Davidicus

Well all, it's been about five days since I got back to the states. It's been strange. My sleep still isn't what it should be... but whatever. This is the wrapup. I wanted to sort of consider what I learned, and what has changed, before leaving this thing behind until my next time... because there will be a next time. The biggest thing I learned is to be much more self reliant. I've sure as hell never been a co-dependant person... but I still never did much on my own before. Trips were planned by others, with family or friends, even going out, if no one was around I stayed in. I'd like to think this has changed... and I'm going to try to keep it that way. Already I've found that I have much less ... read more

I know it runs contrary to everything Ive said... but just a few more weeks please?... read more

Well I made it to Italy last night, and pretty much collapsed in the place I had in Milan. I am exhausted. I didn't see enough of Milan to make a valid opinion known, I will say it definitely had the seediest next to train station area of any city I've seen yet. Today I spent the day on a walking tour of the Roman sites the forum and Colosseum and such. Didn't go in any of them, but actually saw everything for once, did it with my two Aussie friends, whom I'm still with, and there were just 4 other besides us. Tomorrow will be either my Vatican tour day, or just seeing what I can on my own. Jeeze, its been busy few weeks... over 3 weeks, close to a month. It has been ... read more

Man... I hadnt even thought of the above until Karen asked the question... do they? I hope so! Ive been craving me some pizza, and trying very hard to wait until I make it to Italy to eat it in the last week or so... Still in France, Nice even. Ive got trains that will take me as far as Milan tonight, the first departs in a little over 3 hours. Then a noon train to Rome tomorrow. I WILL MAKE IT THERE!!! jeeze... The last few days have been quite a test... and with the exception of coming upon the idea of these travel plans a few hours too late... and a break down on the very first day I was supposed to be leaving to Florence... Its all been pretty much ok... Thank goodness... ... read more

So... after that freak out, during the 5 or 6 hours of dark time, where everyone I know in the world is asleep... things seemed less crap. New itinerary... Nice until Saturday. Tomorrow morning I will look at the train station. If everything seems to be running smoothly I will by the tickets again, but this time, instead of stopping at Florence, Ill just move straight on to Rome. If that doesnt seem possible, then I buy a 400 dollar plane ticket that will get me from Nice to Rome. Either way, I make it to Italy and Rome on Saturday.... read more

The now rainy day in Nice does not bode well for me... There was a train stike that I was told would last a day... I dont know how wide spread or how to check... My train was supposed to leave at 953 this morning, my first transfer occuring between 1043 and 1058... the first train today doesnt leave to my destination until after 3 in the afternoon. I could try to get on it... but then what if there is no transfer? Ill be in some tiny city with no place to stay only an hour into a 7 hour treck. Or do I stay in Nice for the next two days, see Monoco and Cannes, and just try to get straight to Rome from here... I dont know... read more

So, this is my last night before I head into Italy. The last leg of my journey. Jeeze. France has definitely been good times. Eliza and Alexis were wonderful hosts- it cant be easy to have someone sleeping in your kitchen, and they put up with it for a whole week! Thanks so much guys, since I know youll be reading this. See, this time I got your name right Alexis, the magic that is Facebook. My last day in Paris I got to meet up with Jer-o-meeeeeeee! Which was tons of fun. I had always told him, when he was living with us in San Francisco that I would visit him in his own city some day. I just was never certain that that would actually happen. And it almost didnt. His vacation- off snowboarding- ... read more

So its nearing the end of my stay here in Paris. Im finally getting the hang of these crazy french keyboards... I just still cant find the apostrophe key, hence the lack of those. I just got my train ticket to Nice... yes, Im going to Nice now, and yes that is a very new development... for the ungodly time of 745 in the morning... Ill get there around noon and basically have two days. Its sort of annoying that due to the wonders of available seating Ill actually have more time in Nice than in Florence... maybe... I still havent decided. Its either one full day in Florence, or two. Either a lateish train out to Rome in the first case, or an early one in the second... Or one final way Ive thought of ... read more

Yep I finally made it out of Spain. Im sitting in the living room of a old Kabuki coworker of mine, Eliza. She is currently living in Paris with her boyfriend Alexia? Alexi? I dont really know. But yeah, I took an overnight train out here, and it was quite an experience, the rooms were tiny and cramped when the seats were down, but once they folded down the beds, quite comfortable and more roomy. I had two guys with me in the compartment, one didnt seem to speak a word of English. The other was American... but stuttered so much when he talked that he didnt seem to like to speak much... so it was a pretty quiet car... but luckily there was a bar. Everything became nicer after sharing a beer or three with ... read more

So folks, I´m realizing that I haven´t really talked much about the awesome time I´ve been having. Because even though I´ve missed some stuff... it has been awesome. Part of that was adjusting, I don´t think the butterflys are going to go away, cause this is freakin nerve wracking, but the desire to turn tail and run home early has pretty much vanished thankfully. This is actually the first night since I´ve been in I´m not going out at all. And a hard choice it was too, because Madrid literally does not sleep. As far as I can tell a young Madridian lives with their folks until they are 30+ working pretty crap jobs, but saving money all the while. They start work at like 9 am, and at 2 work really does stop. Places of ... read more