So My trip seems to be moving forward now, for awhile I seemed to be stuck...cough..spain...cough. I am now in Amsterdam, waiting for my cloths to be clean, then I will head out to the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum.

While in Geneva I met acouple girls from Malaysia, Jessie and Grace. They were pretty cool. They are currently on a work holiday visa in the UK. It means they work for a year and they are allowed to travel for a year. I think it a cool idea for a way to travel. I might do it, I do not know how difficult it is to get it as a US citizen.

The first night I was there, we walked around the downtown area and took some night photos for the TALLEST FOUNTAIN IN EUROPE! yeah not as exciting as the hostel and guide books make it out to be. It was nice but not amazing.

At one point there was a man following us, but we quickly walked into a busy part of town it was fine, he turned around. The other girls were more nervous than me, I knew that e would stop once we got into a public area.

They next day was the Geneva Marathon, which I had no idea about until we walked into the downtown area and could not walk across the street because of huge groups of runners. We wanted to sit and watch but it was really chilly. We tried, but ended up walking around. When then visited THE LARGEST FLOWER CLOCK IN EUROPE. I think it is funny that they make such a big deal about that stuff, it was not breathtaking or anything.

I did not have a chance to visit the UN, too bad. but th time just got eaten up. I will visit it someday.

After Geneva I headed to Adele Truebloods house in Colmar, but I had not spoken to her in any form for awhile. but she had said anytime is fine, so I gambled it. I called her and never got an answer, I emailed her and nada. The thing is I had a phone number, email and city, but no address, so I could not just show up. Then finally I had to make a reservation somewhere. I headed to the hostel in Colmar, France. It was dead....I ended up getting a room to myself for 13 euros, which is awesome.

That night I went to a internet cafe and saw I got an email from Adele telling me to call anytime tonight, she would have her phone on. I called and got the answering machine. I left a message that I would call tomorrow and that I was staying at the hostel.

What I did not take into consideration was that the next day was a national holiday, so everything was closed including the transit system. I walked across Colmar with all my belongings to find a Tabac shop to buy a phone card, because the phone booths do not take coins, to call Adele. I left the hostel around 10 and called adele at about 1 or 1 30. I got her! and I found out that she had left her phone in the car for three minutes and that is whne I had called. but since she did not have a number to contact me at, she could not call me back. It was crazy. She then met me at the train station and picked me up.

Ok, Thomas and Adeles house is on a hill, in the woods in Munster France. They have no shower or fridge. They only have a small sorce of solar power and a small sorce of water for two sinks, one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen and for the toliet. they also have a gas run stove and oven. I really liked hanging out with them. It is crazy Adele used to babysit me, we went to the same school and we were both in the St. Lukes Choir. Crazy.

So As I said I am now in Amsterdam, I have heard great and not so great things about it, we shall see. I am heading to Copenhagen next to take in some of my families heritage.

Much love and many adventures you guys!

Alice

Suiss! remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Originally I was only planning on being is Spain for a week total. Basically I would only go to Madrid and Barcelona. I have now spent about 14 days in Spain, not my choice. Dont get me wrong Spain is beautiful and I have had some fun here, but the stress has beaten the fun into the ground multiple times.

Ok...Madrid....I met up with Cody, from Waldorf. He showed me around the city and tried his best to explain the importance of the strawberry tree and bear statue. we hung out for a couple of hours and caught up.

That night as well as the next I hung out with Cody and his friends. it was great to speak english and have people understand me.

After Madrid I headed to Barcelona, which I was very excited for. I got there very late at night, and walked to my hostel, which was only 5 minutes by foot.

The next few days I spent with Jessie, a canadian girl from Prince Edwards Island. She said I was the first person to connect that with Anne of Green Gables. I love Anne of Green Gables. I used to want to marry Gilbert from the film and then I found out he is about 20 years my senior and that did not seem likely.

Our last day we headed to the train station to confirm our trains to France. When we got there we found out there was a strike in France, and we would not be able to travel through it for at least two days. so what to do? We decided to go to Africa. I know abit random, but we had talked about how cool it would be to go to Morocco, and this gave us a chance to go.

The rest of the day, we visited Gaudi buildings. My favorite was the Cathedral, it reminded me of the drip castels my siblings and I used to make on the beach. I have not been to an Evanston beach in a really long time. I think it must be 2 years, swimming at least. I have been away every summer since then. I hope I can go this summer.

