Billy Joel and Elton John Concert

Hello Everyone, Last night Scott and I watched the Billy Joel and Elton John concert in Columbus Ohio. Scott, always looking for a deal entered into a drawing for tickets and scored two great seats. Our seats were actually behind the stage but turned out to be the next best thing from standing at the stage. The reason is that we had a great side view of both performers whereas some people in more expensive seats got great views of their backs!

The concert started with both of them performing together for a few songs and then Billy Joel disappeared and Elton John entertained for a good hour. Then Elton disappeared and Billy took the stage and performed for an equal amount of time. The grand finale was both of them back on the stage and exciting the crowd with Benny and the Jets and Piano Man among others.

Both gentlemen have obviously aged and you could tell they moved a bit slower and attempted theatrics that wouldn't break a hip. In my opinion, Elton excited the crowd more with his music whereas Billy was able to connect with the crowd with his witty humor and American style slang and demeanor. I think Billy did so much talking so he could catch his breath between songs :)

Now, I will say that Elton was clearly attacked by the Bedazzeler because his outer trench coat was gleaming with rhinestone designs. Elton also appeared to have some silk outfit underneath so he could quickly slip into bed after the concert. Billy was decked out with a suit and tie which he loosened as the night wore on. I was thinking that maybe Elton was wearing black for the supposed slimming qualities?

All and all...if you get the chance to view them on this tour I would do it. That is if you are old enough to remember their music!! The first picture is of the huge display screen in front our seats and the stage was directly below. The second picture is from our seats of the stage and both artists performing. Billy Joel is on the left and Elton John is on the right...I really think we did well with the seats and view. The two video clips are of Elton and Billy. Enjoy!!

The Great Outdoors Family Vacation

Hello Everyone, This June, Scott and I joined my family for a vacation in the Boundary Waters between Minnesota and Canada. We rented a cabin on the lake and survived without cell phones, cable and the Internet...yes I know, shocking!

The first day was a five hour drive to the cabin through northern Minnesota and along Lake Superior. The temperature along the lake was generally 10 degrees cooler and was quite a shock when stopping for gas or a bathroom break. We had wonderful temperatures during the stay and only one evening of rain. After unloading the cars we all set about determining who would sleep where and exploring the lake and private dock. Us adults contributed $10 dollars to a fund that would pay for the largest fish caught during our stay...the total was $90. This evening we played a family game of Trivial Pursuit and I'll brag by saying I won :)

On day two everyone scattered among the lake in canoes and one row boat in order to catch the largest fish. Scott and I got our canoe on the second day and began exploring the lake. We did bring along a fishing pole and tried hard to catch something...we were unsuccessful. We did find a nice island in the lake where we stopped for tanning and relaxation in the sunshine. The record fish was caught by my nephew Zach and was a 2 pound small mouth bass...how long would his record hold? Dawnelle and Leah joined us and spent the next two days roughing it in the cabin. This evening the family played a game of Apples to Apples and I won....much better at games then fishing.

On day three there was nothing strenuous on the agenda so Scott and I chilled around the cabin, did more fishing from the dock and paddled around the lake a bit before dinner. My brothers Jason and Aaron were the grill masters and responsible for cooking every ones steaks to perfection. So far, Zach was leading with the 2 pound bass but many other family members were catching slightly smaller fish. This evening the family played a game of Pictionary and Scott and I won...see a trend here?

On day four we all set off to hike a trail in the area. The top was a spectacular view of the wilderness area. It was a nice view and we got some nice photos of everyone against this backdrop. After returning to the cabin everyone set off in the boats since we were leaving the next day and time was short of beating Zach's fish record. Scott and I tried again for the record but failed to catch anything so we headed back to the island and bathed in the sun for awhile. This evening was our fish fry that was supplemented with some hamburgers. This evening the family played Apples to Apples again and I lost :)

On day five we all packed up and retraced our route back home. We did take a break and stopped for brunch in Duluth. By the way, Aaron caught the largest fish...a 2.5 pound small mouth bass...we all tried but he was successful. We're already planning for something similar next year...who knows what adventures await!

The pictures include: first pic: Scott and I chilling on the island, second pic: Aaron, Jen and Kya in the canoe, third pic: Anita and Zach in the canoe, fourth pic: Jason and Aaron in the canoe, fifth pic: Aaron and the largest fish, sixth pic: Zach and his former largest fish, seventh pic: Scott holding a fish, eighth pic: Aaron and Jen with Jason and Mel in the cabin, ninth pic: Scott and Mom chilling with a drink, tenth pic: Dawnelle and Leah chilling on the deck, eleventh pic: Kevin and a fish, twelfth pic: Scott and I on the overlook, thirteenth pic: the family on the overlook (minus Kevin), fourteenth pic: Scott walking on water.

2009 Columbus Ohio 5K Pride Run

Hello Everyone, This morning I joined a few hundred of my closest friends and we participated in the Columbus Ohio 5K Pride Run 2009. When they asked for everyone to line up Cliff and I were right at the very front and this created a small problem since we didn't really know the route. I envisioned us leading the pack off the established route and making history in a bad way. That anxiety was quickly removed at the sounding of the horn when many others passed us and from that point I had knowledgeable people to follow :)

I didn't understand why I was handed a medal when I crossed the finish line. It wasn't till I got home and actually read the back that I realized that I had placed in the top 20 for the men category of all the participants...the exact amount of runners is unknown at the moment but I'm sure the event planners will publish the times, etc in the near future so I can put the top 20 into perspective.

The guys in the photo who participated in the race are (L to R) Scott, Tony, Barry, Me and Cliff. The second photo is Cliff and I after the run...I would have worn my shiny medal but I hadn't realized its significance yet. On a side note, Scott and I will be heading off to Minnesota this coming week for a week with my family in cabin up north. We'll be sure to take pictures and place a post or two from the trip. Take care.

South Florida Look Out!

Hello everyone, Its been awhile since I've had anything real interesting to add to the blog...well finally it has happened! Scott and I finally got out ofagreed on a vacation destination and we spent five days in Fort Lauderdale. Of course wouldn't you know though, the temperatures in Columbus were comparable to Florida the entire weekend we were gone...such injustice.

We used our Southwest Reward Flights to get there and stayed at a Guest House that is only three blocks from the beach. We've only visited the beach once for a photo op since getting sand all over and dragging it to the room didn't sound all that exciting. The pool has been totally awesome and meeting the other guests has been pleasurable.

On Monday we drove to Miami Beach so we could do some shopping and I could see Lincoln Avenue. This is a street lined with cafes' and tons of shops. We both prefer the European designed clothes since they fit our slim bodies much better than the larger cut American styles.

The weather was absolutely wonderful and we've decided that this will become one of our regular get-away destinations. Our next trip is in two weeks when we'll attend Scott's niece's Christening in Chicago. We'll then be off for Minnesota in June to meet up with my family and hang out in Northern Minnesota near Canada where we've rented a large cabin to accommodate the dozen or so family members.

On the home front...work is going well for me in Dayton and I really enjoy the folks I work with. The drive is a pain but it's a job :) Scott is overworked as usual so this trip was really special for him. Life is going well at the house, we've planted a few flowers and Scott has decided a garden must planted where the best looking grass is in the back yard...the best looking because it has the most sun.

The pictures are of us in the pool and Scott relaxing on the raft that he took everyday from all the other patrons :) I'll let you know how Chicago goes. Take care.

Move West Young Man!

Hello Everyone, I have officially moved west to Ohio. My 13 month ordeal is over and I have the job in Dayton. The last two weeks were spent repainting my townhouse in Virginia. Having the neutral color would increase the possibility of renting the place faster and easier. Thankfully, my roommate Mike was able to help and tie up lose ends when I departed.

The movers came on a Friday and when I asked when they could deliver my items they said tomorrow morning at 9am! I was shocked but said yes and that night I left Virginia at midnight and headed west. This particular night was going to be real cold in Virginia with single digit temperatures and as I moved west the temperature gauge in my truck registered everthing from eight degrees to minus 16 throughout the mountains of Maryland and West Virginia. My good idea of leaving at midnight probably isn't the best since you are driving when most things are closed meaning you have to carefully plan your fuel stops. It all worked out and I arrived in Columbus Ohio 40 minutes before the moving truck parked in front of the house. That was a close one.

Scott was prepared and the movers quickly off loaded the truck. We spent the entire day unpacking and organizing my things with his. This process is still ongoing today but on a sporadic basis with most of the excess being confined to the basement. I have taken two weeks off from work in order to make this transition easier and I think it has been a great move. The temperature here in Columbus has been colder than Virginia and there was snow on the ground to greet me! Most of the snow in the yard and deck has melted this weekend thanks to a warming trend of 40 degrees...wahooo.

I am really trying hard not to import my Virginia driving habits and general bad attitude here to Ohio. Everything is so hectic in the DC area and forces everyone to drive fast and agressive and generally be rude. I'm looking forward to the midwest laid back lifestyle and friendly people. I'm still commuting one hour to work each way but that is life for the moment...the lottery hasn't quite panned out yet :)

The picture was taken last night a birthday party for one of Scott's friends. Now we're learning to live with each other...wish us luck!! I'll keep you posted on how life is going here in central Ohio.

As the end of the year comes near

Hello Everyone, Much has changed with all the aspects of my move to Columbus Ohio and living with Scott. You have no doubt been tracking the progress of the house that was being built earlier this year until a change in plans occured and Scott bought a Victorian home in Columbus. Since the purchase agreement was inked in late October it has been a whirlwind of activity that included moving Scott's belongings from Washington DC to Columbus and minor upgrades to the property to make it feel more like a home versus a house. Frankly, the whole house to home process is still a work in progress :)

I have a job waiting for me in Dayton Ohio, about 60 miles one way that hasn't finished all the corporate contractual mumbo jumbo so I can officially accept and make my move preparations. I unilaterally decided I would like to start fresh in Ohio at the beginning of the new year to make the tax process easier...but we'll see if that dream will be realized. I do expect that January 2009 will be the move or start work date.

November 2008 is officially the one year mark since Scott initially moved from Washington DC to Columbus and I started my job search. The past twelve months have been a period of extreme growth for both of us and tested our commitment in many ways. The old saying "that which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" has some relevance.

So, the biggest threat looming is surviving the winter in a 1920's era home with no insulation! In addition, the desk chair from which I'm writing this post continues to roll toward the center of the house and is quite annoying but adds to the character of the home :) We raked all the leaves from the backyard and piled in the corner of the lot so Scott can start his compost pile pet project. Does it matter that this mountain of leaves and other organic matter could supply the neighborhood with compost let alone our meager needs when summer arrives..ugh, the joys of a partner's vision.

I've included a couple shots of the home and one of Scott decorating the Christmas tree donated from friends since we have more room. Take care and I'll keep you updated on the progress. Muah.

Stop The Presses!

There has been considerable turmoil with the Ohio house buying and relocation. I'll post an update once it gets straightened out. More to follow!

Housing Progress

Hello Everyone, I was in Ohio this weekend with Scott and got a good look at the progress with the house. Since my last visit the dry-wall has been taped, sanded and the first coat of paint is applied. The biggest items are the bathroom tiles, railings and cabinets.

The kitchen cabinets will provide more than enough storage space for our things and once all the dust is removed will look showroom quality! We got the raised vanity in the master bath since we're both tall and hate bending over so much with the standard height.

The shower tile is installed and looks real good with exception of the soap holder. We specifically decided against the unappealing ceramic type and wouldn't you know they installed it anyway. Not sure what we'll do at this point since removing it will require replacement of certain tiles. Who knows, maybe it'll grow on us?

