In 2007 I traveled to the opposite facet of the globe with my shut good friend Gianni and made a six nation trek round primarily Southern Europe. Alongside the way in which I managed to ship home a couple of emails and the response to them was superb. Regardless that my solely two associates responded, they did so with such gusto that I felt inclined to share them with you all. What do I care about Chris Z’s silly European travels chances are you’ll ask? Nicely, would you learn on if I promised public nudity, nice historic discoveries and weed? Sounds good? Then learn on.
I’ve arrived in Athens secure and sound. I hope everybody has been residing nicely with out my illustrious presence. The flight over was fine however the gauntlet I needed to run by means of Obligation Free was a trial. Henny to my left and Grants to my proper, nevertheless it was the scotch that received the battle. Caught up on some movies on the way in which to Bangkok and even had a swig of Yac (once more not Henny). Bought just a little bored, Gianni steered we play tag with the stewards to see if they’d take part after which they’d tag the pilot and we would crash.. possibly on the way in which again.
After we acquired to Athens it was already hella heat. It acquired to 42 C our first day. The trains are good however the metropolis is fairly soiled and damaged down and has some odd smelling corners. However there are some good pockets with collections of complimentary coloured buildings in old faculty steelo. Onerous to get a real rhythm although look sensible. Our room was just a little small and I may barely wash my bits within the shower (a lot for having a romantic shower with Gianni haha).
Athens is a maze of streets and after a marvel we headed to a couple spots together with the Acropolis, Olympic stadium and The Agora. Parking is obtainable all over the place and I imply all over the place! Vespas and scooters buzz round all over the place and you must be sure you do not lose a toe. The entire expertise at locations just like the Parthenon make u really feel fairly.. nicely.. mortal.. unwell. Numerous marble pops out of the bottom I spent a lot time laughing at individuals slipping about till I practically had a visit. Everybody speaks Greek right here.. humorous that. However I acquired by with a couple of nods and “We’re Australian.” Ladies listed below are slammin!
Heard a dope lower on TV I must chase down.. aside from that the music is just not my factor. They acquired these buses with tram like appendages on the roof.. me and G name em “truses”. You possibly can smoke all over the place, even in Maccas. Someday it was 48 C .. the most well liked place on the planet. Cannot imagine we walked a lot .. I shall wind it up because the final time I typed this .. I misplaced it.. I miss my computer already.
Left for Mykonos Wednesday and acquired there real fast (35 min). We acquired a elevate to our resort which was fairly crummy. Just about hit the seashore as quickly as we may. We walked, was fairly harmful with no footpaths. However the seashores are fairly good and we employed seashore beds.. Water was maaad, we had shade when wanted however the crowd was a bit older.
Getting spherical is just about by bus and the odd elevate into city right here and there. We thought our resort was within the metropolis middle however .. nope.. fairly a bit out. Quickly we headed into town centre for a marvel. The center half is a big assortment of retailers, cafes, eating places and bars. No roads simply slender white, stone encrusted streets the place bikes can actually solely get by means of. Some supply cars simply get in. Neat little geometric homes with painted ledges and door methods weave round.
The port space is real good and there’s a nice vibe. The bars weren’t for music aficionados like my self however enjoyable sufficient. Went to the Down Beneath bar.. haha – no ID and free entry – I used to be scared I used to be gonna hit on a 16-year-old. Bought real drained although and jetted again to resort. Hit another bars.. Plenty of groping and old dudes hitting on vacationers eew! Spent a number of time by the pool and browse, wrote rather a lot. Bought some fairly respectable poems down – selection!
We went to Paradise seashore which contained tons extra youngens, tons extra nude bathing and ace bars. Cocktail locations line the again of the seashore identical to you’d think about in some seashore paradise ๐ Bubble machines, mad waitresses and plenty extra house music. We chatted to this Chilean chick with pretend ‘belongings’ who was hella pleasant after which some Spanish birds.. acquired no play although.. should have had an excessive amount of garlic in my final gyro.
Now we have this dumb ass staying in our resort that we saw on the seashore. He wished a worth on an umbrella and G stated, “There may be some shade over right here.” Dude goes, “Shade! U kiddin, we would like solar!” Like G was a dumb idiot. Like the place is the love man.. no thanks man we cool.. pff morons. Hit this membership known as House dance.. nevertheless it was on Earth.. false advertising. Bought fairly trashed with some Vodka I had drank earlier than and ended up conquering a couple of podiums. Man the place the real social gathering ppl at!? Was a bit over it. Some individuals right here have thought me and G are homosexual. Yea OK, simply because I’m attractive and like Duran Duran.. pff. There may be this one real good bar on the water.. like proper on it. Water sprays inside generally. After some lewd bar shenanigans we have been able to hit Milan.
What was meant to be an uneventful one night time cease over in Milan turned out to be much more than we bargained for. So we’re a bit hungry and we’re instructed to go up the street to the left by this dude at our resort. We go proper ๐ and find yourself at this Italian diner run by Asians with Asian decor.. OK no matter. We order after which some time later we hear a scream coming from out the again and our waitress runs out the door and throws herself out onto the pavement exterior, blood throughout her again.
We’re then requested to go away because the chef had simply offed himself.. yea slit his throat or somethin.. kid you not.. could also be Gianni should not have requested for further Salami on his pizza. We left and went to the precise place and met a Spanish couple.. headed again and acquired a prepare to Florence the following morning.
We acquired a mad condominium proper on the town – old basic really feel with home equipment and linen. We acquired out ASAP reserving a spot on the Uffizi gallery and whereas we waited we hit the Cathedral di Santa Mania Del Fiore (Renaisance freaks will know this place has the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi), Basilica di San Lorenzo, Palazzo Vecchio and others. Art drifts round Florence all over the place! There are individuals sketching and portray on the road, sculptures on each nook, frescoes right here and there and monumental buildings that brood over you. Uffizi gallery took some time to get by means of, nevertheless it was value it.. me and G acquired instructed off for speaking Ebonics.
Then we saw David!!! Factor is huge, we snuck in a couple of footage with it however actually you simply must soak it up your self. Man the look on the dudes face is one thing that will scare the crap out of probably the most daring traveler. Waited 2-3 hours for it however met some cool individuals in line so all good. It was considered one of many humbling experiences of the previous few days.
On our final night time in Florence we wished to point out the individuals there methods to partay! We met this Oz dude who was an enormous military bloke (who we met lining up for David).. we agreed that he had the appears to be like, I had the strikes and Gianni… nicely Gianni had the fats. We connected with this group of US chicks and questioned round then hit a small bar, embarrassed myself then hit an honest RnB membership, and it was on! As soon as once more, all the place left in my wake as I moved, glided and thrusted myself about to the sounds of oooohhs and arrrrs. Met this Russian chick who was pazow, wished to take her home! Too dangerous I had a prepare to catch in a couple of hours.. sure it was an all-nighter. Stumbled home nearly half bare with the scent of freshly made pastries wafting about after which rested for half-hour earlier than heading off to Pisa.
We saw the leaning tower from the air and shortly we landed in Alghero, Sardinia. Gianni has family members there so we acquired a superb hook up. The place may be very good, with neat buildings and a few good old monuments. Simply as I had settled in I used to be off to Malta.. needed to bus it right down to Cagliari (south tip of Sardinia) and heard Daniel Merriweather on the way in which.. go MEL! Stayed at Caglairi airport over night time after which deliberate it to Rome solely to overlook my flight to Malta due to late baggage declare (took an hour to come out – lengthy story) grr! Needed to keep in a single day.. was sick of claiming ‘Grazie’ and ‘Prego’ (feels like a pregnant teenager). Resort in Rome was good although, had a mad Pasta Tagliari or one thing.. mm! Oh and I acquired a phone charger so it was a fruitful day.
Proper now I’m within the motherland. Malta is nice and my place is true on the Bay of Marsaskala – been hocking boogers on dudes of their boats. Saw some spots the place my mum grew up. First night time some family tried to get into my room – misplaced I assume. However I made a decision to sleep neked that night time so I used to be considering, do I need them to return in or not?? One half stated hell no, you bare man, they will see ya bits and it is my house, kitty! However one other stated, yea are available in and see my tight buns as a pleasant welcome – your spouse will not wish to depart haha.
Since that night time I’ve been secure and nicely with no extra doubtlessly lewd moments to talk of. The final days in Malta the place spent visiting a number of superior historic websites together with the three,800 yr old megalithic temple ruins, the Blue Grotto (beeeauuutiful), Mdina (the unique capital of Malta), Valletta (the capital now) and St Johns Co-cathedral which was the spotlight. The ceiling depicts the lifetime of St John The Baptist (patron saint of Malta) and the floor is roofed in a mosaic of tombstones of the founding Grand Masters. There may be additionally a Caravaggio depicting the execution of St John within the Oratory which is the biggest piece he ever painted. I want to return and hit some fashionable spots although.
Again in Sardinia we visited some family members of Gianni and had a BBQ with extra meat than meat day on the county honest. They acquired some beef patties and flattened them then caught in some bacon then some inexperienced stuff after which extra beef.. insanity.. practically needed to have coronary heart surgical procedure. I loved some nice meals and company regardless of me not understanding a lot of the Italian being spoken. I felt like an alien at occasions and a dumb one too. After a couple of extra beers we headed into city the place we met extra pals of Gianni – a energetic bunch however acquired hella drained and was glad to go home.
Quickly we landed in Girona, Spain and our room was sweeet. We went for a marvel and located this large dance social gathering in a forest clearing. Boogied just a little and loved some booze then again to our place. Trains in Barcelona and transport basically are nice. Very simple to get and you do not ever have to attend lengthy in any respect. Our place was proper off La Rambla and is absolutely decked out, we ate in rather a lot and washed and dried our stuff in house. La Rambla is the principle life-style place in Barcelona. It’s a lengthy strip of bars, meals locations and shops the place avenue performers are everywhere in the place- simply give them dough if you’d like an image or they are going to chase you down and stick you with a pitch fork!
Across the nook there’s a prostitute hang around and the streets can stink at occasions however after a whilst you get use to it. Generally I’m even a kin to the musky scent of crap. Had a mad meat lasagna and did shopping. They’ve these little half trolleys half baskets that you just wheel round – they suck! Bought some yac after which hit the city… was just a little let down with the night time life.. not many precise respectable golf equipment on the strip and the bar tenders suck. Port Vell was good and picturesque the place we hit a dance membership – that they had a Bon Jovi tribute band (rock on!) however the bar tenders have been topless and made me unhappy. However sure I did conquer the po! Someplace between leaving the place and the following morning, I managed to sprain my left ankle, so who ever I took home should have been hella freaky ๐
Took in a number of websites together with a cathedral, Arc De Triomf, Museu Nationwide D Art de Catalunya, Parc de la Ciutadella and Mirador de Colom. Google them they’re good ๐ We additionally saw Torre AGBAR – which was mainly an enormous knob and Sagrada Familia cathedral. Nonetheless in progress for the reason that nineteenth century, the place is superb and can take some time to complete constructing. Additionally had my first paella and I nonetheless cannot inform the distinction between paella and risotto.
The fellas could also be completely satisfied to know that one night time we stumbled upon some free to air grownup channels. Right here I’m sleeping and I hear all this ooohing and arring. I although, “Gianni, dude shut the door bro.” Then I spotted it was on TV.. geez!
Took in all of the Antoni Gaudi websites (the dude is a mad loopy Spanish architect). Saw the museum in Park Guell, Casa Battlo and La Pedrera. I’ll save the outline for all you art haters, I’ll simply say that I liked Casa Battlo. One night time we have been rejected from an R&B membership. I used to be furious! Gianni was like, “Yea we on the listing, I am Miguel, no, OK Sanchez, no, um Pablo?” HAHA .. even some chicks acquired knocked again so I used to be okay. We did discover a higher place anyway however they didn’t know what a Jagger bomb was!!!!
So we’re strolling down La Rambla and I see a touch of backside. My mouth quickly dropped as proper there in broad daylight, a dude was strutting down the road, fully bare. The dude had perky moobs and was plump as hell, so not what I wished to see simply after having a plate of pasta. Then we saw one other.. man what a trial!
I must see extra English advertisements for The Simpsons movie!!! Grr!! I like the pharmacies in Europe – all of them have glowing, neon inexperienced crosses out the entrance that blink in a mad style. When ever I am going into one I really feel like ordering a drink and rocking a podium. Went to a couple seashores, however I believe I like my OZ seashores most. We met up later whereas there with Gianni’s mate Blair (who seemed heaps like Billy Corgan). Had some drinks with extra of their buds (Luke, Matt and Greg) – true blue Aussies.. ah it was truly good to speak concerning the footy. We saw the music and light present on the Museu Nationwide D Art de Catalunya. Gianni was like a kid in a sweet retailer.. pics look beautiful. It is going to be our final night time right here so quickly we shall be pimping in Paris and Amsterdam.
We had fairly a small room in Paris and had a double bed; yea we acquired stiffed however just for two nights. Climate was a lot milder and even moist nevertheless it was beautiful. Paris is like Florence with fewer sculptures however is cleaner and has extra lighting. There was no rudeness to talk of in truth the individuals have been very heat and hospitable whereas we have been there. We have been strolling distance to rather a lot together with Notre Dame Cathedral which was superior and seemed nice at night time. Additionally saw the Eiffel Tower at night time which sparkles on the hour. In entrance on the foot of the tower are a number of parks the place totally different individuals meet. Some {couples} some hippy dudes and nicely.. individuals who wish to drink n smoke.
You may get respectable meals for 10 Euro and though I did not attempt snails (which appear to be radioactive boogers) or frog’s legs, I watched in horror as G did. Educated it to Arc de Triumph which is in the course of this large intersection (13 streets jut out of it). We went to the highest nevertheless it poured with rain. We did handle to get some photographs off (we have been the one douches up there). Fortunate we snuck in for affordable as we pretended to be 18-year-old American vacationers. Had some enjoyable and games on the Toyota retailer and walked up Champs Elysees which ends up in The Louvre. Ended up heading again to Eiffel Tower to reap the benefits of the solar and it was value it.
It was a two hour wait to get to the highest however the view is unbelievable. We saw a rainbow circle maaan!! I’ve video! We stayed into the night and saw a little bit of Paris light up so a superb day regardless of the rain. There are some cute piano bars round however couldn’t discover any Alize!! Headed to Louvre subsequent day solely to search out it’s closed on Tuesdays – grrr!!
Could this be a lesson to you all.. go on Mondays!! Puzzled round and located the Moulin Rogue and a complete avenue of grownup bookstores.. discuss extra! Saw the Pantheon and a mad comedian/popular culture place the place I purchased a Normal Grievous bust.
Bought to Amsterdam OK, was a pain lugging about my toys. Hostel was nice although – a pleasant communal place with a ‘relax’ nook with pillows and tables to roll ya joints and put ya drinks I assume ๐ Amsterdam has clean wanting buildings most are tall white city homes with painted window and door frames. Some buildings appear to jut out too.. very bizarre. We had a room with 4 beds and all our room mates have been cool ๋ฐฉ์ฝ๋ฌผ์ง.
Two colors encapsulate Amsterdam – Crimson and inexperienced. I believed ‘coffee store’ was a slang time period for weed hangout however they’re truly known as coffee retailers. However cafes are a no weed space. The purple light district is full on. The district is on a strolling tour and we saw some grannies peeping some grownup supplies.. haha! Prostitutes line the streets and bang on the home windows to get your consideration – generally they scare the crap out of you. They sit in little cubicles and I need to say, the standard was prime notch (no I did not partake). It is not all lewdness and hash although. Small canals lower up the city like a Trivial Pursuit game piece. Bikes are the travel merchandise right here and you must watch them.
Additionally visited the Anne Frank house – fairly moving. Saw the unique diary, it’s half A4 and in an orange and yellow cross hatched cowl. Hit a ship cruise to the Van Gogh museum.. superior! I’ve been a Van Gogh fan since I may write. There are some nice works there together with The Potato Eaters, a model of Sunflowers and Irises and a few nice self portraits. It is a three stage gallery with a number of different artists on present. Saw the windmills and though the place reeked of Vegemite, I believed it was a pleasant time out within the nation. I patted some sheep and a few geese (geese rock). If I may very well be an animal, I might be a tiger, a horse after which a duck. Visited ‘tiny city’ which was cute however we acquired misplaced in Rotterdam.
We met this Japanese dude Tommy and far enjoyable was had. Got here throughout an ideal toy store which had old and new stuff.. had some oooold He Men. Went to the Magic Mushroom gallery which was informative. Had a couple of joints which have been really helpful by our weed skilled Tommy and hit a couple of bars and golf equipment. Tommy led us by means of the crowds like a half supernatural shaman, fairly a web site seeing he was so quiet and unassuming. We went to a dwell sex present which was fairly humorous truly. And after occurring an enormous final night time pub crawl, feeling a couple of booties and knocking my head on a couple of lights, I used to be prepared to return home.
Thus ends my European journey, I hope you had as a lot enjoyable as I did.