Wednesday 31 March 2010

"it don't matter if your black or white" ?!

touchy touchy subject!


London is a pretty diverse city with different cultures and different areas. Lately, I've been feeling like I've been getting targeted because I'm black mostly the airport when I'm with friends but some occasions it's happened when I was out. One in particular I was with friends who were all white, we were looking for a club so I stopped and asked someone where it was. After we walked somewhere and then we were stopped by two cops who then asked all my friends especially the 2 girls were they alright. They once never asked me, they thought I was trying to rip them off of club tickets. To make matters worse they two cops were BLACK!!

Another case was at the airport going through immigration, my friends went through easily just showed their passport. Me I go they want to take down my fingerprint and ask me where I was and how long I'm staying in London. The guy then had the nerve to say that he isn't targeting me that everyone who has a student visa must take fingerprints YET my roomates who just went who were white didn't take any fingerprints just showed their ID and kept walking.
this isnt the first time this is happening...

you want to know when they ask me what I'm doing in London or when iget stopped and bag searched?
I'M A STUDENT INTERNING IN LONDON! - suprised to see a black man making something of his life and not doin any crimes?

I mean I love airports but sometimes they just piss me off because there isn't any equality!

Tuesday 30 March 2010

THE BLIND SIDE

I just came back from seeing the Blind Side. Its been out in the US for about 4 months but just premiered in London last week.
This movie became one of my favorite movies of All-Time. Shoutout to Sandra Bullock, her acting in this movie was incredible. Also, Quinton Aaron did an awesome job as well. For Sandra Bullock this is probably one of her best performances ever. She basically controlled the screen. The little kid Jae Head was also funny. This kid has alot of talent, i hope he doesnt end up like other child stars because he has potential. His character is really funny and i just remembered that he also played in Hancock. The movie has drama, suspense, and comedy. Its over 2 hours long but its an enjoyable two hours where your sitting there liking everything thats being played!
I would definitely go see this movie again!

Man they made this place perfectly!

......................AMSTERDAM........................

Last weekend me and a few friends and flatmates took a trip to Amsterdam. I was excited to see if what i imagined it being was the same as reality. Its really like what i imagined probably even more.
My hostel was located probably 5 minutes from the red light district and 30 seconds from a coffeeshop, yet i never went to that coffeeshop lol
THe red light district is exactly how it sounds just a street with a canal with girls in the window with red lights around. I wasnt imagining like sexy girls i mean some but here these girls were sexy, obviously some more than others but a good percentage was sexy.
There were coffeeshops everywhere I MEAN EVERYWHERE and i still couldnt get over the fact that it was normal.
Amsterdam is made just right i mean you visit a coffeeshop and theres a sex shop like next door or walk thru the red light district, also theres food everywhere possible from mcdonalds to pastry shops.
They have a food chain called FEBO ... man FEBO!! its the biggest food chain with a vending machine. I mean you go there and you can order at the counter or if you dont want to interact with people you can just go put in a couple euros and get a burger or other food.
FEEEBOO LAS VEGAS!! lol

I visited the Anne Frank house and a couple canals, museums and parks. I didnt go in the Anne Frank house because it was expensive but it was cool seeing the outside.

Amsterdam overall is pretty cool, i mean i cant live there its impossible i wouldnt do nothing but then again the Dutch are used to it so i can see them going on with their lives!

But i definitely want to visit again with friends from home and friends from Australia.!!

Wednesday 24 March 2010

SCOTLAND!!

... March 18th-21st

so acting on impulse me and a few friends took a trip to scotland!! we went by bus took about 9 hours. Anyone who knows me knows i cant sit still for a long period of time and it didnt help that we were in the back row and the seats couldnt recline! The ride wasnt bad thanks to my ipod and my sleep playlist! it was smoooooth sailing lol



Edinburgh in Scotland was amazing! The weather was good and our hostel was right in the center of everything, even equipped with a bar called Belushis!:). The famous edinburgh castle was a 10 minute walk up the Royal Mile and down the Royal Mile was the palace where the queen of England stays when she comes to Edinburgh. (thats where the Royal Mile gets its name by having the castle on one end and the palace on another ... BUT the distance between the two isnt a mile but it was cooler to say Royal Mile as the Scots would say).


