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

If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine, what helps getting rid ofhangovers?

DISCLAIMER: Because I don't want to run into problems I will use the names Maya Angelou, for the person I met, for Maya's black lady friend Vera Wang (works so well) the germ-talian guy Fabio, and Maya's sister Rihanna.  

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, in the most delightful way. We all know that song by heart, and I've never had nasty ass medicine so I never tried it. Come to think of it how did I not die from over consuming grape dimeatapp? That shit was delicious! 

Anyways

Vienna started off on a sour note. I got there without a plan, a heavy ass backpack, and too much money spent on a cab. I had no idea what to expect, I didn't even get a chance to explore the first day. Simona my receptionist became my one and only friend at the time and she told me where to grab a bite. I ended up finding one of the best cocktail bars in Vienna and had an old fashioned that was made perfectly... I guess you could say it was sign for things to come. 

The story:

I woke up pissed, I needed a friend and I needed one now! So I hit up couchsurfing and asked a couple people to hang. For those of you that don't know couchsurfing is a way to meet people in the world that can give you a tour of their city and maybe even crash on their couch. I figured it would take a while so #expeditiondex went on an expedition! Ha

I walked straight into the heart of the beast known as Vienna and took a picture. BLAM!

Absolutely gorgeous shot and right after I get a ping from couchsurfing. Maya sent me a message that yeah we could hang! I was stoked finally somebody throws me a bone haha. 

Now let me put Maya into perspective. Maya is Married, Caucasian, about 5'9", Gisele doppelgänger, freckles, extremely smart, and so well cultured that if you were to look up the word "culture," her picture would be right next to the word in the dictionary lol. I didn't know what to expect and neither did she but we clicked like we'd known each other for years! 

Convo begins at 6:45pm 

We head to a boat restaurant and I have a beer and she has an alcohol free beverage. 

Convo time 7:13pm

I tell her about my trip and what's going on in my life. She confesses that she had a back up plan in the event that I was weird haha. 

Convo time 8:33pm

I have another beer and she has another alcohol free beverage. Her mom calls and after the call she tells me all about her family, and her husband. I tell her my uncle's best joke ever. 

Convo time 9:02pm

She asks if I'd like to meet her sister and some of her people, and of course I agree, this conversation was just too good. We figured we should eat and head to fish restaurant. 

It's about 10pm we are on the train and guess what we are still talking haha. 

Convo time 10:40pm

We arrive at the fish place and we get this awesome platter of different sea creatures and various veggies, and a bottle of vino #invinoveritas 

Convo time 11:18pm 

She tells me why she can't have alcohol. Apparently her body doesn't break it down properly so a sip gives her a hangover.

I say a silent prayer and I thank God that I don't have that. Hahaha

Convo time 11:45pm

I tell her about my parents, childhood, and my siblings. I kinda monopolized the outdoor convo haha. #layeditonTHICK

12am the restaurant closes the outdoor seating, but we decide to go inside to keep the convo going. 

Convo time 12:27am

We talk about religion and our beliefs and about crazy stuff. The convo veers to Trublood and then we talk about the craziness that is that show haha. 

The Convo is still going strong at 1:30am and that's when we grab the bottle of vino, cork it, and head out to meet the crew. 

We meet up with Vera Wang and Fabio at the train station and they were some awesome people. Apparently Wu-Tang was in town and we head to the after party but it looked "suspect" so Maya and Vera go inside to check it out and Fabio and I stay outside and polish of the vino. We all decide to split and head to a spot that Vera knew of so we walk and talk 

Convo time 2:07am

Maya tells me about finally trying to get her license. I tell her I've had mine since I was 17 lol 😂

We get to the next place and it wasn't half bad but I have on flops so my dancing was limited to a 2-step lol. Finally, I meet Rihanna and I kid you not, Maya and her sister look NOTHING alike lol. If I didn't know they were related I'd have said they were friends. Literally, night and day... Just like my friends Paige and Alex. 

We spend another hour at the venue then I remember that I have a train to catch in the morn and it's 4am. So I give hugs all around and say farewell and hop in a cab. 

As I'm riding in the cab it dawns on me...