We completed our landscaping consultation on Monday and picked out the shrubs, trees and perennials. I was also educated about the 'raised bed' for the landscaping and we decided to opt for it. I'm confident that next summer the combination of plant textures and colors will compliment the house and give it great curb appeal.

We are really looking forward to the installation of the flooring. How everything ties together within the house will influence our furniture selections, etc. It's hard to visualize now so having the real thing will help immensely. Have a great Labor Day holiday!

Summer Vacation in Minnesota

Hello Everyone, A week in Minnesota does a body good! Scott was able to join me for the first four days of a week in Minnesota with family. We took a trek to Duluth along Lake Superior to meet with Mark and see the area. Of course we had lunch at Grandma's restaurant along the canal and walked a bit along the boardwalk. We also crossed the lift-bridge and checked out the beach that I never knew existed this far north :)

I was lucky enough to make it home in time to see my Grandmother Doris Eleanor Hermel before her death some 12 hours later. The final weeks of her 84 years took a physical and emotional toll on the family and thankfully her suffering is over. The funeral was held four days later in the town of Stark and attended by family and many friends. As it always works, it was a time to catch-up with one another and vow to remain in touch.

The annual Relay For Life (Cancer walk) was held during my time with family and since my mother is a committee member you can bet she was walking and I was going to attend the opening ceremony and visit with people I knew. There were many bags dedicated to my stepfather Roger along the walking route and the event raised approximately 70K for Cancer research. It was awesome to see so many citizens out supporting this cause.

I had achieved a milestone during my visit...I turned 40! To mark the date we had our typical family Trivial Pursuit night where the wine, pizza and heckling were plentiful!! I'm not sure if it's a sign but I won the game...maybe a job in Ohio will be forthcoming?

On a different note, the house in Ohio is progressing along nicely as you will notice in the picture. Scott did the pre-drywall walk-thru so this week it will be hung. Everything seems on target to finish in October.

The first picture is of the house in Ohio. The second picture is Scott overlooking Lake Superior and notice the beach in the background..it really does exist. The third picture is Scott and I posing in front of a mooring. The fourth picture is Mark and I posing in front of the same mooring. The last picture is of the Trival Pursuit night and does not include everyone. Take care.

We've Been Framed!

Hello Everyone, I arrived in Columbus today and immediately Scott and I went off to the home site so I could see the progress first hand...and we did not have our hard hats. The walls, roof and windows are in and it really resembles a house.

We took a walk through the house keeping an eye out for nails, etc and got a great view of the 'bones' of the house. Interestingly, a fireplace has been framed which is a surprise since we did not order one...we'll see what this all means as time passes. Scott has finally acquiesced on taking the largest spare bedroom for his office so now we'll have a great guest room. Score one for the little people :) On recommendation from our friend Frank Little, Scott is now making friends with the site workers and even brought pizza last week. We're trying to ensure that they take just a little pride in their work and when presented with the choice of just getting by on materials or going the extra mile they chose the latter!

I have been skeptically eyeing the space between us and the neighbors house since it doesn't seem to be large enough for another home even though it is clearly another lot. I plan to enquire with the builder and see if this is something that could be purchased....we'll see.

In the other news department....Scott was out in DC last weekend for a competative swim meet so we had the entire week together. I'm coming back to Ohio over the 4th of July and will then take vacation and visit family in Minnesota over my birthday near the end of July. Scott will meet me in Minnesota and spend a few days with the family. I don't have any news about a job in Ohio but somehow keep a positive attitude about it.

Lastly, to the greasy piece of shit slimball who stole my license tags from the front of truck...may you rot in hell!

The pictures are of the outside and a couple shots of the inside. Enjoy and I'll keep you informed.

We've been laid!

Hello Everyone, ....well, the foundation for the house has been laid....keep it clean here :) Anyway, Scott drove by the house and noticed the basement is completed and shortly after that the waterproofing and some sort of insulation was applied. The fun stuff will begin soon with the framing, roofing and finer details. Scott continues to be overworked and a bit stressed while I'm waiting for word on my relocation to Ohio. We'll keep you posted. Take care.

Michigan in May

Hello Everyone, Last weekend Scott and I traveled to Michigan to attend his Aunt's birthday party and I got to meet more members of his family. The last time we visited was around Christmas and it was freaking cold. It was still a bit chilly with the wind but the threat of freezing to death was nil. The drive is approximately three hours from Columbus Ohio where our apartment is. That weekend we also sat down with the construction supervisor responsible for the building of our home. It was our opportunity to verify everything we wanted got added to the blueprints and it was the home builders opportunity to present the timeline and answer any questions we had. Barring any serious difficulties, the home should be finished around October 08. We were even issued our own hard hats for the many visits to the work site that we're planning. Since my commute passes me by the area each day I'll probably be stopping more then the workers would like. Do you think if I pounded the rank of Major into the hard hat they'll get the idea that I'm going to be a major pain-in-the-ass? Anyway, the photos are of Scott and I with our new hard hats, a couple shots of the model home interior to give you an idea of what the inside will look like and last but not least, a family pic. From left to right: Scotts stepbrother Johnny and his son Zeek, Scotts stepsister Jeanette and her daughter Honorea and of course Scott and me.

Life continues with the Parkside

Hello Everyone, last weekend Scott and I (mostly Scott) closed the deal to build a new home outside Columbus Ohio. The model is called the Parkside and constructed by MI Homes. Scott did sooo much research and then some more research and we feel that this is the best decision and the best timing. We don't have a firm date on completion but we can reasonably expect the end of summer. For now, we also have an apartment near Scotts work on a short term lease. I'm still in Virginia and working to find a job...it'll happen but the process is sure slow. In two weeks I'll be back in Ohio so we can meet with the design representative and pick out carpets, flooring, tile and colors. I'm excited to experience a Ohio summer! I've attached a couple photos of the Parkside home so you see what the finished product will be. Enjoy.

Is it an election year already?

Hello Everyone, I've been a bit delinquent on my duties to keep my blog updated. These past few months have been full of surprises and frustration. First thing, I've decided to relocate myself to Columbus Ohio in order to join Scott. He was transferred to Columbus from DC for his job and that was the easy part! Ever since November of 2007 I've been searching and applying for a few jobs in the Dayton area since that is the about the only place with my specialty. And of course the waiting game continues. Scott and I have been on a rotation schedule so to speak for visits to Columbus and DC. He likes Southwest Airlines while I prefer United. He is staying with a friend of his while we continue to look for homes or an apartment. Lately, the decision has been more about an apartment so we have some time to research houses and make the correct decision. Kim our realtor is being very patient and somehow keeps her sanity. We've looked at everything from the swanky condos downtown to the ultimate suburban McMansion. My hope is to be relocated by the summer so we'll see what happens.

If you haven't noticed I plan to suporrt Obama for the Presidential election. If you are undecided or really think that a change will be good for the country in 2008-09 then join me in voting for the big "O". Yes, we all like a big "O" every now and then or maybe more than that so jump on board! :) Take care and can't summer come sooner?

Dog Poop Welcome to Los Angeles!

The arrival in Los Angeles was met with warm weather and sunny skies. We took a cab from the airport to our guest house and experienced a bit of the awful traffic often publicized from LA. The guest house is pet friendly and someone’s dog left us a welcome turd on our door mat! We dropped our bags and headed off to find lunch. We casually walked up and down Santa Monica Boulevard taking in the sights and smells of LA.

That evening we met a friend of Scott’s from DC who is in LA for business and we all went out to experience a little of the nightlife. It turned into a late night. An observation about the small part of LA and California that we experienced is the awareness of healthier eating. Many of the cafes and restaurants take pride in highlighting and advertising the organic products and selections available on their menus. In addition, I’ve seen an inordinate amount of advertising for cosmetic surgery like Lipo Sculpture, Fat Transfer, Facial Implants and Facial Rejuvenation….welcome to LA!

Anyway, we spent most of the day lounging around the pool and trying to perfect our tans before returning to DC tomorrow night. Lunch at the trendy club and restaurant called the Abbey was a highlight. We headed down to the Pacific Design Center to walk though the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and stumbled upon the building of the set for the Emmy awards this coming Sunday (16 Sep). So typical Hollywood is the construction of the set..from the outside it appears very ornate and lavish, however, behind the scenes the set is constructed with plywood with fabric stretched over it and propped up with 2X4's and the golden statues are styrofoam. The MOCA was closed and the next day we learned that it was temporarily closed due to the Emmy awards…oh well, maybe another trip.

We met up with Scott’s friend and his friend, so the four of us went out to the Factory and had our eardrums blasted from some of the loudest bass I’ve ever heard. LA has similar anti-smoking laws as DC so being in restaurants and clubs was a positive experience. The final day we got some last minute sun and then went off for lunch at a nearby café and finally hailed a taxi for the 30 minute ride to LAX. Our flight back to Dulles was smooth except for the time change getting later so we arrived near midnight and put an end to our wonderful vacation. Scott and I will be heading to Columbus Ohio in early October so I’ll have more then. The photos are Santa Monica Boulevard sign and the Pacific Design Center and the Emmy set.

USS Arizona

On our final day in Hawaii Scott rented a car so we could explore a little of the island and then drop off Leslie and Tracy at the airport so they could catch a flight to Maui.

We headed to the Pali Lookout and felt the strong cool wind blowing through the valley and over the lookout. The windward side of the island looked very lush with a couple of hills that were unusually brown. Strangely, there was a warning sign to be cautious of bees at the lookout and sure enough there was an abnormally large amount of bees flying around..no explanation given. We continued on to the town of Kaliua and found a local restaurant named Boots and Kimos that have some very tasty banana pancakes with Macadamia nut topping…it truly was delicious.

After lunch we headed back to the leeward side of the island on the highway H3 that passed through the mountains via tunnels and was under construction twelve years ago when I lived here. We popped out on the other side above Pearl Harbor and entered the naval base to visit the USS Arizona memorial. We found that the naval base does not connect to the memorial so we eventually found our way and made a quick stop.

Leslie and Tracy needed to be dropped off around 3 pm for their inter island flight so off we went, let them off at the curb and said our goodbyes. Scott and I headed back to Honolulu and crawled along the expressway with everyone else in midday traffic. We were meeting my aunt Barb and Joche for dinner in the early evening so we got cleaned up, met Barb outside the hotel and she took us to her condo building so we could visit and look at pictures from me and my mother’s earlier trip to Sweden in July.

After a short while we went up to Joche’s condo and dined on succulent scallops. When dinner was cleared we all four played multiple games of Sequence and let me tell you that Barb and Joche take game playing seriously and get aggressive. By the way, the team of Scott and Barb won the game, however, Joche and I put up a valiant fight. The next day was going to be early so we headed back to the hotel to pack our things. At 4:30 am we awoke, took the rental to the airport and boarded our flight for Los Angeles at 7 am. The photos are a shot of the windward side of the island from the Pali Lookout and the USS Arizona memorial (the USS Missouri is also in the photo to the left).

Final Night Celebration

Today we awoke to another beautiful day in paradise. Scott and I walked down to the convention center where he met Leslie so they could attend a work related seminar titled “Regulatory and Legislative Hot Topics”. I decided to meander through the Ala Moana mall again and kill some time until we all met up for lunch. I did find some bargains and soon found myself at the convention center catching Scott and Leslie after their seminar.