There is also a huge hill..mountain called "Arthur's Seat" which takes either 30 to 2 hrs to climb up depending what root you take. The view when you reach the top is amazing, you get to see everything of the city of Edinburgh and other neighboring cities with a 360 view! (warning: dont try and climb the morning after a pub crawl .. lol i mean i made it up but the birthday girl had difficulties)

The 2nd night we did a ghost tour that took us through various "haunted" places in Edinburgh and then down underground. The ghost stories some seemed like they can be true while others i dont know. The tour guide was pretty cool. Although, while in the vault me and my roomate Bill heard footsteps behind us and no one was there and the guide explained a story later on in the next room that its a ghost called "Boots" who likes to stomp on the ground and walk around to get people out. Also me and another friend seen lights flashing from another room (there are only candles down in the vault no lights) Again our tour guide told a story of a ghost playing with lights to get their victims to leave! It was a little freaky but i was actually excited to see some paranormal activity happening so i got my moneys worth.
- Scotland has this drink called buckfast which is linked to most crimes and they are working on banning it . it tastes just like sangria



we spent a day in the highlands which is about a couple hours north and there were nothing but mountains and water is was so cool. The mountains had snow on the top and some had clouds on them and some were dry with water on the bottom. We also went to the lochness where the whole lochness monster originated. It was cool just seeing the lake and the mountains.




PUB CRAWL.GHOST TOUR.EDINBURGH CASTLE.ARTHURS SEAT.KILTS.BUCKFAST.HIGHLANDS.LOCHNESS.

Thursday 18 March 2010

MARCH MADNESS!!!!

This is the 2nd year in the row that im in another country when March Madness begins!
IT SUCKS!! in London the games dont get played on TV so im forced to watch from my computer and i dont know any bars that will play the games!
Today is the first day of March Madness and its already an upset and some great games. Ive been yelling at my computer the whole time lol
GOD I LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR! theres nothing like it

my bracket is in DUKE is taking it!! LETTSSS GOOOO!!!

St.Paddysssss

St. Patricks day is officially on Wednesday, March 17th but London decides to celebrate the sunday before. the festivities started with a parade at 12 from piccadily circus and ending at Trafanglar square. At trafanglar there were hundreds of people crowding around just drinking watching the show. On stage were acts of dancing, singing from kids to adults. It was pretty cool, learned some new irish moves!






On the official st.paddys day i had to work and it was cool i work with 2 people from ireland. One is from Cork which ill be going April 8th to the 10th and the other i think it was Dublin not sure. After work i chilled and at night we all went to some bar called Waxys. There was a line outside but it was cool seeing everyone in green and wearing crazy hats and beards. Inside was super crowded and i didnt realize how big this place was. It was over like 4 floors and people everywhere, it was hard to work. I met some cool Irish people, they all are pretty cool actually. Overall it was cool!

Sunday 14 March 2010

They actually do that?

Today i was walking back from the tube station and i seen a little kid on a LEASH!
Ive heard about these child leashes but never experienced it with my own two eyes. I dont really know the purpose of it, i guess to keep an eye on your children so they dont run away?? If so just hold their hand. I feel like they are treating the child as if they are a pet. What do you teach your kids when you put them on a leash? I had so many questions for the parent.
Is that good or bad parenting? Like if you need your kid on a leash than you must cant control your child any other way. They must not listen to your words for you to have them on a leash. I dont know man but that was weird, felt sorry for the little girl actually

Saturday 13 March 2010

Lisboa Lisboa Lisboa


Lisbon was pretty cool. It rained most of the time while i was there and didnt really do that much sightseeing. My roomates went to castles and other stuff. After awhile castles all start looking the same to me. The YES! hostel we stayed at, you can tell was made for young party travelers. There was a bar at the reception desk, apple computers, a big bed in the chilling room on the top on the wall says "MAKE LOVE NOT WAR" and they hosted events like a pub crawl and karoake with winners receiving free shots!
Everyone when they go out to Lisbon mainly goes to Barrio Alto which is a place on top of a hill and there are clubs and bars all around. Ive went a few nights and the people arent even in the bars and clubs they are outside just drinking. I mean EVERYONE is outside you cant even walk in a straight line its worse than being in times square. The streets arent spacious neither. I still had fun but not something i would do on a nightly basis.
We went to a place called CASCAIS which is like a 45 minute train ride from Lisbon. Thats where you go if you want to go to the beach. The day wasnt that hot but it didnt rain either so we just ceased the opportunity. The beach was ok alot of dogs and couples around. Lisbon was pretty basic all in all i enjoyed the trip!
Met a few americans backpacking and couch surfing along the way as well!







hola BARCELONA!!

