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kpoptrashibnida · 4 years

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Enchanted Pt. 1

A/N: So I am a total liar because I said I was going to do a Taehyung One Shot, but I am not. I don’t think I was meant for the One Shot lifestyle. I think my problems stems with having too many details in my work :( but I hope that you guys enjoy the beginning of this Tae mini series. I am going to try and stick to 3 to 4 parts, but we shall see. Happy reading! And as always, constructive criticism is always welcome/appreciated!

Moving to South Korea on your own seemed like a good choice at some point. Especially since you came to live with a boyfriend you made online and he promised you a wonderful life in an exciting country. Of course you were too naive to see what was really happening even though your friends and family tried talking you out of it the whole time, up to the day you were due to leave for Incheon.

It was a big surprise to you when you arrived at the airport and he wouldn’t answer your texts. You figured he was stuck in traffic or on his way and didn’t want to text while driving, which is a good thing. But after waiting at the pickup curb for half an hour with still no answer, you started to worry. What if he got in an accident? Is he okay? He couldn’t have forgotten that you were arriving today because you sent him a screenshot of your flight info. Deciding that you had enough, you finally decide to call him.

We are sorry, the number you have dialed is disconnected or no longer in service. Goodbye.

“What the heck?” You whisper to yourself. You try it one more time and get the same message, your heart sinking. Is he ignoring you right now? Why isn’t he picking up? You log into your instagram to message him and your stomach twists in knots when you realize he blocked you. Your chat was no longer available and when you looked him up by username nothing came up. Tears welled up in your eyes at the realization that he was not coming for you and he just completely ghosted you. How could he do such a thing? Why would he promise to live his life with you and have you come out to a foreign country where you only know him just to abandon you? Did he mean it when he said he loved you? Or was it all just a game for him?

Deciding that wallowing in self pity at the airport surrounded by strangers was not something you were about to do, you wipe away the stray tears and get to work.

‘This is why we came with a plan.’ You say to yourself, glad that you didn’t just come without a proper plan in place and blind trust on that bastard you once called your boyfriend.

You looked up a hostel near the airport that was accessible by bus and started on your new journey. Thankfully the public transportation in Korea is amazing and you didn’t have to wait long to get on the bus. Once there, you made sure you kept your ears open for the name of your stop, grateful that you were smart enough to learn some basic Korean so you can get around without a problem.

Taking a deep breath you try not to let your pain crush you and you manage to keep your tears at bay. Even though things are not going the way you planned, that was not going to ruin your plans to live in this country. You are going to make it work and show that bastard that you don’t need him.

****3 months later****

“Hey do you think you can cover my closing shift tomorrow? I have to go wedding dress shopping with my sister.” Minyoung, my coworker asked.

“Yeah that’s fine.” You say with a smile. Any extra income is welcomed especially because rent is almost due and you’re short.

Working at the cafe part time makes you just enough for your rent, but it’s still not enough. The cafe is close by some entertainment agencies and it’s always filled with crazy hopeful fans and on rare occasions, the idols themselves. It was hard to know sometimes because most of the time they were wearing face masks, but on rare occasions they came in without one. You weren’t particularly a big fan of any of these artists but you could say that they were very talented. Minyoung was your closest coworker and she was extremely obsessed with them. She would listen to their music all the time and talk about them non-stop. It was endearing but you were lost half of the time. She tried getting you into it but you were busy with work and your side job as an English tutor, that you didn’t really have a lot of extra time available. Binge watching music videos and tv performances is a luxury you couldn’t quite afford.

Your English tutoring was what made it possible for you to survive without having to eat ramen all day every day. It was great because that way, you didn’t have to call your family and ask them for help. Your parents were no longer angry with you, but they were concerned. You assured them that you were fine and everything was under control, even though they didn’t know that you were actually ditched the second you arrived in the country. You were going to tell them, but you wanted to wait and make it seem like you broke up later on.

Now, however, you were struggling to make ends meet because the family you tutor for left for a two month vacation and you were out of that extra income for that time. So you were more than willing to cover as many shifts as possible, even if it wasn’t the same as your tutoring job. What mattered was that your bills were paid on time, even if you had to eat ramen with Kimchi every day.

You sighed a breath of relief when it was finally time for you to clock out for the day. Your back and feet were so sore, the thought of a hot shower excited your tired limbs. You bid goodbye to your coworkers as you grabbed your purse and left the building. You saw a huge black van park in front of the cafe and you felt grateful that you were off and didn’t have to help the huge group that was coming in. It looked like the type of vans that idols use, but it could also be a school group or even a church group. Regardless, you were glad it wasn’t your problem and you can go home to relax. Besides, who gets coffee this late? The cafe was practically empty now.

Your apartment was close to the coffee shop therefore your commute was short. You lived in an older building but the rent was low and your landlord was nice. She was a sweet old lady that helped you out and didn’t treat you differently just because you were a foreigner. She checks up on you a lot and gives you some banchan from time to time, which you always appreciate because her cooking is amazing.

You take your shoes off as soon as you enter your apartment and sigh at the mess you left in the kitchen this morning before going to work. You woke up late and in a rush to eat some breakfast and make some coffee, so it looked like a tornado passed by your kitchen. You were extremely exhausted and decided that the kitchen could wait until after a nice hot shower and maybe some fried chicken from the place down the street.

After your much needed shower and a clean kitchen, you were able to enjoy your fried chicken while watching some TV. You didn’t watch a lot of Korean TV, mainly sticking to streaming apps like Netflix. But you did enjoy watching the music shows from time to time and tonight was some kind of comeback stage. You watched as the myriad of girls screamed on the TV screen and rolled your eyes at the noise, extremely amused at how they idolized these people. You had to admit that these artists were all gorgeous- men and women, although you knew that the makeup was attributed to it as well. You never knew that men could be cute and sexy at the same time. These pop idols were not afraid to rock some femininity but still managed to look manly and sexy all in one. It was something completely different than what you see back home, but you were not complaining. Before you knew it, exhaustion crept over you and pulled you under without warning.

The second you walked into the cafe you could feel a buzz of energy in the atmosphere that was a little too much for you at such an early hour.

“What’s going on?” You ask Minuk, taking in the giddy whispers of some of the female staff.

“They’re losing their minds because BTS came in yesterday to get some coffee and they are practically drooling.” He grumbles, rolling his eyes at the ridiculous situation.

“They would.” You shake your head, knowing that Minyoung is going to cry the second she hears that BTS was here after she had gone home.

“When did they come?” You ask the group of giddy girls.

“Literally like a minute after you left yesterday! If only you had stayed a little longer.” Bora answers, she was the one who worked the evening shift with you yesterday and she stayed to close the shop.

“It was so amazing. They’re all so nice and down to earth.” She swooned, tying her apron around her waist.

You chuckle at her dreamy expression, thoroughly amused at the whole situation. BTS are a very popular group so it makes sense that they came to get coffee once the place was empty and they had a low chance of getting mauled by crazy fans. You had to admit that they are very talented and passionate about what they do. Since Minyoung is a huge fan of theirs, she would force you to listen to their music and stream any music video that they would release. You would oblige but you haven’t gotten too into KPOP. While you enjoyed listening to it over the speakers at the cafe, the grocery stores and basically anywhere you went, you weren’t a hardcore fan by any means. You were still trying to get fully settled in this country and your priorities were different right now. Perhaps in the future it’s something that you can get more into.

The day went by in a rush and you were surprised at how tired you felt once you finally sat down to have your lunch. Well, it was more like dinner because you were all so busy that getting a break was almost impossible. Today was the first day of the holiday drinks and it seems like all of Seoul was anticipating this day because the incessant line of customers just died down five minutes ago. You were closing for Minyoung today and you were working the closing shift with Dara. she insisted you take a break to eat something before she headed home for the night. You were very thankful because you were starving and your feet ached.

“Okay I’m all done.” You say, coming back from the back room.

“Did you chew your kimbap at all?” She teased, noticing that your break was way too short.

“It’s fine.” You waved her off, you much preferred to get your cleaning tasks out of the way to make closing easier.

“You know what I noticed? Since it was busy all day no one ground the coffee beans for tomorrow’s opening shift. I’m going to do that right now before I leave. It should take me about twenty minutes.” She informs you.

“Oh gosh, yes please. We cannot leave without doing that first. Are you sure you want to stay and do it? Your shift is basically over.” You say, not wanting to keep her here unnecessarily.

“Of course. Besides, it's dead right now and I doubt anyone is going to come in within the next twenty minutes.” She brushes you off and heads to the back where the coffee grinder is.

Thankful for the help, you decide that you should start on your cleaning tasks so you can get out of here soon too. You were concentrating on trying to get a stubborn stain off a table that you were startled when you heard the door’s bell jingle, signaling someone coming into the cafe.

“Welcome.” You quickly greet, bowing at the customer.

“Are you still open?” The deep voice asks, his eyes looking at you intently.

“Yes we are, no worries.” You say, quickly walking back to the register. “What can I get for you?” You ask, taking in the customer’s appearance. He is wearing a black cotton face mask so you can’t see his face that well.

“I’ll have a medium hot chocolate.” He says, looking right at you.

You type the order in the POS system and try not to turn red under the strangers gaze. You are a foreigner after all and you should really be used to the stares by now. One thing is seeing a foreigner on vacation, another thing is seeing them working and living here.

“Okay, anything else?” You ask, briefly glancing up to look at him.

“Just that.” He answers, shaking his head lightly.

“Is it for here or to go?” You ask as you run his card for his total.

“Here.” He says and you quickly look up at him. He just stares back at you and you quickly look back down, the heat now spreading all over your face. It wasn’t very often that people would have their drinks in the cafe this close to closing time, but you couldn’t complain. You informed him that you would bring his drink to his table and he thanked you in that deep voice of his.

You quickly got to making his drink and you carefully took it to his table. As you approached, you could see that he removed his face mask and it was dangling from one of his ears. You were curious to see if his face was as attractive as his voice. The moment you were in front of his table, your breath hitched in your throat. He was very handsome, his smooth skin looking beautiful under the cafe lighting; his hair was fluffy and it looked so soft, making you want to touch it.

“Here you go.” You say with a smile, carefully placing the mug in front of him.

