Vienna

So I just had my first day in Vienna. I went and bought my ticket to Frankfurt in the morning. Coming back on the Tram, I heard someone call my name. I looked over and Megan was sitting next to me. She had just come into Cinque Terre. Come to find out, she is also staying at the same hostel as I am. Small world. Im not sure why she stayed another night, she said it was a long story. Vienna is pretty fun. I first walked into this area called the ring, the quintessential historic site seeing place. There were a large number of impressive buildings, such as parliment. I went into the Modern art exhibit and saw two exhibits. It was a fresh breeze after all the ancient art. One of the exhibits was all about punk rock. It was very cool, besides the porno that they passed off as art (ask me about it if you really want to know, but that pretty much explains it). The other exhibit was all about a painter and film maker from England. I didnt know this, but he was a homosexual with AIDS. It was a pretty sad exhibit actually. If any of you have seen Michael Clayton, the female lawyer who goes up against George Cloony did many films with this guy. She was actually in one of the documentaries. The most moving part of this exhibit was a movie, that consists of just a blue screen, and excerpts from the authors book about him dying of AIDS-heavy stuff. Then later I went into a cool looking church that was reminicent of the Sagrate Familia. Then, being a psychology major, I went to the Sigmund Freud Museam, which is located in his former home and first clinic. I was able to see the famous Freudian couch. Cool stuff. Then, I rented a bike and got really lost for a while. It only cost me 3 euros for 2 hours.
So, tomorrow is my last full day in Europe that Ill be sightseeing. Oh, by the way, Vienna has the best Pizza Ive had in Europe, and maybe anywhere. It is incredible. It is thin crust, with juicy peperroni.

Cinque Terre and Vienna. The start of the end.

Hey, I finally have access to cheap internet. I had like 30 emails. I just got into my hostel at 140 in the morning in Vienna. So far everything is the cheapest of the trip. I was famished and ate like a quarter of a pizza for 2.50 euros. And 20 minutes of internet is only .50 euros (as compared to 2 euros for 15 minutes in Florence. It was hailing in Venice when I had the lay over.

And, to update you all on Cinque Terre. It was a beautiful place. The sun was hot and intense and the people were quaint and personable. I did the walk that saw all the 5 terres. I ended up buying a cheap snorkel and mask and snorkling (it wasnt that great in terms of snorking, but was fun none the less). What else to say? I got reallz badly sunburned in Rome (as you know) and now I got sunburned on my back. I am still a lone traveler as of now. Megan is in Vienna now (I believe), but weve been estranged since we didnt meet up our first morning in Cinque Terre. Traveling alone is much different. After these three days, Ill have been alone for 9 nights! (excluding a travel day I spent with Megan after Rome). I think you have a more authentic experience when you dont have comrads to bufffer you, for better or worse.
Just something to note about my travel style. Sometimes I make split second decisions that dont pan out so well. I just act, hoping that things turn out well. Its actually sort of liberating. For example, I wasnt sure of what tram I needed to get on (I knew it was number 18), so I just jumped on one (it turned out to be going the wrong direction). It is nice to be in the position where failure is an option that can be flirted with. I think thats one fo the things this trip has taught me. For better or worse, you can put yourself out there. If you fail, at least youve tried.
Cheers.

Rome

So, Ive been kicking it solo for a couple days in Rome and Vatican City. Its been different and fun. I hiked to the top of the Vatican today and had a great view. It was so clostrophobic hiking in the tiny tunnels to the top, through the seemingly airless and muggy channels full of people. The view at the top was worth it, though. I leave early in the morning for Cinque Terre. I am quite sunburned from laying out by the pool without sunscreen. Cheers.

Rome

Rome is hot and crowded. The sites have been pretty great though. We are going to Cinque Terre on Tuesday. Not much time to elaborate.

Hmm...

Hey,
So, Florence has been fun. We went to the Acadamia today (where the David is-It is huge). Then we went to the Dormo ( I think that is the spelling) We hiked to the top of a huge tower and had a great view of the city. Then we went to this classic bridge that is probably what Florence is most known for. It is lined on the inside with diamond and other jewelry vendors. kelsie had some bad family news today so she might be heading home early. The details have not been firmed up so I cant say anything for sure. From here we head to Roma tomorrow. From there the itinerary is not set into stone. Last night we went on a hill called Michelangelo and watched the end of the sunset while drinking wine. Then we had pizza at a place called American Bar (stupid name, I know). The pizza and service was good. It is funny, because the waiter never once spoke English (although I assume he knew some because of the name of the restaraunt. Ive heard that about Italians though. Cya.

Oh Switzerland.

