggy out, so I really wasn't able to take many great photographs. The Anne Frank House was not what I expected at all. it is not a huge museum, only a small house in a row of ordinary houses. The impact was anything but small. I was walking through, and it all seemed just like an ordinary house, but when I got upstairs, and then into the room that Anne and her sister had been in, and saw all of the magazine clippings that they had glued to the wall, it hit me. This is where this young girl spent two full years, NEVER going outside. I was also very struck at the end of the tour of the house, where there was a display about her capture and what happened after. I guess it had been so long since I had read the book, that I just assumed that since her diary survived that she had as well. I was really saddened to hear of her death, one month before the liberation. There was also a very neat temporary interactive exhibit in the museum at the end of the tour. It was a big television screen with a bunch of seat all around it, and at every seat was a little box with a green and a red button. A short video would play about things like religious freedom, freedom of speech, or expression, and then they would ask the audience to vote on each scenario. It was very interesting to see the percentages of people that voted in each direction. A very cool exhibit indeed. From there, Rob and I went and grabbed some lunch. We each went to our respective places, and took an afternoon nap. For dinner, Rob had invited me over his place for a home cooked meal, so I headed over, finding my way on the local bus. Rob cooked a great dinner - pancakes! Savory pancakes with cheese, and sweet ones with apples! I love the Dutch! We had a very nice night together, but it was kind of sad to say goodbye. It would be just my luck that I'd meet such a great guy 9 time zones from my house! Hopefully our paths will meet again. Tomorrow, I'm waking up, and taking the train to Zwolle, in Northern Holland, to meet Roelf and Cecile again. I will stay there for two nights I think, and then head to the Amsterdam Airport on the morning of the 28th! Sad that the Europe leg of my trip is coming to an end, but that means that Africa is about to begin!

Jumping Amsterdam!

I'm very tired so I will keep today's update very brief. I was very pleased to spend the day with my new Dutch friend, Rob. It's really nice to have a local person to show me around, especially one that is so good looking and sweet! After sleeping in a bit, we met up around 11 and took the tram over to the RAI arena for Jumping Amsterdam, Europe's largest horse show. It was quite a spectacle. All day long we watched the competition, as the jumps were set higher and higher. It was amazing to see a competition at the highest level out there, and after an hour or two, we were both fully enthralled in the riding. In addition to the horse jumping, there were some beautiful choreographed numbers that a famous horse trainer did with his horses, which were magnificent to watch. I was quite pleased that Rob took such an interest in the riding, and very grateful that he was able to translate the Dutch announcers remarks. We took a break, and Rob showed me a well known lunch spot, where we both had an authentic Dutch lunch, and finished watching the horse show. Ireland took the trophy! The horses were magnificent, and the riding was truly remarkable. Watching horse and rider sail through the air over jumps that are 6 feet high and several feet wide is a wonder. The horses seem to suspend in midair for a moment. It all appears effortless, but as some one that's been on horseback quite a bit, I know, it is anything but effortless! After the show, it was already dark, so Rob and i both went home, took naps, and met back up for a quiet dinner of take out pasta and a movie at my place. So tomorrow will be my last full day in Amsterdam, and will be devoted to sightseeing and tourist things! It is a little tough, as it is bitterly cold and snowy out, but the snow does add to the scenery. I really love Amsterdam....

Goodbye Barcelona.... Hello Amsterdam!

It's Sunday morning, and I'm sitting in my room in Amsterdam, looking out at a canal, snow falling from the sky, putting a white blanket over the city - so beautiful! Yesterday was my last day in Barcelona, and I was very sad to leave. I felt like i was finally hitting my stride there, I had begun to figure out the schedule, my spanish was getting used, and I was really enjoying the people and seeing the sights. I was able to reach my friend, Jared, from New York City, so we met up in the morning and had some breakfast. What a treat it was to see him. When we knew each other, we were both a lot younger, and in very different places in our lives, so it was really nice to spend time with him as the men we have become, and share our stories together. He speaks Spanish, and lives in Barcelona, so it was also comforting to be with some one that was so comfortable with the local scene, and able to show it to me a little. After strolling down La Rambla, Jared and I came to the big market that my buddy Brad had insisted that I check out. Brad was spot on! It's called St. Josep La Bouqueria, and it was amazing. It was a huge, bustling market, with immense amounts of meat and fish and fruits and vegetables. It was such a bright, beautiful spectacle of color, and bustling with activity. Jared and I both got one of the fresh juices, which were amazing. It was just really fun to walk around, soak it all in, watching local Spanish people doing their shopping, and tourists as well. From there, we walked around the city a bit more, and said goodbye. I grabbed my stuff and headed to the airport. The flight was not the most comfortable, I've never been on a plane with seats that were so close together, but I didn't care. In two hours and change, I landed in Amsterdam. This would be the last regional jet I would be taking before Africa. The Netherlands is the last country on my Europe tour. What I've seen of the city so far is gorgeous, and the fact that it's been snowing for a couple of days only enhances the beauty. I'm going to Jumping Amsterdam today, the biggest horse show in Europe, so I'm really looking forward to that. And I have a new friend, a Dutch guy, that is coming with me :-).