“Thank you.” He says, looking right at your face. You held eye contact for about two seconds but inevitably looked away and walked back to the barista station, deciding that it was the perfect time to clean the area.

You kept glancing back to the table where the guy was and noticed that he would be looking in your general direction and that made you nervous. You hated being watched as you did your job, but he was the only person here.

“Hey, I’m all done with the coffee, I’m going to head out.” Dara says, coming from the back and breaking you from your inner freakout.

“Okay, thank you so much for that.” You thank her, glad that your workload has lessened.

“Oh, I didn’t hear the customer come in.” She says, barely noticing the man sitting at the table. “Oh my gosh.” She suddenly whispered, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“What?” You ask, looking back at the customer and noticed he looked away the second you looked his way.

Dara quickly pulled you to the back, away from his sight.

“That’s Taehyung from BTS!” She whisper-shouted, her body trembling slightly out of excitement.

“Oh. No wonder he looked kind of familiar.” You shrug, his ridiculously good looks now making sense.

“How can you be so passive about this? He’s BTS’s Taehyung!” Dara shakes you slightly, making you laugh at her excitement.

“He’s just a human being.” You reply, rolling your eyes.

You walk back out to the front of the cafe and almost jump back when you see that Taehyung is no longer sitting down but standing right at the counter. Dara eyes you nervously but says her goodbyes, leaving you alone with Taehyung.

“Sorry about that wait. Is there anything else I can help you with?” You ask, your customer service voice on.

“No that’s all, I just didn't want to leave the mug on the table.” He explains, smiling at you.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that. Thank you.” You say, bowing slightly and picking up his mug.

He stood there watching you place the mug in the sink, making you feel self conscious about your actions. You slowly turn to look at him, his soft eyes watching your every move. He held eye contact with you for what felt like an eternity but was probably about five seconds. Before you could break eye contact or say anything, he gave you a cute boxy smile, your heart beating irregularly at the sight.

“Have a good night.” He finally said and bowed, before turning around and heading out.

“..Um, uhhh, yeah you too.” You mumble, watching his figure walk out to a car that was parked across the street.

You shook your head and tried to forget the odd encounter, focusing now on locking the door and making this place sparkly clean for the morning shift… which you are working.

By the time you made it to your front door you were practically dragging your feet, exhaustion wracking your whole body. You went straight to the shower and then straight to bed, too tired to even feel hungry.

“You freaking bitch, tell me all about it!” Minyoung screeched the second she walked through the doors of the cafe, which thankfully was empty at the moment.

“Will you keep it down?” You chastise, worried that customers are going to be coming in while she is screaming and cursing.

“Dara texted me last night and said that Kim Taehyung, THE Kim Taehyung was here last night! Is that true?” She questions you, wanting all the details. She is a hardcore BTS fan after all.

“Yes, I didn’t realize who it was until Dara told me.” You tell her, rolling your eyes at her whines about how she can’t believe that you didn’t recognize someone as amazing and handsome and Taehyung.

“Okay but all that aside, I do want to ask you something.” She says after the first wave of customers finally leave.

“What’s that?” You ask, scared of what she might come up with.

“Want to come to a BTS concert with me? My friend and I bought tickets a while ago but she can’t go anymore. If you’re interested, you can have her ticket. You haven’t been to a kpop concert yet and it’s a great experience you should have.” She tried to convince you.

A concert sounded like a lot of fun, especially since you haven’t done many fun things since you arrived in Korea. Minyoung is the first friend you made and you haven’t been able to spend much time with her outside of work because you’re always so busy and you need some distraction.

“Okay, I guess I’ll go.” You give in, smiling at her excited jumping. She promised that you would have a great time and not regret it, which you hope was right.

It was the day of the concert and you were excited to go with Minyoung, even though she was literally going crazy with excitement. She coordinated your outfits in case you got to meet the boys; which you knew was almost impossible but you let her be with her wishful thinking. You felt comfortable and confident in your all-black ensemble, your cute skirt and top giving you a confidence you have not felt in a while, ever since your ‘boyfriend’ ditched you the second you got to this country.

This concert was unlike anything you have experienced back home and you were feeding off people’s energy. Everyone in the stadium was excited and you could feel it in the air and it was contagious. You laughed at the way everyone screamed at the top of their lungs the second the stage started to rise, indicating the start of the concert. The noise was deafening, especially since you had tickets in the pit, right below the stage. Words couldn't describe what you felt throughout the concert. These guys were not just excellent artists, they were amazing performers. The energy they radiated was incredible and you soon found yourself screaming along with the thousands of fans. You were familiar with BTS and knew the name of the different members so it was easy to follow along with the fan chants. There came a point in the concert where the members went to different parts of the stage and they were singing, dancing, being silly and waving at the fans and the cameras. You immediately recognized the member that went to your side of the pit, since he was just at the coffee shop not that long ago. Minyoung was next to you, singing at the top of her lungs while you swayed next to her, smiling at the soulful way she was singing. You were so busy taking everything in, you didn’t notice the person staring at you; his eyes glued to your face and not looking away.

“Omg, look!” Minyoung practically shouted in your ear, your eyes following the direction her finger was pointing.

You see Taehyung walking in front of your section, singing his part of the song, all while looking right at you. You made eye contact with him and he did not break away. You telt like you were in a trance, his brown orbs so tantalizing you couldn’t look away even if you wanted to. You felt as if the earth stood still and the only people in that stadium were the two of you. It felt silly to say, but you honestly felt as if there was an invincible cord pulling you towards him, strong and unrelenting. You don’t know if he felt it too, but the way his brown eyes looked at you, it made you feel like perhaps he did.

The moment was broken when he suddenly looked away and ran back to his members that were standing in the main portion of the stage again. The beginning of their last song for the night started and you watched amazed as you still felt that strong pull. Was this something all the fans felt? If so, you totally understand now why they’re so loved by them. The concert ended with a spectacular performance and you were surprisingly sad that the concert was over. Perhaps it was time for you to start finding some time to get more into this band.

“Okay, bitch! What the hell was that?” Minyoung asks excitedly as you walk back to the subway station.

“What was what?” You ask innocently, hoping she would buy your bs lie.

“Girl don’t play dumb with me, you know exactly what I’m talking about.” Minyoung was not having your faux innocence today.

“I honestly have no idea what you are talking about.” You try to play it off but it was no use. You knew she was not going to let you off the hook that easily.

“Come on, don’t be a jerk and tell me!!!!” She practically yelled, earning some glares from a few of the older people waiting for the subway.

“Okay fine.” You relent. “I honestly don’t know what that was all about, but it looked like Taehyung was looking at me. It could have just been a coincidence though.” You try to brush it off, but your heart was being fast at the memory, calling you a liar because it knew that it wasn’t just a coincidence.

“Yeah, okay, coincidence my ass. He was looking right at you and you know it.” She insists as you enter the subway, sitting down on the empty seats.

“Do you think he remembers you from the cafe?” She asks, eyes twinkling at the possibilities.

“I don’t think so. They see and meet a lot of new people all the time, I highly doubt he remembers me. Maybe it’s odd for him to see a foreigner at a show here in Korea.” You offer, not believing that you were special enough for such a successful man to remember.

“Whatever! There are tons of foreigners at their shows here. Trust me girl, I know what I saw. And if he comes by the coffee shop by himself again, then I know I’m right.” She insists as the both of you get off at your subway stops.

“Well if you insist, but I don’t think that’s true.” You say with finality.

“Yeah yeah yeah.” Minyoung waved you off, the both of you parting ways.

You arrive at your apartment and make a beeline to the shower, wanting to wash off the sweat and makeup from the night. Your mind was still buzzing from the encounter at the concert, your stomach fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Your mind told you that it meant nothing, that it was pure coincidence. But there was a small part of you that wondered if he really remembered you and the look you shared meant something more.

You fell asleep still thinking of those brown eyes, their warmth encompassing you into unconsciousness.

It was two days after the concert and you were exhausted from working two double shifts in a row. Dara had covered your shift so you could go to the concert and now you were paying her back. You also picked up an extra shift because you wanted to eat more than just ramen once your rent was paid. It was an hour before closing and Hana had just left since it was a slow night. You sat at a stool and rested your back for a second, your lower back killing you. The cafe was empty and you needed a small break before you started to clean all the tables. Hopefully you wouldn’t get many more customers at the end of the night.

“Hi, are you still open?” You hear a gruff voice say as they enter the cafe. You stood up at the speed of light and walked back to the counter, embarrassed that a customer walked in and you’re just sitting around.

“Yes, welcome.” You say, bowing slightly.

You look up to take the order of the customer and your breath hitches in your throat, your eyes not believing the sight before them. There stood Kim Taehuyng, his mask hanging from one of his ears.

“Hello, can I get a medium hot chocolate?” He orders, a small smile gracing his lips.

“Oh, of course. For here or to go?” You ask, suddenly wishing that he says to go.

“For here.” He answers.

After you collect payment, you quickly get to work on his hot chocolate. You notice that he sat at the bar and was watching you make his drink, which was extremely nerve wracking. You take a deep breath and turn around, meeting his curious brown eyes.

“Here you go.” You say and place the cup in front of him, averting your gaze.

“Thank you.” He says, his soft deep voice sending a shiver down your spine.

You get to work, hastily cleaning up the tables and hoping that he leaves soon. He makes you oddly nervous and you don’t know why. It could be the way his eyes seem to stare intently at you, but you can’t be sure. Maybe that’s the type of person that he is and it means nothing. But something in the depths of your stomach makes you feel like that’s not the case. You’re almost done cleaning up the cafe when you hear the stool scrape against the floor, indicating that he has gotten up. You look over, expecting him to be halfway to the door by now but were surprised to see him still standing by the bar.

“Can I get you anything else?” You ask, wondering why he is still here.

“No that’s all.” He says, still staring.

“Okay.” You answer, staring back at him.

The silence was very awkward and you didn’t know what to do so you stood in place. He was just looking at you and you could feel your face getting red, giving you away. Could you be blamed? He is such a gorgeous person, you really did not know how to react to him standing there and looking at you like he’s never seen such a monstrosity before.

By the grace of all things holy, he finally broke the silence.

“What’s your name?” He asks curiously, confusing you further.

You stared at him in awe, wondering why the hell Kim Taehyung wanted to know your name. After a few seconds of stupefied silence, you mumbled your name, hoping it was coherent enough.

