Grinder backpacking Europe

Quote: beachbumbabs

Henry VIII was about 6'2". It used to be a "thing" for armorers to build scaled-down demos to take around on sales calls, and for rich knights to have a smaller version of their suits to decorate the home, though it's also true the average person now is taller than back then, by a lot. So not sure which of those pertained to what you saw, if any, but Henry was a huge guy for his times.

Interesting! I’ll have to do more research about what and who’s stuff I saw.

The doorways were shorter and narrower, and the beds were also diminutive. Maybe it was the kids prison?

Quote: Ayecarumba

The doorways were shorter and narrower, and the beds were also diminutive.

As for the length of beds, I think a significant part of that was based on sleeping positions at the time. (No. Get your mind out of the gutter.) If you visit house exhibits from even the American colonial period, you will find very short beds the norm. People then typically slept propped on pillows in almost a sitting position, much like in some of today's adjustable beds.

We haven't heard from Pokergrinder in a while.

Is it safe do assume he is still headlining at the Rupert Street bar trying to impress Ru-Paul?

I think PG is having a good time with all those German ladies.Is Generation Hostel as low as 9 pound per night??

Ok it is time to stop being lazy. I left London early on Tuesday morning and I was very tired due to my poor choices the night before regarding Netflix. It is so hard to not press watch the next episode especially when they continually leave you wanting more with a good show. I got to Euston Station for my train to Liverpool with plenty of time. I eventually found the machines where I could turn my reservation into an actual ticket. I grabbed a baguette with ham and cheese and boarded my train. The train was fine except that it was slightly warm in the cabin. I had a connecting train in Crewe which I found without issue. In total the journey took me just over 2 hours and my hate for trains after India has dissipated a bit.
I love the funny police hats!


I got to the hostel about 45 minutes before I was able to check in but they allowed me to use the shower while I waited for my room to be ready, I was very appreciative. I was changed from a 10 bed dorm to a 4 bed dorm, I assume it was because they didn't have enough guests to bother cleaning a bigger room. I had no complaints, I was still paying the 10 bed dorm price.

After I got settled in the room I decided to head out on the town and visit the couple of casinos that are in Liverpool. My first stop was at Genting Queen Square where I played roulette as it was the only thing open at that point in the afternoon. I lost 17 pounds including my chip that I kept. I noticed that they had chips from their Renshaw St location in Liverpool and the location in Manchester as well. I then took the bus across the water to Genting Casino Wirral in Birkenhead, the bus took about 15 minutes and it wasn't too hard to figure out with Google Maps. I got to ride my first double decker bus since arriving in England. At Genting Wirral I played BJ and won 20 pounds (this keyboard doesn't have the pound sign) before I headed back to the Liverpool side of the water. My last casino of the day was Grosvenor Leo which sadly was using the generic Grosvenor chips so I didn't collect one. I headed back to the hostel for the hostel's free BBQ dinner, they might have falsely advertised their "BBQ". The entire meal they were serving was potatoes cooked with eggs and onions, I'm not sure how that is a BBQ but whatever. They did have free beer so that made it better.
Here are a few cool buildings from my walk.




While not having a free BBQ I met two separate travelers from Florida and we talked for a bit before deciding to go out for drinks and dinner, We ended up at this pub with live jazz music being played. We shared pizza and sweet potato fries and had a few drinks. I had the house beer which was quite good and then I had a local Liverpool beer called Love Lane which was also solid.

The band


After the band was finished playing we headed out and ended up at a bar where the Beatles had played back in the day (not the Cavern). I had a shipyard beer and we listened to the 90's music that was being played. We headed back to the hostel as we had all arrived that day and were tired from our travels.

My second day in Liverpool was the reason that I went to Liverpool in the first place, I love the Beatles! I had the breakfast at the hostel for 5 pounds, the breakfast was so good that I made sure to not have it again the next day lol. A couple weeks back I booked a ticket on the Magical Mystery Tour bus that takes you to all the Beatles related sights in Liverpool. Our stops included Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, George, Paul and John's childhood homes and a few other spots along the way.



Hanging with John outside the Cavern


The tour was cool but nothing special as I don't overly care where the guys lived as children. The part of the tour that I loved was the time that we spent on the bus the tour guide was giving us facts and information about the group the whole time. The tour guide along with the music made the tour very worth it for a Beatles fan. The tour ended at the Cavern club where the Beatles played 292 times in their careers. Our tour ticket included free entry to the club and their was live music while I was there. I spent 20 minutes or so looking at the memorabilia on the walls and taking in the ambiance of the Cavern Club. The Cavern is many flights of stairs down and you feel like you're in a cellar which you basically are. I didn't stay for much of the live music as it was quite mediocre.

