Blogs from Washington, United States, North America - page 243

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 30th 2005

Hello Everybody, This is a trial run for my blog. If you don't want to be on the list, or know of somebody who should be added, please email me and let me know. I am currently at my aunt and uncle's house in Seattle, trying to get the last few things taken care of. I spent a wonderful weekend with them and my cousins and grandma at my aunt's lake house. In another twelve house I will be at the airport, ready to board the plane for Cambodia. Actually, I'll be going to Taipei, where hopefully I will be able to find the plane for Cambodia in the hour and ten minutes that I have for my layover. I have my passport, travelers checks and a few things in a backpack - which should be ... read more

A future home?

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 28th 2005

The fish market

crazydiver

Seattle.... (a little delayed in posting...) It is strange that one can be in a new place, a new city, for just a short time andknow that it could be home. Seattle is like that! It has a marketplace, international flavours, coffee shops where people actually sita nd drink coffee (ok...maybe a few too many coffee shops). It has a downtown filled with tall buildings...both business and residential. But above all it has people...peaople everywhere. Out and about, wandering, exploring, shopping, meeting, hustling. It has a stunning ocean, and green spaces too. It has an attitutde...I haven't figured it out yet, but it's there...and seems to fit...the city and me! ha ha My first day was both relaxing and full - should be for one that started at 4 am. For some reason the idea of ... read more

9 hours 40 Minutes

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 25th 2005

Amsterdam

Matt and Sung

Hi All, Well after months of planning and years of liver training, we are finally all set for our venture to Europe. The thing that keeps hammering in my mind though is 9 hours 40 minutes. What the hell are we going to do for that long? Sung's cool and all but I don't think I could talk to George Lucas for 9 hours 40 minutes. Which I thought was an interesting question, if you had to talk to 1 person for 9 hours straight who would it be? We head to Amsterdam first, arriving at 7AM tomorrow morning and despite my suggestion we head straight to the Heineken factory, Sung wants to check into our hotel first like every other ugly American tourist group before hitting the slopes (typical). Here's where we are staying: NH ... read more

Matt and Sung's Excellent Adventure!!!

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 25th 2005

Gib's Back

Matt and Sung

The Friday Night Liquor Cult Goes Global! DJ Gibbyabreak is getting married in Santorini, Greece on Wednesday June 8th and two correspondents from Seattle's degenerate Bar Fly community will be tagging along to bring you live coverage of this monumental event. Along the way we'll spread the gospel according to Mark... (Maker's Mark) while sampling local delicacies like Amsterdam's Heineken, the Ouzo in Athens, Absinthe from Prague and whatever it is those crazy Hungarians drink in Budapest... :) Here's our Clark Griswold inspired schedule: Amsterdam June 1-4 Athens June 4-6 Santorini June 6-10 Prague J... read more

Ein ringy-dingy....

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 23rd 2005

bsktcase

I set my alarm for 01:00 (yes, A.M.) so I could call München to make a reservation for the Euraide bus tour of Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Wieskirche. My first-ever international phone call! It wasn't any different from making a domestic call. My home phone didn't light up or play special music to celebrate or anything. ;) I've come several full circles on bus tours catering to Americans... there was a lot to love about seeing Scotland that way, but there's no question that we ended up isolated from real people, real culture and authentic experiences. Being one of a gaggle of gawking, giggling tourists belched from one of a vast herd of lumbering buses at the appointed visitor centers and tchotchke shops doesn't feel in-country ... read more

Jiggetty-jigg...

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 23rd 2005

Pleione

Cinnabon. Taco Bell. Mandatory eavesdropping. Relatively humdrum traffic. Box stores. 7-second limit on staring. Lack of 15th-century farmhouses (well, 15th-century ANYTHING). WAAAAY different food. American keyboards. The annoying urge to compare everything to Italy. These are among the millions of aspects of my home country that are swamping me right now. I knew it would be a shock, but could never have imagined how foreign my birth country could seem to me. Or how much I could appreciate the little things. Like friendly shopkeepers, or walking by a crew of construction workers and realizing that the knee-jerk inward cringe I have developed in Italy has become relatively unnecessary. On the other hand, it was a testament to another habit I've cultivated (espresso) when I took a swallow of drip coffee and realized it was completely indistinguishable ... read more

WWRD?