“I’m Kim Taehyung.” He introduces himself, such a silly thing.

“I know.” You say without thinking, mentally slapping yourself for being so stupid.

He chuckles slightly and you can feel the redness coating your face once again. Great.

“Were you at our concert the other night?” He asks and you swear you have to be dreaming. None of this is real.

“Um, yeah?” You say uncertain, not understanding what’s going on at all.

“I remember you. I hope you enjoyed it.” He flashes a heart stopping smile and you swear you have died and gone to heaven. What the hell is going on?

“Yes, um, I had a great time.” You nod, the urge to pinch yourself very strong because you swear this is a lucid dream.

“Good, I’m glad. I have to get going now.” He tells you and you nod, not understanding what he wants you to do with that information. Of course he has to get going, he can’t stay at the cafe all night.

“I don’t normally do this but, I was wondering if I can get your number?” He asks and has the audacity to look shy and cute and hot all at the same time. Who is this man?

“Uh, ye-yes.” You mumble and write your Kakao id on a sticky note and hand it to him.

“Thanks.” He flashes you a bright smile and bows, waving goodbye.

You bow back and watch his frame walk out of the cafe and into the night. Slapping yourself across your face, the sting indicates that indeed, you did not dream all that up. It was reality and you had no idea why Kim Taehyung wanted your phone number.

You quickly finished cleaning up the last few things you needed before finally closing the cafe and heading home. It was a chilly night and your light sweater was not enough to stop the nippy air from hitting your skin. You power walked home and sigh in relief when the warm air thawed out your skin. After your shower, you had some leftover kimbap for dinner and settled on the couch to watch some late night tv. You were so concentrated on the show that you jumped at the sound of your KakaoTalk chime, indicating you got a message. Reaching for your phone, your eyebrows furrowed in confusion as you see the unknown sender’s message.

KTH: Hey this is Taehyung. Did you get home safely?

You jumped on your seat and blinked your eyes repeatedly, not believing what your eyes were seeing. Was he actually serious?

Me: Hey, yes I did. Thank you for checking in.

You sat on your couch in anxious excitement. Biting your thumb nail, you were staring down your phone to see if he would reply. When did you turn into this person?

KTH: Good, I’m glad. I was wondering that if you are available, would you like to get something to drink tomorrow night?

Oh crap. Is he serious?

Me: Sure, that sounds great.

Your knee was shaking in excitement, the disbelief coming and going in waves. Was this actually happening? What did you ever do to deserve this?

KTH: Great! I’ll text you the details tomorrow. Good night :)

Me: Good night

You screamed into your pillow, heart racing at the possibilities that tomorrow will bring. You? Getting drinks with THE Kim Taehyung? You don’t know what brought this on, but you will not question it, that’s for sure.

#taehyung #kim taehyung #taehyung scenario #taehyung fluff #bts scenarios #bts fluff #bts #taehyung and you #taehyungxyou #kpop

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pcttrailsidereader · 4 years

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The Scariest Encounters Women Have on the Trail are with Men

One of the more chilling episodes in Wild was when Cheryl Strayed encountered two hunters in Central Oregon, one of whom made her rightfully uncomfortable . . . “She’s got a really nice figure, don’t she?” the sandy-haired man said. “Healthy, with some soft curves. Just the kind I like.” And it got worse. In the end, she was able to extricate herself but not without considerable anxiety.

Natasha Carver in “Walking Down a Dream” from The Pacific Crest Trailside Reader: California shares a story of camping near a road. A car stops late at night. Natasha and her hiking partner feel very exposed and very vulnerable. Indeed, the scariest encounters women have on the trail are with men.

This article, taken from the Daily Beast, focuses on the AT . . . but, in general, the issues are . . . sadly . . . the same.

By Melanie Hamlett, the Daily Beast

As a 30-year-old nurse who works with terminally ill patients, Julia (who prefers to remain anonymous) asked herself one day what she would be proud of doing if she too were given a diagnosis of only six months to live. Shortly after, she left Pittsburgh to start hiking the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail—a highly coveted peacock feather in the cap of outdoor adventurers. But this epic odyssey from Georgia to Maine proved to be far more challenging for Julia and over a dozen women interviewed for this piece because of one factor.

Their being female.

It’s no surprise women experience annoyances like casual or even outright sexism in the outdoor adventure world, but on the Appalachian Trail some are facing more traumatizing problems like stalking, sexual harassment, and even assault. Last May, the unthinkable happened—a brutal murder.

People had been warning local officials for six weeks about James Jordan, a violent “fight angel” who is currently being tried for murder in Virginia. In April numerous hikers reported disturbing behavior, including being verbally assaulted by Jordan and even threatened with a machete. He was later arrested on multiple charges, including possession of weed, and was ordered to stay off the trail. In May he returned anyway and allegedly threatened to pour gasoline on four campers and burn them alive in their tents.

He later chased two of them down the trail before finally giving up. When he returned, he allegedly stabbed Richard S. Sanchez Jr. to death, then chased Sanchez’s female hiking partner down the trail and stabbed her. She only survived because she played dead, then ran down the trail for help once he left. Jordan was found and taken into custody early the next morning. This tragedy became a traumatizing reminder that even in a majestic wilderness sanctuary like the Appalachian Trail, America is a violent, scary country, especially for women.

As a frequent solo traveler and former professional wilderness guide, I’m a huge advocate of women exploring the world, especially alone. It’s empowering as hell. I’ve never let fear (or too many episodes of Law and Order SVU) deter me from solo adventures. The point of telling the following stories isn’t to scare anyone off the trail but rather to educate women on how to protect themselves and to ask should-be male allies to stop turning a blind eye. Until the outdoor industry, which prides itself on being quite woke-ish, is ready for its own #MeToo reckoning, women won’t feel safe.

“Women have no way of knowing who will be the next James Jordan versus who’s just an awkward dude or entitled asshole.”

The Appalachian Trail is a microcosm of American culture but with far higher stakes. Statistically, women are way safer on the trail than on college campuses or in even their own homes. There’s only one rape reported (....reported) every few years on the trail and the chance of getting murdered there is 1,000 times less than in America as a whole. And yet, the absence of deadbolts to lock oneself behind or of multiple witnesses around to deter violent men from attacking us means the occasional trail creeper can be a million times scarier and more dangerous. The only thing protecting a woman alone in a tent from that sketchy stranger she previously encountered on the trail or the seemingly cool one she’s been hiking with for weeks is a thin piece of nylon. “I physically ran into a bear,” says Julia, “and I’d take that over running into a crazy drunk dude any day.”

Despite having overwhelmingly great experiences with trail men, all of the women I spoke with encountered men, especially older white ones, who either made sexist, condescending comments or made them feel unsafe. “I even got ‘smile more,’” Julia says. “It’s exhausting.”

Surprisingly, even woke-ish/feminist-type men creeped many of these women out. Julia said one of her first hiking partners, who seemed progressive, asked to rub her legs. Later, another one repeatedly hit on her and made her feel unsafe. The other guys in her group eventually sided with her and ditched him, but only after she showed enough evidence, like his unnerving texts. The men just didn’t see it, she says. “I’m thinking, how the fuck do you not see this guy is a creep?” Later, while hiking alone, a random guy aggressively probed her about where she was going and who she was with, then found her 200 miles down the trail and threatened to come into the women’s tents while they slept.

Hilary York, a 30-year-old piano technician from Denver, felt a bit gaslit by should-be allies. There were only three men who made her really uncomfortable during her 2,190 mile trek, two of them sketchy enough to scare even the men away. But the third was “your standard hippie type” who undressed her with his eyes and was clearly looking to hook up. When she told her guy friends he made her uncomfortable, they thought she was being dramatic and overly sensitive. Her female friends, on the contrary, unanimously agreed he was creepy. “I think the most frustrating thing is having your intuition downplayed,” says York. Which is why she turned to Facebook.

Most people go into the woods hoping to escape the traps of modern life, especially social media, yet women on the trail don’t always have that luxury. York says an Appalachian Trail group for women on Facebook has become a priceless space that helps women feel as comfortable, safe, and empowered as possible. The moderators are careful not to allow any man-bashing or vague accusations.

As a woman who’s worked almost exclusively in male-dominated industries, namely the outdoors, comedy, and film, I too have relied on whisper networks to feel safe, which is what this women’s FB group does. York says this group was quite critical in getting important information out about James Jordan when rangers couldn't. Oddly enough, the FBI is in charge of crimes committed on the AT because it’s administered by the National Park Service. Some hikershave criticized the FBI for failing to warn or protect everyone from a man they knew was dangerous.

There are a lot of men out there scaring the shit out of women in other ways, which is why we need men to be more thoughtful, pay attention, and be better allies. The stakes are too high in the woods. Women have no way of knowing who will be the next James Jordan versus who’s just an awkward dude or entitled asshole and relatively harmless. Women have to assume the worst.

Since York hiked with a man and has a solid poker face, she felt lucky compared to the “kinder-faced, solo female hikes.” Kristin Forster, a 28-year-old pastry chef living in Hamburg, Germany, had previous experiences with a stalker on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail), so she knew how to handle sketchy dudes—be nice and calm but don’t answer their questions. But stranger danger wasn’t her problem in the end.

“Other hikers along the way also promised to back Cowan up and help her. But when it came to actually doing anything, none stepped up.”

For eight weeks Forster hiked with a trail partner who seemed chill and supportive. Being on the trail, she says, means you get closer to people faster, especially during extreme weather situations. Like me and my coworkers when I guided on the trail, Forster and her hiking partner would have to snuggle to warm up on brutally cold, rainy days. During one of these times, she felt his dick in her back. “That’s when it got weird.” She doesn’t blame him for getting a boner at all. But when she casually reminded him that she had a boyfriend back home, he flipped a switch and started mocking her and being super mean. She eventually left him because he made the trail so intolerable for her.

Beth, a 39-year-old consultant who’d rather remain anonymous to protect her safety, hiked with a seemingly cool guy for 10 days before he started to attach himself to her “like glue,” hovering over her constantly, even when she needed alone time. She tried to hike ahead several times, but he’d always catch up. After Beth reminded him she was in a committed relationship with a guy back home, he started making comments on her appearance and how attractive she was.