Inside the Cavern Club


After the tour I headed to Albert Dock to walk around and check out the area.
The docks

The candy store at the Albert Docks made this out of only jelly beans

I got a bacon butty for lunch as I had seen it the day before and it looked good. Turns out that all a bacon butty is is a BLT. At Albert Dock they have the Beatles Story museum which I wasn't sure if I was going to go to or not. I am so glad that I decided to go as it was fascinating! I spent a couple of hours looking around while I listened to the guided tour they give you on a playback device (I don't know what to call this machine lol). I got the student price for admission because I still have my University ID and I have no qualms about using it for a discount. On my way back to the hostel I stopped at the last casino for Liverpool at Genting Renshaw St. I played a few hands of BJ and walked away 4 pounds richer. Back at the hostel I printed off my boarding pass for my flight to Naples and watched Netlfix because I am addicted. Later that night I went in search of food and found Lebanese shawarma as everyone must when in Liverpool, just jokes. The shawarma was tasty but the hot sauce was flavourless. With shawarma the hot sauce can really make or break it. I headed back to the hostel to grab some sleep before my flight at 7 in the morning.

PG, do you store your ID and valuables in locker or with you when staying in a 10 bed room? Also how much is it for a nite please?

Also please state the cost of tours. Thanks.

If the room has lockers I lock my stuff In there with my lock. If there aren’t lockers then I take it with me.

The Beatles tour was €18.95 and the museum was €12.50

The two cops look like a comedy duo. The short one look like he is giving you the eyeball for taking their picture.

Were "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields" actual place names before the Beatles songs? Slap a sign up, and make it a photo opportunity for the tourists...

Looking at the backs of the heads in your Cavern Club picture, the hippies there probably all have had hip replacements. Were you the youngest one of the tour?

The jelly bean portrait is awesome!

Thanks for the update! I really enjoy the pix and narration. Looking forward to the next one.

Can you hurry up and get to Italy? England is so morose.

Quote: Ayecarumba

The two cops look like a comedy duo. The short one look like he is giving you the eyeball for taking their picture.

Were "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields" actual place names before the Beatles songs? Slap a sign up, and make it a photo opportunity for the tourists...

Looking at the backs of the heads in your Cavern Club picture, the hippies there probably all have had hip replacements. Were you the youngest one of the tour?

The jelly bean portrait is awesome!

Thanks for the update! I really enjoy the pix and narration. Looking forward to the next one.

Haha the cops were actually just turning as I took the picture which is why they look like that.

Yes they Beatles wrote the songs about Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, both predate the songs.

I was among the youngest. There was one other guy my age and a few in their mid to late 30’s. The average age on the tour was easily over 50 maybe even over 60.

Yes the jelly bean portrait was amazingly done. I wonder how long it took to make that.

Maxpen so I shouldn’t tell you that I’ve been lazy and that I’ve been in Italy for a week now?

Ok since MaxPen has been so patient... ITALY!

On Thursday morning I had a 6:30 am flight from John Lennon Airport to Naples, Italy. I know what you are going to say, why 6:30 am? My idea 2 months ago was leave early as to not lose a day for travel, in reality I had that guy from 2 months ago cause this is too damn early for a flight. I took an Uber to the airport and the guy wouldn't stop talking! I am a chatty person but my G-D man it isn't even 5 am yet. The flight to Naples was easy enough even though I sadly had a window seat (I prefer the isle). We landed and then I realized that the Naples airport is not big enough to handle the incoming traffic that they get, The passport area was absolutely tiny and it was jam packed with people. They had separate lines for EU, EU and Russia and everyone else. I first waited in the quick pass line by accident (they have no signs of whats what until you're almost at the front), I then waited for 15 minutes in the EU line because I saw an everyone sign but that was handicapped only, I'm stupid, does that count? I then managed to merge from my line into the proper line, I would have felt bad but everyone was doing it. I spent the next hour+ listening to very racist Americans talk about all the darker skinned passengers that were pushing their way into line. They kept referring to them as rude and smelly, they said karma would get them. I don't believe in karma but I assume all the different racist remarks that came out of these two ladies mouths wouldn't be bringing them good karma any time soon. I waited in the line and since I am a big guy I had no issue making sure nobody pushed in front of me. I just stood in the middle of the not line and made sure that anyone who wanted to pass me would have to push by me and I sure as hell wasn't allowing that to happen. All told the passport procedure took 1:45 start to finish.

