Touching Christmas story...

I heard about this WW2 story growing up and thought it'd be wonderful to share.
I was lucky enough to have seen this house in the Hurtgen forest recently on my travels.

Sean



Truce in the Forest

It was Christmas Eve,
and the last, desperate German offensive of
World War II raged around our tiny cabin.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door...

By Fritz Vincken


When we heard the knock on our door that Christmas Eve in 1944, neither Mother nor I had the slightest inkling of the quiet miracle that lay in store for us.

I was 12 then, and we were living in a small cottage in the Hürtgen Forest, near the German-Belgian border. Father had stayed at the cottage on hunting weekends before the war; when Allied bombers partly destroyed our hometown of Aachen, he sent us to live there. He had been ordered into the civil-defense fire guard in the border town of Monschau, four miles away.

"You'll be safe in the woods," he had told me. "Take care of Mother. Now you're the man of the family."

But, nine days before Christmas, Field Marshal von Rundstedt had launched the last, desperate German offensive of the war, and now, as I went to the door, the Battle of the Bulge was raging all around us. We heard the incessant booming of field guns; planes soared continuously overhead; at night, searchlights stabbed through the darkness. Thousands of Allied and German soldiers were fighting and dying nearby.

When that first knock came, Mother quickly blew out the candles; then, as I went to answer it, she stepped ahead of me and pushed open the door. Outside, like phantoms against the snowclad trees, stood two steel-helmeted men. One of them spoke to Mother in a language we did not understand, pointing to a third man lying in the snow. She realized before I did that these were American soldiers. Enemies!

Mother stood silent, motionless, her hand on my shoulder. They were armed and could have forced their entrance, yet they stood there and asked with their eyes. And the wounded man seemed more dead than alive. "Kommt rein," Mother said finally. "Come in." The soldiers carried their comrade inside and stretched him out on my bed.

None of them understood German. Mother tried French, and one of the soldiers could converse in that language. As Mother went to look after the wounded man, she said to me, "The fingers of those two are numb. Take off their jackets and boots, and bring in a bucket of snow." Soon I was rubbing their blue feet with snow.

We learned that the stocky, dark- haired fellow was Jim; his friend, tall and slender, was Robin. Harry, the wounded one, was now sleeping on my bed, his face as white as the snow outside. They'd lost their battalion and had wandered in the forest for three days, looking for the Americans, hiding from the Germans. They hadn't shaved, but still, without their heavy coats, they looked merely like big boys. And that was the way Mother began to treat them.

Now Mother said to me, "Go get Hermann. And bring six potatoes."
This was a serious departure from our pre-Christmas plans. Hermann was the plump rooster(named after portly Hermann G ring, Hitler's No. 2, for whom Mother had little affection) that we had been fattening for weeks in the hope that Father would be home for Christmas. But, some hours before, when it was obvious that Father would not make it, Mother had decided that Hermann should live a few more days, in case Father could get home for New Year's. Now she had changed her mind again: Hermann would serve an immediate, pressing purpose.

While Jim and I helped with the cooking, Robin took care of Harry. He had a bullet through his upper leg, and had almost bled to death. Mother tore a bedsheet into long strips for bandages.

Soon, the tempting smell of roast chicken permeated our room. I was setting the table when once again there came a knock at the door.

Expecting to find more lost Americans, I opened the door without hesitation. There stood four soldiers, wearing uniforms quite familiar to me after five years of war. They were Wehrmacht¡ªGermans!
I was paralyzed with fear. Although still a child, I knew the harsh law: sheltering enemy soldiers constituted high treason. We could all be shot! Mother was frightened, too. Her face was white, but she stepped outside and said, quietly, "Fröhliche Weihnachten." The soldiers wished her a Merry Christmas, too.

"We have lost our regiment and would like to wait for daylight," explained the corporal. "Can we rest here?"
"Of course," Mother replied, with a calmness born of panic. "You can also have a fine, warm meal and eat till the pot is empty."
The Germans smiled as they sniffed the aroma through the half-open door. "But," Mother added firmly, "we have three other guests, whom you may not consider friends." Now her voice was suddenly sterner than I'd ever heard it before. "This is Christmas Eve, and there will be no shooting here."

"Who's inside?" the corporal demanded. "Amerikaner?"
Mother looked at each frost-chilled face. "Listen," she said slowly. "You could be my sons, and so could those in there. A boy with a gunshot wound, fighting for his life. His two friends¡ªlost like you and just as hungry and exhausted as you are. This one night," she turned to the corporal and raised her voice a little, "this Christmas night, let us forget about killing."
The corporal stared at her. There were two or three endless seconds of silence. Then Mother put an end to indecision. "Enough talking!" she ordered and clapped her hands sharply. "Please put your weapons here on the woodpile¡ªand hurry up before the others eat the dinner!"
Dazedly, the four soldiers placed their arms on the pile of firewood just inside the door: three carbines, a light machine gun and two bazookas. Meanwhile, Mother was speaking French rapidly to Jim. He said something in English, and to my amazement I saw the American boys, too, turn their weapons over to Mother.

Now, as Germans and Americans tensely rubbed elbows in the small room, Mother was really on her mettle. Never losing her smile, she tried to find a seat for everyone. We had only three chairs, but Mother's bed was big, and on it she placed two of the newcomers side by side with Jim and Robin.
Despite the strained atmosphere, Mother went right on preparing dinner. But Hermann wasn't going to grow any bigger, and now there were four more mouths to feed. "Quick," she whispered to me, "get more potatoes and some oats. These boys are hungry, and a starving man is an angry one."

While foraging in the storage room, I heard Harry moan. When I returned, one of the Germans had put on his glasses to inspect the American's wound. "Do you belong to the medical corps?" Mother asked him. "No," he answered. "But I studied medicine at Heidelberg until a few months ago." Thanks to the cold, he told the Americans in what sounded like fairly good English, Harry's wound hadn't become infected. "He is suffering from a severe loss of blood," he explained to Mother. "What he needs is rest and nourishment."

Relaxation was now beginning to replace suspicion. Even to me, all the soldiers looked very young as we sat there together. Heinz and Willi, both from Cologne, were 16. The German corporal, at 23, was the oldest of them all. From his food bag he drew out a bottle of red wine, and Heinz managed to find a loaf of rye bread. Mother cut that in small pieces to be served with the dinner; half the wine, however, she put away¡ª"for the wounded boy."

Then Mother said grace. I noticed that there were tears in her eyes as she said the old, familiar words, "Komm, Herr Jesus. Be our guest." And as I looked around the table, I saw tears, too, in the eyes of the battle-weary soldiers, boys again, some from America, some from Germany, all far from home.

Just before midnight, Mother went to the doorstep and asked us to join her to look up at the Star of Bethlehem. We all stood beside her except Harry, who was sleeping. For all of us during that moment of silence, looking at the brightest star in the heavens, the war was a distant, almost-forgotten thing.

Our private armistice continued next morning. Harry woke in the early hours, and swallowed some broth that Mother fed him. With the dawn, it was apparent that he was becoming stronger. Mother now made him an invigorating drink from our one egg, the rest of the corporal's wine and some sugar. Everyone else had oatmeal. Afterward, two poles and Mother's best tablecloth were fashioned into a stretcher for Harry.
The corporal then advised the Americans how to find their way back to their lines. Looking over Jim's map, the corporal pointed out a stream. "Continue along this creek," he said, "and you will find the 1st Army rebuilding its forces on its upper course." The medical student relayed the information in English.

"Why don't we head for Monschau?" Jim had the student ask. "Nein!" the corporal exclaimed. "We've retaken Monschau."
Now Mother gave them all back their weapons. "Be careful, boys," she said. "I want you to get home someday where you belong. God bless you all!" The German and American soldiers shook hands, and we watched them disappear in opposite directions.

When I returned inside, Mother had brought out the old family Bible. I glanced over her shoulder. The book was open to the Christmas story, the Birth in the Manger and how the Wise Men came from afar bearing their gifts. Her finger was tracing the last line from Matthew 2:12: "...they departed into their own country another way."

Another update from my lazy hands

Well thought it time for another post. Not a huge amount going on though.
I enjoyed the rest of my stay with Kasper and family in Dublin. Flight over to Edinburgh was standard and for a nice change, no passport control. Key is getting there before breakfast or after dinner. Haha! Stupid border patrol. Anyway got to see a good friend "Ryan" in Edinburgh while I waited for a friend who had a flat free to sleep in. Though, I ended up getting a fever and haven't done much. Got to Glasgow and saw 2 good friends once I recovered somewhat, then I got back to Edinburgh to see Ryan again, then caught my bus to London....

EXCEPT! I didn't get the bus... A girl came up with a sob story and I was thinking she WANTED money... instead she was willing to pay £120 British pounds, for a bus ticket which cost me £22.
I talked with her quickly after I confirmed her offer was heard correctly by me, by asking the fellow next to me.
I guess the bus was going to work better than a train to catch a flight out of the London area.

So I happily took the money and was on my merry way. I decided that although I could get more money if I could get a bus the next day, with the snow coming in I thought it wise to get a train. Wow! Those seats were nice. Cost of a ticket was £77, but well worth it and fast.

Got to London in good time and then stayed at my friend Amandas flat easy enough. Interestingly enough I met her on a flight from the US to Europe and saw her a few days before getting to London, in Dublin.
But still reeling from being sick and having a bad belly I just laided around again. Though lots of snow and cold was still about so not easy to get around. Shame I didn't see more friends, but had good company at the flat.

After 2 days I made my way to Oxford, which wasn't easy given the snow, but did get there. Was nice to see Philip again and we went out to eat at a good Indian place nearby.