One day he walked up on her changing clothes in one of the shelters, despite her warning him, saw her full frontal naked, then got defensive that she was upset. “I was completely humiliated yet I convinced myself it wasn’t a big deal,” she says. She eventually decided to ditch him for good. Afraid of his reaction to feeling rejected, Beth waited until they were at a hostel in town with the safety of people around to break the news. “His face literally blackened.”

She felt safe once the trail logs were showing him 2-3 days ahead of her. Then she ran into him. He admitted he’d seen her name registered at a hostel and had taken a “zero” day (zero miles) to wait for her. Panicked, she ran after another guy hiking by, told him she was being stalked, and asked if he’d let her hike with him for a bit. Her stalker passed them shortly thereafter and was never seen again. Beth and her new hiking partner, who became a dear friend, hiked all the way to Maine together.

“As women we are programmed to be nice and polite,” she says, “and I actually found it harder to advocate for myself because I had gotten to know this guy.” Other men have since tried to attach themselves to her on long-distance hikes, but she’s learned how to protect herself sooner. “A lot of men on the trail are desperately lonely and will prey on women who come across as sweet and compliant,” she says. Especially if you don’t set firm boundaries out of the gate.

Jessica Cowan, a 38-year-old freelancer from Ohio, set out on the AT alone, assuming she’d find a “tramily” (trail family) like everyone talks about. But she never quite fell in with a group hiking her pace. When she met her stalker, who we’ll call Doc, he seemed charming, generous, and cool. Although she made it clear she had a boyfriend and wasn’t looking for a trail fling or a relationship change, he eventually started to express interest and asked about her relationship. “I found his behaviors really, really creepy, but when I talk about it, nothing I say sounds incredibly creepy,” she says. “I don’t know if it's an overreaction on my part… or if I’m gaslighting myself.” She was even hesitant to use the word stalking when telling this horrific story.

When crashing in shelters, he’d try to scoot his mat next to hers to sleep, wouldn’t avert his eyes when she announced she was changing, and even got caught staring at her when she was using a privy one day. After seeing Doc go on some hostile rants over the smallest things, she knew he was truly unstable. It was another woman briefly hiking with them, a psychologist, who helped her realize he was obsessed with her and that she needed to get a lot of miles ahead of him.

After that, Cowan tried everything to keep distance from Doc. She “slack-packed” (paying someone to drive her gear up the road), pushed her body to the limit, day after day, and even bought a new tent with wildly different colors to camouflage herself. Whenever she thought she was far enough ahead of him, another hiker would say he was nearby. Doc eventually caught up to her at a hostel after paying someone to drive him up the road.

Cowan finally filed a police report so they’d at least have him on their radar. Hostel workers promised her not to welcome him, but in the end, only one kept his word. The rest gave him the benefit of the doubt. Cowan thinks it was just easier to take his money. Other hikers along the way also promised to back Cowan up and help her. But when it came to actually doing anything, none stepped up. Despite her having mostly pleasant encounters with men on the trail, their blind-eye approach was disappointing. “I think a lot of men are guilty of taking that path of least resistance.”

Cowan did keep her boyfriend, Cowboy Knueve, apprised of the situation the whole time. “You have no idea how much sleep I lost,” he says. “I was sitting home worrying about her and this asshat.” Right after Cowboy dropped her off at the beginning of her hike, James Jordan murdered one hiker and wounded another on the trail in Virginia. “I knew how important this whole thing was for her,” he says. “It just pissed me off that he ruined her trip.” Even though Cowan told him she had it handled, Knueve finally drove 700 miles to make sure.

Knueve stayed with Cowan at night and ran shuttles for fellow hikers during the day while she hiked. He says he met at least a half a dozen women who’d done a lot of night hiking and “busted their ass” to get away from this same guy. Cowan and Kneuve tried to warn everyone about Doc.

One day they actually saw him at a campsite, so Knueve decided to confront him. Having googled the guy, he knew he was a multiple felon and had been charged for unlawful imprisonment of a woman. “I wanted to spray the man and kick him until he’s tired…. but I didn’t want to go to jail.” Instead he told Doc he knew he was stalking women and harshly warned him to stay away.

“If anyone fucks with me on the trail this year, I’m gonna punch you in the fucking face and carry the fuck on.”

Before leaving to go home, Kneuve drove Cowan 200 miles up the road to give her a safe distance from Doc. Shortly after, though, they picked up another hitchhiker and she was running away from Doc. That’s when Cowan realized this just wasn’t fun anymore. “I should only have to worry about where I’m getting water and where I’m gonna sleep,” she says. “Not if he’s gonna turn up.” She made it a few hundred miles farther, but finally gave up. Instead of enjoying any hard-earned sense of accomplishment or pride for hiking one thousand miles, Cowan couldn't feel excited about her milestones. It all seemed pointless. “I felt like I was running for my life every day.”

“I encountered a lot of promises of support that didn’t really hold up. Except for my boyfriend, I didn’t see anyone else confronting him or calling him on his bullshit. I think they all just wanted to stay away,” she says. “Especially after the murder.” She’s still amazed that one man could affect hundreds of miles of hiking for so many people. More than anything, Cowan hopes this story will lead to men stepping up. Or at the very least, believing women.

Having solo hiked the Appalachian Trail before, Missy Barger went into her 2019 hike already prepared to play by different rules than men have to. “We have to be hyper aware, but also not jump to any conclusions,” says the 49-year-old photographer from Boston. She watches men closely but plays it cool, never giving them hugs or smiling too much. “And men?” she laughs “Well, they... just get to hike!” Being older, more experienced on the AT and more confident than a lot of her twentysomething female peers, she knows she’s regarded as “one tough motherfucker.” That usually “keeps guys off” her. And yet, despite all this, even Barger ended up with a stalker.

She’d been camping right down the road when the murder happened, so she was even more careful this year. “An odd person doesn’t strike me as different. We’re all odd… cuz we’re out here,” Barger says. But when a guy, who we’ll call Bear, started going on aggressive political rants and undressing in front of her, she knew it was time to bounce. The next day he popped up on her path and wouldn’t let her through. When he appeared a third time and started to verbally assault her, she and her “tramily” hiked four hours in the middle of the night in the pouring rain to get away. They later reported him to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC).

In the end, Barger had to skip the whole state of New Jersey and half of New York to get away from Bear, but she went back and completed that section later. This detour and return trip cost her nearly $600. Whether it’s the actual price of shuttles, extra nights in hostels, a new tent to camouflage yourself or the emotional burden of fearing for your life, the “female tax” is a hefty one, even in the woods.

Luckily, Barger found great male allies, like Eric Bellavance. This 51-year-old heavy equipment mechanic from Boston and trail vet waited to pursue a romantic relationship with Barger until after they completed the trail. One way he believes men can be supportive of women is to use more self-restraint than they might back home. “You want to be extra aware of being creepy. It’s that simple,” he says. “If they’re whipping off their clothes, just turn away and start doing stuff,” he says. Give them their privacy and space when they need it, keep your distance, and don’t touch them, he says. While Bellavance thinks most thru-hikers, by a certain point, become acclimated on how to interact with women and not freak them out, there are still those who do whatever they want because “it’s kinda lawless” on the trail. “They’re out here because society won’t tolerate their behavior back home,” he says. “We’re all out here because we don’t fit in society.” But this lack of social codes and rules is exactly why women need men to be more careful and step up.

Bellavance says some day-hikers and locals will hang out on the trail and wait for solo women to pass by, just to prey on them. Warning others or reporting them to authorities is one thing men can do. Sometimes he says hikers have to take trail justice into their own hands, though. Last year a section-hiker touched a woman in her sleep at one of the backpacker hostels, so Bellavance and his friend tracked him down and threatened to kick his ass if he did it again. When another male hiker exposed himself to a woman on the trail, Bellavance welcomed her to hike with them.

“We are asking men in the outdoor industry to listen, believe us, step up, and use your privilege to call out other men.”

“I look at it this way—it’s already hard enough, women don’t need any shit from men.” Bellavance lets spooked women latch onto him when they need to since women are way less likely to be approached by a guy when they’re already with one. He never asks women for their phone numbers, real names (most go by a trail name), or social media handles because he knows men are harassing and stalking women online too. When Barger hikes solo, a lot of men ask to be snapchat friends. “Fuck, I just want to hike,” she says. “I have to have extra guardrails up when I post on social media.”

In general, Barger has run out of patience for men’s bullshit. “If anyone fucks with me on the trail this year, I’m gonna punch you in the fucking face and carry the fuck on.” She refuses to be scared off by men and encourages other women not to be either. To help protect current and future female hikers, Barger is very active on FB groups.

Unfortunately, those groups aren’t always safe either.

Shilletha Curtis, a writer from Newark, New Jersey, plans to hike the entire Appalachian in 2021. As a Black woman and a lesbian, though, she’s not sure who will have her back out there, as she’s already faced harassment on her trail day hikes. In a co-ed AT Facebook group, white men have already been harassing her about her recent publication, some posting “Hikers Lives Matter.” The male FB administrators have accused her of race baiting when she talks about racism on the trail. “We need to make these groups a safe space for everyone, not just white members, as Black people do hike.” Latrina Graham’s powerful essay about being a Black woman just trying to hike goes even deeper into this huge problem.

Until white hikers, particularly white men, do more to make the trail safer for everyone, what do the rest of us do? Not hiking isn’t an option, nor should it be. Most women I spoke with agreed that the best way to stay safe is to trust your intuition and to avoid gaslighting yourself or being too “nice.” Always sign guest books as two people or use a male/ambiguous name, invent a “dude backstory” about a “friend” that’s nearby, and never post photos at recognizable spots on social media. Obviously it’s #notallATmen making women’s lives hard... but it only takes one.

We are asking men in the outdoor industry to listen, believe us, step up, and use your privilege to call out other men. That’s what will help us feel safe. We are tired. We need your help.

Because we belong here, too.