Three words... La Segrada Familia!

There are, in my opinion, very few things in this world that cannot be captured in photographs. Before coming to Barcelona, I had read about La Segrada Familia, the Gaudi church that stands in the center of town, and had heard people rave about it. But I had figured, that, like the Statue of Liberty, it would be an impressive landmark worthy of a couple of photos and a postcard. I was in for a surprise! I woke early this morning, with the intention of spending the day sightseeing. I made my way to the plaza where the tourist buses are, bought my ticket for 29 Euros, and hopped on the top of the Blue Line. I was kind of unsure if the bus was a good idea or not, but several people had urged me to do it, so there I was. After waiting for a while, off we went. Initially, the bus was a little frustrating. Although I was on the top level, all the sights that we passed initially, we passed so quickly that I couldn't really snap any photos. Soon, the streets got tight, and the traffic got congested, and the narrator told me that the next stop would be the famous La Segrada Familia. I remember coming along the block, and I was sitting on the right side of the bus, and for a split second, as we passed an intersection, I saw it down the block. WOW! I'm really at a loss for words for even describing it, other than to say, it looked as though Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, and the Vatican had all gotten together to build a church. We pulled up to the building, and I was anxious to get off the bus, the sight was just thrilling. 4 HUGE towers pointing way up towards the sky, and a magnificently overdone entryway with figures and patterns. Unfortunately the bus stop was on the other side of the building, so I had to wait as we inched through slow moving traffic. I was even more shocked, when as we drove around, I realized that the 4 towers that I had seen were only part of the building, and to the other side were ANOTHER 4, equally as impressive towers. The whole thing just got better and better from there. I hopped off the bus, paid my entrance fee and got the audio tour headset. Immediately, I became engrossed in Gaudi, the designer of the building. I just couldn't stop staring up, noticing new details every moment, snapping photos, looking at more details. I took over 50 pictures before I even went inside. Upon entering, I was immediately enchanted by the stained glass windows. It was quite a sunny day out, and the rainbow of the stained glass cast a magnificent glow of color on the inner workings of the cathedral. It's impossible to explain what was inside, but I'll try. A huge cavernous building with pillars made to look like trees, ceilings with intricate patterns, it just went on and on. A real treat for the eyes. I kept taking photos, and then looking on the screen at the picture I had taken, and thinking that no photo would adequately capture what I was seeing. At best, the pictures would just serve to remind me in the future. I debated for a couple of minutes whether or not to wait in the line to take the 2.50 Euro lift to the top of the tower, but I was so into it, I decided I had to. That was the best decision all day. If I thought I had seen beauty at ground level, it only got better and more impressive up in the tower. The building is under construction, it has been being built for 100 years, and will take at least another 20 to complete. So I found myself several stories up in the sky, in the tower of a half built cathedral, overlooking Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. This was one of those unforgettable moments I will carry with me all my life, I'm sure! The trip down, unfortunately, was not via lift, it was down several spiral staircases, all of which were very scary and narrow, but the last was the worst. The last maybe ten stories, the staircase got very tight and narrow, and there was nothing in the middle, no handrail, nothing, just a hole. I have never gotten vertigo in my life (and I've gone skydiving), but walking down these stairs, I was CLINGING to the handrail, and very happy to be on solid ground once I got to the bottom. I spent another couple of hours following the audio tour, studying the facades, really in awe. After a few hours at La Segrada Familia, I grabbed some lunch, and hopped back on the bus. Next stop, The Park Guell, another Gaudi creation. The park was amazing, no doubt. I must say, though, I was so amazed by the church, that it was a tough act to follow. I walked around the park, and was blown away to see how Gaudi's designs had been used to integrate nature. I got some great photos, and then sat and relaxed, and just enjoyed it for about thirty minutes, and then headed back to the bus. It was cool standing at the bus stop, and being on the tourist bus, listening to all the different European languages being spoken. I didn't hear any english! The bus took us all over Barcelona from there, and I just stayed on it for a while. We drove past the big mountain, and the soccer stadium that can hold 100,000 people. Very impressive. By the time I hopped off for the Modern Art Museum, it was already late in the afternoon. The art museum, sadly, was nothing special. Actually, the highlight of the museum wasn't anything inside the building at all. Outside the museum was a very large Plaza, where there were about 50 guys skateboarding, so I sat and watched them for a while. There were some guys that were REALLY good, doing some impressive tricks. Today has been amazing, I feel like i've seen something beyond my wildest dreams or comprehension, and I'm so happy to have been there to experience it all. Tonight is my last night sleeping in Barcelona. I will have the day here tomorrow, and then it's back to Amsterdam tomorrow night. I'm very excited about Amsterdam, I just bought tickets to the biggest horse show in Europe, Jumping Amsterdam, and will be attending on Sunday afternoon. Should be amazing. So Las Ramblas tomorrow morning, and the famous market, and we'll see what else there is time for. I wish I had more time for Barcelona, but Africa is calling! I can feel it! In less than a week, I'll be leaving the developed world behind....

