Its been an incredible few days for us in Germany & Czech Republic. In our lovely new ride (1996 Mazda 323 with AC) we have been cruising the backroads of Germany & the Czech Republic and I have to admit, its been one of the most memorable experiences of our journey. Southern Germany and the famous "Romantic Road" -- with hundreds of miles of vino, vino and more vino seperated by medieval Bavarian towns -- litter the serene and heavily forested backroads. The weakness of the US dollar has forced us to purchase camping gear and spend nights under the stars at the numerous campgrounds and RV parks along the Rhine and Main Rivers. For the record, German trailer-folk are incredibly friendly and helpful despite their glimpse-of-ass-cheek cut-off jean shorts (for the guys) and the all-too-familiar black sock with birkenstock combo and unshaved pits for the ladies. Besides that, Germans are tops on our list for hospitality.
Certainly, each day brings incredible stories of getting lost (today we were pulled over in Prague for driving on a trolley-only street), however, the events of the past 2 days will be remembered forever. . .
After attending the Fanfest outside the horribly disappointing US v. Ghana match in Nuremburg (at which we were interviews by Travel Channel and other international channels -- stay tuned America), we hit the road once again in search of another German campground to rest our fussball-weary bones (we've watched nearly every World Cup match from bars to trailer parks to town squares) . . . and did we ever find a beauty! Nestled tightly between a pristine swath of the famous Black Forest and a gravel pit, stands random German RV and Campground #5 (yes, the name escapes me). The permanent trailers and Olympic-size pool were not the most suprising . . . the 80+-year-old ladies-only cheesecake/tea party in the rec room wasn't so surprising either . . . the 1,000 ft. mountain of sand overshadowing the park and the surrounding countryside was the most random and astonishing . . . not because a mountain of sand exists in the middle of a pine forest, but because they (German entreprenuers) turned the slope into a ski resort. Yes, after immersing ourselves into German trailerpark life we awoke and hit the slopes for a morning of sand-skiing -- and literally had the entire slopes to ourselves. Skiing in shorts and a t-shirt on a mountain of sand in a German trailer park will be hard to forget. After retiring our skis, we hit the road for the Plzen (Pilsen in English) in the Czech Republic -- our 16th country in our trip. Pilsen is known the world over as the birthplace of pilsner and beer-worshippers the world over flock to this ugly, industrial town to pay homage to the beer gods. The Pilsen Museum -- which dates to medieval times -- contains everything a beer-lover needs to know -- including all original tools, distillers, authentic era pubs and memorabilia -- and culminates with the only filterless Pilsner Urquell available in the world. After Plzen, we hit the road again for Prague . . . and 1.5 hours later out tent was arranged in yet another trailer park -- this time, a Czech one . . . Czechs and Germans tend to look and dress alike (read male short shorts, black socks/sandals and hair in the wrong places). After a great italian dinner and vino, we ended our night in Prague's infamous Old Town Square sipping a Pilsner and watching the S. Korea vs Switzerland match with thousands of crazed soccer fans on a giant big screen. If you haven't witnessed the World Cup in person, MAKE PLANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA IN 4 YEARS! All participating countries/fans flock to the World Cup site for nearly a month of friendly, rawdy, patriotic flare . . . absolutely incredible! Its hard to imagine a better day . . .
Tomorrow is the famous Red Bull party here in Prague -- remember those commercials where random floats are ran off a pier into the river -- we'll be on a paddleboat next to the landing site . . . let's hope we can stay clear of falling chicken or satellite floats!
M & N
Colin
While in Europe, or wherever you will be on the 4th, don't forget to rink your fare share of cold Budweiser, wear your I Love USA wife beaters, use lots of profanity laden belnches and reinforce all the negtive American stereotypes. It's the only true way to show your patriotism now-a-days. Just think, you'd be following the example of the biggest patriot, our fine president George W. Bush. And who could be able to blame you for admiring such a hero of freedom loving people. Remember, he is the one who is spreading freedom in the middle east by destroying an entire country, and also spreading freedom at home; like giving his underlings the freedom to tap everyone's phone, and check everyone's bank account for "suspicious" activity.
So while you are away, thank God for all our freedom, you know W will be doing the as he too sips on a cold Bud at Camp David.
