San Francisco, California, USA: My Golden Gate To China

I've been considering incorporating more video in my blog posts, and even replacing some posts with video. Well, this is the first post that I will do entirely as a video.

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Comment, like, and share the videos with everyone you've ever met in life. Thank you, that is all.

My First Vlog

From the description on YouTube:

Come Travel with the TMax

The full Chinese Visa Process

My trip to Sofia (and details on the free walking tour)

Online kettlebell course (discounted for you lovely people - ONLY $11)

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Mexico: How Little I Knew About My Next Door Neighbor

Traveling with Ainhoa to her old stomping grounds of Guadalajara and then to travel through Guanajuato, León, and Puebla, before hanging out a few days in Mexico City.

Viva Mexico!

Interesting observations about Mexico

• Mexicans are humble, honest, and generally friendly. 
• Mexicans put chili on everything. No, seriously, everything.
• Many things named after Miguel Hidalgo (Mexican revolutionary).
•  Public bathrooms cost between 3-10 pesos, including some stores.
• At the toilets, they give you a certain amount of toilet paper, or there is one roll outside of the toilet, and you take some in with you.
• Mexicans speak in the simple past, like the Asturianos. 
• "Alto" instead of stop signs. (Morocco is the only other country I've ever seen it say anything other than "stop").
• Mexicans drive very aggressively. 
• 'E' for estacionamiento instead of 'P' for parking, unlike rest of world.
• Mexican street sellers are loud, but not aggressive (read: bothersome) like in some other countries.
• Despite the intense heat, people have on long sleeves and even jackets, in the middle of the day. 
• The women wear a lot of makeup.
• Mexicans aren't fat but also no one is skinny. 
• Volkswagen beetle may be the official car of Mexico.
• Mexicans don't throw toilet paper in the toilet, but in a trash can. 
• Mexico is more similar to US when it comes to smoking - they do it way less than in Europe.
• In Europe you see people with fútbol shirts (i.e. Barça, Man U, Bayern), but in Mexico you see American cities and (all) sports teams.
• I learned many new words, and new definitions for words I already knew.
• The fruit here is so good: bananas, papaya, guava, dragon fruit, mango, zarzamora (blackberry).

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Thessaloniki, Greece: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 2

This is a six-part blog. Here are the links:

Sofia, Bulgaria / Initial synopsis

Thessaloniki, Greece 

Tirana, Albania

Prizren and Pristina, Kosovo

Skopje, Macedonia

Veliko Tarnovo and Vratsa, Bulgaria / Final thoughts

Leaving the "lion country" behind and heading to Greece

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Sofia, Bulgaria: The Balkans by Bus Road Trip Christmas 2016 pt. 1

Synopsis: This is actually the first Christmas I've ever spent without my parents. I haven't traveled much outside of Spain since I arrived here, with the exception of Andorra, Gibraltar, and a couple of trips back to the states. 

I want to see some of the countries in Europe that I haven't seen, so I finally decide on Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo - all by bus. Last time I did a multi-country trip like this was to the other side of the Balkans (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro). 

Super cool map of the Balkans, from the hostel in Prizren, Kosovo

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Santander, Spain: (El Fin de) Semana Grande

Synopsis: Before my amazing Asturias trip, I was planning to go to Santander, but upon further research, I saw they were having a semana grande (it's like a week-long festival with food, music, art, and activities) the last weekend of July, and I postponed my trip until then. I invited some friends, and Suzana, one of my Pintxo Pals, took me up on my offer. However, because I was in Asturias, I did not do any planning, and the weekend is turning out to be a bigger event than I thought. So, we will go there for the weekend, with no plans and no place to sleep...

Two days of fun, sun, and beach-un (it has to rhyme)

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Córdoba, Spain: Fiesta de Los Patios

Synopsis: Fresh off La Féria in Sevilla, still questing along and hitting all the major fiestas and events. Next on the list: los patios de Córdoba, a contest where inhabitants decorate their patios (courtyards) with flowers, plants, and other garden-related fashionable items. I found a host on couchsurfing for three nights, and then the last night I'll stay in a hostel. Found a good deal on the train, too!

In such a hot place, it makes sense they would celebrate such a cool thing

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Valencia, Spain: Las Fallas 2015

Synopsis: Since I only have one year in Spain, I want to go and experience as many of the local customs, traditions, and of course, celebrations, that I can. Valencia is a short 4-5 hour drive from where I live, so my buddy, Greg, and I are gonna road trip it there, and partake in the last days of the Las Fallas celebration (official website in Spanish). We found a sweet deal on AirBnB and this will be our first time using the website to find a place to stay. 

Las Fallas 2015 Valencia, Spain

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6 Ways This American Travels Without Spending A Lot of Money

Throwback to Czech Republic in 2010

I've been asked how I am able to travel so frequently. I do not make a lot of money, but I take at least 1 trip per month. I have had some trips that were outrageously expensive, and some that were so cheap it seems unreal. This post is about the latter, and what I do to make it happen.

