It's Been A While... So much has happened. Here's 2015

So this blog started in 2014, so long ago. Hell, The language and experiences were of a 26-year-old black man exploring and traveling. I'd say it was successful because it taught me sooooo much. I have so many stories, and I lived...   I was curious, whimsical, and loving. I look back at that time, sooooo many fond memories and people I miss and still talk to. 

SOOOOOO, Let's keep this blog train rolling, shall we? 

So much has happened to this black man who probably has one of the coolest experiences this physical form has to offer. Let's update you all... but in bullets and a couple blurbs here and there... Hell, because it's the fastest. 

DISCLAIMER: i'm not a writer and this won't be grammatically perfect or proofed. TBH it's real, it's my thoughts written down and honestly, the story is cool enough for you to disregard the imperfection. Just read dammit! 

Late 2014 i return from my European excursion

• Racked up $15,000K in credit card debt because my gut told me to use credit overseas since i didn't have a job and I knew i wouldn't be able to pay bills w/ credit when i returned home. The smartest thing I did in hindsight. here are the quick stats: 
• Had about 10K saved 
• Was paying my rent while traveling because i still had an apt in NYC (Rent and bills were about $1100 a month without the monthly $300 of student loans that was on forbearance)
• I left in June/July and came back in December 
• For you math wiz folks that is 7700 gone from what i'd had saved 
• Oh did i mention i was unemployed!? 
• Additionally, i didn't get a job until February so let's add another 2200... I think you get the picture.
• I had $100 in my account as of February 2015 and $15K in credit card debt and another $20K in student loans (They were being paid in that monthly figure i gave above)

WOOF! 

HAHAH, i look back now, and I laugh because i was in some serious doo doo but truth be told I was calm. UNTIL I had a panic attack while taking a shit because I didn't know what I was going to do... haha. I look back now and prob should have told more people what was going on but I didn't... 

Maybe I was too proud 

*thinking* 

too proud and broken... 

*thinking* 

too proud to share my brokenness... 

that sounds right. 

BUT THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

So Jan 2015 hit and that 15K credit card bill started to gain "followers" like a Kardashian Instagram account ... I was using my debit for bills and rent because credit wasn't a form of payment. AND I'd say i was credit spending about 200 a week. I was still very active with my friends going out and just being present (the facade while i was broken inside). I watched as another 2K got added on... the occasional anxiety waves, but i stayed calm... mostly. 

I couldn't go out like that, my story was too good to be ended like this....

THEN 

My first lifeline. Head hunter. Sports Agency needs social help. 

IM HIRED!

GIVING ROSES! The first job i got after my excursion was with Excel Sports Management. WOW! Just WOW. They believed in me and we did some great things together from top to bottom straight class. Not to mention, I got a signing bonus!!! 5K (2500 after uncle sam) and a salary of 50K too so I had a decent stream of income, about 1.3K after uncle sam. i was safe, or so i thought because then it hit! 

INTEREST! %21.59 - Thank you! 

and "We would like you to know that your loan is no longer in forbearance"

...FUCK EVERYONE! 

My entire bonus went to my credit card... i didn't even think about it. Didn't even get a chance to save money or buy something nice. Every month one of my paychecks went to rent and bills and 20% of the other check went to student loans. I should have told Sallie Mae to shove it... but i didn't, i paid diligently. Oh and let me add that my credit card bill finally came due from my excursion and it was like 160 lol.

However, I bought food from C-Town and cooked daily. I fed myself with about $15 a day or $450 a month. So my expenses were... drum roll please...

2010 of my 2600 net a month but wait there's more - Monthly Metro North and MTA, Laundry, Haircuts hahahaha - If i remember correctly I was working with like 100-200 a month or 25-50 bucks a week sometimes nothing. It was like a box of chocolates, u never knew what amount you were gonna get.

Now to explain my antics that year. I didn't go out a lot that year and i don't think anyone noticed but hey ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - I hung out with DWho A LOT! Ernie A LOT! Kelt A LOT- Game nights every week...   Patty and Sabrina because they went to a really cheap bar O'Doyles down the street in Queens and They always bought drinks or got them free.... or we played phase 10 and did home drinking. I made it work somehow struggling... but i made it work.

"BUT DJ DIDN'T YOU GOT TO CONCERTS! "

Thank you Buzz Killington, I did though. 