Today we made our way to Cornwall, slowly, but surely and are here now till after Christmas. Will be nice to have Christmas with someone I know. Didn't like the idea of a souless hostel Christmas. So now I'll generally hang out with Philip till January 11th when I fly to Egypt. Have no idea how I can get around the UK with all this damned snow stoping things. So I prefer to be on the safe side of things.

Anyway, right now I'm just worn out and need yet another break! Geez I am lazy. I'm excited to be traveling still, but I can't wait to get home too. But thats 2 months away and Egypt and Thailand inbetween, so more adventures still!

Bout time for another update...

Well, been in Dublin for several days now. So nice to be here even with all the sleet. But, I should go ahead and give a recap of everything.

Anyway, right before leaving warm Istanbul I went around town with a girl to find her an ATM and a new piece of luggage. Thought that'd be it and boring. But as we went to the next set of ATMs since the first was broken, I looked to the ground to see an ATM card laying right there.

Huh, well lets see who dropped this.... Uh, wait, Hmm, I know that name, its the guy from the hostel, the ONLY person who's full name I knew in almost all of Istanbul!

So I went back to the hostel to find him not there. So went to get the luggage with the girl who was a MASTER at Haggling. Could really act mean on the spot and be as nice as could be though.. Course once she found her luggage and gave HER money to the guy... he handed it back to ME... Assuming I guess was a boyfriend or husband. Welcome to the 1950's and earlier were it is just assumed that it's the MANS money! Haha!

Anyhow.... Still Zach the hostel guy hadn't shown up so I went to bed. Latter that night, found out it was like 1:30 or 2:30, I see him walking out. Sounding somewhat like a complete drunk, I said "Heyy Man, missing something?" He responding sharply as "Yes, don't remind me!" I responded "Its the bank card right?".. "Yeah Sean" "Oh well in that case Zach its on your bed".

"Wait what?!". "Yes, its on your bed", then pointing above my head to his bunk.

He then started giving me grand praise of finding it then I told quickly as how I found it.

Lucky bastard that Zach. Like winning the lottery. The chances that I was even going out that night and going past the ATM was as slim as slim can be.

So thought I'd mention that little story.

Anyway got up at the butt crack of dawn to get the airport shuttle. WHICH got there on time AND didn't charge me extra! Such a grand change of pace from the usual Turkish BS.

So got in line went through the usual security stuff and the flight to Heathrow wasn't bad. Talked to some Americans and they gave me 35 Egyptian pounds when they found out I was going there. So good deal for me!

Anyway got to Heathrow and ONCE AGAIN, I was deemed a person who needed to be checked and sat down like a child. So got the grumpy security guy.... who after checking my documents and trip plans came back far nicer, after 30 min. Almost seemed like it fully clicked that he knew I was just traveling and got a bit of bad luck with UK border patrol. So I went off on my merry way to find.. OH FUCK!

My flight was canceled because of snow.... So I ran to the desk and said my flight was canceled, what can they do? So they booked me on a flight closing gates at !!!!! 13:00 hours??!! FIFTEEN MINUTES! And it's HOW FAR! SHIIIIITT!

So I ran for the next 10 mins as fast as my legs could take me with that stupid pack on me. I was out of breath and could barely move and BEHOLD!!! I am.... say wait... why is everyone still in line.... God damnit... As I collapsed on a chair an Irishman said "Oh, you didn't have to run here, could have waited another 10 minutes and been fine." Great. Well least I'm here and after half an hour we were ready to go to Dublin. Wow and I'd still be an hour earlier. What great luck...

Over the coast of Wales and the weather wasn't looking to bad... "This is your captian, err it seems that Dublin airport is closed for at LEAST 4 hours... So we are flying to Shannon. Sorry about that folks". A great moan started up in the plane as if by command and a great chattering went about the plane as well. The usual after such, "wonderful" news...

So we landed after half an hour... yes it's small enough island that it takes 30 minutes to reach the west cost from the east coast. So landed and found we were going to be bused to Dublin. 4 hour drive and with waiting for them, it'd take 6 hours in total. So after the fine long bus ride being next to a fat Russian to my right and behind me some sort of drug addict, who I was gladly not RIGHT next to, that honour went to the other normal guy.

So the bus ride was long but I got to Dublin. Got lucky and found a bus to the city center and nicely was able to quickly borrow a mobile from an American living in Dublin.

Just delayed by several hours, but I did end up getting to the house here, just like 7 hours late....

Anywho... I have just been hanging around Dublin here. Weather has been okay, or kinda bad. I think I'll try to do as much as I can while here, without going broke.

So again, blog will be a bit boring till I get to Egypt, then the blog will be overloaded again for weeks!

Last few hours of Istanbul and other lıttle bıts...

Well thought I should write about little things that go on here and there here in Istanbul, Turkey.

Hmmm what to talk about first... Well most the people around here seem generally nice enough and well dressed. There is a whole mix of Muslim fashion with long dresses and coats with head scarves. With a much more western look although never mini skirts with or without leggings/tights. Though some have some VERY tight trousers on! VERY few wear the full Burka and stand out. The girls and women here seem to dye their hair often and almost always a blonde or reddish type. Tends to not be very bright, and rather dark or brownish looking with either color. Bulgaria was partly the same. but many Bulgarians look VERY Turkish as well.
You can see quite a mix with the faces, but usually people have some sort of darker complextion and I guess look more Turkish, but plenty of European look too.

Now sometımes Turkısh guys are a bıt Macho. Seems sometımes they don't care to haggle or get pushed about on prıces much, so IE rude. The smarter ones haggle or just prıce thıngs or don't fuss. Thıs Machoısm seems common through some of these natıons and other tımes ıt seems to not be there. Plus Istanbul ın the tourısm areas ısn't THE best place to get the TRUE ıdea of a culture... gets you ın the ball park though.

Food. Well hard to say, since I've just been eating Kebabs, Pida Turkish pizza and some other little bits. All of it is good and after like 4 nations, I have found a kebab I enjoy! The regular sit down places are good IF you are wise to everything and their prices.

Now some people seem to ALWAYS try to rip you off or get money out of you. Which means you always have to be on your guard always. Which gets annoying after awhile. Shockingly this didn't happen much in Eastern Europe. Maybe once or twice and rather small amounts. Here, watch your step! I've been unused to this and was tired here so a bit flustered over it. Thought Istanbul might be different. Now when I go to Egypt, I'll be on the ball for sure!

Also, what else... Ahh! The weather is really nice here except for some raıny days whıch was only bad on the fırst day. Not been bored here at all too. Went out one nıght for Sheesha or Hooka or whatever the tabacco water pıpe thıngy ıs called. Not a smoker, but the flavored apple tobacco ıs rather nıce and relaxıng. Got to watch real belly dancıng one nıght. NOW that was pretty fun!
The hostel here ıs borıngısh but the one across had the show so quıte good! Thıs place has solıd beds and nıce rooms.
Not drınkıng much except one nıght had 2 beers. Turkey ısn't THE place for drınkıng eıther.

So that's most of the other lıttle thıngs I've notıced here. Oh yeah, the ınternet sucks bad here too! I complaın loads I guess too, but really ıs a great place by the way, just want to make that clear! Very amazıng cıty!
These are just the ınterestıng bıts and worth talkıng about.


Oh and the last thıng I notıced....

Now there are many cats here, but they are bad eatıng. There are many Kebab places here, BUT there are very few dogs about.... AND Kebabs I am never sure what trype of meat ıs beıng used... Hmmmmm. Food for thought one may say...

Well off to Ireland tomorrow so posts wıll be be less common sadly untıl 6 weeks from now. Check back once a week for posts rather than every 2 or 3 days.

Thank you to everyone who has been readıng. Feel free to joın and watch my page!

One day left ın Istanbul....

Well well, so ends what I call phase 2 of my trıp. The great solo journey from Germany to Istanbul. Now onto frıend vısıtıng for 6 weeks ın Ireland and the UK then onto Egypt and Thaıland wıth the 4th and fınal phase of the trıp.
Got a good share of photos from my trıp up on facebook now. Just took me TWO months to get them up! Oh well, least everyone ıs excıted about them and all a buzz.

Leasts see, what else have I done here? Ahh yes! Well went to the grand Hagia Sophıa Roman buılt Church. Truly amazıng pıece of Roman engıneerıng and done ın just 5 or 6 years! It was converted ınto a Mosque quıckly after the capture of the cıty by the Turks ın 1453. Now rıght across from Hagıa ıs the Blue Mosque. A bıt smaller but stıll very ımpressıve and bıt more sleek. I'll be goıng ınto ıt today and doıng a general stroll around town.

Now yesterday after doıng my shoppıng the days before, me and an Amerıcan guy ''Ed'' I've been runnıng ınto the past month went on a cruıse around the Straıghts here. Very nıce to cruıse along the water seeıng some of the sıghts of the cıty. It was cheap no frılls, but beıng on a budget ıt was perfect.

After that took anopther walk through the spıce market. It was fun seeıng ıt agaın, but ıf you have no money sadly no buyıng of course. No thrıll of the purchase!
So after walkıng along we stopped quıckly to look at a sıgn when BAM! A sales man started talkıng to us. He of course started talkıng about ''Ah my frıends! I have many great hand made carpets for sale! A whole factory! Come Come!' I am a frıendly guy, all us Turks are frıendly! Have tea wıth me! My shop ıs over here!''..... Well me and Ed exchanged looks and I'm not sure how ıt happened but decıded to follow hım to hıs shop. I fıgured ıt'd be fun enough to hear hıs whole sales pıtch, get free tea and a quıck trıp to the toılet.

