the · story · is · in · the · soil

"travel survey"




Part I
1) Recount your most memorable travel experience.
Patrick teaching me to dance at that German fest hall in Elschbach (Brueckmuehlbach?). I wore his straw hat and before every sip of beer we would say PROST!! and slam it on the table.

2) What was your most frightening/upsetting/challenging experience while travelling?
LONDON. Ashley and I were by ourselves. We HAD to ride the train, followed by the tube, in order to make it to our hostel in Piccadilly Circus, a week after the second bombings. It was a learning experience, though. Not relying on anyone aside from yourself. I think I grew up a lot on that whole trip. On the way back to the airport was even scarier. We had to walk through London at four in the morning to catch a bus that we weren't even sure was coming -- fortunately, it did. From there, we ran to the train and made it to check in at the airport JUST IN TIME. I had about forty-two and a half heartattacks on that trip.

3) Recall a pleasant surprise or unexpected discovery experienced while travelling.
Finding out that Scottish boys really don't wear anything under there kilts while I was in Prague with Annie Hoang and Kaitlin Albany over spring break. That isn't a joke.

4) What was your most humbling travel experience?
Getting lost in London with Ashley while trying to find Parliament and Big Ben, only to turn the corner of a building and find it towering over us. (After five hours of searching and finally realizing how close we'd actually been to it in the very beginning).

5) What did you do while travelling that you never thought you would?
I think it is safe to say that the night I snuck out of my hotel room with Maria Pelino, Gina Salerno and Stephanie Wolfe to meet up with some Italian boys and go to the beach of Sorrento at midnight pretty much takes the cake for something I would never have foreseen myself doing, ever. It makes one hell of a story to tell now, though.

6) What is your favourite mode of transportation?
The tube in London. It's amazingly easy to get the hang of and takes you all over the city. That and I didn't have to struggle with a language barrier.

7) Ideally, what is your next destination(s)?
Back to Germany to visit my aunt and Nina or study abroad.

8) Your most sage travel advice?
DO NOT hesitate to ask questions about where you are going or where something is. You will waste far too much time and get frustrated with something that could be easily solved just by asking. Also, make friends. It will pay off.

9) What has travel meant to you in your life?
So much. I've got stories that will last a lifetime and have met some really amazing people along the way. Not to mention the fact that I now have a very close relationship with my aunt, who is the most awesome person ever.

Part II
Best location for:
1) Architechture
Prague. Prague was gorgeous. Everything from the Cinderella-esque castles to the Charles Bridge, astrological clock and the most detailed gothic style architecture I will, most likely, ever see.

2) Culture
Germany. I made three very good friends while I was there and already miss it so much. The people were so friendly. It just feels so much less restricted all of the time. They live life, you know? It is what it is. Everything just seems to be so much less complicated.

3) Festival(s)
The mini-fest in Elschbach. The seefest might have been more fun had we stayed longer, it was a lot bigger. The mini-fest in Elschbach was just that particular town at the fest hall. That's what they do. Even on Sundays. Or so I was told. I understood very little of the reasons behind the traditions that took place there.

4) Music
The street performers in Warsaw, Poland.

5) Food
Ciao Pizza in Naples and The Schnitzel Haus in K-town.

6) Nature/natural beauty
Switzerland!! Muerren, actually. You really can't go wrong a mile from sea level in the middle of the Swiss Alps. I will probably never see scenery so beautiful ever again in my life.

7) People
GERMANY. And London. I met two very cool Dutch girls that were staying in the same room as Ash and me at the Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel. It was because of them that I sat in line for six hours from four in the morning in London to get tickets to see Ewan McGregor in Guys & Dolls.

8) Art
Roma, Italia.

9) Love
Watch out for those Italian boys. I am not kidding in the least. I, however, fell completely head over heels for a German.

10) Getting lost and/or losing yourself
I got lost with Ashley in London after finally finding Big Ben. It was ten o'clock at night and we didn't get back to the hostel until around midnight. That was good time, let me tell you.

11) Coming back again and again
K-town, as long as Rica and Nina are there. London, of course. And I would really like to see Prague again. I didn't get to enjoy it like I should have, only being there for a day and turning in at nine pm because it was a school trip.