The next morning, a friend of a friend, who lives in Munich, took us to a local restaurant for a typical German breakfast. We arrived and soon became absorbed by the charm of the restaurant–dark wooden tables with iron chandeliers hanging above, and walls adorned with Bavarian paintings and other cultural ornaments. The spirit of Oktoberfest was alive and well with elder local Germans drinking and singing along a live Bavarian band, which was like a German version of a mariachi band and they played all the songs we’ve grown familiar with from the day before. Our meals finally came and I reacted with a combination of horror and curiosity at the large, white sausage before me (and yes, there were plenty of jokes). The meal was accompanied by a light wheat beer and elegantly complemented the rich and sweet bratwurst. The taste was very unique and I couldn’t say what was inside the bratwurst, but I suppose that is the point.

Later that day we got on the bus to head east to Czech Republic, where we would stay in Prague for four days. This city was everything that I could expect and more. From Old Town Square and across the Vltava river to Prague Castle, cathedrals and Gothic/Baroque style buildings adorned with golden spires loom over you at every corner. Alleyways with cobblestone streets allow you to get lost into Prague’s infrastructural bliss and its architectural splendor. The nightlife is just as amazing. The Beer Factory was a blast. It was a blend of a bar and a club, with tables with built in kegs to race other tables to the finish. Everyone ended up dancing on the tables by the end of the night and on the dance floor. One thing I noticed about Prague was its progressive society–there is an abundance of youth that adds a tasteful flair to the cultural landscape. The women are that of another species and their beauty is unprecedented. I couldn’t help but helplessly ogle at the hundreds of gorgeous women and had to make a conscious effort to keep my jaw shut.

Czech Republic is part of what is considered the homeland of my heritage. My first known ancestor came to America from Prussia not long before its succession into Nazi Germany. Prussia is now Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Belgium and some northern countries such as the Netherlands. I felt a sense of belonging during my time in Prague. It is not something I’ve felt before–it was a type of heartfelt comfort and soul-warming satisfaction with where I was and what I was doing. Just perhaps, I may have found where I belong. We shall see.

The dreaded moment where we had to embark on the next leg of the journey finally came. However, I was excited to go to Vienna and Budapest. We didn’t spend much time in Vienna because of, ahem, some very intelligent planning…we arrived in the late afternoon and left at 2 am the next morning. Regardless, we made the most of our time there. We went to MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art) where I viewed some great modern pieces. Vienna itself was beautiful. The elegant array of Art Nouveau style architecture brought astonishment to my eyes. Art is everywhere in Vienna. Anywhere on the streets you can see articulate pieces of street art, and anywhere you look it is clear that aesthetics are always a part of industrial and infrastructural development. Soon the later hours of the night came and my group and I were unable to find anywhere to hang out to wait for the bus to arrive. We were virtually homeless and spent the next few hours like a bum. The night felt arctic and we were desperately trying to find shelter. We ended up sleeping on the cement ground for an hour in some type of underground tunnel/complex thing that leads to a stadium (don’t ask, we had no idea what the hell it was, but we didn’t care). It was warm!

The bus finally arrived to free us from arctic purgatory, and we then began the last leg of our journey to Budapest, Hungary. Budapest is made up of two cities on both banks of the Dunabe river, which are Buda and Pest. The landscape and architecture is very similar to that of Prague, except there is a fused influence of Turkish style. We went to a traditional Turkish bath one afternoon. These spas are heated by geothermal energy and are a luxurious way to relax. Another night, our hostel hosted an open mic night where I gave my first live performance in singing and playing guitar. That same night our group of people broke the hostel record for the most amount of Jager-bombs–we took a total of 140 Jager-bombs, beating the previous group by 12. The shots were lined up in a mathematical fashion atop glasses of red bull on the bar table. Once one shot was knocked over, a domino-effect commenced and 140 shots were knocked into glasses. Good stuff.

The most amazing part of Budapest was hiking up to the Citadel, which used to be an old fortress. Here all of Buda and Pest could be viewed at once for photographic magnificence.

We made a two-hour stop on the way back to Italy to wrap up the travel week in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Baroque-style architecture was in abundance from the cathedrals and cozy cafes. The river of Ljubljanica winds through the city center, overlooked by the Ljubljana castle. After enjoying a delicious pizza at a pizzeria, we made our way back to the bus and departed to our home in Italy.

All in all, the week was a phenomenal and life-changing adventure. I never would have imagined the amount of independence and self-confidence I would gain from navigating through foreign cities and meeting friends from all over the world. The past weekend I was in Barcelona, Spain. Next up is Paris, Lisbon, and Madrid.

All you ever wanted

Was someone to treat you nice and kind

And all you ever needed

Was someone who isn’t worth your time

You see him everywhere

But only when you close your eyes

Now all you ever wonder

If there is any more love to find

Follow your sweet dreams

And do only the things you love

So when things ain’t as they seem

You’ll fly high like a white dove

I’m your huckleberry, darlin’

Your angel perched on your shoulder

A blanket of love to carry

For when the times grow dark and colder

All you ever wanted

Was someone to treat you nice and kind

And all you ever needed

Was me all this time.

