We are getting ready for another summer travel adventure. We are returning to Europe to bicycle in the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. We will be in Europe until July 20. We have rented an RV like we did before so our route and schedule are flexible. We will also spend 2 weeks in a houseboat on a canal in England and end our trip with a few days in London. At least this is the plan. The original plan was to leave home on May 11 on a direct flight to London and then on to Amsterdam. David did leave on May 11 and after a few delays did get to Amsterdam about 6 hours late. He is shopping for bicycles, studying routes and getting the computer fixed. Worked fine when he left, but now won't ... read more

MOSCOW - part two ... freedom isn't free But it does have a price. In Moscow it $750. Apparently due to a small misunderstanding on my part and definitely my fault. Talking with the visa agent in the States while in the planning stage I came to understand that Date of entry was the date you actually entered the country. World travelers stop laughing. It is of course the date on the passport. With my plans I has a 6 day safety factor. But was over the exit date. At the boarder I was escorted from the train, taken to the ticket office my ticket was reprinted back to Sochi or some place not sure where and I was given a refund of the unused portion. Never did anyone suggest that we could "solve" the problem ... read more

Irkutsk to Yekaterinburg Packed and on the train shared open third class compartment with Alexander, @x Russian born in Kazakhstan, some sort of police work. and Licka 20? headed to Novosibirsk. No English, but it developed with time, and still no Russian on my side. Starting to recognize the sound of some words like "harashaw" good fine, all is well. Visited several hours and got off at stations where the stops were more than 20 minutes, as things progress it turn out I was the "iguana" a common bond between them, their project because they had not met before. Some where along the way ( hey, the blog name ) we were joined by Daniel, mid 20 automotive for VW returning from work assignment in Beijing, a real player it turns out, I hope he ... read more

Harbin to Suifenhi 6 oct Had no difficulty purchasing the Ticket to Suinenhi, overnight $24, third class middle bunk. Slept much of the way; arrived about 8 am, station and ticket windows. Could not get a ticket; my Chinese must be getting worse. At the second travel agency met Lee, Jong, 25 born in V. is Chinese on Russian passport. He, I thought offered to let me travel with him for $35. Sounded like a good idea to me. Several taxi rides and lunch on him. I purchased my own Bus ticket, 14 hrs $10, plus another $10 on the Russian side. Cleared immigration/customs no problems, unless your the person behind the idiot who tried to clear customs with out his luggage. I had to go back and took cuts in line. The agent just looked ... read more

This is my third attempt at getting this in ... it gets briefer each time. Don and Wanda greeted me at SEA/TAC. Good to visit with them and the were very helpful in getting me to the right security gate for my terminal. They are both heading out soon, Wanda to London and Don to Italy. Impressed in airport by various Asian airlines stewardess and how stylish and professional their uniforms looked. Flew Alaska air and Asiana Las Vegas to Shanghai $539. Asiana safety record on the net looked ok. Seat assignment put me between Don, 75, on his second visit to his grandson an English teacher in Shanghai and Jenny, 19-20, on a semester break from school. Both very interesting. She was reading Three Cups of Tea, the book about Central Asia Institute's efforts to ... read more