We decided to eat at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant at the mall and as you can imagine it is decorated with everything from the movie Forrest Gump. Tracy was visiting the zoo during the time I was at the mall and they were at the seminar so she took the bus back to join us for lunch. During lunch we made our game plan for the final night celebration – Pacific Rim Festival at the Aloha Tower Marketplace. The CPCU society had booked the entire facility for all the new designees and guests. After lunch, Scott and I quickly checked out a couple shops in the mall and caught a cab back to the hotel. We decided to lay out on the rooftop and do laundry.

Around 6 pm we started walking towards the Prince Hotel to meet up with Leslie and Tracy and catch the shuttle bus to the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Our walk along the beach turned into a sprint at the end since we underestimated the time required and ran into some new construction around the Hilton Hawaiian Village that detoured us away from the beach. Breathing heavy and sweaty we met up with Leslie and Tracy and boarded the bus.

The Marketplace had different areas set up throughout the facility offering different types of food items and beverages, to include alcohol. It was a bit interesting corralling nearly five thousand people into and out of the facility! The culminating event was a fireworks show celebrating all the new CPCU’s and it turned out really nice. We called it a night and left Leslie and Tracy to board their bus while we caught another bus that would bring us closer to our hotel at the end of the strip. We leisurely walked back to the hotel and called it a night. Tomorrow we have rented a car and will pick up Leslie and Tracy and do some sightseeing around the island. The pictures are of the Aloha Tower Marketplace, fireworks and Diamond Head from our balcony in front of the room.

Hey Boys, Wanna Play?

Today we met Barb and Joche at the Hale Koa for Sunday brunch. This has been a tradition whenever I visit the island and is a carry over from when I lived here a number of years ago. After brunch we strolled through the grounds of the hotel and worked our way up towards Waikiki so Barb could show us the newest shopping area constructed in a Hawaiian theme. We parted at the intersection and we headed back to the hotel to prepare for our beach experience.

We slathered on the sunscreen, gathered towels and headed to the sand. The Queens beach area didn’t have much of a beachfront so we spread the towels in the grass and soaked up some intense mid-day sunshine. We could only stand about two hours of the tanning and headed back to the hotel to clean up and prepare to meet his colleague Leslie and her friend Tracy for an evening of drunken Karaoke…for you see, it takes alcohol to get me to sing in front others.

The bar patrons were quite festive and very forgiving of our singing abilities…or should I say my singing abilities. The bar had an amazing selection of songs stuffed into a three inch binder. The only draw back was they were organized by song title versus artist or band. We called it a night around 1am and headed back to the hotel. While on our way back to the hotel we were solicited by a lady of the evening. When I saw her coming down the sidewalk towards us in the ‘painted-on’ dress I immediately sensed something was afoot and sure enough, as we made eye contact she says “hey boys, wanna play”. We chuckled about that for a few blocks!

The next day we did some sunbathing on the rooftop area of the hotel and then generally lounged around. I took a walk to the Ala Moana mall to buy some shoes and returned empty handed. We attended the Nationwide insurance dinner where 183 members of the company who attained the CPCU were honored. Scott was formally recognized for earning the CPCU in five months while another was highlighted for completing the designation in 22 years. We strolled back to the hotel via Waikiki and I finally bought a pair of shoes. The photos are (L to R) Barb, Joche, me and Scott after brunch at the Hale Koa. Scott, Tracy and Leslie at the Karaoke bar.

What Is A CPCU?

The departure from San Francisco was actually pretty quick but there were a lot of people trying to fly at 7 am on a Saturday. The flight was roughly five hours and surprisingly comfortable in economy. The interesting thing about arriving in Honolulu was our circling over the ocean for an extra 30 minutes while Air Force One made a landing…yes, what luck for our plane to get caught in the air space lock-down.

Once on the ground we hailed a cab and took off to the Waikiki Grand Hotel and got settled. Scott had his conferment ceremony at the Convention Center starting at 4:30 pm and we had to register so a quick shower and dress-up were in order. Now this is the funny part…we both wore white shirts and stripped black ties and while we walked down the sidewalk in Waikiki to hail a cab people thought we were Mormon missionaries. It was actually a bit uncomfortable and don’t they wear solid black ties? One person jokingly stated “don’t try to convert me”.

We got all registered, met his colleague Leslie and her friend Tracy and then settled into the auditorium to begin the presentation. I supposed now is a good time to tell you about why we were here. Scott works in the insurance industry and they have numerous certification programs for professional development, etc. One of these certifications is called the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU). In order to be bestowed this title you must pass eight rigorous exams and that process can last years for some people…oh no, not Scott, he finished in less than five months...yes, he’s a smarty pants.

We sat there with 3000 other CPCU’s in the class of 2007 and heard speeches from society leaders and a particularly powerful speaker named Eric Weihenmayer, the first and only blind man to summit each of the highest peaks in each of the seven continents. The theme was overcoming adversity and an interesting quote was seeing is not believing, however, believing is seeing. The ceremony wrapped up in about four hours and we all headed out to the bar in our hotel and closed the night out with a few too many Mai Tai’s. Tomorrow is our beach day. The picture is (L to R) Leslie, Tracy, me and Scott (notice the two missionaries) and of course the obligatory shot of Waikiki beach.

No Need To Wear Flowers In Your Hair

The flight from Washington was uneventful and slightly over five hours later we landed in San Francisco. Our vacation is actually to Hawaii but we decided to break up the flight on the way there and back. We hailed a cab and had an 80 mph ride to the guest house which was a little unnerving since we were flung back and forth in our seats through the twists, turns, and hills of the city. By the time we got settled in to the room it was nearly 11pm so we decided to call it a night.

The next day the agenda included taking the Muni, a pseudo subway, to Powell station and walking through downtown, Union square, Chinatown, Coit Tower, Pier 39/Wharf and ending at the Golden Gate bridge. The walk to Pier 39 was over three and a half miles and by the time we arrived and observed the sea lions we were a bit tired and decided to forego the trip to the Golden Gate for another visit and headed back to the guest house for a nap.

The climb to Coit Tower was especially brutal but worth the heavy breathing and sweat for great views of downtown, the bay, and Alcatraz. I noticed that people would literally flop down in the grass at the parks on their stomachs in what appeared to be work clothes and bask in the sun. It was a funny sight to see a dazed woman waking up from a nap with grass all over her body walking like she got off a tilt-a-whirl ride at the county fair. I couldn’t imagine they would head off to the office and be prepared to actually work.

So, back to the Pier, the sea lions made so much noise and were continually combating each other. It was quite the attraction since many people were taking pictures and observing them. I think the sea lions were equally amused by the American tourists viewing them from the pier, who themselves also looked like beached whales.

We walked another eight blocks to catch the 49 bus to the Mission area, it sure beat trying to walk back. When we exited in Mission, which is the seedier side of San Francisco Scott got to watch a drug deal in progress while we passed a bunch of derelicts.

Soon we were back to the guest house and rested up before heading out for dinner. We set off to find a restaurant that Scott dined at on a previous visit. After a long walk we found it locked up tight. It was apparently closed for renovations. So we found another restaurant on Market Street called Catch, I thought it was noisy but delicious.

We then headed off to a bar called Badlands for a drink and called it a night around 11 pm. Our flight to Honolulu departed at 9 am. The pictures are a shot from Chinatown towards the bay, Coit Tower, a shot towards the bay from Coit Tower that captures Alcatraz in the background and finally Scott and I with a self-timer portrait from a park in the downtown area…notice how refreshed we look at the start of the trip.

Rail to the Swedish Interior

Hello Again, The lost bags arrived early the next morning so Mom and Becky had all the woman things that they needed. We met up for breakfast and had a nice corner table with windows overlooking the intersection below. It was early but people were moving about the city. We all enjoyed the "American Buffet" for breakfast and I wondered if it really meant the "unhealthy buffet" instead since there were lots of fried meats, eggs, etc. That is certainly not the typical European breakfast. Anyway, we checked out of the hotel and walked to the train station to board our train to Orebro at 11:06 am. The train ride would have been much better had not three ladies sat in our compartment that really had bad body odor. I was really becoming concerned about how I was going to sit there for two hours and breathe that horrible smell. Mom, Becky and I traded glances throughout the ride acknowledging each others pain. The stench did keep the compartment relatively empty and sure hoped that other passengers straying into our area didn't think I was the culprit. We arrived in Orebro after two hours of light breathing and met Sven-Erik and his wife Margaretha. I had met them for the first time a year prior on my trip to Europe and they hadn't changed so spotting them on the platform was easy. Becky had also met them a couple times in the recent past so Mom was being introduced for the first time. (If you want to know the family relationship stuff you'll find it deeper into the blog during my trip to Europe). We piled into the Volvo (of course) and drove the 30 minutes to Fjugesta where they live. Over the course of the day we met Margaretha's brothers Lief and Ake, their wives and children. I had not met them on my prior trip. An interesting thing was Ake's Edsal car that he and his wife Maud drove from the large antique car show in a near Swedish town. After much visiting, eating and drinking we settled down to sleep...we had some jet-lag to get worked out. We planned to visit the town of Orebro in the morning and see Margaretha's parents Lennart and Gunvor. The top photo left to right front; Linda (holding Theodore), Margaretha, Johan, Mom. Left to right back; Tor, Live, Me, Lief, Lisa and Sven-Erik.

Trip to the Mother Land :)

Hello Everyone, The journey from Washington DC to Stockholm was long and the Sheraton Hotel never looked better. We had a bit of a wait for check-in and when we finally reached the ticket agent I decided to upgrade to "Economy Plus" for the extra couple inches because size does matter. We checked our luggage, received our boarding passes and moved along to security so we could get to the concourse and have a bite to eat. Does anyone really check their luggage claim check slips tucked inside the boarding pass sleeve? Nah, I didn't either, and those couple of seconds could save you a lot of pain later. In a couple hours we were airborne and settling in for an eight hour trip to Frankfurt. I slept most of the way and tried to watch the movie "Wild Hogs"...painful. Mom and Becky didn't really get restful sleep but they didn't let it show. On final to Frankfut I decided to check the luggage tickets to see if we were checked all the way to Stockholm and noticed that I had a luggage claim check but Mom and Becky's were replaced with some woman who had luggage going to Heathrow in London. That was when I remembered the woman complaining about the long wait next to us at the ticket counter and speculated if the ticket agent intentionally sent her luggage to Stockhom and ours to London. Anyway, we tried to fix the problem in Frankfut but they didn't have the ability so we were given instructions to have it traced in Stockholm. Oh well, we boarded Scandanavian Airlines for the two hour flight to Stockholm and I went to sleep again while Mom and Becky stayed awake. I was really hoping that the mix-up was only with the claim checks being in the wrong boarding pass sleeve. And, of course not...the luggage did go to London so I grabbed my bag and we filled out the paperwork to have the two lost bags delivered to the hotel in Stockholm. We then boarded the Arlanda Express train and sped to Stockholm. We bought the rail tickets to Orebro the next day at the main train station and we walked to the hotel which was conveniently next to the rail station and old town (Gamla Stan). It was late in the afternoon at this point and everyone really wanted to shower, eat and sleep. We all retired for the evening and decided to meet for breakfast in the morning.

Sweden Bound

Hey Everyone, Today is departure day for Sweden and a ten day adventure. I'll keep you posted as time passes.

The Big Apple

Hello Everyone, Last weekend Scott and I drove up to NYC from Washington for summer get-away. The hardest part was getting out of Washington traffic in the afternoon after work. The first night we met one of Scott's friends and had a couple drinks and the night came to a close. On Saturday we went into Soho and shopped but had to return for a stage performance called Avenue Q. The performance was cute and they did a good job of integrating puppets and humans. Our plans for evening entertainment didn't happen because we were frankly tired. Sunday arrived and leisurely prepared to leave the city. The drive home was uneventful and quick thanks to the Easy Pass. Here are a couple pics of the city and Scott.