So we followed hım tıll we were almost back to the hostel and we asked what our names were at least 4 tımes each... REAL lıstener there that guy. Have no ıdea why he got us whıle we were a good 15 mın walk away too, but he must be good enough at what he does.
So we get to hıs shop and gets us tea. He starts goıng on about carpet styles and how great hıs stuff ıs, blah blah. Then he starts askıng us whıch ones we lıke and pullıng them out, ect. So I fıgure I'll pull out my exıt plan, our gırlfrıends are expectıng us ın a few mın. Ah but when I pull that he ıs already workıng on Ed and ıs beıng a shıt by angrıly shuttıng me up, well pretendıng. I'm sure he dıdn't care at all. NO shame! So after tryıng thıs a couple moe tımes he fıgures out we aren't ınterested. So we leave BUT I ask for a card.

So me and Ed get out and start laughıng about the fun we just had. It was a bıt frustratıng, but ıt was alrıght ın the end. We really got a hard sale. The heavıly traffıced area seem to make these guys much more mean and all round assholes. The TRUE fun hagglıng tıme ıs when you get to areas that don't have as many people. I remember that was fun ın Tunısıa ın Monıster.
OH! But waıt... Ed looked at hıs card as we went out.. and what was wrıtten on ıt was.. SCHMUCK! HAHA! What a roarıng laughıng fıt we had! Yes, the man was a Schmuck dealer for sure!

So after that we had already ended up rıght back at the tram lıne. I guess rıght where we wanted to be sınce I thınk we decıded to go to the great Roman buılt cıty wealls. After gettıng our tıckets we got on a VERY modern tram and about 20 mın latere were at the grand ınland walls that stopped many enemıes for 900 years straıght ıncludıng the dreaded Huns!
They really were massıve ones. Aboutr 20% larger than the grand walls of Rome.
Got some photos there and walked around just the one sectıon. They went on for mıles and are kept ıntact mostly.

Pretty much that ıs how I spent yesterday. Today I'll get a bıt more walkıng ın and buy ıtems from the smart dealers, IE guys who put set prıces up and don't berate you.
And then of course some nıce Mosque vısıtıng. I'll get the most of thıs warm weather. None ın sıght for 6 weeks!

Anyway, check out all the new photos I have on my facebook page ıf you haven't seen them already.

Istanbul, not Constantinople, is AWESOME!

Wow! What a cıty I have reached on the far sıde of the world! 2 months and I have reached from Dublın Ireland to Istanbul Turkey. Flew once from Dublın to Brıstol, a ferry over the Englısh Channel and every other lıttle bıt by bus, traın and car. So, yeah long but fun trıp! So now I am slowıng down and enjoyıng the warm weather.

So anyway, I'll talk about my trıp sınce the last post. So Bulgarıa I thought was pretty fun whıle I was there, but only spent 2 nıghts there.I seemed to enjoy it much more than most I've talked to. I guess its not for everyone then. So Thanksgiving night I went to the train station to await the train....

BUT the traın goıng from Plovdıv to Istanbul was nearly 1 hour late and ıt ıs worryıng sınce ın Bulgarıa, the platforms aren't numbered so you hope to god you aren't on the wrong platform. Okay, so I guess there might be a couple reasons not to like Bulgaria.....

But ıt came and I quıckly found my room. A drunk Frenchman was ın there and the other compartments next to us had a bunch of older drunk French women who were laughıng there asses off for some reason. Thought ıt was goıng to be a borıng treck the whole way so I caught some sleep. But I woke up after a few hours and looked about and ended up seeıng 4 people I had met before! Seems they dıdn't lıke Bulgarıa much so were hıgh ballın ıt to Istanbul.

So had a good chat wıth everyone I'd met before and the border crossıng, though long, went smoothly enough.The train took 13 hours, about 2 or 3 hours long then listed. Everyone was getting train cabin fever after a few hours.
But all in good time and I figure we will get there when we get there. Then on that long ride saw loads of the countryside, got extra rest AND saw a Turkey... IN TURKEY! So not bad/

So at about Noon got into Istanbul and the station and rain welcomed us. Ended up at the hostel easy enough and found it was located extremely close to all the major sites! Ahh really was nice to see how good an area I was in.

Didn't do to much yesterday seeing as I was pretty worn out from lack of sleep and travel and just getting to the hostel at 1 in the afternoon when I should have been here 3 hours earlier.
I took a quick look at the grand buildings in the area and got some food. Rain also doesn't help either for sight seeing. BUT did get a famous Turkish haircut which involves a straight razor and FIRE! Yes, fire!

Trying to find the areas that rip you off the least is a bit hard as well. Bit of a pricey pushy place, but its so grand here I can deal with it. Seems everyone I've talked to has been ripped off at least slightly while here. Very strange how bad that gets, but Bosnia or Poland not near as bad. Must just be a Turkish thing or whatever. Pretty awesome place and Mexico has it just as bad.

So yesterday after sleeping in and recovering from the past few days I went with another hostel guy to the markets. The regular markety was alright, usual stuff but the spice market! WOW! It was pretty awesome in there! So many spices for sale. This city really is great to explore. And the spice market we found by mistake as well.

So other than that, just walking around seeing everything and enjoying it. Oh yes and on the roof of the terrace, I can see the Straights of Istanbul, ASIA AND the Blue Mosque! Pretty awesome city here!

Oh yes, keep an eye out for new photos on my Facebook profile!

Happy Thanksgiving from Bulgaria and soon Turkey!

Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving to all!.... and in 5 or 6 hours that greeting will be from Turkey... the nation. Just got done with my Thanksgiving meal of, which was Kavarma, which is a kinda stew like dish with mostly onions and chicken, then had fried potato wedges and ROASTED PUMPKIN! Yeah!
So closet thing to Thanksgiving I'll have! Was good to have a meal with someone else too, and a nice local Bulgarian girl at that too! What a memorable Thanksgiving. Won't have another like it again I'm sure.

So best wishes to all on this day!

Bulgaria.... it is... a different place...

Where was I last? Oh yes, Belgrade!

Didn't do much more there. Just laid about catching up on some e-mails, but then again when its pissing down kinda hard with rain, you really don't want to go out! But got to enjoy another round of Rakia which is a strong sometimes home made drink. Like fruit Vodka. Changed some money too so I have Euros for the border crossing with Turkey.

So not much new happened in Belgrade. For sure will get back to the Balkans! Wonderful place!
Much nicer than I could have ever dreamed. Course maybe I just saw the best bits. All I know is what I did see, I liked.

So got my ticket and boarded yet another fine quality Yugoslavian era train and luckily I got the very top bunk too. The bathrooms are also the best of quality out here. The fine strong smell of Ammonia from piss, permeates the room and into the nostrils. Nothing but the best! The heater tends to be of the finest quality as well, but along with the lock, it was broken so gladly had extra blankets.
Passport control had the usual array of extremely polite and kind people. So got my Bulgar and Serb stamps and the train was off again.

Got to Sofia on time shockingly however. Decided a few days ago that Sofia was worth skipping so then I went to get a ticket to Plovdiv. So after looking like a confused idiot I found the ticket counter.
The one that looks most certainly un-welcoming with bars is usually the one to go to.
The Cyrillic Alphabet is also a total bitch to understand. "Ticket counter" Might as well look like "Jfhfdhbxcg Tsgsdfre"....

So anyhow, found the counter and said Plovdiv and was sorted. Well, except went more like this-

Found counter, said "Plovdiv today soonest". Lady wrote down earliest time and I agreed and had money out right then and there Sorted!, but RIGHT as I made this idiot proof purchase and noted the idiot proof train platform signs right where I walked up minutes before, some guy came up asking where I was going.

Seemed he wanted to "Help" surely for a charge... Now, PERHAPS, if I was in a hurry and had NO idea where I was, then maybe... MAYBE.
Kept saying "Plovdiv! Yes I help yes? Plovdiv you go?! Platform I take you." The polite words of "Fuck off you idiot! Didn't you see I JUST did successfully buy my ticket?!" Were running through my head. I then walked away and said no thanks. I DO know where platform ONE is. NOT that hard... I am running into the most seriously brain dead con-men about in Europe!

Anyway, these guys are rather funny to run into! If hey catch you in a rush, that's one thing, but when you are pretty relaxed they are so easy to spot and fun to ignore or confuse!
So the train got to the station on time and I had a nice chat with some people on the train. Good laughs all round. The trains still have a rather 1960's Commie look about them, but adds to the fun of everything! Those suckers still run well enough.

As we were heading to Plovdiv I started talking to someone and had great laughs about everything. Seems people get a kick out of me being American and from California. Like a movie star here in Eastern Europe! Oh yeah!
Gladly everyone had a good sense of humor when I laughed at a horse and cart working in the field. Then whole nodding your head up and down means NO, instead of 95% of the world it means in fact, yes.

So already not a bad nation. Now for the women... hmm, how to put it... The Balkans has had nothing but supermodels, like everywhere and working low jobs. Bulgaria, they are cute enough in there own ways, but they are, hmmm average? I really don't care, but I DO know, I've been boosted from average to awesome cool guy movie star. If I had $5000 more and bought some more dress up clothing from Wal-mart I'd be coolest guy ever in Bulgaria! So, I'm digging this place, even if it is backwards.

But only 2 nights here. I really do look like I'd enjoying spending time here, but the trip is almost at an end in the far east and Istanbul looks like it'd be hard to miss. I got 5 nights there. The weather has been crap past couple of days so I hope it improves while I am there. Looks that way on the long term weather.

Anyway that's everything now. Will make another post the morning I get to Istanbul. Sure I'll have more good stories then.

Oh one more thing, "Why is there a toilet RIGHT in with the shower here?" Course the locals answer to that I'm sure might be, "Well why WOULDN'T there be?".

