Lindsay came and invited me for a nightcap in the pub downstairs. When I got there, they were sitting at a table, drinks half gone, and looking rather tired. The only other people in the room were the bartender and an Asian customer sitting at the bar, staring intently at the World Cup match on the TV. I wouldn’t normally have thought much about him, but he was wearing a Korean flag as a cape, and that caught my attention. We sat at our table talking until the adults excused themselves, and headed upstairs. I then pardoned myself and hit the toaletska, and Lindsay moved our empties to the bar, and, sitting, ordered another round. When I came out she introduced me to the Korean fan, Allen. No kidding, he’d spent some time in Boston, liked ... read more

Lindsay came and made sure I was awake at three, bright eyed and bushy-tailed. I mumbled I’d meet her in the lobby in 30 minutes, and I managed to do it too! We bid her father goodbye, and with much thanks, we departed by cab to Gdansk Airport. Traveler’s note: Wizzair is nice and all, but they have a real issue on landings. Don’t get me wrong, they stick them, but maybe a little less gravity, little more flaps, that’s all I’m saying. So after a rather hard landing in Luton, and extricating the seat cushion from my dupa, we collect our luggage and head to the train to Gatwick and a 5 hour layover made longer by a three hour delay. From the outset we knew we’d be traveling for about 24 hours, now 27. ... read more

Finally a good night’s sleep! Up this morning for my last breakfast at the Mercure Helluvia. It’s a very nice hotel, but I’m over it. I started getting homesick, or maybe just bored, yesterday afternoon. This trip has been amazing, but I know it can’t go on indefinitely. My mind has already wandered home to my cats, my job, my friends, my life. My life? How can I go back to my life? The world is so much bigger, so much grander than before I left Tallahassee. How does someone incorporate all of this into their usual day to day life? How will my life ever be the same, and do I want it to be? This has been deep thoughts, by Jer O’Connor. Well, after breakfast, I didn’t have time to think much on all ... read more

When I learned Gdansk was on the itinerary, the only person I could think to ask about it was my friend Dan, he responded, “Gdansk, jewel of the Pomorze region of Poland. As with much of Eastern Europe, a crime of geography, putting such a beautiful people in such a precarious place…Further crime that such a people would be burdened by communism for so long.” I find this to be a perfect assessment, if not understated. So far, Poland beats England in every conceivable measure. There are large sections of town that are ugly, large concrete flats and offices built during Soviet occupation. The people who live in them are some of the nicest, most accommodating people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Otherwise, nearly 70% of the “Old Town” has been painstakingly restored ... read more

It’s bright and early, and I’m heading to London for a very long walk. I won’t get into the details of the route we’re taking, but needless to say, my father can plan a bloddy hike. Before leaving he lent me the camera that I’ve been using (supplemented by my Treo when needed), his suitcase, various cabling, a book on London, but most importantly advice and a highlighted map of the route he took the last time he was in London. After learning where good shopping for Lindsay was, we incorporated it into the bright yellow line and set off from the train station at St. Peters. As I said, I won’t get into all of the boring details. When I say we saw everything, I’m being literal, if it’s an attraction, we probably saw it ... read more