It was simple - The money i got back from Uncle Sam at tax time went to Firefly and EDC NYC and mad decent block party that year. The funny part is I drank at those places and guess how I paid.... CREDIT CARD BABY! and the total I believe was creeping around 16-17K. Not budging.

Listen the struggle bus lets you off if you ring the buzzer; it's either progress or distress... pick one. that's all I'm saying. 

That's how 2015 went until October. It was rough. nobody knew DJ was struggling and I NEVER borrowed a dime from anyone. Looking back October 2015 is when My now wife and I hung out for Aisha's birthday at a cabin upstate... Don't ask how i afforded it, you already know the answer. 

Stay tuned for the next part.

Amsterdam is exactly what you think it is.

There is no sugar coating what Amsterdam has to offer. After the Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Anne Frank museum there's nothing left really but smoking pot. LOTS OF POT!

The movies, the way everyone depicts it. It is completely accurate. 

It's a stoner's paradise. 

The cafés aren't even really for coffee and a biscuit... They're for buying reefa. 

How can I put this lightly... There is really nothing else to do here.  

It now makes sense why their music artists and producers are so talented. They get high and make unrealistic things realistic. 

I bet Martin Garrix got super stoned and was like I bet I can make a song that has a big kick and a wooden block and become famous lolol. 

Or Nicky Romero ate shrooms one day and watched V for Vandetta, and vowed to start a movement for musical freedom. 

I don't know man but hey if you like smoking week this is the place for you. Me on the other hand am not, and didn't really catch the thrill of what is "Amsterdam." 

What the hell is a Sziget?

Imagine camping for 7 days at a festival that's more or less a Mini Woodstock. Now take that and put it on an island, give it 6+ stages, add in countless actives to do ranging from a rubix cube to FIFA on ps4, sprinkle on top a ton of different ethnic foods, and throw a dash of people from about 30 different countries, stir in a circus, and to spice it up withe roller coaster rides. Last but not least add music from all genres! That my friends is a Sziget!

Day1

I legit went to this festival by myself and was forced to make friends. That in my opinion is the best way to make friends because you have to showcase yourself in mere minutes and hope they accept you. 

I found a campsite next to "the beach" with 10 French guys and I walked up and said "I'm Dexter from NYC, can I hang with you all?" They reply "Oui Oui," I bust out a 2 bottles of alcohol and it was at that moment I became their brother and best friend. 

The plan was to go see Blink 182 and I won't lie, blink was my favorite set! Have you ever been in a 10,000+ person mosh pit? Even girls got in on the action! After blink there really wasn't much going on so I head to "the beach"

"The Beach"

It was the hotspot on the island, all top deep house DJs with one hell of a set up and easy access to anything you needed. It was great and my tent was walking distance from it. 

This particular night dark wing duck was the best wingman anyone could ask for. If you've read my previous stories you'll understand why I say: Finally! We meet 2 girls from God knows where and dance with them. I show them the fancy footwork and it gets hot, really hot! 

Quick pause

I'm not gonna lie but the pick line "hi I'm Dexter from NYC" is single handly the greatest pickup line in the history of pick up lines... Well In Europe anyway hahaha

Anyways, it's hot!

So I mention to DWD and our friends let's all go skinny dip in the Danube. 

Bucket list item: CHECK!

We all drop down to our birthday suits and jump in to this freezing water!  

SHRINKAGE!!! Hahaha

Haha you know how guys kinda go through that thing when they're in a cold environment? Ha well yeah. 

Anyway the cops see us and i run! Ass naked, and all I could think about was: what would mom and pops think if I end up on the news naked arrested for illegally swimming in the river? Scheiße!

I def hit 9.2 100m speed getting out of there! I was able to grab my pants, lost my undies, grabbed my beater and sprinted into the darkness. 

I guess you can say that it pays to be black sometimes when running from the cops.... AHHH! Who am I kiddin'? I'm lucky I didn't catch a Rodney King beating hahahah.... Too soon?

Either way I made it to my tent safely, completely left everyone but I didn't care, dont be the slowest buffalo they always get eaten. 

Day 2

DWD comes to my tent and says "you're fast!" I reply "all black people have a natural talent of running from the cops!" Hahaha

He proceeds to give me details after getting caught, unfortunately I will not write them but if you want to know them ask me in person for the full details about the skinny dip story.

Anyways

Today was the day that I proved my worth to the Frenchmen and met my new Dutch family :). 