What A Difference A Day Makes!

Ahhhhh, Barcelona! After a very difficult, albeit short, adjustment period, I am LOVING Barcelona. I woke up today and decided to slow down, that I didn't have to attack Barcelona at the pace that I did London. I had some things to attend to this morning, and I did so, despite the language barrier, and afterwards, while walking down the street, found a little bakery selling fried goods. I had already decided to turn my attitude around, but after eating two of these pastries that were fried and covered with sugar, one filled with cream, the other with fruit, I had arrived fully in Barcelona! I spent the next several hours walking around, watching and listening to the hustle and bustle that is Barcelona! It really feels very different than London did, and I definitely get the sense that I am in a foreign country. The people have all been so kind today, seeming to enjoy taking the time to try and help me with whatever I was asking for, usually directions. It's been fun to struggle through with my Spanish, and their attempts at English, and both of our dramatic gesturing sign language! The city is so beautiful, very noticeably Mediterranean. The buildings are all built very close together, and have beautiful little terraces with wrought iron railings, all having laundry hanging and several plants. The streets are filled with scooters whizzing by very quickly, all the while people hustling in every direction and Spanish filling the air. I took a little afternoon siesta, and then found the English speaking AA meeting, which was about a 50 minute walk, and headed out. The walk was beautiful, night had fallen, and the city is really magical. I will say, I do not have the same feeling of safety that I did in London. I can definitely sense a different vibe here, but being some one that has lived in some rough places in NYC, it doesn't frighten me, I'm just very aware of it. I can't explain how comforting it was to find the AA meeting, and sit through an hour of people speaking English, talking about things that were familiar. After the meeting, a couple of the guys and I went out for dinner. Ordering food has been the most challenging part with the language, because I never really know what I'm ordering. Tonight I ended up with a big 'combination plate,' with pork chops, a fried egg, fried potatoes, and the most wonderful fried fritters I've ever had! I'm finding that the Spanish like to fry, which is fine by me. The walk home was lovely, the streets had really cleared out and quieted down. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, to doing some more of the touristy things, and hope to get to a tour bus, and La Segrada Familia. After so many people have cautioned me about robbers and pickpockets, I've been so hyper vigilant, and been afraid to bring my camera out. But tomorrow, I'm going to do so, and hope for the best!

