Sep 27
Under the cushioned bench seat of that folds into my bed every night, is a box where things I dont use very often are stored. I sorted through a pile of handy hardware type items that were in the van when I bought it and found the spool of blue twine I was looking for.
It wasnt long before I had driver Bs bumper secured and the slack cut with the new Swiss-Army knife I had received as a gift from one of the hospitable couples I met in Switzerland, Barbara and Randy. Driver B shook my hand and thanked me enthusiastically.
Maitenant on va a boir quelque chose dans ce restaurant la? he said
Desiree, laughing and smiling, looked over at me.
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Sep 25
The woman was not about to give up. She circled around the front of the car, attempting to avoid view of the man, and then opened the driver side door. In a lady-like fashion, she then sat her self down and shut the door behind her. Pulling off the break, she motioned to us again for help. The man spotted her then and rushed over. His cell phone now by his side, he was demanding she get out of the car. Still helpless to move it on her own, she complied. They argued a bit and finally I could see the man agreed to push the car himself.
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Sep 23
I was remarkably calm. Probably because I knew the insurance would fix the wagon and my van had no damage. The only thing I dreaded were the hours of reporting and dealing with a likely enraged driver.
What are they saying? I asked Desiree.
I dont know. She went over, spoke some in French and came back.
Are they pissed? I asked.
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Sep 21
There is a district north of the old, romantic Paris you know from postcards and movies. Neon lights fronting two story sex-show theatres, pornography shops and dingy bars light up Boulevard de Sebastopol. Subway trains having sprung from the ground line the street inside a corrugated metal tunnel a few meters overheard. A thick mess of people mill below all the bright colors. Some move quickly, spitting out between long lines of parked cars. Men yell to girls passing by and dine together at small sandwich shops.
Further north the street changes to Boulevard de Strasbourg. The metro above disappears. The fluorescent blaze softens to a familiar warm glow of fine dining and cafes. Then standing in the middle of the road, the giant main station, with its big clock and smooth new façade, splits traffic West and East.
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Sep 20
Hello You,
First off, thanks for following along with my travel stories and photography for so long. Dont worry, its not over yet!
I thought it well to let you know I am taking a short break here in Germany before another stint of moving around this fall. Sometime in October Ill be heading again by VW bus through Eastern Europe down to Athens, Greece. I may also spend a couple of weeks backpacking through Egypt before going home for the holidays. Although I wont be moving around as much, I will still be traveling, writing and taking photos come 2007; possibly beginning with a relatively long term move to Thailand.
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Sep 18
I spent one week flying at Dune da Pyla, France and made ten high altutide flights in the Swiss Alps. Watch how the gliders rise right off the beach from the strong and steady sea winds. It felt so amazing taking off there, just being lifted off the sand and into the sky. Look how close I come to the fence when taking off in the Alps. I knew I’d make it. :o)
Sep 09
I met Michel in the foothills of the Alps after an afternoon paragliding. Somehow we got into a conversation about my search for the evidently unique Radio Shack device that turns a cigarette lighter into a normal outlet, which was stolen from my van in Prague. He offered to help me look for it, so we drove from Wassen to Zurich and checked a couple of stores, be still had no luck. All was not lost.
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