Ahhh, I LOVE TRAVEL!

Ahhh, back to normal and writing again!

Well, been a long break, but being sick cuts into what I can do while traveling!

Pretty much after Mostar the rest of Bosnia is a daze. Learned so much though. I DO remember that! I find that the personal stories are the best to have when it comes to history. It brings it alive even through it might have only happened 15 years ago!

Glad there was a girl I knew from Split Croatia and Mostar Bosnia there in Sarajevo too, helped keep me company while I was laid up, but then poor girl got sick after me on some eggs.
Lesson learned though, Bosnia has GREAT food, just terrible food quality control....

Anyway, gladly I had recovered the day of travel to Serbia, which was yesterday. Was raining, but I do have a waterproof jacket, so not to bad in the end. Ran into another American on the train, who I had met in Split and in Mostar as well, so made the 9 hour trip go much quicker! Also started talking to some young Bosnian guys who were pretty cool to talk to and it seemed they enjoyed MOST of the jokes I had to tell. So that helped make the time go quick too! Ahh, glad some jokes are funny everywhere.

Had to cross a few borders to get to get to Serbia, so I'm up to 34 stamps in my passport AND been to 20 nations so far! Woo! Maybe enough room for another 30-40 stamps. So need to get some more sheets in it if I want another big trip in the next 5 years. The Croatian guard laughed at my passport again, and said "Ha! California!".
Crazy Croatians! They are great people!

So, after the long trip got through alright and to the hostel in Belgrade. This really is a really pretty city, but not seen much of it yet, so might get a surprise! But doubt that. The part I'm in has all the trappings of a great Western European city. Much effort is put into the parts of the city I've seen so far. I also like walking on level sidewalks for a change too, without dog shit all over the place. That is the best part so far!

Anyway, I am rather glad to see that Serbs aren't what the media has painted, which from I gathered through my life were a bunch of large brutish men who run around hating everyone not Serbian or Russian, committing genocide and ethnic cleansing or supporting it in the very least. Then to think that the US+NATO and Serbia were at war only 11 years ago is shocking too! Apart from a couple signs in the city, nothing else is present of that. People have been friendly enough to me and my other USA chum, so I guess, the media is, SURPRISE, full of it. I knew that Serbia would be fine, but I was VERY wary too. Course can't speak for outside of Belgrade, but seems fine here.

This is why I travel. Everyone isn't out to kill you. Muslims are great people and pretty friendly and not making bomb vests. Serbs aren't the brutal psycho killers. French aren't horrid people. Then the Germans aren't to bad either! They are human beings too. Most everyone just is and goes about life without really thinking of the world outside their own lives. A great feeling to think that we are so so similar all around this huge earth of ours.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.

Course, at the same time, Thomas Jefferson says- Traveling makes a man wiser, but less happy.

This is I think relating to seeing the darker sides of human nature while traveling... But it can also mean that your mind has been opened so much, that you think to much and if others around you haven't seen the same things, makes it frustrating. Kinda like being the smart person around stupid or ignorant people.
Course could mean something else too! Think for yourselves on this quote. :)

Either way, I LOVE TRAVEL, even if I might be less happy after I get home! However, I will be glad not to see child beggars on the street, blown up buildings and signs of war, and hatred poured out in violence to fellow humans.

Anyway, off now! Should have some great new posts soon, so keep reading.

Still alive, but not feeling good.

Well this will be shorter post, seeing as I have just been doing little. Anyway the day came when I had to leave Mostar and nicely I was driven to the Bus station... except just a few moments after leaving the hostel, the person ran into a cement platform wrecking the cars front tire and giving us whiplash. Needless to say I was in a daze the rest of the day, but thankfully I was well enough. Well, once I got to Sarajevo I did get lost though!

After that I thought my troubles werre over! WRONG! Don't eat canned beef Goulash! I'm still feeling like crap! Computer is broke at the hostel too. So my luck has been rather poor once I left Mostar.

Not much going on here. Learning more and more about the war here and just having good chats with people.

Going to Belgrade on the 19th. A nice FUN 9 hour train ride! Oh boy....

Looking forward to getting back to Civilized life in Ireland and the UK, but maybe that is the sick tired me talking too....

November in Bosnia

Am in my 6th new nation on my trip, and 19th altogether in all my travels. My passport is running out of room I think! 35 stamps if I recall is what I have in it.

Anyway, bus was, surprise, late to the station in Split. I guess rather common in this part of the world! Rather rainy and somewhat depressing drive to Mostar. The welcome into Bosnia was interesting. Quick check of the passport by a Croat and Bosnian. No stamp or anything! Got to love the efficiency of Eastern Europe.

The towns changed very quickly when I crossed the border though. Croatia, although not super rich, still has some wealth. Bosnia on the other hand still has great deep scars from the war which ended only 15 years ago this month. Many many shot up or abandoned buildings everywhere. Much poorer look to it than any other nation I`ve seen in Europe.

Mostar took about 5 hours to get to, and I was nicely picked up at the bus station when I arrived, half hour late. Which is good time for the buses here!
The Hostel here is very friendly, you think you were at someones home. Majdas Hostel *Pronounced Myda* Is run by Majda a wonderful woman who is extremely friendly and helpful. You think she was a good Aunt!
We all get served great breakfast and coffee always! Really don`t want to leave here. It is like home away from home.

Now about the town of Mostar and a quick BASIC history lesson which will be informal and not in-depth AND I am generalizing quite a bit too....

Right, now what you have in the Balkans is more or less, Croatians in the west. These people are generally Roman Catholic. Next are Bosnians in the middle. The Ottoman Turks were Muslim and conquered part of the Balkans. Many people in areas conquered by the Turks converted to Islam to make things easier on themselves. Not usually die hard Muslims either.
Last but not least are Serbs in the east. They are of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Anyway, the breakup of Yugoslavia *Which was Communist at the time* started in the early 90`s, once many other nations were falling apart in Eastern Europe, but in the Balkans it was far more violet it seems. Serbs, which were the core of Former Yugoslav didn`t like the idea of Croats, Bosnians and others breaking away, so fighting ensued. Ethnic cleansing and Genocide happened very often during the war with opposing factions. The Serbs appear to have been the worst, but they did control much and were more of a central government with the resources to do so.
Croats, Bosnians and Serbs were trying to kill each other, mostly because of they were of a different ethic back grounds, religion and or just fighting to survive. Neighbor against neighbor. Cities which had a large mix of peoples were soon destroyed and its people separated into hate of one another.

But now I shall talk of Mostar...

Mostar is a lovely city nestled in a pretty valley surrounded by large hills with a river running through it. The city is many hundreds of years old and really has a good feel to it. But it too could not escape of the horrors of war... Croatia decided that it wanted a piece of extra territory so it invaded Bosnia and reached at least to Mostar. Its complicated, so won`t go into details.
So the west bank of the town was most Croat, and the east bank most Bosnian Muslim.
The Croats advanced to the western part of town and then the siege started up. Many civilians were targeted during the months long siege. Mostar was the hardest hit city in the war as well.
ALL the buildings from then were heavily damaged. It is STILL quite evident that there was hard fighting. Many buildings are left empty or still damaged, with bullet hits or holes made from rockets. Just patched up with plaster at best.

Course, all the feelings and damage remain after 15 years of peace. However improvements are being made too. Most everything is repaired and the infrastructure is generally up and going again. All 7 bridges in town were destroyed, including this bridge- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stari_Most

But the bridges have been rebuilt exactly, including the old one. West and east of the town are reunited. This is also the only place I can think of in which you hear the Muslim call to prayer and Church bells at almost the same time. The older people here have a certain sadness about them, but the younger ones seem to be getting past the old war. The wounds are healing, but not terribly quick, though heal they will.

The tourism really is small here, but nice. Plenty of things to buy, plus the food is dirt cheap and really good! I sure love Bosnia here. A great charm to it. Not what I expected. Although I went on in detail about what when on here, it is needed, though on the other side of the coin is that Croatia and Bosnia are the best nations so far on my travels. There is a feeling I can`t explain.... OR perhaps I love the food and smaller feel of things here.

Anyways, again, thank you if you have read this far! Keep passing this blog around!

Going to Split from Split and onto Bosnia!

Well, I have been bad this time about keeping up on the blog, but I will try and stay good updating everything.

Well Split here is a great place. Really relaxed and easy to get around. The days here have just flown by! The best stuff to see here is Diocletian's palace built 1700 years ago. It pretty much makes up the center of old town. Really old and rich history in that section. Plus all the other smaller towns in the area are great, but only got to a small one called Omis I think.... "Pronounced Amish". Awesome cliffs at the bay. One day will get photos up.

The weather has been mixed here. Great the first day, decent the second, cloudy the next and now rainy and colder, but not biting cold. Super markets aren't big here, though the market is. All the stalls are setup with foods, and being Split is right on the Adriatic sea, fresh fish in the markets. Everything getting tossed about in the fishy market, people yelling, strange looking fish about and the fine smell of fish! Really was fun. I just love the markets!

Really was nice to see a sea again! Port towns are pretty interesting at times, and this was a great place. Easy to take great photos all over the place. Also the Croatians here talk like Italians interestingly enough. Must be a big past influence. Course the further east I go people sound like they are arguing, but must just be talking normally!

But now I'm leaving to Mostar Bosnia in the morning. I never thought of the Balkans with the wars that were were from pretty much 1991 or 92 and ended in Kosovo in 1999.
11 short years ago! But I have been told it is great to travel through, so shall see if that is true! The wars here are very complicated and after hours of reading and listening to people I am just starting to understand what when on. Seems to have been rather horrible, mostly on the Serbian side. So see how Belgrade in Serbia is... I haven't heard I'm in Danger being American, but how welcomed will I be I wonder?