Matt And Nat
Monday, June 12th -- outside of Meunster, Germany.
OK, less than 2 weeks in Europe and we´ve already visited Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, flew to Cologne, Germany for the World Cup, took a day trip to Amsterdam (are you kidding me with the drugs and prostitution there!), bought a car (much better deal than Eurail considering we´re over the hill -- need to be under 26 for the deals) and are leaving in an hour for the USA vs. Czech Republic in Gelsenkirken. We were able to score some last minute tickets through our adopted family -- The Eddys (our Hermosa Beach friends who just happen to be the craziest soccer fans in the US) -- who are friends with one of the US players. Looks like we are sitting in the player/family section which should be incredible.After World Cup soccer, we are meeting friends in Pamplona for the annual Running of the Bulls festival. Lets all hope luck and speed are on our side when we have to sprint to avoid being trampeled by angry bulls. Should I carry my camera while I run? Those could be the pest pics yet!
M & N
Greg
Many Wolperdingers in Munich...you guys have to go!!!
Dana
MATT AND NAT! You are my heroes!! You inspired me to get a passport (I know, tsk tsk - 29 and so unworldly). I hope I get a stamp in there before my 30th, I need to start planning now!
You are gonna miss Super Diamond at the Hollywood Bowl July 7th, but I hardly think you are missing much. Looks like you guys are having an incredible time!! Have fun, be careful! Tip: run fast and stay out of the bull's way. Oh, and don't wear red. :)
Greg
Just left you guys...in Metz right now. See you in Nuremburg
Michael
HI Matt and Nat,
I agree with Danielle...hop on Seabiscuit if things get dicey in front of the bulls(: I saw the last message from your friend Leigh...sounds like a post-Vegas weekend marriage proposal to me(:
Hope the USA rebounds from thier match...that's cool that you both got to sit in the players family section...does Matt sell air time for team USA?? Tell Will and his Mrs. Will(: I said hello!!!!
Have a great time during the Bull Run! Hide a steak in Will's jeans and the bulls will pass you right by!!
Michael
Leigh
Hi Guys !!! Come home by September 30, I'm getting MARRIED !!!!!!!!!-oh, how are you? hope all is well, love you, Lxo
Danielle
Chipper be careful with those bulls!! I am nervous you are going to hurt yourself (watch that knee!!)
Seabiscut better not leave you in the dust! Miss you both. Hermosa says hi!!
Matt And Nat
Sunday, June 11, Amsterdam and Germany
quick update: we made it to Germany for the start of the World Cup, we are traveling with Greg (from social soccer) and his parents, we are in Amsterdam right now on a day trip, and we bought a car!
More to come shortly .. GO USA
Thursday, June 1, Barcelona, Spain . . .
Yes we are FINALLY here! We also finally posted all of our previous pictures, so check them out. We plan to be in Europe for the next four months. Let us know if you plan any visits here, and we will try and meet up with you.First European Vacation Story: We arrived in Barcelona from Madrid at 1 AM and took a $25 Euro cab (yes, we missed the last bus by 1 minute) to a hostal in a dark, medieval alley. Upon arrival, we were told "no space for you" and were forced to walk the streets/alleys with our huge backpacks until 2:30AM in search of a bed. Luckily, we found a $100Euro per night hotel (ouch -- no bueno for our budgeto) and slept till 10AM this morning. Well, at least the hotel cost included breakfast. Fortunately, we won $80 in blackjack at a brothel/casino in Costa Rica 2 nights ago so we can justify such a posh (Matt & Joe -- thanks for the British adjective) hotel.
Pics and stories to follow in the next few days.
M & N
Nat And Matt
Thursday, May 11th, San Jose, Costa Rica . . .
