Lonliness; drunk or sober, I've never been more willing to strike up a conversation with a stranger in my entire life. I think Lonliness is healthy in that it provokes outgoing behavior, whether you are discussing anti-semitism with a neo-nazi or having boring "travel" chit-chat with some lame Euro-teenster. Then again, maybe I'm just going a little insane. Sorry. I promised myself I wouldn't get too cerebral on the second blog that I've ever created.
Hello Everyone!
Thanks for tuning in once again to my feable attempts to articulate exactly how wonderful and not wonderful my experiences have been over the last few weeks. Lets see, so I departed from Berlin after staying there for precisely one week. As with any city that you enjoy, this is always the hardest part because it involves leaving behind something you have just learned to love for something new that you are expected to love. Where did this take me? Dresden.
Oh boy, did we (the Allies) bomb the shit out of this town in WWII. However, surprisingly, it's very difficult to distinguish between original medieval churches and recreated ones. Anyways, besides meeting a few Brasilians to hit the bars with (and they couldn't drink for shit), I found myself mostly exploring all of Dresden alone, which meant a decrease in the PARTY levels, which were probably a little too high anyway. Actually, after Berlin it was a relief to go to bed sober and wake up without a sore bladder and a dire need to piss. It was also a little more boring.
Dresden was the perfect blend of tourists, businessmen, and gutterpunks. I'm not kidding when I say that gutterpunks (you know the 'punks' that dye their 'punk' hairdos crazy colors and pierce weird body parts and wear JNCOS) would walk side by side with young, sleezy-looking Armani business 'execs' up and down the cobblestone streets, while tourists take pictures of themselves in front of post offices and stop signs- too busy to notice anything about the demographics of the culture or anything outside of what would make a good photo-op. Very unique town.
After departing from Dresden, I went to a little town called Prague that is supposedly in Eastern Europe and noone has ever heard of (sarcasm). In fact, I realized that Prague is THE place for rich old westerners to brag about having been to "Eastern Europe," and act like they are the Columbus of the affluent in discovering the other side of the world. These rich old tourists act as if they just traveled to fucking Burma as representatives of the 'rebels' of their generation. Goddammit, old folks, Prague is beautiful, young, historical, and so much more than your bragging accessory that states how 'bold' you are. Ooops. Sorry. I must stay positive.
Anyway, after arriving in Prague (said in a snooty English accent... try it, it's fun), I immediately fell in love with the city (as well as the women). Eating goulash, dumplings, and drinking a refreshing pilsner, while admiring a fairy-tale castle out of a goddam disney movie sure isn't the most terrible encounter you've ever experienced. Furthermore, as an American, things only got better when a local bar had playoff baseball on 'ESPN America' and the bartender, who didn't speak English, was ok with keeping the bar open until 7 in the morning so that I could watch the Rockies lose live. I was the only person in the bar after about 4 am and continued buying pints of pilsner Urquell for $1 US, as well as plenty of shots for the bartender and I (he got increasingly more into baseball as I got drunk with him), and we sparked an amazing multicultural, non-lingual, non-gay, drunken,...mutual love for the Colorado Rockies. Gotta love baseball.
Moving on, I emerged from Prague as a new man, and left for Olomauc, Czech as happy as I've been on the entire trip. Not only did I sit next to a smokin Czech babe who spoke english on the bus, but I was traveling with my new (and current) Danish travel buddy Andes. At that point I realized that the further east I went the local girls were getting more attractive and the local guys were getting less attractive. And I... of course getting more attractive, duh.
Olomauc (google image it) was the first truly non-tourist, off-the-map, small town that I have ventured to. Boring right? Well maybe a little, but it was nice to relax and soak in "miniature Prague" as its known. There was a huge student-base in the town, and everyone loved getting drunk as much as I do (there's not much else to do there). The hostel I stayed at was basically an Australian household that let me sleep and get drunk with them (not get drunk and sleep with them), and it was simply amazing.
OK, I'm doing pretty well so far writing this blog. After my first one I received an immediate email from my mother saying "I THOUGHT WHAT HAPPENED IN AMSTERDAM STAYED IN AMSTERDAM!!" ... Apparently my first international blog debut came out a little too explicit for relatives. For this reason, I have mitigated or eliminated my tales of sex, drugs, and rock n roll because those stories are juvenile, immature, and completely unbecoming. I'm pretty classy so its alright.