Getting to BARCELONA was a hassle man i swear.
First - the guy tells me that my flight is delayed and then he tells me that im at a different gate. ONE OF THOSE IS A LIE! the gate i was suppose to be wasnt my flight and didnt match my boarding pass. Luckily my flight was delayed so i had time to find the right gate.
Second - I was going to be late checking in at my hostel but i had no minutes to call to notify them. There was a payphone but for reason i didnt know how to dial out to barcelona. On top of that i couldnt use my debit card cuz i got it locked from charges that were on there that i didnt do. YUP my day was going great!! I finally got the payphone working and called my mom and got everything situated.
I get off the flight and baggage claim held all our bags for at least 45 minutes, so i was even more late. I take the bus to the stop i needed but the metro was closed for me to get to my hostel. I decided to take a taxi and might i add THIS WAS A TASK!! He didnt know where my hostel was, havent heard of my hostel, didnt know where the apollo theatre was that was close to my hostel. Finally i tell him to drive and we'll find it. We pass the apollo theatre and hes like oo "apoolow"

Finally get to my hostel and all i want to do was sleep.


THe next day i meet up with a few of the girls from Rider University. We go eat and then go to the famous Las Ramblas. It wasnt that impressive to me just a bunch of people just walking around and theres people dressed up acting as "the mask" "michael jackson" and doing weird stuff. Afterwards i go back to their hostel on a freaking mountain with wild boars lurking around.

The next day i spent the whole day just taking in the sights. Barcelona is famous for their architecture and the famous Antonio Gaudi who designed some of the most bizarre most famous buildings in barcelona.
- i visited Sagrada Familia which means Holy Family and its a temple, church which has been in construction for over 100 years and is only 50% done. INCREDIBLE!!
- went to 2 of gaudi's homes; Casa Mila and Casa Batlo. Both were spectacular showings of architecture but i was more impressed with Casa Batlo.
- i also visited 2 parks which were huge. 1) Park Guele which has the longest best created by Gaudi and made from ceramic tiles. The park consists of alot of walking but it was worth it. You get to the top theres a cross If you walk all the way up to the cross you have a 360 view of the whole BARCELONA! 2) Park Montjuic which can be a full day thing. The park has a castle at the top and museums. I only got the chance to see the castle as I was leaving on a flight to meet my roomates in Lisbon, Portugal! Everyone was walking their dogs which actually was a nice sight to see.














adios sevilla

I havent written in here in a while and kind of behind on the whole spring break so ill just write about the last 3 days in SEVILLA!

The next day after the pub crawl and getting lost i had a MASSIVE hangover. It was insane. While my other roomates went out my head was pounding so i was succumbed to just laying down not moving for ages. We stayed in a 6 person hostel and while they were gone there was another guy that just slept and slept. I mean he slept more than me and i was the one with the hangover lol

By the time i got up and out the hostel I met my roomates at the door. They wanted to meet our hostel staff on one of the pub crawls. I havent eaten and wasnt in the mood to drink but i went anyway just to get out. I had burger king and told them im not taking any shots tonight, no drinking for me! WELLL that changed. we get there and im just dancing with people on the pub crawl and i turn around and i see them getting tequila shots lined up. So i go over and say you cant take none without me! From there it was smooth sailing .. 3 clubs later there were more tequila shots being taken.
- This pub crawl i met some cool/sexy spanish chicks. They were real friendly and loved tequila shots!! (LETS JUST SAY ITS A TASK SHARING A HOSTEL WITH PEOPLE YOU DONT KNOW CUZ YOU CANT BRING GIRLS BACK SMH) .. if i go back to spain i have a place to stay .. yet i forgot the city tho lol
The next day we went to cordoba and see another castle, cathedral and a bridge only i forgot the name of all lol .. It was pretty cool tho a hot day
The day after we visit santiponce and the roman ruins. We got in for free which was cool. The lady asked what were we and we said Americans shes like ok you get in free. without asking anymore questions we walked through. After 2 hours or so going through the ruins we ate at this restaurant nearby. IT was really good i enjoyed. Man i LOVE TAPAS AND SEVILLA






Thursday 4 March 2010

dude bikes!....yea BIKES! - Sevilla



Day 2 - heres the motto for spring break "attractions during the day trashy at night if you dont end up drunk your not doing it right"
So on that note we start the day off by going to the 3rd largest Cathedral in the world. Which is literally 8 minute walk from our hostel. We walk around to the catedral as they call it and im immediately stopped by a lady who gives me like this little flower and starts telling me my fortune. 2 kids money big house blah blah blah im like thank you but she wouldnt let me leave unless i give her money. I give her a euro but shes not happy and wants more what this look like! Dont be greedy!!
`Moral of the story dont accept anything from anyone jeez!
But the catedral is huge and breathtaking. Im not big on religion but i can appreciate good art. Its crazy how they build the whole thing without cranes or anything of the sort. The paintings were amazing as well i appreciated everything
Giralda Tower is connected with the catedral and the view from above is awesome. You get to see the whole sevilla and it looks like there isnt much but once your up there looking over the city you see everything. Not to mention the flights of stairs well hills i had to walk to get up there lol
After the tower we walk around near the river which is a good sight .. we look around for food which is really hard if you dont have any knowledge of the spanish food culture. For us its a guessing game, guess we get the right food and hope it tastes good! For about 10 euros we got coffee, a drink, appetizer, salad and a main course which was pretty good. The staff was friendly and you can tell he enjoyed his job but was getting frustrated with us because we both mutually didnt understand one another.