A New Day In Barcelona

Hola! It's Thursday morning in Barcelona, and since I neglected to post yesterday, I figured I should catch up now. Yesterday was my first challenging day on the trip thus far. I was very sad to leave London, I absolutely loved being there. I made my way to Gatwick in the morning, and by the time I arrived, it was snowing. Nevertheless, we got out on time, and I arrived in Barcelona. Immediately, I was a little overwhelmed by the language barrier. I've had a lot of people tell me that 'everyone in Barcelona speaks english.' Well, that certainly hasn't been my experience, a lot of people speak some english, but not very much at all. After about 30 minutes of walking back and forth, trying to figure out where to buy a ticket, I finally figured out how to get the bus from the airport, and made my way to my hotel. After having to change rooms twice because of cigarette stench, I settled in. I was kind of surprised how freaked out I was feeling, as this was the experience I had come traveling for. I needed to get my cell phone sorted out, so with the help of the front desk, I made my way to Frnca, which seems to be Spain's version of Best Buy. This was another very frustrating experience. No one that worked in the store spoke English, so I had a very difficult time understanding what I was buying. It was very interesting and unsettling to see and feel how frustrated they got with me not understanding them, the same way in which I have gotten frustrated with people in the U.S. that didn't speak english. I did get the cell phone working (I think), and headed out to get something to eat. Much to my chagrin, I found out that people in Spain don't eat until 10PM, so I would have to wait a couple of hours to meet my friend and eat dinner. I did stop on the way back to the hotel and got a couple of slices of pizza, which were really delicious. The pizza had no sauce, and very thick crust. I had gotten in touch with an old friend from New York City, and he had told me to call him around 9pm, and we would make some plans for dinner. When I called him though, he cancelled. I set out to find something to eat, at this point not feeling very great, and found a little cafe that served 'Torrades.' I'm still not sure if I ate it correctly, but it was a big piece of toast with REALLY good ham sliced over the top of it. I sat at the cafe feeling kind of lonely and overwhelmed. When I got back to my room, I decided to just chill and watch a DVD, and wake up with a new attitude, which is exactly what I did. I do still feel a bit lonely and overwhelmed, but this is EXACTLY what I took this trip for. I wanted to have these 'fish out of water' experiences, and I am very excited to be here today. I've spent the morning walking around, watching the hustle and the bustle. And now I'm going to get some lunch (I hope they eat at the noon hour), and just walk around some more. I have plans to be somewhere at 3:30, but other than that, I am just going to enjoy being here, a step outside of my comfort zone. I keep reminding myself that if this is uncomfortable, or out of my comfort with the language and loneliness, Africa is going to be really challenging. Which is a good thing. I do feel much better today already.

Final Day in London

 

 

 

 

Exhausted doesn't even begin to describe how I feel, but completely satisfied! I woke up, bright and early this morning, and hit the ground running. I was out the door at 9:30 AM, and on my way to the London Eye! It was a fairly overcast morning, but I was going to stick to my schedule. Unfortunately, when I arrived, at around 9:50, there was a line with about 2000 people in it. Apparently, the London Eye was extending their appreciation to Londoners for something or other, and was offering free rides. I quickly decided that the London Eye would be added to the 'next trip' list, and started walking to the British Museum. I knew from the moment I arrived that I was going to love it. The entryway is palatial, as is the entire museum. I was also there right when they opened, so it was fairly peaceful and quiet. I decided to get an audio tour machine, and follow along. They offered three different tours, and I chose to start with the first, which was through their collection of Parthenon Marbles. WOW! Somehow, the British museum has a huge collection of the actual marble statues and 'frieze's' from the Parthenon, and they are all displayed at eye level. It was breath taking, and I am very glad to have done the audio tours (thanks mom for the tip)! I'm not a very artsy guy, and definitely don't have an artists eye, so there were several things that the audio tour pointed out to me that I never would have noticed. For example, at one end of the display area were several very large statues of some of the greek gods, and they were amazing, but the audio tour brought me behind the statues, which would have never been displayed, and the detail was equally as compelling in the rear as in the front. The way in which the sculptors were able to capture the flow of fabric, and the shape and musculature of the bodies in marble was amazing! I really enjoyed taking my time, and soaking it in. Another impressive moment where the audio tour came in handy was as I was walking along the center of the display, where a number of large blocks, called friezes, were displayed. They apparently were all around the top of the Parthenon, and as you followed them, they kind of told a story. The first entire row of friezes was of several men on horses, all reared up and looking very noble in their tunics. After the twelfth block with a horse, it began to get a little dull, but the narrator, seemingly almost sensing my boredom, suggested I step a few feet away from the frieze I was looking at and glance back at the row of horses. The flow of all of the figures was really amazing, even to some one as unperceptive in the arts as myself. The gradual rise and fall of the horses and the riders was stunning! And all in marble, from ancient times! After spending a couple of hours with the Greeks, I moved into the ancient Egyptians. The standout piece in this are was definitely the Rosetta Stone, which was a little difficult to see, because by this time the school groups and masses had started to arrive, but I did manage to get some time studying it! Such a relic. I was fascinated by all of the heiroglyphs that adorned the sarcohpoguses (sp?). One of my favorite items was the royal cat, adorned in jewels. Apparently one of the rulers of Egypt was very fond of her cat, and this jeweled cat became a symbol of this woman's reign. About three quarters of the way through the Egypt exhibit, I got a little maxed out on the screeming children, and by 1 PM, I was out the door. At this point, my friend Kip, whom I knew from New York, invited me to come meet him at his apartment in Chelsea, and to take me around the city. Once we met in Chelsea, we walked over to the Victoria and Albert museum. Kip is very well versed on the monarchy, and the history in England, and in all things decorative, so he was a fantastic guide through this museum of the decorative arts. Surprisingly, one of my favorite aspects of this museum was their cast room. Although all of the things in the room weren't originals, it was amazing to see the detail, and sheer size and scale of some of the worlds most important sculptures, such as the David. After the V & A, Kip had invited me to go to a church service, Evensong, at Westminster Abbey that he attends regularly. As we walked in that direction, we passed many important landmarks that I was pleased to see and photograph, such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Supreme Court, and a few others. Westminster Abbey was absolutely breathtaking, as can be imagined. As I've said several times before, the history is just staggering. There's something very stirring about sitting in a church, listening to people doing something that has been done in that same spot for over a thousand years. Hearing the singing filling that huge, gothic space was really meditative. We left the Abbey, and headed to Soho, where I was to meet Brad for a final meal together. On our walk to Soho, we walked right by Big Ben, all lit up, as it was night time, and i had a really powerful moment. I was very conscious that I was standing, looking at an iconic building that a year ago I never would have dreamed that I would have the opportunity to ever look at in real life. It was a real moment of true gratitude. My life has expanded so much in the last year, and I truly am living beyond my wildest dreams. It was a bittersweet meal with Brad, as I've really enjoyed the time I've had here with him, and wish that he lived closer to me so I could spend more time with him. It also meant that my time in London was done, so the London Eye, the Tate Modern, my cousing Barbara, and several other things that I didn't get to this trip will all serve as good reason to return sometime in the future! Tomorrow morning, I will make my way to Gatwick Airport, and fly to Barcelona. I'm super excited, and a little nervous. This will be the first part of the trip where I won't be meeting anyone that I know, nor do I speak the language or know my way around. Should be fun!