Moving on, I arrive at my current location, a little place called Krakow, located in Poland for all you non-Pollocks. Jesus, I swear the demographics of the city are 75% hot classy looking girls wearing tight designer jeans and stylish boots; 20% guys that are probably the luckiest assholes in the world; 4.999% mix between old people and ugly people (the scrubs); and .001% ME. And goddammit if that isn't the best .001% of a population, then I don't know what is.
Aside from the hordes of pretty women, I really enjoyed seeing the city of Krakow, especially because it started snowing violently upon my arrival. Although Europeans are intelligent and beautiful, they sure are pussies when it comes to cold weather. Who the fuck uses an umbrella in the middle of a rowdy, sideways snowstorm? The answer is everyone in Krakow, including the guys (they have to protect their stylish, gel-filled Euro-perms). Seems weird and a little pointless to me, but hey I'm from Colorado, what the hell do I know. Anyway, it was nice to see a little snow and certainly made the castles and churches more picturesque than they already were.
Finally there was today. Me, my Danish buddy Andes, and an Australian gal made the trip out to see Auschwitz and Berkinau concentration/elimination camp. Wow. It's pretty much impossible to make any sort of joke or light-hearted comment about what I saw today. The fact that a mere 60 years ago humanity was capable of committing and LETTING someone commit the atrocities of the Holocaust makes me choke down my beer a little bit more quickly. End of story.
Alrighty then, thanks for making it to the end of my second blog, "the steam-rollin man." Thanks for reading, and I just want to reiterate that I really do miss everyone! A lot! Like I said, please let me know whats crackin back in the US and I'll try to do the same. The next stranger you meet, whether it be a bum, a customer, a supermodel, or peter-fuckin-pan, strike up a conversation with them- it's strangely exhilirating and has completely changed how I travel, and more importantly, how I interact with people. As Jack Kerouac says (I just read On the Road) "Aren't you tired enough of yourself by now?". And he talked to the girl on the bus.
Overout.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Brett v. World Round 1
Traveling is undoubtedly the best way to discover oneself. While this may not be a fact, it is certainly applicable to myself. Sorry. I promised I wouldn't get too cerebral on the first blog I've ever created.
Hello Everyone!
Its been exactly one month as of tomorrow since I left home. And I realized today that maybe I haven't done the best job of keeping in touch. Occasional drunk Facebook profile updates or lonely sentimental emails don't even come close to expressing how much I have enjoyed this trip thus far. One month. Beginnig in New York City (which feels like a foreign country to me) to Amsterdam, to Brussels, to Paris, to Berlin, and I leave for Dresden tomorrow (assuming I finish this blog today).
Originally I did not intend to spend so much time and money in Western Europe, but like most things in life, things change. The capriciousness of travel contributes to most of the fun. However, it also contributes to getting lost somewhere in Amsterdam by yourself for 3 hours while tripping mushrooms. Like I said, most of the fun.
I arrived into Amsterdam only to find myself located in the heart of The Las Vegas of Europe. Although with time this analogy proved less and less valid, there was no doubt an overwhelming feeling of PARTY upon arrival. So with that in mind, it didn't take me long to find myelf wandering around drunk with approximately 10 other British tourists in the Red Light District,... "window shopping." I had no idea prostitutes were so dam hot. Luckily I experienced this at the beginning of my trip; lonliness hadn't really set in. Anyway, upon blacking out I luckily woke up next to a "married" British chic. It was free, don't worry.
Lets see.... oh yeah drugs. People apparently come to Amsterdam to do drugs. Skipping ahead a little, 25 euros worth of mushrooms later and I'm roaming seemingly aimlessly around the streets of Amsterdam by myself. After throwing up twice (they were tasty mushrooms) I eventually made it back to the two Dutch girls' house that I was staying at and watched Dutch TV until about 7 in the morning. Not the craziest trip ever, but there is something exhilirating about throwing up in the streets of Amsterdam from purposefully poisoning your body- surrounded by drunk 18 year old British kids who smoked too much "AK-47" and ask slurringly "whoa man... you alright?" I'm pretty classy so its alright.
As for the town (not really a city) of Amsterdam, it was GOD amsterDAM beautiful. Both Judy and Kelly, the Dutch gals I stayed with were amazing. We went to the Anne Frank House Museum. Wow, that is one articulate little 13 year old Jewish girl. After reading some of her diary and seeing where she hid from the Nazis for 2 years, I immediately went back and reread my "Man Journal," (diary sound too gay). It consists of a list of all the beers I've drank so far, what girls from which countries are the hottest, and attempts to account for all the nights I've partied so far. Let's just say there will never be a "Brett Lewan's Diary Museum," in which elementary school kids are subjected to my lack of articulate introspection. Anne Frank, I salute you.
