After Jess went back to Long Beach and the rest of her family to London/Australia, I got to relive backpacking solo mode- but this time on the Greek islands! Although only for a couple of days, this was a big deal for me since I didn't get to go backpacking this summer. Off season just started on the islands so they were all winding down for winter.

Must return when I(we) have more time.

Waiting for the ferry to dock (and then get bombarded by locals trying to win your business for their hostel).

My quiet hostel on Ios.

I want to trade shoes with this guy.

Backpacking life is good for my health.

You'd expect pictures of the Greek beaches but at this point, I stopped taking pictures and just became a beach bum.

Greece (reflections):
_only need 1-2 days for Athens
_enjoy 95% of your trip on the islands
_taxis are really cheap
_rent a quad or scooter for 20 euros and explore the island you're on
_eat more Greek food

The newly weds!



I'm not sure why I'm making that face. The family's island house where the reception was held at plus the sweet view. Jess sittin' pretty in Athens.



Jess's cousin Dana is super cool and works for NPR!

The reception, up until 6am!

Oh yeah! There was a Greek trip not too long ago- mainly of which involved Jess's brother Simon's 1/2 Australian 1/2 Greek wedding on an island.  Finally met her family and enjoyed some amazing Greek hospitality. 

Many stories to be told before this took place. It involved tequila, an amazing night time view of the Parthenon while standing in the rain, 3 brothers and yakuza, and then acupuncture.

Jess's brothers Paul and Sean are tall.

The Athenian stray dogs are no joke.

The Aussie family

Jess in ninja mode.

Left French Switzerland and headed for German Switzerland with Quebec. Bit the bullet and bought a ticket for Zurich.
Spy school training kicked in, sneak into Zurich university to use their internet and cafeteria. Use other hostel kitchens to cook food. Find random places to sleep.

yes.

So when using other hostel's kitchens, you tend to meet other travelers. The World Crew (Copenhagen, Ze German Rapper, Tel Aviv, Portland, Denver, Scottland, New York, Canada, Quebec)

Water from the Swiss Alps? I hope so, I drank alot of the water that came from these fountains to save money.

He was standing in the cold water to cool down- had to take a pic.

So while I'm sitting outside of the hostel and enjoying a backpacker's salami and cheese sandwich, I am forced to interrupt a near-by conversation between London Ed and Quebec Louise (both pictured above) when London Ed talks about how ugly LA is. Whether or not its true (shhh..), I flipped over my table and said I rep Cali and threw four fingers up, two twisted in the middle. Anyway, we ended up all cruising around Bern looking for a spot to swim and drank "all natural" Swiss beer. Swam in a river that had the current of furious beast and am eternally grateful there was a rock to grab onto.

So after leaving Genevé, I board the train and am ready to sketch. When the ticket man comes by, I quietly realize I no longer have my EuroRail pass (which means I dont have the funds to buy train tickets for my original itinerary)! After getting tired of waiting for me to find my pass, he tells me that he'll just come back and check later. Its a strange yet appropriate feeling when things feel like it stops but you're still traveling at 300km/h. The view while all the drama went down. Ninja tactics switch on and I sneak off at the next stop, some small town called Bern, to avoid paying for a first class train ticket. Found a youth hostel to sort it all out.

Travel companions when backpacking solo.

Exactly.

Where it all goes down.

The Red Cross Museum is directly across the street.

Indeed.

Chilled with 2 Aussies, a kiwi mountain climber (pictured above), and a Canadian, who were all traveling solo as well, and it just happened to be the Swiss Nat'l Holiday (lasts an entire week) Too many stories to tell- just ask.

Saw this after stepping off the train from London. Alas, Morocco didn't happen, Tye and Annis... next time.

Apparently my high-school level French did not pull its weight in this city. Or speak more arrogantly next time. There's a joke somewhere in there, Alix.


Alistair, the Aussie hostel roommate, and I navigating the metro after a pub crawl. The plan: get as drunk as possible and pass out as soon as we got back in, you have no idea how loud one of our roommates snored.

Congrats to Tye gradutating from SOAS! My first time seeing him since being boarding school roommates 8 years ago. Big ups to his acceptance into Columbia for masters in international human rights.
Many convos later, we realized we started off at the same spot even after an 8 year hiatus. Although in different fields, crazy to see how our paths are crossing for humanitarian relief efforts. Up and coming collabo fo'sho...
Thankfully, a great cook he is. 10 bucks for a McD meal didnt cut it, yo.
Tye and his gf Annis, the 2 best London hosts, minus a pic with bumbumtrain Morgan!

So Courtney and I are teaching design in front of the barn... the kids are designing some sort of new waterproof mobile phone. Suddenly, one of the girls shrieks in a way that you immediately know something is horribly wrong. I turn around and try to read her face and see Courtney's face has the same expression.
Behold Pearl! He apparently was shot by a hunter the PREVIOUS night and survived the entire night. Pearl dragged his barely hanging leg (after climbing down a ladder) across from where Courts and I were teaching- in front of Gabi, one fo the girls who he belongs to. Life on a farm.
*Just the year before, Pearl survived a packed car running her over and crushing all her internals- on the same side where he lost his leg...

This is Lido, Marianka's 1.5 year old daughter. She is the most independent baby I've ever seen. She talks a mean game and does everything (almost) by herself. Lido stares you down and says "salma" ("by myself" in Czech) anytime you try to help her with anything- like not letting me take away the pictured butter knife away from her.
Game face. See July 2nd post for another great picture of Lido eating.

Martin, the 6 y.o. Czech local. It was his first time away from home so he cried often. Court and I took him under our wing plus drawing tanks for him really turned him around. Although we could not speak to each other due to the language barrier, we had no problem communicating. Too bad since he apparently shared my passion for WWII. Ended up being the sweetest kid. Oh yeah, and has a thing for Hitler. C. thinks she and I are safe since I will be designing tanks for him during his future reign.
8 mile, son.