So, it's been awhile huh? Apologies for that. Lots has happened, including being back in the States (due to events I'll elaborate on.)
After our brief, and somehow interminably long, stay on the outskirts of Madrid we made it into the the city proper, for some proper fun. We had planned on doing some of the more touristic activities while we were there; museums, sites, etc. but our stay swiftly became dedicated to the party. Luckily, there were a lot of likeminded people around that were for it as well.
Our hostel was full of other expats there for english teaching gigs. In the meantime, they were there for a good time.
Unfortunately, on our second or third night of hammertime, I was liberated of my passport. Either by fate or pickpocket. Either way, we headed to the U.S. embassy to see what could be done. I got a temporary passport (more expensive than an actual) and talked to the consulate. She informed me that to get another full passport, I'd have to go back to the states. Bum-mer. But, being the PMA-minded guys we are, we decided to press on with the Euro-leg of our trip and instead of heading east to Oceania, we'd head west by way of home.
After, all of that negative business was spun into a positive light we got back to business in Madrid. We met up our buddy Freddy and his wife who were in town for a really quick visit. I think the greatest thing about that is the fact that we hadn't seen each other in years, since we were all still in the military, and of all places to get together? Madrid? Random awesomeness abounds.
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| Our buddy Vinny |
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| What's up? |
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| Diz thought she was someone famous. Or was that the other way around? |
We met up with Vince, our friend from Tucson who not only is bit of a party animal himself, is also an awesome guy, and is much better looking in person. He helped us have a blast and set a wild tone for our last night out. The events that took place are slightly hazy, but it ended with us going to sleep at 8 in the morning for what must've been the twenty thousandish day, us checking out on time at ten and Diz spending the next few hours passed out on a plastic patio chair in the coutyard of our hostel. Once we were sober and recovered (that is a lie) we met up with Vince. He wanted to give us a good send off before we made our way to Paris. And he did.
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We spent a few great hours in Plaza Mayor eating, drinking, and living well. I'd be lying if I said we left Spain sober, but we definitely left happier.
PARIS!
Paris, I think, get's a bad rap in U.S., at least these days. The people there were great. Really. We didn't deal with rudeness at all, even when we were exposed for being american. And aside from all that we were in Paris.
We stayed with some fellow CS'ers we'd met in Galiga, Alex, Tamara and her boyfriend Fabian. We almost got to see G's brother Yonnas and his fiance, but flight problems messed that up.
The city is fantastic. So much. You can't lack for things to do and see. And of course we did and saw as much as we could.
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| Didn't see ANYBODY with back problems |
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| Nutella crepes outside the Musee D'Orsay |
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| Yo snake! I'm Hercules, eat this rock! |
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| Me and Diz getting intimate with the 4,000 year old Sumerian art |
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| Mona |
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| Diz, creepin' on mona |
She (Mona) is very small in person. We went to the Luevre and the Orsay Museum and we will have to go back because the immensity of art there is just that, immense. You could get lost for days there and not see everything.
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| Yo David! What you got there? - That's just my Goliath head. No big deal |
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| Freedom anybody? |
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| Random park art. Yeah, that's chicken |
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| In Monmarte |
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| We did not unleash G on this landmark |
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| With our friends Fabian and Tamara! (G's in there somewhere) |
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| And Alex! (G's in this one too) |
Our hosts were fantastic. They treated us to some good food(really guys!) at home and showed us a great time all around. We will definitely be returning!
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| Making the tiniest bit of trouble |
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| Traviesos! |
After Paris, Amsterdam! We had all three of us been jonesing for this and it didn't disappoint (even though I did. More on that in a sec.)
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| I am Amsterdam |
The two highlights in the city were the Van Gogh museum and the House of Bols. The Van Gogh is home to about two hundred of the artist's works, as well as various other impressionist/post-impressionist artists works. It is very impressive.
The House of Bols is a dedicated museum to the spirit brand and it's history and is also home to an academy and working bar. The tour is so cool. Aside from giving the history of the brand it also has exhibits designed to make you more familiar and intimate with the product, and being a spirit-phile it was most appreciated. Plus, at the end of the tour you get your own finely crafted cocktail for free, as well as a couple of samples. Radical.
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| At the House of Bols. These were actual flavors set in perfume bottles for scent guessing |
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| So good |
So, towards the end of our stay, we booked a cabin on the outskirts of town to hang out for a couple of days and sample some of the other products Amsterdam is famous for. It was cold, rainy, and awesome. We were happy and having a great time.
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| G. On shrooms |
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| We didn't know what these guys were, but the looked cool. On shrooms |
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| Mama beast protecting baby beast. On shrooms |
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| Dudes chilling outside the cabin. On shrooms |
Unfortunately, I had a bit of an accident that required, and still kinda does, medical attention.
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| I fought a bear. On shrooms |
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| The bear. Died of shroom overdose |
Seriously, I'm good. My grill is a little janky, but I'm mostly recovered and we're itching to get back out and continue our adventure. We're all three back in the states, Diz and G are chilling in the old pueblo and I'll be hanging out there soon. We feel like we've only taken a tiny chip off the top of a huge iceberg and we're dying for snowcones. This is Get Awesome Gets It Everywhere, and we get it at home too. See you soon.
Stay Awesome.
GA
Paris, I think, get's a bad rap in U.S., at least these days. The people there were great. Really. We didn't deal with rudeness at all, even when we were exposed for being american. And aside from all that we were in Paris.
We stayed with some fellow CS'ers we'd met in Galiga, Alex, Tamara and her boyfriend Fabian. We almost got to see G's brother Yonnas and his fiance, but flight problems messed that up.
GA