It was very difficult to leave Amsterdam- I had a free place to stay, awesome Dutch girls to hang out with, and a beautiful town. However, Brussels, Belgium proved to be an amazing experience. Amsterdam felt like the Boulder of the USA, all beautiful blonde people riding their bikes everywhere to go drink Heineken, obstensibly not bound to any 'work' (shit even the bums were bilingual... it makes it tough to not give money). Anyway, Belgium was much more cosmopolitan- there were actually black people there!
Outside of drinking Stella Artois, eating waffles, and eating chocalate I really enjoyed Belgium. I found a nifty parking garage that was free to go to the top. Drinking beers on the top of a parking garage with one Mexican guy and one Turkish guy, watching the sunset was incredible. I also checked out the European Parliament and Commission.
Moving on, I get to Paris. It's in France. Considering how much history I studied in college, I have never been so appreciative of the French rolling over and taking it in the ass by Nazi Germany. Because of this almost all of the city was preserved with minimal damages after WWII. Paris is an absolutely beautiful city. Unlike Berlin, you don't have to be drunk to realize this (which is a good thing because a pint of beer at a bar was on average $12 US).
It was difficult to experience the nightlife of Paris because of the extreme prices. Honostly, getting drunk at a bar is COMPLETELY out of the question. I would have spent my entire budget in the 5 days I was there.
However, I had a great time with Elizabeth and her friend Keely and we explored copious museums, sites, and churches, all of which fully revealed the intense history of the country. Napoleon, while maybe an egotistical, imperialistic, maniac, would have been a great dude to get a beer with (as long as he paid).
Paris was beautiful, but I think Harry from Dumb & Dumber puts it best, 'I don't know Loyd, the French are assholes'.... and for the most part they were.
Finally I get to Berlin, my current and favorite city thus far. Berlin feels like the true connector between East and West Europe, and a major marking point in my travels. Electronic, Rock, Metal clubs combined with some of the hippest locals I have seen thus far make for an extraordinary experience. Graffiti. Such a contrast to Paris. The pictures on my camera go from beautiful historic buildings like the Louvre and Notre Dame to graffiti-ridden run down buildings that were bombed during WWI, rebuilt by Hitler for some Nazi glorification project, bombed again in WWII, and half rebuilt during the splitting of Berlin by the wall... and now they serve as some hipster night club. Fucking amazing city. I took an hour walk to the bus station in the rain and decided that this was my favorite city.
Anyway, for those of you still reading, thank you, I realize this is longer than any of us expected (myself included). I will attempt to continue updating, so please check back. Although I have only been traveling for 1 month, I feel like I have learned more about myself than the last 23 years combined. When you subtract your surroundings, home, friends, family, and belongings it really strips you down to the very basics of who you are. As Chuck Palahniuk says, it's only after you've lost everything that you are free to do anything. Although I'm nowhere near as badass as Tyler Durden, I certainly can relate to this quote. I really can't even imagine coming home.
However, I MISS EVERYONE SO FUCKING MUCH! Friends and family are the only difficult aspects of home to get over. With that in mind, please keep in touch and let me know what is going on at home and in your lives. I will really appreciate it. If your feeling even more ambitious, buy a plane ticket to pretty much anywhere in Europe or Asia and I will meet you there. I love everyone and miss you all.
A few personal notes:
Casey, I read your blog, it sounds great. Thanks for motivating me to finally start one.
Chase, Im looking forward to sleeping on your couch for a month and celebrating Chinese New Years with you. I'm having serious BGII withdrawals, I never got to finish my quest.
Tommy, I witnessed the reelection of Chancellor (president) Angela Merkel here in Germany, the whole city was watching a projector of the results at the park and celebrating everywhere, pretty rad politics.
Jake Fartzell, When I was wandering around lost, tripping on shrooms in Amsterdam a thought crossed my mind when I realized I might have to sleep somewhere random.... WWFULJD
What would fucked up lost Jake do? surely he would find somewhere to sleep.
Kat, Don't worry, my pooping has been regular and solid. I hope yours was too on the raft trip.
Cole, all the beer out here tastes the same, I actually miss our Twisted Pine Kegerator.
MVDB, my number is only at 2. Sorry, Ill try harder, the hostels are tough.
Kronisch, ... nice. That tattoo always cheers me up.
Bocker, Go Rockies! keep me posted.
Plummer, I really need someone here to say 'party' to in most situations, when are you meeting me?
