tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73124091940642211492024-02-02T00:08:33.990-05:00Jay Graham - International Man of MysteryJay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-560977537923309762010-02-11T22:02:00.003-05:002012-02-14T21:30:03.556-05:00Home and in RetrospectOn Tuesday August 4 I came home.<br /><br />I took the bus to the Dublin International Airport. The guy at the security counter in Dulin said he had never seen a passport as marked up as mine. I have to admit I'm a bit proud of all the ink on my passport.<br /><br />I slept pretty well on the plane on the way from Dublin to Chicago. I didn't have time to get philosophical about being on American soil or kiss the ground like the Pope does. I only had an hour and a half to deboard plane, get through Customs and Immigration, go through security, and get to the gate for my connecting flight to Nashville. The Immigration officer asked me where I'd been and I told him I'd been to about 30 countries. He then asked me to name them. So I rattled off a recount of my travels that I had done hundreds of times to fellow travelers. That was the first time it occurred to me that maybe I should have booked a ticket with a longer layover. I had been to places like Colombia, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kosovo, etc., that could possibly seem suspicious. I had a party to get to and really didn't want to miss my connecting flight. After listing off my countries, he asked if I had been to Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Cuba. I told him I had not. He then stamped the last tiny bit of blank real estate left on my passport and I hurried along through security and to my connecting gate. The plane was already starting to board by the time I got there.<br /><br />I was struck by how it didn't seem like any time had passed. Flying in to the Nashville airport felt like coming back from any domestic work or leisure trip. My mom, sister, niece and nephew were there to greet me. Leaving the airport and traveling on I-40 and I-440 was really weird in that it seemed like my trip, even the most recent parts, were a distant memory. There was new building on the Nashville skyline. The Gulch looked different. But Nashville looked mostly the same as I left it, even if I looked different. I lost about 45 pounds and grew about 6-7 inches of hair while I was gone. I was kind of surprised my niece and nephew recognized me right away.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDfoOtjvAS6oxzEUkSfB9bs97fcX4vl30O1w2aOiVqn8qJfltxeurHqwGnA-YwDrTwdZu48vNozjYjFzx0kIMOvllbjqf2d7WqsX9up3AnA9ZZ_T88IhlbcfjDkvUJDPu10YM1sPmtSiw/s1600-h/IMG00052.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436768602984857906" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDfoOtjvAS6oxzEUkSfB9bs97fcX4vl30O1w2aOiVqn8qJfltxeurHqwGnA-YwDrTwdZu48vNozjYjFzx0kIMOvllbjqf2d7WqsX9up3AnA9ZZ_T88IhlbcfjDkvUJDPu10YM1sPmtSiw/s320/IMG00052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I went to the Outback for a sort of coming back party. About 20 or so friends showed up. It was so good to see everyone again. Even though I hadn't seen anyone in a year, it seemed like no time had passed and I picked up right where I left off. Huge thanks to everyone who made it out.<br /><br />I'd like to give a shout out to a few people:<br /><br />1. My family - for not freaking out too bad about me quitting my job and traveling for a year to a lot of places that are perceived as being dangerous. Or at least not letting me know they were freaked out.<br /><br />2. Greg "The Beast" Overby - for taking care of my mail and scanning and emailing a bunch of stuff to me. It was a thankless, unrewarding job, but someone had to do it.<br /><br />3. Heather, Jen, and Jason - for meeting up with me in Costa Rica. A lot of people said they come see me on my trip, but only they were truly game.<br /><br />4. Everyone who read my blog and posted comments or sent me messages about the goings on back home - I guess it's the modern day version of getting letters from home, and they meant a lot.<br /><br />5. Everyone I met along the way - far too many people to name. If I hung out for a few weeks, a few days, or even a few hours with you on my trip, I really enjoyed the time we shared. I really wish I had done a better job documenting the people I met and the conversations I had.<br /><br />Have I changed any as a person since I started the trip? I don't think I've changed to any great extent. I'm in my mid 30's and I think who I am is pretty set at this point. If I had done this trip 10 or 15 years ago I think I might have a different answer. I think that maybe by doing it at a younger age maybe I would have gotten to be who I am earlier maybe? I am happy with the physical change though. I hope I can keep off the weight I've lost. It would be really nice to go as The Dude next Halloween instead of as Walter.