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D’oh!

October 17th, 2006

So I screwed up. I have a week off starting this coming weekend. I was planning on going to Prague by train. Well, today I went to book it, and first off it was twice as expensive as it was last I checked, but they sold out of them, anyway… I checked flights, and was prepared to spend three times as much as the original train ticket, but when I went to actually book, that fare was gone, too… and I just can’t bring myself to spending 4.5-5 times the amount. So, of course not wanting to waste a week off by not going anywhere, I’m slightly panicky, yet very cool about it. I’m going the “true” budget traveller route (er… something like that…), and am looking for the cheapest plane or train ticket anywhere… doesn’t really matter where anymore, just somewhere new for cheap. I’ll worry about finding out what I’ll actually “do” there later… The RyanAir, EasyJet, and AttitudeTravel websites are becoming my good friends…. You fly to where? Oh yeah? It’s cheap….? Ok, I’ll go…

The Thalys to Paris is looking pretty cheap… might have to get ahold of my brother to give me a crash course on things to do, and my mom for a crash course in the French language. I’m a little wary about Paris, because it seems like the kind of place I’d like to be somewhat prepared for visiting due to its size and so much to do… but hell, whatever works… also going to be more expensive than I was originally planning for with Prague, but.. eh… do whatchya gotta do.

I found a fairly cheap flight to Finland… might not be too cold yet… hmm… but I’d lose a few days of travelling because of the schedule of the budget airline.

Scotland? Maybe… it’s close, I’ve been wanting to go… Haven’t found particularly cheap tix, tho.

Western Ireland… Yes, since I only got to Dublin before… tix are a bit much…

I live with two girls from Hamburg… if either of them is going home for the week, I might just try to tag along.

Somewhere else in Eastern Europe? Budget tix last minute are a bit more of an issue, since not as many trains run there… but I’ll keep looking.

Ack. Back to the internet. Have a suggestion? Know of a great last minute deal out of Amsterdam somewhere? Leave me a comment!

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The Mullet Lives

October 4th, 2006

Mullets everywhere. Barcelona, and as I’ve come to find out, Spain as a whole loves the mullet. I’ve been back in Holland for about 5 weeks now, and have correctly identified many Spaniards here, male and female, based solely on their hair. There is a distinctness of the Spanish mullet, characteristics that have seemed to carry over into other hairstyles, even if not exactly mullets. Many of those previously mentioned Spaniards fit this category… The hair might not technically be a mullet, but it has similarities to the way the Spanish mullet is worn that you can still identify them as Spaniards. The most common style with the youth seemed to be what I’ve deemed the drudllet. A dreadlocked mullet. Many of these involved bowl-cut like top hair, very matted down, with the front hair pointed forward, and dreadlocks in the back. Usually not particularly long, 10cm or so, and varying between about 3-8 pieces. Some go with a buzzed top and the dreads, and some girls also take this style, but with bangs in front. Read the rest of this entry »

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Barcelona Architecteure and Scenery: A Pictorial Review

October 4th, 2006

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m rather taken by the architecture of Barcelona. But it’s not always just architecture, but scenery in general. The gothic buildings mixed with the funkiness of Gaudí, the monuments and statues, the spray paint art… so here’s really just an excuse to show more pictures that didn’t make it into other posts… Read the rest of this entry »

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Días de los museos

October 2nd, 2006

The time had come… museums. It was mid-week, less going on… no more carousing in the sun all day. It’s time to get cultured. The Picasso Museum was the first (and perhaps obvious), choice. I had tried going earlier in the week, but the line was rather long… time I felt could be better spent. Down the street was a ceramic art/kitchenware shop. Kind of a tourist thing, but it was nicely crafted, hand made by local artists cermamics. I’m not really big on souvenirs, as I’ve been trying to declutter my life, but if there’s something I like and it’s locally made, I might justify it to myself… so I got an ashtray and an incense burner, both of which I needed anyway. I was actually able to maintain a conversation in Spanish with the shop owner about some of the different ceramics, and a conversation about when the best time to come back to go to the museum when the line wasn’t so long. Woo! It’s getting better… Now I just need to go spend some time somewhere that they speak only Spanish, no English, and see how I fare… Read the rest of this entry »

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¡Barça! ¡Barça! ¡Baaar-ça!