Adrienne, I hope the new job is working out well, my Mario undies are still my fav.
Krause, Sorry there is very little TV out here.
Judy & Kelly, Thanks again for the hospitality. Cinnamon roles just aren't the same with anybody else. Happy Birthday
Sam, Your skateboards are in my parents' garage. party on.
Kenzie, I will be seeing you in China sometime in 2010.
Joey K, WINGS!
Hailey, I hope you're holding down the fort in Boulder. I'll be meeting Melissa in Prague next weekend, we shall drink on behalf of you.
Illegal Pete's, There is absolutely no burritos or any Mexican food out here, please send me a burrito. (I actually have been craving IP's... sad)
Rybo, The (Berlin) Wall never forgets. I'm buying a plane ticket for you, send me the dates you want to meet me.
Mom & Dad, It was great smoking weed with you in Amsterdam. I Love You.
And to everyone (Im sure I forgot a lot of people, sorry!) I miss you.
I'm going to go drink about 10 beers at the hostel and then head to the Berlin bars, over out.
Hello Everyone!
Its been exactly one month as of tomorrow since I left home. And I realized today that maybe I haven't done the best job of keeping in touch. Occasional drunk Facebook profile updates or lonely sentimental emails don't even come close to expressing how much I have enjoyed this trip thus far. One month. Beginnig in New York City (which feels like a foreign country to me) to Amsterdam, to Brussels, to Paris, to Berlin, and I leave for Dresden tomorrow (assuming I finish this blog today).
Originally I did not intend to spend so much time and money in Western Europe, but like most things in life, things change. The capriciousness of travel contributes to most of the fun. However, it also contributes to getting lost somewhere in Amsterdam by yourself for 3 hours while tripping mushrooms. Like I said, most of the fun.
I arrived into Amsterdam only to find myself located in the heart of The Las Vegas of Europe. Although with time this analogy proved less and less valid, there was no doubt an overwhelming feeling of PARTY upon arrival. So with that in mind, it didn't take me long to find myelf wandering around drunk with approximately 10 other British tourists in the Red Light District,... "window shopping." I had no idea prostitutes were so dam hot. Luckily I experienced this at the beginning of my trip; lonliness hadn't really set in. Anyway, upon blacking out I luckily woke up next to a "married" British chic. It was free, don't worry.
Lets see.... oh yeah drugs. People apparently come to Amsterdam to do drugs. Skipping ahead a little, 25 euros worth of mushrooms later and I'm roaming seemingly aimlessly around the streets of Amsterdam by myself. After throwing up twice (they were tasty mushrooms) I eventually made it back to the two Dutch girls' house that I was staying at and watched Dutch TV until about 7 in the morning. Not the craziest trip ever, but there is something exhilirating about throwing up in the streets of Amsterdam from purposefully poisoning your body- surrounded by drunk 18 year old British kids who smoked too much "AK-47" and ask slurringly "whoa man... you alright?" I'm pretty classy so its alright.
As for the town (not really a city) of Amsterdam, it was GOD amsterDAM beautiful. Both Judy and Kelly, the Dutch gals I stayed with were amazing. We went to the Anne Frank House Museum. Wow, that is one articulate little 13 year old Jewish girl. After reading some of her diary and seeing where she hid from the Nazis for 2 years, I immediately went back and reread my "Man Journal," (diary sound too gay). It consists of a list of all the beers I've drank so far, what girls from which countries are the hottest, and attempts to account for all the nights I've partied so far. Let's just say there will never be a "Brett Lewan's Diary Museum," in which elementary school kids are subjected to my lack of articulate introspection. Anne Frank, I salute you.
It was very difficult to leave Amsterdam- I had a free place to stay, awesome Dutch girls to hang out with, and a beautiful town. However, Brussels, Belgium proved to be an amazing experience. Amsterdam felt like the Boulder of the USA, all beautiful blonde people riding their bikes everywhere to go drink Heineken, obstensibly not bound to any 'work' (shit even the bums were bilingual... it makes it tough to not give money). Anyway, Belgium was much more cosmopolitan- there were actually black people there!
Outside of drinking Stella Artois, eating waffles, and eating chocalate I really enjoyed Belgium. I found a nifty parking garage that was free to go to the top. Drinking beers on the top of a parking garage with one Mexican guy and one Turkish guy, watching the sunset was incredible. I also checked out the European Parliament and Commission.
