VEGAS BABY

City of Las Vegas is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and, like everyone, we know because of what. Gambling, shopping, fine dining, nightlife. The most famous part of the city is of course, South Las Vegas Boulevard, known as Las Vegas Strip. Right there we can see all these spectacular, luxury hotels and casinos.

We arrived there very late, about 23 p.m and all what we wanted to take a shower and go to sleep :D When we went out from the bus the heat hit us, almost 40 degrees at midnight that was a thing! 

Our destination was the Circus Circus hotel, shining as a christmas tree. It was also one of the cheapest hotels, we paid about 140 dollars for 2 people for 4 nights, but still it was very comfortable. The bedroom was huge, but the only thing that I noticed was giant bed and beautiful view from Sky Tower. 

Every evening we were going to the swimming pool and jacuzzi. Without this, we couldn't survive in this high temperature. Personally, Vegas was not suitable for me because I couldn't buy alcohol and play in casinos :D I was waiting only for Grand Canion trip. On this famous street were too much of shopping centres. And the only thing that was worth to see there, were the hotels for example this one from the movie 'The Hangover'. At the streets we could see people dressed as Alan or other actors. 

I was very excited to see finally the canion. It was my dream since I remember. I saw it on pictures and movies and seeing it for real it was unforgettable moment. We bought a chineese trip, It costed less but the accent of our guide was really funny. From Las Vegas to Grand Canion is about 5 hours by car so we were a little bit sleepy. We had a chance to visit also Hoover Dam, the construction was a result of  massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. It provides irrigation water, control floods and produce hydroelectric power. It was really worth to see it. 

Chineese people took us safetly to our hotel, were we spend the last night waiting for our next destination. What city this time?? BIG APPLE!

Welcome to City of Angels!

Our next destination was Los Angeles. Since I remember It has been my dream to visit this place. It finally came true! The flight from
Boston was pretty exhausting, about 6 hours and of course time-change. We arrived to LA at 9 pm, but stil we wanted to start exploring the city the same day, because we only spent there 2 days. Definitely not enough! :( 

Luckily, we could save some money and we didn't have to pay for accommodation. We were living at our lovely host, Eddy. I found him on couchsurfing and he was a perfect guide and knew a lot about his city. He also helped us a lot to get to our places and with findin bus stations and so on. We wouldn't be able to see everything what we wanted without his help. We were living in Downtown LA, very calm area but full of homeless people. That was shock for me at first, even during the day they were sleeping at main streets.

Nevertheless, LA has a long history with film, TV, music and literature. From the world class LA Philharmonic to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, J. Paul Getty Museum and LACMA, LA’s cultural legacy continues to grow. We were walking through Hollywood Blvd, admiring Walk of fame and museums.  And of course, long, 3 hours walk to see the Hollywood sign. It was amazing to finally get there. 

So far, the best moment for us was to tak a rest at Venice and Santa Monica Beach. Those places looked exactly like from the videos and movies. People doing sports, plenty of them on pier and huge space around. I felt that I want to really stay there longer! Ah, maybe we will try next year! But wait... another fabulous place was waiting for us! ------> LAS VEGAS PARADISE :)

City of Boston

Leaving Brant Lake Camp was one of the happiest and saddest day of the summer. Finally I could start traveling and wake up what time I wanted :) And spending money for pleasures, not just saving all the time. People were crying, promising that we will see again one day, yeah it was very emotional! But I couldn't wait any longer to see what I always wanted to see!

 My first stop was Boston, I think the city which I liked the most and I regret that I had just 2 days there. I went there completely alone, long trip by bus from Warrensburg to Albany and then to Boston. I was expecting my friend to travel the next day.  I didn't want to be alone at a hotel, I wanted to meet someone and see a little bit of the city, so I decided to hire a bed in Friend Street Hostel. 

When I arrived at the South Station Bus Terminal, the weather was very beautiful and I decided not to take a taxi to the hostel, just walk by feet with my baggage. It was about 15 minutes and very pleasant to see the streets. When I had came to the hostel, the girl told me that there is no free bed in room, which I hired :D I was like: 'noo I don't want to spend night in MacDonald's or bus station, heeelp' :D Luckily, she found one bed for me, I was very tired after long trip so I breathed a sigh of relief. 

The hostel was very nice, comfortable and I met amazing people there. Girls from Korea, Australia and boys from Boston and Germany :) This night we went to the nearest restaurant to eat and drink something and get to know each other. I bought there the most expensive beer ever :D (7 dollars for the smallest one, do you believe??) We were exchanging our travel memories and experiences, we are still in touch, I really appreciate that. The next day I meet finally my friend and we headed to Logan International Airport. 

