The Company I Keep

“american girls are weather and noise, playing the changes for all of the boys, holding a candle right up to my hands, making me feel so incredible.” – counting crows

I was in discussion recently with one of my travel companions about what we are looking forward to the most about our upcoming trip. The answers varied from the silly to the serious but in the end we both came to the conclusion that this trip will bring about more changes in us than we can even begin to comprehend. With the date of graduation looming in the not so distant future and the uncertainty of the ‘real world’ waiting on the other side of our impending trip, we both decided that it will be truly glorious to disappear for a little while. We will for all intents and purposes, just be four girls, wandering Europe, with no preconceived notions and agendas, no responsibilities to be tethered to, no voice of reason to answer to. We made this plan on our own terms. We know this moment of being on the cusp of adulthood will pass us by quicker than we can imagine and so for a truly special 29 days we choose to stick a pin in growing up and take to the cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes, the intriguing dialects and historical provinces that make up Western Europe. It is a rare occurrence in this constantly changing world, to be able to take a step back and move away from the hustle and bustle of one’s everyday routine to truly enjoy just existing in the moment. In a world where nothing can come fast enough or be good enough, it can take a little reminder every now and then, that there are bigger things to see and sometimes a better person to be. So I, being a self proclaimed planner and lover of organization and lists galore, am promising myself to make a conscious effort to enjoy every minute of these 29 days, planned and unplanned. Every miscommunication over the language barrier, every wrong turn down a cobblestone street, every local friend we find, every lesson we learn, will be the little pieces that come together to make this a true turning point in the landscape of our lives. Excited does not even begin to describe this feeling.

My Travel Companions….

Ellen and Amanda

Marilee and Me

Home Away from Home

“see the market place in old algiers. send me photographs and souvenirs. just remember when a dream appears, you belong to me. fly the ocean in a silver plane, see the jungle when it's wet with rain. just remember till you're home again, you belong to me.”- jason wade

Listing of possible housing for some of our stops…

London, England

Ashlee House
261-265 Gray's Inn Road
WC1X 8QT, England
King's Cross, London

New Cross Inn Hostel
323a New Cross Road
London, SE14 6AS, England

Dover Castle Hostel and Bar
6A Great Dover Street
London, SE1 4XW, England

O'Callaghan's Hostel
205 Earls Court Road
Kensington, London
SW5 9AN, England

Paris, France

St Christopher's Inns
68-74 Quai de la Seine
Paris, Paris
75019, France

Hotel Prelude Gare Du Nord
73 rue de Dunkerque
Paris, 75009, France

Prague, Czech Republic

Advantage Hostel
Sokolska 11
Prague, 120 00
Czech Republic

Krasova Budget Apartments
Krasova 22 132
Prague 3, 13000, Czech Republic

Down Town Suites
Kodanska 13
Prague, 10100, Czech Republic

Rome, Italy

Hotel Lodi
Via Oristano 14
Rome, 00182, Italy

Freestyle Hostel
Via Principe Amedeo
Rome, 00185, Italy

Litus Roma Hostel
Lungomare P. Toscanelli 186
Rome, Lido di Ostia, 00121, Italy

THANK YOU ROBYN!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!

You have officially made this the BEST day...week...year...EVER!

Subject: RE: Hey Back!
The trip sounds outrageous!! You know we'll pay the airfare. We just need to figure out the rest. I knew Keri was bright, but oh my God what a presentation. Dad and I will try to come up with ideas to finance tonight. Call us later. How exciting is your life??

Mom



YAY!!! ELLEN'S COMING TO EUROPE!!!!

Mo's Response to the Final Plea

"Hey hon.....I was cleaning/deleting old e-mails and came across the one where you gave me your blog website.I went to the blog to read your entries and read your plea to Robyn. I'm guessing that's Ellen's mom. Hope it convinces her to given Ellen her blessings and let her go. It convinces me that it's going to be a trip of a lifetime and one that you will speak of for many years to come.Regardless of the outcome you are a wonderful friend to Ellen and Ellen is lucky to have you in her life. Keep me posted on the outcome. ttu love, Ma."


come on robyn....help us out here. if that doesn't convince you we don't know what will. pleeease =)

My Final Plea

Dear Robyn,

I sit here at the kitchen table as Ellen pieces together a children’s puzzle depicting a scene of the Piazza San Marco and Basilica in Italy and I cannot help but be hopeful that this blog entry will in some way help to persuade the decision that has come to pass regarding Ellen’s ability to join my month long sojourn to Europe. This trip will, without question, be one to remember and I for one hope to have Ellen there with me because I do not feel we have an opportunity like this again. We have excitedly discussed the possibility of this trip for many months and though there have been some obstacles in the planning process everything has smoothed out quite nicely and we are now officially counting down until the departure and I for one am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to go abroad. But the trip will mean so much more and be exponentially more memorable if I know that I have Ellen there with me to see it all. I know Ellen has the same feeling and would be so grateful to come on this trip. Therefore, I hope that this is the final plea necessary to make the decision a positive one and in the immortal words of Mr. Tim Gunn “make it work.”


