Monday, June 15, 2009

European Picture Show

Now that's one big schnitzel.
(CEB II)

HALLELUJAH! Finally, after 19 days of laptop captivity, I have finally received my legendary photos from my last Euro-adventure. You can only imagine how long I've been waiting to get them back so I could show the world the excitement I had experienced only a month back, although it only feels like yesterday when me and my friend Anton were roaming Karl Johans Gate in Oslo. I said there would be montages, and I kept my promise, because I'm a man of the people. And no, thank you! In this entry, I have created montages from the 5 countries I toured while in the European continent with the most random collection of music (some relevant, some just stuff that was stuck in my head). You will see some of the places, friends, and events that made this European experience a world-beater. Hope I can bring a little bit of the aura that has captivated and shaped me.


Sweden
What can I say about Sweden that hasn't been said? Obviously a lot, but I will refrain from writing an essay now. In Lund, I got to chill with good friends, while doing some tourist activities like suggested (It's tough, I know). We visited the Lund Cathedral, which apparently is a big deal while taking in the environment produced by the locals from the World Hockey Championships. In Malmo, I got to party like a rock star, and at the same time, enjoy my 3rd trip to a T.G.I. Fridays abroad (1st two trips were in Oslo. Some things just always stay the same, like my diet.). Come to think of it, I'm still looking for a job. I should go over there for a little look-see and check out if I could continue my admiration from a closer distance. Next stop, Stockholm.


"Beautiful Life" - Ace Of Base - The Bridge, 1995
"Save Tonight" - Eagle Eye Cherry - Desireless, 1998

England
Oxford brought me the opportunity to visit one of the most prestigious universities this side of Harvard. While I didn't take the time to visit each of the 38 colleges individually, we were able to visit a considerable amount of the historic buildings and artifacts as well as take a double-decker bus tour around the town. Who can pass up an hour long bus tour? Now that's my kinda tourism. I got to enjoy losing about 50£ on a trivia game machine, punting while indulging in mojitos (wish I had those pictures), and go to a club that played primarily "cheese", which I can agree is the appropriate word for random '70's-90's music that induces awkward memories of middle school dances. Most importantly, I got to be in the midst of a movie set as I got to visit Christ Church, the locale of the filming of the Harry Potter movie series. In the end, it's always nice to be at a school and not have to attend classes. Good times!


"Surfin' Bird" - The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird, 1963
"Just Dance" - Lady Gaga - The Fame, 2008

Spain
Even though my time there was brief, my 2nd expedition to Barcelona was a fruitful one. This was a change of pace from the previous locales in the trip, for this was the 1st true city we traveled to. From the the strolls through Las Ramblas, enjoying tapas under the sun, to discovering more of the architectural genius of Gaudi, Spain brought a unique feel to the trip. Almost like being on a Caribbean vacation in the middle of a big European city. The sight of street artists brought on a festive, yet edgy environment I expected in Barcelona. On top of all that, the city even has a casino for all you gambling types out there. Black Jack anyone? Overall, definitely a place that I would have loved to spend more than 2 nights in, that's for sure.


"Bamboleo" - Gipsy Kings - Gipsy Kings, 1988
"Poker Face" - Lady Gaga - The Fame, 2008


Norway
Whether it was perfect timing or just another weekend, my three days in Oslo were arguably the most eventful days of the whole trip. Who would have known that the dawn of their Constitution Day would coincide with the Norwegians winning the Eurovision contest? All I know is that the citizens of Norway did me proud in the way they celebrated their day of liberation, as well as their victory day so to speak. I also commend them for wearing their national dress on a warm day, which seem like fabric ovens, so kudos for that. I know I would rather lean towards shorts and a white T-shirt when July 4th comes around. So I say, "Skål!" to the Norwegians for giving me a "fairytale" of a weekend.

"Fairytale" - Alexander Rybak - Fairytales, 2009
"Take On Me" - a-ha - Hunting High And Low, 1985

Austria
Vienna for me, provided the most cultural and scenic moments of the trip, as well as the best weather. With all the cathedrals, palaces, and opera houses, I truly felt I was in a genuine European city. It's probably the country where I felt the most touristy, hence the obscene amount of pictures. This is probably the 1st place I ever went to that had a rock room and a hip-hop room right next to each other. And who would have thought I would have Mexican food here on my 1st night? Now that's diversity folks! But I couldn't think of leaving the country without having the legendary schnitzel. Since I didn't get to talk about Austria a lot on my blog while I was abroad, I made up for it by making a three-song montage instead of two, ladies and gents. And yes, you're welcome.


"Rock Me Amadeus" - Falco - Falco 3, 1985
"Right Round" - Flo Rida - R.O.O.T.S., 2009

"Rise Up" - Yves Larock, 2007

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