I've decided to be irresponsible and take the summer off to nourish my soul and my stomach. I'm off to Europe! If you came here for my old home page click here. I don't have an itinerary but I'll update the map on the right to let you'all know what I'm up to.
First it's to Paris to watch Lance bring back the Maillott Jaune, then London, Edinburgh and then Ireland.
I'll Keep you updated. -Doug
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I'm currently in: Pamukkale,Turkey!!
September 19th - Budpast - The good thing about being on the road solo is that you can change your plans quickly. I spent my last night in the Czech republic in a little town called Cezky Krumlov that has the most amazing baroque theatre I've ever seen. Manually, they could do set changes in 8 seconds, and used fireworks to blind the crowd so they wouldn't notice the changes.
On my way down to Cesky, I decided to go to Budapest, so that's where I am. No plans, no room, no reservations, no problem. Only one night so for here but I am thinking I like this town. Internet is still slow here so no pictures unless I get lucky. see ya.
September 22nd - Vienna - Serendipity - Well I am "stuck" in Vienna again (here for the 3rd time in 2 weeks) which is fine by me. Because the Italian rail employees decided to strike, instead of night training last night to Venice, I got a free day in Vienna. So it gives me a day to find a book, get some photos up, and just take care of stuff. It has also given me a little time to reflect on stuff and I think I am getting close to figuring "it" out - More on that in my memoirs in 30 years. - Soap box on - I was just telling my new friend Lorna - A Cal Poly person who I met in a bookstore in Vienna - that it doesn't surprise me any more how small this world is. I run into the same people all over the continent in the wierdest places, and many of us Americans, Europeans, Asians, whatever are related or share the same experiences and all want similar things like happiness (although we all have different definitions). The person helping me at this Internet cafe just told me that she's an artist and wants to study with someone in San Jose of all places, coincidence? While I was in Budapest, I decided that I wanted a book about George Soros (thinking he was Greek) to read on the beach in Greece next week (no sympathy please). So my last minute hotel here in Vienna happens to be by this square where I heard on my first trip here that there was an American bookstore. So even though it was after 6pm and most shops closed an hour ago, I decide to see if I can find it. After 15 minutes, no luck, so I start heading back to the hotel, see this narrow old street with an iron railed staircase and decide to see where it went, at the top, yup - the bookstore - and it was open (by coincidence the owner would tell me). And he had a just published biography about Soros, the only copy. On the back cover I read that Soros is actually a Hungarian Jew born in Budapest, growing up in a neighborhood where I had been walking just a few hours earlier. Walking out, this sweet lady with this beautfully bouncy German-English speaking baby, knew about Soros, (un)surprisingly she did stint at Cal Poly before heading to the City where she did some cool financial stuff, something that totally resonated with me. -Soap box off- Serendipity - Check out the new pics!
October 3rd - Paros Hey there, long time no talk. Well I have to hand it to Kecker and I think marriage has made him smarter, he's right Sanotirini is awesome. I initially planned to spend 3 days on the Greek Island of Santorini after flying through Venice in less than 24 hours, but what are beautiful islands for? They are for blowing an extra four days. Essentially our days consisted of playing with dogs and cats, looking for food, reading and then trying to find the best sunset. Santorini is a special place and right up there with Cinque Terre Italy in terms of my all time most beautiful place list. I've been travelling with a fun bunch from Seattle that I met on the fanstastic Superfast 19 hour shuttle from Italy to Greece. I have tons of pics that I am going to try and upload tomorrow and then I am off to Samos and then hopefully Turkey if all works as planned. After that it's probably time to head home. The funny thing is that all the Ito's are out of the country folks are in China and Nick is in Portugal.
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