Running with the Bulls

        Now I realize it’s been a couple week since I did the run but it’s not something you easily forget.  So John, Anastasia and I take a nap to prepare us for the crazy 14 hours to come………. Now that we’re well rested we catch the last bus to Pamplona, which was a free-for-all mosh pit.  Upon arriving we were awe struck

San Sabastian

       So the entire backpack adventure was based around being here for the Running of the Bulls… but that’s a whole other story, hahaha I’ll keep you waiting, for now: San Sabastian.  It was a bit shit that once we got there everyone was scattered all over the town in different hostels.  Oh well, I stayed at Olga’s where I met John from Milwaukee and Anastasia from Stockholm. 

The Amazing Evasion

       As mentioned earlier: a pool table, internet and a vending machine full of 1 euro beer is what brought this together.  We thought it would be a fun challenge to see how many buttons we can get sold out, “I know you’re all probably shaking your head at me right now, but I know for a fact if any of you: Sherwin, Junes, Blackman, Zack, Matt, B, Johhny-Marc, Woodzy, Onya, Pam, Brandi, J, Mikie, Robbie, Judd, Houtby, Barks, Polgs, Tutty, Pisan… hell this list could go forever, you know who you are and you know if you were there

Madrid

My time in Madrid was a bit scattered.  First we met up with the 2 Kiwi girls, Linda and Andie, who we’ve randomly seen in the last couple cities.  Here we also added another Aussie: Mark.  Since we arrived so late that day we grabbed some dinner at a tiny nearby restaurant, “Finally some good value for your money, only the third meal that I haven’t been able to finish.”

Barcelona

Apparently known for the “Elephant Man”, an old dude who walks around naked every day and has a tattooed speedo on his ass and elephant ears on the front.  I didn’t see him but some of the girls did and apparently he lives up to the name.  People actually asked me why I didn’t bother trying to find him, “Hmm, let’s think about this kids.

Nice

So along the way we lost Phil, and Lauren stayed at a different hostel so it was Kate, Janey and I off to Villa Saint Exupery.  I was a bit disappointed at first when I realized there was no pool.  However, it was one of the best hostels I’ve stayed at thus far.  First night we went out to meet all the Busabout crew at a bar called Wayne’s. 

98% Idiots

     For those who have been following my “literature” this theory may sound a bit familiar as I made a brief mention of it in an earlier piece.  This is a small theory that came to realization while exploring the Vatican Museum. 

     While walking around it was impossible to avoid being blinded by flashes and hearing the huffs and puffs of frustrated disapproval from those

Cinque Terre

     All I can say about this place is that it’s magnificent.  It’s a place I’d never heard of but after reading about it and hearing other people rave about it I had to stop there.   The only problem is that 2 days was not nearly enough time.  Here I met a bunch more Aussie, “Surprise surprise, you guys really are everywhere, I’m starting to wonder who’s actually living in Australia” , Janey, Kate, Phil, Lauren, Pete & Michelle. 

     Where we stayed wasn’t even really a hostel; you went to reception and then they took small groups of us and put us all in different

Rome

  The first night our little Rome family checked out the fountain where if you throw one coin over your shoulder it means you're coming back and if you throw two coins it will give you luck.  I fumbled them and we're not sure it 1 or 2 went in, so like everything else with me... who knows.  Afterwards we walked through the city to the Palantine and