Parc Guell was breathtaking. It was packed full of school groups and tourists, which made it hard to get any clear photo.

Which doesnt really matter because I have no photos from Barcelona anymore. Because my purse got stolen on the train from Barcelona to Madrid. We had stopped there to change trains to go to Malaga. Basically, not getting into specifics, it was a stressful couple of days. My purse had my ATM card, camera and cell phone in it. So I basically had no money for the next couple of days. But Jessie was with me and I did have a credit card and traveller checks, so things worked out.

But just f.y.i. spain does not change american travellers checks at change stations, only banks. and I was there on a sunday and bank holiday so no banks was open. very annoying.

Because of this Jessie and I never actually got to Morocco. Too bad, but I did say this was an Europe trip, so Africa was not in the cards, that is ok. I will go there someday, maybe with Edith...she loves Africa.

And to top off all of that I ended up getting about 10 spider bites, if you know me well you know that is not good, a bunch of bed bug bites and I apparently have a mild pollen allergy and spring in spain provokes alot of pollen into the air, needless to say I was an unhappy chappy.

It is quite sad actually that all this happened in such an amazing country, because I wish I could have enjoyed myself more in the beautiful surroundings. It is a shame....but maybe I will go back someday.

The tense in this blog is probably not consistant since I have written it over a week. so sorry about that. confusing I know.

Ok....so after the whole Spain curfuffle, I headed to Lyon France. Which my cousin, Andrew suggested to me saying "it is better than paris". I had no idea about it, but I went taking his word for it, and I loved it. It was what in my mind I imagined Paris to be, but paris ended up no being. It was old townhouses, small stone streets and small independent shops and cafes.

I stayed at the HI hostel in Vioux Lyon, which is only one of the two hostels in Lyon. It was really nice, other than the extremely long lock out period, 10-2. It was fine, with me, but I had to bring everythibng with me, just took alittle more planning that I had been doing previously. The hostel was about half way up the hill, that at the top is the Notre Dame. That has a bigger name but I do not know it. It is Lyons Notre Dame.

The veiw from the top of the hill seemed to be from old Europe. All the building close to the hill had history and character, where as farther out the buildings grew bigger and made out of steal and glass.

The veiw from the hostel was great, but the terrace was soaking wet from the rain, so sitting out there was not an option, unless I didnt mind my pants being wet while walking through town.

While in Lyon I bought a camera, similar to my last one, so I could start taking pictures again.

One my last full day in Lyon I saw a dog on a leash, but he was holding the handle in his mouth. He was walking himself, I thought it was pretty funny, to bad I didnt get a photo of it. His owner, a small old women, was walking behind him with a lot of bags and groceries conversing with the dog as if in conversation. I miss my hermes.

Ok so now I am in Geneva.....I know a long trek from Spain....but it had to be done. I am here for two nights and then who knows. I might go visit Adele Trueblood in France, or if not I think I will start heading north towards Copenhagen.

Much love and many adventures
Alice

Spain remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

While in Edinburgh I met Melissa, from TN. She is studying in Caen, France and was on break and decided to go to scotland for a couple days. We met the first night there and then basically spent the entire time together. We even took a day tour to loch ness, which was awesome. It was nice to meet someone from the states over here that was not in a group. Most americans dont travel alone, I am in a feild on my own. I have met some american guys who were travelling alone, but melissa was the first girl. Yes, she is studying abroad so it is different, but cool non-the-less.

Ok, when I arrived in Edinburgh I was shocked to experiance how hilly it is. I knew it was hilly and well....on a hill, but I was not prepared for the massive slopes, and when you are trying to find a hostel walking up and down hills for about and hour with a 40 lb backpack and heavy bags in your hands....uuuggg. Not fun. But I got there and then everything was fine and dandy.

ok, so my first full day was for the city, went on a morning tour then melissa and I went to the castle and basically just walked around the entire day.

One of the great things about edinburgh, at least as a backpacker, you can get great meals for basically half price. At The Last Drop anything 6 50 and under is 3 50pp and The Castle Arms has a menu only for young people who have a hostel key or room card. Nothing is more that 4 pounds and it is a good full meal.

The next day Melissa and I woke up early to walk to our Loch Ness tour meeting place. we were on a tour with 9 other people, 12 including us and the driver/tour guide. Speaking of the guide, she was awesome. She told us so many stories and scotish facts, I was loving it.