North America » United States » Washington » Edmonds May 18th 2005

bsktcase

Today I ventured up to Edmonds to the Europe Through the Back Door Travel Store. (The fact that EBTD seem to be steadily rebranding themselves to be Rick Steves' Whatever is kind of too bad, but it's going to save me a lot of certain people's snickering whenever I talk about them.) I bought my German Railpass there last month and scored a coupon for 20% off merchandise, so after some deliberation and comparison-shopping I came away with: * Germany & Austria 2005 guidebook * Prague & Czech Republic 2005 guidebook * Clean Kit: 2 microfiber washcloths and 2 oz. of Travel Wash in a handy carrying case * Continental Europe plug adapter * The infamous moneybelt * Yet another free planning map I spent some time last year being a hard-core Rick junkie. I even ... read more

Noch 20 Tage!

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 17th 2005

bsktcase

Yes, only 20 short days until I embark on a major tour of northern Europe: Germany, Czechia, Austria, and perhaps a bit of France and Denmark. Excruciating technical details of the sights I might see can be found at Deutsche Reiseplan. Yes, I'm trying to list the information in its native language... it's good practice. The less-obsessive reader might prefer to wait and get details in English right here as the travel unfolds. Handy items I've acquired or borrowed in preparation for the trip: * Plane ticket * German rail pass * iPod mini (green) * Sony earbuds * Timbuk2 iPod case * Canon PowerShot A95 digital camera * 1G flash memory card * super convertible rollaway backpack with detachable daypack (thanks Elise!) * anti-embolism socks (you never know) * REI micro-fleece jacket (green) * Czech ... read more

The Blog Begins

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 13th 2005

Hmm...

stuark

Testes, uh, 1...2...uh...3? This is pretty much just a test run to see if the travel blog works, how easy or difficult it is to get to it, etc. I have the reader's best interest in mind, believe me. If travelblog.org ends up being dumb, I'll switch, but it seemed comparable to the other blogserv sites, less crowded, and specifically designed with the traveler in mind. Check, check...sibilance Hmm...so, I'm about to embark on this journal of epic, Gilgameshian proportion, and I'm as excited and scared as I can be. I've done some traveling, as most of you know, but I've only really gone for month-long stints to countries where I spoke the language (at least tolerably). This is a year-long contract, and I speak Korean about as well as any Korean...any Korean that is also ... read more

Thanks for Sequimming!

North America » United States » Washington » Seattle May 6th 2005

Jet Ski Babe!

heidfaye

Thats right... I am gonna be Sequimming out of here to Rome in just a few days.. Sequim was just a temporary holding place. Whoa! This for real! My family time is just about coming to an end. Bye mommy...thanks for doing my laundry...;) I went jet skiing today with Mike Quinn. What a great guy, really he will make someone happy one day....it's just not me.. ;) but you gotta love the guy! Thanks Mike for a great Sequim day! I took in all the pine and crisp mountain air...unbelieveable, I used to live here, and I took advantage of it all.... i hate that! ... read more

Brief history of United States

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the origina...more history

Forum Topics for Washington

On-The-Spot PassportsPosts: 4

driving directions from...Posts: 1

The Deep SouthPosts: 11

Sleeping in your car wh...Posts: 7

Gatlinburg,TN is nothin...Posts: 2

Astronauts on space shu...Posts: 2

So I'm planning a trip ...Posts: 17

A little help with plan...Posts: 11

Good place to overnight...Posts: 2

Base to explore New Yor...Posts: 3

Travel ResolutionsPosts: 41