September 29th, 2006

Whilst in the common area eating some food, I was trying to decide how to spend my day. I was figuring on some bumming around and hanging out, but nothing specific, and not sure for the night activities. I overheard some people mention there was an FCBarçelona fútbol game at 22:00 that night against FC Bayern München, and that tickets might be cheaper from the stadium. So I decided I’d make my way over there eventually during the course of the day. I admit… I’m not much of a sports guy, and the most fútbol I’ve ever watched has probably been this year, with me being in Europe during the World Cup and all… but I’ve been to plenty of sporting events and do enjoy going to games. And, as I only found out while being in Barçelona, they’re apparently the best team in Europe. So why the hell not?

Read the rest of this entry »

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Gaudí-riffic

September 2nd, 2006

I only booked at BCN for 2 nights, because that’s all they available for the cheapest price. I figured in a new city with no hostel recommendations anyway, I should leave myself open so I can move around, check out different areas and all… So on Monday I moved to Hostal Windsor (also called Rambla & Catalunya Hostel on the online booking systems.) It’s north of Plaça Catalunya on La Rambla, number 84… so not too far away, but just far enough that it was a little bit of a bother late at night coming back from the strip. It was also cheap (€19), but they just packed beds in… There was no key, so not particularly safe… and I could NOT figure out how to get any hot water out of the shower. After three days you’d think I would have figure it out, but no… And, there was construction being done on the building, so everyone morning my alarm clock was jackhammers and pounding, after sleeping in the hot room with no fan. They did have a computer with free internet access, but only one, and you’d have to wait a while to be able to get on it. There was a common area and kitchen, but both were closed from midnight til 7. Pretty much a pain, because night is when I would rather hang in the hostel common areas, and if I go out and come back late and want some food, I’m screwed. All this sounds like I’m bitching… I’m not. I didn’t have an unpleasant experience, but I’ve stayed at enough hostels to know that this place could be a lot better for the same price.

However, due to my northern location, it made for the perfect Gaudí Day. Read the rest of this entry »

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¡Viva la España!

August 28th, 2006

Yeah… I know… so I was only back in Amsterdam for a day and a half, but since I didn’t get a chance to go to Spain last June, I decided I needed to now while I could. So Friday afternoon I headed back to Schiphol to board my flight for Barcelona. I slept later than I planned and was afraid I might not make it in time, because as I got riding I realized my back tire on my bike was flat, but not having time to do anything about it, I rode on. I’ll deal with that when I get back. I still made it to the airport with plenty of time, though…. Read the rest of this entry »

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The permanent return to Amsterdam

August 17th, 2006

The time has finally come. I returned to Amsterdam for good. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Amsterdam, Europe, Misc, Netherlands, Travel | 1 Comment »

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How to be a Superhero

August 17th, 2006

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Jesus Christ, Supercop at the scene of the crime.

Since I wasn’t originally planning on going to Lollapalooza, I was planning on leaving Chicago by Saturday, so I didn’t have a bed booked. And of course, since it was Lollapalooza, everything was full. So, I slept in my car. Liz seemed adverse to it. But really, it’s no problem… I do it all the time. And this time, I think it was fate. My dad, God himself, caused this string events to occur because of the events to transpire in the morning. Read the rest of this entry »

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Lollapalooza, Chicago 2006

August 17th, 2006

So my friend Liz, from New York, tells me she’s going to fly Lollapalooza in Chicago, specifically to see one artist, and asks if I might be around… it’s only 4 hours away… there’s a chance… and whattaya know? I did have to go to Chicago, because my clarinet repairman lives there, and I needed some things fixed. So, I arranged it so I’d be around the same time. I wasn’t originally planning on going to Lolla, because I shouldn’t have spent the money, and I should have been home doing last minute things to prepare for moving.

Should have.

But somehow I got persuaded into going.

Was it worth the money and extra time spent there? Well… Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Music, North America, United States | 1 Comment »

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