But anyway, should get to bed soon. Have to wake up at 9 in the morning! Oh man, early start to Mostar Bosnia. Course have a "fun" 5 hour bus ride ahead of me too...

No need to panic...

Well not written for awhile but been a bit busy here. I heard there was an earthquake in the Balkans here, but guess I must have missed out! I am still alive.

Not much in Budapest going on when I left. Though I found out, that November 1st is a HUGE day off! Halloween "more or less", folks, is a holiday... What an amazing nation! So other than sitting around there I found some food and got a lovely meal cooked up. Just basically was sausages over potatoes and onions and it was really tasty! After that, since it was my last day in Budapest I did a decent walk over to Buda, on the west side and found it was very nice! Pest is the working class place. More real, but not terribly nice. The catle area and old town of Budawas really amazing, but partly lacking in great age. Relaxing though, since Budapest is a big city.

So after almost a week in Hungary I got on the train and headed to Croatia, Zagreb the capital to be exact. Of course, an interesting thing happened as I got on.

A man came into the compartment dressed in usual clothing, well not a cop outfit. He starts going on about something in Hungarian, but I say English. He is "Ahh ok English". Then starts saying the few English words he knows, which is VERY little. Forits "Hungarian dollar", Minimum, pointing to me then him. I give him a blank stare.
He says it again and I think... Okay, he has some papers that look officialish.... Ummm perhaps he is saying keep little money on you so thieves don't get it. Ahh Gotcha. Then I give him a thumbs up. He says the same limited broken English and now looks frustrated, and he now sits next to me. Then I think Ahhh oh yes!.... "Oh no, I just have CROATIAN Kuna sir! No Hungarian forits!" Still he looks at me even more exhausted..... I still have no clue as to what hewants, then I think, okay, umm IF he is a cop is he asking for a bribe?

Ahh well, he could be a con, yeah most likely is that seeing as this was NOT ended in the first 1 or 2 go arounds, and nothing official. So I still play dumb trying to figure him out and he gives up.
Soooo, half the time I had no idea what he wanted and the other half it dawned on me that he was most likely up to no good. He most likely thought "Gosh, clever guy, keeping me going like that. So onto me from the start." When in fact I had a total Homer Simpson moment!

Anyhow, the trip to Zagreb was very uneventful, but the countryside was lovely. At the border had my passport checked in the train by a very serious Hungarian border officer, and quickly stamped. Then when the Croatian looked at my passport for entry into Croatia, something happened that I have never seen, she laughed at my terrible photo in my passport!!! She thought it was rather funny and I was like! Ahhh man! But I went along with it and it has by far been the nicest border patrol person I have met.

So got to Zagreb and found the hostel in alright time in the evening.
Big plans of the night was going to be eating and sleeping, but I decided to go out to dinner with people from the hostel, and thought, "Why not!?"
Ended up having a lovely meal, good Italian pasta, and then people throughout the night bought me drinks since my budget couldn't handle the extra charges. The night was winding down and after talking to most everyone that was free I decided to start talking to a girl. Well we got along lets say, so I met a friend of hers who is a journalist too and been enjoying company of Croatians the past couple of days, which had me stay an extra day... Soooo, welllll, mostly the girl is who I've been hanging out with, so, anyway, yeah. Nough said!

But today since she had school I've been catching up on stuff and seeing Zagreb. I love going to the markets, even more so in Central and Eastern Europe since it is the heart of an area and is so much more important to the place. So much food gets sold, that people get it there and not so much at the super market. Lots of fun energy too and the interesting faces. Hungary and Croatia here have such a mix of faces and people that it is fun to see the wonderful mix.

The weather and food are really wonderful here in Zagreb too! Woo! Still pretty cheap, but not "Oh my god cheap!" Just Walmart price cheap, which is really good anyways! Ethnic food, at rock bottom prices. Life is good! Also Zagreb here, least in old town is VERY walkable and has a nice cafe street right where the hostel is. Plus Croatians are SOOO super friendly too! Never seen so many friendly people!

Sadly I must now leave to Split, since I've booked a place there and don't want to hassle with canceling again, plus bought a train ticket already. Hard to say how long you want to stay in a city EVEN if you've been there, harder still if you've not been there. Always about the crowd you run into as well. So, oh well! I am here to travel and lots more to see yet!

Anyway, got to SPLIT in the morning! Another fun 6 or 7 hour train ride to get there. Wooo.
So excited....

Pretty pretty good here

Hmmm, well well. Not been doing loads, just being laid back for a change. Ummm, I left off I think about a rainy day and shopping....

Soooo, after the day of shopping I found out I had... well loads more than I thought! Anyway, okay, easy enough, ship the things home. How hard could THAT be.... Really VERY hard!
For starters one must find the post office. That took about half an hour, but found a nice one. So got postcards stamped and sent. Okay, that was the easy bit for the day.
So, how to transport these items, of course I need a box and tape and an idea of how much it might cost.
Miming a box takes a few seconds, but generally even a thick post office worker will sort that out. Goal done, but now I need tape. Holy shit.....

Okay, you have tape? *Makes noise that tape makes* I pretend to have some and put it over a box... still nothing.... After 5 mins I get it through their heads that for my package I WILL need tape! For some reason *I think..* they thought the 2 tiny sticky things on the flap would be enough. Ooookay!

And of course through all this, I know NO Hungarian, and no English for them. But it got sorted in time. So I went bought some nice chocolate, loaded everything up, filled out the paperwork "poorly I think too" and found that shipping the thing and handing money over was way easier than, tape.

So with the package shipped and off I decided I need to plan my next place, which after talking with some fellas at the hostel would be the Balkans. So, okay, Croatia on Tuesday, to the capital. Easy? Ha, wrong again! So after getting my number, waiting a wee bit, I had to work on getting this train ticket. First make it clear what DATE you want, otherwise be prepared to spend 5 mins. sorting out the mess. But in all good time and a sheet of paper, all was fixed... I hope.

Now, although it seems frustrating, it really is so much fun. Its is like a puzzle that you know you can figure out, but takes time. Good way to know that the rest of the world is not automatic, oredered, perfect and all the same. In a way, seeing a Burger king here, things made in China, Coke a cola, and other American items here is kinda nice and slightly comforting, but it is no way to grow. No way to really, feel life one may say.

To see people from 1st world nations going to world wide fast food joints, designer clothing places and freaking out over little BS stuff while traveling here in Europe, just seems insane really. What an empty way to go through life. Going to KFC while in Hungary! Pffft!
No way to travel, going to KFC and eating Burgers. Get out there, make mistakes, make a fool of yourself and enjoy! Nothing more fun than looking like a babbling idiot trying to order food. Food which might end up tasting like horrible crap too.

Which brings me to the past 2 days....

So again, so clever clever of me to break up my time at hostels and just so happen book the hostel right next door. But turns out this is really a nice one too. But seems my little buddies from Krakow followed me! So spent the whole days killing the buggers in the wash and dryer. Had to put EVERYTHING not plastic through the wash. But now everything is nice and clean. So pretty much yesterday was boring. Happens in travel, but then the staff guy here suggested a flea market to go to today "Saturday".

So woke up this morning to check it out and after getting a.... maybe free bus.... I got there. Outside of the market had nice Soviet looking block lettering in Hungarian. Looked very kitch and Eastern Bloc. So the flea market was mostly a collection of crap looking little stalls with covers. or just a tent. The butchers looked alright, but not the best either. Looked like some people did all their shopping there. Mostly 40 plus people there, and the younger crowd was more limited. Really wasn't better than anything you could find in the states, except this seemed more important than US flea markets, plus I'm sure it'd been in the same place for years upon years. So really I think a whole week of shopping could be done there. Everything from dodging looking food,Playboy magizine in full sight, old soap and okay clothing could be bought there!
I think I was about the only non resident of Hungary there too. Pretty neat. Also the cooked food was dodgy, but alright I guess. I'm not sick!

Well now not sure what I'll do today now. Still need to see a few things and go to the Baths, but Sunday and Monday will work great for that.

Oh yes, along with many other lessons from this post, just because the old guy at the train station looks drunk and senile, doesn't exactly mean he won't whip you with ease at a game of chess!

If you have read down this far too, thank you!

Now in Magyarország "Hungary" on the Pest "East" side of Budapest

Well, made it here safe and sound! The night train was WAY better than from Prague to Krakow. Krakow to Budapest here was first rate. Also it I was feeling much better and was quite lucky to have a very cute and well visible cleavaged Argentine girl to talk to as well! Haha! Ahh Europe, lovely place. Get to meet people from all over the place from all walks of life and travel by train to boot. Takes longer, but half the cost and way more fun than plane travel. Plus you have a chance to sleep or just plain stretch out.

Anyway got into the train station early yesterday morning to be met by horrid weather and trying to exactly find where I was staying. NO sign what so ever. Took me an hour to find it, and only by looking very carefully at the buzz in thingy by the door. It is a VERY nice hostel too! Best one I've stayed in a long time. Not the best part of town, but not dangerous either. Inside is what counts. So, lets see, ahh yes, so pretty much did nothing yesterday since the weather was crap, but talked with some guys here and it was suggested I go to the Balkans "Former Yugoslav". So I'm now going to Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia, in about a week. Was never sure about the places since they seemed to be on the news often, and more recently with the US embassy getting burned in Belgrade a year or 2 ago, but no serious warnings about the places, so TALLY-HO... as some posh Englishman might say.

But lets see, today had sort of a late start, but a fun time today. Hate being rushed when I have loads of time. Made my way to the big market here, which you can read about here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Market_Hall_%28Budapest%29
Bought loads of stuff and I'm sure I'll be back there for some more tasty food. This is a wonderful place to buy most anything that you'd want in Hungary. Food for the most part! Otherwise just walked around and enjoyed the wonderful sunny weather today.

