Somehow the cities and countries slip away from me so fast. I am constantly thinking of what I am going to write in an attempt to communicate with you what not only my experiences are as I travel but also how each place is unique, amazing, and memorable to see. Unfortunately, I many times find myself lacking the words or the coherent commentary to describe all the things that are happening to me. However in a few days I will say goodbye to Eastern Europe, and my past few weeks at least deserve an attempted summation. As many good things seem [View Full Entry]

---

---

Finally...after 23 hours on a train in a compartment by myself I arrived in Kiev. True I slept most of the way, but nonetheless by the end of it all I was nearly singing to myself and playing out entire scenes in movies. The most excruciating part of the journey, however, had to do with the border crossing that occurred around 1:00 a.m. in the morning. Evidently, the Ukraine has different sized tracks that the rest of Eastern and Western Europe to prevent invasion by train. Who invades by train anyway? So, at the border the train stops, jostles around for [View Full Entry]

---

---

It seems that I exist in a time vacuum, having no concept of the days of the week, or the uncanny ability that time has to fly by. Really it's unbelievable to me that it is now August, another month is gone, and another country awaits. However, the next stop will not be reached without a considerable amount of suffering as my train trip from where I am now in Suceava, Romania to Kiev, Ukraine will take me roughly 23 hours. I can't say that I'm very much looking forward to this one, especially considering the last few trips I've taken [View Full Entry]

---

---

I really don't have a lot to say today, not much to tell really. I've been in Bulgaria for the past 5 days in Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo (велико тарново). They're both nice places, or should I say nice places to tour. They have lots of old ruins around, and generally the Stari Grad (Old Town), is very nice to wander around in and still retains some authentic charm; however, I have to say that Bulgaria thus far has held the enchantment and interest for me like some of the places that I've been previously. Ah, but i [View Full Entry]

---

---

Those of you I haven’t heard from in some time, comment, send me a message, let me know you’re out there! Also, I’m now without my laptop—very sad—so all my writing for the next year will be unrevised right out of the head writing, apologies in advance for any errors or omissions Sofia, Bulgaria—July 3rd, 2005 Thinking, pondering, wondering, debating—what do I do next? I’m at a bit of a crossroads. My friends have all had to go their separate ways, and I’ve been in Sofia working on the remainder of my travel plans bef [View Full Entry]

---

---

Tirana, the capital of Albania, can only be characterized as a bustling, out of control city, where organization of the infrastructure and people just does not seem to exist. Example: When crossing the street, whether in a crosswalk or otherwise, you do so at your own risk because drivers have absolutely no regard for pedestrians. You are forced to quickly bob-and-weave in between moving cars that have had to slow down only because the roads are so bad that they cannot drive faster. Honestly, at some points you would think that you were passing through a war zone due mainly to [View Full Entry]

---

---

The suspense is now over; we have finally arrived and tomorrow we depart. As logic normally will tell you, though people rarely listen, is that the hype is usually nothing like the actual experience. It reminds me of the build-up to a GREAT New Year’s Eve party. Every time you have all the hype and all the expectation, it is never what you think it will be. In our case, we heard a lot of negative things about Albania before we finally ventured across the border from Ulcinj, Montenegro: “Don’t go there. It’s nothing but beggars”; “Why would you go to [View Full Entry]

---

---

By request, I am including a small post with pictures that include myself as well as scenery. Yes, I am alive and well, and haven't become Euro-trendy, a mountain man, or dirty traveler, at least not yet. And a couple of good travel (and life) quotes: Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight seeing". --Daniel J. Boorstin [View Full Entry]

---

---

Last week was the beginning of my second departure, and in many senses, the greater departure of the one made previously. I am no longer departing for a place where I will live for some time as I did in Slovenia. I am now on the road, traveling to many places varied and distant. I will make my home within the journey, in many different and temporary places, but enjoying each place for what it has to offer. It’s an interesting lifestyle; completely out what you might call a comfort zone. But that is the beauty of travel. Slovenia has now [View Full Entry]

---

---

Geez, I guess I have let the time slip away because it has been a long time since the last blog update, but life has been cruising along quite smoothly. In a sense that means that I haven’t had too many exciting things going on OR I have become somewhat acclimated to my new home. I think the latter is most true because I’m getting ready to fill you in on some of the events of the past month or so. First of all, as of yesterday, I am now entirely finished with the three courses required for me to fully [View Full Entry]

---

---