What about this Brotherly Love?

Hey Everyone, In May, I traveled with my roommate Mike to Philadelphia where his softball team was playing in a tournament. I am not part of the team but took the opportunity to get away from northern Virginia and see the sites of Phila as I've learned is the short hand for Philadelphia. On Friday Mike met me at work around lunch and we departed for fear that the Memorial Day traffic would be intense the longer we waited. The trip is roughly three hours and surprisingly the traffic was good until right outside Phila. We finally arrived at the Sheraton in University City, checked-in and sought out other members of the team. The team members had to register in person at a local bar/restaurant that night for the weekend tournament. On Saturday while the team went off to the tournament field in New Jersey I went into Phila and did a little sightseeing. I found the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the U.S. Mint. The Nathans hotdog eathing contest was in full swing when found the tourist center and I watched the short woman named Sonya eat 36 hotdogs and beat three other very hefty guys for the title (she's underneath the 36 sign). I suppose she'll go on to compete in a larger competition for a big title? I wandered down to the waterfront and ended up walking back to the hotel which about 36 blocks! It wasn't bad because I could see much of the city. After the team returned that evening we all went to dinner at a nearby bar because the rain started to pour and searching around downtown for a restaurant was not looking very interesting. On Sunday the team played another game in the morning while I went back into downtown Phila with a member of the team who decided to sightsee instead of play. In addition to seeing the sights earlier we ventured down a wide street named after Ben Franklin and anchored at the end by the Museum of Art. The entire length of the street was adorned with flags from all over the world. Off to the side of the steps of the museum is a statue of "Rocky Balboa" who I believe ran up the steps in the first movie....oh the highlight of the day..hehe. We caught a cab to the hotel and packed our things in preparation of the team to arrive and our check out. The trip was relaxing and worth the time. I'll be off to Minnesota the middel of June to visit family and then jetting off to Sweden in early July. I'll keep you posted. Bye!

Summer Travel!

Hello Everyone, now that summer is coming and I feel alive again it's time for travel. My roommate is a softball player and I've decided to travel with the team this summer to Philadelphia and Toronto for tournaments. I'll also be off to Sweden in July to visit family who I first met the summer of 2006. San Fransisco and Paris are on my mind for late summer or fall before the dreaded winter arrives. I'll let you how the preparations are going!

Weekend of the Iguana In Puerto Vallarta

On day two in Puerto Vallarta was the wedding of Beth and Chad at the Westin Resort. I spent the morning and afternoon lounging around the Paradise Village and soaking whatever sun could penetrate my sun block 45. The trip was both to honor my dear friend and confidant Beth as she transitioned to married woman and my vacation before transitioning to a new job. When I arrived at the Westin resort I searched out for Beth’s parents, John and Joyce who are family friends and watched me move from childhood to adulthood and everything that involved. The wedding was conducted on the beach with the beautiful Puerto Vallarta sunset as the backdrop for post wedding photos. Dinner, dancing and a light rain wrapped up the evening and I made plans to explore the city center the following day. I was thoroughly briefed on the beachfront, river walk and flea market for sightseeing opportunities. The next day the cab dropped me off near the beach front and I began to navigate my way through the cobblestone streets, tourists and motor vehicles. The downtown beachfront is quite different from the resort living that I was experiencing in Nuevo Vallarta to the north. The hotel beach front is much older and shows its age…sort of…gracefully. Tourists are packed along each hotels surveyed beach front with an army of locals weaving through the umbrellas selling handicrafts and food items. If you enjoy a more sterile environment with maneuver room then staying in a hotel downtown probably isn’t for you. It was during my walk along the river front that I saw a real iguana sunning itself on a tree limb…so I finally came face-to-face with the object of much publicity in Puerto Vallarta. I was on a quest to find some t-shirts for my niece and nephew and began to bargain with a local shopkeeper who insisted that I was getting a good price for ‘quality’ items, never mind that the lettering might not be centered properly. We finally reached an agreement and I lessened his inventory by six shirts. I had been lazily walking through the streets for hours and decided I would head to the Westin resort and enjoy an afternoon with John and Joyce. As planned I found them basking in the sun near the pool and I joined them. We discussed the previous night’s events, my shopping experience and a host of other topics before deciding to scout out a restaurant in the Marina area. Off we went in search of something to satisfy our palates. We decided on a cocktail at the lighthouse within the Marina that rises about 50 feet into the air and provides a fantastic view of the moored boats and local area…unfortunately, I couldn’t properly observe my last sunset because a high rise hotel blocked the view…oh well, at least the sky was painted with gorgeous red, orange and yellow colors until the sun finally disappeared well below the horizon. I was a bit surprised to be hustled so hard by each restaurant as you passed…enticing you with drink offers and the promise that it was the best in the Marina. We eventually decided on the Sea Farer restaurant and settled down to a great meal. The evening ended with goodbyes and the promise to meet at the airport the next day….nearly the entire wedding party was scheduled to depart on Sunday and I was no exception…however, I did not get to meet John and Joyce at the airport and departed to desolate Denver…the only highpoint of my stay in the airport was having my shoes shined by someone other than myself. Now, a little about the Paradise Village for any reader who may be contemplating a visit to Puerto Vallarta; the resort is a 20 USD cab ride from the airport and a gated community with condos, timeshares and regular hotel guests. I found my room to be clean, nicely furnished and positioned across from the ‘mini’ zoo that houses spider monkeys, parrots and a tiger…did you know that the parrots make a lot of noise during the day with incessant “caws”. Some pluses and minuses…pluses are friendly staff, secure area, good food and clean. Minuses are cab rides to the city center, being nickel and dimed to death for Internet (10 USD per day) and gym (11 USD per day) and freaking colored wrist bands. Wearing a hospital type wrist band continuously for your stay sucks…I finally demanded that the front desk cut it off before I left for my city center visit…which they honored. The colored wrist bands supposedly differentiate between who is a time share/resident and hotel guest…who cares! If your single and looking for a livelier atmosphere then I would recommend a hotel down around the city center…the Paradise Village is great for families and retired couples. I’d visit Puerto Vallarta again in the future however; I’ll try my hand at a city center hotel…a little peeling paint never scared me!! The photos are…the infamous iguana, Beth and Chad departing the wedding, the crowded beach front and beach front walk.

Puerto Vallarta Unplugged

The trip began early as hell with my drive to Dulles…you know two hours early for my 6:00 a.m. international flight to Mexico. Wouldn’t you know that the United ticket counter opens at 4:45 a.m., so do the math and that equaled standing around staring at empty ticket counters for 45 minutes. Anyway, the news got even better when the airline tried to add another stop to my Washington-Chicago-Puerto Vallarta route…fabulous freaking Denver! Thankfully, the ticket lady was able to eliminate the Chicago leg and route me to Denver then Puerto Vallarta..and by the way, this process took forever and I’m watching the hands on my watch sweep ever closer to 6:00 a.m. and I haven’t even seen the security line. It all worked out and I made the flight and my first impression of Colorado as we descended to land in Denver was DESOLATE! It clearly looked like a flat forever desert with snow on top. I’m convinced that Kansas has more to look at then this part of Colorado…anyway, I was glad to depart. Something you don’t hear everyday…as we boarded the aircraft the female flight attendant was conversing with the guy in front of me and made a comment about he captain and first officer both being women on the flight and then she says “you know what that means right”…well, I waited for the guy to speak up…and finally I said…tell me what it means…she replies “you don’t need a penis to fly a plane”. Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected this comment but I cracked a smile and uttered hmmmm signaling my approval of her analysis…and that was the tone of the entire flight…very interactive and playful cabin crew!! Puerto Vallarta likely gained it’s fame from the movie “The Night of The Iguana” starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor….since it’s often quoted in travel magazines, etc, that didn't matter to me since the temperature was in the 70's versus the 20's in Washington. After getting my bag we had to present our customs form to some dude who says “press the button”…this is a no-shit, stop light looking contraption that each person pushes the button like you were going to cross the street and the light flashes green and says pass in Spanish. So when I push the button it flashes red and blares out a noise like you would receive from a wrong answer on a game show…I’m like what the fuck! So then I get to have my bag searched…welcome to Mexico. After pushing through the many guys pushing tours and everything else I arrange for a taxi and take the 15 minute drive to the Paradise Village Resort and Spa…what a long name. I’ve only been here for half a day and one night…so I’ll scout out the area more and let you know how it is. Today is the big day for Beth and Chad…the wedding this afternoon on the beach so I’ll be off to the Weston Resort this afternoon to witness this grand event…pictures to follow. Time to visit the gym and start the day.

Germany In My Rear View Mirror

Like all good things…they must end, and my trip to Germany is no exception. A light dusting of snow did finally come the third week of January and reminded everyone that winter was not over. My three months in Germany are very memorable and I truly cherish the friendships that I’ve created both American and German. A few items of mention; eating schnitzel in many varieties, driving 200 kilometers per hour on the Autobahn in a rented BMW, visiting a coed spa, ordering from a McDonalds drive thru and did I mention the autobahn. The next adventure begins in Puerto Vallarta Mexico shortly…tune in for more. The pictures include that fine piece of German engineering…the BMW that easily and comfortably moved me on my trip to Stuttgart. And finally, the an image of the American and German flags together symbolizing my respect and admiration for those I met. Yes, it may seem reckless to snap a picture at 125 MPH but this isn’t like driving a piece of shit American car on the interstate…Germans actually leave the left lane open for passing and are acutely aware of their surroundings.

A Very Merry Czech Christmas

Hello Everyone, this Christmas I was invited to share the holiday with my friend George, his wife Hana and two kids Adriana and Jirka. They are from the Czech Republic and we’ve known each other for about six years after we met during school in Arizona in 2000. So on Christmas Eve I stopped over at their house in the early afternoon and was schooled in some Czech legends, folklore and superstition surrounding the celebration of Christmas in the Czech Republic. The visit by Mikulas (Mico-lash, and the equivalent of Santa) actually occurs on December 6th when he is accompanied by the devil and an angel. The children individually approach Mikulas who publicly reads from a paper about the good and bad things the child has done through the year (the parents supply Mikulas with the paper beforehand). The devil and angel represent good and evil….naturally, and try to ‘gently’ scare or persuade the child to improve behavior. In the case of George’s kids, the Czech community came together and organized the whole event and afterwards the families participated in games and used it as a grand social event. Back in the Czech Republic this event can be organized at the local level or is often organized by a company for its employees. In keeping with tradition, the family is not supposed to eat meat until the dinner meal….this is in hopes of seeing the “Golden Pig”…now, the exact origin of this Golden Pig is still a mystery but nonetheless perpetuated each year and continues to be a tradition. George speculated that in the yesteryear the fasting before the dinner meal likely cause some sort of hypoglycemia and produced hallucinations or visions and during one of these episodes someone must have seen a Golden Pig…hmmm. The traditional Christmas Eve dinner is the fish called a Carp and potato salad. The family can either purchase the Carp live or dead from outdoor markets that spring up before the Christmas holiday….those that are bought live are brought home and placed in the bath tub until it’s needed for the Christmas Eve dinner! We did have fish but it was not Carp J. Moving along, the dinner meal is also steeped in folklore because you’re supposed to have an even number of people for the meal. My invitation made an odd number so George and Hana prepared another place setting so we had an even number..this is needed because death comes in the darkness during the meal and counts the number of settings..not necessarily the amount of people and those with an odd number could be subjecting themselves to unpleasant possibilities in the coming new year. When the Carp is served, three scales are removed and placed under the plate of each person. The scales represent wealth and this is thought to bring wealth during the new year. When we finished our soup the bowl was lifted and underneath were three lentil beans to represent the scales along with a small piece of folded paper with a wish on it…my paper stated the word ‘health’…..how nice! In keeping with tradition, no one is allowed to get up from table until everyone has finished the meal and George gives the approval. When we finished out meal and were officially excused by George…then the kids went off to the bedroom to play while we retired to the living room to relax. The Christmas gifts were not placed under the tree and remained hidden in the house….for you see, baby Jesus is the one who brings the gifts. After a short while we placed the gifts under the tree and then went to check on the kids and you could tell they were becoming anxious for baby Jesus to make the delivery. Hana slipped away and rang a bell from the living room which is the signal that baby Jesus makes when he visits your house. The kids were really excited now and we all rushed to the living room to see the presents that baby Jesus left behind. The kids went to the door that was ajar….likely from baby Jesus entering and exiting the home and they thanked baby Jesus for the delivery. Actions after this are the same as those repeated in many households across the world..the kids quickly divided the gifts and each person took a turn opening a gift until everyone had exhausted their pile of gifts from baby Jesus. Not sure how baby Jesus knew I wanted an authentic Czech crystal vase…but he delivered one for me..haha. The opportunity to be welcomed into George’s home and witness a celebration with so much legend, folklore and even a little superstition was humbling. I hope you also enjoyed yourselves this holiday season and in the future can share such a similar experience with people from other countries or cultures. Have a great New Year!!!

