so excited

to use my home shower... then bounce to NYC

move in day is soon!

http://www.fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=5643&cat=254
i need this for my new house keys

wow...

I can't believe its been 8 weeks already...

I leave tomorrow at noon. Hello Toronto for the night.

Copenhagen and the ZOO

So Copenhagen. We discovered by accident (although we had apparently been told to go there) a crazy hippie commune in the outskirts of the city! We hung out and had a couple of beers by the lake and then later stumbled upon crazy flutest music that was super cool (I have a video that I will post later once I find a computer that will allow me to upload all of my photos... which will probably be at home). It was really a cool environment to be in. The next day Kat, Gigi and Eric went to go visit The Snail... a cool place to swim.. while I took my environmental toukas to go for a 2 hour walk to find the infamous Copenhagen Windmill Plant. I walked along the water way enjoying the cute houses of Christiania (the hippy commune) and ended up in industrial land with weird industrial water. Finally I stumbled upon the flailing arms of the windmills took some pictures and headed on the walk back. On the way back I found an abandoned building with really neat graffitti so I took some pictures of it for mi padre... luckily the squaters who were staying there were up at the other end of the waterway and we passed cross when I left with no problem.

Anyways the rest of copenhagen was just filled with candy, pastries and double movies but was overall a nice innovative city with unique touches... but as usual we all missed berlin. It´s odd how its become our home away from home. I´d really like to live here since I´ve been here for over a month and there is still SO much to see!

Today Shalini and I went to the Zoo after attempting to go to many galleries and museums which are all closed on mondays! Never have I been to a zoo with so many active animals! I saw a panda who was lying on the grass eating bamboo with it on its face. I watched monkeys for a good hour dying of laughter. I really would like to be a monkey.

that is all
muhalo
denna

it has been a while...

I am in SKANDINAVIAAA. It was about a half hour flight from berlin to copenhagen and we were making sweet time, until it was time to go and leave the airport... thats when two members of our party decided that they wanted to go check out an ikea... in Sweden by hoping on the wrong train. So my friend Eric and I went to go find our hostel, which was located in a cabin like space in open fields in Copenhagen. Nice and clean but with crazy weird prices added to everything i.e. deposit that we never get back, sheets, towels.

Copenhagen is so expensive!! 8 dollar coffee is a deal, but we have found a nice neighbourhood where meals are only 15 dollars.

Berlin is good, I miss it when i leave. Went to Wannsee Beach and to a nice vegetarian restaurant.

Anyways time to enjoy my coffee and lunch and the beautiful people of Copenhagen... its quite unfair that 90% of the population are model worthy.

xx
d

Skateramps and New Zealanders who live in a bar...

First off I would like to inform everyone that I went to the Bauhaus museum. How nice. hahaha Also, someone has just started smoking in the internet cafe, it is allowed everywhere apparently, including on the subways and the trains...

Second, last night I went to a bar called Bar25... similar inventiveness to naming like 751... Upon arriving and being thrilled by their selective entry and their cheap cover of only 10$ I found my way into Bar24. This is where we met some lovely New Zealanders, where they allowed me to hook up my ipod and play 'heavy' music. They proceeded to inform me how much they love courtney love but they did not know who Kurt Cobain was... After educating them on their musical gap I played them the Horrorpops and I was inaugorated into their friendship circle. They live in a bar, like actually... how berlin of them. Anyways my two other friends who experienced this with me wanted to go back to Bar25 with the rest of our group. This is when we realized that we had actually been locked into Bar24, and had to find the key master aka the head kiwii to release us. So that was my night, Bar25 was far less eventful, the only highlight was the artichoke and olive wood oven pizza...

Yesterday I went shopping and found Bergstraße by total accident. it was good times. For those who dont speak german that is Berg St. equivalent.

I must go get some turkish delights in my belly now.
xx
d
ps i tried to do spell check, but apparently everything is wrong as it is not german.

Berlin Playgrounds

Last night after following my friend to a playground I discovered how truly insane Berliners are. Here is a breakdown of the playground.

