I’m writing this on Monday at 23:33 in the comfort of my own bed, in my own room, in Northern London near Twickenham and I didn’t have to propose to anyone to get it! This room was offered to me by one of the many extraordinary people I’ve met along my travels. I started off August 2nd with my theatre group from El Camino, yes its my high-school group, I’m 20 and still performing a musical I did 2 years ago and you know what…it was fucking incredible! Pardon my French, I’ll save that for Paris. We stayed in London for a couple days and then headed up to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland; home to men with awesome skirts they justify by calling them kilts! We had a grand time touring the city, going out to shows, performing our multi-award winning show All Shook Up, and complaining about how horrible the weather is in Scotland. It was awesome to rake havoc with my best bro Nate Strong and his Brother Chris always trying to stretch the halls curfew. I got back in touch with some people who I hadn’t been acquainted with in years who would set up such an unexpected striking start too my journey. As the group trip drew to a close it was apparent that I hadn’t had my full does of Europe yet, so I made the terribly tough decision to stay and continue on in Edinburgh for the time being with my sites set on Amsterdam, and I know half of you just laughed at the mere thought of Amsterdam. I headed into the city where I had booked a hostel the night before. Budget Backpackers was the name, chosen cause it really was cheap and the vibe there is evident as soon as you walk in the door. It was this hostel and the people staying in it that were the foundation for my entire week and my source of staying up until near sunrise 4 nights in a row. While getting unpacked in my 30-person living space I met Amanda, a 30-year-old (she doesn’t look a day over 21) beautiful women from Australia. Amanda’s really ambitious. She works for herself, travels all over the world, and still lets her hair down after a few drinks. We headed to the hostels pub crawl where I would meet other people traveling, some for the fringe, and others just stumbling upon the festival on backpacking trips. It was a hell of a time meeting so many new people at once. The next days were spent going out with my mate Erin from New Zealander. Erin’s a former minor, now professional skydiver, traveling Europe for the next few months. We went to comedy shows with Amanda and other friends we had made from the pub-crawl. We (Erin and Meagan “from the States”) also took a day to go down to the bay line and see the Queens Ship and have a good meal by the sea. Oh! But I can’t forget the Thursday night when Erin and I took the bus cards and headed out to a Castle on the out skirts of town. After hitch hiking our way up to the gates we realized the kingdom was closed and lets just say we didn’t take no for an answer. (I am now running a self-guided night tour, you have to pay up front and wear all black when you arrive, no flashlights or photography). Running around town from nightclubs to monuments it was the best three days I could have imagined. But soon I realized I wanted to continue on. Edinburgh was expensive and the more friends I made the more money I was spending keeping up with all the excitement. So I made the decision to head back to London to “busk” (street guitar) and meet with a close friend Jessica. Jess “Draven” is an abroad student studying literature though she is a talented canvas artist who has her own “Jess Draven The Movie by: Matthew Berry/Dylan Johnson” rap music video on youtube…No seriously we love this chick! I got on the bus from Edinburgh to London at 22:00 so that I could sleep and save money not paying for a room..that didn’t happen. The kid sitting behind me must have been on shroom’s or maybe something harder, well anyways point is I didn’t sleep at all. I arrived tired and worn from long night back in Edinburgh still nevertheless I began to busk. It’s obvious when I’m playing a song people like cause I swear I always get a few pounds during “Ring of Fire”. I got a hold of Jess over facebook (my only source of communication) and we made plans to meet a place called “Slug and Lettuce”. Ok so that seems simple enough, get on the underground (subway) and find the right restaurant. WRONG! I soon realized this was going to take 3 different connections that would spin me into a world of trouble. It was the connection at waterloo that I started feeling uneasy about traveling so far from my hostel, I think I was day dreaming about my laptop getting stolen, when all of a sudden I looked around and noticed I was the only one on the train. Not only that but the train was moving incredible slow as if it was parking. I looked out the windows and there were no advertisements, just uncovered pipes and pulley systems. I was at the end of the line. There’s no more stops cause this trains at the end of the road, the trains done for the end of the night…so yeah I might have some-what kind of minimally panicked. Maybe to the point where I was running up and down the cars trying to find someone to get me out of here before I run out of oxygen. Well I didn’t run out of Oxygen I ran into a fellow named Nathan (from south London). Sleeping with a newspaper in his had I startled him. I immediately informed him of what was going on and he laughed at me for a second and then completely panicked as well. He ran to the conductor’s car and pounded on the door. Ok that was the climax