Sincerely and please please please let Ellen come,

Keri

Next Stop Prague (...Kinda)

"it's hard to let the miles pass me by, yellow lines that blend together in my eyes and when the seasons change, again then i will too." – brandi carlile

I read in my book “Let’s go Europe: On a Budget” that the Countess Libuse stood above this next country’s Vltava River and declared, “I see a grand city whose glory will touch the stars.” This glorious city they speak of is the city of Prague and although it is not the next stop after London in my itinerary, but I have decided to go a little out of order because I felt like researching Prague since I don’t know nearly enough about it. From what I have read up until this point, Prague boasts cathedrals, palaces, and medieval architecture. It lies within the Czech Republic region and from what I heard is rich with culture and memorable experiences. For instance, among the many chapels that line the landscape, there is one in particular that stands out because of its unique building material. In the small village of Kutna Hora, which actually lies about an hour outside of the center of the city, there is a chapel filled with artistic and religious creations made entirely out of bones. Kinda creepy? Yes. But, nonetheless very intriguing.

The most recognizable site in Prague is the Charles Bridge and everything I read states that it is run over with tourists all the time and creates a bit of a precarious situations in terms of pick-pocketing but nonetheless it is a must see. According to “Let’s go Europe: On a Budget”, “five stars and a cross mark the spot where, according to legend, St. Jan Nepomucky was tossed over the side of the bridge for guarding the queen’s extramarital secrets from a suspicious King Wenceslas IV in the 14th century.”

Another important sight will be the Staromestske Namesti (Old Town Square) which is in the heart of the city. Within the Old Town Square, there is the astronomical clock, which draws crowds as it chimes every hour and depicts the skeletal Death emptying his hourglass as the procession of apostles’ marches by. Crossing right over into the Nove Mesto (New Town), we enter into the commercial center of Prague and we will feel right at home because they apparently boast American chain stores amid their businesses. We’ll definitely be checking out Wenceslas Square, which hosts department stores, discos, posh hotels, and casinos as well as Radio Free Europe which is headquartered in a glass building behind the National Museum. Radio Free Europe provides global news updates and advocates peace while continually keeping the public informed of the state of the world. Then we’ll head over to the Mala Strana to see St. Nicholas’s Cathedral which was graced with Mozart’s presence and talents when he visited Prague. The Cathedral now has nightly concerts featuring classical music.

I have heard that the nightlife in Prague is supposedly some of the best in all of Europe so I’m very excited to partake in that as well. Sitting on the banks of the River Vltava and in the shadow of the Charles Bridge lies the Lavka Bar and Club which has a huge open air patio and stays open as long as people choose to stay according to the books. No last call? Sounds a bit dangerous but also very fun. Another place we’ll have to hit up will be the Double Trouble Bar & Club which is a lively bar and club set in a gothic cellar in the old town center. There are too many places to outline in this one blog entry but I feel very confident that there will be no shortage of fun times to be had in Prague.

These sites have been really helpful in addition to reading my books:

http://www.pragueexperience.com/index.asp

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/czech-republic/prague/

http://www.prague.net/

My Tenative Itinerary

“the road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. now, far ahead the road has gone, and i must follow, if i can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. and whither then? i cannot say.” – j.r.r. tolkien

This is my tentative itinerary, which probably should have been posted as an earlier entry but oh well. It’s apt to change numerous times before we even board the plane and then once we’re over there it’ll probably change some more but nonetheless it’s best to have a plan in place.