• 2 feet by 6 feet wide 'trampoline' surrounded by concrete
• a giant basket swing, big enough for 2-3 people
• four swings dispersed in an X that you get going and act like the swings at an amusement park.
• a giant web contraption made for climbing, which has an odd middle break where you have to lunge, or fall to the next level. If you decide to go to the next level, the only way down is by awkwardly throwing yourself down into a slide that has no platform and is just there.

Excited to park hop now.

xx

d

World's worst blogger

This is called lazy confessions for a reason....
Let me see when I last updated you of my travels.... wow... ok! SO BERLIN!

After being in this city for over a week the only thing I can say is WHY THE HELL HAVE THE BERGS NEVER COME HERE BEFORE!!! Not only is this a city with our name all over it, but it also has something for everyone: Bicycles and dozens of parks for my brother who is part dog. Art galleries, graffiti and museums coming out of its ass for papa. AMAZING shopping and beach like things for mama and everything else for daughter.

So lets see what I have done over the past week. I went to the Neus Museum on a sleepy saturday morning, and saw the famed Nefirtiti head... then of course got yelled at by the security... cus we all know no trip is complete with out being scoulded by men with badges.

Every tuesday and sunday there is a Turkish market just down the street from where I am staying. And I go and get deliciousness of feta, hummus, bread etc. Fresh Veggiesssss. (Mother, I grilled eggplant and made eggplant pesto salad...) I also seemed to locate quinoa, so I will not die of lack of protien.

We are living across from a Brothel. So it is quite a lively place that never runs out of entertainment. We are learning a lot about their culture, as well as joining them at the grocery store... though I must say there is such thing as being too early on a monday morning to be getting coffee in line with these lovely ladies, as they thoroughly enjoy their perfume and cigarettes.

Culture Shock Portion:

• i have adjusted to the toliets in spain, but if i didn't the flushing would be an issue... But now its more of an issue in Toronto, as I remember the lights I kept turning on the fan, and pushing the invisible button to flush toliets on the top of the toliet
• Being allowed to drink beer while shopping, or at a mall.
• being allowed to drink beer anyhwere, I'm guessing that it is even normal for German's to go to the Doctor and have their Dr. Drinking a beer and smoking
• cigarettes on the subway.... this just seems like a fire hazard
• the punks in the city are nice... its odd...
• the honour system subway... I have been checked once for my metropass... other than that there is no turnstyle what so ever
• everyone in berlin is rediculously cool looking that it seems rediculously unfair for the rest of the world.
• trying to wrap your mind around the fact that this city was divided by a wall just a year before I was born and that the majority of the population lived separated....
• going to places and hearing that just a 2 min walk millions of people were sytematically murdered or in forced labour camps.

Alot of this city is very sobering and there is history where ever you go. The other day we went to the city of Potsdam, and reading later as to why all the buildings are new is because the majority of the city was bombed. Coming from a place like Canada, that is a relatively new country, with no history of any real war, its difficult to fully understand the full history of Berlin and germany.

Anyways, that's my little rant, I need to go as I have a random concert to attend that I have been invited to!

Mahalo!

London and Amsterdam

Kevin has left! So sad not to have travel friend. But envermind, it was just for half a day. I went to the FOAM (photography museum) yesterday by myself. I kept the brochure for you dad. It was pretty good, although very closterphobic space for viewing large photos-- but that was part of their plan.

LONDON! I saw my amiga Emma, who was the worlds best tour guide ever! After following Kevin and the tourist sign posts my trust in her directions were shakey... I still followed until she looked the wrong way for on coming traffic and realized that I was better off following my own instinctions. haha oh emma... you are just always on exchange arent you!

Now I am at my hotel waiting for Lana to come!! So i will see here then go off to Berlin.

Eating Strupwaffels. so delicious!!

London we went to the art gallery there, but we only had an hour or so to view it. Some good peices from Dali.