of the story… the conductor came out just like Bob Barker on the price is right and said everything’s going to be fine and we’ll get you back to the last station in 5 minutes. It was scary as hell and if you think otherwise I’m going to get in an elevator with you and press the emergency shut off. But I finally found Jess and her friend Megan still at the point of arrival. It was awesome to see an old friend who I rarely see let alone see in Europe! Well let’s just say going out with two amazingly beautiful women means that I get free drinks as well as they do just for being able to escort them. I’m kidding, but really Steve W from Wales bought us a round and then we trusted him enough to take us around town and then he hosted us for more great conversation back at his place. Getting to know someone from a really well moral background who was housed right next to the recent riots was a really interesting dynamic. He was passionate about people understanding how naive and brainless the people contributing to the riots were. I actually left Steve’s just past 04:00 and had to manage my way through the London bus system… But honestly I still ended up walking over a mile home cause I got off at the wrong stop. I then arrived at my hostel booked previously that day. This room was right in the middle of Picaddilly Square, which resembles Times Square in New York. Kind of a troubling Hostel with all sorts of characters walking through the halls, nothing like Backpackers back in Edinburgh. The following day I got down to an Internet Café and printed out some new songs to work on as I busk. (Need to Know-Tom Petty, Livin on a Prayer-Bon Jovi, Ring of Fire-Cash, Wonderwall-Oasis, and Born to be Wild-…honestly don’t know who sings that song). Returning to my room I met Victor from Argentina. Victor works in the Trucking and Petroleum business. He owns his own company and has been traveling the world since he was 18. We grabbed a bite to eat at some authentic McDonalds restaurants in the square and then headed to Shepard’s Bush to me Erin. (Previously mentioned in Edinburgh). Its sort of a journey to Shepard’s Bush, 2 connections and lots of exits, which made me realize I should have payed attention in geometry. We met with Erin and his cousin at an Australian Rugby Bar. Needless to say I stuck out like a sore thumb but I still made it out alive without a thistle imprinted on my forehead. (I think only Nate will get that joke). Erin and I said our somewhat final goodbyes cause he’s headed for Whales and I for Amsterdam. If I can continue to keep cash flowing I’ll be meeting him back in the main land mid September. The night was spent buskin and hanging around starbuck’s cause I was feeling homesick, yeah it happens, some how I miss my parent’s haha. The following morning I packed myself cause I wanted to get the hell outa that place! I headed back to starbuck’s to figure out what my day had entail. Sunday F-ing Rocked! My friend Toby who I met while staying in Edinburgh offered to let me stay at his place on the outskirts of London seeing that I hadn’t found a place to crash that night. Excited to risk my life finding Twickenham later that evening I headed to Hyde Park to meet back with Jess and Megan for a midday picnic and service at Westminster. Imagine walking 3 miles with everything you own on your back while carrying a guitar and a laptop. Well that was me all day, I even brought all it all into Westminster, literally people took one look at all my shit then turned to send up prayers for me. Had to say yet another tough goodbye for Jess and Megan are headed to Paris to study. Keep your fingers crossed I see them soon while eating a croissant by the Eifel Tower. I got to Victoria Station, after being told by police officers to stop busking for I didn’t had a permit. At information they told me a had an hour trip to Twickenham to meet Toby but I got there in 25 which gave me time to learn some new material. Toby’s quit his job just a little while back, gave up his flat and moved back into his old home out of the city, all to pursue his dream of being an actor. If that doesn’t take some giant balls I don’t know what does. Had my first cooked meal since Erin and I’s Fish n Chip’s dinner back in Edinburgh. I unpacked a few things for the first time all week and got to lay down in a bed that I didn’t have to check out of at 9am the following morning! Today Toby and I headed into Richmond where Toby says everyone’s happy cause they had a lot of money which is actually true. Toby had to connect to an over ground train to Soho for an acting gig. He actually has been on set all day today, literally its almost 1am and still no sign of George Clooney. I kind of hope he’s having a sleep over with the assistant director! I ate my sandwich, made with groceries I finally bought now that I have a place to rest more then 1 night. I haven’t slept in the same bed once this week. It feels so good to feel at eas about tomorrow’s ventures. I recon I’ll buy my ticket to Amsterdam tomorrow (stop laughing). But who knows what tomorrow has in store. Everyday is brand new and the less I plan the more I get done. I hope you all are well and in good health. If anyone wants to donate to the “Matthew the American in Europe Fund” just send checks to 1500 Avocado Rd! I’ll even send you a person message on the back of a picture…they call them postcards here! Love to all! Thanks for the support!
Sincerely,
Matthew James Berry I
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