London Unleashed

To have the maximum time available in London I left after work on Wednesday night and took the train to Frankfurt to spend the night and catch my morning flight without all the rush. I stayed at the Colour hotel near the train station (with good reviews from tripadvisor.com which I learned from Carlos..thanks!) and found it to be alright accommodation but not the new-wave motif that the website had advertised, that is unless you consider some colorful footstools used as seats in the dining room to be new-wave. The train transport to Frankfurt airport was a quick fifteen minutes and soon I was queuing with everyone else for British Airways. The prohibition of certain amounts of liquids is still in effect so I didn’t bother to bring along water and packed my shaving kit in my checked luggage. Frankfurt is becoming as well known as Dulles to me with my many transits over the last few years. The flight is about one and a half hours and we were delayed from landing for another twenty minutes for some reason..the landing was a bit nerve-wracking because of high winds and the pilot did his best to keep us aligned with the runway! This was my first time in Heathrow airport since I had used Gatwick when visiting with Carlos this summer. The line through customs was agonizing and one particular guy from some former eastern bloc country by the writing on his passport was reeking with alcohol and as the line snaked towards the immigration agents I had to repeatedly pass by him..it was really horrible and just as this summer the customs agent interrogated me politely with questions about what I was doing, where I was staying, did I have friends, etc..there aren’t really any wrong answers I suppose, but you can’t help but feel a bit defensive and this is what they want you to feel so you make a mistake or become visibly flustered and then warrant further ‘screening’ by the guys with bamboo shoots and batons. After my verbal violating I collected my bag that had been circling the carousel for who knows how long and made my way to the transport to the London city center…I could choose between the high speed express train (fifteen minutes at a higher cost) to the city center or the Piccadilly line to my stop at Leicester square. I decided to take the Piccadilly line and paid about four pounds and off I went..what a mistake! As a side note…the exchange rate is approximately 1.95USD per pound so I just round up to 2USD to make the math easy. I found myself forgetting that everything is twice as expensive when compared to the dollar and may have let the cash flow from my hands easier than I should have. Anyway, the tube..aka subway was half full and I stood over my bag in the corner and counted the stops till the city center..it was sixteen stops..ugh. As we proceed towards London the tube car became increasingly full and before long I was literally standing with my nose in some guy’s armpit…thankfully he had great personal hygiene habits and we stayed that way for many stops. It was the most uncomfortable ride on the subway I’ve ever experienced in all my travels and this continued for one hour…absolutely torturous. Upon arrival to Leicester square and regaining my breath I headed to the guesthouse for check-in and that went smoothly. The British museum had late hours on Thursday nights so I rushed off to knock out one of the attractions on my list. The museum contained artifacts from Asia, Egypt, Greece and many other places. You had to love the conquering British empire of yesteryear that allowed us to view all of these objects. The next day I walked through Covent Garden shopping and then met Anze from Slovenia at the tube stop and we caught up on our lives since we met this summer. If you are a new reader and don’t know the story about Anze I must refer you to previous posts about Slovenia…so onward, we go, I wanted to see the London Tower and view the crown jewels and Anze joined me…in true Anze behavior he took pictures of the crown jewels which is forbidden. They are stored in a vault that you pass into and out of and what is really interesting is that when you finally get to see the jewels you stand on an escalator which moves you along and it makes perfect sense because you don’t have the slow and curious tourist hogging the space in front of the exhibit. The Royal Scepter has a 500+ karat diamond and quite impressive. Afterwards we met his friend Maya who was shopping during this time. We all headed off to Soho and found a pub to have a drink and met an interesting man named Brendon from Ireland. Of course he chided me repeatedly about being from America and was quite friendly…more so to Maya and at times Anze and I were merely spectators..haha. I returned to the guesthouse and met up with my neighbor from Maylasia and went out to meet some friends of his. During the course of the night I met many other interesting people, rode with a crazy double-decker bus driver down Oxford Street and had a great time. The next day Anze, Maya and I were going to visit the Camden market so I met them there at 1030 and it began to rain quite hard so we ducked into a pub and had some warm tea and I ordered an English breakfast. The English breakfast is quite a meal; two eggs sunny side up, ham, sausage links, beans, mushrooms, toast and a grilled tomato. It doesn’t taste like much and the cuts of meat are low quality but it serves its purpose. I actually grew to like them throughout my trip (after extensive trimming of fat and non-edible parts). The Camden market is a massive collection of stores and booths selling new, second or even third hand clothes, handmade crafts, art, food stalls, furniture and the biggest gathering of granola, goth, punk and social misfits you’ve ever seen. Camden market also includes the Camden Locks and Camden Canal areas. As the morning progressed and the rain stopped there was a huge influx of tourists, misfits and voyeurs to the area and made catching the tube very difficult. We met Anze’s friends Roman and Melanie from Hamburg Germany and after awhile we all split up with instructions to meet later in the evening for a farewell since I left the next morning. That evening Anze and Maya headed off to the hostel since they had to return by midnight while Roman, Melanie and I had a late dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Soho. All went well except for the mouse that appeared after we finished eating and caused quite a chuckle as it validated the stereotype of the less than clean Chinese restaurant…I had chicken and felt confident that was what I ate! Roman, Melanie and I parted with the promise that I would visit them in Hamburg before I departed Germany and we would also meet in Heidelberg where Roman’s sister is going to school sometime soon. A helpful thing about London is that they have painted the words “look left” and “look right” on the road at crosswalks for Americans and others who do not drive on the left as a reminder before you cross the street to look in the correct direction. My return to Germany began with a much more pleasurable tube ride from Leicester square to Heathrow and a delayed flight of twenty minutes at first that stretched to one and half hours before it was done…all blamed on the heavy rain earlier in the morning. The most ridiculous item of the entire trip was the fact that I had to check my umbrella since it was longer than the length allowed for a carry-on…come on Britain, get real..I understand the prohibition against liquids but my umbrella being too long is absolutely foolish and caused me delay at Frankfurt since I had to claim it at the bulk baggage area…Jesus Christ! As Anze would say…”Crazy English!” But my travel delays would continue when I tried to catch the train from the Frankfurt airport to Ramstein…the attendant printed my itinerary and circled track number five…I arrived there and looked at the monitor and sure enough it was track five however, the train arrived on track four and I didn’t pay attention to it until I glanced over as it was departing and noticed the train number was the one I was supposed to be on…I was furious! I marched back to the reservation counter and explained this and wouldn’t you know that every Sunday from a certain time during the day on this very train the track platforms are switched and the computer doesn’t flag it so the attendant just has to know it…that damn snafu cost me valuable time and added another one and half hours to my trip home…but I suppose all is well that ends well? I’ve decided to venture nearly every weekend to other Germany cities and neighboring countries for quick in and out trips until I leave this spring. I hope to have many adventures to detail and provide for your amusement, amazement and laughter…probably at my expense. The photos are London Bridge, Camden Market area, Anze and I at breakfast and the crosswalk words. Ciao for now.

Medieval Rothenburg Germany

Today me and a couple of work-mates drove 175 miles north to a town called Rothenburg which has a wall circling the old town since the medieval times. The weather around Ramstein was sunny and raised our spirits about the trip but as we approached Rothenburg the rain started and the wind started to blow. Of course I didn't bring a hat, scarf or umbrella since the weather looked wonderful at the start...lessson number one..always prepare for the unpredictable German weather. Anyway, we roamed around the town and did stop for lunch at a warm cafe. On the way out we bought a cup of Gluhwein (spiced and heated wine) which is a big thing as the weather gets colder and the Christmas markets begin to set up in preparation for the holidays. I bought a beer stein for another friend and then we toured the Criminal Museum where I saw medival torture devices and methods. Making people listen to loud music, hold their arms out or stay awake is childs play compared to the methods of confession here in Europe....but I digress!! There were a few chasity belts on display that I found amusing...haha. I did find a pastry that I enjoyed from previous trips to Germany and I bought a half dozen to take home...yeah! Anyway, we walked off to the far side of town and got a great view of the town from the side showing the wall and then we really got wet from the rain so off to the car we quickly went. The drive home was uneventful and having a dry warm bed is so nice. All is going well here and I'm getting excited for my trip to London at the end of the month. I'll be meeting Anze and some of his friends so that will be quite a crowd...one American and five Slovenes' unleashed on the unsuspecting city of London...haha. I've been told by my Czech buddy who lives here with his family that there is a Polish Pottery store in the next town...that is great news so I'll be checking it out soon and if it doesn't meet my needs then I'll be planning a trip to Warsaw in the near future to finally get my sought after pottery. In addition, I will plan some weekend trips to neighboring countries and cities in Germany as time allows. I should have some interesting adventures to document..... See ya.

A Post Before I Depart

Hello Everyone, the past couple weeks have had a couple actitivities worthy of mention :) First, I traveled to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia to visit a friend of mine named Debbie, her husband John and two children Jessie and Brit (twin girl and boy). Harpers Ferry is about 70 miles from my house and west of DC in the 'hills'. It has history dating from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and John knows all about it. In preparation for his teaching certificate he's been studying local history and makes a great tour guide pointing out battlefields and items of interest along the way. Debbie and I took a hike to Jefferson's Rock and viewed the merging of the Potomac and Shendandoah rivers. It was a good day and John masterfully cooked a few steaks!! My roommate celebrated his birthday on the 21st so we gathered a bunch of friends together and threw a combined Halloween costume party for his birthday. Kyle, the host went all out and left no decoration undone. I was dressed as a character from the horror movie Saw...I didn't wear the mask while on the street so kids asked me if I was going to the prom...if they only knew how many years I've been out of school, I guess the facial moisturizer really works!! Anyway, the pictures are of Debbie and I from Jefferson's Rock, my costume with and without the mask and the gang from the birthday party (from L to R: Greg, me, Momma, Kyle and Mike in the front with his gift). I'm supposed to leave this week for Germany however, there may be a slight delay as we wait for the German government to approve certain work related documents. I'll keep you updated. Bye.