I just spent 10 hours of my life TALKING! Lips drying up type conversation. At one point I think I had diarrhea of the mouth the way words and sentences were coming out with no effort haha. Not to mention it was good banter, witty and full of knowledge and fun facts. 

WHOA!

As I've been told the best times spent are with good people, good conversation, and good drinks. It's crazy, but Vienna is my favorite part of this trip so far, and imagine I thought it was gonna suck.

So you're telling me a beer is $1.50 after the exchange rate?

Prologue: I gotta get this off of my chest: "I'm one of the greatest wing men in the history of wingmen!" But the moment I let my new friend fly solo he crashed the damn plane into the side of Everest. What the shit? If a girl is intentionally throwing you 100% hittable pitches why the hell aren't you swinging? Anyway here's my story for Prague, Czech Republic. 

DISCLAIMER: Because I don't want to run into problems I will use the names Eric Northman and Patty Mayonaise for the people I met and stayed with in Prague.

Chapter 1: Black people must be rare here...

The trip here was pretty long and yeah I got lost but getting lost also took me to a part of Prague that I don't think many black people have ever ventured. I felt like a white woman on a National Geographic show that went to an African village where little black children never seen a white person before. Everyone stared at me, I thought I had some shit on my face haha. God as my witness, one guy pulled out a camera very secretively and took a picture. He tried to aim the camera so it looked like he wasn't taking my picture but com'on man... Dude even tried to hide it when I looked up at him haha. 

Either way I made it to my destination and my host Patty Mayonaise is as cool as the other side of the pillow. She is super smart and working on her PhD, can play the piano, loves to live, learn, and laugh, the modern day super girl. I didn't get a chance to cook her a meal, one of her prerequisites for staying at her home but I took her out for dinner and she shared an amazing story of a 92 year old woman that says don't ever get married lolol. Hopefully we cross paths again in the future. :)

Chapter 2: Eric Northman, the other surfer

Patty Mayonaise already had a surfer in her flat, Eric Northman, and he was an interesting guy. Let me tell you about my boy Eric Northman. He's 6' 3",  from Sweden,  has a masters degree, loves to party, and LOVES WOMEN :)! He doesn't drink beer but loves a good scotch and just recently had a venture to Brazil that made him fall in love with JUNK IN THE TRUNK haha. Now Eric is a very persistent guy and goes by the slogan "you haven't succeeded until you've failed," and that's actually a pretty cool way to live and lemme tell you, homeboy has swagger over lvl 9000!!! #DBZ 

Let me preach:

The first day that I'm here he literally hits on everything that walks by. For every 3 misses he'd get a hit so roughly he was batting .250. I on the other hand have wisdom and play the quick/slow game, I will try to lean In get hit by a pitch, bunt, but swing every now and then because It's a more effective way to get on base IMO, you never know what I'm going to do. 

Anyways (INSERT POKEMON REFERENCES)

The most effective item when battling these wild women Pokemon is to use 5 alcoholic rare candies so you can level up your confidence. When your confidence trumps her beauty you attack her with FLIRT and it has a 55% chance to be SUPER EFFECTIVE. If she has good defense you may have to wear her down with attacks such as: BUY HER A DRINK and COMPLIMENTS. BUT Be careful, some of these wild women Pokemon have an attack called ROAR that scares trainers away. Hahaha

Back to the story...

We must have drank Prague dry of ciders and beer because at 10pm I was once again wasted. We meet up with the two Netherlands powerpuff girls and plan the night. (Please read last blog entry to know who the powerpuff girls are) 

Roxy was the name of the club and it was AWESOME! Deep house, progressive house, and electro. I was in heaven and danced my ass off BUT Eric was once again swinging away until he found her. We don't know her name but afterward called her "THE GRINDER." I saw the pitches she was throwing him, they were right down the center and 10mph so I took a step back and let him work, I even bought him a drink. THE GRINDER grinded the hell out of Eric on the dance floor, three solid hours of grindage. Even a little dance floor friskiness going on, hands all over each other in places they shouldn't go in public :-O haha... 

Let's pause for a second there. 

...Short break

Continued...