Tower of London!!!

After an hour and a half walk home along the Thames River, I am exhausted, and, well, just delighted to be here in London. But, in the interest of time, I will need to keep it brief tonight. Tomorrow, sadly, is my last full day in London, and I have so much left to do, so sleep is necessary. So here's a quick rundown: After a night of very interrupted sleep, I didn't meet my goal of waking up early, and got out of the house around 11:30. Oh well. I took the tube, while minding the gap of course, down to the Tower of London, which is right next to Brad's work, and met Brad for a quick lunch. We then walked outside and took my obligatory 'standing in front of the landmark bridge with arms wide open' photo, and Brad went back to work. I took the entire afternoon to tour the Tower of London. I must say, it has to be one of the coolest things I've ever done. I wasn't bored for one moment, totally engrossed and fascinated. I started off just meandering around myself, and then went and got an audio tour headset, and did the entire tour, over two hours! It was amazing, and way too much to write about now in any detail, but I will tell one of my favorite parts - At one point, the guided tour had me standing in the center of the complex where there is a cathedral on one side, and the narrator is talking about the church. He says something like 'While there has been a church here for over 900 years, this young building has only been here for 500.' I actually laughed out loud. ONLY 500?!?!? The history was amazing, looking at remnants of a wall built in 250 AD by the Romans! There was something very special about being there myself, moving through at my own pace, and just absorbing the history on my own. It truly was fantastic. I have tons and tons of pictures, and I'm trying to set up Picasa, but for now, I'll just post a couple of photos on here.
The rest of the evening was very nice - a meeting, and some nightlife, bars, etc. My night ended in Chelsea, and I decided to walk home, which took me all along the Thames, and across the Vauxhall Bridge. It was a beautiful walk, and took about an hour and a half. All I kept thinking, while walking home, is that THIS is what a city should look like! Building after building, street after street, just beautiful. WOW! Tomorrow, I'm hoping to get to the British Museum, the Tate Modern, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey.... Probably won't get it all done. Whoever it was that told me I would get bored in London was CRAZY!

Imperial War Museum and a Dinner Party

Day 3 has been another relatively quiet, yet amazing day. After a fairly late night out last night, I woke up this morning at 9:15, and Brad and I hustled our way to an 11 am meeting. It was fantastic! Afterwards, Brad and two of his friends and I went to Soho (the gay section) and sat and had coffee, chatted leisurely, and did some people watching - one of my favorite activities. Afterwards, I set off on my own and spent a couple of hours at the Imperial War Museum. They have a very large Holocaust Exhibit right now, so I spent about two hours walking through it. I was really impressed, the exhibit was very well put together, and did a great job of demonstrating the events that led up to the Holocaust, which I had always had some difficulty understanding. The flow of the exhibit worked like a timeline, and was spread over two floors. It started off bright and cheery, and demonstrated what life was like for the Jews before World War 2. The first floor of the exhibit wandered through history, and the end of the first floor was when the war broke out, and when you went downstairs, the exhibit got very dark and ominous, as the timeline flowed through the concentration camps, and then finally to the end of it all. I was deeply moved, and emotionally exhausted when I was through. I walked back to Brad's place, had a nap, and then was delighted to have dinner here at the apartment with Brad's ex and a very close friend of theirs. It was a really nice, peaceful evening. It's about 10:30 now, and I'm calling it a night. I have two days left, and really hope to got on a tourist bus tomorrow, and get off at as many places as possible. I really want to go to the Tate Modern, The London Eye, The London Tower, The Portrait Gallery, and The British Museum. We'll see how much I can get done in two days. All in all, I'm loving London. Europe is amazing...

Gallery, Billy Elliot, etc.

Well, after sleeping a full night, until about noon (!), Brad and I set off for a photography exhibit that was amazing. It seemed appropriate, it was a guy's work that had spent a lot of time in war-torn countries like DR Congo, and taken amazing pictures of the people he encountered, and retold several of their stories. It was intense, and very moving. Afterwards, we just walked around for a while, and I was just shocked at the beauty of the buildings here in London, and really just enjoyed walking through the crowds, listening to how beautifully people speak, soaking it all in. We stopped at a department store that had a grocery store on the bottom floor, and picked up dinner. Very convenient, clothes shop, and then go downstairs for dinner! Crazy! We came back to Brad's apartment, had some dinner, and took a brief nap. I was really excited, my friend Nicolas, had left tickets for me and Brad to see Billy Elliott, so off we went to the theater. The play was fantastic. One of my favorite parts was the big burly english guy that sat next to me and Brad, and was very interested in giving me the background of the story, telling me all about Margaret Thatcher, and the working class. He proceeded to sob, literally sob, all the way through the show! I love how nice everyone has been in Europe! After the show, Brad and I came back to his house, and I set out and explored the Vauxhall nightlife a bit. Today was rainy, so it wasn't a great day to walk around, but we have some more things planned for tomorrow. I'm having a fantastic time, riding the tube, walking around, watching, listening, loving it! My favorite part has been the people. London seems to be much more international than anything I'm used to. Tonight, while out, I met guys that were from all over, North Africa, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and they love talking to me about their home countries. Just magnificent.

PS I got my IPhone working here in London. So the number for the next few days is (from the states) +44 7523 294 299

A day of Jet Lag and travel!

I have arrived in London, and I am very happy that I will be staying put for several days. The last few days have been amazing, but very exhausting. After a great day of travel and sightseeing in Holland yesterday, I was very excited to get into bed, only to sleep for 45 minutes, and not be able to fall back asleep until 5 am. I did sleep until around noon though, at which point I got up, packed up my things, and got ready to make my way back to Amsterdam to get on the plane. I can't imagine how I would have done this trip without Roelf and Cecile. It was such a gift to be able to leave the bulk of my things that I will be taking to Africa in Holland. Traveling today was much easier than the trip to Europe, being that I only have one small bag! So I took a train today from Epe to the Schiphol airport. There were complications though. I was supposed to switch trains in Amsfoort, but when I arrived there, the train I was supposed to switch onto was running more than 30 minutes late, which would have made me miss my flight. An older dutch couple that was also going to the airport helped me through, they got me onto two different trains with them, and I RAN through the airport. I was devastated when I arrived at the EasyJet counter, only to see an enormous line, BUT, the Dutch folks, being the nice people they are, invited me to get in the front of the line when they saw what I was going through. That would have NEVER happened at JFK! So I made my flight, and landed in London with no problem. I even figured out how to take the National Train to my friend Brad's house in Kennington. I literally walked into his door, put my bags down, and Brad whisked off to a meeting. It was really nice to sit through an AA meeting here in London, and hear all of the readings I'm so accustomed to hearing, but with a British accent. The biggest treat of the day was running into my friend Kip at the meeting, who I knew from years ago in New York City. He is living in London now, and it was just delightful to see him, and have dinner with him and the gang afterwards. Brad and Kip then decided to take me on a little walking tour back toward Brad's place, and it was magnificent. We walked right by Big Ben, which looks amazing at night, all lit up, and Westminster Abbey, and then we walked across a bridge over the Thames River. I'm SEVERELY jet lagged, and really hoping that I will be able to sleep tonight. So, short of a lot of travel, and bumping into my friend Kip, and being ecstatic to see my buddy Brad, it's been a pretty uneventful day. But I've got a lot of sightseeing to do tomorrow, so it's bedtime. Praying for sleep!