To where?? 

To Los Angeles, baby!!! 

It's all about PEOPLE

I couldn't survive working so many hours without incredible kitchen staff. As I said before, they were coming from all around the world and that was a good thing because firstly, everyone felt shy and incertain.

 But theeen the party began :D I do appreciate those moments, when we had even just half an hour of break and we were sitting on the staires or stones and just talking without phones and internet. I didn't even feel the need to log on facebook every day (unbelievable, right?:D) I didn't write so often to my parents also, once my mom asked me if I am still alive haha. 

People were fighting of course, when we were very tired, even one thing could make us angry. But after all, everyone was very helpful, when I was standing 10 hours and I knew, that I won't be able to finish desserts, I could always count on people. 

How weird is that we spent 2 months together and spend another 10 months just passing time until the summer... Through good times and bad, I'm so moved by my time with all of them.

Water fights, cake fights, social games, campfires, watching films together and travelling during our day off's made a bond between us, which I really appreciate. Right now I know that I can travel to Mexico, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic etc. and I always find support from them.

This summer has flown by way definitely too fast. I would be even more blessed to come back again and again. 

USA ≠ PARADISE

Although I consider being in the US as a unforgettible adventure, I cannot call this paradise, mainly because of the food (and their prices :D) When it comes to people, it is completely different, it was much easier to live with them, cooperate and go through the problems than with polish people. Although first impression is very important and most of the Americans are very stubborn and then is almost impossible to convince them :) 

I learn how to live much slower, not to take care about everything too much, I understood that we are just humans and sometimes it is good to make mistakes. At work I was trying to be a perfectionist that's why I was satisfied to work alone, without messy kitchen staff :D Grils were cutting their fingers, burning their hands and food :D It was a nice feeling to be the only one who survived 2 months without any cuts.

My mom is an amazing cook and partially I was glad that I won't eat so much, I wanted to loose weight finally and eat less. But my plans have foundered. I've ate even less than at home and after all I put on weight almost 6 kilogramms :D At first two weeks I tried to eat only salads with tomato and cucumbers (that was the only healthy thing on camp) but come on, I am definitely not a rabbit. 

And then the fun has started :D Breakfast doughnuts (sometimes children even ate salad with chips and dip bleeeeh), lunch - cheese with pasta and fries (+dessert), dinner - hamburgers, pizza, chicken wings (+dessert of course). Kitchen staff have always eaten after the kinds, we must did it very quickly because we wanted to clean fast and take a rest finally. But the kids didn't help us at all, they were very messy during meals, especially when I've baked brownies, dough were all over the tables, chairs and floors. I regret that I did not take a photo of this art haha. 

Happily, during the travelling I was buying food very rarely, camp gave us meals so then I ate just once a day. I was not hungry because of the heat and food prices :D And I've lost everything what I put on weight, yesss! Maybe It will sounds very stupid and shallow but I'd rather to buy some shoes ands clothes and spend it on museums and tourist attractions then waste my money on food haha :D 

Good decisions make good stories.

It was the best decision in my life to choose the United States as my next travel destination. But before, I had to work hard to earn for this pleasure :) I truly recommend to everyone to take part in Work & Travel program. Of course, I had lots of doubts because I was travelling completely alone, I was not sure if I can achieve it. In this post I will tell you about my work and place, where I lived during this summer. 

My destination was Brant Lake Camp, one of the oldest privately owned camps in the US, enjoying nearly 100 years of single family ownership as a camp for boys ages 7 to 15. It is located in the most beautiful area, crystal clear lake and mountains in the background. Mostly we hang out near private waterfront and beaches to take a rest and just admire the nature. 

I've worked as a baker - for me it was a dream job, I thought that I would be a toilet cleaner but ufff so far so good :D I love baking, decorations are one of the things that give me a lot of happiness. I used to work 9-10 hours per day, sometimes it was very difficult because of the heat of two huge ovens, but I cannot complain. I had my own kitchen for baking so no one disturbed me. I wouldn'd be myself if I didn't break both of the ovens in the first week haha :( Nevertheless, having the best chef in the world made my job no stress and anger. 

Sometimes I was very mad about the fact that everyone liked my cookies and cakes so much :D They ate it a lot... like 1200 chocolate cookies per day :P each of them should get only one, but of course they were cheating, sneaky and I've always baked more than I had to. 

The best part of being at the camp was getting to know people. They came from around the world, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, UK, Turkey and of course US. I already miss them so much, joking and playing in water fights.