it's been 3 months since my last confession... I wish I could say its because I am simply way too busy to take 20 minutes a day to write but I could always write instead of watching a 7th episode of Criminal Minds. The truth is sometimes its just too daunting to write a story with no ending, and other days I am sick of the characters, and even more of those days I cannot handle the analysis that comes in the wake of writing. But in an effort to get back to reality....
Here's what you missed since the last episode: I aged another year and had some unexplained issues with 27. I drank beer with some legitimate Germans and stood in front of the concrete that divided a nation and the increasingly involved world powers. I've experienced the fun of seeing travel through someone else's eyes. I've laid on the rocky beaches of Croatia. I've slammed the school book shut, hopefully for the last time ever! And once again I am in the midst of making life decisions, but this time not alone.
If there has been one reoccuring theme in all this, it's I want to go back. I have yet to find a country I don't like, even Egypt, with its seedy moments, still offered an amazing experience. I've wanted to re-do it all, go back and see it from another angle or in most cases another city. With the exception of Egypt, I would go back to every place I've been. Croatia, Wales, and Germany are no different...I want to do it all again.
Wales:
I knew it was going to be a trip unlike the rest, mainly because I would have a boyfriend in tow. Without too much dramatics, I was prepared for a make it or break it journey. We were rocky for weeks before leaving....apparently sometimes a firey Albanian and a fiesty American are the oil and water of relationships so alot more rided on this trip than orginally planned. I've traveled with boyfriends twice before, neither my trip to Paris with an arrogant sweater vest doning boy or A booze filled trip to the Bahamas with my partner in drinking turned out well. In fact things got pretty ugly immediately following the voyage. So I'm skeptical about these Sandles-esk getaways.
Beni has never understood my constant obsession with last minute traveling. I can tell he gets tired of the frequent...'I booked a ticket to (insert random country here) and leave next week'. But there are alot of things we still have yet to understand about each other so I boarded the bus excited and slightly worried that I might smother his cute face after a long weekend traveling! We made our way to the hotel (I splurged this time, hostels are really hot beds for romantic getaways) dropped off our bags and started the sightseeing. Cardiff is not unlike England because well let's be honest it is England. Except Wales is friendlier and filled with more castles, 631 castles to be exact.
We headed off to Cardiff Bay which is similar to the banks of the Thames, its filled with restaurants, bars, and beautiful views of the city. We took advantage of the rare sunshine and boarded a boat cruise around the bay. The captain recommended we get off on the other side for the views, on a clear day you can see the coast of English seaside. Unfortunately it was not a clear day but the views we still amazing. Beni and I sat on the docks, lined with amateur fishermen and their sons waiting for the ultimate catch, with some classic Flake cones before heading back to the other side for cocktails. Got to love, the UK's 2 for 1 cocktaits. Over a boozy lunch, Beni and I talked about some of our common misunderstandings, nothing like a mojita driven therapy session to let the gaurds down. With the typical British rain dampening our parade, we decided it was a great time to head back to the hotel. To keep it classy, we stopped at the off-lincense for supplies: a case of beer, crisps, and a bottle of wine. Afterall what do two people who never get alone time do when given the hotel keys (strictly PG excerpts I promise): Well they drink Corona's in the bath, jump around on the bed, and dance around in their underwear to Jennifer Lopez. OK I'm actually slightly embarrassed about the latter, but I have to pick my battles and Beni loves him some JLo. After tearing ourselves away from the splendure of our Cousin/Brother/Flatmate free zone, we headed out for drinks. We decided it was going to be a low-key night, because the next day was the day I forced Beni to sign up for an all day tour. Low key went right out the window after a bunch of drinks and club recommendations from the Italian waiter that Beni made best buddies with at dinner. If its not an Albanian, it's an Italian with Albanian cousins.....we can't go anywhere! As soon as we got to the club, Beni and I became the people we were before living together....the shot taking, can't get off the dancefloor, nothing but fun couple. It was one of the best nights I have ever had on holiday, made even funnier by random drunk girls repeatedly asking Beni if he was the new Manchester United striker.