Germany bound

I'll be transferred to Germany with the company to support on going operations. I expect to depart the end of October and return in about three months. I'll have more info later...Auf Wiedersehen!

What The Hell Is A Hokie?

This Friday I left work early to escape the Friday traffic that swallows the DC metro area and headed to southern Virginia to the town of Blacksburg. For those who do not know...this is the home of Virginia Tech and a source of pride for the state. Those who have graduated, attend or just love VT call themselves Hokies...the school mascot. First of all, it looks like a turkey but folks don't like it to be called one...go figure. Anyway, the four hour drive weaved through the mountains of western Virginia and provided nice scenery but along with hills and damn semi-trailers comes the slinky-effect as we go slow up the hill and fast down the otherside. It was a rather frustrating four hours. I personally don't subscribe to all the hype with the Hokies or take particular interest in the sports program but this weekend was the game against Georgia Tech so that only added more people and cars to the mix in small town Blacksburg. Anyway, the amount of stuff stuck on the cars showing Hokie pride is overwhelming in this part of the state. The reason for my presence Blacksburg was visit a friend of mine named Will who is a senior this year. Saturday we headed off to the Cascades to hike the trail to the waterfall in the Jefferson National Forest. The directions that Will had gathered from the Internet put us out in the middle very rual Virginia hill country and not the most comforting as I couldn't get the theme song from Deliverance out of my mind. Stopping and asking for directions proved to be quite comical as this gentlemen desperately tried to describe the route using the "Dairy Queen", the big red Nextel building and town names that sounded the same. What I could glean from the conversation was go back west to Pembroke. We did stop for directions once again and after suffering through agonizing minutes of drawl we came to the conclusion that the "big red Nextel" building was key to our search and Cascade drive would be next to it. So back west we continued until finding the big red Nextel building which was actually a previous fast food style building...certainly not "big", but my perception of big is much different than folks in this area. We finally made it to the park and hiked along a trail near the creek back about two miles to the waterfall. There were numerous people out enjoying the mild weather all along the trail. Feeling detoxed from the fresh air we returned to Blacksburg for a movie and dinner. VT did lose to GT and that didn't seem to damper the spirits of the college students partying all night outside the apartment and thanks to the dumbass that launched the big ass bottle rocket that jerked me awake. The drive home was much easier because I left early in the morning and shared the road with fog, semi-trailers and a few cars. The pictures show an example of the vehicle "flair" showing Hokie pride...ugh! Will and I posing in front of the waterfall and the shot of me.

The Diamond Club

On 2 September the Washington Nationals baseball team played the Arizona Diamond Backs at RFK stadium in Washington DC. I had purchased a pair of tickets from a colleague who has season tickets to the Diamond Club. These tickets are some of the best in the stadium I would believe since you get access to the pre-game buffet and can overwatch the warm ups on the field. This year the seats were right next to the away team dugout and not protected by the net behind home plate. I was very cognizant of where the foul balls were landing since I didn't have a baseball glove. The game was originally scheduled for the evening of 1 September but tropical storm Ernesto came through the area and postponed the game. There was a heavy mist in the air all through the game and the turn out was low but overall everyone had fun watching the Nat's defeat the Diamond Backs 7-6...although the Nat's didn't get into high gear until the last half of the game. Labor Day weekend signals the end of summer so to speak and the days become shorter and before long a chill will be in the air. The photos are of the home plate area before the game and the Presidents race.

London calling.....

Hello Folks, I've decided to revisit London in November and then jet off to Puerto Vallarta in February for a wedding. The research begins for places to stay and things to do. I'll have more soon. Bye.

Time To Pass The Reins

It has been awhile since I've updated my life events the past couple months. As I promised, I have included photos of my retirement. I had honestly been stressing over the details of the event since I had my family flying and driving from Minnesota and Texas...I wanted the ceremony to be worth the time and money invested. The weather the week of the ceremony had been filled with rain so the ceremony was moved indoors and the Old Guard at Fort Myer did a fantastic job. My family was thrilled and I was relieved! There were 44 of us soldiers who retired that day and we all stood in formation facing the crowd of spectators and family. It had been awhile since I stood at attention for anyone so my concern was not to lock my knees and suffer an embarrasing fall :) On 29 June I wore my dress uniform for the last time and I returned a couple salutes for the last time. An interesting note..retiring that day was a previous commander of mine during my days in the 3rd Infantry Division. He was the armor battalion commander and I was his intelligence officer and I was proud to stand in the same formation with him and bid goodbye to the Army. The real finality of the whole retirement process occurs when you surrender your active duty ID card and receive the blue retiree ID card...there is no going back. All said and done it was 20 years and 5 days of service. As I reflect back on those 20 years I still smile and recall the summer of 1986 when a 17 year old skinny, naive kid ventured off to basic training, starting at the very bottom of enlisted rank and working himself to a commissioned officer. I've felt the highs of victory in battle during Desert Storm to the lows of losing friends in combat, accidents and suicides. I've had the pleasure of serving with leaders that I'd follow into the depths of hell and others who I'd gently push first :) I've had the pleasure of leading soldiers during peacekeeping and combat operations and we've endured all the mundane the Army had to offer. During the ceremony the presenting officer stepped in front of me and provided me a certificate and flag and asked me to be a personal recruiter for the Army...that is fine however; the Army is a choice and I will certainly be truthful about its opportunities and dangers but you won't see me beating my chest from the highest object in the hopes of attracting your sons and daughters!! Now, the photos are a shot of the Old Guard marching, the formation of us retirees and lastly....some of my family...four generations actually. I'm the one in the uniform, haha. Enjoy your summer and I'll have to tell you about my new job next. Take care.

Time to face Reality

Hello everyone, I have returned to Viriginia safely and now begin the process of reintegration with society :) I've spent countless hours...mostly on airplanes and trains...analyzing everything I've seen and experienced and realized that although we all have blood flowing through our veins we Americans are truly an ocean apart from the Europeans in our culture. Let me give you some observations...and mind you...these are only my observations from the past six weeks traveling through the countries you've read about in my postings. I kept a page free in my journal where I recorded those things that intrigued me about Europe....they actually obey the speed limits on the autobahn. I can't remember ever seeing anyone dressed in sweatpants or some tacky track suit in public...jeez, how many times have you seen a sloppy American in this attire...I shutter to think. Meal time in a restaurant is slower and a certain elegance surrounds the meal preparations...allow me to explain. First, everything is in the presentation, when you order a simple cup of tea the cup is accompanied with a saucer, cloth or paper spacer between the cup and saucer, a small spoon and some sweetener. I dare you try and find any of this at an American restaurant. You will not be presented with the check unless you ask for it..now personally, I was usually in a hurry and found it annoying to motion for the check but life is much slower for those around me. My biggest complaint with a majority of the countries visited was the cigarette smoking. I applaude those city ordinances being passed all throughout America banning smoking in public and not so public places! I always have to question the intelligence level of a smoker and I was confounded by how many Europeans smoked and they have a very advanced education system.... The warning label on European cigarette packages should be modeled by American cigarette manufactures...it is printed in large black and white letters and covers roughly half of the container front and back...manufactures have scored a coup with the placement of the warning labels here in America...however bold and obvious Europeans still smoke them! My last observation was how much I appreciated when the plane arrived at the gate no one immediately jumped up and raced for the exit...Americans can hardly contain themselves in airplanes and really believe that the extra jump on everyone will allow them faster exit....wrong. I now begin my preparations for retirement and will have another posting after my ceremony to give you a feel for the pomp and cicumstance of a military retirement ceremony. One last thing....only in Europe...Romania specifically...would you see such an advertisement in the Mens room. See ya.

Genealogy House tour

I'm here at the Stockholm airport waiting for my departure flight and found a computer to update my experiences...of course I still can't plug in the camera...soon I promise. Anyway, I traveled by train to Leksand to personally see the location where all the research was conducted on the family lineage. The woman who was responsible for my research request was out on holiday so I coordinated a visit with the director named Per..pronounced like Pear. The train trip was three hours to Leksand from Stockholm and I walked to the facility about 1.5 kilometers outside the town. Sven-Erik had helped me print a map and everything worked perfectly. Per greeted me and he took some time explaining the history of how how such detailed records were maintain for centuries and how they became available to the world so to speak. First, the ruling king in the 1500's directed that the priests go into the countryside and conduct a census in order to determine how many subjects he had and to determine what assets they had..especially land in order to levy the appropriate tax to finance battles he was waging against Sweden's neighbors. So the priests traveled into the countryside and conducted this census every ten years however, local priests kept detailed information on members of the congregation yearly. This practice lasted until about the late 1800's. Interestingly, the priests were the mouthpiece so to speak for the king and that was why people traveled enormous distances on Sunday's to attend church services. Per recounted a story from his ancestry where family members walked 20 kilometers one way to attend services...they had a small cottage about centrally located where the family would change shoes and clothes before the final leg to the church so they looked their best and they did the reverse on the walk home...that is amazing. Anyway, in the 1950's the Mormon church took these large church books and converted the contents to microfiche and created the Genealogy house. The original church books are located in Uppsalla or Stockholm in the state archives and not available to the public any longer in order to preserve them. The facility has approximately 3000 binders containing about 300,000 microfiche's and numerous other books and documents about Swedish family history. He took the time to personally show me how the research is conducted and some of the diffculties of reading different priests handwriting from the past. Many of the priests were very meticulous in their duties of documentation and the writing is fairly easy to read...some on the other had were drinking the church wine or going blind as in one documented case. The incoming priest had to redo the work of the blind priest and everything is carefully documented as they made almost daily entries into the church books. Per showed me how the family names were passed from generation to generation and certain titles like 'hoff' that meant soldier or the name assigned to a certain farm that carried forth in the family name. A relative of mine was a soldier for 33 years and reached the rank of Corporal 2nd class and served in the post #73 that was named 'back'....the military posts had all sorts of names. The position always remained it was the soldier who rotated through over the years and this post had been active since the 1600's and the last soldier left it in the early 1900's. All of the soldier history is documented in separate books for all the numbered posts. I had hired the genealogy house to conduct a second round of investigation into the family history and when I visited they had traced lineage back to the early 1700's. The information if available will not likely continue beyond the 1500's since that was the origin of the recordkeeping. An example of the information contained in columns along the length of the church books were the names, birthdate, date married, moved from/to, can you read, can you recite the three books (not sure which books), then yearly entries as to whether you had communion and whether you passed the oral exam (reciting some scriptures) and lastly there is an entry whether you were vaccinated...not exactly sure from what. You can easily see when someone in the family died from the last yearly entry because the information would be blank and there would be a cross drawn next to the name with a date. Per explained that all information is doubled checked by another staff member to ensure accuracy and of course cross-referenced during the research by matching entires with an absence of entries, etc. I found the visit to be extremely informative and I learned the genealogy house can arrange for guides to assist people with finding the areas where relatives lived. This could be a possibility for a subsequent visit. If you know anyone who is interested in conducting research for family lineage you can come to Leksand and conduct the research yourself for a minimal fee or hire a staff member to conduct the research for you for what I consider to be a very resonable price. If you want more information let me know. The pictures are of the sign to the Genealogy house, the facility itself and the Leksand sign at the train station.

