Utrecht

The other day we went to Utrecht. A beautiful little city with canals running through it. Kehli did some shopping and then we had lunch at an Italian place by the water. After lunch we took a paddle boat ride through the canals which was a lot of fun because we got to see the city from a different perspective. After stroopwaffle mcflurries we headed back to the train. That night we went to a festival in a field just outside of Den Bosch With Kehlis roommates.  It was a blast listening to the music and getting to hang out with her friends. Today we are heading to eindhoven!

Amsterdam

Yesterday Kehli and I went to Amsterdam. We took the train into town then took the bus across the river. Over there we did a 75 minute all you can eat pancake cruise. It was an interesting way to see the city. Without knowing you are in Amsterdam it would be nearly impossible to tell that there is even a city there. After the cruise we took a bus back into the city. There we saw the flower market which was mostly bulbs and cannabis starter kits. From there we walked to the Heineken store and had a beer and watched a street dancing group perform. We then made our way to the House of Bols. I had never heard of Bols liquor before but apparently it is one of the oldest distilleries in the world. Their Genever liquor is the precursor to gin. Gin came about when the English tried to copy Genever and failed to be able to recreate the triple distilled wine malt that is in Genever. After a tour through the museum we got a tasting and a cocktail. It was delicious. From here we made our way back to the train station and Den Bosch.

This morning we went for a run, sat by the lake, and then went for lunch. After a bit of relaxation we will cook dinner and go out for a few drinks tonight. We are planning on heading up to Utrecht tomorrow and possibly Eindhoven on Sunday.

Rain rain rain

The weather so far in holland has been awful. We have pushed through some though! The past few days have been spent taking in Den Bosch and kehlis day to day life. Tonight we are going to an all you can eat Cuban place. I ran around town this morning which was nice because it was the first time I have ran since I got to Europe. The plan for the rest of the week is to go to Amsterdam tomorrow,  Utrecht on Friday or Saturday, and rent a bike on Sunday and monday. It is truly incredible how everyone bikes around and the way that everyone dresses so nicely. Quite different from the US!

Trains and holland!

Well yesterday was 14 hours and 5 countries of trains. Switzerland takes the prize for having the best trains I experienced. I trained from Wengen to Lauterbrunenn to interlaken to basel to Strasbourg and metz in france. From metz I went to luxembourg city then to Brussels in belgium. From Brussels I went to roosendaal then to den bosch where kehli lives. There is a fair in town for the next ten days just for me I think. It is a bustling little city. Today we went for a walk and food shopping and got caught in a storm on the way back to where she lives.

She is living in her coaches house with a few other girls on the team. We are cooking salmon for dinner tonight then will go out for a drink or two. On Wednesday we will check out amsterdam so stay tuned for that! Other than that day we don't have any plans except to relax and me to see her life here!

The photos are again explanatory, but the one of the food was all the leftovers from switzerland thst I ate all day on the train! Very delicious.

Thursday and friday

Yesterday was another lazy rest day! After our long hike our legs were pretty beat and we had plans to do another long hike Friday so we decided to hang around town. We did some souvenir shopping and got pastries from the bakery. After another lovely dinner we went to a Swiss folk night. We saw dancers and all sorts of musicians as well as cow bell players. It was very cool!

Today, Friday, we hiked up to Maanlichen and over to Klein Sheidegg then back to Wengen. The hike up was UP. There were certainly a few nerve racking parts where we were on the edge. At a certain point above the tree line we were walking through the massive steel fences that stop avalanches. From Maanlichen to Kleine Scheidegg was a lovely "panorama" trail that over looked the valley that Grindelwald is in. We stopped for lunch in Kleine Scheidegg then walked back to Wengen via a bit of the Lauderhorn trail. The Lauberhorn is the longest ski race on the World Cup tour and it is held in the middle of January. Speeds reach 150 160 km per hour and it is completed in around 2 or 3 minutes. It is extremely steep and needless to say it didn't take us 2 or 3 minutes to walk it.

Tonight we will have dinner then relax by the pool and sauna. Tomorrow we are on the 5:12 am train out of Wengen on the way to Holland.