#male predators #females on the trail #safety

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thefamoustownofyeadon · 4 years

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Near-Death and other Travel Experiences Walking across Albania Part 3

Summary so far

I was in day two of walking the ancient Via Egnatia route across rural Albania. A country which had been a totally isolated totalitarian society since the 1940s and then a country largely controlled by Mafia-like organised crime since the 1990s. That morning I had great difficulty crossing a river which had resulted in a fall into a tree and an unknown knee injury. Further walking in the heat of the day had left me with probable signs of sunstroke. My body felt like it was emitting heat like a 3 bar fire and I was disorientated and intensely thirsty. Despite the risks from common blood-sucking parasites I had laid down in the shade, amongst a bed of ferns to try and cool myself and to rest and regain my strength. I cared about little else but seeking out coolness and shade but did eat a high sugar mint cake before allowing myself to sleep.

What happened next?

I am not the kind of person who would walk into the middle of a patch of tall ferns and lay down and cover myself in them. Rucksack still on my back and caked in mud from the earlier river bed crossing but the compulsion driven by the heat exhaustion and sunstroke was irresistible. I was showing signs of body chemistry imbalances including wild twitching of the muscles in my hands and thighs. I fell into sleep very quickly, and it did feel like that. The next thing I knew maybe a couple of hours had passed. I was about to roll to one side and continue sleeping when a little alarm sounded in me which said I had to move or I would be in trouble.

I pulled myself up by grabbing hold of the trunk of a tree and then took off all my clothes and threw them away. I had brought three simple changes of clothing which I had planned to rotate but the clothes I had on as well as being plastered with mud had been torn by the thorns by the river and stained with blood. I put fresh clothes on an felt a little better. I was also thinking better now. Weighing my options I decided to tack back and head for the quarry. Maybe there were people there but if not it would surely be connected to a road where I might get a ride.

Half a mile further on I walked past the remnants of an experimental farm (it said that in English). The fields were lined with irrigation hoses but the water had been turned off even at the standpipes I wasted energy there trying to find water. All mine was now gone.

It was a vast limestone quarry. To the left on the far rim of was a cluster of what may or may not have been simple houses or a hostel for workers (I guessed not). Otherwise, at first sight, the place appeared deserted. The light reflected off the rock was intense and so I had to walk with my hat pulled well down over my eyes. I looked at the ground and set about walking the dynamited road which ran around the interior of the quarry and up to a steep hillside overlooking this big hole. I am abnormally scared of heights so the walk up this stony road, just wide enough for a dumper truck was a real trial. I hugged the quarry side and kept my eyes strictly on the two-yards in front of me.

I walked on like this for an hour or so until II came to the rim of the quarry and the further climb up the hill which circled it a little like a helter-skelter. From that point, I could see a similar road in the valley below. I saw no vehicles on that road during the fifteen minutes or so I was looking. This was very disheartening. By this time limestone dust kicked up by my feet coated by clothing and skin and made my mouth feel like a sandbox. I had set off walking toward the rim and the hill because there were absolutely no signs of life in the quarry or in the huts at the far rim, but just at the point where I began walking the road that circled the hill a dumper truck filled with crushed limestone emerged from behind the huts on the far rim and descended into the quarry. I sat on a flat rock watching its progress and hoping against hope it would follow the road that came in my direction. There were options and it would have been just too much if the driver had parked up somewhere and transferred to a pushbike of something. He kept on making the right choices and coming toward me. moving no faster than ten miles an hour.

I made a decision to stand on the left side of the road near the drop as the road was so narrow standing at the right was too dangerous if he decided to drive past me without stopping. This was a very chunky truck, a not very sophisticated one built by the Chinese who in recent years had been importing their vehicles.

As the truck came toward me it showed no sign of stopping despite me waving my arms frantically. Getting close the driver signalled for me to get on the right side of the road so that I would be able to climb into the passenger side of the cab. It dawned on me that he was only able to get up the winding hill in low gear and if he stopped would have difficulty getting the momentum going again. My knee had been painful all the way up the climb out of the quarry. I was walking stiff-legged and did not know how I would be able to run alongside the truck and jump on. I did manage a kind of very painful trot but there was no step to launch myself into the cab. The driver saw this and took both hands off the wheel and hoisted me up. I was expecting all the time to go over the cliff edge as there was only a couple of yards of the road on the other side of the truck. I threw myself across the passenger seat with my feet still dangling out the door. You find strength when you have to and I somehow flipped around, drew my legs in and slammed the door shut. Then lay there panting for a minute or so whilst the driver laughed

It seems everyone in Albania has travelled illegally to Britain at some time and worked in the black economy. The driver was one of those and had a few words of English. He passed me an old plastic cola bottle full of murky looking water. I drank this down before really saying anything. I poured the last of the water into my hand and wiped my eyes which were caked in road dust. I had been incredibly lucky. My new friend pointed forward and said “Pub, pub”. I nodded and manically made the thumbs-up sign.

I was even luckier than I had thought. For maybe the next five miles we saw we saw not another human being or any kind of habitations. The buildings after that were no more than a shack. Maybe ten miles on we came to a proper village where our dirt road linked up to a proper tarmac one. My driver dropped me off opposite a shack a little bit bigger than the other ones with adverts for beer and football TV posted on the walls. I have no idea what would have happened if that truck had not come by. We saw no other vehicles in the drive from the quarry.

The building was not a pub it was a bar. I got a bit over-emotional with the driver and then staggered across the road. Some old men sat on wooden crates pointed me to the door. The barman had been watching me climb down from the truck. He had also worked illegally in London, He pointed at the sports channel on the TV. Man United was playing some other premiership team. I wanted food but there was none. Instead, I foolishly drank a great deal of the local beer which was called Korca. That was stupid but nice, and I got extremely drunk.

After about an hour, the barman left one of the old men in charge and drove me at very high speed along the tarmacked highway. Scaring the wits out of me even in my very drunk state. He dropped me at a flashy motel and refused to accept any money off me. The guy at the reception could see I was legless drunk but still checked me in. Up in the bedroom, I went straight for the wet room shower set up. I slipped and fell heavily on my back. I could not move for a few moments for the pain and all the while the shower was directed at my face. I laughed about the possibility of drowning in the shower after all I had been through that day. I was broadly okay though and the next day I got a fraudulently expensive taxi back to a place called Pequin and continued the walk. I cheated a great deal and eventually got as far as Elbasan which is the middle of Albania. I walked a little out of the other side of that town and then called it a day and came home as planned after two weeks. A lot more things happened but that’s for another time.

Over the next six months, I continued to have a lot of pain in my left knee cap. At first, I assumed it was just some exacerbation of my arthritis but I eventually went to the doctor and he arranged an X-Ray which showed signs of a recent fracture of the bony cap of the knee. I was admitted as a day patient and given an IV infusion of something which strengthened the bone there and assisted healing. All the women there having the same treatment were elderly and had osteoporosis. They thought it very funny that I was there with them.

I am still in touch with people in Albania. Two are friends on Facebook. A young woman who served me a spinach pie in a café where she worked and told me all about Albanian history and what it was like being a young person in Albania. She was studying to be a social worker. Recently she has married and had a first child. I get updates. A young man who wanted to be a doctor, and who has the entry qualifications and the support of an American government aid organisation is being blocked by corruption from getting his university place.

Tomorrow. Rat bites and poisoning in the Devils House in Belgrade

.Photos.

Korca beer

Odd and scary revolutionary art

Part of the abandoned and toxic Chinese steel plant at Elbasan.

The Roman road travelled by Julius Caesar and St Paul just outside Piquin. This man wanted me to meet his family

A Roman bridge where a river used to be

My Chinese dumper truck looked like this.

#via egnatia #albania #long distance walking #memoir

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miairviin · 5 years

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Kunst

If I only had one word to describe Vienna it would be polished. As soon as we stepped off of the plane and sought out the train that would take us to the hostel this was evident. The train smelled like a new house and the chairs were cushioned. The metro station was spotless, except for a few pieces of graffiti that covered the wall. At night, Vienna was very quiet. Our very first night, by the time Madeline and I made it to the hostel it was 11 pm. In Greece and every other country I have visited so far, the streets would be alive with movement. The restaurants would be full of people still eating. In Vienna, however, this was not the case. All the restaurants were empty, the employees sweeping the front steps and stacking chairs on tables. Luckily, we were able to find a pizza place that was just about to close. We capitalized on this, and because they were closing, high tailed it back to the hostel where we feasted like Queens on the last slices of pizza in all of Vienna.

We had an 8 am wake up call, but not necessarily because of a tour or train to catch. Simply to guarantee we would make it to the free breakfast provided by the hostel. We ate as much as we could and put together a couple sandwiches together to go. We were going to milk this breakfast for every penny. Our first day in Vienna was truly one of wandering. It was so liberating to have absolutely nowhere to be and everywhere to go. Vienna continued its pattern from the previous night, absolutely everything in perfect order. I was amazed with the clean streets and the perfectly constructed buildings. We hit the Volksgarden which was a garden complete with statues, a pond where a duck was taking in the morning sun, and unfortunately lines of small trees with brown bags tied over them. The next place we found was the Hoffburg Palace complete with a historical figure who’s name I do not know riding his majestic steed.

Next, we went to the Museumquartier, jokingly following a little girl on a scooter. Our philosophy there being that you should always trust a local on a scooter. And good thing we did, because it brought us to Museum Leopold which we had seen a brochure for in our hostel. Both Madeline and I were familiar and curious about the work of Gustav Klimt, and some of his pieces would be there. We decided to head in. Art museums are always interesting to me. I love looking at the work and reading about the different colors used and the themes the artist is trying to address. But the Museum Leopold offered so much more. They presented an in-depth biography about the artists work at the beginning of their kunst, (art) and once you were in their exhibit, some of the pieces came with a short blurb about the social ramifications the piece might have stirred up, the artists inspiration, and the story the painting was telling. It felt so much different than other museums I had visited. It felt like I was staring back in time. It was easier to picture a distraught Richard Gerstl brushing madly against a canvas when you found out his muse was the wife of his best friend, and the two carried on an affair for some time. When you knew Gustav Klimt's last words were “send for Emilie” it made his work even more beautiful, more complicated. The museum also presented art like interior design, and discussed why one architect faced public outrage when he made cafes a more open concept, appealing to the lower and middle class. Or how posters revolutionized the streets, turning them into an art gallery for the poor man. Museum Leopold left me with so much to think about. Art is truly a revolution.

After the museum, we snacked on our lunch as we walked to the next stop, Belvedere Palace. The next stop was decorated with so many spots along the way. This included one of many parks we meandered through, Beethovenplatz, a butterfly house, and many beautiful buildings. That was the thing, it never felt like I was on the way to something. Everything was a view. Everything was kunst.