You ever just shake your head at somebody for messing up? I was angry at the world, and at Eric because he didn't FINISH #FellOverFirstHurdle. THE GRINDER even brought up where she was staying later and asked where he was staying and if he was in the same Hostel in casual convo and her friend didn't even stop the situation... I proclaim I'm a great wingman, yes, but Eric didn't swing and she just walked away. I didn't do a damn thing but sit there and Watch it crumple lol

All my friends know the true scale where 5 is average... She was a 9!!!!! She was a rare Pokemon MAN! An Articuno that allows you the chance to catch her. She was the one fish he caught for the day, not to mention there were no signs for catch and release and he throws it back in the water. So many analogies and metaphors are running through my head. 

Let that sink in for a second

Anyway, Eric dropped the ball, you could say epically but we will just go with, "he fumbled." I, had a great time though. Sometimes you gotta dance especially when you're surrounded by people whom were born in years that you remember vividly and when your mind is elsewhere. 

Finale

Don't sleep on Prague! It's a great city and VERY inexpensive (a beer is 39czech crowns convert that and you'll see) also whatever you go there for you'll get it! Hell, I gambled one night and made 350€ from a $10 bet. Shit happens! Enjoy the culture and honestly don't be a damn tourist be a "Czech." :)

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

On the way to Vienna. 

Would a Chinese person go to Chinatown in China?

It's a 6-7 Hour trip from Mainz Franfurt to Prague and I was HUNGOVER! After all the drinking the night before for Germany's World Cup win, my liver was shot. I honestly did not drink a single drop on my travel day... 

:((( 

Damn right I had a sad, beer is so good in Europe haha

Traveling is not the as easy as it seems though... somehow I made it from Germany to Prague and didn't get TOO lost. I feel like I'm diving deeper and deeper into the language barrier abyss and it's getting harder to communicate haha.The cool thing is that the younger generation all speak english and I made a couple of friends along the way. 

DISCLAIMER: Because I don't want to run into problems I will use the names of the power puff girls haha. 

I met a blond Blossom (Age Unknown) from Netherlands who was super cool, she was the tallest of the group and the most outspoken, Buttercup (Age 24) the brunette of the group from Switzerland, she was very curious about Americans and their opinions :), and Bubbles (Age 18) also from Netherlands, I believe she was the youngest and just as out spoken as Blossom but really friendly. They were awesomesauce and hopefully we meet again :) as they say in german: Man sieht sich zweimal im Leben.

The Trip: 

We had a bus driver that swore he was the race car driver Jeff Gordon! I don't think there was a time during the drive to Prague that the bus drove under 120mph... Honestly at one point I think we were drifting. He definitely drafted a couple trucks too, I swear he should have stuck his head out the window after he passed the trucks and said, "SHAKE AND BAKE BITCHES!" It all makes sense now why there was a video before the trip that said buckle up...

Everything was on time too, and when I got to Prague I was a deer in headlights. I had no idea where to go or what to do. Petra my host gave great directions though so I had a general idea of what to do, but guess what? I stopped for food at BURGER KING! I had to, it smelled amazing just like back home, but the food was wack sauce lolol. 

There's no reason for me to get AMERICAN food in Europe... I wonder, would a Chinese person go to Chinatown in China?...

I did get lost in Prague though. You know how in NYC if you don't know the direction to go you can end up on the wrong train??? Well guess what I did? 

EXACTLY THAT

I had a gut feeling that something was wrong and I was right but by the time I checked what was happening I was 30 stops away and going in the wrong direction. 

-> Always Trust Your Gut <-

GOD as my witness I got directions from a guy that spoke 5 words of english, it was so awkward. Street was right about "hand language"it is universal haha.

At the end of the day I made it to Petra's amazing home, and have yet to have a beer in Prague.

So as I've said before [ENTERS BANE'S VOICE]

LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

What happens when Germany wins a World Cup

WHAT A NIGHT! I still can't believe that I'm in Germany. I've never seen or felt pride like that before. Every single German, happy and cheerful that Deutschland won the World Cup. 

The story: 

Tickets were sold out for the soccer stadium so we decided to hit up a viewing party nearby. It was packed! I'd say at least 500 ppl were there. all of us like sardines to watch the game, BUT The absolute best part it was 1€ for a drink! 

Yes you read that correctly!

One friggin euro! Any drink you want. I had to muster up strength because I needed to violate this deal.  

I don't even know how many beers I had but above 10 sounds right. Hold on lemme stand up...

