Jamaal's lens...#livewanderlust

#Livewanderlust was a campaign to draw-in the masses to follow Shep, Chris and my journey across Europe(in particular The Netherlands and Spain). Though it was a brief stay, our intent was to break the norm from our "9 to 5s" and continue on our pursuits to "find what we love, and let it kill us".

We made the mere 8 hour flight to The Netherlands 1st(Amsterdam), and lodged at the Coco Mama Hostel. Here, we were three random(and plain) Americans placed under a roof(also a former brothel), where everyone else seemed to have 10x more travel experience than we did...and ironically, we were the OLDEST  tenants there. Humbled... in this case, is an understatement. 

After a few warm, welcoming smiles and warm shots of whiskey(only 1 euro...which was to be contributed to the "Honesty" piggie bank) Shep, Chris and myself reverted to what we know best....laughing and music. This was good enough to "break the ice" and mingle to get to know our housemates. Immediately, I posed the question(to myself)..."How can people welcome you into their living space and have no prior knowledge of what you've done or who you are? Where people who've lived together for years refuse to take the 10 seconds it takes to GENUINELY ask...How was your day?

and this....

Is the the divider between the World and Americans. Though I had a blast, and drank a lot, and stumbled into multiple coffee-shops, and managed to fall secretly in love with a Polish woman...I felt a sense of embarrassment. Why? Everyday, we(Americans) make efforts to set out to accomplish goals, that are not even ours; and all the points in between when we are in position to meet people...we do so with aggression and un-researched skepticism.

Now, this is not a sappy statement of some new-found-glory about travel and spiritual connections...but it's pretty intense when these reactions happen consistently. Also, I'm sure all or many hostels share the same atmosphere as CocoMama...but I'm also a firm believer that we selected this hostel for a reason, and all the people we met...were put in our circle for a purpose.

Fast forward...to Barcelona...

Wow! 

The Netherlands was the spiritual and reflective portion of the trip(maybe because of the OG Kush and Purple Power)...meanwhile, Barcelona was definitely our typical "Spring Break" experience. Yet, and still, it shared similar experiences as Amsterdam.

We hung out with people who we've never met...for consecutive days...we ate some pretty gnarly food...the weather was awesome...we got lost everyday...we debated about music....we drank uncontrollably...and I had an OVERWHELMING experience of seeing the Mediterranean Sea...by far, the best part of the trip.

Even more so than the parties, weed, women...to take on this trip with two homies was the tip of the 'berg. Whatever circumstances may occur in the future, Shep, Chris and myself will always have stories to share, that will forever contribute to the character of each of us.

Funny notes:

Chris getting stuck on the train in Amsterdam, and riding across town...by accident.

Shep and Chris' anxiety attack on the zip-line in Barcelona(I was in tears from laughing)

Chris running over a Dutch woman trying to get out of a pizza shop.

After leaving a coffee-shop, Chris and Shep spend 45 euro each on snacks in a random grocery store.

***Also, be sure to follow each members "Lens" as they will give an introspective/reflective account of his experience.

VIDEOS ARE COMING SOON...YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THEM

...in the meantime...check out the view of the trip from my lens.