After my journey around the world, four months of finishing up college was more than enough to fuel my ever-growing wanderlust. Naturally, a month in Europe sounded right up my alley.
What better place to begin the journey than London? Thanks to all of our friends there for showing us a great time and putting a roof over our heads.
 |
| The London Eye may be pretty neat, but the Singapore Flyer still takes the cake in my book |
 |
| Way bigger than I thought it was going to be |
After a few days of double-decker buses, Tube rides, and fish & chips, an adventure into the English countryside was in order.
 |
| Note to self: Become rich, buy land in the UK |
Before I knew it, I was making my way across the country to the northern coast. However, no journey through this region would be complete without a stop at perhaps the most recognizable site on earth.
 |
| Not the nicest day to visit Stonehenge, but that will do, donkey |
A quick ferry ride across the Irish Sea brought me to Rosslare Harbor, a beautiful little Irish town that is worth the visit for the beach alone.
 |
| These wayward adventurers sure enjoyed the view |
Early the next morning, a train whisked me northward to Dublin. What an amazing city! Insane nightlife, beautiful lasses, and live music in just about every pub, oh how I loved Ireland.
 |
| Travelers beware, the Guinness "brewery" is not so much of a brewery as it is a giant tourist trap. However, the view from the towering skybar makes it all worthwhile |
No Eurotrip would be complete without a stop at my next destination. Can you guess where it was?
 |
| Lets just say that coffee isn't the only thing they serve... |
Amsterdam is a beautiful city filled with canals and bicycles (shit-tons of bicycles).
 |
| See? |
My hostel was located right in the heart of the Red Light District. Anyone who ever finds themselves in this area should pay a visit to a little restaurant named Wok to Walk. Honestly, I still have wet dreams about the stir-fry.
 |
| Hill Street Blues is a coffee shop with cool artwork, chill vibes, and nice greenery. Find a window seat in the sun, enjoy a spliff, and ponder how you ended up here in the first place |
 |
| A boat full of Ben & Jerry's sounds great when you have extreme cottonmouth on the canal tour |
After the smoke cleared, I found myself smack-dab in the middle of Paris. What else can I say except bread, cheese, wine, repeat.
 |
| Most romantic spot in the world? Not when you are there with 3 other dudes. It's still strikingly beautiful though |
 |
| We came, we Louvred, we cracked the Da Vinci code |
I would not have been able to live with myself without stopping to pay my respects to one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century
 |
| Rest in peace, Jim. We miss you |
After the hustle and bustle of Paris, I found myself in the mood for the beach. Luckily, our next destination was the southern French city of Marseilles. Here we rented a little apartment in the city. Our days were spent cooking our own meals, drinking, and laying on the beach.
 |
| Sunset from our back terrace |
 |
| I don't want to name any names, but George Watkins should probably wear sunscreen more often |
Continuing with my quest for sand and sun, I made my way over to Barcelona, one of the most amazing cities on earth. We mistakenly arrived on the 24th of June, which is the day of Fiesta de San Joan. Imagine fireworks exploding everywhere, sangria flowing through the streets, and 50,000 people raging on the beach until six in the morning.
 |
| Oh, and Hippies literally live in trees here |
 |
| The market on calle Las Ramblas is definitely worth making a stop for |
 |
| So long Barca, I'll be back someday (preferably tying up my yacht in this harbor) |
I finally made my way west to the lovely city of Madrid. There, I stayed with a friend's family that live just outside the city, up in the mountains.
 |
| I presume they moved here for the view |
 |
| This makes me seem artsier than I really am |
 |
| A Beautiful final day in Europe |
If you find yourself in Plaza Mayor, Madrid (which you will), ask around for an awesome little place named Artebar. They will take good care of you there. (Shout-out to Maggie Z. for the recommendation)
 |
| Plaza Mayor |
|
 |
| The Parque Buen Retiro is a lush oasis in the midst of bustling Madrid |
As with any epic journey, my time in Europe did not seem to last long enough. I'm beginning to realize that this is a general trend when it comes to traveling. Perhaps another reason to appreciate every second of every journey we take, whether big or small. I believe that sitting at home watching the news tends to cause us to slowly lose faith in humanity. How can we not when we are constantly bombarded with stories of war, famine, and economic woes? If there is one nugget of truth that I have learned in all of my travels, its that the world is generally a good place. The act of travel itself opens our eyes to all of the atrocities and triumphs of mankind. I realize now that those who travel slowly learn to view the world in a more positive light. What I'm getting at here is, if you are feeling down or troubled, get out and go. I promise you will feel better. Whether it is a voyage around the world, or an hour-long hike outside of your neighborhood, us humans are designed to be mobile, so give in to your instincts. If you are ever feeling lost, continue to get lost. I guarantee that you will always rediscover yourself.
Now that my college days are over, I'm beginning to sense that familiar feeling of the rambles building up inside of my head. So stay tuned for more of my ranting and raving, as I discover just how lost I can get. Until next time, ramble on my fellow ramblers.
