The Other Vegas
Posted Thursday January 27th 2011
Hot springs just outside of Vegas
I’m glad I went to Las Vegas to see the famous city (also huge!) though as more of a bystander on my visit I found it hard to see through the ugly, wasteful excess of Vegas as people hopped drunkenly from casino to casino throwing their money away. Though had I been there with friends i’m sure it would have been a different story! In fact the best part of my time there was a impromptu hike with my couch surfing hosts through a canyon and to some hot springs. We stayed there till dark and walked back out of the canyon under the stars.
Tags: Travelling
Zero A Day
Posted Saturday January 22nd 2011
Universal Studios in Hollywood
I had a great time in LA. I went to see a basketball game at the Staples Center, lounged at the beach, ate all you can eat pancakes, went for a night out in West Hollywood and even did the touristy stars in the pavement / handprints thing on Hollywood Boulevard. My host Adam was great and even though he had to work he made sure I had a really good time furing my stay.
Pancakes and maple syrup with a fry-up at 8pm ... it works!
I seem to have finally overcome my jet lag and today took the bus through the desert to Las Vegas and am currently sitting on the roof of my hosts house overlooking the city at night time eating trail mix and drinking Corona (the local shop wasn’t very well stocked) I would also like to mention that I am yet to see a vegetable in the US so far. Earlier today I had my first sighting of fruit in a 7-Eleven so I stocked up on bananas and apples but vegetables have eluded me completely.
Tags: Travelling
The Zombie vs LA Cop
Posted Wednesday January 19th 2011
Trying to sleep at Gatwick
To say my start to 2011 has been manic would be an understatement. This week alone I have finished my job to become self employed, moved out of my flat and left Cardiff to travel to Los Angeles! The aim is to backpack a little around North America for five weeks and the reason for the self inflicted manic-ness is what with changing my employment status, now seemed like a good time to do it (…or at least it did when I booked my flights) Throwing in a move the day I leave Cardiff might have been a bit too much but I don’t like to do things the easy way! I was still moving things out and cleaning my flat right up to the minute I had to leave for my train – putting the bin bags out and dropping the keys off on the way!
After virtually no sleep at the airport last night and only a few stolen hours on the flight over I managed my flights and airport security with no problem and arrived in Los Angeles running on auto pilot zombie mode (which can be prone to errors … I searched for a boarding card for 5 minutes which I was holding in my hand!) As my first host Adam picks me up from the ramp at LAX I throw my bags in the trunk and am told by the guy behind in a threatening booming voice “you betta shift that car” so not looking behind I hop in and we drive off. Looking in the mirror I find out the guy was a cop!
Eating frozen yoghurt overlooking 3rd St, Santa Monica
My first day consisted of meeting with Sarah, a couch surfer who stayed with me in Cardiff and we ran along the beach and through Venice and spent the afternoon hanging out in Santa Monica. It’s really sunny here which was a nice surprise after leaving leaving the UK so I have been taking it easy and trying to get over the jet lag. I knew LA was going to be big but it is HUGE, we took a drive along Mulholland Drive the night I arrived and looked over just a part of the city and lights stretched as far as the eye could see! Already I have eaten lots of nice food (Mexican… yum) and I am glad that I am doing my running training whilst I am out here – I just ate a “mini muffin” which looked pretty normal size to me!
Tags: Travelling
Frankfurt and home!
Posted Wednesday October 29th 2008
At the moment I am in Frankfurt seeing my friend Hanna, staying with her and her boyfriend Felix in his flat. Tomorrow I fly back to the UK and there ends my trip! I have had a really wonderful time, more so than I ever could have imagined. When I think back on all the things I have done, things I have seen and people I have met it feels like years of experiences. Not just two months! I hope the diary has been interesting, thanks to everyone who took the time to email me whilst I have been away. It was really nice to see that people were thinking of me and keeping track of my progress, your emails made me look forward to getting internet so I could check my inbox! I look forward to being back in the UK and especially catching up with you all. All the best, Joe.
Tags: Travelling
Rome
Posted Wednesday October 29th 2008
Theres lots to see and do in Rome, I think you could spend weeks there and not see it all!
Everywhere you look, every corner you turn you see so much history. It’s hard to get your head around just how old everything is in Rome. You are looking down on alot of the older monuments because the ground level has got progressively higher over time.
My first night in Rome was in a hostel, full of people from all over the world and upon arrival I was treated to a free dinner with wine! The following day I met with Francesco and he showed me to the convent which would be my home for the next two nights. This was an amazing place and everyone was so kind and generous I felt really welcome. I was stuffed full during every meal with a wonderful array of Italian food and wine!