So, We are in our final night in Switzerland. The tour de France was Awesome to watch. However, we ended up standing around for about 5 hours before because I had read that the crowds pack in by 10= not true. It was great watching the riders break away and speed down the Champs Ellysee. Switzerland has been great. Yesterday I took off solo and did about 4000 feet of hiking in 4 or five hours to the base of the Eiger and Jungfrau. Near the end it started raining, and I caught a tram just minutes before a thunder, lightning and hail storm started. I rode the tram with a German family. The little daughter was terrified when the tram stopped because of the storm. I have to admit, it was a bit unnerving up there. Today we went to one of the lakes that sits next to interlaken, I believe it is called Thune, but Im probably wrong and dont want to check right now. The swiss people are great, but every time I get in line at the grocery store, a guy cuts me off (i swear it was the same guy both times). This doesnt seem to happen to anyone else. Perhaps it is a swiss compliment? Anyone know? Pretty on par with the more lax policy on lines in Europe. Anyway we head to Florence tomorrow, then Rome 2 days later. Im stayîng on my ôwn in Rome. My hostel was super cheap but also has a sauna and hottub. Whats the catch? Im not sure yet. Perhaps the fact that Im sleeping in a cabin. Hmm, what else to say? Cant think of anything. Best regards.
CB

Tour de France Tomorrow

So, We've been in paris for 3 full days. Tomorrow we see the tour de France. I hear that Carlos Sastre(sp?) is the presummed winnner by a rather small margin. It could be a good race to watch. We are going to the Champs de Ellesye (I know that one is spelled wrong) {:>) Today we saw the opera house that inspired the Phantom of the Opera.
Cheers.

Paris

Just got to Paris from Amsterdam. The hostel is nice, and so are the people, but it is in extrememly bad part of town. Cheers.

Berlin

Hi, This is our second full day in Berlin. We did a bike tour yesterday and are going to see the remainder of the cool sites today. There is a ton of history here. Yesterday I stood over Hitler's bunker-just yards from where his body was lain following his suicide. Today we are going to the memorial for the dead jews. As you would expect, a memorial like that is theoretically vulnerable to valdalism. However, that memorial is coated with a substance that makes all paint just scrub off. The armed gaurd doesn' hurt either. Ironically, the company that made that substance also created the chemical used in the gas chambers. The company ended up donating the material in honor of those it helped kill. Interestingly, the Nazi web caught up a large number of companies in Germany, Europe, and around the world. The legacy can still be felt. So, Monday we head to Amsterdam via train, where we spend two nights I think.
Continued:
We saw the Checkpoint Charlie Museam today as well as the topography of terror exhibit. The latter is a tour of the remnants of the Gestapo HQ. Both were somewhat interesing, but were a bit taxing. I'm not sure I'd go to them again.
Anyways, as I said before, we go to Amsterdam soon (Monday). Tomorrow we should be hitting some more sites. Best regards.

Crazy Day.

Wow, what a crazy day. First off, we ate breakfast and met up with kelsie. Now a complete traveling tripod, we set off to do a bike tour of London. This went great at first. We saw all the major sites. Half way through, I got a bungee cord stuck in my wheel. I stopped to fix it and Kelsie said something to me about it, so I knew someone saw and was going to tell the group to stop. However, I looked up about a minute later and no one was there. I quickly took off in the direction we had come (we were tracking back our route back to the begining, or so I thought). As I sped along the route, mile after mile, I realized the group had gone another way. I was too far down the route to backtrack. So I sped ahead, hoping I could find my way. Finnally, after retracing the whole route back, I made it to the begining. I couldn't believe I had remembered the whole route through London (thank you visual memory). I made it back and talked to a South African who had lent Kelsie her cell phone to call me (thank you dad for enabling my phone). The group showed up later. I thought about not paying, but the tour guide insisted (which was quite aggravating-seeing that I didn't get to do the last 1/2 of the route.)
The later part of the day was better. We went to Westminister Abby, which is basically a church where Monks live. However, it is also a burial ground for famous English people, from politicians to sports heros to an unknown solider from WWII. It also includes the Poet's Corner, where Dylan Thomas is buried.
From there we went and got lunch.
We then took off and saw Buckingham Palace.
Then, tonite, we went and saw Big Ben in the dark, it was great. We were also going to see the London Eye (the huge ferris wheel), but it was closed (and very expensive I might add).
Anyways, it was a good day. I am quite tired from it. I wish you the best.

London

So I'm still in London. We leave tomorrow for Berlin. We are currently trying to book a hostel. I actually saw Methodman (How high, Red and Meth) in london when he was getting off his flight from Amsterdam (read as pot smoking trip). I was like 5 feet from him and it was like I saw an old friend. Haha. Anyways we are doing a bike tour of London today. Peace.

2 minutes

So, I have two minutes to update you on everything. I'm in london, after an 8 hour waiting period for a friend. Now I've eaten and am jerlagged.
Cya./ More to come.

Ready to go

Hey,
So, I am about 8 hours away from leaving my house for the airport. This trip should go well. I am pretty excited for it to start. I know I'll encounter the inevitable unexpected adventures--but that is half the fun. I bid farewell to the states and all of you I leave behind.
Cheers!
Colin

Before the Trip

I have a little more than three weeks until I fly to England. We are traveling from there to Germany, the Netherlands (Amsterdam specifically) France, Switzerland, Italy, and to Austria. Kelsie Roche and Megan Dominguez are traveling with me. Wish me luck in these last few weeks of training for the half ironman, and packing. I'm going to try to write in this blog after each country at least, but we'll see what happens.
CJB