The Swedish connection

Hello Everyone, its been awhile since I've written because of time and difficulty in getting computers to recognize my camera so I still owe pictures of Stockholm and of course the visit with my relatives in the Orebro area. The train ride to Orebro was a quick two hours and I was left at the platform wondering who in the crowd was Margaretha and Sven-Erik..of course they were wondering the same about me. I had a hunch the couple with the intent look on their faces may be my relatives and sure enough it was! We exchanged greetings and moved to the car for the short drive to the town of Fjugesta where their home is. The home is immaculate and the place where dropping something on the floor doesn't automatically rule it out for eating, you can compare it to an IKEA showroom! I was given the grand tour and shown my bedroom after which we discussed the information that was learned from the Släktforskarnas Hus that did our family history research. They were just as surprised to learn about the relatives that remained in Sweden...I think now is the appropriate time to fill in some quick history. My Great Grandmother, Alma Charlotta Nilsson left Sweden in 1907 at the age of 17 and began a new life in Minnesota. I remember visiting Alma Olson (no longer Nilsson) as a child but not effectively communicating because she spoke Swedish and I was more interested in the sweets she always had layed out for us. Alma Olson had four brothers and two sisters.. two sisters and two brothers remained in Sweden. Her sister Olga is Margaretha's Great Grandmother. Margaretha's mother, Gunvor (Olga's daughter) and her husband Lennart are a spry couple and came over to visit me the afternoon I arrived. They brought along an old photo of Alma's family in front of the family home in Sögmyrd..a village that still exists today. Alma was missing because the photo was taken after her departure to America and it was also missing Alma's father, Adolf who drowned in 1900 when she was 10 years old. I can't imagine what life must have been like for Alma's mother to be left alone with six kids during that era. We spent the rest of the day talking about relatives and learning about each other. I also met Margaretha and Sven-Erik's son Johan and his girlfriend Live. The next day we went to the summer home that Margaretha's grandfather had bought in 1958 and I got to see a real wood burning kitchen stove and many historical items collected over the years. The homes here in Sweden are commonly painted red with white trim..this red paint is traditional and created at a place that has a very old copper mine. The following day we toured the town of Orebro and visited the 800 year old castle and went to the top of the water tower for a 360 view of the city. We then decided to meet Gunvor and Lennart in town at their flat and I was treated to more old family photos and stories. Many of these photos Sven-Erik and I gathered up to scan later that day so I could take back to America and pass along to my family. Sadly, the time had come to leave the flat and we said our goodbyes...with the full intent on meeting again soon. The next day saw me back at the train station making the trek back to Stockholm and saying goodbye to a segment of my family that I had never known. The trip was definitely the high point of my trip to Europe and energized me to continue the family history research. Margaretha made some awesome Swedish meatballs and I vowed to attempt to copy the success...the meatballs are actually quite important since they are always present during Christmas meals and served with Lignonberries. I am heading to Leksand the following day to visit the Släktforskarnas Hus and see just how they are able to trace the family back through the centuries. More on this to follow. The photos are the red and white traditional colors of the country home. Sven-Erik and Margarethas home painted yellow with white trim and lastly the picture of the family...from left to right, me, Sven-Erik, Johan, Margaretha, Lennart, Gunvor and Live.

Sunny Stockholm

Hello everyone...I say sunny because most of the past 10 days have been cloudy, rainy and cool stretching from London, Amsterdam and Germany. Arrival to Stockholm from Frankfurt was a quick two hour flight and I took the Arlanda Express to the Central train Station in Stockholm. However, before leaving the airport I was singled from the crowd by an immigration/customs agent and slightly interrogated. Did I look that threatening? I'm certainly not special but I sure didn't think I was that different from the crowd. As I observed the terrain from the train window I couldn't help but see the similarities to northern Minnesota and wondered if that was the reason why so many Swede's and Nordic folks settled there. The forests were covered with birch and poplar trees and the familiar basalt rocks poking up from the ground. I arrived in time to see the Stockholm marathon being run throughout the city to include the Old Town called Gamla Stan. I checked into the Lord Nelson hotel which is totally decorated to resemble the interior of a ship....to include a port hole in the bathroom door. I purchased my train ticket to Orebro for the 4th of June and then set out to explore a bit of the city. Gamla Stan is a compact island full of narrow cobblestoned streets and hordes of people and home to the royal castle. I have gathered brochures for tours of the city when I return after spending a few days with relatives in the town of Orebro. I called them last night to ensure they knew of my arrival time and I asked them....how will I know who you are on the train platform and Margaretha replied..."we'll look for you"...I suppose I stick out in the crowd...maybe the non-blonde and blue-eyed Swede? Anyway, I'll write more when I return from the interior of the country and learn all about life in Sweden. The photos are of me posing in front of the royal castle, a large building next to the royal castle..the name escapes me and finally a shot of the Stockholm marathon.

Amsterdam....Venice of the north!

Arrival to Amsterdam was an easy flight from London. Carlos and I set out on the first day to visit the Van Gogh museum and Anne Frank's house. The Van Gogh museum was interesting and I did learn that he killed himself with a gunshot to the chest...albeit it took two days. It's speculated that he did this because he had checked himself into a sanitarium because of epileptic type seizures. I did purchase two prints for framing so it wasn't a total loss! Anne Frank's house was a very good visit. The museum is small and there are limited exhibits but they are arrayed so well that it makes for a timely and informative walk-thru. I couldn't help but realize that since the start of my trip in Romania there hasn't been a country that I visited that wasn't affected by the Nazi's and World War II. It really hammers it into your mind that this was truely a global conflict and so many millions of people were affected. Once we had the sunny side of Amsterdam accomplished then we searched for the seedy side. It wasn't hard to find the marijuana bars...or excuse me..the cafes...since the smell is unmistakable. I had to use the Internet in one of these facilities and got to watch the entire transaction. The customer chooses from a list of different types of marijuana, then the clerk weighs the 'buds' and places in a zip lock bag and provides to the customer. The customer then grabs a community bong that isn't being utilized and smokes it. I'm sure they don't smoke it all in the cafe because I've seen plenty of folks on the street doing it. The prostitution is interesting also. It really is like window shopping as they stand in front of a glass door that lead to a small room with a bed and sink. They are clearly marked with a red light..how appropriate.. above the door. You literally cruise by and pick the type of woman you like...and believe me, there are all types. Pictures of them is discouraged and I even watched one woman exit the room and physically slap a man on the face for taking a photo of her. The streets are crowded with tons of ogling men and some women I supposed dragged along at the request of their boyfriend or husband. I'm not entirely sure what attracts most people...the Van Gogh, pot or prostitution. After tiring of all that Amsterdam had to offer, Carlos and I took a day trip to Brussels. I found the town to be rather boring and the only highlight was the Manneken Pis statue...the little boy pissing basically. The interesting thing is that he has many costumes that he can be dressed in to commemorate important events or holidays. He was dressed as an archer for my visit. I bought some Belgian chocolate and we returned to Amsterdam to prepare for our departure the next day. Carlos was to return to the USA while I continued on to Germany to visit friends. The pictures include the red light district..notice the red lights above the door...a shot of Anne Frank's house..the one concealed a bit behind the tree and a picture of the Grand Place in Brussels and lastly the Manneken Pis statue. I will have more from Germany later.

God save the Queen

I'm actually writing from Amsterdam...but more about this city later. My flight from Slovenia to Londons Gatwick airport was uneventful...like all flights should be. The trip through immigration was interesting in that the immigration officers did not wear uniforms and the more I thought about this the more it made sense....everywhere I've travelled they always wear uniforms and that immediately creates a stressful environment, however these folks appeared like regular people but they were very adept at ascertaining information in a less threatening way. Don't get me wrong..they are professionals and I wonder if this technique is an adaptation to procedures for snagging terrorists and bad guys. After a train, tube (subway) and foot walk, I finally arrived at the guest house in the Westminster district of London. Ideally placed in the busy area by day and night so sleeping was difficult. The first day ended early and day two brought sightseeing with Carlos. He had arrived much earlier the first day and did most of the sites so he was actually leading me around the city. We passed Number 10 Downing street and didn't see anyone special. The Parliament building and Big Ben had some interesting architecture and Westminster Abby was...well a big building. We had to be at Buckingham Palace by 1130 to witness the changing of the guard. Of course this was the hot spot for all tourists so we packed ourselves in against the gate to watch this event unfold. I was really surprised at the length of the ceremony and all the pomp it involved. It's more than changing a couple guards at the guardshack. There were horses, the band, colorful uniforms and lots of stomping the ground. This whole process took at least an hour and I set off to view the Imperial War Museum. The museum was a great collection of artifacts, papers, uniforms and equipment from the wars the kingdom has been involved in since WWI to present. For the history buff or those interested in military history this should be on your calendar. The weather was tradional London...rainy! We decided to escape the rain and watch the Da Vinci Code. The movie experience was very interesting..first the cost...it was 12.50 pounds or about double for US dollars...25.00 per person. We picked seats in a auditorium where you would expect to see a play or something. The screen was very wide and the before show advertisments were entertaining since they are so different from American ones. The final laugh was about a serious subject but presented in such a funny way...an advertisement to safeguard your valuables while at the movie from thieves...showing a snake slithering and hissing. Day three was saved for the London eye and a Stonghenge tour. The London eye provided a great view of the city skyline and I would recommend for visitors. The wheel resembles a farris-wheel design with many capsules that hold about 25 people that rotates around in about 30 minutes and reaches a height of a couple hundred feet. The Stonehenge tour was by bus and lasted the rest of the day...the weather was unusually good and we visited three sites. An ancient burial ground from the Neolithic era, Avenbury Stonehenge and finally the real Stonehenge you see from pictures. The Avenbury site was believed to be dedicated to fertility while the Stonehenge site is believed to be totally related to the sun and moon and the summer-winter solstices. Some of our tour group were a bit too interested in the site and began praying, throwing powders, etc. The tour allowed us entry in the park after it closed to actually walk among the stones. My parting thoughts about London...nice place to visit for the history, the food sucks, it's expensive and will there ever be a real sunny day? The pictures show the guardshacks at Buckingham Palace, the view of Parliament and Big Ben from the London Eye and finally the mystic Stonehenge. Finding an Internet terminal in Amsterdam is proving difficult since everyone is more interested in smoking pot and ogling women in the red light district. Bye for now.

Slovenia Invigorates!

After a long day of air travel I finally arrived in Ljubljana and as planned Anze was patiently waiting for me. I got my things settled at the house and we discussed the plans for the upcoming two day roadtrip around Slovenia. Traveling by car through the mountains, foothills and coast provided some breathtaking scenes and lasting memories. In the morning we set off to Mount Vrsic were I posed in front of snow over six feet deep at the height of 1611 meters. The route was filled with switchbacks and a light fog covered the peak. Visible damage from the heavier than usual snowfall was apparent with rockslides and trees either broken or flattened along the mountainside....the road had only been opened three weeks earlier. We continued over the top and into the next valley on our way to Kaluze to view the fortresses built in the early 20th century by the Austro-Hungarian empire...an adjoining fortress in the mountains was quite impressive and required an acsent through a tunnel and mountain trail. We continued on to a burial site of 600 Austro-Hungarian soldiers from World War I. The history lesson continued when we visited the Koparid museum that detailed the events of battles surrounding the area from World War I. When WWI started the Italians declared neutrality and then ten months later attacked the Austro-Hungarian empire from the west..the empire was already engaged in battle with the Russians in the east. The Italians initially enjoyed success but soon the battle became a series of trenchs and fortifications along the mountain ranges that lasted until the final push by the Austro-Hungarian army in 1917, reinforced with elements of the German army and others. The push repelled the Italians and actually pushed into Italy. This success was short lived because the empire finally collapsed. This area was again the site of fighting during WWII when the Germans occupied and numerous memorials are errected through the countryside remembering those partisans and civilians killed by the Nazi´s. The museum was very detailed and has been recognized by the UN and did a fantastic job detailing the horrors of the war to end all wars. Our journey continued through the countryside where the high jagged peaks of the Julian Alps gave way to smaller tree covered moutains the further towards the sea we went. Darkness fell and we made it to the coast and my favorite seaside town of Piran. We walked through the narrow alleys and side streets feeling the sea breeze and warmer temperatures. After a quick drink in the resort town of Portorose the first day ended. Day two brought new adventures and a visit to the Park Skocjanske Jame caverns. This was absolutely wonderful walking through the cavern created by the underground river Reka which emerges 40km away in Italy. Scenes throughout the cave could have been back drops for episodes of Star Trek and really looked unnatural to planet earth. I learned that stalactites grew about 1 centimeter per hundred years and the guide pointed out one that was estimated to be 250,000 years old. We set off for other natural wonders created by the water through the areas predominate limestone rock formations. We stopped at the Predjamski Grad castle built into a cave. We began to drive northwest towards home and found ourselves back in the mountains and traveling along roads without guardrails...which was a bit unnerving. The views throughout this part of the journey reminded me of my time spent on duties in the Balkans and brought back memories of leading patrols though narrow mountain roads and trails. Our journey ended after 700 kilometers and a home cooked meal. The photos are of Mount Vrsic, the fortress in the mountains, the bridge across the river Reka in the cavern and lastly, Predjamski Grad. Another day of adventure awaits...more from Bled, Slovenia.

