Contiki What What!
Thats right boys and girls... I bring to you the best darn vacation story ever! This is possible because of CONTIKI. So, what the hell is Contiki? It’s a travel agency that brings dreams to reality. Contiki brought me to Europe and opened my eyes to beautiful sights, culture, and most of all an experience that will never be forgotten. I never thought I would ever see Europe from the top of the Eiffel tower or from a freezing river of Austria. To top it off, I spent 14 days in seven different cities with 45 amazing people (30+ were girls, for you guys reading this).

[London]
Arrived at 7:30 in the morning and the adventure began. From the airport I had to take the TUBE (train/metro) for you Americans lolz to the Imperial Hotel located in Russell Square. This right here was a mission alone. It was like being on the amazing race. From the luggage pick up to the tube station felt like miles. I never thought an airport could be so huge. The tube ride was just like riding any regular NYC N line train. It was out doors and you got to see the natural sites of London. At 10 I finally got to the Imperial Hotel dropped my luggage and hit the streets of London. I saw all the major site- London tower, British Museum, Big Ben, Millennium Bridge, London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, etc... Everything was UNBELIEVABLE. Buckingham Palace was Gigantic, Big Ben soared sky high, and the London Tower was more beautiful to see in person and even better to drive on. All of the London Sites were incredible and is must for anyone to see in there life time. Also, I got to hit up the "main" food of London, which is Fish and Chips. Pretty much it’s just fish filet with some French fries but it was sure delicious. I also got some Green weird stuff, which I still don't know what it was (so guys when you go to Europe with Contiki find out what that shit is). London had a lot to offer during the day but the flip side is where all the fun begins. The night life in London was bananas! I went out on the town with a crazy bunch of cats that know how to party like its there last night to live. We started the night out simple and slow. We at at a lo-key restaurant called Adams Rib. We all got our poison and some grub. After that we jumped started it. We hitted up St. James Tavern where we met up with more fun and exciting people on my Contiki trip. They had 3 shots for 5.50 lbs. which would equal 11 USD. Not a bad deal. Shots were just lining up on the bar and we were knockin'em down. After an hour or so, it was time to have a change of scenery and by that I mean a BIG change. One of Contiki-fam members hears about this place called PARADISE, so we all decided to take a trip. Well this is paradise was a sausage fest like no other and it was suppose to be just that. Paradise was a gay club. It caught me by surprise but I thought hey I'm in Europe I'll go with the flow. However, I made sure there was a girl that was join at my hip. It was def. and experience I won't forget at all. But before I knew it the group was out of that joint and was heading to a placed call TOO TOO MUCH... It that club lived up to its name. It wasn't a gay club fully lolz it was half drag half straight. There were dudes in hooker boots, wigs, and the whole nine yards. Yet, the club did have some sexy dancers or should I say strippers. It was a stripper night off and they rented out half of the club to just relax. But I guess you can't take the dancer out of the girl because one of them did there thang on the pole and she got a dollar out of ME! ha. After she was done I thought I would give it a try and busted a move and I got 50 pences! It was absolutely bananas my first night in London and it won't be forgotten.




[Paris]
First off, the trip from London to Paris alone was just a fun and exciting time. In order to get from United Kingdom to Paris I had to take a ferry ride across the English Channel. The ride was only for an hour but within that hour I had some great laughs, amazing sites, and good conversations . Being on the top deck of the ship to see the sites were astonishing. I got to view the white cliffs of Dover; from a distance they looked like huge icebergs. The weather was cool and brisk but it allowed me to take great sexy "model" poses that will soon be seen on a billboard haha. But on the real, the hour on the boat gave time for me to talk to some of the awesome individuals on my Contiki trip. It was a great way to find out who and what these Contiki-ers were all about; it was a step to building and creating lasting friendship.