We eventually found BIKES! you can rent them for an hour and a half or for days even weeks and we seen that its the best idea yet. Everyone in sevilla are on bikes to get places. ITs a good system and whomever thought of the idea i applaud. I enjoyed riding around taking in the city on our new wheels lol
NIGHTLIFE- Tonight we decided to go on a pub crawl that our hostel hosts. I swear the staff are awesome kudos to you fellas. First we have a bbq that constists of burgers and sangria! oo how i love me some sangria haha We went to 4 bars and you get a free shot at each. This night i met some cool people. 2 girls from uruguay i met at the bbq were really cool and she was discussing how her high school is 5 years then college i think was 6 shes getting her masters and then going for something else so big ups to her. She was explainging how Brits talk and it was pretty funny i must say. On the pub crawl we met 2 chicks from norway. Both were pretty cool BUT were still in highschool age 17 smh. If this was the US that would be a NO NO but for some reason in Europe i guess that didnt matter. One bar we get to we meet Kareem a Brit that was here for a bachelor party. This guy is 39 and is the coolest guy ive met. Let me also add that he paid for our drinks and also introduced a new drinking game to us at the bar. his quote "listen im 39 im trying to wake up with a 18yr old thigh in my face" haha classic
Overall a good night.. the MORNING NOT SO MUCH ... - HUNGGOOOVEERR -






oo i forgot the last place we went to afterwards we got lost for almost 2 hrs on bikes. yea we are drunk on bikes lost smh .. come to find out the last club was 10 minutes from our hostel .. FAIL!

Wednesday 3 March 2010

orgasmo y vix vaporizer por favor - Sevilla

- I was going to wait till im done with spring break to start writing about it but i have time now so why wait. Ill just separate each by day.

Day 1 - The flight was scheduled for 5 i think maybe six i forgot lol I had to work so i went to work from 9 to 1. It was a productive day just like each day at work actually. I always get alot done at work .... wait this about spring break lol

Let me just say i got a haircut for the second time in London and even though this one was more expensive the result was more like back home. Shape up clean cut he even used a razor even tho it wasnt necessary why try to mess with perfection.

-

SEVILLA HERE I COME!
En primer lugar, ninguno de nostros, hablan espanol con fluidez! Getting to the airport Dan, Pat and I met bill at their because he got off work a little later than the rest of us. It was my first time using the London Heathrow express to get to the airport. It takes 15 minutes but it indeed is more expensive than the tube.
`this is the first time i ever went anywhere where there wasnt a girl with me. Everytrip i have taken has included at least one girl. I guess you can say they keep me in line. Now its nothing but guys lets see what trouble we can get in!
On the plane the pilot will speak spanish and then someone will translate it in english. In the US i never seen any flight translate the announcements into any other language. What does that tell you about the US?! After we land we know the general idea of how to get to the hostel but everything in spanish puts a little twist to things. ALSO WE DIDNT CONVERT ANY MONEY TO EUROS AND EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED SINCE IT WAS LATE. Our plane was delayed at the strip by the way. So we all had to take money out the ATM to get Euros. WE get on the bus and ride it all the way out. I couldnt see any sights because it was raining. We finally get to plaza nueva (stop we need to get off) and then we dont know what to go from there but the buildings were spectactular. we evenutally just get walking and the path to the hostel we passed a college which looked nothing like a college, the cathedral and giralda tower, city hall and other amazing buildings.



We finally get to our hostel and we are all in seperate rooms but the staff was pretty cool and since my room was a private and no one was their we all got the chance to stay in my room. The rooms are small actually the smallest hostel rooms ive ever stayed in. The rooms are all named after monuments or historic landmarks around sevilla. We stayed in BETIS and that was the only one we didnt see actually!! There was a pub crawl with our hostel but we were too tired so we just went to eat found a cool pizza spot and then walked around and ended at this placed called LA ROBOTICA. this place is cool I REPEAT THIS PLACE IS COOL . The drinks are cheap and have shots with different names and everyone knows how curious i am and try alot of shit. We took 2 shots one called ORGASMO which was amazing and then a shot of VIX VAPORIZER which was awesome!! it clears your throat i swear lol
After we walked around to another bar like 10 steps away took a shot of tequila and then just walked around the area near the hostel. Everything is pretty close which i love not alot of walking. Overall good night!!



EL PRIMER DIA .. EXITO!!