Moving on, I get to Paris. It's in France. Considering how much history I studied in college, I have never been so appreciative of the French rolling over and taking it in the ass by Nazi Germany. Because of this almost all of the city was preserved with minimal damages after WWII. Paris is an absolutely beautiful city. Unlike Berlin, you don't have to be drunk to realize this (which is a good thing because a pint of beer at a bar was on average $12 US).
It was difficult to experience the nightlife of Paris because of the extreme prices. Honostly, getting drunk at a bar is COMPLETELY out of the question. I would have spent my entire budget in the 5 days I was there.
However, I had a great time with Elizabeth and her friend Keely and we explored copious museums, sites, and churches, all of which fully revealed the intense history of the country. Napoleon, while maybe an egotistical, imperialistic, maniac, would have been a great dude to get a beer with (as long as he paid).
Paris was beautiful, but I think Harry from Dumb & Dumber puts it best, 'I don't know Loyd, the French are assholes'.... and for the most part they were.
Finally I get to Berlin, my current and favorite city thus far. Berlin feels like the true connector between East and West Europe, and a major marking point in my travels. Electronic, Rock, Metal clubs combined with some of the hippest locals I have seen thus far make for an extraordinary experience. Graffiti. Such a contrast to Paris. The pictures on my camera go from beautiful historic buildings like the Louvre and Notre Dame to graffiti-ridden run down buildings that were bombed during WWI, rebuilt by Hitler for some Nazi glorification project, bombed again in WWII, and half rebuilt during the splitting of Berlin by the wall... and now they serve as some hipster night club. Fucking amazing city. I took an hour walk to the bus station in the rain and decided that this was my favorite city.
Anyway, for those of you still reading, thank you, I realize this is longer than any of us expected (myself included). I will attempt to continue updating, so please check back. Although I have only been traveling for 1 month, I feel like I have learned more about myself than the last 23 years combined. When you subtract your surroundings, home, friends, family, and belongings it really strips you down to the very basics of who you are. As Chuck Palahniuk says, it's only after you've lost everything that you are free to do anything. Although I'm nowhere near as badass as Tyler Durden, I certainly can relate to this quote. I really can't even imagine coming home.
However, I MISS EVERYONE SO FUCKING MUCH! Friends and family are the only difficult aspects of home to get over. With that in mind, please keep in touch and let me know what is going on at home and in your lives. I will really appreciate it. If your feeling even more ambitious, buy a plane ticket to pretty much anywhere in Europe or Asia and I will meet you there. I love everyone and miss you all.
A few personal notes:
Casey, I read your blog, it sounds great. Thanks for motivating me to finally start one.
Chase, Im looking forward to sleeping on your couch for a month and celebrating Chinese New Years with you. I'm having serious BGII withdrawals, I never got to finish my quest.
Tommy, I witnessed the reelection of Chancellor (president) Angela Merkel here in Germany, the whole city was watching a projector of the results at the park and celebrating everywhere, pretty rad politics.
Jake Fartzell, When I was wandering around lost, tripping on shrooms in Amsterdam a thought crossed my mind when I realized I might have to sleep somewhere random.... WWFULJD
What would fucked up lost Jake do? surely he would find somewhere to sleep.
Kat, Don't worry, my pooping has been regular and solid. I hope yours was too on the raft trip.
Cole, all the beer out here tastes the same, I actually miss our Twisted Pine Kegerator.
MVDB, my number is only at 2. Sorry, Ill try harder, the hostels are tough.
Kronisch, ... nice. That tattoo always cheers me up.
Bocker, Go Rockies! keep me posted.
Plummer, I really need someone here to say 'party' to in most situations, when are you meeting me?
Adrienne, I hope the new job is working out well, my Mario undies are still my fav.
Krause, Sorry there is very little TV out here.
Judy & Kelly, Thanks again for the hospitality. Cinnamon roles just aren't the same with anybody else. Happy Birthday
Sam, Your skateboards are in my parents' garage. party on.
Kenzie, I will be seeing you in China sometime in 2010.
Joey K, WINGS!
Hailey, I hope you're holding down the fort in Boulder. I'll be meeting Melissa in Prague next weekend, we shall drink on behalf of you.
Illegal Pete's, There is absolutely no burritos or any Mexican food out here, please send me a burrito. (I actually have been craving IP's... sad)
Rybo, The (Berlin) Wall never forgets. I'm buying a plane ticket for you, send me the dates you want to meet me.
Mom & Dad, It was great smoking weed with you in Amsterdam. I Love You.
And to everyone (Im sure I forgot a lot of people, sorry!) I miss you.
I'm going to go drink about 10 beers at the hostel and then head to the Berlin bars, over out.
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