After the short and quick ferry ride I was finally in PARIS. It was extremely exciting to finally be in a country where I knew nothing about the culture or the language. I was totally lost and loving it. This was also the "real" first time I got to spend on the Contiki Coach (its not a bus!, but a "spring break on wheels," or a "lux./top of the line motor car"). I got to learn about the "day song," Move Your Feet by Junior/Senior, which I got to hear every single day of my trip. It definitely got the day and the party started on the right foot. Now back to the Paris!!!! I got to see the Eiffle tower from the ground and I got to see Paris from the Eiffle tower! The sights were amazing, especially during the sun set. I would have to say it was "romantical" (thanks flava flave). Just the next time when I go to Paris I need a KISS!

My second day in the land of the FRENCH I took a walking tour with a few of my fellow Contiki-ers. We got to see the Louvre. This muesum is like no other. From what I heared if you spend :30 seconds with each pieace of art work it would take about 9 months to see everything. Thats like making a baby! It didn't take me that long haha. I got to see the Mona Lisa and that was incredible. Just being in the same room of something that is so great made me feel honored. The best of the best is in this museum. Another great place to visit was the Notre Dame. Inside the church was huge! It also had a lot of great spectatcular sights and things to appreciate. It's just one of those places you have to see while in Paris.

[Paris Night Life]

Now let the fun begin. The party kicked off at this amazing Restaurant called Auberge. I got to experience a real French Dinner and of course free flowing wine to wash it all down. For an apettizer I got to eat ESCARGO. Thats right boys and girls I got to eat some Snails and it was DELICIOUS! If you never tried it don't knock it till you go to Auberge and taste it yourself. It will melt in your mouth and make you water for more haha. For the main course I got orange Duck leg and it was decent. I won't lie I had better Chinese DUCK ha. (go for the fish I heard it was much better). For dessert I have no clue what it was but it was tasty. After dinner we went to this great show called the Moulin Rouge! The cabarate show was sweet! I never saw some many bare breast in one room. There were atleast 53 pairs of jugs just bouncing around. Also, not to mention there was free flowing Champagne! But lets not taking anything a way from the show. The performance was bananas and sick. There was talent on stage for sure. It was as good as it is all hyped up to be. I never thought I would ever see this show but thanks to Contiki and there SURPRISE I got to witness the best cabaret show on Earth.

[Switzerland]

Welcome to the land of pocket knives, fondue, chocolate, and yodaling! This place is speechless. The sights, culture, and people is what makes this place unbelievable. Being in Lucern, Switz. is like living in a fairy land. Just take a look at this form of transportation. Ain't that a bad ass ride. I would put some 20 inch rims on that whip lolz! The town is very small and quite but it has lots of great features. The architecture for all of the buildings are sweet. The walk ways are like being in another time period. The fountains are cool because you can drink from them.

Switzerland has the best darn tasting water. It comes straight off of the aples! In the town I was able to get myself an exclusive pocket knife. In Switzerland they only sell all WHITE pocket knives. You can also get it engraved without paying an extra FRANK (Switz Currency). It's a must to get. Now to the goody goody stuff. After I settle in at the hotel, which was very nice too. The blankets are Down Comforters HOT! literally in the summer time haha. Anyways went to this cool restaurant called Stedkellar where I got to experience some FONDUE and some YODALING. It was a cool place to just get invovled in their culture and have a good time. There was dancing, drinking, shouting, clapping, sing, and a COW...yes a COW. This bad boy came running out and lit up the joint with its craziness. It wasn't real! but it was damn close to it. Only thing it was really missing was COW BELLS. Gotta always have cow bells. After the dinner, it was time for a swim in the freezing cold waters of the Switz Alps. I was able to part take in the BLUE BALL FESTIVAL. My fellow Contiki-ers and I decided to jump into the water in our Skeeves and swim. It was the best darn time of my life. It will be something I will never forget and will enjoy for the rest of my life.

The next day I got to go to Mount Pilatus. This is a mountain that is like 7000 to 8000 feet in the sky. It was totally scary because the air is thin, but at the sametime "breath" taking. The view can't be replicated. It can only be seen on the top of Mount. Pilatus .