Slightly hungover and crabby, I forced Beni out of bed for the big tour. Beni didn't understand why we had to pay someone £40 each to drive us around, he was convinced that we could find someone on the street to take us for £20. The tour had to live up to my hype or else I would never live it down. And while I am impressed by old broken buildings that are glorified as ancient ruins, I was worried Beni would only see structures that would still be standing if an Albanian crew had built them. (I still have to convince him that a popular London restaurant has an open ceiling and unfinished brick work because its trendy not because they ran out of money before finishing the job.) Beni could not have been less impressed with the energetic Welsh tour guide, it was going to be a potentially long day! We started the tour by driving through the preserved Roman town of Caerleon meaning 'Fort of the Legion', first stopping at the Roman amphitheatre. It was as perfectly entact as possible, the green grass covered the missing wooden bleachers, yet it was still a steep drop into the center. All it took was the mention of gladiators fighting to their death for Beni to perk up, he kept asking me if this is just like the movie, to which I of course said yes( I can't burst his man vs. man and sometimes lion to the death bubble.) With the leader sending us on our way to explore, my Albanian gladiater led the way by jumping down from the top into the center of the ring, most of the others including me used the stairs. I stood there shocked as Beni gave his best Gladiator impression, climbing the walls, leaping across from one section to another, and running around like a child. He was further hooked in the Roman Bath house and that infatuation carried over into the museum and the bookshop. He made sure to by a book, most of which he can't read, to show the familia where gladiators died. We continued on across the Usk and Wye rivers, into the stunning Wye Valley patches into sections of bright yellows and greens to our next stop Tintern Abbey. A overhwelmingly massive monastic ruin of the Cistercian monks. While it's considered ruins, much of the main building is still entact. There is something quite peaceful and beautiful about it, far beyond the beauty of the building. The green grass flowed through the openness of the building, with columns and stair cases still standing, it was a perfect spot for exploring. Beni and I layed down in the midst of the monastary with a perfect view of the sky and shade from the hot sun. We lasted a while before Beni started climbing on things again..... With its location far from the medival hustle and bustle, it remain relatively untouched, until Henry VIII abruptly ended their run in the 1500s. The monastary was just another captured pawn in his bloody game of control against the church. The backdrop of the Abbey addes to its splendure, set against the Wye Rivers and forrests, it is an amazing sight. Somewhere along the way, Beni became the social one, possibly because the tour was mostly middle aged women who found him adorable. We ate lunch with some fellow travelors at Beni's request (it's amazing what a holiday can do!!!) and drank some local brew before exploring the forest. Hot and sunburnt, we boarded the bus for our last stop: Raglan Castle deep in the Wye Valley. Ahhh castles, what can I say my love affair with all things drawbridge and princess in the tower related, will never end! Not waiting for the go-ahead, Beni was the first to cross the drawbrigde, by the time the rest of us entered the castle, fit with a moat, Beni was on his way up the first tower. With only a few other tourists, Beni and I climbed to the top of each tower and into each dungeon-like room without so much as a view of another tourist. It was perfect, how often does a gal get an empty castle...never! Again the backdrop was as magical as climbing around the castle. With the day of touring over, Beni was hooked with travel, over a romantic dinner on the water, he told me he finally understood that I did more than drink my way through Europe.
Our final day in Wales was spent exploring Cardiff, with a trip to Cardiff Castle (much more touristy than Raglan) and the National Museum. After Raglan, Cardiff Castle didn't have nearly as much character as I hoped. Don't get me wrong, I'd make good use of that tower if it was mine, but there was something much more corporate about it. It was used and expanded multiple times throughout history, even so recently as WWII when its walls were modified for the use of bomb shelters. The state rooms were filled will beautiful artifacts from different time periods but they didn't keep me from enjoying the other better. Maybe it's the fact that I didn't have to pay £15 to get in the other...I understand they need to make money and what not but come on....
We headed to the museum next, which turned out to be Beni's favorite part. They had a billion stuffed animals of the extinct nature, Beni spent 20 minutes trying to convince me that Albania has Wooly Mamouths and multiple other animals that are big, scary, and originate no where near the country! With a mostly rainy British summer, we spent the rest of the day outside in the parks sipping cider. The next day when we boarded the bus to head back to the Big Smoke, we were both disappointed that we had to return. It was the perfect break from reality and an amazing experience for both of us. Beni is anxiously awaiting the next trip.....
