Tuesday, March 31, 2009

on visiting monastic communities in greece

visited meteora, very old greek monastic community.

was actually more exciting than it sounds.

so just shut the fuck up.


started journey on smelly tourist bus bright and early with massive hangover



as seen right here:

(ginge friend, also hungover)




then made stop in ancient city of trikala.

quite scenic.

though honestly

looks just like every other city on mainland greece.

but whatever.



was outside enjoying gorgeous weather and scenery with classmates

when suddenly encountered most bizarre experience

hands down

have ever faced in entire life.

some little boy

like 8 or something

came waltzing up to the fountain we were all waiting by for the bus

completely ass naked

and smoking a cigarette.



was soon after joined by comrade

who straddled head of statue of another naked boy.



gypsies.

was not sure whether to be more upset at fact that


a)


8 year old boy is publicly naked in center of city


or b)


8 year old boy is smoking cigarette.

like seriously

go clean your room.

or play with your dolls or something.

they start young here, apparently.


moving on

hotel was total and complete shithole.



metalic gold headboard

positioned to hide outlets, but not massive mysterious GROWTH on side of wall.



what is this shit?

was inches away from pillow.

seriously thought it would awake in the middle of the night

and crawl over face and kill me.

luckily, had very scenic view from balcony:



true story:

upon first entering room

noticed balcony door was considerately left open by hotel management

to relieve room of must odor.

also noticed

cats lounging on deck

enjoying the sun after a productive day of probably pissing all over our sheets.

honestly

room looked like where one would bring a cheap, filthy hooker,

kill her,

then leave body.



and smelled like it too.


that night at hotel however was amazing fun.

had huge party in one of the rooms.





result:

massive hangover part II.

just in time for the tour of monasteries

which were incredible.





entering monastery

were given gross communal skirts to wear when entering

because apparently full length jeans and knee high boots do not hide enough skin.



totally looked like a math teacher.

to climb up the cliffs to the monasteries

one could either

climb up huge flight of stairs

or

if one were a monk or special guest of monastery

ride this box on zip liner across mountains.



FACT:

zip liner cables were once only changed when they broke...

because that's how they roll.

apparently

greek orthodox monks like to live on the edge.

but that's cool;

they've got nothing to worry about.

theyre in heaven for sure

vip and everything.

then

when was time to depart from glorious monasteries

in classic greek fashion

bus broke down

leaving everyone stranded in mountains

for FOUR HOURS

with no food

or bathrooms.

totally gay.

all took this opportunity to be one with nature.

hiked

peed in bushes

and climbed rocks.






so romantic.

but a little fucking scary too:



for example

almost killed that kid at one point.

would have actually really sucked if had to go back to bus and tell chaperone that one of us fell off cliff.

then again

probably would not have cared.

we all had been gone for three hours and did not once get off ass to check where we were.

and things were getting intense out there in the woods.



shoo nature.


finally bus was fixed

and all got to enjoy watching film transporter III on endless ride back to thessaloniki.

pretty fucking awful.

was like icing on cake of 1,000 misfortunes.

but all in all

one of faorite weekends have had. in a long time. :)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

on her trip to prague

happy greek independence day!

went to parade

completely hung over.

sucked so bad.

anyways

since you're dying to know how trip to prague to visit sister was

here is explanatory post.

not sure of veracity of following statement but have heard it from several, unrelated individuals;

FACT:

number one cause of lateness in prague metro

is people throwing themseles in front of oncomming trains in act of suicide.



as fun as city was

felt distinct vibe of depression.

sister's czech roomate, barbara, was such a good example.

every conversation had with her made self feel like diving in front of subway as well.

for example

commented on sunshine present for the first day of spring.

her response:

"the sun shine and still i feel no varmth."



i know.

just like that.



"varmth".


serious boner killer.


communism only ended there after the velvet reolution of 1989

so most of the people still have memories of life under that system

and there were still physical signs of its presence

like crappy box-styled buildings

everywhere.

but anyways

was absolutely gorgeous in old town

and had a really amazing time.


started to lightly snow outside of palace. magnificent.












yeah, i ate this.

is called goulash and is very good actually. so thanks for asking.

erotic city.

the starbucks of prague.

was seriously like 4 on every street.


....

no words.




traveled an hour outside of city to see the ossuary.

was church made out of human bones.

so cool.





took the opportunity to be hamlet. does not happen very often.




thousands and thousands and thousands of bones.






chandelier was made from every type of bone in human body.


victory over death.





what's more depressing than thousands of human remains used as decoration?




communist style architecture.






a lot of that going on.




sister's apartment was pretty sweet.




it was all central europeaned out.





sister really did take amazing care of me.

did cool things would not have done had self come with others.

hope that can do same for her.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

on traveling whilst abroad

leaving for prague.

going to visit sister [vanessa] who lives there.

very excited and such as have never been to czech before.

vanessa says is pretty ghetto in a post soviet way

but still wicked fun.

hope am not frisked at airport again.

to prague!

well actually

to budapest!

as am flying hungarian airlines and must stop there first.

but then

to prague!

Monday, March 16, 2009

on turning twenty

LIFE UPDATE:

am no longer 19.

so basically that means

no more using "teen angst" as legitimate excuse for bitchiness.

now must say things like

"sorry, am stressed out because of career and other issues mature adults are faced with"

or

"sorry, am stressed out because biological clock is ticking"

or

"threw out back because am feeble and elderly."

yeah.


big changes.


had amazing, amazing time

all weekend long.

am so greatful friends have met here have treated me as well as friends have known for years.

is really nice feeling. :)

some lovely photos:




getting ready. gross. you're welcome for that.



have voice of angel.


chillin.


the WHOLE jiu jitsu team. right here. intimidating, yeah?


absolutely love the british. and alyssa.

received birthday balloon (?)


photo with girls.


photo with boys.


photo with shots.



oblivion.



well, sort of.


amazing birthday.

thanks, everyone.

also,

this has been 30th post have made thus far on blog.

much to be happy for today.

:)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

on dreaming of home tonight

have jiu jitsu tomorrow

(or as self likes to call it-

rape 101).

super excited.

am surprised by the amount of enthusiasm am experiencing

even though it is a)

a sport

and b)

a sport where it is more likely than not that at some point in time face will be

bruised/scratched/broken

/simmilar.


that's fine.


here's a move learned last session:



word.


skyped with very good, very old friend of mine (though briefly).

felt crazy wave of homesickness.

honestly love greece

no matter how retarded have said it is.

have enjoyed a freedom here will never ever experience in the states.

but still can't help it.

miss my mom.



and other people/places/times.

winter.

halloween.


boston.



and of course


high times in high school.





....

and preschool.



(still best friends, by the way.)


alright

am done being pussy.



JIU JITSU ARRRRRRRRRR aggression.