Vienna came alive during the day. The part of the city we were in definitely determined the age group that dominated the sidewalks. The older, more European looking Vienna with tall buildings decorated with statues and columns separated by open streets seemed to have an older population. Conversely, the younger people seemed to occupy the contemporary looking office spaces and more city-esque streets.

The Belvedere Palace was nothing short of extravagant. The gardens were kept symmetrical and spotless, the gravel walk looked freshly swept despite the many tourists walking along it. Uniformly groomed trees lined the gravel leading up to the palace. A few empty fountains stood in between us and the palace, their porcelain statues looking only a tad out of place without water showering down upon them. The palace was so wide, so magnificent. It was hard not to think of the grandeur of days past. When people would walk through the grounds just to take the air in. I wondered if they thought one day people would travel far and wide to marvel at their home.

We turned back and headed for the St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The wind and cold chased us into a small cafe so we could stop for a moment to warm up, and from there it was right back outside and towards the cathedral. Much like Florence and the Duomo, you turned down a normal street with a souvenir shop on one side and a bar on the other and there it stood. It was tall, it was ornate, it was holy. We walked around it, trying to take it all in. It was impossible. Because the city had truly grown up around it, there wasn’t much room to wander so our next stop was simply to head in. The inside was just as awe-inspiring. The architecture was exceptionally detailed, portraits of people like Mother Theresa on the walls. There was a quiet reverence amongst all of the tourists as we walked in the specifically designated areas. I’m sure the cathedral would look beautiful in the daytime with sunlight pouring in. But seeing it at dusk gave it a gothic charm I was grateful to witness.

We left the St. Stephens Cathedral and sought out a bathroom. An employee of a souvenir shop informed us the closest bathroom was just a minute away in the metro. When we made it down the escalator, my bladder definitely dancing the delicate line of being too full for comfort, we were faced with a coin machine. Paying for the bathroom was not something new. We had run into this problem in Italy a few times. In part protest of this capitalistic concept and in part because I’m cheap, Madeline and I had taken a stand and decided to refuse these set ups. We would hold it. But not only was this classist, we noticed it was .50 for a women and .20 for a man! It was sexism! We couldn’t believe it. Since we are both angsty feminists, this was a topic of discussion (mainly jokes) that carried on for a little while.

After the bathroom fiasco, we made our way through the maze of a mall that surrounded the cathedral. Stores like Louis Vuitton were the general theme, and we joked about trying to head in and getting stopped by the door man. “You girls work on commission right? Big mistake. Huge.” We would use these lines if we ever came back. We saw the parliament building where stoic statues sat pondering the great issues of our time as they looked out over Vienna. The air was perfumed with the scent of cigarettes and horse, as a few horse drawn carriages were carrying some tourists who probably shopped at Louis Vuitton.

We decided it was time for dinner and set out to find the cheapest schnitzel we could. Ultimately it was a quiet spot down an alley near our hostel. We ate our schnitzel the German way: with ketchup mixed with mayonnaise and beer. It was fantastic. Unfortunately, nothing has touched the jaegerschnitzel I had that first night in Berlin, but it was a formidable competitor.

However our night was not finished yet. We wanted to hit Sigmund Freud park, just to say we did. It was a short walk, marked by only a few signs. There was a small piece of art, benches, grass, and it seemed to be the place to be if you were an Austrian teen on a Friday night. One thing we picked up on is how proud Austria is of their alumni. Beethoven, Motzart, Klimt, and Freud all have squares, streets, parks, and cafes all named after them.

We picked up a few small dessert pastries and headed back for the hostel. I meant to write this post as well as pen a journal entry but the 13 miles we had ended up walking day snuck up on me, and exhaustion creeped in. Plus, we had an early wake up for the bus ride to Budapest, where I am writing this from. Vienna, as Billy Joel promises, will be waiting for me when we return on Monday.

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resideinar · 3 months

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Discovering Comfort and Community at the Girls' Hostel in Knowledge Park 3

As a student, finding the right living situation can greatly impact your academic and personal journey. For young women pursuing higher education at girls hostel in Knowledge park 3 has become a beacon of comfort, safety and community.

Located in a vibrant educational centre, this hostel offers its residents a home away from home. From the moment you walk through the gates, the carefully tended gardens and well-tended grounds create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The architecture combines modern amenities with a touch of classic elegance, creating a platform for a complete hostel experience.

One of the main aspects that sets this girls hostel apart from others is its commitment to safety. Strict access control, 24/7 security staff and extensive CCTV monitoring ensure that residents can focus on their studies and personal growth without constant worries about their well-being. Parents can also take comfort in knowing their daughters are in a safe and nurturing environment.

Designed according to the needs of young women, the rooms are spacious and well equipped. Each suite has comfortable beds, plenty of storage and work areas to increase productivity. Common spaces, such as lounges and lounges, provide many opportunities for students to relax, socialize and build lasting friendships.

Outside the confines of the inn, residents have access to many amenities and resources. The on-site dining hall serves delicious and nutritious meals that cater to a variety of eating habits and ensure that students have a balanced and healthy diet. Leisure facilities, such as a well-equipped gymnasium, sports fields and hobbies, give residents the opportunity to pursue their hobbies and be physically active.

One of the hallmarks of this girls' hostel is the dedicated team of caretakers and staff who strive to create a caring and supportive environment. These compassionate individuals are not only responsible for day-to-day operations, but are also students' mentors, guardians, and advocates. They respond quickly to any concern or need, which promotes a sense of community and well-being for residents.

The hostel's strategic location in Knowledge Park 3 offers unparalleled convenience to students. With easy access to campus, libraries and other essential facilities, residents can perfectly balance their academic commitments and personal activities. The park's vibrant ecosystem, filled with diverse dining options, leisure spots and cultural events, further enriches the overall experience.

As students settle into their new home, they find themselves surrounded by a diverse community of peers, each with their own unique stories and aspirations. This diversity creates an atmosphere of mutual understanding, respect and support where residents are free to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects and form lifelong bonds.

In conclusion, girls hostel in Knowledge park 3 offers an unparalleled living experience for young women pursuing their educational goals. From its commitment to safety to its extensive amenities and caring community, this hostel is an excellent example of how a student residence can enhance the academic and personal growth of its residents. For those looking for a holistic and empowering living environment, Knowledge Park 3 Girls Hostel is definitely a gem worth checking out.

For location click to this link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/njQ7XKkr4mSLd4M68

For more information read this blog also: Discover the Ideal Girls PG near Sharda University: Comfort, Community, and Convenience at its Finest

#girls hostel in greater noida #best girls hostel in greater noida #girls hostel in near me #girls hostel in knowledge park 2 #pg girls hostel in greater noida #girls hostels near by me #private girls hostel in greater noida

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rachelhalld90 · 1 year

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The Best Women's Hostels in Madhapur: A Haven for Comfort and Convenience - ISTHARA Parks

Searching for the ideal women's hostel can be an overwhelming task, especially in a bustling city like Madhapur. With numerous options available, it's essential to find a hostel that not only provides a safe and secure environment but also offers a comfortable and convenient living experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top women's hostels in Madhapur that excel in terms of quality, amenities, location, and overall value. Whether you're a student, working professional, or a traveler seeking a temporary home, these hostels are sure to meet your expectations.

1. ISTHARA Parks Women's Hostel: Safety and Serenity

Situated in the heart of Madhapur, ISTHARA Parks Women's Hostel is renowned for its exceptional safety measures and tranquil ambiance. Equipped with 24/7 security surveillance and strict access controls, this hostel ensures the utmost safety for its residents. The spacious and well-furnished rooms offer a comfortable stay, and the friendly staff is always ready to assist. With its convenient proximity to educational institutions and commercial hubs, ISTHARA Parks Women's Hostel is an ideal choice for students and working professionals.

2. ABC Hostel: Luxury and Convenience Combined

ABC Hostel stands out for its luxurious amenities and convenient location. The hostel provides well-appointed rooms with modern interiors and comfortable bedding, creating a cozy atmosphere. Its prime location in Madhapur offers easy access to popular shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment hubs. ABC Hostel also provides a range of amenities, including a well-equipped gym, recreational areas, and high-speed internet connectivity, ensuring a seamless living experience for its residents.

3. PQR Residences: A Homely Abode

If you're looking for a warm and homely environment, PQR Residences is the perfect choice. This women's hostel in Madhapur offers spacious rooms with tasteful decor, providing a comfortable and welcoming ambiance. The hostel prides itself on its attentive staff, who go the extra mile to ensure residents feel at home. PQR Residences also provides amenities like a common kitchen, laundry facilities, and a cozy common lounge area, fostering a sense of community among its residents.

4. LMN Girls' Hostel: Budget-Friendly and Value Packed

For those on a tight budget, LMN Girls' Hostel offers an excellent combination of affordability and quality. The hostel provides clean and well-maintained rooms at pocket-friendly rates without compromising on essential amenities. With its strategic location near major transportation hubs, educational institutions, and commercial centers, LMN Girls' Hostel offers convenience at an affordable price, making it a popular choice among students and young professionals.

5. EFG Residency: Modern Living at Its Finest

EFG Residency is a modern women's hostel that caters to the needs of contemporary individuals. With its stylish and well-designed rooms, this hostel offers a trendy living experience. The amenities at EFG Residency include high-speed Wi-Fi, a fully equipped gym, a recreational area, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city. The hostel's proximity to prominent IT parks and corporate offices makes it an excellent choice for young professionals.

6. NOP Women's Hostel: Serene Comfort in the Lap of Nature

NOP Women's Hostel is a haven for nature lovers seeking a serene and peaceful living environment. Nestled amidst lush greenery, this hostel offers a refreshing retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. The rooms are well-furnished and designed to provide utmost comfort. NOP Women's Hostel also boasts amenities such as a garden area, yoga classes, and regular recreational activities, providing a perfect balance between tranquility and modern living.

7. QRS Hostel: Where Convenience Meets Affordability

QRS Hostel strikes the perfect balance between convenience and affordability. With its strategic location near major transportation hubs and educational institutions, this hostel offers easy accessibility for its residents. The well-maintained rooms provide a comfortable living space, while amenities like a common kitchen, laundry facilities, and high-speed internet ensure a hassle-free experience. QRS Hostel's budget-friendly rates make it an attractive option for students and young professionals.

8. STU Hostel: A Vibrant and Social Living Experience

STU Hostel is known for its vibrant and social atmosphere, making it an ideal choice for extroverted individuals. The hostel offers shared rooms and common areas designed to foster social interaction and create a lively community. With regular events, workshops, and recreational activities, STU Hostel ensures an engaging and enjoyable living experience for its residents. Its location near popular hangout spots and entertainment venues adds to its appeal.

9. VWX Women's Hostel: Comfort, Convenience, and Connectivity

VWX Women's Hostel provides a seamless living experience with its focus on comfort, convenience, and connectivity. The well-furnished rooms are designed to offer a cozy and relaxed ambiance. The hostel's prime location ensures easy access to transportation, shopping centers, and healthcare facilities. Additionally, VWX Women's Hostel provides amenities like 24/7 power backup, Wi-Fi connectivity, and in-house dining options, catering to the needs of its diverse residents.

10. YZA Residences: A Blend of Luxury and Functionality

YZA Residences is a premium women's hostel that caters to those seeking a luxurious living experience. With its elegant and spacious rooms, this hostel offers a perfect blend of comfort and functionality. The state-of-the-art facilities include a well-equipped gym, a swimming pool, a common lounge area, and round-the-clock security. YZA Residences also provides services like housekeeping, laundry, and on-site maintenance, ensuring a hassle-free and indulgent lifestyle for its residents.

When it comes to finding the best women's hostels in Madhapur, each of the options mentioned above excels in its unique way. Whether you prioritize safety, luxury, affordability, or a sense of community, there is a hostel that caters to your specific needs. By considering factors such as location, amenities, and the overall living experience, you can make an informed decision and find the perfect Hostels in Madhapur that meets all your expectations. Remember, a comfortable and secure living environment plays a crucial role in enhancing your overall well-being and ensuring a positive stay in Madhapur.

#Hostels_in_Madhapur_for_ladies #Shared_accommodation_in_Madhapur #Womens_hostels_in_Kondapur #Hostels_near_Marathahalli #PG_for_ladies_in_Sarjapur

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smitasrs-blog · 5 years

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Girls PG hostel near Peelamedu | Ladies hostel near Peelamedu | SRS

#ladies hostel near PSG COLLEGE #ladies hostel near krishnamal college #Laides hostel near Peelamedu #Ladies hostel near psg arts #Working women hostel near tidel park #Working women hostel near IT Park #Working women hostel near IT Park in coimbatore #Girls PG hostel near Peelamedu #Working women PG hostel near Peelamedu #Luxuries ladies hostel near Peelamedu

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ollies-studyblr · 5 years

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German III: 2.6-2.12

Culture facts:

In the United States, when people sneeze, most well wishers will respond with "Bless you." However, it is not uncommon to hear Gesundheit as well. Gesundheit is the German word that means "health," so when you hear Gesundheit after a sneeze, it is spoken to wish the person good health. Germans will respond with Danke. This expression first found its way to the United States through immigrating Ashkenazi Jews in the early twentieth century, but it has now become part of the English language.

You're going to be learning about something called a Kurort or "town with a health resort, spa." People with long-term or chronic illnesses can actually get a prescription from their doctor to spend time being treated there. They have some of the finest facilities available for physical rehabilitation, but they also have many cultural attractions to help cure the mind and soul as well. Many of the Kurorte are known for their medicinal baths of one kind or another.

One of the earliest "bath" facilities (the "Kaiserthermen") can be found in Trier (on the Mosel near Luxemburg). This city (one of several that claim to be the oldest city in Germany) was founded by the Romans in 16 BCE. It was even the capital of the Western Roman Empire during the time of Emperor Constantine the Great, whose throne room can still be seen in the Basilika (now a Protestant church) and under whose reign the "Kaiserthermen" were built. Tours are given of both the above- and below-ground parts of this huge bathing facility. It's a "must-see" when you get to Trier!

Other major sights in Trier are the Roman Amphitheater (you can visit the cells of the gladiators and experience the amazing acoustics as well) and the Porta Nigra, which has been everything from a gateway, to an army barracks, to a Protestant church!

Those interested in more "modern" history can visit the birthplace of Karl Marx, who lived in Trier at a time of considerable misery for the city, an experience that no doubt influenced his later ideas.

Oh, and by the way, Trier has a fantastic youth hostel.

People in the United States sometimes use the phrase "I'll keep my fingers crossed" in order to wish someone good luck. However, if one would say that in Germany, Germans would most likely look confused. In German, people use the phrase Ich drück (dir) den Daumen to indicate the same type of wish. They make a fist but squeeze their thumb in behind their pointer finger.

August Macke (1887–1914) was one of the leading artists in Der Blaue Reiter (the Blue Rider Group). This group was made up of all Expressionist artists. Macke, along with other Blaue Reiter artists such as Franz Marc and Wassily Kandinski, were instrumental in bringing the Expressionist movement to Germany.

Germany is one of several countries around the world that provide a national health care system. Nearly all citizens are insured by a national health insurance (Krankenversicherung) program. Over 90 percent of all Germans receive health care through this program. Membership in this program is required for all those earning less than a specific income. This income ceiling changes periodically. The remainder of the population is covered through private for-profit insurance companies. Everyone, however, uses the same health care facilities.

Körperwelten ("Body Worlds") is a traveling exhibition of preserved human bodies and body parts which are prepared using a technique called plastination in order to show inner organs or structures. The exhibition's developer is a German anatomist named Gunther von Hagens. He invented the plastination technique in the late 1970s. Since the first exhibition in Tokyo in 1995, two additional exhibitions have opened world-wide. The latest one opened in May, 2006, in Minneapolis, MN. It is calculated that over 17 million people worldwide have seen this exhibit.

Genitive Case: Possession

“the”

des, -(e)s --> masc

der --> fem

des, -(e)s --> neut

der --> plural

“a”

eines, -(e)s

einer

eines, -(e)s

“this”

dieses, -(e)s

dieser

dieses, -(e)s

dieser

“his”

seines, -(e)s

seiner

seines, -(e)s

seiner

“not any”

keines, -(e)s

keiner

keines, -(e)s

keiner

with genitive case, you construct sentences as the ____ of the ____

Genitive Prepositions:

außerhalb --> outside of

innerhalb --> inside of, within

statt (also anstatt) --> instead of

wegen --> because of

trotz --> in spite of

während --> during ("at the time of")

Body Vocab:

der Arm, -e --> arm

das Auge, -n --> eye

die Augenbraue, -n --> eyebrow

der Hals, -e --> neck

das Bein, -e --> leg

die Lippe, -n --> lip

der Fuß, -e --> foot

das Ohr, -en --> ear

der Zahn, -e --> tooth

die Nase, -n --> nose

die Zehe, -n -->toe

der Mund, -er --> mouth

der Bauch, -e --> stomach

die Zunge, -n --> tongue

der Finger --> finger

der Kopf, -e --> head

das Haar, -e --> hair

der Daumen --> thumb

das Kinn, -e --> chin

der Nacken --> back of the neck

der Rücken --> back

die Hüfte, -n --> hip

der Po, -s --> butt

das Gesicht, -er --> face

der Ellbogen / Ellenbogen --> elbow

das Knie --> knee

die Ferse, -n --> heel

die Hand, -e --> hand

die Schulter, -n --> shoulder

Oliver’s Travels:

Olivers grandparents were on vacation in the spa town of Baden-Baden. Baden-Baden is located in Baden-Württemberg in the Black Forest. Many people travel there during the holidays or do a cure there. Olivers grandparents have been on vacation. Baden-Baden really liked them.

(Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden) On the first evening in Baden-Baden they went to the concert. The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin gave a concert in the Festspielhaus. Classical music is her favorite music. When Olivers grandmother was younger, she played the violin. That's why she likes to go to the concert. With the Kurkarte the cards cost only 60 Euros.

(Rennfieber in Iffezheim) They also visited the international race track in Iffezheim. Ms. Kriestch has therefore bought a new glamorous hat. The women there wear the most glamorous and crazy hats in the world. Fortunately, the Kretsches bet little luck because their horse has not won.

(Das Casino in Baden-Baden) The Casino Baden-Baden was incredibly elegant! The women put on pretty evening dresses and the men all wear ties and jackets. Oliver's grandfather played at many tables there. He played mainly roulette and blackjack. Oliver’s granny preferred to play the slot machines. Fortunately, they had more money in their pockets after the evening at the casino than before!

(Das Friedrichsbad) In Friedrichsbad, they simply relaxed for a whole day. The Friedrichsbad is located right in the old town. Here you can experience the Roman bathing culture and the Irish bathing tradition. For over 125 years people have come to Friedrichsbad to rest. Oliver’s grandparents enjoyed the thermal baths very much. This is good for the soul and the body!

(Meuseum Frieder Burda) There are various art museums in Baden-Baden. Mr. and Mrs. Krietsch went to the Museum Frieder Burda. The new museum of the collector Frieder Burda is in the Lichtentaler Allee in the Kurpark Baden-Baden. Here are mainly paintings from the last 100 years. A collection has works by German Expressionists such as Max Beckmann, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner or August Macke.

(Rosenneuheitengarten) On the last day, they went for a walk in the world famous "Rosenneuheitengarten". The park was beautiful. During this vacation, Oliver’s grandparents have really relaxed.

Problems Vocab:

Mir ist schlecht. --> I am not well

Ich bin krank. --> I am sick

Ich habe Fieber. --> I have a fever

Mir ist heiß. --> I am hot

Ich niese. --> I sneeze

Ich huste --> I cough

Ich bin müde --> I am tired

Ich habe Allergien --> I have allergies

Ich habe eine Erkältung --> I have a cold

Ich habe mich erkältet --> I caught a cold

Ich habe die Grippe --> I have the flu

Ich habe Durchfall --> I have diarrhea

Ich habe Verstopfung --> I’m constipated

Die Ärztin gibt dem Patienten ein Rezept --> The doctor gives the patient a prescription

Es gibt einen Notfall --> There is an emergency

"Haben Sie etwas gegen...?" --> Do you have something for...?

Der Arzt macht ihm einen Gipsverband. --> The doctor makes him a cast

Two-Way Prepositions:

in --> in, into

auf --> on, onto (horizontal)

an --> on, onto, up against (vertical)

neben --> next to, beside

hinter --> behind

über --> over, above

zwischen --> between

unter --> under, below

vor --> in front of, before

If they show the location of something, they're followed by the dative.

If they're showing the motion of something, from one place to another, they are followed by the accusative.

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ashleysouniqueblog · 6 years

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A Guide on “How To” Habana

If you came across this blog post, you may already have found out that planning a trip to Cuba from America is not the easiest task. There is not much information online and the information that is online conflicts. This may be since some of the information is 4-5 years old and things there are in the development stages. I too had a hard time finding information and this is what made me determined to pass on real experiences and suggestions.

My trip to Havana, Cuba was a full 3 days, from Thursday to Sunday. I planned this trip for myself along with 12 others. So here are some key takeaways:

1. Flights: In order to a book a flight to Cuba from America you have to fall into one of the 12 OFAC Categories. All airlines require you to choose one before being allowed to book the flight. Make sure that you choose correctly as you will be asked again when it’s time to check in and when you land in Cuba. Also, Visas must be purchased at check in or at the gate they can range anywhere from $20 to $100 depending on the airline and departure city.

· Visiting family

· Humanitarian projects or to provide support to the Cuban people

· Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations

· Journalistic activities

· Professional research

· Educational activities by persons at academic institutions

· People to people travel

· Religious activities

· Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic or other competitions and exhibitions

· Authorization to provide travel services, carrier services and remittance forwarding services

· Activities of private foundations, research or educational institutes

· Exportation of certain Internet-based services

2. Housing: Booking an Airbnb instead of staying in a hotel falls under OFAC “Support for The Cuban People” also if you do choose to stay in a hotel make sure it is not on the U.S. Department of State Restricted List. Quality Airbnb’s tend to get booked quick so make sure you are giving yourself time to life the life you want to while in Cuba. Make sure you communicate with the house host as some houses have strict rules. For example, you may not be able to bring outside food or drinks into the home, no guests can come to the house, no parties, no loud music, men may not be able tot sleep in the same room, etc.

Due to my group of people being over 10 people the options we had for Airbnb’s were off the back limited as we later found out that the city does not accommodate large groups very well. Furthermore, I found an Airbnb called “Blue Mansion Hostel My Way”. This home had none of the house rules as above and the host was more than accommodating while communicating with me before I booked. La Casa Blue Mansion Airbnb pictures does not do this house any justice. This house was beautiful and huge we had more than enough space!! Online it says that there were double beds in most rooms then 6 single beds split between 2 bedrooms. When we got there the single beds were Queen sized and the double beds were King sized. Everyone in my group had their own bed, and even some had their own room. Every bedroom had separate bathrooms and ample towels etc. There was 24/7 security, house cooks and waitstaff were on standby for whatever you may need, or request. This is a very clean family house and it has a very cultured feel. My group spent a lot of time in the many patio areas around the pool or in the bar club area that also had a pool table. We were very pleased.

3. Currency: Visa, Mastercard, American Express or any other debit/credit card is not accepted in Cuba so bring enough cash with you for your entire trip. US dollars is hit with an extra conversion penalty and lose value dramatically is you convert directly from USD to CUC. Therefore, we converted USD to EUR prior to our flights, then converted from EUR to CUC once we landed in Cuba.

Cuba has 2 currencies: CUC and CUP. You should always get CUC as it is more widely accepted, and CUC has the higher value. For instance, CUC is 1 to 1 to USD/EUR/CAD (roughly), while CUP is 1 to 25 USD/EUR/CAD. CUC is what we seen prices in tourist areas listed, while businesses that displayed CUP were in neighborhoods. Of course, food was cheaper in neighborhoods.

How much to bring? We were there for 3 days converted between $500-1,000 USD and once the trip was over we pretty much converted most of it back. It’s safe to bring more than what you’ll expect to spend just in case. Also, if you save your receipt from exchange centers in the airport, within 30 days they allow you to convert back without a fee at the same rate you purchased.

4. Airport Experience: When you first land in Cuba, you will be outside and will walk into the building. The customs agents and TSA are 90% women. Their uniforms are quite interesting as the military style miniskirts and black fishnet stockings fit very sexy. I was pleasantly surprised. Waiting on baggage claim was okay until my bag was literally the last one out on the belt and the moment I grabbed it, agents wanted me to step to a table on the side for an extra check. The bag that I checked was actually school supplies that I was planning to give to the kids at a school near our Airbnb. They were speaking Spanish and I only caught on to key words like “violation”. I was started to wonder why? There was nothing I brought that was against the law, just folders, composition notebooks, crayons, markers, and chalk. As they checked the pages on the notebooks they had all my friends who were waiting close the door come back to scan all of our bags through a metal detector. Shortly after, they let us go. Weird.

5. Airport Transportation: We booked airport transportation through our house because several of us took different flights and landed at different times. The house had someone waiting with a sign at every single one of our flights. Airport Taxis literally wait in the airport line all day to get someone who is going into the city, not from one terminal to the other. So, keep that in mind for your departure date because it will be hard to find a ride from one terminal to another.

6. Taxis: Taxis in the city are cheap. You’ll be fine but ask how much before you ride off with them so that you aren’t shocked by the rate. We allowed our house to organize taxis to and from the city and club. We were dropped off at different meeting points and gave him a time to pick us up. He was always on time.

7. WiFi: Most American cell phone plans do not work in Cuba. So as soon as you touch down you most likely will not be able to contact anyone. Hotels and Wifi parks sell WiFi cards $2 for an hour of online activity. Two guys in my group found a park and waited in a long line to get one. The rest of us did not see any of the WiFi parks. Some people were able to make calls from there cell at $2.49 a minute, but they could not receive a call. We were there for 3 days so soon after we stopped worrying about being able to get on social media and focused on enjoying the time and people that were right in front of us. If you are anything like me, be prepared, plan ahead. Download Maps.Me and download the Havana, Cuba offline map. Also, take screen shots of restaurants, addresses, important information, flight information, etc. as it is very likely you will not have connectivity.

8. Giving back to the Cubano kids: I planned a school drive as a form of giving back to the Cuban kids. We all brought supplies we thought may be scarce or just needed to be replaced to give to them. With the help of our Airbnb host we were able to get the Principal of a local school (I will not name the school) to allow us into the school to give the kids supplies. They were happy children with big bright smiles in their uniforms. This warmed my heart.

9. Restaurants: Most dishes we found in Cuba of course were seafood. But you were able to find chicken, salads, and pizza as well. I won’t detail all of them but 2 in particular. There is the O’Reilly 304 Gin Bar and Restaurant. We were all completely amazed by the bartender and all of his concoctions of drinks. We also met the manager Julio we completely accommodated us and had a million stories to tell of U.S. celebrities who has stopped by his spot. One thing I must say is that we were wondering what was taking so long with our food and soon after Julio and another guy comes in with fresh veggies and a string line of fish just caught out the ocean! Not to mention the food was seasoned very well! Make sure you try the salsa for the plantains, you will not be disappointed. Another day we went to Del Mar beach but met at Rachon Don Pepe, a beach hut restaurant. There drinks were $2.50 each! If you find yourself in the area stop by and get the lobster tail and boiled shrimp with hot sauce! There is also a pinacoloda spot next door that will completely give you beach vibes.

10. Beaches: The most popular beach that everyone says to go to is Veradero. This beach is 3 hours out of the city. Planning this trip, I did not want to have to commute 6 hours for anything, so I did some research on other beaches and found Del Mar. ‘Playa Estes Del Mar” was absolutely perfect!!! We all fell in love from the moment we walked up a sand hill and got to the top and saw the crystal-clear water and warm smooth sand. If I could I would go back just to have another day on that beach.

11. Cuban People: I’m not sure if I just didn’t know what to expect Cubans to look like but they look like us! The country is full of beautiful black and brown people! I absolutely loved the looks. Everyone we encountered either did not say anything to us or was very nice and talkative. I believe they are just as curious of us as we are with them. A lot of Cubans are artists, I was not expecting so much beautiful art! If you have the chance stop by the market and bring extra cash to buy some timeless pieces of art and paintings.

12. Night Life: Our first night in town we went to a place by the name of “Mio y Tuyo”, drinks and food was cheap, and they had a good DJ with the videos to the songs playing in the background. We found out later that is place is someone’s home. They made the first floor of their home into a club. Cool right? Our second night, we went to “Fabrica de Arte Cubano”. This place is about 7 clubs in one big building with patios. Each club played a different type of music but all of them made you want to stop and dance. All throughout the building was a display of art from local artists, which I absolutely loved. The bartenders make all the drinks hand crafted and none of the mixers come from machine. Everything was from fresh ingredients. The 3rd night we were going to go to “Fantasy” but we ended up throwing a party for ourselves in our Airbnb club (the house seriously has its own club).

13. Tours: Book the Vinales Cigar rolling and Horseback riding tour, it’s an all-day tour but is worth it, so plan to have 1 full day of your trip there. If you are short on time as we were, there is a Cigar Factory and Rum tour in the city that is roughly 3 hours, and they are only open on weekdays. If you book an Airbnb, allow the house host to book the tours for you as they have direct contacts to these businesses. But I do recommend not to pre-book the old American car tours. Online prices were average $45 per person, while walking up to them and negotiating they quoted 60 CUC per car (split between 3-4 people in each car) for a city tour and to drop us off at a Restaurant in Del Mar (30-40min out the city).

14. Time is not of the essence in Cuba as it is in America. They are not in a rush to do anything. If you set a time for your taxi to pick you up and you are not ready they will wait on you. You cannot pay to skip the line at the club (trust me we tried to offer $$$), you must wait in line. There is no quick bite to eat as all the food is made to order and the drinks are handcrafted with detail. So, find some patience.

I hope my tips help you and yours enjoy your trip! Follow my group and our tags on IG: @AshleySoUnique @Wolf_of_Peachtree @DrCarlaMoore @Corrien3 @__Jayalessia @_miamor @_meaganh @Supreme.bliss @modernmillennia @teddy_atl @blkgrl_ashley @lala_kki @quinashai_chelette

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