The first moment of adventure was when a small group of friends and I decided to explore the areas outside of town. Although I cannot remember the name of the town, I vividly remember walking toward Mt. Grappa to reach a town virtually at its base. Twenty minutes up a road eventually revealed a breathtaking view of the monstrous Mt. Grappa with wisps of clouds wrapped around it ever so elegantly. Our senses were then overtaken by the sweet smell of pastries, and we were drawn to a pastry shop adorned with chandeliers and a variety of colorful treats. Describing the food here in Italy would take a whole other post in itself.

A couple days later another group of companions and I decided to trek in the opposite direction to the bordering town of Castelcucco. It wasn’t long before our jaws dropped once again in reaction to the looming mountains, decorated sporadically with houses tucked into the green mountainsides. There was also an abundance of corn crops surrounding small brick cathedrals with bell towers stretching into the warm sun.  When we finally reached Castelcucco after a 45 minute walk, the town was bustling with traffic and socializing locals. Ducatis zipped by exceeding the “speed limit” over 40 km/hr, weaving in and out of the slow miniature cars that populate the traffic. We soon reached Illy’s, a bar and gelato shop where we were spoiled with rich, homemade gelato. It was in this shop where the youth of the region was present. Young couples engaged without restraint of PDA and teenagers chatted happily over bowls of gelato.

The first Sunday we all went to another bordering town called Crespano, where a market takes place weekly. The market has everything you could need, from fashionable clothes, watches, food, cutlery and kitchenware. I heartily chowed down on some fresh ribs in an attempt to cure my hangover, looking like a sloppy American with grease on my face and receiving smirks from locals. When in Rome.

The most memorable experience thus far was our trip to Cinque Terre. Translated to the “Five Lands,” Cinque Terre is an oasis of civilization located on the Mediterranean coast. We arrived via train after traveling through hollowed out cliffs that dropped into the ocean. The trip to our hostel was a complete incline, wearing our tired legs to the point of exhaustion. However, nothing could stop us as we froze in awe at the surrounding mountains coated with mist and the glowing Mediterranean sea in the background of colorful antique buildings carefully adorned on steep cliff-sides. Throughout the next day and a half, we explored the villages of Cinque Terre while soaking in the heavenly scenery. In the villlage of Monterosso we came across beach-front cafe’s and restaraunts. A few friends and I indulged in a local Mojito made with fresh mint leaves and brown sugar. The discipline of the bartenders was legendary, taking over 5 minutes to carefully perfect the alcoholic blend of bliss. Basking in the warm Mediterranean sun on the beach and swimming into the bright and salty sea, you forget that you’re in Italy. The area appeared more like a tropical Greece than the traditional Italy we were used to. There was a special moment where my friends and I finally realized that we were living the life. It hit us at once that this is the time of our lives, experiencing the most beautiful and sought-after places in the world. We couldn’t believe that we were actually students studying abroad and not burned out employees on a much needed vacation.

At night we hit up the town and drank to good times. At a bar, I befriended American students my age whom were studying in Milan. We eventually socialized with a group of young Italians and invited a small group of us to one of their houses for an after party. There, we were gathered in a living room and outside on the patio, watching soccer (futbol) and drunkenly overcoming communication barriers and curiously exploring the differences in our lives. I couldn’t have been happier with their hospitality and friendly nature, that night  made my experience even more unique and memorable.

I never would have imagined that I would grow so close with my fellow peers studying abroad. Traveling is a very unique bonding experience. Going through incidences of discomfort, confusion, awe, fascination and bliss brings you close to your companions. I am not only fortunate to have the amazing opportunity of traveling and studying abroad, but also to have such a great group of people by my side.

Next up, Florence. And later Oktoberfest, Vienna, Prague and Budapest. Stay posted.

Ciao,

JPS

The familiar sting as my heart begins to fray

Alone again, just me and my pen

Time wins again, robbing my faith

How many times can I handle this fate?

Seeking love in an empty place.

Amazing editing and overall a well done music video.

The musical elements of Japanese Cartoon consists of singing/rapping by Wasalu with an English twang stacked with bassy rhythms and punk riffs, but also ethereal trip-hop/electro beats.  This ensemble not only exemplifies Lupe Fiasco as a diverse musician but also brings out the lesser heard talent of Le Messie as a producer. Their debut album is available to download free of charge here, just sign up and check your email!

The thing is, as many people may realize, this blog has no clear direction. That is because I am trying to discover my niche by dabbling in a variety of topics that ignite my interests. One’s “niche” is a very subjective thing. Generally, a niche is a distinct segment within a market or industry. What I am trying to find is NOT that. I am searching for the niche within my own ambitions, imagination, creativity and passions. I am trying to find a home within my scattered brain.

I write about this niche as being undiscovered, however, it is less undiscovered as it is tangible. What I mean is that I know what I want, but I simply have to just do it. So, the question remains…What do I want? I will state it clear and in writing for myself to reference in the latter times; I want to write about music, cover live shows and explore the aspects associated with the industry such as fashion, art and current events that are relevant to music and our livelihood. Simply put, I want to be the next Rolling Stone Magazine, minus its numerous flaws and plus everything it should be.

From The Basement

My heart wrenching at your presence

My mind flooding with nostalgia

The dust of the past forms lovely thoughts

But it also stings like the needle’s shot

You bring me bittersweet disgust–

Or perhaps this is love.