Special Note 1: This is perhaps the most random and weaving of my blogs this far. If you are thouroughly confused by it, I apologize. If you are thoroughly amused, then you will have good luck for this coming year. Special Note 2: This one is so packed with photos, that it goes onto page 2. Don't miss out. On the way to Rome, I sat beside two older ladies who mostly kept to themselves while I read my book. When I put it down, they quickly took the opportunity to offer me a custard filled tart. As you've no doubt [View Full Entry]

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The Award from last blog, shamefully, goes to Camille. The rest of you need to work on your creativity skills...girls like guys with skills. Maybe next time you can bake me a [url=http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0374900/Ss/0374900/dynamiteproduction-0163.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0374900]cake or something. There's an old gag that reads that the first fire station was founded on the border of Dalmatia and Sardinia, and when it came to choosing the mascot, the choice was obvious. Not the Sardine. Way not manly enough. Plus, they saw it as a waste of water that could be better wasted on t [View Full Entry]

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A special note for this round: There is a contest buried inside. See details below. You could be a winner. Belgrade, Serbia: I like it, I love it, I want more of it. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: At least I wasn't blown up by a landmine. When I got to the Balkans, what I expected was very much different from what I received. I was surprised by the vast differences between the peoples that make up the states of the former Yugoslavia. It is the center of a confluence of religions, and that makes it all the more interesting as we [View Full Entry]

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I had one last night in Istanbul with part of the crew. We all had lunch together, then Paria and Vaughn had to take off. So that night I went out with Rich, Hanna, James, and Zara. We went to a different part of Istanbul, where the party was happening. I was surprised to learn what a party the nights of Ramadan can be. We stumbled upon this fair where they had a small story-show going on and lots of booths selling all sorts of things, like toffee....mmmm toffee so good. We parted ways the next morning and I set off [View Full Entry]

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I went to Fethiye and it was great. I went on a cruise in the Mediterranean, and it was great too. Then I went to Cappadocia, and it was beautiful. Okay, now that I've got Camille writhing in pain as though I'd scraped my nails down a chalkboard, I can move on. But before I begin in earnest, wherein I will tell you tales of my night as a male prostitute, or man whore, and my moonlighting as a backpack on an overnight bus made of ice, I have a few observations about Turkey. First, Turks seem to love postcards where [View Full Entry]

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Istanbul is a stunning city. It's a complicated one too. The central part housing the likes of Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque looks rather as though Palo Alto decided to up and become an empire. But as soon as you get outside of the central area, suddenly you realize the extent to which most Turks live, if not in dire poverty, certainly not in the lap of luxury. In that sense, I suspect not much has actually changed since the city's humble beginnings as a smallish city known as Byzantium. That being said, Istanbul has left me awestruck. The grandure [View Full Entry]

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Backing up a bit, to September 4th in fact, the day I arrived in the Camp of Doom, also known as Loode Talu, I spent a wonderful day in Tallinn. Side note: For all the curious and ill events at Valdo's farm, I have to say it was an inspiring experience too. Every dictator needs his role models, right? No, but reallly...Valdo's got nothing on Maestro the Malicious - isn't that right kids? But I digress. What inspired me was the idea of the whole program. Over the past few weeks, I have had the idea of sustainability consistently flashed before [View Full Entry]

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The mystery location you were all so eagerly awaiting was a little farm known as Loode Talu on the Tagamõisa Peninsula of Saaremaa Island, Estonia. Estonia is a lovely place full of vast tracks of land, both literal and figurative; verdant forests, lakes dotting the countryside at regular intervals, and very attractive women - Stockholm still has it though. It's little wonder that there is so much greenery to see, however, given how proud Estonians are of it. They seem to put a good deal of effort into maintaining it. I know you were hoping to hear about Tallinn, but it [View Full Entry]

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Hi All, My Nordic adventure began in the area North of Copenhagen known as Vedbaek, I won't write it phonetically since the phonetians would have simply thrown up their hands at the Danish "d" sound that I can now get correct 50% of the time after only 6 months of practicing it. Maybe another 6 months and I'll be able to identify it in speech as being different from the "L" sound. One can hope, right? The Lehaff's were paragons of hospitality treating me with an abundance of good company, tasty food, and numerous walks in the backwoods out behind their [View Full Entry]

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Whirlwind, Day 1: Well, the tour starts in Barcelona after I actually caught my scheduled train and went to my intended destination. I know, frickin´magical. It´s a miracle. So I thought it appropriate to go to Gaudi´s Sagrada Família. It is so amazing. The writing on the bathroom wall said it all: "fucking stupendous - 18/08/06". I can only hope to live long enough to maybe see it´s completion, because without a doubt it will be the most beautiful cathedral in all of Europe. Gaudi´s work is inspiring, not just in its scope and originality, nor even in it´s parallels to [View Full Entry]

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