Gtg look for lana.
this is a bad post.
sorry
xx
d

dubrovnik

quick note from kevs fone due to having wifi in our room with jelli

last night in the old town there was a festival. We stayed for a bit and saw possibly the best fireworks I have ever seen! The next morning jelli yelled at kevin when she found out we came back at around eleven as we should of stayed out til three in the mornin she also then yelled at us for not eating breakfast as soon as we got up. Kev I joked how the finnish girls are always eating when we ome out and its probably out of fear of jellis rath.

today we went to an island for the beach. Which was nice but touristy and busy and expenisve dubrovnik is my least favourite do far. Too many tourist and stairs and its also really hot an expensive

k need to get off fone now

xx
db

Dubrovnik- I am mad craving watermelon

Today we took the bus from Split to Dubrovnik... while our bus driver dropped off his friend and took many phonecalls while driving... We also go to stop for a bit in Bosnia at a place that seemed to house many semi-confused english speaking tourists. The ride was very similar to the drive we did in Spain earlier this summer, just a lot less Olive trees. We must say that we are rather thankful that we did not rent a car and decide to do the trek for our selves... I have never seen so many grave markings along a roadside and so little street controls (i.e. signs, paint ont he road etc...).

Yesterday Kevin and I went to Hvar, an island near split, for a day trip. As soon as we arrived there and after having our morning espresso we decided to pick another smaller, unpopulated island to go to the beach. We talked to some men with boats (after deciding that renting our own boat was probably not the best idea) and decided on a nice island that was a 15 minute boatride away. Upon getting on the boat Kevin checked his Lonely Planet-Croatia book to see what it was about. It stated that it was a nude beach. Horray for a sibling afternoon to a nudist island!! So we arrived and after overcoming the shock of many naked old men frolicing in and out of the water we decided to continue on the path to see if there were more beaches. One of them had umbrellas and chairs for rent and a little cafe, but we decided to check to see if we could find any other place were no one was. After circling the entire island circumfrance, on a terrain that reminded me much of the galapagos, we ended up back on the umbrella and chair beach. The water was amazing. Yes Madre y Padre! I SWAM! It was most joyous. And ocean water makes my hair very nice.

After arriving back to Split, with only the minor scare that we may have taken the ferry to Italy, we retired back to our room.

Today after arriving in Dubrovnik it was quite eventful. After the hustle and bustle of people asking us for "accomodations" and following me saying "Miss, just look at the picture is nice! I give you for cheap kunas. Misss accommodation!!" we found this giant map to help us decipher the city. There an old man offered to help, and Kevin being Kevin said yes. He told me he was from the Lonely Planet (I think he gave himself this title as he had a lonely planet book in his hand). He started to run around looking for the street asking people, quite a fit elderly man. Then a woman and a man came to join and the man started saying how walking will make us sweat buckets and was making hilarious noises and hand actions. So Kevin was distracted by him while I was listening to the very vague directions.

The trip to our house were Jella owns it was hell. We got lost and there are to many goddam stairs in this city. Finally we made it to our hilarious little old lady house, who has a nice garden with kiwiis growing and grapes etc. She introduced us to nice "american" girls sitting in the front in broken english, who seemed very confused. This confusion was fixed when they informed us that they were Finnish not American. Jella proceeded to offer us water and juice, we said yes after that stiffling walk.

And now hours later I am in a cafe drinking my espresso mad craving three things: 1. Watermelon (which is the only attainable thing on my list) 2. The Cheesecake Factory (free bread, unlimited refills and rediculously sized salads) 3. American Grocery stores (the snack foods suck here and I have no clue what anything is, oh, and the overload of airconditioning... even though it seems that it is hot enough here for airconditioning to be needed)

xx
db

Split

The trainride to split was not as enjoyable as my first train ride... due to my lovely ability to get motion sick i was quite oozy from the bumps, fast speeds and curves! However, the view was amazing!!!

Split is really pretty, and the place we are staying at is cool (i had experienced my first 6 bedroom dorm in Zegreb, and here too). A part of the town is built in a Castle building and our hostel is in it. So the streets are really tiny, and stoney and its really pretty.

Last night Kev and I went to a bar that is right below our hostel, called Charlies. We met a nice couple from San Fransico and went to another bar down the street to try the authentic Honey Liquor... its dangerously delicious.

