http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/David-Lee/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from David Lee en-us Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:25:13 +0000 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:25:13 +0000 The scenery between Zurich and Italy is breathtaking literally. The train passes through small and medium sized towns and villages DWARFED by mountains that canrsquot be scaled and whose peaks canrsquot be seen by the naked eye. Wersquod passed Lugano Milano Bologna and Florence before arriving in Roma.The second third of my Euro Trip was of a different breed. Jim came to Italy equippe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-104897.html Zurich Getting HIGH in SwitzerlandMy departure from Munich marked the end of the first third of my onemonth EURail adventure. I refer to these first eleven days as the ldquoCOUCHSURFINGrdquo portion because I stayed for FREE exclusively with members of couchsurfing.com the travelerrsquos network in which Irsquove been an active member host and guest. However I had yet to sleep on http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/North-East/Z-rich/blog-104896.html INTROMy departure from Berlin was a bit impromptu arranged the morning after a successful pub crawl and complicated by train schedules and an extended adios to random friends made the night before. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Ty but I knew we'd be seeing each other again sometime in the next decade back on the GLEN BROOK DRIVE caldesac.Munich was highly recommended by friends and m http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Bavaria/Munich/blog-99719.html Arrived in Berlin pretty late tired and without any knowledge of German hoping that my long lost neighborchildhood PLAYMATE fellow Fox Chapel alumni and coexplorer Tyler Mossman could help me out having studied in Austria and traveled the previous months in Eastern and Central Europe.The city was amazing a lot more modern and bright than I had anticipated. My outdated STEREOTYPES were shat http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Rhineland-Palatinate/Charlottenberg/blog-97821.html Arrived in Amsterdam Tuesday evening.Met my couchsurfing host REMCO and his lady friend DIESK at the train station. Both great people very friendly big DUTCH smiles and friendly blue eyes. Walked to Remco's apartment and had introductions over GROLSCH Dutch beer founded in 1615 and wine. Remco lives on the canal next to the infamous RED LIGHT DISTRICT above a flat where LIVE SEX SHOW ticke http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/North-Holland/Amsterdam/blog-96184.html DAY 2 JIM MORRISONrsquos grave among others at NAPOLEON Pre Lachaise Cemetery. Jim's grave is surprisingly standard. The rest of the cemetery is quite impressive though with enormous monuments catacombs and tributes to politicians artists martyrs and common peasants The cemetery was one of the first since Paris's ban on cemeteries due to health hazards in 1786. SacrCoeur Montemar http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-95491.html Impressions of Paris Day 1 Sonya calls the Parisian tourist info attendant at the train station not very nice from within earshot then offers me a free cab ride across the city as she's in a rush for a press conference. She has a short patience but seems to enjoy my companionship through her frustration. Sightseeing highlights Louvre Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame walking up and down the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-95487.html Left Barcelona Thursday afternoon postsigning and sending my oneyear contract with the Gyeonggi English Village a UNICEFKorean government sponsored collaboration located outside of Seoul South Korea. I just sent out my most recent email update and have had very encouraging responses.The first several hours of my European Rail Tour were quite eventful.1. WITNESSED MY FIRST BLATANT ANTIAME http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-95483.html