Obviously, the cheaper trips I have taken have been to countries with lower costs of living, so that helps, but also having a frugal mindset discourages frivolous spending, without diminishing the fun of the trip. The main key is to make a travel budget. I decide how much money I am willing to spend while on vacation, and I stick to it. This is easier said than done, so here are some tricks on how I do it. Here are 6 ways this American travels without spending a lot of money.

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Road Trip from Belgium to Spain

Synopsis: I have found a way to immerse myself into the Spanish language and culture. I finally got an au pair visa (read about the chronicle here) and I'll teach some English and French to the Spaniards. I am taking my car with me, so that means a road trip is at hand! Will and I are going to take three days and enjoy some of the French countryside on the way there.

Where the map goes, we will follow

Trip Overview:
Day 1: Head out on the road with Will, the best driver this side of Peru, and myself, the best non contributor in the galaxy. I accidentally select "avoid tolls" on the GPS and we add two hours to our drive time and we are off in the farmlands of France.

Finally, we arrive in Lyon, right at rush hour. After driving around our hotel a few times, we find free street parking, then walk to our hotel. Since our hotel is on the main strip we walk around and hit Place Bellecour. Other than a giant ferris wheel, a statue, and a closed tourist info center, there isn't much there. We grab some food and then walk around the Traboules of Old Lyon, and walk forever uphill to the Basilica Fourvière. After all that walking, we are hungry again and end up at a Mexican restaurant. Afterward, we go to place Hotel De Ville, but it's dead so we head back to the hotel.

Thoughts: After watching Will drive for six hours, and then walking for several more hours around the city, I was exhausted. But not as exhausted as Will, who fell asleep as we walked into the hotel. Lyon is beautiful by night and quite spread out. We stopped at a hostel to ask about pub crawls and organized night tours and there doesn't seem to be either. Dommage.

On the open road

This is what it looks like when you are not on the toll road

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Madrid, Spain: Hora de divertirse

Synopsis: Ed is looking at potentially working in Spain and has a friend there who will host us. I am taking spanish classes, so what better way to test my progress? Let's do it. I am in the middle of my keto diet experiment. This is gonna be hard with all that delicious spanish food.

Trip Overview:
Day 1: Head down to Charleroi at 5AM. Arrive, and I've forgotten my passport. Thankfully, they let me through with my belgian ID. We get to Madrid and Ed whips out his Spanish that he learned in one month of visiting Spain. I say "gracias" about 4 times, just so they know I know what I'm talking about. We meet up with Diogo, our host and Ed's friend, and drop off our bags. Time to walk the city a bit. Head to El Retiro Park, and on such a lovely day. From there, go to Puerta del Sol and walk around. Madrid is having a garbage strike so there is trash everywhere.

Night 1: Starting to get dark so we walk from Plaza de Isabel II to Plaza Mayor, to Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Lots of walking, and we are tired and hungry. Diogo takes us to an interesting restaurant where I have a zebra burger. It's only 11PM and Ed has friends all over town. We go to meet up with another at a cafe, as they catch up and I people watch.

Thoughts: I speak decent Spanish when ordering my food, its just when they respond that I struggle. One lady yelled at me in english like I was a child, "just sit down, and i'll bring your food". Haha, I speak English fine! Also, glad I took my photo with the bear at Puerta del Sol today, because it was way too crowded every other day.

Ready to get to Spain for some fun

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Copenhagen, Denmark: WOD would you do for a danish?

Synopsis: I decide to go visit Jon, a Danish friend I met while doing crossfit in Beglium, for Easter weekend. Lo and behold, Emil, my crossfit coach and also a Dane, is going back the same day on the same flight! He will escort me to his homeland and then Jon will take me out and show me the real Copenhagen.

Trip Overview:
Day 1: Stephanie drops off Emil and me at the airport. We hang out and chat over coffee about him potentially opening a gym in Copenhagen. We have different seats on the plane, so I really don't see him again until we land. After landing, he and I head to the center, via metro. We swing by the Butcher's Lab, where he used to train before becoming a coach. Then we meet up with Jon, where Emil and I part ways.

Jon takes me around the city in his car and shows me some sights like the Little Mermaid and the Fallen Soldier Memorial. We then head back to his place and drop off my stuff. We head back out into the city via bike, For dinner, he takes me to this great Italian Restaurant, and he promises the tiramisu would be the best I ever had, and he is not wrong! Then, we go have drinks at a townhome-turned-upscale bar, and we are joined by some nice ladies at our table who don't even say a word to us. We are too attractive and probably intimidate them.

Thoughts: It was chilly in Belgium, but it is snowing and freezing cold in Copenhagen! Especially walking along the waterfront and riding around by bike. Thankfully, Jon gave me a pair of wool socks and my feet were never cold again! Now, I know why Emil wears his all the time at the Black Box.

This picture is the sole reason I know Steph took us to the airport

On the metro headed toward downtown Copenhagen

"Pick up a light kettlebell" -Emil

Meat processing plant turned crossfit gym

Aw, the little mermaid

The little mermaid done grown up! 

Fallen soldier memorial

Maybe the best host I've ever had in my life! Jon Jacob(Jingleheimer Schmit)sen!