Now in order to prove your worth to the frenchmen you must sacrifice your liver to the gods. It's a very big thing to turn down a drink that is given to you. Mind you we start drinking at 9am. The day was a blurr until DWD reminded me that I came to see DEADMAU5!

Gotta be a high schooler and scream really quick: AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Bucket list item #2: CHECK!

So deadmau5... 

SMH

It was not his best work, but none the less I got to see him and I danced like a savage! 

After seeing Joel aka DeadMau5 we really didn't have much else planned so we go where we always go. To "the beach" lol

Enter the prettiest jellybean in the bunch, the brightest crayon in the box, the sweetest... You get the picture haha. 

Juliet 

She was awesome in every aspect. And I don't typically let someone get so close to me but we are drawn to each other like tiny magnets and we got along like we've know each other for years. Truly a great friend for years to come. 

Warning!!!

Be careful with the times you consume energy products. I didn't realize but I consumed one at 3am in the morning... Scheiße, there goes my sleep! But it lead to an interesting and hilarious end to my Day 2. 

I get back to camp to find 2 Frenchmen laying on an air mattress under an air mattress with two more Frenchmen on top haha. I figured aww what the hell so I jumped on top of them all. 

15 mins of laughter pass when all of a sudden this guy approaches us holding another guys hand and asks us to use our tent for you know what... Hahaha. The French guys look at each other and smile then point to a random and say "use that one" hahahaha. 

The guy unzips the tent and finds girls inside and they scream "what's going on" the guy jumps back and yells "wtf" 

He returns to my friends upset and ready to fight because we lead him to a tent that wasn't empty. And my guys jumped up ready to fight too because he was ready to fight. 

But let's rewind!

This dude was ready to fight us because we didn't allow him to use our tent to have sex with another guy....

Let that sink in hahahahaha!

I couldn't take it anymore so I head over to my Dutch friends tent and share the story. As if pre planned  a guy comes up to us and asks for a beer, so of course we oblige and he then proceeds to bathe in this beer. 

LITERALLY!

He rinsed, then lathered up, washed his hair with herbal essence and then rinsed. He even brushed his teeth. All with one 24oz aka 0,5 L can of beer, it was actually kinda impressive. Then he walked away like nothing happened. 

The night wasn't over yet!

Another guy joins our group on a trip, and proceeds to tell us about space and time. It was actually kinda interesting to be honest, and right after that I meet one of my best friends from Sziget, Seabass! 

Seabass is basically DeSean in a white body that can speak Dutch haha. Literally he is my little brother and we were two peas in a pod after that. 

Finally day 2 ended

Day 3

It legit rained all day so I slept all day and when the rain stopped I came out ready to party. 

It was probably like 6pm when I started partying and I head to the Palinka place that the French guys always go. Now for those of you that have no idea what Palinka is, I will just tell you when you go to Hungary be sure to have a shot of the shit. 

Anyways

I find the guys and we all head to the Coliseum to dance, and I run into Juliet once again! 

This was crazy because meeting someone twice at a festival without contacting them is weird, but hey this is Sziget!

I end up joining her and her friend to go see Macklemore and I lose them in an instant hahaha. Just my luck! Either way I figured I might as well enjoy the rest of my night and I head back to the fellas. 

When I get back I started to do my little jig and it caught the interest of a Hungarian bombshell. Gorgeous was an understatement, so I hit her with the most incredible pick up line ever!

"Hi, I'm Dexter from New York, what's your name?"

She smiled a big cheese and said "your name is Dexter? Like the killer?", I put my head down and began to walk away sarcastically and she grabbed my arm and said "wait, I love that show", I reply "everyone does, but I'm still not a killer," and we start to laugh. 

I should have suspected something the way she grabbed my arm haha. Almost a tad too forceful but I was drunk and we were dancing and the fellas were in admiration of this girl I was dancing with. 

Then the demon comes out!

She looks at me and says "I've never kissed an American boy before," I look around and say "well how can I be of service?" And she proceeds to grab me and make out like a person that was French kissing for the first time... 

Yeah ima let you visualize that...

Anyways I thought I'd just survived an attack from Lassie and that's when she does her "finish him" move and jumps onto me and begins to bite my lips, neck, and chest, right there on the dance floor.  

What the shit?