So I'll find a few more things to do tomorrow. I think walking down to the river again. Was fun to walk over the Danube river today and worth going over again. Lots to see here, but more spread out than Prague or Krakow. So more fun for the week I'm sure.

Oh yes, lesson of this post is, if you try to be clever and book 2 hostels in the same city to "Get a different look and feel" make sure the 2 hostels AREN'T 50 feet away from each other, on the same side of the street! Oh boy...

Goodbye Poland, hello Hungary!

Off again to yet another city. This time to Budapest, capital of Hungary, and a wonderful city by all accounts! I'll be leaving tonight on a night train, but the trip will take 11 hours. Hopefully the 1-3 other people in the compartment are nice enough.

Poland has been a wonderful stay and apart from issues at the hostel, was really wonderful. I really would like to come back. Yesterday I went to Bar Mleczny or in English, a "Milk Bar". You can read more about the history of them in general http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_mleczny .

I think I went way overboard there since I spent 27 Zolats or like 9 dollars. Course I ordered the most expensive item on the menu, Pork chop with sides, a big plate of Meat Pergios, a piece of cake and a drink. All really top notch and filling. Almost everyone was Polish and the line was VERY long. Took 15 min to get food from the counter. So all worth it and being very near the middle of the tourist part of the city, a good enough deal. Also had to look at the menu of another place and learn Polish REALLY quick!

Anyway, after yet another lazy start I went to some wonderful salt mines, that you can read more about here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wieliczka_Salt_Mine .
It was very neat to walk around and see everything in there, though I think it is somewhat over hyped and slightly over priced. Still worth the visit though.
Also could resist and went and got some Polish food in the cafe they had. Must remember the budget, but so hard to pass up cheap great food!

So Poland overall was again, a great stay. But this hostel was generally.... not great and I'm SOOOO sick of Aussies! They aren't the worst, though they are rather annoying and aren't terribly smart either. Then again there were a couple good ones in here, but they weren't in a group or had a travel partner, just solo travelers. Course there was the 3 German girls who were nice and in a group. So always some people who don't follow the rules! Well, hope the next hostels will be better. I'm sure they will since I skipped the "party hostels" in Budapest.

Drinking might be fun, though you really don't get that close to people in the party hostel and they are ALWAYS hung over. Just not friendly people in a meaningful way, maybe just the drunk party buddy way, IF that. Course this is the same in real life too. Heavy party people almost always seem to be flakes and untrustworthy. Seen it to often on my travels.

Ahh the piece of advice for this post is, if you have a cold and sore throat- Get drunk on cold Vodka and juice, go outside in the cold air, go into a smoky club for 5 hours and then take the "wrong" long way back and do that for an hour. Then get 4-5 hours of sleep.
SOMEHOW.... This DID work! Real cure, least this one time.

Oh other thing is, don't be drunk between 7 AM and 1:40 PM on a Sunday or Tuesday, least you end up on some random guys blog or Facebook, and made fun of.

Anyway, off to Hungary now in... lets see, 4 hours! So keep reading and passing along the blog! Thanks! :)

Mostly about lodging...

11:30 AM and in the bar, several British guys are already drunk and that way since 10:00 AM.

Welcome to Europe.

Not much has gone on since the last post. Being sick really slows down what you can do! Mostly coughing now and I'm sure that has more to do with smoking in the hostel than the cold I had.
Got out one night with some German girls from the hostel here. They were great fun to be around and Polish vodka has a kick to it! Boy oh boy! Though oddly enough, after drinking, staying up way late, walking in the cold, yelling to speak and being in a smoky club.... my cold and sore throat went away pretty quick!
The body is just, odd at times! Well, glad I wasn't in an anti social mood then, which I was for most the week seeing as I had a cold.

Hmm lets see. Well I think I shall go into greater detail of lodgings.
Now, the break down, from the lowest lodgings to the top.

First off, camping! Basically well me and Philip while in Germany and Belgium lived out of a messy tent and car. Also due to a rush we also got a not so good burner for cooking. Basically it was setup for coffee, not meals. We also forgot the can opener too! Sooo, it was interesting to say the least. So mornings Philip would start the burner and get bacon and or beans going, course one morning we had hash and potatoes! That was the apex meal of camping. I was lucky having a camp bed cot, but Philip had a good mattress, if it was full of course! Now at the camp sites it cost about a Euro for 5 min of hot water for a shower, a shower which looked really creepy and gross! Plus site fees were about 10 euro.

Next up, floor. Sometimes a floor is very nice, even more if you have a cot. On a floor, it might not be wonderful, but you do tend to have heat and its at a friends. So not a bad deal. Plus it's free! This is a nice option, but like camping, is only so fun, so long. Like 4 days tops.

Now, hostels.... They can be worse, better, or the same as sleeping on the floor, but for practical terms, I'll put it above.
Now for thoses that might know much about hostels, I'll explain.

Pretty much on average a hostel has many dorm rooms that can fit from 4 to 36 people in each room. Sometimes there are bunk beds, or regular beds, or a mix. At times a hostel has maybe a few private rooms for couples or small groups.
Everything is shared in a hostel, from bathrooms, kitchens and the comuters or TVs if there are any. Now hostels don't tend to be the cleanest seeing as there are many people. But it tends to be good enough for most people. Hostels are designed to be very cheap places that are more social than a hotel or motel and tend to be in a city, where a hotel costs much much more.
The average age is 18 to 35, give or take. Most are between 22-27 however. People over 40 are rare in a hostel, unless they are working there. The ones that are staying there at that age are... different.

Course there are many different types and setups. Some hostels are very big and easy to find. Some have enough lodging for 500 people, or as low as 20. Sometimes a hostel can be barely noticed except for a sign out front, and then you might have to go up 2 floors just to reach it. Or it might have big signs out front. Security with hostels is mixed, but if you don't take anything worth stealing, its not bad. Just remember keys or the security code to get back in if the doors get locked! Sometimes there are lockers in the hostel, either under the bed or upright. Other times there is nothing. Beds can range from lovely firm things or cheap pieces of crap. Same goes with the inside. Sometimes new paint and microwaves, or old rubbish. Biggest thing in a hostel is the people however, not the material stuff.

Now, you have 2 differences with hostels, private and assosition kinds. Assosition hostels are very bland, and are part of a larger system. They tend to be like living in a military barrack and everything seems regulated. Also lockouts are common with these, but it is for cleaning. These are better for groups or if it's the only game in town. These must have been much better choice before the internet and ratings systems.

The other is private. These vary much much more in quality and size. Assosition kinds are the same nearly everywhere, bland but you know exactly what you are getting, but the private one can be a hell hole or the best ever. Generally it is worth the risk. Course the place I'm in now is a party hostel. Alright I guess if you like drinking, don't mind bed bugs chewing at you and don't have a cold. So not the most social of people unless you are in the group and far more interested in parTAY than local stuff. Oh well, live and learn. The next hostel is just in the next city and there is almost always a few people in a hostel to get along with. Booking tends to be done online, I like hostelworld.com myself.

So, now we move up to Hotel/B&B. These tend to be nice places and cost about $50-60+ a night. Service is so-so compared to some American standards. But as I've noticed, Europe is so great, I don't mind the bad service, I just expect it. Course sometimes service is fantastic and the best in the world! Now the hotels/B&B's tend to be much cleaner than other American lodgings, so good points there. Having a wooden floor helps I think.
Course places like this cost more than a hostel, so I don't stay in them often. Though they are nice breaks. Can't cook in them too, so again, that doesn't make it easier on the wallet.

THE best out of all these is a real bed, and a real room to yourself at a friends house. Good company, great room and a kitchen. All pretty much free as well. Hard to beat!

Oh now for the special lodgings! Now, sometimes while traveling, it takes a long ass time to get somewhere, even while flying.
So, again low to highest.

Bus... oh boy! "Fun" things to travel in. Slow, stops often and crammed, but damn cheap! Having an overnight 8 hour trip in one is not on the top of my list, but if you get to the top front part of the bus, you might get a few hours of sleep. Reading is hard on this, seeing as it makes me sick. So kick back and go crazy sitting forever!

Car.... Europe they go as fast in the USA, well mainland Europe. The Autobahn in Germany is great for hauling ass. Plus everything is so close your there in no time. Sleeping in a car also seems much easier than a bus though. Course car travel is only so much fun.

Boat/ferry... Not done the long haul, but seems like fun to travel on. Easy to get a nap on the ferry by finding a seat in the cafe and sleep away!

Planes... Now I love flying, I think it's great... except for a 9 hour flight with no personal TV screen thing like on some of the Atlantic flights. Sleeping is VERY hard on one of these. Only hope is to doze off and hope the steward does slam a cart into your knee! Really best to have a book that is an easy read. Not good for Plato!

Trains.... Now these I find are the best. Sleeper car or normal seating. The way a train moves is very relaxing I find and it tends to keep moving not getting stuck in traffic like a bus and you can walk around easier on it than a plane. I've been on a sleeper train twice, and soon will be 3 then 4 or 5 before the end.

So long post here, but covers much of day to day lodgings. Now time to check out the rest of Krakow before I leave tomorrow to Budapest Hungary, plus find a crazy cheap place to eat!

Another day in Poland

Lets seeee, what is new?

Found out the Hostel here has, bed bugs, and I found out with lovely bites all over! So tried to clean everything, but dryer and washer are broken. Yeah, not a good choice on the hostel here, but gladly there are enough nice people here and Poland is really wonderful! My cold is mostly gone, but still my nose is running still, but got some medicine for that too.
Not gotten the best luck here in Poland, but I'm gladly still having a fun time. Everything is really cheap here and that makes the extra costs I have, not bad to deal with. Trying to enjoy myself here, but when your sick and smoking is allowed everywhere, makes it hard to get motivated.