Francesco showed me around the city and we spend a whole day walking the streets. Rome has such a vast complex of small streets that even after having lived there for six years he had the street map close at all times! During my last night we drove to a wonderful spot overlooking the city, a really nice way to say goodbye to Rome. Francesco was a really amazing host and made my stay in Rome really something special.
Tags: Travelling
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Posted Friday October 24th 2008
There is no other way to put it – the Croatian coast is paradise. There I said it! The bus journey from Split to Dubrovnik followed the coast line the entire way and was worth the fare just for the sights. I could tell I was going to enjoy
Dubrovnik!
Again I was glad I arrived in low season because it was clear to see that Dubrovnik was a popular destination. That said, during my trip away from the ‘old town’ I pretty much had the place to myself. Whilst I’m on the subject, oddly there was an abundance of British people and cats in the old town!
One day I took a boat with an Australian guy I met to a near by island. It felt like we were there alone it was so peaceful and we could enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. I also had the chance to fulfill another dream of mine which was jumping from the cliffs into the sea! It was one of my best days of the entire trip.
The following day I decided to walk to the top of the hill overlooking the town and surrounding islands. The views were breath taking. Once back I took a dip in the sea to cool off. I was swimming in places that I thought you only see in films! I love it here!
I have now returned to Split and tomorrow evening I take a ferry Italy and will end up in Rome. I’m glad I have another day in Croatia.
Tags: Travelling
Croatia
Posted Tuesday October 21st 2008
For me Zagreb was rather uninteresting so after a day I decided to take the night train to Split. This was a new experience for me – going to sleep in one city and waking up in another. Once I arrived in Split there was no doubt in my mid that I had mind the right decision. Split is eye wateringly beautiful
.
I arrived in Split at 7am and waited in the hostel reception for 2 hours before anyone woke up to greet me! I ended up meeting some Brits and tagged along with them for the day. We took a ferry to a local island and went to a secluded cove and swam in the crystal clear water. We were the only ones there and I was completely taken by the surroundings, the mountains towering over.
I also visited the markets of which there are many. It slightly reminded me of the soukes in Marrakesh except the market owners weren’t trying to pull you into their stalls by your hair! The ‘old town’ in Split is really impressive with small alley ways everywhere.
Today I decided to have a lazy day. I had my first lye-in of the trip and spend the day at the beach and generally not doing an awful lot! I had a really good meal at a local restaurant which was really good value for money.
Tomorrow I travel to Dubrovnik which is supposed to be even more stunning! After Dubrovnik I will return to Split and take the ferry to Italy.
Tags: Travelling
Ljubljana
Posted Friday October 17th 2008
Ljubljana is a really relaxed city. Well I suppose it would being in a country with only 2 million inhabitants! Apparently this is also due to the tourist season ending which I am really pleased about. I feel like I am finding out what day to day life is like here which is the kind of insight I have been hoping for. The last thing I have wanted on my travels is being surrounded by tourists and things aimed at them, instead of the ‘real city’. So I usually escape the touristy areas as fast as I can but here there has been no need. There are cafes, bars and places to eat everywhere in amazing surroundings. So lots of opportunities to relax which I have been very pleased about. It’s all everyone seems to do here!
The view from the castle overlooking the city is spectacular and I was able to see an amazing sunset over the mountains in the distance. It was something I won’t ever forget.
Iva my host here has been really great. She has made me feel really welcome and introduced me to her friends. Her recommendations of things to see and do in the city have been amazing. Yesterday I travelled to the coast for the day which was beautiful, when I got back I went straight to a gig in the alternative part of town.
Later today I am taking a train to Zagreb in Croatia so lots to do!
Tags: Travelling
Photos From Vienna
Posted Tuesday October 14th 2008
I found a computer!…
The view from the hostel!
Tags: Travelling
Vienna
Posted Tuesday October 14th 2008
(Sorry no photos of Vienna, I have not been able to upload them yet)
I got to Vienna in the evening and arrived at the hostel to
discover an amazing view overlooking the city. I started talking to an
American girl and we went into the city to grab some food and a drink.
It was really nice to be in this new city at night, with anticipation
about what Vienna had in store for me.
I have spent my time here relaxing and taking in the atmosphere and
amazing architecture. The grounds of Vienna’s palace are amazing and there was a maze which was something I have wanted to do since I was a kid! Although it is very very expensive here I
managed to find a restaurant a little off the beaten track and had a
huge meal at a reasonable price. The view over the city from the
hostel is spectacular at night – especially during full moon!
I have been very unsure where to go next on my trip and with
Austria bordering 7 different countries there are lots of options! I
went to the train station and inquired about the cost of travelling to
Slovenia and found a cheap train so booked it on the spot! So very
early on Tuesday I travell to Ljubljana! And from there – who
knows?!
Tags: Travelling