TravelStream™ news feed for member justen on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/justen en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:20:45 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219521840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219521840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219521840/tpod.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:20:45 -0400 Backpacking in Western Europe - Justen's First Overseas Adventure!

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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

After 14+ hours travelling yesterday, I'm finally back home. Still sunburnt and in a wee bit of pain, but aloe vera is my friend.To give you an idea how I spent that time yesterday, here is a summary of what I watched on the planes:Movies-<i>Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day-<i>Son of Rambow-<i>21-<i>Iron Man-<i>FlawlessTV Show Episodes-Boston Legal-The Simpsons-Welcome to the CaptainOh yeah.For anyone interested, I've also uploaded all the pictures from my first entry in Brussels to the end of the trip, so you don't have to imagine them any longer! Feel free to surf back through the entires and catch all those pictures you missed.Anyone who's been following along will be able to tell just how fantastic a time it has and anyone who knows me will recognize the changes it's made in my life, many of which I'm sure I won't even be aware of. I am extremely satisfied with my trip and would do it again, no questions asked. I loved every moment (even the frustrating ones) and I'm sure I'll spend the next little while in a period of mourning. It's opened my eyes so much and I can't wait to visit Europe again, or perhaps even move there if grad school pans out. I'll miss so many people, opportunities, and just the way of life travelling on your own produces. Settling back into my routine here at home will not be done easily or without a small hint of sorrow. All of that, however, only provides more and more motivation for my next trip, wherever it will be.-Justen
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219246320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219246320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219246320/tpod.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:17:40 -0400 Backpacking in Western Europe - Justen's First Overseas Adventure!

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Rome, Italy

Let's see, time for an update. Basically, since my last entry, I've been hanging out with Loryn, then her and I will meet up with Millie and Emma from our dorm in the evenings to play cards. It's really been quite awesome. I ended up not going to dinner at Augusto's on Monday, as he had to cancel, so it was just a relaxing night. During the day, however, Loryn came around with me on the plan Augusto had laid out for me to follow. It was awesome because a) she got to be a wonderful translator, and b) Loryn just rocks, plain and simple. We've been having non-stop fantastic conversations since we met up, so it was great to spend the whole day with her. We wandered around on the tour and she showed me some great places to go off the path and check out some beautiful landmarks of the city. I even ended up buying a pair of hot jeans on Monday. I have to wear them quite low, but they look great and are covered in zippers and guh! Yay!!Yesterday was a bit more subdued. I ended up walking around the city on my own for a while. I saw the Coliseum and the Roman Forum, though I only took pictures from outside as I wasn't up for paying admission prices to either. At that point I wandered back to the hostel to meet up with Loryn so her and I could meet up with Emma and Millie for supper. On the way I even got to nab something from Rome for Shasta, finally!Since it was the last night in the hostel for all 3 of the girls, we decided we'd all do a nice meal together. Afterward, we hung out by this fountain in Trastevere, had gelatto, and listened to a string quartet performing in the square. Not only was it fantastic because I love strings, but we all enjoyed watching on particular violinist who was especially hot. Woo! We wandered back to the hostel and finished off the night with our final games of cards.I haven't been up that long, but the girls have all cleared out. I chatted with some other girls who are in the dorm now, travelling from Ireland. It turns out we were in Amsterdam at the same time, staying at the same hostel, them just one floor above me. Crazy! Anyway, I plan to spend today visiting the Pantheon and checking out the art exhibit Augusto said I should see. (It was closed Mondays, so I couldn't actually visit it on the day.) Yes, some of you will notice that I have no plans for the Vatican but, really, the queue is far too long for my liking and I'm not about to wake up early enough for it to be a reasonable wait. Later tonight, I'm meeting up with Augusto for gay karaoke. He said some of his friends should be coming and if Loryn can sneak away from her family, she'll be joining us, too.It's only hit me yesterday, but I'm now finally realizing that I'm going home in 2 days. After weeks of travelling, meeting incredible people, seeing new places, experiencing new cultures, and not having to do anything save what I want, I'm really, truly going to miss it. The sheer amount of freedom and stimulation you encounter on a trip like this is like nothing else. I've heard how many people return home after a trip like this and end up slightly depressed for months after, and I can see why. Granted, there'll be quite a few distractions when I get back, but I know part of me will be longing to just grab a backpack, or meet a new face, or wander through a city I've never been to before.In light of all that, I've decided that for my last full day in Europe tomorrow, I'm going to lounge on the beach. Some people might ask why, when I could be off doing exciting things, but being able to just take the day to relax and say I've done what I wanted to do is extremely inviting. Plus, beaches aren't exactly common in Canada (especially warm, nude, gay beaches), so I'll still be doing something I can't back home. Regardless, I'm very much looking forward to how I plan to spend my last day.-Justen
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1218081120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1218081120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1218081120/tpod.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:48:09 -0400 Backpacking in Western Europe - Justen's First Overseas Adventure!