Now for side trips, I need to get a decent look at Krakow with a full walking tour and get to the salt mines here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wieliczka_Salt_Mine.

However I have been to the German death camp at Auschwitz "which is the German name for the town" and that was quite horrific. Pretty shocking to think anything that horrible happened there. All the stories they told and the photos or items. Plus many of the buildings are still there. Just shocking to think that anyone could be that horrible to another human being. The LOWEST number of people killed was 1 million, but perhaps as high as 1 and a half million. Many records were destroyed so it is hard to tell. Plus no graves really, just ovens going. So just shocking overall, but important to see. Though thats the last of the WW2 history for me on this trip. It really is the most depressing history, so kinda burned out on the history of human suffering!

Anyway, not much else new today. Will send post cards and just lay about trying to feel better. Maybe take a quick look again at this wonderful Polish city!

Krakow update

Well, must say, Poland is great and is worthy of another update! It is amazingly cheap. Pretty much Walmart prices for good ethnic food. 3 days worth of good food for $20! Amazing! The food at cafes are amazingly cheap and good too. $10 will buy you the best meal in town! Pierogi's here are plenty and cost like nothing! $3 for a really nice batch! Read more bout them here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi
Kiełbaska of every type is here. Generally tastes the same as in the states, but I guess way better. Again, read bout them here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielbasa.
Not tried most of the other food, but still got a few more days.

The city is very very pretty and lots to see. Very well preserved Polish city, since may haven't gotten through the World wars. Weather here generally is mixed, but nice enough. Not much rain. Going to see more of the city as I feel better.

Now the hostel I'm at is generally sort of clean "except for bed bugs about, which are getting bombed", magic fairies clean the place in the morning, dishes included, and the crazy drunks are a plenty and "Shockingly!" are mostly Aussies! Haha! God, nothing but Aussies here! I'm used to the UN hostels where people of 5 nations are in the same room. This is just like going to the outback! Crikey!
Plus just generally I don't care for the people. Just plant there arses here and do nothing. Staff is kinda lazy too.
BUT, it has good beds, nice location, great bathrooms and a good computer. So not a total wash.

It'll do till Monday. Maybe hostels are more like this in the Autumn with Uni and College back in. Haven't a clue since I've not traveled in hostels this time of year and in Central and east Europe too. Course I could be in a cranky old man mood since I haven't slept much, been sick and am in a kinda anti social now. Monday will tell however...... and as I speak some stoned stupid sounding American/Canadians have walked in.....

So lets see, what else. Ahh yes. Haircuts.... Well Poland from what I can tell has lovely food, great sights and good people... However the worst haircuts of Europe so far! Bulgaria might top Poland though, but doubtful. The guys tend to have some sort of rat hair or a mullet. The girls generaly are nice, but some shave one side of their heads and have it long elsewhere. Very odd look, and I suspect a punk look going on.

Anyway, all for now!

Running on fumes.....

Well, 2 days with little sleep, a nice little cold, and usual travel! Blah! I'm wiped out! Haven't done much being under the weather. Right before the mild cold hit me, I was able to walk around Prague once more on Saturday night and see Prague lit up. Very pretty! Though as I was walking around got to see filming for the newest Mission impossible 4! No stars were seen, but if I stayed out like a train spotter or bird watcher I would most likely, maybe, perhaps yes or no have gazed at someone famous. For Sunday and Monday I sat on my tired sick butt and did pretty much nothing! Well, did have Czech grog, which is really rather nice, but kicks like a mule!

Lets see, night train wasn't bad, except not sleeping, though I was in and out, so it went quicker. But I guess if you put your ticket in your pocket and it gets kinda crumpled up, the conductor will get angry and say in broken English "WHY THIS LIKE THIS!?". I responded, "Well, I put in my pocket, thats why." Which seemed to be good enough for Mr. Czech or Polish conductor. His wake up call was- "Have 2 minutes. Train only wait 2 minutes in Krakow!" Ahhh, friendly friendly people..... The man clearly loves his job....

But now I'm in Krakow Poland, old royal capital of Poland, 16th nation I've been to and more east than any other place I've gone to. Prices look very good here. Can get massive amounts of food for like $5! Well, thats what I've been told. See how much better the prices are compared to Prague, which was pretty darn cheap.

Oh yes, another word of advice. IF the guys in the train car with you are from Brazil, and you find out that one has a German name, don't make the crack "Hey, they go over for some unrelated reason in 1946? Haha" Turns out..... that can be true....... and then it makes things slightly awkard. Thank goodness it was right at bed time.

Anyway, off now and as I write, some drunk drunk Aussies are just going to bed after an all nighter at the bar..... it is 8 AM by the way!

Ahhh, another post!

Still going well in Prague here. Been out the past few nights having fun, which translates to talking to various people, getting drunk and mostly going out with an English guy called Rory, who I met at the hostel. One night we went together with some German girls, which was of course, always nice to have company of that pretty sort! We went mostly to one place called "Propaganda". All sorts of Soviet stuff is everywhere and it has a nice relaxed club type enviroment, without dancing or super super loud music or assholes. I'm sure there are other pubs that are more Czech though.

Now, Czech beer really is the best I've had so far. Better than German stuff I've had already. Only one that can beat it was one in Holland. Rum or whiskey are way pricey out this far, so beer is almost a must.

Lets see, now, yesterday I saw more of the city and more in the evening this time. There is an awesome market in the city square in the evenings which has great looking food at reasonable prices, but they use alot of real fires for things too. Heck, even a blacksmith was working there! Really just fun to see!
Had, Czech hot Grog, which is just rum or somethin, mixed with hot water, but kicks like a mule! Real nice to drink it on a cold evening however.

After strolling about I found a lovely little traditional type place to eat and had great Goulash, with bread and bacon dumplings, and a huge pile of the best rye/brown/wheat bread I've had in ages! Only cost me like 7-9 bucks too, with everything added in. Wonderful price for wonderful food!
With my nice meal finished I went over to a concert with a pipe Organ and Voilin. What amazing music! Really just the best! Went a couple days before to a pipe organ playing, it was good, but the church didn't have the best design for music like that.
Concert being done went out a second night of drinking, as mentioned earlier in this post, and I went to writing while drunk! Nothing bad, but more I'm sure poorly done and annoying...

So lets see, what little things have I noticed? It seems that I have no clue when Czechs are talking, if they are angry or if that is how they normally talk! Service REALLY sucks in Europe, so never expect much. This was the same in Germany and Belgium and Prague here. I have no idea how they get away with it and its really bad when not JUST Americans are complaining. Mostly you have an angry sounding Czech or German running about or NOT even moving much, taking forever or angrly going quick.

HOWEVER, just because service can be crap, doesn't mean what they have is crap. Best food and sights here. Quite frankly everything sells itself here it seems and the Czechs seem generally more friendly than most other peoples too. Hopefully that'll keep onto Hungry and Poland.
Now for service, the best I've had so far is at Ace hostel here, really great guy running it here.

What else? Seems to be no leash law and the dogs walk themselve while the owner is going at a slower pace. Also dogs like to go into shops too. Cops are everywhere as well and they don't seem like scary Soviet types and they seem professinal too.

Hmm, can't think of much more now other than it is a great place! I'll be in Krakow Poland on Tuesday, so see what new adventures I'll run into then!

Oh yes, quote or advice of the post. If you are drunk, try and not be annoying, THEN accidentally spill beer all over someone. I must remember to drink the beer, not pour in on people, by mistake of course! Thankfully I've not seen her again at the hostel...

Mostly of food, lodging and weather....

Seems I've been so busy I've forgetten to talk of some of the basics!

Anyhow, first, food! I've had all sorts, but in the UK, it is the Donar Kebab. Mostly they are made of packed down, crapy lamb, but I really like them! Now over on the European mainland is some lovely fresh made bread with dried/cured pork in very thin slices. That with a really good soft cheese and then if it's night time, a red wine. Course now what would a day without chocolate be! The Europeans sure know chocolate. Yummy! German food is very good, but mosty it is fried or fatty, but WAY good. Oh then Spatzle, I LOVE that German pasta stuff. Franco food is much lighter, BUT costs more however. While camping it was mostly whatever was canned, but me and Philip had some lovely bacon too.
Right now in Prague that since I have a kitchen to cook in, mostly it's what I can find in the store for $5 a day.

Lodging. Thats been mixed. Sometimes on a plane, tent, cot or just a mattress on a floor. Apart from the plane all the other sleeping places were great. Sometimes those were at friends places or hostels and twice a real hotel, one smelling of lovely horse flith, which I didn't find bad, but Philip didn't much care for it however! The tenting was pretty good, if the weather was, which leads me to the...
WEATHER! It has just been amazing! Sunny, but not hot. Apart from some rainy cold days in the UK and Ireland the weather has been fantastic. Okay bit rainy in Germany too, but not enough to change plans, like night rain.

Anyhow, I'm in Prague now and it is really a wonderful city. I've been looking around today. Listening to some Music, street types and an Organ in a church. Wonderful place just to walk around, doing a few little things and maybe getting a beer. Getting lots of photos and I should get some up one of these days.. oh well!

Oh, seems I have handy advice or sayings at the end of posts, so this one is... Thank you god "or whatever!" for getting the batty/crazy/cussing/outwardly angry and mouthy, old Eastern European woman to the back of the bus with her long suffering daughter has to haul around. Might I add that is was a 4 HOUR ride too? Soo happy when she got moved I can tell you!

