Here at Green & Away

Currently just relaxing in the "Crew Area" where volunteers can grab a couch and chill out. Across from me, a couple speaks in Greek and it is music to the ears. Another is helping a woman construct a pair of pants out of a peice of fabric. Others are reading, napping and drawing.

This small community functions on a harmonious level. People here are constantly happy to help and participate. There is a balance that cannot be mistaken. Those of you that are familiar with Hillside Festival know this feeling well. This is how society should function, this is a way of life.

Central Birmingham Markets

The only thing that sorta sucks about backpacking is that you are easily spotted as a tourists. But atleast I've spotted a few of my fellow backpackers. And there is no question why we're all here in Birmingham; It's hip-happening but not to overwhelming and everything that is exciting is all in close proximatey, all very much revolving around the famous Bull Ring center. And no wonder, the place is basically an disco ball big enough to fit ab shopping mall inside.

The market is a mixture of scents, not always pleasant. I could smell farm manure, fried food and fresh fruits. It's an exciting place, my favourite partbis the burley men yelling at the locals, trying to intimidate them into buying eggs.

Arriving

Departed T.O at approx - 8pm
Arrived Amsterdam approx - 3am
3am Canadian time = 9am NL time

Which means I awoke in the sunshine feeling like I had a terrible sleep and it was still the middle of the night. But my mood quickly lightened as I got my first glance of Mother Ireland.
The home of my heart, The Shire.

Anyways I spent approx 8 hours in the Schiphol airport waiting for my next flight to Birmingham, which is where I am now in a beautiful little hostel (pics later). I'm checking out soon and hanging around Birmingham for a few hours before I head to Worcester, Green&Away destination.

That's it for now.

Leaving the Shire

This is what I will be experiencing tomorrow

Say hello to:

The "Feminine Fanny Pack"

Worn under clothes

as seen below

What does it contain?

Birmingham Central Backpackers

Brimingham Central Backpackers

This is the first hostel experience I will have in Europe. I will arrive here on July 21st. Unfortunately I will have just spent many many long hours on two different airplanes plus a stop in between which I will have glimpsed Amsterdam while waiting for my next flight to Birmingham. I say "unfortunately" because this hostel looks beautiful and I will only have enough time to crash here for the night before I take off for Worcester where Green & Away awaits me.