AHHH yeah feels about right too haha

Talk about one hell of a game! Argentina definitely put up a great fight but in the end Germany prevailed. I can't put into words the crowds reaction after the goal... I swear if I'd gone outside after the goal the nation would have been screaming. Hi fives, people screaming, beer shower, it was beautiful! 

Once the ref blew the whistle to signal it was over the bartender broke out the special winning elixir... Jägermeister. I'm not a fan of the shit but it was free, and I had my share. 

Like Street always says, "never say no to a free meal"

They lined up shot glasses and poured shots for everyone. It was at that moment that I knew my hangover had begun.... Shots and beer and shots and beer. 

We ended up in the city and it was almost like the parade had already started. The streets were flooded with people, booze, and chanting. Of course I chanted with the drunken posse, even though I'm not German i had to... it was liquor induced. 

Deutschland!!!!!

I wish to God that the USA had won the World Cup. Seeing how everyone went crazy, I was soooo over joyed and sad at the same time. I would love to see a World Cup win, I want to feel pride like last night for my own country. Imagine every team winning a Super Bowl! 

One day :)

This game truly is beautiful.  

If drinking beer is wrong, then I don't wanna be right

I think my liver should protest drinking. It should pack up shop and stop processing liquid, literally I want my liver to say, "hell no we won't flow!"

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm hungover once again, but not horrible. I can function but won't move fast. I can think but processing has taken damage. Today will be the first time on this euro trip that I don't have a drink... AHHH!!! Who am I kidding, I'm gonna get blasted for the World Cup final. 

Last night I went to a club in Germany, and it was AWESOME. You know it's going to be a good night when you pre-game with Bitburger and Jäger. I actually gagged  thinking about that... 

I was a dancing machine!

I bust out the robot, I melted the crowd with my butterfly aka tootsie-roll, and jigged my way into the hearts of hundreds last night... Or so I thought. 

Loved by many, hated by none jigged with all haha. 

Word from the wise:

If you cannot pronounce a girls name don't talk to her. It's an absolute waste of time. 

If you buy a girl a drink you also buy yourself a dance. 

if someone offers you a cig go have a smoke with them

Always start every convo with, "hi I'm from New York..." works every time

If you meet a chef ask them to cook for you

Always use movie quotes, you'll thank me later lol

Don't dance to the beat, you become a side show

Wingmen are useless over here

Finally, don't ever stop drinking. Even if it's water always look like you're drinking. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! Lolol

The club was cool though, imagine bourbon street with house music lol. It was 3 levels and each level had 2 sections. Pretty cool layout, but those damn fog makers. I hope that shit isn't bad for you, I inhaled a lot unlike Bill Clinton... Too soon? 

At the end of the night, it was just like back home. Find the dude with the food that's horrible for you and feed the drunken machine haha. All in all it was a good night. 

AHHH it's the final today. 

Let's go Deutschland!!!!!!

When someone's father offers you a drink, say YES!

The day was a waste because I over slept but that didn't stop me from getting plastered with Peter (Andreas' Dad). He's is literally a copy of my dad but just white and German. The moment he saw me he asked "do you want a beer?" And what the hell do you think I said?

Hell yes!!!

He cracks open two Bavarian beers and breaks out some steins. Im slugging back this delicious nectar of the gods and he says, "what do you think?" And only one word needed to be said...

Delicious!!!

We get to talking and he shows me his first collection of alcohols. Of course the moment I see tanqueray I tell him I have to drink one for my dad back home, he pours me a sipper.

Prost! (Cheers)

And we drink

Before you know it Peter tells me I have to try the German Riesling and what do you think I said?

Hell yes!!!

He comes back two seconds later and we delete an entire bottle between the two of us, we reminisce some more and he asks me, "do you like whiskey?" 

YES!!!

He goes to his 2nd drinking collection grabs a bottle and pours me a sipper of a 10year single malt. It was absolutely delicious, Peter sees that I'm enjoying the whiskey and says I must now try the pears whiskey. After the pears whiskey he pours me a sipper of a flower infused whiskey. Then we try a Croatian whiskey.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Somehow we get on the topic of cigars and he grabs me a Swiss cigar and we go outside for a smoke and chat. Jokes told, laughs had, we come back inside and have another beer.  