The pictures are mostly self explanatory. The picture of the towns are Wengen and Lauterbrunenn from Maanlichen. They look like one town from so high but the houses in Lauterbrunenn are smaller since Wengen is higher on the mountain. The picture of the map of the Lauberhorn trail is in Kleine Scheidegg pointing to the start. At all important turns and sections they have a sign describing the part.

Tuesday and Wednesday

The past few days have been cloudy and on and off rain. Yesterday was a very relaxing lazy day. Following breakfast we took a little hike around town. I enjoyed a massage in the afternoon then we hit the steam room and sauna. Following dinner we went out for a few drinks.

Today was a long hike up to Kleine Scheidegg.  the altitude difference is 4200 feet in Wengen to 6800 feet in Kleine. We enjoyed a crepe and hot chocolate as it was at just about freezing. The hike down was beautiful. The most amazing greys and blues were in the cliff w walked across from. When we got back we went cross bow shooting. I better watch out because kehli can shoot! Tonight we will enjoy another great meal and relaxing evening.

First 2 days in switzerland

What a wonderful start to our time in switzerland. Yesterday we went for a 3 hour hike to the north of Wengen. After that we relaxed in the hotel a bit and went to a reception with the directors of the hotel and enjoyed a very nice meal. Today for Kehli's birthday we took a train to Grindelwald and hike up to Pfingstegg. We tried to take one trail but it was gated off by a pasture and after a failed attempt to go around we decided to head back down. On our way down we came across another trail and decided to take that. It was full of switchbacks and essentially straight up but we got there! And what an amazing view it was. We took a ride on an alpine slide there which Kehli had never done. From there we took the gondola down to Grindelwald,  had a little lunch and now are back at the hotel. This evening we will do a culinary tour of Wengen and enjoy dinner and go out for a few drinks to celebrate the birthday!

Switzerland

Well the south of France was beautiful by train! I spent almost 14 hours traveling yesterday from Madrid to Geneva and met up with Kehli there last night. As I write now I am on our patio at the Wengen Sunstar hotel in Wengen, Switzerland and boy is it different from spain. It is chilly, probably mid 50s here when the sun isn't out but absolutely beautiful.  We still need to figure out what all we are going to do but will Definately be hiking some and exploring this quaint little town with no cars. Definately different! The beauty of the Alps is truly amazing. It is weird seeing snow (from a distance) in august.

Last day

My last day in madrid was a relaxing one! Walked to El Parque del Retiro today and walked through the grades there.  I took a walk through Puerta del Sol and plaza mayor to take some video and pictures. I also went to the roof of the local school for the arts here. I got some great pictures and enjoyed a beer over looking the city! Tomorrow i have a 730 train to Barcelona then to Monpilier and geneva for the night before going to Wengen on saturday.

Bus days

Yesterday and today were my bus days! I bought a 2 day pass for the tourist bus and rode it quite a bit. It was fun getting to see parts of the city I wouldn't have on foot. Learned a lot about the architecture of the buildings in the city. I saw real madrid and athletico madrids stadiums. I also took a cable car ride with a beautiful view of the city. Last night, for Real Madrids match i went to a local sports bar and it almost felt like a Sunday in the states! Hope all is well.

Caixa Forum and Fundacionmapfre

Today I went to a couple art museums. The first was La Caixa Forum. It was interesting. I saw an exhibit about a city planner named Le Corbusier.  This was the second time I have seen the exhibit because it was in MOMA last summer. They also had an interesting exhibit about Mediterranean sculptures. There were many busts from ancient Greece and pots and vases. At Fundacionmapfre there was a very interesting exhibit of the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson. I had never heard of him until I came here but the exhibition walks you through his development as an artist and a person. If you have not heard of him it is Definately worth a look. He met Ghandi the day he was killed and photographed his funeral, went to Cube just after the missile crisis, and was one of the first western photographers in the Soviet Union following the war, among many other places and times. Tonight I will go for tapas and a cervaza. Last night I walked La Plaza Mayor and La Puerta del Sol at night and saw the street acts and vendors. Lots of fun!

El Rastro

Well over the last two days I have fallen in love with Madrid! Today I went to a MASSIVE open air market covering many blocks called El Rastro in the La Latina district of Madrid. They sold literally everything but food there. After walking around I sat for a while at a cafe called El Viajero which is fitting considering the translation is "the traveler". After this I came back and took part in the Spanish custom of a siesta and enjoyed a nice nap. I then when to El Parque de Buen Retiro and enjoyed a spot of wine,  some bread, and Spanish sausage. Tonight I will get lost and find a nice little place to eat. Hope all is well!

Madrid

After a long day of bus riding yesterday I made it to madrid and my room around 11 last night. It is a very interesting place. It is a bed and breakfast on the 7th floor of a building in the area near the Prado art museum. I went out last night to get a drink and something to meet and met a Spaniard who plays on one of the 14 lacrosse teams in spain! I found it very interesting how he described it's growth here. Over the last 3 years they have added 10 teams across the country. Mostly in the south but a few in the north as well. Today I will just walk a bit explore and relax. During breakfast I will also talk to the staff about what they recommend doing. I will also try to find a map with all of the sights on them.

Good and bad news

Well I made it, slowly and carefully down a nice decent, 18.7 or so kilometers to Sarria and my camino is over. I have had a leg pain growing and do not want to risk further injury before pilot training. Tomorrow I will bus to santiago to get a few things I sent there then head south to madrid. I will spend the week there before heading to switzerland. The summer of brad continues however! I will continue to post about my adventures! If you have any recommendations about madrid please feel free to get in touch!

Tricastella

Hello! Well yesterday was a LONG and interesting day. The plan was to walk about 18k or so to O'Cebriero. After a long up hill climb we arrived and there was some confusion about the line getting into the one albergue in town. After failed attempts to communicate with a group of Italians who were none to please with us having a few people in line and the others waiting on the side the group I am now with only got 5 beds for six people. During all of this, Paolo, a 19 year old guy from Mississippi discovered that he had lost his credential which shows that he started in St. Jean. That was very demoralizing for him. He and I decided we would walk until we didn't want to walk anymore and did another 17 or so making it about a 38k day. Taking into account the elevations that we hit during both stages it felt like 43 or 44. Having made it here around 8 last night, maybe closer to 9. There were no beds in any of the Albergues so we stayed in a civic center on gym mats. At that point it didn't matter. After a quick shower and eating all of the food we had left we passed out quickly and slept in a bit as well. For us it is a rest day as the rest of our group catches up. We found beds for tonight which we will probably lay in all day to let our sore swollen feet and legs rest. Tomorrow it is on to Sarria which is the last place to start for someone who wishes to obtain a compostela showing that they completed the camino because it is the last major city more than 100k from Santiago. One thing I am noticing is that the Camino is becoming more and more commercialized the closer you get to Santiago. More "touristy" items in the stores an such. I will be getting a few things, however not until I get to Santiago because every ounce counts.

Trabadello

So after writing here last night I went and stood outside the albergue and head a group of young people speaking English so I said hello. After talking a while they asked if I wanted to walk with them today so at 7 we walked to Villafranca for breakfast. From there we walked to this little town just before the mountain climb up to Galicia. There are 3 Americans and two brits in the group then myself. Most likely I will continue on with them to Santiago barring any plans changing and most likely getting there the 12th. No crazy parties today, yet. Another successful but short day of walking!

Cacabello

What a roller coaster day! I started around 7:30 and continued the down hill. At the end I was completely defeated and in Ponferrada took time to decide whether to stay or continue. I was in a ton of pain in my feet and legs but I decided to continue after resting for a big and thank god I did. I ran into a few people I had met yesterday and we were walking to a winery to do a tasting along the way but it was closed. As we were getting water a family told us to go up a hill to a Fiesta. When we got there we were overwhelmed by there kindness. We ate a dish with rice and seafood and sausage. We drank wine from and traditional bad and drank cider. You have to pour it as in the picture and it gets messy! You leave the last sip in the glass and pour it out to clean the glass. I am in an Albergue in cacabello about to go have an ice cream cone. Hope everyone is well!

El Acebo

Very busy day today! I am staying in this little town just east of ponferrada. Walked about 33k and had breakfast in Ranabal del camino and lunch in a town just before the iron cross. I walked to the cross with two Germans and a guy from switzerland. It was an interestingly emotional experience. I left a stone representing the weight of worries in one's life and it also lightens the pack. After this I made my Way into a small squall into this town and I am staying in a very nice albergue with a German guy and a french girl. Great company! Tomorrow i will walk to ponferrada and decide what I want to do from there.