I was mad as hell but the inner man was like "well this is new." Hahaha 

I pry her vampire ass off me, and say, "I don't care that you just practically took what you want from me, but next time... just ask," I laugh and run away from the girl and walk to my camp a tad bit in disbelief of what just happened. But too drunk to care...

Time to go to "the beach!"

To my surprise it was empty because everything was wet. I figured: Oh well, so I pull up a seat, smoke a cigarette, and watch the moonlight. Another day completed. 

Day 4

This day was a bit of a bust and I didn't really do much. I was suppose to meet up with M&Ms but that fell through like coins placed on a bridge of wet cheap toilet paper. 

It gave me time to reflect and I learned something new about myself. Traveling alone will take you to places where you have no choice but to trust a random person. It's more effective to give 100% trust right off the bat and let the person hang themselves with the slack. When you say it's hard for me to trust someone or a person has to earn your trust you're doing it wrong. This pushes you into a hole where you only trust yourself and that's not good. Give trust and don't be afraid for someone to let you down, it will make you stronger in the long run. 

Life lesson done!

Day 5

At this point I could literally feel my body breaking down.... But I think to myself: I'm a warrior! I take a multi-vitamin, swallow my pride, chug a red bull and shotgun a 24!

WOOOOOO! I'm ready!

The day was spent with my new Dutch family and honestly I could not ask for better. They took care of me like I was one of their own, they spread peace, love, unity, and respect. We head to main stage and catch some awesome "sway" music and take some selfies because... WHY NOT? Haha

Then finally I meet up with M&Ms! 

Y'all M&Ms is literally like the candy, once you get a taste you can't get enough. So cool! She introduces me to her friends Mr. and Mrs. Hurricane and we go and have a blast!

If you have never heard of "crystal fighters" I recommend that you get to know them now before they blow up! Amazing band, but the venue was so packed that I couldn't dance and that irked me. Either way I thoroughly enjoyed the music. 

THEN IT GOT COLD! 

It was like 11°/40° with a ridiculous wind chill. And I needed to change up the gear. So I head to my tent to put on some clothes and I completely lose my friends in the process...

Scheiße!!!!

Lucky for me I find the Frenchmen right were I left them... The Palinka tent getting click wasted and I join them and get wasted too. I think that tent definitely made $5000 from the Frenchmen for sure haha. 

Either way

I leave after a couple drinks and head to "the beach" where I meet a Brazilian, Italian, and two Icelandic guys. Random 

Final Day... Unfortunately, If you wanna know the story you gotta ask me ;) - Some shit isn't meat to be published on the internet... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

So if you see the sun come up does that mean the party continues?

Berlin was the FUNNIEST part of my entire trip. Let me just tell you, French people are pretty friggin' awesome. Especially the ones that know their English accent is shit and is exactly like the movies and comedians depict. If you meet a French person like this, you are in for a treat. 

DISCLAIMER: Because I don't want to run into problems I will use the names Cogsworth and Lumière, for those of you who figured it out, they're the Clock and candlestick from "Beauty and the Beast."

Day 1

I wake up in my hostel hurt and sleep deprived from the night before and since it's a "dorm" style hostel, I wake up to two new dudes. They are both from France and their English was actually really good it's just their pronunciation sucked! 

Enter Cogsworth and Lumière!

Cogsworth was pretty cool, he is about 5'8" with a simple cut, simple style, and brawny scruff.. a looker for the ladies just a tad too short. And Lumière is a about the same but taller about 6'2" and the exact hair cut that Brad Pitt had in the movie fight club. 

They wake up look at me, I look at then and I say, "breakfast?" they say, "beer? And it was a match made in heaven. 

We started drinking at 9am in the mofo morning. The best was they were on the same schedule as me too, no tourism, just have fun and be a German. 

We walk for about an hour before we decide to just bar hop it and then Lumière's accent took over!

He orders a drink that's sweet and super fancy

*french accent*

"I am a man, how will I enjoy this?"

#chugsdrink

"I am a man, so I drink it!"

After that bar we hop to a beachesque type of bar and order more drinks. Lumière and Cogsworth accidentally get a 2% beer and are pissed but you know the rule "thou shalt finish ones drink before the bar hop continues," so we sit and drink. 

Out of nowhere a bee comes and wants to hang out with the crew. It hung with us for a solid 20 mins as we sat there drinking. We even filled a bottle cap with the nectar from the gods And the bee drank it!

