To many people's request I have picked the pen, or computer keys, back up and put my hopefully inspiring or useless words in cement. Who knows how long this blog's life shall last, but it is my first attempt to give the readers of my glorious work the option to take it and run with it, or have it buried forever. Whatever the case, I am pleased to say my motivation level is rather high to indulge you into some of my travels, experiences, and overall the views I have now that I reside in Europe.
I came out here as many know to pursue a career in professional volleyball. Beginning my trip in Maribor, Slovenia, I participated in a week and a half long training camp with 38 girls from across the U.S. all hoping to land a contract and their dreams come true. This camp included traveling to nearby towns to scrimmages, practices, and the best of all exploring the countryside and club scene of Slovenia. Only 14 of the 38 girls would go on to play professionally as there just were not jobs available and a foreign player can be quite expensive. We knew it would be tough, but that's what life is about. Putting yourself to the test even when the odds are against you. Many success stories happen when challenge or pressure faces a person and who knows in a different situation I could be the victorious vixen chosen ready for battle. Well, in this case I was not the lucky one to get a job playing volleyball, but that did not mean my life still would not take a positive path. I, along with many of the other girls jobless and in Europe, were going to travel and still make known we weren't going home just yet.
Much to my dismay traveling in Europe on a very low budget isn't always the crazy backpacking adventure you think you are ready for. Cheap hotels, meals where you nor the cook know what the meat is, wearing the same rotation of clothes, and long smelly/sweaty train rides gets rather tiring. However, after one trip to a neighboring town you feel as though you have been on one episode of Survivor. What keeps you going is knowing that the minute you step off the train, the city or country you are about to see is no longer that textbook image from school- its so much better and bigger!
As day 12 of our the volleyball tour approached I had made two friends ready to venture with: Milan Clark and Tori Thompson. Other girls were heading north of Slovenia to Vienna, Austria but we had a different route in mind. Our first stop, Venice! Arriving in Venice at 5 a.m. from Ljubljana via train was a little rough as our bags felt like they ate as many pastries as we did. It is important to note that as we arrived in each city we had no place to sleep reserved. We would get to the center of town and then take turns (in the middle of the night) asking different hotels their rates. We spent two days in Venice and quickly we knew why it is known as one of the romantic cities...There REALLY were couples floating along the lit-up waterways gazing into each other's eyes. This did not make me sad or lonely, only grateful to see that people have love, who knows if it is everlasting, but you would only hope! :)
As a group we would travel from Venice to Barcelona with stops in Nice and Cannes, France. Our stay in France would validate some french generalizations previously cast. Those being that the girls do dress very fashionable and all are accessorized like they just stepped out of a fashion magazine, and that they only drink wine. One day on the beach in Cannes we were denied beers by an old french waiter informing us point blank a classy gal only had a glass of wine. Well, telling this to three tom-boy girls dressed in swimsuits with nike shorts and old university t-shirts on did not stop us from replying "Wow, they must have no fun! We will take three beers... thanks!"
Also, in France we were oh so fortunate that Milan had a childhood friend with grandparents living in Nice. We were invited to have dinner at their condo which overlooked the mediterranean and the lights of Nice on the coastline. I think there is a natural sense of peace and homeliness that exists the minute you enter the home of grandparents. Its a feeling that you could never feel harm or not welcomed. Don't even get me started on the food. Grandparents take the prime spot in my book of best home-cooked meals. Milan's friend Emma certainly has grandparents that are now top ten in my book of great dinners and great welcoming grandparents.
From France we made yet another long train ride to Barcelona. The train rides may be long, but it is the cheapest way to ride through one of God's greatest gifts being the vast outdoor landscape of the green hills and mountains with authentic architecture, but also the mediterranean coast.
We got to Barcelona, pronounced Barthilona to the natives, once again very late and this time my luggage felt the need to lose a wheel making it even that much harder to lug around. :( I had heard Barthilona was the cleanest big city in the world as the city workers literally washed the streets at night. This was proven true as we were in the way of the street cleaners arriving so late into town and moving immensely slow with bags bigger than ourselves. Our movement along the city streets and our thought process paralleled as it took us roughly over an hour to find a hotel. Although I was grumpy the next day would bring much more negative emotion that I imagined. We decided the first night to go out for drinks right by the hotel we found because as much as a bed sounded comfortable, the noise and mattress would not prove to make one easily count sheep.
The net morning we felt the need to venture out to find another hotel. Hungry, tired, hungover, and lost we hit the busy Barthilona streets. We found what looked like a decent cafe on a busy street corner to plop down and indulge in one of God's greatest gifts, carbs! The lunch once again was yes, food, but awful. Sitting tiredly and in mindless thought I went to grab a hat from another bag. When we decided to start moving again I went to grab my backpack which I had put on the chair next to me, only to find it MISSING! Of course I thought to myself. I had the absolute biggest target on my back of "Hello I am American, I am a young girl, and I am too tired and lost in thought to notice." It was probably a training camp for 12 year old thieves and I was most likely robbed by the one with the lowest grades-basically that is how easy I was to rob. Taken were my laptop, camera, journal, wallet, and passport. Off it was to the embassy and police station.
The embassy and police station strengthened my belief in the government, security police provide, and my belief that people have the natural instinct of good will. The police chief set us up at a very nice Bed and Breakfast, but at hostile price and the embassy took an hour. So although one person made out nicely with the things in my backpack, my feelings towards mankind were not weakened, only strengthened with all the people that came to help.
Barthilona was still enjoyable and still beautiful. It was good I couldn't do any shopping and I got great mental images of its beauty. However, I must give it a second chance for the theft only meant that I must re-visit for a grander experience. I was then off to Benidorm, Spain to visit Kerri Beck, a former teammate and great friend. Free place to stay, a little stability, and the comfort of being with an old friend.
Twelve days in Benidorm were filled with laying out and swimming in the mediterranean. Little to our knowledge was that Benidorm was a little hot vacation spot for all of Great Britain. Hotels, casinos, pubs, clubs, and restaurants all full with people on "holiday". We saw free cabaret shows, danced, and ate great greasy food. Not such a spanish feel, but hey that is just what I needed.
Now I write from far north of Spain and far from that beautiful mediterranean sea. I am in Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands and my traveling days are still yet to be numbered. Here, I am still formerly jobless and living with my boyfriend as he fulfills his pro basketball contract. Remember, what I tried to do earlier in my trip? Well, it worked for him and he is here living the life I once attempted. Bergen op Zoom serves much different than anywhere I have been. The climate is MUCH different as we prepare for a "real fall" with 50 to mid 60 degree temperatures and only getting colder as the weeks press on. The town is so old and authentic that it became a city in 1266! The history goes much deeper than that and there are even mid-evil shows in a grand square. Cobblestone streets, pubs and restaurants, and green trees make up the town of 70,000. Every home, boutique, and landmark is made of brick and decorated with potted flowers and window shutters like Santa Claus lives inside. It truly looks like "whoville" from the Disney movie The Grinch. Its home for an indefinite period of time as my role right now is supportive girlfriend. Until then I write, I venture around and take pictures, oh yeah and I also clean and cook. Not a bad gig but the only English spoken words I have all day are with Daniel and occasionally the Barista gal when I order coffer or the grocery store clerk when I get meat for dinner. And even then, its "Thank you"! I have to say I am very much loving this quaint town and the fall air and so entirely thankful to be able to sit here and share as much as I can through the written word. Until next time!
