Adam Wible

Adam Wible: Central America

Adam Wible — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 05:04:09 +0000

A short holiday break trip through Central America – Adam Wible and Robert Huber.

Adam Wible visited: Monteverde, Arenal, Tamarindo, Liberia, Ometepe, San Juan del Sur, Granada, Masaya, San Salvador, Lago Atitlan, Antigua, Copan, Roatan, Tegucigalpa

Adam Wible: Southern Africa

Adam Wible — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 05:01:58 +0000

Studied abroad junior spring at Princeton, which enabled me to enjoy a northern hemisphere summer, a southern hemisphere summer, and another northern summer back-to-back. This alone would have made Cape Town a good decision, but the experience of living in Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa made it even better. Studied at the University of Cape Town as an exchange student in Computer Science. Coursework was not overly stressful, so there was plenty of time to explore. Spent plenty of time in Muizenberg – a nice, soft, shark-infested beach break great for novices. Bought 50% of a 1986 Mercedes which, as I found out several weeks into my ownership, took leaded fuel (and you could still buy leaded fuel in South Africa).

Road trips along the Garden Route to Knysna, up to Lesotho and later to Namibia – all involved plenty of flat tires, but it was relatively reliable transportation. Also did a safari trip to Kruger Park, visiting Swaziland and Mozambique on the way back. Very satisfying to see the animals more or less in the wild. While I won’t miss the constant and exhausting string of attempted burglaries (they did manage to carry off my running shoes on one occasion, and my duvet on another), I’m still waiting for my next chance to be in South Africa.

Locations visited include: Cape Town, Muizenberg, Franschoek Valley, Garden Route, Lesotho, Kruger Park, Swaziland, Kosi Bay, Umfolozi Park, Tofo, Maputo, Namibia

040127 Southern Africa

Adam Wible: Peru

Adam Wible — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 05:00:27 +0000

Trip with Robert Huber and Fernando Lulli over Winter Holiday from Princeton in 2003. Stayed focused given this was a 2-week trip – saw: Puerto Maldonado, Cusco, Pisac, Saqsayhuaman, Macchu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Huacachina, Pisco.

Highlights:

Nazca Lines in Pisco – what are these massive ancient carvings in the cliffs?
Cienciano victory against River Plate in the Copa Sudamericano
Tarantulas, piranhas, caymans, and mosquitos in Puerto Maldonado jungle
The short version hike to Machu Picchu (can’t imagine the long version)
Lake Titicaca, touristy though it may be, still beautiful
Drinking mate, but NOT carrying around all the paraphernalia

031212 Peru

Adam Wible: Central Europe

Adam Wible — Thu, 01 May 2003 04:58:04 +0000

Amsterdam, Berlin, Krakow, Wieliczka, Auschwitz & Birkenau, Prague, Karlstein, Morina, Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Fussen, Munich, Bonn, Koblenz, Cologne, Brussels, Bruges, Texel

Second trip to Europe with Robert Huber, Allison Lee, Ian McDowell, and RJ Delnicki. Decided to stay away from France, Italy, and Spain this time for the sake of variety, and instead focused on central, and a little bit of eastern Europe.

Memorable sites include:

Ann Frank Huis, Amsterdam canals, and red light district
Bundestag, with its wacky solar-mirror contraption
Stasi HQ & prison (tour guide referred to us as “my prisoner” for two hours)
Saw Tom Jones (in the sagging flesh)
Bombed out cathedral (Gedachtniskirche), Potsdamer Platz, and segments of the Berlin wall
Weileiczka Salt Mines, Auschwitz, and Krakow’s central square
Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
Gellert Baths, and overlooking the Danube from Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest
Juxtaposition between old town and communist architecture across the Danube in Bratislava
Mad King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle (and waterfalls) in Fussen

030531 Central Europe

Adam Wible: Spain and Morocco

Adam Wible — Sun, 01 Dec 2002 04:55:25 +0000

Madrid, El Escorial, Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Tetouan, Chefchouen, Marrakesh, Essouiara, Ouarzazate, Boumaine du Dades, Merzouga, Fes, Tangier, Gibraltar, Toledo

Over Christmas holidays at Princeton, flew to Madrid. Found the city bland – most likely because I skipped two of the best aspects: high end cuisine and nightlife. No money for such trifles. Couldn’t wait to get into cities with a bit more chaos – the ones that wear their history on their sleeve. Traveled to the southern Spanish cities with moorish influence – Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada.

The first time I’ve had a knife to my through was in Al Albacin neighborhood in Granada, while taking a photo. I gave the unseen assailant the 10 euros I had in my wallet. I did not reveal the existence of my money belt, which at that point I still had the energy to wear. But he wasn’t satisfied – he wanted the camera. But I’ve just taken a couple nice photos, I think, irrationally. Eventually I crouch down progressively between the curb and a parked car, and then spin around and run away (with the camera). Next time, I will definitely just hand it over!

Couldn’t wait to get into Morocco – crossed the border at Ceuta at night with no issues. Meeting up with Ian McHenry, who had gone on ahead of us. Enjoyed local hospitality in Tetouan, and then again in Fes. Enjoyed Marrakesh, and especially swimming out to an offshore castle in Essouiara on the coast. The dunes at Merzouga were also unmissable.

021215 Spain

021222 Morocco

Adam Wible: France, Italy, and Spain

Adam Wible — Sat, 01 Jun 2002 04:53:45 +0000

Annecy, Chamonix, Annecy Chateau, Paris, Geneva, Versailles, Florence, Siena, Rome, Cinque Terre, Barcelona, Pamplona, Hedaye, Paris

First international experience (not counting the visit to the UK when I was thirteen). Studied French at Institut Francais d’Annecy, in Annecy France courtesy of Princeton’s French Department. When the studies were complete, took the opportunity to travel with fellow students through France, then to Italy (in time for Il Palio in Siena) and then to Spain (in time for the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona). This trip can be credited with initiating the travel addiction that has since consumed my savings (and my holidays).

020605 France

020701 Italy

020709 Spain