Bike tours by Jon

Beet juice and something or other drink. Quite delicious

We are blurry thanks to the beet juice cocktails

The first black guy on a bike in Denmark

Cheers to a great night

Day 2: Wake up to the smell of breakfast being made. That is nice! We go out for another city tour, but in the daytime, and on foot. Carsten joins us. We walk around and complete the tourist checklist before heading to The Pharmacy, the crossfit gym Jon trains at, to do some stretching and mobility work. Afterward, head back out into town and grab some food. Go home and shower before heading back out again, for drinks and late night shenanigans.

Thoughts: Who doesn't like waking up to breakfast? And it was delicious too! Carsten and Jon are pretty laid back guys and nice enough to let my tourist needs guide our path for the day.

I mean c'mon! Gourmet breakfast with such presentation!

The architecture was amazing!

Carsten and I on the Torvegade 

What's Hans looking at???

Timothy Gardens

Inside the Pharmacy (aka Apoteket)

Next floor, women's lingerie

Joe and the Juice…and the Tim and the Carsten

Capturing the moment being captured

Appetizers

Make Jon laugh while he is drinking

Madame Chu's gets crazy!

Day 3: Head back to The Pharmacy for a team wod. After punishing our weakness (crossfit mantra), we go for another bike ride and see the rest of Copenhagen. We go to Jon's favorite bar, hidden conveniently on the other side of town, behind trees and houses. We were invited by some of the people at the Pharmacy for a get together, which we ride to, because its not that far. Hangin' out with the Danes, who intermittently throw out english words to make me feel like i'm not left out. They are really nice and we have a good time.

Thoughts: I had a teammate that played pro basketball here, and now I see why he loved the area and the people so much.

Team WOD warmup

Team WOD: 299 pushups to go

Hot new hobby: bicycle photography (aka bicyography)

I want abs like hers!

Day 4: I have a late afternoon flight, so what better way to spend my morning than doing a wod? And after the wod, let's do an hour of clean training (not like learning to sweep or dust, but the olympic variety). Good times. Then its off to the airport all alone, waving goodbye to Emil and Copenhagen.

Thoughts: I feel like I am becoming a machine...

Oh Cindy, how bad you went

How is it that I always find the other black people in these countries 

Success at the Butcher's Lab

Oh wait, there's still more workout left!

Welcome to the gun show!

My first ring muscle-up

Final Thoughts: I went to a crossfit gym everyday on this vacation. And, despite all the short sleeves and summer clothes, it was really cold. Maybe it was just me, but I did not see a lot of Danes smoking; a nice change from the rest of Europe. Jon's mom made me some wool socks and sent them to me and I wear those things everywhere, because they are so comfortable and warm!

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Belgrade, Serbia: Where Sava and Danube first met

Synopsis: Ed and I decide to go to Belgrade, Serbia (partly because it's somewhere we've never been, but mostly because we found cheap tickets). We also decide to couchsurf, to make sure we get the full expereince of the city under the direction of a local.

Trip Overview:
Day 1: We catch a midday flight and get to Belgrade in the early evening. We meet our hostess, Alex, and her friend, Goran, at a local McDonald's. She takes us back to her place, and we stop by the store first to buy food for the weekend. On the way back, Alex points out the buildings that were bombed during the war; the first time I've seen anything from the Kosovo war, in person.

We try some homemade rakia, before leaving the house, and that stuff is strong! We then head out and go to a couple clubs/bars, which are literally, smoke infested. There is more smoke than people in the club, if that's possible.

Thoughts: I changed my money at the airport and got raped on the exchange rate. I'm only using ATMs from now on. Alex said she almost didn't host us because my couch surfing profile was "scary". I used to have a photo of me during an intense xfit training session.

Our host, Alex, Ed, and Goran

I'm rich!

Getting ready for our first night out

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Istanbul, Turkey: Tryptophantastic Turkey Day

Synopsis: On my quest to visit all of Europe, and then see Asia, I found a place that will give me both in one visit: Istanbul, Turkey. I found a host on couchsurfing and I will stay with him for a few days. And, I spend Thanksgiving in Turkey.

Trip Overview:

Day 1: Head out of Zaventem in the early afternoon, to Ataturk, Istanbul. It's a 4 hour flight so I have plenty of time to learn some Turkish...that I quickly realize is super hard to learn and I immediately give up and watch spongebob on my iPad. I land in Istanbul and catch the bus to the stop where my host, Ibrahim, is going to meet me. He eventually finds me and he takes me back to his place. After dropping off my stuff, we go out for something to eat at a local spot that he frequents. I tell him to order me something really Turkish, and I end up with a tripe sandwich and wash it down with yogurt. Head back to the house for the night... a bit traumatized.

Thoughts: I am greeted with rainy weather, though it is warmer here than in Brussels. Initially I didn't know it was a cow stomach sandwich, and after eating 85% of it, I asked him what I was eating... which meant I had to struggle with that last 15%.

Ibrahim, my host, and I

The mosque next to his house that had loud speakers that announced the 5 daily prayers

Işkembe and ayran = Cow stomach and yogurt! 

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