Here's what you missed since the last episode: I aged another year and had some unexplained issues with 27. I drank beer with some legitimate Germans and stood in front of the concrete that divided a nation and the increasingly involved world powers. I've experienced the fun of seeing travel through someone else's eyes. I've laid on the rocky beaches of Croatia. I've slammed the school book shut, hopefully for the last time ever! And once again I am in the midst of making life decisions, but this time not alone.
If there has been one reoccuring theme in all this, it's I want to go back. I have yet to find a country I don't like, even Egypt, with its seedy moments, still offered an amazing experience. I've wanted to re-do it all, go back and see it from another angle or in most cases another city. With the exception of Egypt, I would go back to every place I've been. Croatia, Wales, and Germany are no different...I want to do it all again.
Wales:
I knew it was going to be a trip unlike the rest, mainly because I would have a boyfriend in tow. Without too much dramatics, I was prepared for a make it or break it journey. We were rocky for weeks before leaving....apparently sometimes a firey Albanian and a fiesty American are the oil and water of relationships so alot more rided on this trip than orginally planned. I've traveled with boyfriends twice before, neither my trip to Paris with an arrogant sweater vest doning boy or A booze filled trip to the Bahamas with my partner in drinking turned out well. In fact things got pretty ugly immediately following the voyage. So I'm skeptical about these Sandles-esk getaways.
Beni has never understood my constant obsession with last minute traveling. I can tell he gets tired of the frequent...'I booked a ticket to (insert random country here) and leave next week'. But there are alot of things we still have yet to understand about each other so I boarded the bus excited and slightly worried that I might smother his cute face after a long weekend traveling! We made our way to the hotel (I splurged this time, hostels are really hot beds for romantic getaways) dropped off our bags and started the sightseeing. Cardiff is not unlike England because well let's be honest it is England. Except Wales is friendlier and filled with more castles, 631 castles to be exact.
We headed off to Cardiff Bay which is similar to the banks of the Thames, its filled with restaurants, bars, and beautiful views of the city. We took advantage of the rare sunshine and boarded a boat cruise around the bay. The captain recommended we get off on the other side for the views, on a clear day you can see the coast of English seaside. Unfortunately it was not a clear day but the views we still amazing. Beni and I sat on the docks, lined with amateur fishermen and their sons waiting for the ultimate catch, with some classic Flake cones before heading back to the other side for cocktails. Got to love, the UK's 2 for 1 cocktaits. Over a boozy lunch, Beni and I talked about some of our common misunderstandings, nothing like a mojita driven therapy session to let the gaurds down. With the typical British rain dampening our parade, we decided it was a great time to head back to the hotel. To keep it classy, we stopped at the off-lincense for supplies: a case of beer, crisps, and a bottle of wine. Afterall what do two people who never get alone time do when given the hotel keys (strictly PG excerpts I promise): Well they drink Corona's in the bath, jump around on the bed, and dance around in their underwear to Jennifer Lopez. OK I'm actually slightly embarrassed about the latter, but I have to pick my battles and Beni loves him some JLo. After tearing ourselves away from the splendure of our Cousin/Brother/Flatmate free zone, we headed out for drinks. We decided it was going to be a low-key night, because the next day was the day I forced Beni to sign up for an all day tour. Low key went right out the window after a bunch of drinks and club recommendations from the Italian waiter that Beni made best buddies with at dinner. If its not an Albanian, it's an Italian with Albanian cousins.....we can't go anywhere! As soon as we got to the club, Beni and I became the people we were before living together....the shot taking, can't get off the dancefloor, nothing but fun couple. It was one of the best nights I have ever had on holiday, made even funnier by random drunk girls repeatedly asking Beni if he was the new Manchester United striker.
Slightly hungover and crabby, I forced Beni out of bed for the big tour. Beni didn't understand why we had to pay someone £40 each to drive us around, he was convinced that we could find someone on the street to take us for £20. The tour had to live up to my hype or else I would never live it down. And while I am impressed by old broken buildings that are glorified as ancient ruins, I was worried Beni would only see structures that would still be standing if an Albanian crew had built them. (I still have to convince him that a popular London restaurant has an open ceiling and unfinished brick work because its trendy not because they ran out of money before finishing the job.) Beni could not have been less impressed with the energetic Welsh tour guide, it was going to be a potentially long day! We started the tour by driving through the preserved Roman town of Caerleon meaning 'Fort of the Legion', first stopping at the Roman amphitheatre. It was as perfectly entact as possible, the green grass covered the missing wooden bleachers, yet it was still a steep drop into the center. All it took was the mention of gladiators fighting to their death for Beni to perk up, he kept asking me if this is just like the movie, to which I of course said yes( I can't burst his man vs. man and sometimes lion to the death bubble.) With the leader sending us on our way to explore, my Albanian gladiater led the way by jumping down from the top into the center of the ring, most of the others including me used the stairs. I stood there shocked as Beni gave his best Gladiator impression, climbing the walls, leaping across from one section to another, and running around like a child. He was further hooked in the Roman Bath house and that infatuation carried over into the museum and the bookshop. He made sure to by a book, most of which he can't read, to show the familia where gladiators died. We continued on across the Usk and Wye rivers, into the stunning Wye Valley patches into sections of bright yellows and greens to our next stop Tintern Abbey. A overhwelmingly massive monastic ruin of the Cistercian monks. While it's considered ruins, much of the main building is still entact. There is something quite peaceful and beautiful about it, far beyond the beauty of the building. The green grass flowed through the openness of the building, with columns and stair cases still standing, it was a perfect spot for exploring. Beni and I layed down in the midst of the monastary with a perfect view of the sky and shade from the hot sun. We lasted a while before Beni started climbing on things again..... With its location far from the medival hustle and bustle, it remain relatively untouched, until Henry VIII abruptly ended their run in the 1500s. The monastary was just another captured pawn in his bloody game of control against the church. The backdrop of the Abbey addes to its splendure, set against the Wye Rivers and forrests, it is an amazing sight. Somewhere along the way, Beni became the social one, possibly because the tour was mostly middle aged women who found him adorable. We ate lunch with some fellow travelors at Beni's request (it's amazing what a holiday can do!!!) and drank some local brew before exploring the forest. Hot and sunburnt, we boarded the bus for our last stop: Raglan Castle deep in the Wye Valley. Ahhh castles, what can I say my love affair with all things drawbridge and princess in the tower related, will never end! Not waiting for the go-ahead, Beni was the first to cross the drawbrigde, by the time the rest of us entered the castle, fit with a moat, Beni was on his way up the first tower. With only a few other tourists, Beni and I climbed to the top of each tower and into each dungeon-like room without so much as a view of another tourist. It was perfect, how often does a gal get an empty castle...never! Again the backdrop was as magical as climbing around the castle. With the day of touring over, Beni was hooked with travel, over a romantic dinner on the water, he told me he finally understood that I did more than drink my way through Europe.
Our final day in Wales was spent exploring Cardiff, with a trip to Cardiff Castle (much more touristy than Raglan) and the National Museum. After Raglan, Cardiff Castle didn't have nearly as much character as I hoped. Don't get me wrong, I'd make good use of that tower if it was mine, but there was something much more corporate about it. It was used and expanded multiple times throughout history, even so recently as WWII when its walls were modified for the use of bomb shelters. The state rooms were filled will beautiful artifacts from different time periods but they didn't keep me from enjoying the other better. Maybe it's the fact that I didn't have to pay £15 to get in the other...I understand they need to make money and what not but come on....
We headed to the museum next, which turned out to be Beni's favorite part. They had a billion stuffed animals of the extinct nature, Beni spent 20 minutes trying to convince me that Albania has Wooly Mamouths and multiple other animals that are big, scary, and originate no where near the country! With a mostly rainy British summer, we spent the rest of the day outside in the parks sipping cider. The next day when we boarded the bus to head back to the Big Smoke, we were both disappointed that we had to return. It was the perfect break from reality and an amazing experience for both of us. Beni is anxiously awaiting the next trip.....
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