Hola. Look out Costa Rica, the band is back together -- all of the Ciampa/Provost kids (minus my sister, Melissa who has a family to take care of) are in town for a week of gallo pinto (rice and beans), Imperial (national beer of Costa Rica) and celebration (Katie´s graduation from college, the end of finals for Brian, other travel partners for Natalie and the first-place Red Sox for Carl and I). Just spent 3 nights in Cahuita, a mellow reggae town on the Caribean where we saw three-toed sloths, spider and howler monkeys, and both Katie (pre-Tony) and Natalie´s (pre-wedding) dream men -- rasta men with long dreads and "ya mon" accents. I, for one, think hair is overrated. Carl and I spent the morning fishing "local style" with a 20-year-old rastamon. Local style, of course, means no fishing poles -- just a water bottle with fishing line and a hook. Not the easiest way to fish -- we caught a few smaller ones while the biggies jumped all around us (I think they were mocking us).
Getting to Costa Rica was both amazing and incredibly difficult -- 9 consecutive days of travel across 3 countries with dozens of chicken buses, minibuses, watertaxis and cars -- all of which were filled to capacity and beyond. Imagine your typical minivan -- next, fill it with 25 adults, various baggage including live animals and fresh produce and drive at breakneck speed with the sliding side door open looking for more passengers. Well, I guess it was cheap. . . and travel options are few and far between in this part of the world.
Of the many Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica travel stories, finding ourselves in the middle of Honduras with $2 in cash on a national holiday (read no bancos or ATMs) and a tight deadline is arguable one of our best. So, on a Saturday we crossed into Honduras and into Copan Ruinas, famous for Mayan ruins of the same name. Our cash was limited to $10, give or take, and after paying $6 for our hotel (yes, it was basic but decent), we had but a few bucks to our name. After dinner, with an ATM within sight, we splurged on our daily dose of ice cream (Nat is an ice cream addict). Little did we know that the only bank in town had disengaged the door to the only ATM within 200 miles and Monday -- wouldn´t you know it -- was May Day, the equivalent of our Labor Day. We were stuck -- big time. We couldn´t go back the way we came (Guatemala) or get to the next town with an ATM (hours away) . . . meeting our family in Costa Rica was looking grim . . . finding a place to stay or eating for the next two days looked even worse. Our only recourse was to ask a local shop that luckily took credit cards to give us an illegal cash advance. Nat had to buy a shirt and deodorant, and the shady teenage girl proceeded to overcharge our card and give us the difference in cash (with a 6 percent convenience fee of course). Our next stop, a town named Gracias (no kidding), hasn´t changed much in the past 300 years: cobblestone streets, 5 colonial churches and 2 banks! Great -- we could at least take money out for the rest of our journey to Costa Rica -- or so we thought. These banks had NO ATMs! So here we are AGAIN with literally $2 to our name. That night, we searched and searched for the best way to stretch our money (translation = most food) and came upon a comedor (which is essentially a home that serves meals to locals). With only enough cash for one meal, we were preparing to share when an 80-year-old grandma (the chef) took pity on us poor gringos and gave us a two-for-one deal. The next morning we stood in line at the bank for 30 minutes only to learn that cash advances were not available in Gracias and that we would have to go to the next town to get cash. The problem was we had no cash (I mean zero) to get us to the next town. . .on the verge of a nervous breakdown, we tried our credit card advance trick again to no avail. Luckily, a local overheard our dilemma and directed us to another bank where we woul have to find the manager, who, in turn actually give us cash. After a few hours it actually worked and we were on our way . . .
Note to any future Central American travelers . . . always keep a stash of emergency cash on-hand for ice cream, unexpected holidays and disabled ATM doors.
By the way, it was all worth it! Each place we visited was incredible (except or Managua, Nicaragua)!
M & N
Michael
Hermosa says hello and Happy Memorial Day. Mistakenly went to 429 Manhattan Ave this morning for mimosa's, a fine spread of breakfast fruit and beer(: ...and the new tenants were not having it...in fact they were quite rude when they woke up and found me rifling through their freezer looking for some Ben and Jerry's(:
I'm getting packed to go perform in Cleveland and decided to get a quick run on the strand before I left and happened to pass your old place...the frog and the smoker are gone-it's not the same); When I arrive in Cleveland I will stop by the homeless shelter and say hello to our friends from your last visit and see if they've recovered any more phones or purses!
Bueno's Dias!!! ...that's right...spanish cassete's from the library on tape in the car and that's an example of what I learned the first 5 minutes-(they didn't have them available on 8-track.) Had to spend some cash on a car with a cassette deck but I think it is money well spent(:
