Last Day with the Contiki CREW!

August 3rd, 2007
We walked all over with our free day today- tried to buy successful gifts likek a puppet, mugs, wooden carvings and much more. We walked alll over.. up and down the streets.. shopping in interesting stores and buying too much stuff! Prague definitely finished off our trip.

Contiki took us to a final dinner in which we watched these ridiculous dancers dance around in their little outfits. Ryan played a final slide show of a whole bunch of pictures he had been taking during the whole trip! It was soo nice of him! We went to a local bar afterwards.. taking some cool pictures and taking some funny videos for our tour guide... That night I had to say goodbye to some people because I knew I was leaving super early in the morning! It was sad saying bye to everyone but I know that I will keep in contact with them! We have so many memories and stories from this journey that there is no way I could ever forget anyone of them.

This was definitely an amazing expereince, I never would have thought it was going to be this fun! AHHH I just miss it now!

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OOh yah I forgot about Prague

August 2nd, 2007

No hangovers because Germany does not put any preservatirves in their beer. Today we got to Prague and took a walking tour lead by Ryan through a gigantic Castle and Chruch. We made fun of the serious guards and walked all the way to a bridge parallel to the St. Charles Bridge. The view was amazing... you can look over the whole city.. the close-knit buildings, the scattered churches, and all the people. We walked to the Old Twon Square- learned about an old clock, whose creator's eyes were stabbed out because they didnt want him creating another clock like that one in any other city!!! CRAZY!



Our freetime consisted of finding a gigantic thing of water because I was thirsty. But beides that we walked around the square.. looking at gifts and other things to buy. We made our way back to the hotel where we had a free night to ourselves.. but we planned on meeting the rest of the group to go to the biggest club ever... 5 stories..



We walked in the pourrring rain.. to finally get to this club.. it had so many stories, everyone got lost and was all confused in the beginning. 80s floor was where it was at...

Prague adventures the next day

Munich---Beer Town

August 1st, 2007
We first stopped at the largest crystal factory known to man... Swarovski Crystal!!! Contiki made a special stop for us because we realllly wanted to and we had enough time, and basically because our driver and tour guide kick ass. It was the coolest selection of jewlery I have ever seen in my life!! I bought necklaces, earrings, and pencils! It was soo beautiful... us girls were lucky :)

We then were off to Germany where we made a special stop at Duchau Concentration Camp in which we pretty much walked in silence all around the camp, observing and reading all the information that was posted there. We walked in the museum and of course went and saw the very shocking and sad crematorium and gas chambers. It was a very sad to actually be there but everyone was grateful we made it there. There is a lot more to Germany than beer.

We were back on the road to MUnich- we went straight ot he city for some free time. Walked in one of the churches to fit our foot into a little tile piece on the ground.. if ur foot fits then that means ur the devil! Mine did not fit.. haha. I loved mUNich!! It was very americanized, clean and organized. We ate bratwurst and of course huge yummy pretzels... The people there were extremely nice too!

Time for the Haufbraus house!!!!! The biggest beer place in Munich!! I went to the Oktoberfest tent in October, but this time I was in the actually building. It was sooo cool. Very big! We all got gigantic beers.. swinging them back and forth.. dancing the chicken dance, yes i know we did it cuz we were drunk, and had an amazing time! They had live music and dancing on the stage and involved the audience! Some people had a beer, others had four. They were very heavy and at least a liter of beer!

CRAZYY nIGHt-- Munich <3>

It just gets beTTEr!!!!

January 31st, 2007
A verrry nice late breakfast with eggs and toast... we were eating a breakfast of champions especially for the big day we had planned! We were going on an adventurous bike ride through the mountains in Austria!! We stretched and met PJ our bike ride leader.. we were suited up with helmets and bikes. We headed in a straight line up a little hill and through a valley- trees surrounded us, bright green grass, and huge houses with beautiful flowers... We stopped for a group picture after our action shots taken by the photographer! We decided to take the harder route instead of the shortcut... Very bumpy and rockey and intense!!!

We met in a meeting spot before we headed downhill where we were meeting the shortcutters for lunch. I never would have thought I'd be bike riding for two hours in Austria.. let alone with all these amazing people!! Contiki has seriously taken us everywhere! We met the rest of our people for the best lunch ever... bratwurst, potatos, and salad! Ashley was in love with the hotdogs.

The secerny was amazing- on our way up the mountain we had also stopped at this fresh stream in which we filled our waterbottles up with water!! SOOO cool..

When we finished up our bike ride we had our freetime in the small town to do whatever we want.. we of course got some liquor for the party that night and some icecream and this very cute little outside restaurant. We watched another Contiki bus drive by.. we knew we would be meeting them that night at the oh so eventful PIMP AND HO party that night!!!

We met sooo many people, South Africans, Australians, Americans...we were partying and having a great time. Lots of dancing and drinking. We hung out with our driver and tour guide and all the other Contiki people. It was soo nice of them to set this party up for us.. we had soo much fun!!

Lots of Tequilia...

We were off to Germany the next day..

I never knew Tyrol, Austria could be THIS amazing!!!....

January 30th, 2007
Monday.. It was off to Tyrol, but first a lenthy drive but sooo worth it. We got to the river, yaaaa river inn, to go RiVER RAFTING.. I almost peed my pants I was soo excited. All of us suited up in a wet suite, booties, jacket, life vest, and a helmet to protect ourselves from the freezing cold! Caitlin Coyle, Erika Starr, Brittany Burton, Briana Colorado, Ashley Lorson, Kevin Madsen and me were in a boat together.. trying to take on these rapids. Our coach was named Mike and he basically knew his shit.

It was the most cold water I have ever stepped my feet into colder water than this.. We all jumped in the water as our adrenaline pumped like mad. Paddling lik crazy, jumping in.. or better yet getting thrown in, falling out and having soooo much fun! This was definitely my favorite expereince on the Contiki Tour!!! Contiki set us up with the hottest guides that knew what they were doing. The scenery was sooo cool, we saw the Paramount Mountains! Everyone was laughing, having the time of their lives!!

Afterwards they gave us a shot of schnapps.. the classic liquor in Austria.. and ate amazing gazpacho! I couldn't have had a better a time!!

We stayed at one of Contiki's places to stay... It was soo nice and big, with their own bar and internet service. They were very friendly and welcoming to each and every one of us! We went to a local bar that night called Silver Bullet which ended our day perfectly...

Venice- the sinking town...

January 29th, 2007
Our trip to Venice was a breeze.. I slept through most of the drive. We took a boat over to the the center of town. There are over 130 bridges in Venice and many different islands. We went to the famous St. Mark's Square- beautiful and packed with pigeons or flyign rats and people! Our free time consisted of having a great lunch- pizza, calzones, and salad at this cute little outside restaurant. I think we were all warn out but watnted to take this experience in...We walked to many different cute shops over the Rialto bridge- many masks, glass jewelry and other stuff.

We met the group for a Gondala ride!!! We went in a group of 6 under many different bridges.. seeing a whole different view of the busy, small, compact Venice. It looked gorgeous from this angle! Marco was our gondala guy and we all had a little glass of champagne because Ryan bought us all a bottle! It was a very cute romantic fun ride! We got to see Venice from a whole different perspective. Long beautiful buildings, hotels right on the edge of teh Grand Canal.

After the ride we went to a glass blowing demonstration.. where this guy literally heated up a piece of glass and molded to make it into different objects.. from horses to gondalas.. I bought a pair of earrings that I am wearing this moment! We then went to a group dinner at this crazy little restaurant with a flute player and some guy trying to sell roses. Lots of wine and pasta.

Busy busy day.. veryyy interesting tho! I loveee Venice!

Free Day in Florence

January 28th, 2007
It was all about Flroence today- one of my favorite cities ever. It was extremley hot- but we all managed to take 1 1/2 hr. tour with a special tour guide.. she talked about many different statues including the David by Michealangelo. Next Ashley Lorson, Robyn Srednicki, Jenny Tamayo, and I walked all around Florence like we owned it. But before we were let loose we went to this special Leather Factory where we saw a deminstration and got special deals in their store.

