Chase Barron, age 20, is a Multimedia student at Point Park University who was born and raised just 2 hours northeast of Pittsburgh in rural DuBois, Pennsylvania. He has grown to enjoy the outdoors and organic lifestyles and he aims to utilize media and technology to promote environmental awareness. Chase passes his spare time with photography, board-sports, books, food, and frisbees. His biggest passion, other than education of course, is pursuing music with his poorly named rock band “Chase and the Barons.”
Pre-Trip Blog
When you announce to your friends and family that you’re packing up for a trip to London, Bruges, and Amsterdam, you’re quite likely to receive an obscure look in return. They will be intrigued. They will be incredulous. Whatever the expression on their face appears to be, it is doubtlessly tainted with the cockeyed suspicion that you will take total advantage of Amsterdam’s “live and let live” social tolerance policy.
I am not in this just to experience some pleasant contrast in justice legislation, however. I believe that a proper college education is not complete without some culturing. I have never been to Europe. Though Pittsburgh is a great place for a photographer, foodie, and musician like myself, a change of pace is much needed after 20 years in Pennsylvania. Goodbye Pittsburgh.
Checking the big, accent-ridden, landmass off of my bucket-list is long overdue. In fact, there are several items that need checked off my bucket-list that might be achieved during our travels…
- Recreate The Beatles’ famous picture at Abbey Road (I’ve got dibs on George).
- Visit an authentic late-night blues club in Soho.
- Visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (they’re showing Midsummer Night’s Dream on May 10th).
- I never expected to like Shakespeare… but I had to take a class on him last semester. Take my word for it – Shakespeare was definitely an alright dude.
- Drink an authentic Belgian beer at the legendary Bruges Beertje and/or De Garre where the House Triple is apparently a brew to cross the Atlantic for.
- Cycle the streets of Amsterdam and row the canals.
Well… There may be more on that list. But that’s all that I can think of off the top of my head…
In my preparations, I have made a point to binge-watch all of Anthony Bourdain’s televised visits to the countries we will be exploring.
I trust that man with my life as well as my dinner plans. Being a shameless ‘foodie’ of sorts, I must admit that I am excited to explore European food culture. Believe it or not, they offer much more than fish n’ chips. Their locavore movement has allowed some killer farmer’s markets to spring up near urban centers.
I am now going to attempt to stuff everything I might need (and a Frisbee) into a carry-on sized bag.
Monday, May 9th – London Arrival & Orientation
Coming soon…
Tuesday, May 10th – London Sightseeing
Coming soon…
Wednesday, May 11th – Battenhall & BMB Advertising
Coming soon…
Thursday, May 12th – Travel from London to Bruges, Belgium
Coming soon…
Friday, May 13th – Bruges, Belgium
Coming soon…
Saturday, May 14th – Dutch Countryside Tour & Amsterdam
Coming soon…
Sunday, May 15th – Amsterdam Sightseeing
Coming soon…
Monday, May 16th – University Lecture & Tour
Coming soon…
Tuesday, May 17th – Het Parool & de Volkskrant
Coming soon…
Wednesday, May 18th – Ketchum Amsterdam & World Press Photo
Coming soon…
Thursday, May 19th – Free day in Amsterdam, Group Meeting & Farewell Dinner
Coming soon…
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