The tour included a bunch, but the highlights were Glencoe and Loch Ness. I could have stayed in Glencoe forever, in a feild of grass surrounded by snowtipped mountains. If I do not live near the ocean I will live near mountains, maybe I could do both.... well if I live in Maine that is highly possible.

Loch Ness was great, it is safe to say that i have been converted into a believer. I believe there are unknown creatures living in the Loch. I do
not however believe that they are monsters. Ricky, the resident marine biologist and "beleiver" convinced me that it either has undefined creatures or it is haunted, and along with some facts that I do not remember, haha, it has to be the undefined creature path. If you think I have been away from home too long already because of the preceding well, thats silly. If you went there you would beleive too.

The night we got back to Edinburgh we learned that the weather was horrible while we were out. I have not had any bad weather yet, knock on wood. It is very nice, but I have to say that it is hard having beautiful days because I feel really guilty when all I want to do it sit in my room and listen to broadway soundtracks. But I remind myself that I would go insane if I never had any down time.

The next morning I woke up around 5 30 to catch a 6 30 train to Canterbury Via London. It took the entire day, but i finally got to Canterbury.

Gillian and David Ratcliff were my hosts. I was guided to them by Kathleen Bird. They were in her choir in Frankfurt and are now living in Canterbury. It was a pretty low key couple of days but I was happy for that. Sunday we went to St.Martins and the Cathedral and had afternoon tea and then that night we had a wonderful homecooked meal made by Gillian. It was wonderful.

We went to evensong at the cathedral, a small all women group was singing because the cathedral choir was on their easter break. I made me abit sad, a similar feeling I got in oxford and st.pauls. I relly miss choir, it is something that...well....defined me for a long time. and now I dont even bring it up when peopl ask me to tell them about my high school years. I am not going to say that what happened with the choir shouldnt have, becasue even if I think that it does nothing for me or it, but I will say that I wish the people "in charge" of the "change" could have handled it toally differently. St.Lukes had something many churchs dont, and I do not mean a choir, I mean a young people community. There were at least 8 teenagers at church every sunday, not because their parents made them but because they wanted to be there. I miss sundays, how they used to be. Running through basemet to the girls vestment room trying not to be late to an already began warm-up, lock-ins, laying in the grass of the schmitt halls house having "youth group" was what defined my adolesense.

ok....I know...abit off the trail of my trip in europe

So then Paris, I went and stayed with Victor Dillard, a friend from PIC for all of you who do not know him. He works for Loreal, so during the day I was on my own. I was fine, not great, I think Paris needs done with people....who speak french. I was so confused all the time. But it was beautiful.

so I will update you on spain when I am out of it, so bye!
many love and adventures
Alice

it has been awhile remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Anthony told me about the Coast to Coast walk and that a pub in Robin Hood Bay is the end point, I sort of want to try the walk. I know it is like 100+ miles long but I think with the right people it could be awesome.

There was a small bridge near the waters edge that a small stream was coming from. A young boy, maybe 5 or 6, was standing at the opening yelling for the Troll named Gary to come out. It didn't. Then the boys father called him from the pub and the boy ran away. If I acted like that child I would be thought as insane, I wish I could yell under bridges for trolls and in trees for fairies and such. Well I could I guess.

I am not used to hills. My legs are killing me. I am used to chicago/evanston which is virtually flat. It might just be that I am out of shape, but I would rather think I am just not used to it.

But back to the ocean, I will live by it someday. It will probably be in Maine or some other eastcoast US city.

I miss Maine, it is too bad I am not going back to camp this year, I really love it. There are very few constants in my life, but I think Pine Island will be one, at least I hope it will be. And to all you PICers you are one of a kind, have never met any group like you and never been anywhere with any hint of the same atmosphere.

Well, I am now in Edinburgh, Scotland and am trying to plan out my days ahead. I think I am going to take a day tour friday to Loch Ness and tomorrow explore the hilly city.

Oh and I will try and get photos up as soon as possible, sorry it is taking me awhile.

Much love and adventures
Alice

The Ocean remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Wednesday Morning we got up really early and headed for a theater to get half price tickets day of. We got them. We went and saw Peter Shaffer's Equus. It was awesome. I knew what the play was about and had read it when the media was all over it. I thought Daniel Radcliff did a great job. I do wish his voice was more powerful, it is still abit weak. But other than that he did great.