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Brussels, Belgium

Today was a fairly relaxed day. I was expecting to meet up with Bart, but there were some miscommunications, so tomorrow it is! I'm excited for him to show me the good chocolate places to go to.I spent the day wandering around Brussels. I managed to stumbled into the Grand Place, a gorgeous square surrounded by lavish building with statues and gilded decoration. I took a few pictures there. According to my guidebook, Victor Hugo once called it 'the most beautiful square in the world.'From there, I walked around a bit trying to find an internet café. Along the way, I found an awesome clothing/underwear store. I tried on some incredibly hot jeans, but, alas, they were too short. I nabbed a pic in the dressing room, so if anyone ever sees a pair like this somewhere else, you must tell me because I want so bad. I was even tempted to get them and have someone sew an extra bit of denim onto the bottom. Once I access a place where I can upload pics, I'll&nbsp;post it here.Speaking of pictures, there's this awesome building not far form the hostel that lights up at night, with crazy flashing colours and all that. I'll try to get a pic or video if I can.Other than that, I napped and began re-reading <i>Hero for the fourth time. It's really warm here today, so I crashed in the evening. Afterward, I hung out with Ian, this Irish guy, and we chatted for a few hours before he went to bed and I came to the internet. He was originally in my dorm, but had to switch rooms because he didn't book an extra night and needed it. We actually chatted last night, as well. He's trying to find a place here in Brussels, as he landed a job the other day. As he was planing not have one by now, he had to work around arranging another night's stay.And after seeing the construction of that last paragraph, it's definitely time for bed. Yow.-Justen
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Rome, Lazio, Italy

One would presume that if one was sunbathing nude and rotating at regular intervals (similar to rotisserie chicken), one would have even coverage, even if said coverage is pink. One would be incorrect. Instead Justen has now earned the title of Splotchiest Man Alive. I am pink. I am glowing pink. I also have a very odd burn.For starters, my arms are 3 different colours: 1 stripe of kinda tan, 1 stripe of hot pink, and 1 stripe of 'white as a sheet.' There are also splotches of white on my shoulders. My entire left side is pink, while my entire right side remains pale and incandescent. Also, there is a lovely spot of white all around my groin. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm glad nothing down there is burnt, but how sexy is a radius of 8cm of pale around that region?Needless to say, I am currently hoping I will not be in pain tomorrow when I fly back to Canada. And Amanda, if you're reading this, I may have to inconvenience you a tiny bit further and ask if we can make a stop at the drug store on the way from the airport to my place, as I may very well be in dire need of aloe vera.-Justen
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219073340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219073340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/justen/1/1219073340/tpod.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:47:04 -0400 Backpacking in Western Europe - Justen's First Overseas Adventure!