[Austria]

My next destination on my Contiki Journey was to the birth place of Arnold Schwarzenegger, AUSTRIA. This country has fabulous views of the country side and mountains. Also, the home of Swarovski Crystal. Before getting settled into my new "home," the coach stopped at the hidden (literally) Swarovski headquarters. The store was actually located inside some hill or passage way. It was pretty cool. There were also all kinds of fun outside on the "playground" there were swings, fountains, and walk ways on the property. Soon after I was at this amazing home in Hopfgarten. My whole Contiki group were the only guest in this house. This was the best damn food I had on the whole trip. It was delicious chicken cutlet I believe. There was a bar that had very cheap drinks and shots. I believe they were around 1.60 euros for shots and 2.60 for cocktails. This is where I learned how to hold a shot glass and probably the best way to drink and shot. A shot should be held with your thumb and pinky before 12 am and after its the reverse. Please try it after 12 am and when you are already twisted lolz. Try a Glacier shot it is like drinking Listerine (50% Alchohol). Austria isn't only for drinking, I got to mountain bike throught the country in the rain. That was a challenge but fun at the same time. I got to uncover hidden hot spots of the country, especially this park that had this huge trapoline, zipliners, and swings. I felt like a little kid once again! Best part of my time in Austria that I will always remember and talk about. With the rain jumping on the trapoline was bananas. I used every muscle in my body to keep standing. A group of my contiki compadres decided it would be a great idea to have a royal rumble slip and slide match. Lets just say we all ended up sore and brused. By the end of the day I was beat. The next day I went white water rafting in the cold fucking water ever! It had to be like 32 degrees. Most of the guys on my trip had a hard time finding there family jewles at the end. The river was a level three, which means the rappids were pretty rough and dangerous. There was a guide with me and my other "manly men contiki-ers to help us get down the river. We played different games, which sole purpose was to get us to fall into the freezing cold river. At one point our raft guide told us to jump into the river with rapids to illustrate just how dangerous it could be if we fell out. I won't lie it was pretty F-ing scary. But all in all it was SWEET. Austria is definitely the place to go for adventure. I heard in the winter it is twice as fun for skiing and snowboarding and other extreme sports. I hope to Austria again. Anyone interested?







[Pisa]
Now moving onto Italy. On my way there we stopped at small place called PISA. I got to see the leaning tower. There isn't much to do there except to take ridiculous pictures and do the famous shot of trying to hold it up. If you are looking for some retarded gifts to bring home you can definitely find them here. There are things that you can buy that are only 1 euro or less. Can buy things from the mini-leaning tower of pisa to bb guns to knock off hand bags. Its a market for everything. Its beautiful to see as a pit stop. Out side of the walls of the city is absolutely nothing!

[Venice]
The City on the Water! There are no cars in Venice just Gondolas and Boats! It floats! Plus to get there you have to take a ferry. My day in Venice consisted of rain (which sucked but it did stop), great company, wine, food, and of course a GONDOLA ride! Once I step foot intoVenice I knew I was the past. The atmosphere had a retro and elegant feel. St. Mark Square is where my contiki group first stopped at. It was the main place to meet up if any of us got lost because all the streets/alleys lead to St. Marks (can never get lost in Venice). St. Marks is also home of thousands and thousands of pigeons. Its a danger zone for falling shit! Due to the morning rain my group took us to this factory where they blow glass. What makes this glass special is that it can't break if you drop it and of course its HAND MADE. It was interesting to see the process. After that the group went it seperate ways and I and five other contiki-er decided to wonder around the city. The streets are very narrow and tight. The building are so closed that my friend Justin and Alvaro and I were able to climb the walls. We pulled a Jacky Chan! After working up an appetite we decided to get some Venice Pizza. The food was good but Brooklyn Pizza is the BEST! lolz. From there we walked around and got some wine for our Gondola ride. By the time for our tour on the water the Sun was shining and it really lit up the city. The Gondola could only fit 6 people or else it would sink. So my group enter the Gondola sober and left pretty much Buzzed. We spend a half drinking 3 bottle of wine! When in Venice its a must to drink wine and ride a Gondola. Its the Venice thing to do lolz. After that ride it was dinner time and lets just say it was a funky Venice dinner for sure. We were served fish, but it was an entire fish. For me I am asian so it was all good, but it didn't taste like asian fish haha. However, the wine washed it all down and the dessert (tiramisu) was the bombdiggity. It was off the chain the best I ever had. I think I had close to 7 pieces. I ate everyones. After dinner it was a nice drunk'n ferry ride home. 45 drunk people singing songs with no talent what so ever. We sang our hearts out! Our day started out with Rain but ending with a Rainbow lolz! that shit was gay but whatever. Venice was bad ass.....