Tour though Warsaw

The tour through Warsaw provided many details about the city and explainations of the many important monuments. First, the city has an official census of 2 million however, the tour guide believes unofficially the population is likely 4 million. It's divided into seven districts and has 16 parks which gives it the title of the greenest city in Poland. The tour began with a history lesson of the Jewish Ghetto created by the Nazi's during World War II. In 1940 the ghetto was created to isolate the Jews and Gypsies within a walled complex. In 1942 the concentration camp Treblinka about 100 kilometers from Warsaw was created to exterminate the Jews and others from Warsaw and Poland. In 1943 the Jews realized that their fate and launched an uprising that battled the Nazi's. The uprising was defeated by the Nazi's but this struggle is forever remembered with a monument to those who fought and died. It is said that the land is one foot higher on the grounds of the Jewish Ghetto because of the massive destruction wrought by the Nazi's and rebuilding over the debris. The movie, The Pianist is a story of the conditions in the ghetto during World War II. We saw the monument dedicated to the Polish uprising against the Nazi's in 1944 that has one particular piece showing a Polish soldier emerging from a sewer, this was because the Nazi's had surrounded the fighters in the old city and they used the sewers to escape. Interestingly, the monument errected by the son of the Polish King Sigismund III Vasa who moved the capitol from Krakow to Warsaw was only allowed after it showed the King holding a cross and is the only pseudo-non religious statue. Warsaw suffered 85 percent destruction during World War II and saw the old town reconstructed in the 1950's. A building with architecture totally uncharacteristic of the Stalinist era is the Palace of Culture and Science. The building was constructed by the Soviets for the people of Warsaw supposedly by Stalin as a place of culture and after the fall of communism there were calls for its destruction but that did not happen and the building stands as a reminder of those dark times. Today there were rehearsals for the upcoming visit by the Pope on the 25th of May. The Army, police, spectators and others were out in force during the preparations. The photos show the Palace of Culture and Science...a design I've not seen in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic or Slovenia. There are two photos of the memorial to the 1944 Polish uprising against the Nazi's...notice the soldier emerging from the sewer and finally a picture of the "non-religious" monument in Warsaw...even though the King had to hold a cross. I'm off to Ljubjlana, Slovenia tomorrow and will have a few days with Anze and his family. More from the picturesque Slovenia.

When a Bar is not always a Bar

I wanted to share a great gastronomy story with you. The guesthouse manager in Krakow informed me of the Bar down the street with the circular Coca-Cola sign and said it was a location to eat real authentic Polish cuisine at a cheap price. Later that afternoon I stopped in and was totally unprepared since the menu on the wall was totally in Polish and "Flo" behind the counter did not speak English. Thankfully, she lifted some lids and I finally settled on a pork cutlet and potatoes. The food was amazingly good and very cheap...about two dollars. To my great surprise, James, the guy next to me in the other room was leaving for Dublin in the morning and gave me his Polish language book. This book has a chapter dedicated to Polish cuisine..I was set now and continually returned to the "Bar" to sample some real down-home Polish cuisine. The guidebook informed me that a Bar is a restaurant that was subsidized by the communist state to provide cheap food (no alcohol sold) to citizens and after the wall fell some still survived. This particular one is called the Uni-Bar. It is modeled after what I would consider a cafeteria in America. I personally referred to it as Mel's Diner, thus "Flo" behind the counter each day when I came in and studied the guidebook and then made my selections. A very popular dish called Bigos made from sauerkraut, cabbage and whatever meat is laying around was highly recommended and said to be as Polish as one could get. Although I vowed never to eat sauerkraut since the forced feedings of my childhood...I relented and I'm glad I did. Todays ride on the train to Warsaw gave me a great view of the countryside and what a huge difference between Krakow and Warsaw. As I emerged from the train station to the outside street I was greeted by skyscrapers and much more hustle and bustle. I'm enjoying things so far and hope to find a day tour either tomorrow or the next day. I'm still looking for the Polish pottery, and now another Bar. The photos are of the ouside of the Uni-Bar, the menu and lastly, the inside decor, I was the first to arrive at opening this morning so the place would be empty...certainly no frills here. More from wonderous Warsaw later.

Auschwitz you never learned in school

Hello everyone, the day started rather ominously with dark overcast skies as if to assist in setting the sorrow for the trip to Auschwitz. I learned things today that aren't in the history books. For example, the town is actually called Oswiecim in Polish but when the Nazi's invaded they renamed it to Auschwitz and this is the name that the world knows. Auschwitz is actually a cluster of three main camps; Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, Auschwitz III-Monowitz and 40 smaller labor camps. We toured both Auschwitz I and II. Auschwitz I was actually the location of a previous Polish military camp and was constructed with brick buildings that housed approximately 16,000 people. Auschwitz II-Birkenau was much larger and occupied about 400 acres and was constructed mostly of wooden building of which a majority were destroyed as the Nazi's retreated. This place housed up to 100,000 people. Auschwitz I initially started as a concentration camp in 1940 to house polish people relocated from their homes, Soviet Prisoners Of War (POW), Poles captured while trying to flee and join the Polish Army in exile in France and England and anyone else the Nazi's particularly didn't like. The camps existed from 1940-1945 until they were liberated by the advancing Soviet Army. The living conditions at the camps were deplorable, people packed into rooms without proper sanitation or nutrition. The prisoners were subjected to long working hours and savage beatings from the guards and in some cases they were just killed for amusement. The Jews didn't start to be exterminated at the camps until 1942. Auschwitz I had the now famous arch saying "Arbiet Macht Frei" which means "Work Shall Set You Free". The process after 1942 for the Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals and anti-socials that were being brought by up to five trains per day from all points across Europe was to arrive at the loading docks and immediatly be separated. The women and children were separated from the men and the men were further separated into those who according to Nazi doctors were physically fit from those that were not. The women, children, disabled, weak or old were immediately marched to the gas chambers where they thought they were going to shower however, canisters of Zyclon B poison were dropped down into the chamber and after 20 minutes the bodies were removed and taken to the crematoriums. This process continued until late 1944 and it's estimated that 6 million Jews perished at the Auschwitz complex. Particularly moving as we toured the camp were the exhibits of hair, eye glasses, shoes, prosthetics and suit cases with names and addresses on them. It's an attempt to provide some metric to gauge the shear amount of people that processed through this place. In the beginning the Nazi's would photograph the prisoners and 40,000 photos were recovered after the war and provided evidence of the prisoners presence and subsequent death and helped to identify alot of the Poles and Hungarians who arrived at the camp during the early years. Staring into the eyes of those photos and wondering what thoughts must have transpired at that moment...did they know of their fate? Such names as Rudolph Hess and Josef Mengele are forever implanted in the history books as a result of Auschwitz. The tour came to a close with a walk-thru of Block 11 which was better known as the Death Block. This is where the execution wall was placed between buildings and cells were constructed as the last stop before trial by the Gustapo and so called justice from the barrel of a gun. After the war the Polish government designated Auschwitz I and II as protected sites and paved the way for what is seen today. In addition, after the fall of Communism many documents that the Soviet Army captured and took to Russia were returned to the Auschwitz reaserch society to aid in reconstructing events and determine who perished. Amazingly, in what we would consider modern times, similar acts of genocide still occur across the globe and attest to the evil that man can do. The photos include the arch, the execution wall and a photo of the fences used to contain the prisoners. Tomorrow is a day to finish up on sightseeing and at dinner tonight with the two couples from Minnesota I have learned of a Polish pottery shop near the square to investigate tomorrow. I'll be departing Krakow for Warsaw at 1200 on 16 May.

Krakow on the crack train

Jeez, what a trip today from Bratislavia to Krakow. Traveling in a foreign country can be full of excitement and dispair if you are not careful. I'm not a stranger to switching trains or having the train you ride in be split and married together with another to your destination. Anyway, those of us heading to Krakow had to switch trains and ensure we got into the last two cars on the new one. All of this isn't easily apparent considering English isn't the language of choice. Together with two middle aged couples from Minnesota and three college girls we figured this out and we all made it to Krakow safely. We'll likely all meet again tomorrow during the tour of Auschwitz. I settled into the guesthouse and set out to explore as usual. I walked through the square and saw Wawel Castle. Krakow is a breeze to explore because everything is compact into the old city center. There are more tourists here packed into the square then I've seen since beginning the adventure. Tomorrow is dedicated to the Auschwitz tour and the following day will be finishing up the museums, castle and cathedral. I'm keeping my eye out for the Polish pottery but I'm thinking that I'll devote my energies to that mission in Warsaw. The pictures are the Wawel Castle, the old city center with a sound stage set up with music and lights and from what I can decipher of the language it appears to be something between Poland and Ukraine....likely a fellowship or friendship thing. I would expect tomorrows post will be a bit somber as I describe Auschwitz. See ya till then.

Bratislavia or bust

Arrival to Bratislavia was on time and the first thing noticeable is the small size of the train station compared to Bucharest and Budapest and is directly proportional to the size of the city...smaller and cozy. The City Hostel is very nice accomodation and I highly recommend for travellers. Today was spent climbing to the Bratislavia castle and viewing the National and Municipal museums. The climb through the streets got my blood pumping and the view was stunning. Great sight across the river Danube into Austria and over the city of Bratislavia. I trekked down the hill into the city center which was really beautiful. The streets are blocked and large areas and squares are pedestrian zones only, lined with shops and outdoor cafes. I spent some time moseying along the narrow streets and admiring the buildings which have obviously been restored and give the area a clean well kept look. I found the Slovak National Museum to be rather disppointing as I wandered among exhibits of minerals and insects held in place with stick-pins. I was hoping for more about the history during the World Wars and the struggle with Communism. The Municipal museum was a bit more interesting and dark so to speak as they have the basement on display with holding cells and torture chambers used during the middle ages with all the instruments to exact confessions or whatever else the government needed. The graphic illustrations said it all. I´ve decided to leave Bratislavia a day early for Krakow, Poland. I have seen everything I wanted and an extra day in Krakow will ensure I have time to tour Auschwitz and shop for Polish pottery...or at least learn about it and perhaps purchase in Warsaw. I will upload the pictures from today at a later time. My parting comment for Bratislavia is a great little city to roam and rest before tackling larger European cities. More from Krakow.