The Bee aka Sophie must have been stressed. Working all day gathering pollen, making honey, being swatted at by everyone. #toughlife

I wasn't paying attention and slam my glass onto the table right on top of Sophie! 

NOOOOOOO! 

Lumière sees this and immediately says: 

*french accent*

"stupid American... Have no respect for nature"

And starts laughing

I felt so bad so let's have a moment of silence for the hardworking Sophie. Ima pour some liquor out for my fallen homie. 

The group had one purpose and that was to get drunk and you know what? I didn't mind it!  

After our 8th bar Allie Calhoun (she is a character from previous stories) sends me a message to meet up for drinks and food at a restaurant where I tried 1,000 year old eggs. 

We get drinks at a place called "monkey bar" which is a famous sky bar and I recommend it to all travelers. 

After 4 whiskeys my coherentness is shot and I call it a night, great first night in Berlin. 

Day 2

I wake up in pure pain!

Motor skills weak, eyes burning, little person tap dancing on my forehead, and the worst taste in my mouth...

Never mix wine, beer, and whiskey. 

I somehow get out of bed at 9am and go to the bathroom for the morning routine. 

Everyman shares the same morning routine... The three S's: Shower, shit, shave. It's a common practice by most if not all men. 

Anyways

This particular morning you can add a V to my routine. Once I'm in the shower and start the lathering I feel that the trigger has been pulled and I jump out of the tub with cat like reflexes and aim with extreme precision and proceed to projectile vomit directly into the toilet. 

Now here's the sucky part..

I was all soapy, and the floor was smooth tile... I slip and I eat it!

Like I was hungry!

I gather myself complete the morning routine bruises and all and once I get back in the room the Frenchmen say "Beer" and we begin to drink again. 

The day consisted of drinking, rain, thrifting, and recruiting for the night. 

This particular night me and Cogsworth were on the sauce and recruited a group of 6 girls to go to the club called "Weekend" another skybar/club. Now if you don't know anything about clubbing in Berlin, always have a higher ratio of girls to guys it's easier to get in. 

INSERT DEEP HOUSE!

We literally dance for 7 hours and leave the club at 7am. 

Lumière tired and wasted looks at me and says:

*french accent*

"You are the best American ever!"

I'd say Berlin was a success and an amazing city. I didn't do it like a tourist, I did it like a native with a NYC flare. Yeah I spent a bunch of time having drinks with two of the funniest Frenchmen ever. But I leave you with this quote:

"Some of the best times had are with good drinks, good people, and good conversation"

Life will always be about the story so make sure yours is the best one yet. 

Dex

PS the best photo I took of Berlin 

The show must go on!

You can thank my parental units for donating to the united DJ eurotrip fund. The journey continues! Love those guys!

DISCLAIMER: Because I don't want to run into problems I will use the name Allie Calhoun, for the person I hung out with in Mainz

Let me start with an apology for being MIA. The last couple weeks have been tapered back off of the "full steam ahead" drinking and I have been enjoying the time spent A LOT more but I'm back with renewed vigor. #MyB :/

In my "thought to be," last days in Germany

I hung out with a German frau named Allie, as well as her friends. One thing for sure is she is the definition of fantastic. We had the craziest time in Mainz . We went to cool clubs, had an amazing German dinner, danced the night away and have great stories that start with weinschorle. I honestly don't think I will meet a friend as cool as her. I wish her all the best for the future and hope we cross paths for a third time. 

Yeah I said third!

Man sieht sich zweimal im Leben, ain't got shit on ones chosen path haha. 

But Man... This trip has taught me you never know who you're going to meet, so be as open as possible!

As for the last two cities, I will write an entry called "The Lost Stories of ExpeditionDex" hmmmm...

Anyways

THE BREAK IS OVER!

Coming up next on this expedition is Sziget festival, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brussels! (Not in that order)

Sziget Festival...

When's the last time you partied for 7 straight days for a music festival? 

EXACTLY!!!

I'm back on the sauce, this time spice it up with some Cheyenne pepper! Not to mention I finally get to see Deadmau5!

Let me pause and burst into excitement!

I friggin' get to see DEADMAU5!!!! 

Bucket list item CHECK!!!

Amsterdam will be... #interesting

And I hope to God I finally see something #Majestic in Brussels. 

I know I've always said 25 was the best year of my life, I think this year will be the craziest of my life. 

