21... It's A Magic Number...

I should start by saying that, thankfully, I had dear friends to celebrate with me, and as the night went on, to take very good care of me. Special thanks goes out to Kaitlin Bailey and Sam Erickson. Love you guys!!!
So much can be gathered from a photo… so this post will have lots of pictures, and very few words ☺


The "oil can" beer that Tarik gave me.

December 5th, my dear friend Sam arrived in Paris. Just in time for the notorious 21st-birthday-eve. The evening started out with some gifts: the I [heart] PARIS shirt, a couple bottles of wine, various different beers… all of which were sampled in the company of great friends, the comfort of my little shoebox sized room. Then we were off. We made it to a bar called “Frog and Princess” just before midnight. I explained to the bartender that he had exactly two minutes to pour 9 shots before I turned 21. He responded fabulously.

First (Legal?) Drink!

Minutes later, my phone rings. I answer, thinking I’m getting birthday wishes from my Dad. After informing him that I had a mojito in one hand and a beer in the other, and I had just taken a birthday shot in a bar, I realize I’m actually talking to my GRANDPA. (sorry grandpa… for anything else I might have said!!!) I am sure my grandparents envisioned me spending a quiet 21st birthday in Paris, playing tiddlywinks and sipping my first taste of an alcoholic beverage at the stroke of midnight. Sorry to crush the vision grandpa…

Right after talking to grandpa...

We made our way to another bar – famous for its pint-sized long island iced teas. Needless to say, this is where the night gets a little hazy for me… But photos are worth a thousand words! So enjoy.


Enjoying Long Island Iced Teas and dancing with my friend, Cherif

I arrived home safely in my chariot (which may have looked a little more like a shopping cart…)

Oh, they were great...

The next night, December 6th, my friend Tarik hosted a “Global Village” in the building where I live. Essentially it was just a good excuse for everyone to make excellent food from all over the world and make a party out of it. Could I have asked for a better birthday? I submit that I could NOT ☺


The Americans brought some good ol' PB&J's...

And hosted some educational seminars
on University-style Drinking Games. A BIG hit.

Our Moroccan buddies getting the party started at Global Village

Kaitlin: "Tarik. I need a birthday candle to put on

Dani's cake."
Tarik: "No problem. I have candles in my room.
Go find one."
(five minutes later)
Kaitlin: "Tarik, you only have huge scented
candles in big glass jars."
Tarik: "Well why don't you just use my cigarette?"

turns out a lit cigarette is VERY hard to blow out...

More Moroccan Friends...

Thanks to her, my 21st was certainly a birthday to remember

THANKFUL FOR PRAGUE!

Where to begin? I guess I left off before my trip to Prague.
The day before thanksgiving, I flew to Prague to visit friends. Drew Bombard was studying there for the fall semester (which is already finished… notice how behind I am…) and Megan Foster flew in from Cork, Ireland and Claire Hay – winning the prize for traveling the furthest – made an appearance all the way from Boulder. Props to Claire, that’s real dedication.

Reunited!

I arrived the day of Claire’s 21st birthday, so I got to share some of the festivities with her that evening. Drew’s older brother Rob and a few of his friends lead us around to some VERY cool bars and clubs and pints of beer only cost a dollar – a great change coming from Paris! The next day was thanksgiving. It was apparently one of the first sunny days Prague had seen in over a month. Drew made an amazing tour guide, all the while smiling like a giddy little kid at the rare sight of sunshine. We saw most of the sights over the course of the afternoon and I got to meet a few of Drew’s friends.

A graffiti wall dedicated to John Lennon after his death. The
wall is always changing... in the
five days I was there, I saw the

wall twice and already people had
put new artwork over the old.

It is tradition for soldiers to hang a lock on this fence before they leave for war and come back to collect it
when they get home.

Flying Buttresses in Prague!

Perrier made his appearances.

I liked these sculptures: a monument depicting
the destructive effects of a communist regime.

Beautiful sunsets.

Amazing Jewish cemetery - some 100,000
people buried here, but only 12,000 graves
are above ground!

Earlier in the day we had made a reservation for seven at café called the Globe – owned and operated by a CSU alumni! They were making a Thanksgiving feast, and we all knew it was about time we had a good ol’ fashioned gluttonous American meal. What started out as a seven-person table ended up seating almost 20 people: friends, family, and strangers… And we all shared an amazing meal together (complete with a ‘round the table “tell everyone what you’re thankful for” ritual.) It the whole holiday was impromptu, and spontaneous, and spent with great friends, and thus, perfect. We finished the night off at Juvay – the bar under Drew’s dorm. I can see why he had such a great semester.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday was spent wandering around town with the girls, doing some shopping, more sightseeing, and trying desperately to keep the San Diego girls from freezing to death. There were some lips turning blue... who thought the Czech Republic in late November was a good idea? But nighttime got a little warmer in a crowded dance club that was hosting 80’s and 90’s night. Good, sweaty, dancetastic, fun.

dinner before dancing

beautiful friends!

Saturday morning, I picked up Kaitlin from the airport (she couldn’t miss out on all the Prague fun!) and I spent the first part of the day attempting to give her a tour of Prague – Drew had shown us a lot!!! And that night, we went out to celebrate Drew’s 21run. An evening spent with lots of friends in several different bars, ending with a very happy Drew in the middle of a Hen Party (euro version of a bachelorette party.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!

Sunday was a rather sleepy day… trying to recover from the damage done in the previous days. and Claire had both left by Sunday morning, and I think I had just started to realize how great it was to have a little taste of home in the midst of my European adventures… Thanksgiving was a little home away from home.
On Monday, we did dome final sightseeing, wandered through the fantastic Christmas markets, and drank a little more hot wine before we headed off to the airport to fly back to Paris. I can’t say enough how great it was to see Megan, Claire, Drew and Rob too!