[Florence]

Florence home of great fantastic Leather. Now Florence has an artistic atmosphere. There are museums, gardens, and beautiful architecture. It is a small city that you can walk in a day, however, you need to spend longer than that to just appreciate all that the city has to offer. The wine is delicous and can be found everywhere. The gellado is sweet and tasty. If you want fashion you got high class like Gucci, LV, Armani, etc... to low class street fairs. Everything can be found in Venice. My first day I got to stay at this pretty fancy hotel right in the heart of Florence. It was a block a way from the Duomo (its a big ass church, which has a huge line just to go into). My first night was low key. I hung out with the Canadians and my boy Alvaro from the west coast. We got dinner and ate outside to enjoy the weather. Right after that we met back up with the group and went to this Local Bar that had Kareoke and crazy drinks. I don't even remember what I drank but I do know that Beer came out of this personal dispenser. It was pretty cool. Once again the Singing wasn't great but with a few drinks and it was music to my ears. The next day it was pretty much a free day, however, in the morning we got to tour this fantasty leather factory. We also learned how to spot fake leather and all of the loop holes. The shop was pretty sweet. After it was a free for all. I took a tour of the city by myself. I wonder off and found a awesome street fair, shopping area. There were amazing sourveniers and nic-nacs. I spent the whole day walk and my feet were tired so I ended up going back to the hotel to nap. At dinner Contiki took us to La Ristorante where we got to experience some life opera singing and dancing. The dancing continued that night at this club. It was like any other club in nyc. A few of us end on up top of a stag and got out groove on! At the end of the night I found myself in my bed sleeping and dreaming of ROME!!!

[Rome]

When in Rome must wear a TOGA! haha Rome was the last place on my travel experience of europe with Contiki. Rome was the place I was waiting to visit the entire time. I was so excited to see the sixteenth chapel, vatican city, where the pope lived and the coliseums. Rome is huge but in two days I saw all that I could see. The first day I got to see the Coliseums and learned about the artchitecture. I also got to see the trevi fountain, where if you throw one coin in you will return to Rome and if you throw two coins in you will find true love. I threw 2! lolz. I got to see the Wedding Cake Building. It is huge and you wil understand when you go to rome and stand next to it. Its the true true WHITE HOUSE. The next day it was where the fun began. The first stop on my list was to visit Vatican Museum where the Sixteenth Chapel is. I waited on the longest line of my life. It was like the one they show in Euro Trip. It never ended but it was all worth it. Don't let that discourage you because being able to be in the sixteenth chaple was sweet. I now can tell Robin Williams what it smells like in the there (Good Will Hunting). It smells exactly like BO. All those damn people in there got it smelling funky but the ceiling is fucking hot. I didn't realize how huge it was in there and how gorgeous it actually is. After waiting on that line it was time for another one. But this time like stupid tourist like my friends and I were we waited on the wrong line to enter the St. Peters church. An hour wasted lolz. But finally we got into the church where there was no LINE and got to see it. If you are catholic you would appreciate it more, but just the art work and design of the church is impressive. After and long long day of sight seeing it was time for some Rome Dinner. this was the best meal in italy for me. It was so tasty and yummy. The wine was deliciouse and of course the company was amazing. It was my last dinner and I ate it with strangers that had become GREAT friends. After dinner it was back to the Hotel where it was time for Rome to really be come Rome. We all got our TOGA on and we rocked it all night. TOGA party it was! It was sad that it was the last night in Europe but it was the beginning of great memories and lasting friendship! It was definitely a trip of a life time. Contiki gave me a hassle free trip that came with an experience that was everything i could of imagined.