Category

Narrative

Stories from my perspective with the sake of telling a story

Culture & Immersion, Narrative

Avoid the Area Around the Station

Since the first time I moved here I was told to avoid the area around the station at night. The Vilnius City Train Station is a commanding building with large blue sign shining in blue “GELEŽINKELIO STOTIS”. It stares you dead in the eyes from the bottom of the hill, deep in no-go territory. This place is harmless in the daytime; floods of people flow through here considering most buses end at the Station, and it being so close to the center. What is it about this place that has tantalized my curiosity? What went on here to make my family friends and…

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Narrative

Discovering Socialist Living in Post Soviet Dresden

What an embarrassing display! I’m standing at a busy intersection with my sign, trying to get a stranger to stop and pick me up and not one car will look at me as they drive by. I had just walked 7 miles south out of Berlin so to save myself 2 euros and however many cents for a fare card. I’m one city into my odyssey around Germany and there I was, standing under a hot June sun for what felt like an eternity. I swear, I tried everything: dancing, waving my sign, hopping up & down and most importantly, I glued a big fat smile on my…

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Narrative

In Search of Snow Covered Mountains

In the blink of an eye it caught my eye! Like white tips of chalk against the partial cloudy sky in the distance. Because I geographically knew absolutely nothing when it came to Northern Spain I was delighted to learn, it’s mountainous! I know those mountains are far and I know they’re sorta-kinda the way my bus is going, east via the coastal route towards Lastres somewhere in the middle of Northern Spain. This bus will take take me a good distance closer in that direction when I get off in Ribadesella, yet beyond there I’ll have to plunge straight south, into the heart of the mountains. Without fully realizing it then,…

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Narrative

Pilgrim’s Toil – A Day on the Camino de Santiago

I promised myself I wouldn’t have to walk this far again and here I was, walking some unknown distance with feet far beyond blistered and a backpack well over 30 pounds. At least, I thought, I don’t know how far I have to go. At least it’s cloudy and rainy today too. Two days prior I hiked over 24 miles in the sizzling May heat from the northern border city of Valensa to the Spanish city of Redondela. To say that day was brutal was an understatement, but I did it in telling myself that I wouldn’t have to repeat…

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Narrative

I Went Coatless for 3 Weeks in the Middle of Winter – Here’s What I Noticed

I find it just as strange that I didn’t manage to run away from this winter as I did the last two years. Stranger than that, I’ve come to enjoy the cold in some masochistic and mindful way. Ever since I came across a peculiar character on YouTube by the name of Wim Hof, promoting his breathing technique and freezing acts, I have undertaken a small experiment with my body to see what would happen if I altogether stopped wearing warm winter clothing. My motivations for starting this were not very thought out as one might think: Lastly, do we actually need warm clothes…

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Narrative, Travel

Keep your tent close, keep your passport closer

You’ve all heard the horror stories, fiction or not, of someone travelling and getting robbed blind thousands of miles from home. I’ve heard the stories and I have my own to share. I’m writing this from my cell phone because I have nothing more efficient to write with anymore. What started as a trip to Poland to find the most affordable tent turned into an adventure to the black sea to see just how far I could hitchhike in nothing but sandals. Needless to say I made it, and needless to say I got robbed. This event had such an…

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Narrative

Fools Guide: Medellín => Jardín by Bike

Unless you’re either in really good shape or you’re a fool, why would you bike to Jardín from Medellín… Me? I’m the latter. Considering my reasons for doing it were to burn of all the Chicharones and  Chorizos that I had eaten the week before when my dad came to visit, I hadn’t really thought the trip through too well. I just knew I needed some exercise and some friends mentioned how gorgeous Jardín was and screw it, I made up my mind! First thing I did was invite my friend, then tell some people I’m doing it, then check how…

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Culture & Immersion, Narrative

Ayahuasca Ceremony? Tripping on Wha?

They say the Ayahuasca ceremony is a medicinal one — “So we need a purpose and we need to wear all white and abstain from meat, sex, onions, garlic and what else!?” I asked my friend Flor, in surprise. The list of requirements for the ayahuasca ceremony was unique to say the least. Additionally spending the Saturday night before my 27th birthday in the jungle around a fire tripping on spiritual medicine instead of partying on a rooftop party is once in a lifetime chance. Right? “I’m doing it! It’s on my bucket list. I’ll just fast for 2 days straight so I don’t puke.” And that’s…

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