The adventure has begun!

Wow! What an amazing start! Since this last two days seems like one, I'll start back from my departure from Philadelphia. I left Philadelphia, in the rental car, and made the drive to New York City, with plenty of time to spare. I was so excited, I could barely contain myself. All of the things that would normally be annoying were exciting and fun - standing in line at the ticket counter, going through security (I got to show my passport!), and waiting at the gate. I was instantly stunned when I walked on the plane, the size was AMAZING! I love flying, so it was a real treat. I was on a window seat next to an older Indian couple. They initially were not very conversational, but after the gentleman's second glass of whiskey, we had a great conversation. I was very interested in hearing about he and his wife's travels to the United States from Mumbai to see their son, who is living in Raleigh, North Carolina. There were some really interesting cultural tidbits that I really enjoyed, for example, when I needed to get up to use the restroom, he couldn't hand his glass of whiskey to his wife, because she wasn't allowed to handle alcohol at all! Very interesting. They were very kind! The flight was a bit difficult, it's definitely the longest I've sat on an airplane. But after 7.5 hours, we finally arrived in Amsterdam! I had only gotten about an hour of sleep, so I was very groggy, but instantly the intensity of my excitement returned. The airport seemed huge, and although it was dark, I immediately had a sense that I was in a foreign country! We taxi'd forever, and over highways, and waterways! It was clearly The Netherlands. Everything went smoothly for me, I enjoyed passing through immigration, and collecting all of my luggage.
Waiting for me outside of the luggage area was Roelf with a big sign that said 'JAKE'. I have been so lucky to have Roelf meet me. We went outside to his car, where we met his wife Cecile. They are so kind, and I am thrilled to have my first night in Europe spent with them. They live outside of Amsterdam in a town called Epe, so we had about an hour and a half drive. I couldn't stop looking out the windows, street signs I had never seen, and all sorts of car brands that were new! Really very exciting! I tried to stay awake for the ride, but fell asleep about halfway through.
We arrived home at their beautiful dutch home, and I went to sleep. After a good nap, I woke up around 2 in the afternoon, and Cecile had the table completely set, with an assortment of dutch offerings! The dutch seem to like to eat bread, lots of bread, and all different kinds. I also had a raw meat spread that was delicious, some type of liver cold cut, and some very strange anise flavored beads, called muisjes, on bread of course. And lots of cheese! Everything was delicious, except I didn't care for the anise.
Roelf and Cecile than took me on a drive along one of the many beautiful dykes to Deventer, about 30 minute drive. The dutch countryside is stunningly beautiful. Amazingly flat, as far as I could see in every direction. Lots of farms with sheep, ponies, and wild geese everywhere. We did pass by several frozen lakes with children ice skating around. And of course SEVERAL wind mills. It looked like a dutch postcard. When we ended up in Deventer, we parked on one side of the Ijssel River, and took a ferry across to the other side, where we were in the village of Deventer. I immediately could tell that there was history in this village. There were buildings that were built in the twelfth century! What history! It was really lovely to walk around Deventer, with such kind and welcoming guides. The Dutch people seem to be very friendly. Although everyone is speaking in dutch to one another, they seem to have no problem speaking in English as well. Very impressive, makes me feel like a very provincial American! After looking inside a few churches, and at some beautiful cobblestone roads, we had a very nice meal at an old tavern from the 1600's. It all feels so European to me! I'm so glad that I have Roelf and Cecile to show me around out side of the metropolitan areas. While I am very excited to see the major cities, it is always very exciting to get outside a bit, and see the countryside. There really is water everywhere. Canals and rivers and dykes and all. What an amazing country! The meal in Deventer was very interesting. We had a mustard soup as an appetizer that was delightful.
So after a really great afternoon in Holland, I am back in their home. Feeling pretty jet-lagged, not sure if I'm awake or tired, but hoping to sleep tonight. I'm going to spend a little time with Roelf and Cecile tomorrow, and then take the train back into Amsterdam and get on a plane to London to see Brad!
I am so overwhelmed with gratitude. Grateful for the people in my life, and grateful for the opportunities. I feel like I'm dreaming. Sorry, I know, cheesy....