What did we do yesterday? Oh yeah I waited for Maren in a feild of Birds! We split up for the first half of the day, she went shopping while I went to the national gallery and then we were to meet at 4 on the left side of the steps outside the National Gallery. 4 o'clock no sign of Maren, 4 30 no sign, 5 no sign, 5 15 nope and then at 530 she showed. It was so nerve racking, there were Birds everywhere, they were hardly scared of humans too, they would come so close to me. I was trying to look cool, but I was freaking out in my head.

We had planned to go out tonight, but we got back to the hostel and basically just died. So we went to bed instead.

The other people in our dorm are so loud! I dont understand what it is. It not just them getting their stuff together, they talk....loudly. like they were alone or something. Very inconsiderate.

well so long,

Alice

Horses and Birds remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Today Maren and I started our touristy plans, visiting the givens: tower bridge, tower of london and so on. It was fun. I find what is most interesting is when we just walk around. We walked around Oxford and Piccadilly Circus for a couple hours before we returned to the hostel. I thought it was much more interesting than anything else we did before it. The people we saw, and heard (yes eavesdropping) gave us a peek into the actual London, not just the touristy part.

While on the bus I was blankly staring out the window past some work men, and one of them caught my eye, and started to dance. I think he must of thought I was sad or something and he wanted me to smile. He was quite amusing.

We returned to the hostel to get ready for our night out. We went and saw Les Mis, a musical I know by heart but had never seen until tonight. We went yesterday and got 50% off tickets, it was a good performance, not the best I have seen, but very good.

Maren wants to go to another one, musical that is, and it is possible if we cut some other stuff out, but we shall see.

Another crazy thing happened once we got to the show. I ran into another person, but somebody I already knew, Clairellyn Smith. She is visitng London with her mother and she was seeing Les Mis the same night as us! It is crazy how this stuff happens so many miles away with no plans.

Well I am off,

Alice

One week down remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Yay! remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

So Yesterday I woke up at 5 30 am (10 30 pm chicago time) to catch my train to Paris at 6 43 am. Since the Train station was literally across the street it was not a problem, but breakfast was being served at 7, so i did not get to eat until I got to Paris. But the man at the reception made me a latte.

While waiting to board the train, five people commented on my shoes, I thought that was sort of funny. One person is normal, maybe even two, but 5 people?? I then boarded the Train. It was the only Direct train to Paris, that is why I took one so early. It had intended to arrive at Gaude du Est at 13:20, but instaed we arrived at 15:30. We stayed at the Metz station for two hours. The train left the Metz station 3 times but it backed up twice. Most people got upset, I just thought it was funny. I think something was wrong with the signals or something.

Finally I arrived in Paris, I took four different lines of the Metro to get to my hostel which was, way far away from the middle of Paris. I was so exhausted , i basically just went to sleep.

I then got up bought a pastry at a local bakery, they only thing open before 7 in France, and took the metro to Gaude du Nord, where I bought a ticket to London. Getting into the terminal was so draining, the passport lady wanted proof that I was leaving the UK, but I could not find my flight info. I think she just got tired of waiting for me so she let me through. Then I went and sat down. I went through my bag, and I found the flight info. I was scary for a moment, I thought I was not going to be able to get into England.

Then I took the train to London, the underground to Paddington and a train to Oxford.

I will spend today and tomorrow in Oxford and the take a late afternoon train back to London to stay there before I pick Maren up at Luton ( so far away ) on the 31st.

Well till next time,

Alice

Ugg...... remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

I met a Japanese man on the street that wanted me to go to Goethes house with him....I politely declined because i was going to the museum stretch. He was a very funny old man. He asked if I had ever been to Japan and when i said hadn't he said "You MUSH!". Very odd funny man.

And the strangest coincidence happened, Si and Abe you will get a kick out of this. I was in my hostel room taking a short nap before I wentout again for food and another women was sitting on her bed. We started talking and she told me she went to school in Vermont, I then informed her that I might be going to schol in Vermont as well. She then asked where and I said Marlboro expecting a blank/confused look and instead I got "I go there!"!!! yes I met Sarah Fielding in a hostel of dozens in a city of thousands on a totally different country than our own. Crazy right?? I think so. Well we ended up going to dinner, talking about Marlboro and we saw a movie too, Music and Lyrics, in german of course.

Well it is late and I need to get up early to catch a train to Paris at 6:43 am.
Much Love
Alice

Engmanese remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Well, we are off! Hope to hear from all of you along my way.

much love
Alice

And we're off! remains copyright of the author jensinapac, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs