European Tour – London (July 1990)

Getting the Band Back Together A little surprised but much more relieved, I awoke the next day not beaten to a pulp by riled and inebriated Irish sports fans. The first homestay was at an end, and as per instructions, the mother dropped me off at the rally point. She quickly said goodbye (I assumed … Continue reading European Tour – London (July 1990) →

European Tour – Netherlands/Belgium (July 1990)

Claustrophobia on the High Seas The ferry sailed north up the English Channel and around the peninsula of North Holland. My time on boats and ships was almost non-existent very limited, so I never lived in tight quarters before, and this seemed a little apropos while heading for a small country. We were split up … Continue reading European Tour – Netherlands/Belgium (July 1990) →

European Tour – France (July 1990)

Dirty Old Men Make Questionable Tour Guides We arrived in Paris anxious to see the “city of lights.” It was like any other metropolis (i.e., heavily congested, dirty), but as picturesque as I imagined. And given the city’s romantic reputation, it wasn’t much of a coincidence that the previously barely begun twosomes amongst our ranks … Continue reading European Tour – France (July 1990) →

European Tour – Munich (July 1990)

Wash, Rhine and Repeat Somewhat refreshed from the respite in Strasbourg (mostly physically, but not as much spiritually for me), we crossed the Rhine River. Germany held personal interest for me since my Dad’s side of the family has German/East European origins.(1) The ride to Munich was the better part of the morning, arriving at … Continue reading European Tour – Munich (July 1990) →

European Tour – East Germany (July 1990)

Border Crossings Made Anti-Climatic Easy Just as we were more relaxed going into our second homestay, everyone looked similarly at ease after it. My travel group met in the morning, where we said goodbye to our hosts and boarded the bus for Leipzig. I was anxious and excited for the experience of crossing the Inner … Continue reading European Tour – East Germany (July 1990) →

Passing Influences

I normally use this blog as a forum for documenting my travel experiences and reflections on them. This is mainly for ensuring I record them somewhat accurately (with a touch of literary flair) because my memory is terrible…bordering on my sometimes wondering if I’m already going senile. And while it’s only a … Continue reading Passing Influences →

Boulder, Colorado – Introduction (May 2016)

There’s one aspect about my youth that many know of, select few appreciate/respect, some suspect, and others have mocked, but can best be summed up in a singular confession by the following: "There are four things I'll be embarrassed about for the rest of my life, and here are three of them: losing an arm-wrestling … Continue reading Boulder, Colorado – Introduction (May 2016) →

Boulder, CO – Day 1 (Friday, May 13, 2016)

A Different Kind of Suburbia The flight to Denver International Airport (DEN) was relatively uneventful compared to other flights. It being a Friday evening, I anticipated a throng of end-of-the-week long distance commuters, but Dulles International Airport (IAD) wasn’t particularly any busier than usual. This was a welcome surprise given the TSA’s recent bad press … Continue reading Boulder, CO – Day 1 (Friday, May 13, 2016) →

Boulder, CO – Day 2 (Saturday, May 14, 2016)

Grey Morning in the Rockies As I quickly discovered on my Hawaii trip, jetlag from traveling west disrupts my circadian rhythm more than traveling east. Still stuck on East Coast time, I woke up earlier than expected (I really wanted to sleep in). While the clock said 6:30 AM, my body was sure it was … Continue reading Boulder, CO – Day 2 (Saturday, May 14, 2016) →

Boulder, CO – Day 3 (Sunday, May 15, 2016)

When planning for this trip, my choices for flights home mostly amounted to either leaving at the crack of dawn or taking a redeye late in the evening. Thankfully, I found one flight that departed around 7:00 PM, so I reserved a seat which maximized my time for the weekend. If I had known that … Continue reading Boulder, CO – Day 3 (Sunday, May 15, 2016) →