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Rome, Italy

First of all, congratulations to Team Canada for nabbing their first medals in the past few days!Okay, so what have I been up to? Up until yesterday, I haven't really left the hostel. Since meeting Loryn and toga partying it up with her, we've been spending a bunch of time together. Plus, the night before last a couple of Scottish girls moved into the dorm, so the past two nights the four of us have been playing cards together, to the results of much fun. I was totally King in Asshole last night for nearly the entire time, but was tragically brought down near the end, to a horrible demise. By the way, if anyone remembers the rules for Asshole, please let me know because we've all kinda forgotten and have been making it up.Yesterday I met up with a guy from Couchsurfing named Augusto. Thus far, he seems pretty awesome. He's a graphic designer and lives in Rome, but has been working and travelling a lot. Now, I've been wanting to go to a beach ever since I got to Europe, so yesterday he and I met up and he took me to a beach. Not only was this a beach, full of warm sand and touching the Mediterranean Sea, but it fulfilled my final big 'checks' on my European to-do list: a nude beach. As a bonus, it was a gay nude beach! Woo! So I spent the majority of yesterday afternoon naked, lounging in the sun and splashing in the sea. At the moment I haven't burnt, but my tummy may be a tiny bit pink. I had such a great time relaxing in the sun that I'm considering visiting the beach once more before I leave, depending on how the rest of the week goes.After the beach, I'd mentioned it was time to get something to eat, as it was nearly 19.00. Augusto increased his awesomeness and invited me to share dinner with him at his place. He lives in this apartment in Rome with his 3 brothers, so we went there and he made a wonderful vegetarian meal. Seriously, being able to meet up with local people, relax, and see how locals really live all while making these awesome connections is the best part of travelling for me.Thanks to Augusto, I now have some plans for the week, too. Tonight I'm supposed to go to his place for dinner (he mentioned I could bring a friend, so I've asked Loryn to join me and I just need to double-check it's okay when I call him today). Plus, yesterday he mapped out (with cute little drawings and everything) a little route for me to go on today, so I can see some of Rome. Loryn is going to join me on the excursion, so it's facing up to be an incredible day already. Then, on Wednesday, I'm scheduled to go to gay karaoke with Augusto at this place near the Coliseum. Much kudos to Couchsurfing, as I definitely would not have had these and many other awesome opportunities on this trip without them.Now for the title of this entry. See, when you travel for 6 weeks, you tend to run low on hygienic products, as airlines only allow you to take small bottles with you. As it turns out, I've run out of anti-Esperanto. Initially, I didn't view this as a major problem. I would just go to a supermarket and pick some up. Yeah, no. Italian deodorant selection sucks balls. I did not see a single anti-perspirant and the only deodorants they had were the stick (which my skin is sensitive to) and the roll-on. No gel or anything. So, this morning I ended up getting the last of my Canadian gel anti-perspirant on, but only enough for my left armpit. This means I had to use the Italian roll-on deodorant for my right armpit. Now, we shall truly see which is the more effective product. This, my friends, is far more epic a struggle than the current Olympics. Today's test will, once and for all, clearly mark down which nation has the superior hygienic product. Personally, I'm betting my money on the Canadians, but time shall tell!-Justen
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Rome, Italy

So I'm technically on day 3 in Rome and I still haven't ventured further than the main train station a couple of blocks away. I called it an early night the first night I arrived, then yesterday was a whole other matter.I tried to meet up with a guy from Couchsurfers but he wouldn't answer his phone at all. Because yesterday was also a holiday in Rome, nothing was open and it was rather pointless to go anywhere. Thankfully, a girl from the States named Lauren checked in to my dorm and we've been chatting and hanging out since then.Yesterday there was a toga party here at the hostel. Lauren and I had seen the signs and were wondering about whether or not to go. We ended up grabbing some supper at a Chinese restaurant (yes, I ate Chinese food in Italy, but she'd been here for weeks now and was a little tired of Italian food) and basically getting totally pumped for the party. We even ripped a few leaves off a plant on our way back to use as decoration.Lauren and I got all rocked out in our togas (a Canadian girl named Ellen in the dorm even let me borrow her scarf as an added touch!) and headed on down. I had my first full beer (a Budweiser) as they were giving a free one to every person in a toga. I won't get into the gory details, but I basically had an absolute blast; drank a bottle of wine, a beer, and a vodka shot; and met some awesome people, including a guy from New York named Jeff and another from the U.K. named Paul.From the looks of it, today is going to be another quiet day. I'm nursing a bad hangover at the moment. Tonight, however, Lauren, myself, and possibly Paul are going to check out Gay Village, which is this open-air party they have on the summer weekends here in Rome. It's supposed to be really awesome, so here's hoping I'll be in better shape come tonight.-Justen
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Rome, Lazio, Italy

Before we get to the not-fun part, I'll wrap up Nottingham. After my last entry, there was much&nbsp; more relaxing, much more film (and TV and Olympics) and a great trip yesterday to another gorgeous (and interesting!) manor house and a beautiful pub that's been built in a new church. One of the films Jon and Nick showed Pedro and I was called <i>The Wicker Man. I'd never heard of it before, but it's supposedly a well-known British horror movie that was remade recently (to poor results) with Nicolas Cage. Despite its age, the film held up incredibly well and I quite enjoyed it.Overall, I've had a fantastic time with Nick and Jon. They were both incredible hosts, extremely generous, and some of the best people I have had the fortune to meet on this trip. I'll definitely be keeping in contact with them and if I get into a U.K. university for grad school I'm sure there will be more visits as well.Now, for the rough part. I'm in Rome, I'm safe, and I have all my luggage, but I'll never be flying RyanAir again, if I can reasonably help it. I'd rather pay the extra money and experience much more standard and reasonable treatment.I arrived at the airport (thanks to a very early car ride from Nick and Jon, which I am extremely grateful for) with 1.5-2 hours to spare. There were 2 long queues to check out for my flight, as self-check-in was not available. After getting to the front of the queue with 45 minutes until my flight left, I was informed I could not take my backpacks as carry-on items. My large one was too big and only one item was allowed. In the past 5 weeks, I've been on 6 flights with 4 different airlines and not once have I experienced this. Obviously this caught me completely off-guard, so I had to step out of the queue and wrap my backpack in its case so the straps wouldn't get caught in anything.After arranging my bag, a couple going through a similar issue as myself were speaking to the attendant (by this point we were the last ones left) and I had to wait for them to finish before I gave her my bag and she then told me it would cost me £16 to check it. This meant I needed to get a slip of paper from her, go to another queue, pay the £16 (again, ridiculous!), and return to get my boarding pass. After all that, I ran to security because, by this point, my flight had already been boarding for 10 minutes! I bolted to security, begged people to let me pass ahead of them in line, and made it in time for the final boarding call. The amount of unexpected stress I went through was definitely not worth it and, if I can help it, I will not be travelling with that company again.Phew.Okay, so now I'm in Rome and, after waiting to check in (passing the time by surfing the 'net and having pizza), I am really excited to wrap this entry up, go to my room, and nap. Wow, do I ever need sleep. I have to say that the staff here, however, have been incredibly friendly and accommodating, so yay!Hopefully tomorrow I'll take some time to upload my pics and vids from the past little while, so stay tuned for that. Woo!-Justen
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West Bridgford, United Kingdom

This is a very, very short entry. Really more of a placeholder. When I get some time, I'll update with what's been going on, but I've been having a great time in Nottingham, visiting Nick and Jon. Again, when ~I get the chance I'll try and update my map pins to include places like Buxton, Bakewell, and where Nick's parents' pub is in order to show that they've really been showing me around a nice little area.So, yes, very much alive, very bad entry, but it'll be improved later.<i>edit: I've now gone back and updated the entries so, well, this entry is rather pointless but will be kept for posterity. Yay posterity!-Justen
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West Bridgford, United Kingdom

Yesterday was a quiet day. Due to rain, sleeping in, and other factors, Jon, Nick, and I basically just hung out around the house. I did get to watch <i>A Clockwork Orange for the first time and quite enjoyed it. We've also been catching a lot of the Olympic coverage, but no medals for Canada yet. Can't complain about the men's swimming events, though, regardless of who's competing. Woo!Today we visited Bakewell and Buxton, two towns in the Peat District. Nick and Jon said that Bakewell was known for its cakes, so they, Pedro, and I went there for lunch and enjoyed some lunch and tasty baked goods. After some more touring around, we went to Buxton which has some really interesting architecture. Jon was able to fill us in on all the details, which aren't nearly as boring as he thinks they are. I loved hearing about all this history we don't have in Canada. We even checked out a manor house. We didn't go inside because of the cost, but the gardens we saw and the outside was beautiful.-Justen<i>
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West Bridgford, United Kingdom

So, I arrived yesterday at Jon and Nick's place and we basically relaxed until picking up Pedro later (a Portuguese guy who contacted them through Couchsurfers as well, but wasn't staying with them), hung out and pre-drank, and we went out clubbing in Nottingham. After checking out a gay bar and having a drink we left fairly quickly because, well, it was dead. Unfortunately, the gay club (NG-1) wasn't all that hopping either. Jon and Nick explained that because all the students were gone, things were quiet all over. Not really a big deal, as we still had a great time dancing.Earlier today, Jon and Nick took Pedro and I to the Peat District, a large national park in England. Nick grew up in the area we were in (it's a rather large parka nd we only explored a tiny, tiny part of it). We went up on a walk to Thor's Cave. Basically this was a walk up a high hill to a cave with a gorgeous view of the English countryside. One of the best things about visiting Nick and Jon (aside from the fact that I really enjoy spending time with them) is being able to see the countryside and some of the things outside London. It's crazy how close towns are to each other, yet there's still so much farmland. People really live close to the agriculture and, though it was entirely unexpected, I quite enjoy seeing it all this close, but still having the urban area nearby.After our walk, we visited Nick's parents' pub, the Red Lion. Apparently there are tonnes of Red Lions in England, so it'll be tough to find if you're just searching for it online. We had traditional Sunday lunch and it was incredible. Nick's mom was very friendly and the food was amazing. I had some fruit to start, turkey breast with gravy (and I actually liked the gravy--a first!) and veg, and a caramel apple crumble. It was some of the best food I've had on this trip.Tonight's plan is just to chill out and watch a film. Really, this is another aspect of staying with Nick and Jon I was looking forward to. With all the travel and brief encounters with people, it's very welcome to just be able to take some time to relax.-Justen
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