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Philadelphia

After a great few days in Connecticut, I left early this morning in my rental car, and made the 4 hour drive to Philadelphia. In the process of passing through four states, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, I got slightly lost in New York City. It wasn't so bad though, I ended up on the BQE, winding along the tip of Queens, and got a beautiful view of lower Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty. It was a nice drive, and I was thrilled to arrive in Philadelphia around 1 in the afternoon. My grandma, Gisha, was here to greet me with open arms. After visiting for the afternoon, I ran some last minute errands, banking, electronics and what not, and am looking forward to my last night in the United States with her! Tonight my great aunt and uncle, Elinor and Herbie, are coming over for dinner to share their travel advice with me. They were travel agents during their career, so I'm really looking forward to the input that they will have. I am getting a little tired of all the planning stages of this trip, and all the goodbyes! As my friend Randy Mann said, this is the longest goodbye in trip history, I'm ready to get on a plane already :-)!!! I'm so excited for tomorrow, I've never gone through customs, or gotten on a huge international plane! I love flying, but I am a little nervous about sitting still in an economy seat for 7.5 hours! But I think my excitement will carry me through.

I made the call to have my cell phone shut off tomorrow, so my AT&T will no longer work after tomorrow night. I did manage to get my iPhone unlocked before I left San Francisco, so I'm hoping to be able to get SIM cards in Europe and Africa. I'll post the new contact information, but I probably won't have that set up for a few days. For those that know me well, know that my cell phone is an extension of my hand, so I'm curious how I will adjust without it for a little while. It'll be good for me.

My flight leaves JFK tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM and arrives in Amsterdam at 8:00 in the morning local time. During the time that my father and his brothers were school aged, my grandparents hosted exchange students, several of which they have stayed in touch with. One of them, Roelf, lives north of Amsterdam, and he will be meeting me at Schipol Airport, and hosting me at his house for the first night. The following day, January 15th, he and his wife Cecile will get me back to Schipol, and I'll be heading to London. I may not have internet or phone until the 15th, we'll see. I'm so grateful that things have worked out with Roelf and Cecile, as I will be able to leave all of my heavy bags for Africa at his house, while I travel around Europe. I'm also VERY excited to see my buddy Brad McCaw, who will be hosting me at his place in London! So this will probably be my last post from the USA! YAY!!!

Final night in CT

After a great (COLD) few days in Connecticut with mom, I'm heading out tomorrow morning. It's been a long day, and mom has been incredibly helpful in prepping for the trip. We shopped at REI, set up the 7 day safari in Tanzania, and talked about international travel, and tips for doing so. Tomorrow morning, I'll leave here with my fully packed Africa backpack (thanks to mom's packing skills), my Europe suitcase, and my duffel bag full of school supplies for the non-profit in Africa. Next stop, grandmas house in Philadelphia. So it's a 4 hour drive tomorrow morning, and then 24 hours with grandma. Wednesday evening, I fly to Amsterdam. I am SO excited to take an international flight! Less than 48 hours left in the United States!

Entry numero uno

So I've set up my travel blog. I figured this would be a good way to keep anyone that's interested in my adventure abreast of my activities. For those of you that don't already know, I've set off on an adventure that will take me from my home in San Francisco to the east coast, then on to a few cities in Europe, and ultimately to the eastern part of Africa. I left San Francisco on January 8 and landed in New York City, at JFK. I grabbed all my luggage, and there's a lot, and went to Hertz, rented a car, and made the two hour drive to my mom's house in West Hartford Connecticut. Then yesterday, she had a big 60th birthday party for herself. It was a lot of fun. 60 of my mom's friends, dancing to Lady Gaga was quite a sight! We had a low-key day today, sitting around reading travel books together, planning out the international part of my trip. Tomorrow, we are going to take care of some last minute trip-shopping at REI, and both mom and Bob, mom's new boyfriend, are going to help me get packed up! I have a big backpack, and a suitcase of my own things, and another suitcase of donated school supplies for the work I'm doing in Africa. Hopefully everything will fit. Then on Wednesday, I'm making the 4 hour drive to Philadelphia to see my Grandmother Gisha, and spend the night with her.

So this is the first entry into the blog. I hope that you enjoy sharing my travels with me! Stay tuned, it's about to get interesting. :-)