Until next entry my friends

"Life's about the story, make sure yours is the most interesting one!"

Dex

The End of ExpeditionDex Part 1

This trip has taught me all types of things but most importantly that friendships last a lifetime. I'm lucky to have gone to Manhattan College and ran for a D1 program and better yet been introduced to so many people from so many countries. This trip would not have been so easy had I not known so many people and I thank them all for the hospitality and for showing me around.

With that said...

Getting a chance to hang with Andreas(GERMANY), Zoran(SERBIA), Milan(SERBIA), Marina(SERBIA), Tobias(SWEDEN), and Malin(SWEDEN) was epic! Meeting all of the characters of my story was a great experience too. I'll never forget my first trip to Europe, so many stories can be told and so many laughs have been had.

I hope I've inspired you all to get off your ass and just hop on a plane to Europe and better yet do it the way I did it.

Tips to future travelers:

- Pack super light and do laundry a lot
- If you don't use it in your everyday life at home, you wont use it in Europe
- Be BRAVE don't be afraid of getting lost
- Practice doing things without the use of your phone
- Wear short spandex not underwear to avoid chafing
- Take pictures of moments no just of buildings and the area... most cities look pretty much the same
- Sign up for CouchSurfing and use that as a resource to help you meet cool people and experience the country's offerings
- LEARN the currency exchange rates for where you're going!
- Be prepared to become a smoker for a little bit OR inhale second hand smoke
- DRINK, DRANK, DRUNK, REPEAT
- ALWAYS trust your gut!
- Fit in! Don't stand out
- Do your best to not be a tourist but a local, the experience is better.

Hopefully you take my tips to heart and use them if you plan to take an expedition yourself.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!

What would ExpeditionDex be with out the final story...?

Preface:

Things happen for a reason! I am a believer in that quote. Whoever said it must have had a hotline to God himself to confirm some of the things happening in their life haha. You don't just run into a person without some sort of reason behind it. Maybe that person was feeling down that day and needed a new friend to talk to. Maybe that person had an idea but didn't quite have the brain capacity to figure out the wrench in the problem and talking to you helped solve it. Hell maybe it was just for that second in time to connect ones aura and experience another. OR what if that person was the final missing piece of the puzzle that completes your life...  We don't know, and you know what? I'm a dreamer and sometimes dreams come true

Thanks for reading about my excursions y'all I'll be home Sunday August 3rd with gifts and things for my peoples.

Dex

Budapest should change it's name to, "how about that view"

DISCLAIMER: Because I don't want to run into problems I will use the name Rey of Sunshine, for the person that hosted me. 

Budapest, Hungary is an absolutely beautiful city. It definitely delivered my best photo yet and also provided a time to reflect, talk, and think. I've said a million times I'm not a tourist on this trip, and that I want to be a local and eat native foods, hang with the locals, and this stop was just that. #WhenInBuda

Story:

I'm really enjoying meeting new people, the fact that you have to showcase yourself to earn trust and friendship is fun. Budapest delivered one of the greatest people I've ever met,  Rey of Sunshine. I call her this because no matter what she can brighten your day. 

The first day I spent in Buda I walked like a savage though lol. I've really come to appreciate our train system back home in NYC. Literally things are only steps away from stops haha. As it is I'm lazy too... bad combination. Rey of Sunshine is ready for anything though, she took me over the bridge and I saw the most breathtaking view of my life. 

From what I've been told the way the city was built was greatly influenced by the sunset and the sunrise. So you see magnificent views to start and end your day.

Beer was about $1 and of course I had my share of the rations haha. It was good beer too and although public drinking is forbidden there's no greater time spent than in the shade looking at the water with a brew. Of course I experienced the night life with Rey's friends, and it was Crazy. 

Apparently when you're out you drink rosé wine spritzers. It gets you drunk pretty quickly and it is extremely cheap. Also be sure to have a shot of the national alcohol. 

WARNING! It burns, not horrible but it will sober you up some haha. 

If you go, head over to the national garden and theatre too. I'd say it was the coolest thing I saw. Imagine if the White House were built to look like it was on a boat... EXACTLY. 

Rey of Sunshine did say one thing that that reminded me of what my father always says to me. "Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers." In other words appreciate what's going on now, don't worry about things of past, and remember you can't control the future, only influence it. 

Life's about the story, make sure yours is the most interesting.

Dex