We walked to a long market with leather items, jewelry, and some Italian tourist stuff. We bought typical gifts.. but wayyy cute... "Ciao Bella" shirts, shot glasses, bracelets- we got to experience the culture, the busy tourist season. I bought bright yellow ass nail polish to wear in the disco club that night. We walked everwhere! Finding a cheap internet cafe, expensive gelato and big ass dogs! We walked all teh way to teh gardesn and back to the duomo.. The duomo is gigantic.. made out of marble and beatuiful granite. We had to run across Florence to make it to our meeting spot in time.. literally sweating ahah... I love FLORENCE!!

We had a fabulous dinner with a couple other Contiki tour groups.... some from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and America... it was crazy.. they were from all over! We could drink as much wine as we want, dance as much as we wanted and go absolutely crazy. It was suuuch a great meal! Someone from the other bus proposed to their girlfriend.. sooo cute!

We managed to make our way to the crazyyy disco where Kyle Dineen in our group bought a VIP room where we got shit faced and thought we were soo cool looking over the dance floors. I didnt' stay in their much because I was all about drinking in the downstairs rooms. We all danced, laughed, took blow job shots, drank Long Islands and much more!! One of the most fun nights on this trip for sure!!!

Florence is my favorite city ever!!!!! but not before we go up the siwss alps!

January 27th, 2007
We were up for quite a day, after hearing all the drunk ass stories from last night- some girl tyring to open our door in the middle of the night, we were going up to the swiss alps in a little train, then in lift that took us to the top!!!! Going up in the train was a little scary, made me think of this old ride at an amusement park, but the views were AMAZING.. green green green and breathtaking. Little houses, farms, beautiful town and scenery. We took a lot fo pictures at the top- the freshest air I have ever breathed. It was the most fun experience!

We made our way back down the mountain, hopped in the coach after buying some chocolate and coca cola light and were on our way to FLORENCE!!!

I met my new roommate.. Jennifer Pham from NYU and we got ready for a huge Florence feast. All the wine and food we could eat... Of course we had a classic birthday song we sang for some person in our group, even though it was not their birthday.. just because its fun to embarass someone ahha. Ryno bought us all shots of lemoncello.. which is this really sweet tart lemon liquor.. after dinner!

We made our way to Red Garter-- this local bar where we sang karaoke and laughed our asses off. James Quin- Arizona State, Ashley Loron, and Briana Colorado- UCSD, and I sang Spice Girls- Wanna be my Lover. We all got free drink for being in a group too! We were all drunk and having fun and eventually made it home by taxi...

veryyyy fun day/night.. so many wonderful fun things in one day!!!

It was off to Lucerne, Switzerland...

January 26th, 2007
Early morning and breakfast... I sat with a friend of mine from San Diego State that I met on the trip.. her name was Ashley Lorson.. we both came to find out we actually have a lot of friends in common! It was soo weird! A group of people went out last night but they look pretty hungover so I'm glad I didn't go out this time ahah...

It felt like it took a while to get to Lucerne, but it was soo worth it. We were let off in the middle of the city where we bought a bunch of Swiss Army Knives for friends and family and they engraved it for free! We walked all over.. walking with the river and watching the swans and birds swim around... We felt the water and it was freezzzzing. We walked a long the huge flower covered bridge to our Coach where we made it back to our hotel to get ready for that night!

We went to Folklore show where they sang and danced.. asked for volunteers from the audience and made them sing and chug a beer! haha A couple of the guys from our group were up there and chugging a beer in no time. We had cheese fondu that was delicious! The show was hillarious- the authentic outfits, songs, instrumetns and activites were great. They used a spoon, saw, bottles, broom and huge long horn to create loud music with lots of clapping and yelling! There was even yodelling! There was a flag dance and random people dancing around in a cow uniform!

Crazy ass night.

2nd Day in Parisss- Lots of Freetime!!!

January 25th, 2007
This morning was early with breakfast outside on this balcony with the whole group. We met our verrrry cute tour guide Ryan..or Ryno as we called him... he's from New Zealand! Our bus driver was named Andy and he was from Australia.. both with the cutest accents ever!! At around 9 we were dropped off at the Musee d' Orsay after we were given a lot of interesting facts and fun things we could do around the city. We were fiven little hints and exciting things that would make our day better than all those other "follow the umbrella" tourists!

We had about a group of 10 who wanted to go into the Notre Dame.. the most famous church in Paris. It was gigantic.. filled with stain glass windows and a beautiful gothic structure. We walked along little shops and bought some postcards for some memories. Next it was off to an affordable shopping street that was kinda hidden, until we were told by Ryno where to go! We took pictures at the Louve and dodged all those other tourists.

We walked and got to know eachother and soon broke off into a smaller group that was prepared to walk down the famous shops on the Champs Elysees... huge, classy shops.. with rows and rows of products and clothes. At the end of the street was the Arc de Triumph which the coach drove around and around playing crazy music ahhaa.

We made our way back to the coach by using our smarts and catching the metro for a euro... It was such an amazing day with such freedom!! On our way back they informed us on the opprotunity we had that night.. to go to the Moulin Rouge Caberet Show!!!!

The show started after a great dinner and of course a half bottle of wine! Topless women, very cute probably gay guys runing aroudn in tight clothes, an acrobatic couple, some French comedians and much more!! They danced around to many different songs.. as we drank and clapped for their performance. It was such a great show!!! We took plenty of pictures outside and just stoked that we even got to go!!!

OKOK so we finally got into Paris on the 24th!

January 24th, 2007
We just landed in Paris and I met like 500000 Contiki people.. okay so like 45 but it felt like a lot haha... I was like "hiii I'm Jenna from San Diego State." I immediately met some really cool people.. Hannah Menke from Ohio University and Mallory Megown from Wisconsin! Such nice and fun girls.

We finally reached our destination... Paris.. We took a driving tour all around Paris where we got to see some things we could back to on our free time the next day.. it was soo helpful cuz otherwise we'd have no idea what to do. Beautiful tall buildings, Notre Dame, the Louve, Arc de Triumph...people runing across the streets, cars ignoring pedestrians, unusal shops with familiary products- bars, clubs, and much more!!

We first went to the hotel where I met my roommate- Katie Stetzenbach from Wisconsin. It was really cool meeting new people and learning different things about each of them!

The rest of the day was amazing! We were told about going to the Eiffel Tower but never expected to be going up it! We stood in a line with our group of 50 and got in sooo quick because we were in a group. We squeezed in the elevator tighter than a jar of sardines.. the first elevator was scary because it tilted up the leg of the tower.. then hit the second level which was beautiful.. I couldn't imagine we'd go any farther. We hopped on another lift and made it to the top!!! The view was amzing.. al ittle cloudy and windy but fabulous. I would have never guessed I would have been lucky enough to come back to Paris and go up the tower! We saw a propsal and they looked so happy and in love. The sun fell and we saw the sunset and it became dakr around 10 oclock.

Many videos and pictures later we were back on the bus after we watched the Eiffel's light show! I was definitely tired after a 30 hour day!!... way to start the trip out!

First Day in Paris couldn't have gotten any better...

January 23, 2007
I thought this day would never come! I was all scheduled for a Contiki tour about a couple months before I left and I was basically counting down the days in anticipation! As I sit in the airport in San Diego waiting to fly to Cincinnati to Paris, I am realizing how lucky and grateful I am to be on this trip. It will be an experience of a lifetime... building connections and having a wonderful learning experience. The flight should be ridiculously long but I bet I won't be able to shut my eyes!!!!!!!!!ahhhhhhhh!

A Day Before My Trip!!

Janurary 22, 2007
I plan on keeping a journal as I travel through Europe with Contiki Holidays to help keep my memory up to date... as we all know its pretty horrible. I found the trip on www.contiki.com and it was so easy to get it booked. I am soooo excited to jump on Delta and then meet 50 random people from all over in Paris! We have a crazy schedule.. first landing in beautiful Paris, France... I'm not really sure what to expect because I've never been on a tour with people my age before. I've been to Europe before, but by backpacking and making my own schedule. It was a hassle as I think about it because of all the research and planning we had to do before going anywhere....

I have met a Contiki group before in Venice. A friend of mine and I were at this local bar and all of a sudden all these random fun kids our age came in and made our night ten times better. They all spoke English and were telling me all about Contiki and how excited they were to continue going around Europe...

I can't wait to go!!!!! I'm not going to know anyone but I am all up for adventures!