1. London, England
2. Paris, France
3. Madrid, Spain
4. Lisbon, Portugal
5. Barcelona, Spain
6. Montpellier, France
7. Rome, Italy
8. Florence, Italy
9. Venice, Italy
10. Vienna, Austria
11. Munich, Germany
12. Prague, Czech Republic
13. Berlin, Germany
14. Amsterdam, Netherlands
15. Dublin, Ireland

My Europe Playlist: Part II

“and all you want is a few days down. all that you need is a little time to drown. it's a short vacation to a foreign nation. oh, nothing familiar here.” – mandy moore

Update on my European soundtrack:

1. Best Days – Graham Colton
2. Slide – Goo Goo Dolls
3. How We Operate – Gomez
4. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
5. Ain’t No Love – Jay Z
6. Say – John Mayer
7. Faint – Linkin Park
8. Boondocks – Little Big Town
9. Lightning Crashes – Live
10. Wild Hope – Mandy Moore
11. Where I Stood – Missy Higgins
12. Grace Kelly – Mika
13. So Much to Say – Dave Matthews Band
14. Love and Memories – OAR
15. Papa Was a Rolling Stone – The Temptations
16. American Girl – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
17.Fairytale – Sara Bareilles
18. My Way Home – Citizen Cope
19. City of Blinding Lights – U2
20. New Year’s Day – U2
21. Beautiful Day – U2
22. Good – Better Than Ezra
23. Summer, Highland Falls – Billy Joel
24. Queen Jane Approximately – Bob Dylan
25. Mud on the Tires – Brad Paisley
26. Closer to You – Brandi Carlile
27. Blessed – Brett Dennen
28. The Long Way Around – Dixie Chicks
29. Heard ‘Em Say – Kanye West
30. Umbrella – Marie Digby

London's Calling

“now get this london calling, yeah, i was there, too. and you know what they said? well, some of it was true. london calling at the top of the dial. after all this, won’t you give me a smile?” – the clash


Double-decker buses, fish and chips, Piccadilly Circus. Westminster Abbey, Harrods, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace.
To say there will be much to do and not nearly, enough time to do it in is a grave understatement. London is one of the cultural, social and financial centers of the modern world. There is too much to see in this one city in two weeks, let alone the two days I have allotted. Nonetheless, I will do my best to see all the important sites and pack as much as possible in the 48 hours that I can, probably foregoing sleep in order to do so.

Obviously, the big historic sites to check out will be Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London on the River Thames, and so on. It is easy to forget as Americans that the United States is a relatively young nation and our history does not stretch back as far as our neighbors in the world. Considering our nation splintered off from Great Britain, I am intrigued to see how their version of history and the revolution of the colonies and eventual fight for independence is communicated. As they say, there are two sides to every story and I think it will be interesting to go to the museums and see the British side.

Also on my list of stops will be Abbey Road as I mentioned in an earlier post to feed my Beatles mania. I will of course force my fellow travelers to cross the famed intersection with me although I don’t think I will need to persuade them greatly. And I don’t think we will be quite so obsessive as to hold up traffic and take a similar photo but none the less we will be walking in the same place that the fab four did many years ago.

I also plan on hitting up as many of the local drinking establishments as possible because what fun would London be without sharing a few pints with some Englishmen? I have been gathering recommendations from all my travel books and from various people that have been to London recently but even in my quick research online I have found a ton of sites outlining the best bars in various European cities. For instance on http://www.worldsbestbars.com/ you can search according to the city you are in and get a brief description of the best places to check out. I’m intrigued by a bar in London called Lost Society which is described as, “this historic, two-story 16th century barn was once a Manor House that hosted a banquet for Queen Elizabeth I. Now it’s a decadent, opulently designed restaurant-bar that’s easy to get lost in along with the rest of Clapham high society. The building contains a Conservatory, Library Bar…and most appealing in the summer – a Secret Garden – a shaded nook that you wouldn’t know existed from the street.” (http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/south-west/lost-society-clapham.htm) I read in another review that the outside garden becomes a beer garden on the weekends in the summer which sounds quite enjoyable. It sounds like a bit pricey for our general price range but I’m sure we will be splurging on the occasional night.

We’ll also hit up the more local watering holes like the local pubs but these are usually found through recommendations from the locals so we’ll play those more by ear. We also will be hitting up the rows of bars within Piccadilly because it seems like fun, trendy place to hang out.

I also really want to check out the Notting Hill and Hyde Park areas to see the lines of Victorian townhouses and shopping. Once again all I keep hearing is how expensive this area is but I’m pretty sure that’s just a general statement for all of London so I’ll just have to suck it up and make it work. I have been using this website a lot to research the local attractions within the city and it’s proved to very helpful. I guess that’s it for now so I’ll be back in a bit with a new country to tackle.