At this point I'm click wasted but I refuse to lose the "try this game." 

Ida (Andreas' mom) brings us some smoked Gouda cheese and we have another pears whiskey sipper. 

Peter had to have been impressed, I tried almost every drink he had and was still standing. I on the other hand was absolutely wasted and prayed for there to be nothing else to try. But Peter was ready to keep on going and so was I, I will not be a wuss in this man's house even if it kills me haha. Just as he reaches for the herb infused whiskey Ida says "Peter time for bed!" 

PRAISE THE LORD THANK YOU JESUS!!!

I have never been so happy in my entire life. I could feel myself slipping into the darkness and falling apart but I say "aww really? We were just getting started" and Peter looks up to his wife says "yes, I'm coming!" Looks back at me and says "we will continue tomorrow." I smile say "yes," but my liver screams, "HELL NO!" Hahaha

To be continued....

Broken AC's on a plane are worse than snakes.

Yeah buddy!!! I'm in Germany and the only word I know is Scheiße, Which means shit. To be practical and honest my flights were a bunch of Scheiße but I'm here safe and sound!!! I've definitely developed a new pet peeve to add to my list and you'll add it too because, there's nothing worse than "Helpless Uncomfortability." 

Let me give you an example: you're on a date with a girl you just met and while driving you feel a bubble, bubble in your gut. You've got to fart but you don't know if it's going to be: loud, silent, odorless, or deadly... The possibilities are endless but you're holding it in AKA "Helpless Uncomfortability."

Anyways

The weather man served up a BLAZING 90° Day in NYC and it came with a side of 100% humidity. Weather that was so sticky you developed swamp ass after two steps outside. To make matters worse the terminal had a "fever" and was running a little hot. It was like a friend's house whose parents kept the AC at 77° to save energy knowing damn well that it is not comfortable. 

To add to the trauma of the day, my flight was delayed so I had to take one of those propeller planes. I don't have anything against propeller planes but this one was sent from Satan himself. 

It was 90° outside and 900° inside the plane! I should have walked my happy ass to my connecting flight in Philadelphia because that would have been more pleasant. I was sweating like I stole something on a crispity hot day with no choice but to take it. Hence my new worse pet peeve Helpless Uncomfortability! 

The Captain knew it was hot too, he said over the speaker "this plane is unusually hot today and we're working on it." In lamen terms: sit your ass right there and enjoy the heat. He should have cackled afterward it would have been the icing on the cake... that bastard. 

Plane #2 was a S.O.B. I had an eight hour flight and no proper way to get some sleep. One good thing was I had a row to myself but that was useless, Like having a down blanket on a hot day... To add fuel to the fire my backpack for my "backpacking trip" is sitting in Philadelphia. 

I'm thirsty I need a BIER!

All in all it was smooth sailing and they served good food. I'm in Europe, (enter BANE) "Let the games begin!"

No One Looks Back on Life and Remembers a Good Night's Sleep

"Here's to the nights I wanna remember but am going to forget... MAZEL TOV!"

Completely the wrong word for "cheers" but I don't care it's my favorite when copious amounts of alcohol is involved. Not any old alcohol, it had to be Admiral Nelson... That really cheap knock off of Captain Morgans. Tastes like a rubbing alcohol with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon. SCRUMPTIOUS!

All of the days leading up to, and including, the EPICNESS of which one would call EDC Las Vegas was alcholically driven by Admiral Nelson. Peace signs all over the place and you could literally feel the PLUR! One word: MAGICAL!

I gathered myself at about 4 a.m. sucked down some water and took the photo you see, it was hot, dry, loud, and bright but that couldn't stop us. Dance, Dance the night away until you see the sun and forget the day. Electric dance zombies, popping and locking to 128 BPMs, bobbing and swaying to Bass and drops, energy that came from the one meal we ate a day. We were surrounded by the masses of Ravers alike, reckless fun with no abandon.

The trip to Las Vegas is a blur. I remember popping vitamins like Skittles, 12 hours of sleep over five days, the Grand Canyon, and being hit on by a drunk gay guy whom I mushed and a night that was 15 Jame-o shots and a brown paper bag away from being perfect! Couldn't say this any better but:

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... or does it?