jbschafer - Ben Schafer

I grew up the oldest son of two parents who LOVE to travel. My father's job as an expert in world soils gave him opportunities to travel for several weeks at a time nearly every summer that I can remember. His stories (and slides) of numerous trips to China during the re-opening to Western visitors after the communist revolution, to both eastern and western Europe (including Berlin on the day/night that the former East Berlin rejoined the economic system of West Berlin/Germany) and African countries such as Tanzania instilled a wanderlust in me from a young age. While I have not had the opportunity to travel as extensively as he and my mother have, I still dream and look forward to each trip, even when it only involves a trip to visit small town Iowa.

The thing that has changed the most since dad's trips of the 70s and early 80s is the ability to communicate and share ones experiences with family and friends. When dad traveled, we might get two postcards over a three week trip. Today, email, digital photos, and blogs, can help people stay connected in a way that dad could have only dreamed of. I am excited to share my travel opportunities on travelblog.org

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Joined on: May 4th 2007
Last Login: April 4th 2009

Blog Entries: 28
Photos: 50

TB Code: [blogger=37693]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by jbschafer, order by Date newest first.

By jbschafer
June 6th 2007

Twenty-eight days, four countries, more modes of transportation than I can count... North America » United States » Iowa » Cedar Falls

Well, my trip has finally come to an end. It felt a little bit like the season finale of "The Amazing Race." When I landed in Cedar Rapids yesterday and cleared security I kept looking for Phil Keoghan to greet me with a large check, but he wasn't there. However, I was greeted by three beautiful ladies who were cheering just as loud as the crowd of "eliminated" contestents would have had it been a final episode of Amazing Race. It was a long trip, and it took its toll at times - sometimes physically, often mentally and emotionally. But it [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
June 5th 2007

Hanging with the natives Europe » Germany » Hessen » Wiesbaden

The last three days have been very nice, slow days. In fact the days have been so slow it isn't worth writing up each day individually so I will lump them together here. I have had a chance to simply hang out with Kris, Thom and family, and see a little bit of daily life in Germany. Well, ok. To be completely fair, I am not sure that Kris and Thom represent "native" Germany since they live in Army housing and spend much of their day interacting with English speakers rather than German speakers, but it has still be a nice [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
June 2nd 2007

The tradition of the Stammtisch Europe » Germany » Hessen » Lorsch

Ok, so today's post isn't actually being written FROM Lorsch, Germany. However, this small town along the Rhine river plays an important part in today's activities and my "cultural excursion" for the day. The day started with an opportunity to attend Justin's tee-ball game, followed by a nice walk down to the Wiesbaden Kurpark (the generic name given to German parks where the mineral baths are traditionally located). In the afternoon, Thom, Kris, and I drove about 30 minutes from their home in Wiesbaden to the town of Lorsch. Lorsch is one of a series of smaller towns located along the [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
June 1st 2007

It's always better with family Europe » Germany » Hessen » Wiesbaden

Well, after more than three weeks of traveling occasionally with colleagues and often by myself, I have landed back in Germany and was greeted by family - My cousin Kris (McFall) Salo and her family. After a lot of time in hotel rooms and English conversations that were limited to work related issues, it was nice last night after getting here (almost 9 hours from the time I left the hotel until Kris and Thom picked me up at the Weisbaden train station) to sit in a living room and carry on an "adult" conversation (of course with Justin and Teagan [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
May 30th 2007

The Hills are Alive Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano

From my hotel Window #1
The view on Monday.

No, I didn't do my Maria interpretive dance today, but I am not more than 30 minutes from where Amy did hers in 1999. I think I may have just had my favorite day on this trip. I know that both Mom and Katie would have enjoyed it, and I think Amy would have even liked it. For the first time in three weeks I actually had a chance to get away from the middle of a town and enjoy the quiet of nature. Now the fact that it was high up in the Dolomites in the Sudtirol (probably one of [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
May 29th 2007

Always mix pleasure with business Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano

So, the hotel that my hosts have arranged for me to stay at is a very nice hotel. It is probably nicer than I would normally stay at when traveling on my own. It is certainly nicer than almost any place I can think of staying when traveling Europe with mom and dad in the past. Having said that, it was close to the train station, it is close to the "campus", and they arranged for a discounted rate (which is probably still close to $100 a night for a single). However, the breakfast buffet is incredible and a nice way [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
May 28th 2007

Pack up the Kids, Amy. We are moving to Bolzano Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano

Ah, Italy. It is nice to be somewhere where I feel more comfortable. I joked before that I always question whether I would want to live in places I visit. THIS is a place I could live for a little while. I love this town. It is many of the things that I missed in Russia along with some things I didn’t even notice until I got here. * People are friendly. They smile and greet you as you walk down the street. No pushing, no shoving. One guy approached me and I was concerned for a second. I suddenly realized [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
May 27th 2007

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano

I have a lot of empathy for the Steve Martin character from the movie in the title of this blog. Like his character, I have taken a BUNCH of transportation options today in my effort to get from Moscow to Bolzano-Bozen, Italy. Let’s see. In order they were: Car, plane, bus, bus, plane, bus, bus, train, and a seemingly long hike from the train station with my suitcase on my back. From the time the driver picked me up in Moscow to the time I unpacked in my room in Bolzano was 15 hours. To be fair, unlike Steve Martin’s character, [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
May 26th 2007

Restoring my faith... Europe » Russia » Northwest » Saint Petersburg

Two things happened after I posted the earlier message today that has given me just that much more faith and respect for Russia. They are tiny things, but since I had expressed negativity in the earlier post, I will make sure that I present some positive things as well. First, riding the subway is an incredibly rude experience (although, it is in Washington DC as well and I can only assume not much better in places like Chicago and New York). I got on a busy car today just behind two older women. The car was packed. Both women were immediately [View Full Entry]

By jbschafer
May 26th 2007

Farewell to Mother Russia Europe » Russia » Northwest » Moscow

Well, it is my final day in Moscow, and in fact, my final day in Russia after fifteen and a half days. Today I did the last thing on my list of musts for Moscow - visit Lenin. And, like many things in Russia, it wasn't without it's harrowing moments. It turns out that Lenin's Masoleum is only open a limited number of days/hours each week. The last times I was in the area I either just missed it or it was the wrong day. Today it was open from 10:00 until 1:00. I arrived about 11:15 and got in the [View Full Entry]

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