Rich and I have been guests in the wonderful city of Amsterdam for nearly two days now. The people here are without peer in their worldliness, English comprehension, effeciency, and friendliness. The only bad thing I can say about this city is that the weather hasn’t been entirely accommodating. There has been miasma hanging overhead due to fall weather but the haze indoors is even worse. But that is another story.
European Hurricane
In the last week I’ve seen more cities, climates, countrysides and hotels than any other time in my life. I’ve been working to sync up my free-formed schedule before Rich’s arrival with the post-Rich structured one; and this has required a frantic pace at some times. I feel like my circular spinning around northern France and the low countries may have generated a climactic swirl of its own.
Bon Jour, Frenchie!
I’ve made some modifications to my look. What do you think?
I Am Jack’s Burning Rage
I love the title of this topic. I intended it as a double entendre. That is, first my traveller’s encounters for the past six weeks had stoked a fire of hate for the Parisians within that could melt the Eiffel Tower. Second, because of many of the gypsie scams/thefts that I was expecting to deal with in this city I was entirely prepared to deliver a Fight Club, Angel Face style beatdown to the first gypsie that laid a hand on me. And then when I starting describing the title with a haughty French word like “entendre” I felt that this journal’s written masturbation had hit its climax. But I digress.
European Hate
With all the hippie-based, sanitized, everyone-gets-the-reacharound kind of lovefest that has been dominating American culture for the last few decades people never get to talk about the cultures they hate. Europeans demonstrate none of the same reluctance. As such, I’ve picked up some real pearls as they fell from the mouths of my hosts and comrades. So, in this short note I’m going to talk about good old fasioned hate. European-style.
Various Pictures
I finally found a computer that both has image editing software on it and can save in JPG. Wow. So, here are a few shots from the last few weeks.
Last Night In Berlin
I left Berlin this morning with the first use of my eight-day Eurail select pass. I was sad to see its hustle and bustle dissolve out my high-speed train’s window. That city was quite good to me. But I’ve only got eight days until Rich shows up which should mean two more cities or possibly three, if they suck. But I’ve got to relate two tales of the city I just departed.
Ich Bin Ein Berliner
Before I left on this trip the only proponent of Berlin was Hilary (who is my college friend Matt’s wife, for those of you that haven’t heard of her). Several of other comments I had received about this place were along the lines of “it’s just another big city”. Man, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Welcome to Dresden, Now Leave
This morning I hopped a two-hour train from Prague to Dresden, Germany. As some of you may know, my original plan was to see Krakow, Poland before I made my way to Prague to see Brian. But, seeing as my plans were always flexible, Brian suggested that I come a weekend earlier so he could host another guest the following weekend. Fine with me, I thought, I’ll skip Krakow and add a few destinations in Germany to my plan.
Czech Replublic, Flood Tide
As the water level rises and the waves crash upon the shores of my mind I feel the stress and depression being drawn out with them. If only there were more than a metaphorical ocean in Prague which I could dangle my feet, I think that I could accellerate this healing even quicker. But in place of warm summer waters, I have cold beer and good company.