A crow named Atia, with its "zaws" and "grebs" and a bout with the precursory

THE DAY I WENT VENICIAN BLIND - Tuesday

Since I've posted twice today, I would catch up with the bit about Milan before catching this one.

Turns out, Venice is a pretty awesome city to walk around in. And it would have behooved me to buy a map.... it is waaaay too easy to get lost scooting around those narrow windy passageways. Although, had I not been lost 92% of the time, I wouldn't have found a super cheap art supply store. 3 euro got me a pair of scissors and a roll of packaging tape. It was most certainly on from that point on. And for being completely tourist ridden, it was rather easy to simply hop over a block or two and be 100% in solitude. Onlooking those famous waterways from atop a bridge with a zeal parallel to NONE.

I did have to catch that 9 p.m. train afterall, so I didn't take any of the boat busses out to Lido or anything.

THE DAY I SAID I LJUB LJANA - Wednesday and Thursday

That dastardly train dropped me off in Ljubana, Slovenia at a ripe 2 a.m.. Let me say this again, I said I would avoid these early morning drop offs, but man... does it ever get difficult when there is only one train scheduled going to Ljubjana from Milan/Venice. I get the feeling Ljubjana and Zagreb get skipped because of this... I mean, I almost considered going all the way to Budapest that night... and I know several others that did just that when they realized how early we'd be arriving.

Anyhow, immediately after I exited the train I made sure to stalk this girl quartet from Manchester and offer them cookies... er biscuits. Morale boosted, they proceeded to accept me into their group, where I taught them how to do headstands and basic gymnastics. We spoke of many things in the few hours before their train departed. I gave them more biscuits for the road. I love how the English pronounce biscuits.

Being up for 24 hours took quite the toll on my head.... I recall having conversations with myself and nearly believing I was two separate people. This was more dehydration than anything. Maybe I should get that checked.

Ljubjana is now 2nd to Budapest in my favorite European cities, and consequently pushed Bordeaux back a hair. It's all the best parts of Venice, Vienna, and Prague in a yummy delicious roll. Everything is super inexpensive, and incredibly non-tourist filled. This was reflected in having to search high and low for a good souvenir shop. So very many unique shops and a delightful nightlife. Cigarette stands usually have maps... these did not. In fact, no one could tell me where I could find one. In some ways, I found this rather charming.

I asked the lady behind the desk at the hostel where a good club was and how late it was open. She suggested Top. And it just so happened that a gentleman had handed me a free pass to that very place earlier in the day. I then asked how late it was open. She said 5 a.m.. I told her to expect me back at that very hour... and thus, I took to the night in hope of adventure or a good pint.

If nothing else, Top makes for a good vantage point over downtown. You must take an elevator 3-5 stories up... I don't recall how high I actually was. While waiting in line, I met this guy who was absolutely stoked that I was traveling through Ljubljana. He suggested going to Ultra after Top... which proved to be an utter waste.... fortunately on the way to Ultra, I asked for directions. "How do I find Ultra?" I asked a guy. I quickly realized it was the fellow handing passes out for Top. He didn't recognize me and gave me another free pass to Top. So that's where I finished the night.

On my way back to the hostel, I encountered a group of twenty-somethings sitting on a fountain. I yelled to them from afar, "How is the night treating you ladies!?!" and BAMF! The swarm came.... "Where are you from!?" I tell that I grew up near Seattle. "OMG!!!! GREYS ANATOMY!!!!" they scream simultaneously while firing off question after question. I left with a tip to go to Trnfest the following evening.

I made it to Trnfest at the end of a series of animated clips. The younger crowd was just leaving, and the multiple beer booths were still open. Rum was $1, and beer was $2 a pint. It was a good night.

THE DAY THE CROW NAMED ATIA "ZAWED" and "GREBBED" - Friday, Saturday and Sunday

I arrived in Zagreb, Croatia yesterday.... and while I was able to stay the first night fine, I'm so very fortunate that someone cancelled their reservation tonight and I was able to switch rooms. Quite literally, every hostel in Zagreb is booked. U2 is having a concert here and an influx of 50,000 people are estimated to swarm the city.... I swear Bono is everywhere... They had their concert in Dublin the night before I arrived there a couple weeks ago..... so yeah.... everywhere.

To further my lucky break, at this very moment, another dozen people were just turned away from this hostel.

I actually committed on going somewhere a considerable amount of time in advance. Some guys from Manchester (lots of Manchester folks on this trip) told me they were headed to Belgrade. This was quite an enlightening development. I was thinking on taking on Bucharest from the north via Budapest. But going south instead? Wonderful! I booked my hostel in advance (something I've never done, but am doing from now on thanks to U2), bought my train ticket and around 6 a.m. Monday morning my time I shall be in Serbia.

I can finish my business with Hungary and Ukraine another time. This excites me more.

So.... while I've been sitting here, I've been kind of acting like reception for the hostel while the manager is working on errands in the other room. I just turned away another group. The guy manager came in and asked if I've been sending people away. When I nodded, he brought me a bottle of Corona. "You do your computer work, and keep sending people away!"

This is my life.

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