As I left the airport I didn't have much of a plan on how to get into the city. I saw a sign for a shuttle bus that went into Napoli so I bought a ticket for £5 and waited in the line to board. I got off at the train station as a wild guess that the train station would be more central than the ferries. I walked around aimlessly for about 15 minutes looking for wifi until I found a McDonald's, oh glorious McDonald's! No matter what country I am in on planet earth, one thing is always the same. McDonald's has free wifi!!!

I now had google map directions to my hostel, 28 minutes walk away in the blistering sun carrying my travel backpack and my normal backpack, easy peasy! On the way I bought an arancini to eat and omg it was glorious. Arancini is rice and cheese, breaded and fried in a ball. They are amazing, sorry Uncle Larry they make them better than you.

I stopped at a phone store and bought a sim card for Italy? Europe? EU? I'm not sure and I won't know until I get to France. I arrived at the hostel tired and drenched in sweat, I was so glad when the front desk girl offered me some water. I checked in and showered because wow I needed it!

After I showered and dropped my stuff in my room I headed out to explore. My plan was to venture to Castel dell'ovo (no that isn't a typo) and see what I find on the way. Well on my way I found some neat architecture, tons of statues, a castle looking building and food!
We have fast food on the corners of streets, they have castles!

I bought an arancini this time with ham inside as well, a bun baked with cheese, ham and I think he said bacon inside and for desert a flaky pastry with chocolate inside. The bun was meh and the pastry didn't have much of a chocolate taste but I was hungry so it all got eaten.
Weird not chocolate chocolate thing.

I arrived at Castel dell'ovo which is in fact a castle.

Sadly the cannons were loaded but with garbage, stupid tourists.

I explored the castle (free entry) for about a half hour. They had some art displays in different rooms as I climbed up the stairs. The views were quite magnificent but sadly don't get captured by my camera as well as I wish they would. After the castle I headed back to the hostel. On the way I took a couple differnt turns as to see more of the area. I found a gelato shop and I couldn't resist getting some dark chocolate gelato. It was fantastic!
You're supposed to use the little cone as a spoon.

That night at the hostel the workers cooked vegetarian penne for everyone and we all hung out there having drinks. Back home whenever I can I drink Peroni which is a really good Italian beer, at the hostel they sold them for £2 a bottle, I had 5 before turning in for the night. Around 10 that night my nose started running and I figured it was just allergies... I was very wrong.
First pasta in Italy.


I woke up the next day with the flu but I had already booked my trip to Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius so off I went, no time to be sick in Italy! The bus picked us up and took us to Pompeii where we were given a 2 hour guided tour in English. Pompeii was absolutely amazing and it lived up to the hype. On the way to Pompeii we stopped at a gas station and I bought some Kleenex, a 10 pack and wow would I need it! I walked around Pompeii in the crazy heat sneezing and sniffling the whole time. I didn't care, how often do you get to see something so amazing? I was amazed how much they were able to save from the city. Almost every roof was gone but the walls or frames were left of a good portion of the buildings. The guide was great showing us what some of the buildings were and how they knew what they were. They had fast food restaurants, regular houses, rich peoples homes and even the whore house was beautifully maintained.
Pregnant slave, they knew she was a slave as slaves didn't get shoes.

Fast food

The gates to each building are not original.

Bed in whore house. The beds were made of stone so that the men would be uncomfortable and finish quicker.

Art befitting of a whore house.
https://i.imgur.com/7XlK7EO.jpg[/img]
They didn't have street signs but they carved objects in the ground so people could find certain streets. This pointed towards... you guessed it the whore house street. Just a happy coincidence that the ground was wet at the head of the penis lol.

After the tour was over we were given a few minutes to buy souvenirs, I got snow globes and a magnet. We were then taken for lunch as part of the tour and I got to taste what Napoli is famous for, pizza! I had the margherita pizza and it was spectacular. Their pizza focuses on the bread and the sauce rather than the cheese and toppings like we do in North America.

Pompeii with Vesuvius in the background.

They knew this was a rich persons house based on the size but also this expensive tile floor (original floor).

Original streets, you can see the grooves made by the horse drawn carriages.

Pretty amazing how some of the artifacts have survived in such amazing condition.

After lunch we got back on the bus and headed to Mt Vesuvius. The road up the mountain is barely two lanes, one each way. It was so impressive to watch the bus driver maneuver all these sharp turns around the mountain. I can't imagine trying to drive a massive bus up the mountain when the roads are like a snake.

The bus dropped us off 30 minutes from the top of the mountain and yes you guessed it we got to climb the rest of the way. Between me being out of shape and the fact that I couldn't breathe because of the flu, the climb was tough. After about 30 minutes of climbing up steep paths made of loose gravel and rocks (my feet kept slipping) we made it to the top. I was drenched in sweat, breathing heavy and overall just exhausted but it was worth it. Sadly it was foggy so we couldn't see Napoli or Sorrento from the top but it was amazing none the less. We took some pictures of the mountain, the crater and of the sad fog. I wanted something as a memento that I was there so I bought a little figurine of the hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil monkeys made of ash from the mountain. The climb down was a lot easier but the ground kept slipping, I managed to not fall and got back to the bus with 5 minutes to spare.
Gasping for breath halfway up

Giant crater



Made it to the top!

Me and Vesuvius

These were black before the climb.

The bus dropped us back in Napoi and I grabbed a little something to eat as I wasn't planning on leaving the hostel again that day. I grabbed an arancini and a frittatina which is a local Napoli special with noodles and cheese breaded and fried. They are still my favorite thing that I have eaten on this trip.

I also got this mini chocolate pie which was delightful!

The hostel worker told me this famous place in the city to get the best frittatinas and she was right. She offered to make me some tea for my sore throat which I gladly accepted. Not long after I went to bed, dead tired from the day. As I was laying in bed a Spanish lady said something to me but I couldn't understand her. She used google translate to offer me a flu pill as she could see me coughing up a storm. I accepted the unlabeled drugs from the foreign lady as everyone should and went to bed. I woke up about a hour later freezing cold and sweating. I put on long pants, socks, a shirt and a hoody and climbed back into bed under the covers. I was frozen but I slept for 13 hours that night.

The next morning I woke up and figured that I should take it easy. I went in search of the famous pizza place Sorbillo with the plan being to stop by Di'MAtteo for the frittatina after. I got to Sorbillo and they were lined up out the door about 5 people deep.

Instead of waiting I went inside and ordered a margherita pizza to go for only £4. The pizza was even better than the one from the day before!

I then walked two minutes down the street and had the most amazing frittatina ever. It had little bits of beef and green veggies in the middle, it is still the best thing I've had in Europe.
Glorious frittatina

I headed back to the hostel for a much needed nap. When I woke up quite a few hours later I folded my clean laundry that they did while I was sleeping. I assume they do it because that way nobody breaks the machines?!? The front desk girl suggested a restaurant down the street for dinner, her recommendation of Di'Matteo was much better than this one. The restaurant was slightly expensive and the food was mediocre. I had mussels in a salty broth with cherry tomatoes and crustinis to dunk in the broth. For the main course I had fettuccine porchini which was just noodles with overcooked mushrooms in an oil, I won't even say oil sauce because I'm pretty sure it was just oil. Overall it was one of the most expensive meals I have had in my 10 days in Italy and one of the worst.



On my way back to the hostel I grabbed a couple of frittatinas for breakfast the next day before my train to Rome. I was so sad in the morning when I realized they had been thrown out because I didn't put my name on the bag. I also got gelato on the way back to the hostel that was very granular, it tasted fine but I found it very odd and low quality. Off to bed I went!

Have you had pizza in the us that was close to what you ate experiencing in Italy or are they just way different.

Quote: GWAE

Have you had pizza in the us that was close to what you ate experiencing in Italy or are they just way different.

I did have one pizza in Rome that was similar to North American pizza and it was not good lol. It’s hard to explain pizza from Italy without tasting it. You probably look at it and think where’s the rest of the cheese and or toppings. It’s so good thought the bread and the sauce are so tasty.

Quote: PokerGrinder

I did have one pizza in Rome that was similar to North American pizza and it was not good lol. It’s hard to explain pizza from Italy without tasting it. You probably look at it and think where’s the rest of the cheese and or toppings. It’s so good thought the bread and the sauce are so tasty.

I was asking the other way around. Have you have italian pizza in north America, or is it completely different than what you had experienced?

Here's a little tip for anyone who visits Rome...

If you want to see Pompeii, but don't have the time, or don't want to travel that far, check out Ostia Antica instead. It's a lot closer and has a ton of similar ruins. I don't know how it compares to Pompeii, but it's pretty big.

I’ve never seen pizza like this sold in North America. It’s very different, I wish you could try it.

Bummer you got sick PG. What’s the over/under on how many people you got sick?

I had heard the people in Pompeii had time to evacuate after the initial explosion buried a town closer to the base of the volcano, but many did not believe anything would happen to them. Is this true?

If someone goes to these sites without a guide, will they be able to see all the things you did, or were some things only accessible to your tour group?

Quote: Ayecarumba

Bummer you got sick PG. What’s the over/under on how many people you got sick?

I had heard the people in Pompeii had time to evacuate after the initial explosion buried a town closer to the base of the volcano, but many did not believe anything would happen to them. Is this true?

If someone goes to these sites without a guide, will they be able to see all the things you did, or were some things only accessible to your tour group?

Lol it happens. I’m still coughing a little a week later, just have to roll with the punches. As far as how many infected the Italian centre for Disease Control hasn’t released the numbers yet.

From what I’ve read on Wikipedia Herculaneum got hit first but not as bad because they were to the west. Pompeii was then destroyed and the next day Vesuvius finished the job on Herculaneum. Quite a few people were evacuated from Herculaneum. I didn’t see anything about a warning that would have allowed people to escape Pompeii. It seemed to happen pretty quickly.

You can just go to Pompeii and buy a ticket if you’d like. Without a guide I wouldn’t have known what I was looking at most of the time. I would have seen ruins of buildings but the guide was able to explain what those buildings were and how they know that. The same goes for the whole city imo. I usually hate guided tours but this was a great idea.

Quote: PokerGrinder

As far as how many infected the Italian centre for Disease Control hasn’t released the numbers yet. ... From what I’ve read on Wikipedia Herculaneum got hit first but not as bad because they were to the west. Pompeii was then destroyed ....

Guess I need to focus a little better when reading this forum.

When I first scanned your post, I read the quoted lines as saying that the CDC hadn't yet released the numbers on how many people you infected with the flu, but the result was that Herculaneum was hit first, with the infection going on to destroy the population of Pompeii. Had to read over your post once again. LOL!

No comment Doc on the Enema for an Elephant pill that Poker Grinder may have taken after some strange women gave him a pill and told him it was for the flu?

Quote: Doc

Guess I need to focus a little better when reading this forum.

When I first scanned your post, I read the quoted lines as saying that the CDC hadn't yet released the numbers on how many people you infected with the flu, but the result was that Herculaneum was hit first, with the infection going on to destroy the population of Pompeii. Had to read over your post once again. LOL!

That gave me a good laugh Doc.

What could possibly be on Netflix more entertaining than the sights and sounds of a hostel at night?
Are you streaming Netflix or have you downloaded lots of stuff (to your phone) before your trip?

A mixture of both, I’ve got stuff downloaded for when I’m on planes or trains without wifi. Sometimes after a long day in the sun it’s nice to unwind by myself.

I will be happy to read your experience, please write more about your trip)))!

PokerGrinder: You still in Europe and enroute back to the UK?

Can you get some trivia AND dice? Simultaneously?

In the UK they call cowrie shells Trivia because that is their botanical name and the shells were used throughout Africa as dice.

I’m not sure what most of that means but I will be updating the thread soon, I’ve just been busy. I’m keeping notes though to do the write up later.

I find it funny that you are in a 3rd world country with spotty internet and you do many updates and now you are in a first world with what I assume is good internet and you slack.

Cant wait to hear what's been going on.

I am rooting for you, Grinder. Maybe soon I will jump into a poker game with you. For your information, after a few short sessions, I have made a name for myself at Stations.

Quote: GWAE

I find it funny that you are in a 3rd world country with spotty internet and you do many updates and now you are in a first world with what I assume is good internet and you slack.

Cant wait to hear what's been going on.

Actually the SIM cards that I bought in Asia were a lot better than the crap I bought in London and they were much cheaper.

It’s more laziness than anything, just easier to post from my computer than my tiny iPhone.

Quote: PokerGrinder

Actually the SIM cards that I bought in Asia were a lot better than the crap I bought in London and they were much cheaper.

That is strange. In the Asia threads there were some discussions about how the low barriers to entry kept Asian food vendors selling only fresh foods at low prices. Perhaps its the same way with SIM cards.

Quote: FleaStiff

That is strange. In the Asia threads there were some discussions about how the low barriers to entry kept Asian food vendors selling only fresh foods at low prices. Perhaps its the same way with SIM cards.

In urban centers, I am sure that there are more users competing for the same bandwidth. The free market should equate to higher prices = less traffic = better performance. But, are there a lot of tall buildings with metal infrastructure, and a small number of cell towers? Could it be the two regions use different network standards: CDMA vs. GSM?