Today we made our way to one of the less busy beaches and the view of the mountains and such was spectacular! We also enjoyed the wonders of the strong canadian dollar and had a brunch of pizza and salad at a place that faced the water front.

Kevin is going to take me to the fish market and a hill... I am concerned of his tourguide abilities... because every vegetarian wants to go in the heat to the fishmarket, and a hill sounds very interesting....

We also need to find an english bookstore!! I actually have time to read! and have gone through all my reading materials... I should of brought my berlin readings but w.e

I am in desperate need of a coffeee!

xx

db

first train ride!

So we came from Budapest, Hungary to Zegreb, Croatia. We were a little bit skeptical of coming to Zegreb, as fellow backpackers said it was a dirty city... However, Kevin and I are very confused as its really nice!

I took my first train ride for more than an hour to get anywhere... It is my new favourite method of travel... oh no.. european people just came into the room and said omg avril lavigne is so cool.... thez are talking about her creativity between skater boy and this other song which all sound the same to me.... funny how I have to come to Croatia to see music played on MTV.

Another moment of an eastern european old lady trying to kidnap me on the train... but I think she was tryin to help us by telling this part of the train didnt go to Zegreb.


I got to go, check out time in the hostel.
xx
db

Baths and never ending walking

Today I conquered a great fear of mine... public pools. I hate them. I havent been swimming since my prom due to mz fear of public pools. But kevin wanted to go to the baths so we went. After almost being kidnapped by a 70 zear old eastern european woman who wanted me to come into her change room, we finally went into the baths. I almost had a panic attack but calmed down enough to go to the bath that spun around it was fun for like 5 mins.... so i got out and sat in the sun while kevin froliced.

After that we walked to the castle to see, but it was closed on monday so we just enjozed the grounds.

Kevin and I need to stop buying drinks here... it seems like we am forever thirsty. Lemonade and ice tea and fanta....

Also the money here is hilariously inconvienent. I took out 2ö,ööö dollars today. A coke is 4öö hahaha.

oh, and because I am apparently travelling wiht a 9ö year old man, as he would like to go to bed at like 1ö. So last night I went to the common area of the hostel to recharge my ipod and check emails, and there were two girls here... turns out one of them went to middle school and highschool with kevin... small world.

Anyways, I am going to go shower and then go eat authentic hungarian food...hopefully it will not have meat. The only food I have had here is middle eastern.

xx
Db

Budapest

ok... so i do not understand these keyboards.... so bare with me.

We just got into Budapest after enduring a bus ride filled with drunk and passed out loudly snoring people.... then a rollercoaster loud airplane.

Utrecht was really nice, i much preferred it over amsterdam... we spent the daz i feel like all we did was walk around in circles and stop periodically for food. though it was really nice.

So happy to leave our deathtrap boat room. Due to the heat it was like having two people live in a closet with limited oxygen... luckily the second night was less suffocating and wasnt as hot.

Kevin is looking up the communist musuem here... i need to go pay attention

Amsterdam!!!

So as you may know, last night Holland won. Kevin and I joined what seemed to be the entire population of Amsterdam to watch the game in a giant field. After the win, we followed the masses to the various pubs and thoroughly enjoyed the fanastic music selection that was playing in these bars....

Also as soon as we got here we went to the redlight distcit...where kevin failed to inform me that it was the red light district... so needless to say my first impression of amsterdam was a very cultured shocked one... after realizing that it was only in a certain area where there were sex toys plastered everywhere i regained my faith in amsterdam youth.

Today we go to Utrecht to see windmills and such..

Packing

Need to go home and pack 2 months worth of stuff... sounds like fun... but first I need to print/do up 2 months worth of invoices!! Hoorah!

Also going to attempt again for pink hair on my stripes... this colour this time

house

Also, very excited to come back to Maeve and my new place!
xx
db
p.s. thinking of getting our own tupac photo...

cherry

Hi!

So as I am going on extreme travels and I don't one more extra thing (aka a journal) in my pack, I'm going to blog here.

Still waiting for this little fellow to arrive in my mailbox, as it will be nice to have a friend hanging around while I travel.

xx

db

ps. still think blogs are super lame. but i just want to remember my trip