Off east and beyond!

Well, starting off once again, but this time sadly without friends. Philip is back off to Oxford, and his friend, Andrew, who I'd say is a new friend of mine has to stay in Germany. Sure was nice to see them over the weekend though. Heidelberg is really a lovely city and we had the most perfect weather too! Nice and sunny as they say. Really rich history there, but if you don't know German very well it can be a bit hard at the museums, but still neat items displayed.

As I said, I should have been in Prague right now, but it has worked better to have the extra day to catch up on things at Andrews flat here, like, laundry. Not good to have nothing clean!

Not to long of a trip to Prague. Just about 6 hours of every little bit of travel. So about 4 PM I should be there. In Prague time that is!

After that off to Poland, Budapest and more! So keep your eyes open on here every week.

Heidelberg Germany post update

Another break time. Had to change some travel plans which means an e-mail to a hostel, so I should update the blog at the same time too.
Sometimes trains not only leave at times you don´t want them too, but also cost WAY more than you think. Oh well on Monday ''Well now Tuesday!'' I start my tour to the cheap nations. Should be a nice change!

Been enjoying the Rhineland greatly with my friend Philip, who truly is the most easy going travel partner I've had so far. We went ahead and booked 1 night in Rudesburg or something like that, very near this castel though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Rheinstein. To busy to look up the proper name however. Really nice around there. But now I'm in Heidelberg which is just wonderful too. Will try and get photos up one day, but wikipedia is handy too.

Best wishes to all my readers and hope some of you will be able to travel as well!

Sean

This is Germany... and it`s not to bad!

I'm now in Germany ya'll, until about Monday, then onto Prague for close to a week.

Last I wrote was about a week ago, so let me think about what has happened...
Ahh yes, me and my English friend Philip decided a while back to do a trip and the European mainland, looking at historical sites. Course first we had to get there, so we took the ferry from England to France then drove to Waterloo, Belgium to see the big battle site there, but as a reminder to all, just because it is a house wine does NOT mean it is the cheapest wine....

So after traveling we got out to Waterloo, which of course had a huge battle there in June 1815, which the allied forces destoryed Napleons forces in an all day battle. I had been there back in 2007 at the reenactment ''I went as a British redcoat'', but really had no time to see the site well.
After enjoying a nice afternoon there, we drove to the just as famous Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. For anyone who has seen band of Brothers, you'll know what I'm talking about AND we also got to see their foxholes in Foy and it looked close enough to the show. Quite neat.

The day after we looked about the battle area and museums, plus enjoying REALLY good food. Just can't find food like that in the states! Saw the big WW2 monument in the area, then drove out to the Malamedy massacare site which SS troopers murdered about 50-75 unarmed US GI troops. Very sad site, but interesting none the less.

After Belgium me and Philip went camping in the Hurtgen forest, tracing the sites on that WW2 battle field, including my Granddads unit, the 298th Combat Engineers. For more info on the battle I'll let Wiki handle it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_H%C3%BCrtgen_Forest

Around there we saw bunkers, museums, foxholes and found debris of war still everywhere even after well over 60 years. Glad the weather was lovely for hiking and almost forgot it was the site of so much blood and horror.
So we left the Hurtgen forest, which also is the creepest set of woods I've seen and was described by Hemmingway as ''The place where Dragons live''.

We then made our way to Koblentz Germany to some of Philip's friends live, but on the way we thought we would visit the largest US cemetery in Belgium, where 8,000 US soldiers are buired, most killed in the Hurtgen forest or in the Battle of the Bulge. Very sad and emotional.

Sad to see so many of these places, but again they are important and interesting sites too and nestled in some really pretty places and I also have found I've not stopped running into American people or things! Lots of US flags at some of the sites, or Americans or on adverts, American style cookies! Funny stuff there.

Anyhow, taking it easy here in Koblentz and off to other parts of the Rhineland until Monday, then off to new adventures in Prague!

P.S. Lots of things are mis-spelled here, mostly because the computer is a German one and thinks English is not correct German! Haha!

Slight break... for now!

Well, now I'm in England. Bleh! Been going from place to place an awful lot! Well easy enough flight to get to Bristol, but lesson learned, if you think you MIGHT need to check your bag with Ryan air.... get it checked online BEFORE the airport!

Anyway, made up for it with my usual luck, when I was able to get a free ride from the airport in Bristol to Bath and the hostel had extra beds and was cheaper than I thought. Sure was nice to see Bath again. It really is a pretty city and nice pubs to read in, even if it is the self proclaimed smallest pub in Bath!

The AMERICAN Civil War reenactment in Bath was really loads and loads of fun! I'm very glad I went and the fine company I had was great. Met old friends and got some new friends as well. Weather was good too, albeit a little cold.

Now I'm in Oxford and going to Waterloo Belgium tomorrow and I'll spend the next 8 weeks in Mainland Europe and Turkey too.

I'll try to keep everyone posted of that part as well as I can.

Seeya ya'll later!

Long flights stink....BUT

I'm getting used to it. Kinda strange that one can get used to sitting in a small metal box for 10 hours a day, and it being pretty easy.... 7 times over the Atlantic does that however.

Well I'm safe here in Dublin Ireland, but heading out tomorrow for England. Woopee freaking do that I get to go through the horrible visa check. Hmm how long will they hold me this time? I guess I'll find out tomorrow afternoon! Well hopefully not long this time.

Anyway, still alive, and not all there. Jet lag isn't really an issue, but not having good sleep is. Will try and be more clever next times post!

Seeya ya'll!

Off Now!

Well I've been lazy about this blog, but with travels starting I'll start writing here more. It'll be a 5 month trip round the earth..... and then right back to Tennessee.

My whole trip will take me to Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Egypt and Thailand. Perhaps another nation or 2. Things will get updated whenever, but between 1-3 weeks I'd guess. Most likely once a week. Should get photos up.... whenever...

I'll talk about whatever is in the area and the usual stuff of travel. So should be very exciting!

Anyhow, I'll see some of you on the trip, or after or sometime whenever!

Sean

Well, time to make another post. Been busy with events and tomorrow I'll be flying off to 10 months of travel, work, and of course adventures!

Tennessee is getting to warm and I'd rather get to cooler climes again, but hopefully the sun will follow me. Pretty exciting with the next 10 months planned out. Should all go rather well.
Now time to make some money!

Well, down to the wire now. Be leaving Tennessee in slightly more than a week to see family on the west coast, then to work after the quick visit. Wyoming isn't THE most exciting of places, but I love the weather and money, so it makes it the best around for me! Hopefully I'll have company for a month, but at the very least, I'll have netflix thankfully.
Though, with traveling, visiting and working, I won't see home here in Tennessee for a year... perhaps more. Who knows what the future will hold!

Again, this blog won't be the most exciting till October. But once my travels kick off, THEN it should be worth reading!

Oh yeah, one other thing, Amish have moved in a established here in Tennessee within just 5 miles within the past few months. Pretty neat to see them in their horsey buggies and older style clothing. For me, it's like a reenactment. Haha!

VERY funny!

Now I need an article as funny as this guy- http://killingbatteries.com/2008/02/the-definitive-guide-to-airport-and-airplane-etiquette/

A new year, a new out look

Well interesting enough weekend. On Friday had a good day at an after school program that had me as an American Civil War soldier showing the kids stuff, letting them try on things and doing drill. All rather fun and getting me back into mental shape for school tours this summer at the Fort.

Selling off lots of reenacting gear, and sadly getting out of the Roman era of reenacting. Impossible to try to do 3 era's, when 1 is hard enough. Also sold a ton of relics off a few weeks ago at a Civil War show.

Seems so hard to let things go. Many of these items I've had for 1 to 5 years, and letting go was a bit difficult. But, I think it's helping me let go of other issues as well. The loss of friends I've grown apart from to much to really connect with which are people who AREN'T on my Facebook, past loves, and of course the items themselves. I've gotten rid of so much of my old stuff and bought so many new pieces of modern clothing, I hardly seem the same person as even a year ago.

Though the past year has generally sucked with few exceptions, it's made me grow, push myself and really find what I want, rather than what I think I want.

So the sun sets now on one part of my life, it shines anew on another, a new year and a new beginning and a new out look!

Oh, and one of these days I'll be writing about travel!

Well down to 3 weeks till I leave Tennessee for Wyoming and spend the next 5 months working toward a 5 month trip round the earth!

See, I've been to all of Western Europe, Tunisia and then all over the USA before the kick off to my World trips in 2007 and on.
So, while last year in England, while trying to get over some very depressing things and trying to sort out my life at a good friends house I turned on the TV. Oh, Jeremy Clarkson "Think Top Gear" was on TV. Hmm, well watched the show and he was flying round the earth. Then it dawned on me... that is THE trip to do!

Put my mind to it, budgeted, got my life straightened out and researched the trip, now I'm on my way to going on the biggest trip yet that I've been on! The goal is to go to Central and East Europe, Egypt and then somewhere in Asia that don't need a visa. Add at LEAST 7 nations to the 13 I've already been to and get to a mainland Asian nation. All in good time of course! :)

Great quote...

Well I figure I saw this, and thought this is a wonderful quote, but sadly, I have no clue who wrote it. Truly is a quote that I've followed the best I can throughout life so far.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow--You may succeed with another blow, Success is failure turned inside out--The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Past photos!

Oh yes, forgot these, photos from most my trips, just got a few new ones added as well.

http://s202.photobucket.com/home/Hardtack88/index

First post!

Well I'll try out this blogging and see how it works! Everyone always seems to wonder what I'm doing while I'm traveling, so I'll cover that on here for the next few months, years, or maybe it'll just be days.... I'll just see how it goes and how far I want to take it.