<br /><br />I have a few bits of advice for anyone thinking about doing something like this. People tell me all the time that I'm really lucky to have had this experience. I don't like to think of it as luck so much, but luck probably did play a part to some extent. I tell people, only half-jokingly, that they need to work hard, save money, and don't get married. If I was seriously giving advice, It would be first and foremost you need to be debt free and have a good bit of money saved up. Not to get all Dave Ramsey on everyone, but having money and zero debt is absolutely necessary to do a trip like this. The second thing is that you really have to want it. Quitting a job and traveling a year is not a decision that one can come to rationally. I was quite obsessed with making this trip. I had a globe and a world map in my office at work. I had a atlas above my fireplace at home. When I daydreamed, I daydreamed of traveling and specifically I dreamed of this trip. It made no financial sense whatsoever, but I did it anyway. Third and lastly, anyone doing this kind of trip must be sociable and be able to make new friends easily, but also be comfortable with spending time alone. You will get to a foreign country. You'll be all by you yourself, and it's going to really freak you out. But there are lots of people out there in the same boat as you.<br /><br />The theory of diminishing returns that I learned in college economics proved to be true on this trip. A year is a long time to travel. Although I've seen a lot, there are still many more places I haven't seen. I haven't been to Japan, China, Russia, Nepal, New Zeland, most of Africa, and much of central America and Mexico. Yet, getting anything else in on this trip would have been wasted. I had had my fill and was ready to come home.<br /><br />Three questions about the trip I get the most are a) what was my favorite place, b) did I feel safe, and c) how were the hostels.<br /><br />a) I really enjoyed all the places I went. It's hard to say what I like the best. But if I had to list three places that exceeded my expectations, they would be Colombia, Laos, and Bosnia. None of these countries were high on my radar screen. None had a marquee sight like a Taj Mahal, a Machu Picchu, or an Angkor Wat. But there was something special about these places and I think they will be the hot new places for tourists in the coming years.<br /><br />b) If you believe what you see on movies, TV, and even the news, you would think the world is this horribly dangerous place, and that is just not the case. If you believe movies like Hostel or Turistas, the moment a foreigner gets off the bus there's a guy in a car looking at him or her through binoculars and talking on a cell phone with his organ harvesting/kidnapping partner. The biggest thing I worried about was petty crime, i.e., my backpack or wallet getting stolen. As readers of this blog will no doubt know, my backpack was stolen twice and my wallet stolen once. I met several people who were robbed, but these robberies were mostly late at night and they didn't lose huge amounts of money. I would have lost a lot less money and valuables if I had been robbed coming home from a bar or club late at night.<br /><br />Having said that, there was one instance early in the trip in Panama City. It was the day before Thanksgiving and I had just arrived from Bocas del Toro and was flying to Medellin, Colombia the next day. I walked down the street from my hostel to a local market to get lunch and a new pair of flip flops. On my way back, there was a big crowd gathered on the street. As I made my way through the crowd, I noticed bullet holes in the glass of a building. I turned around and saw a body laying on the ground. He had been shot and was laying face down, likely dead. He looked like he might have been a teenager, but I couldn't really tell since he was face down. I actually had my camera with me but thought it would be unwise to start snapping pictures.<br /><br />c) Are hostles ok? Yeah. If you're not too high maintenance. At one place the showers had translucent dividers between the coed showers. It wasn't very clear. I could tell there was a body in the next stall over, but I couldn't really see much detail. I really couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman. I made the comment to some other people at the hostel that Europeans were more comfortable with nudity and that shower set-up would never fly in America. They thought I was kidding. They assumed from watching reality shows that all Americans were quick to get naked in public. But by and large the hostels were clean and a great way to meet fellow travelers of all ages.<br /><br />There are a lot of small differences in English among Brits, Ozzies, and Americans. A trunk of a car is a boot, a jacket is a jumper, pants are trousers, sneakers are trainers, and cigarettes are fags. It is very common for an Englishman to say, "I'm stepping outside to have a fag." In Australia, root means to have sex. So if you say you root for the home team, Aussies would think you to be a dedicated fan.<br /><br />I didn't buy any souvenirs to speak of. I had replaced most of my clothes during the trip either because they had worn out or because they had gotten too big. I did have a suit custom tailored in Bangkok. It fit me perfectly in April 2009, but now the pants are a bit too loose and the coat is a bit too snug. But I didn't buy any real souvenirs. I couldn't carry then in my backpack. Shipping stuff home would have been expensive and iffy. Now that I'm back, I kind of wish I had bought a few pieces of artwork. It would be kind of cool if I had bought a painting from that artist in the favela in Rio. I also would have liked some works I saw at this little market in Vietnam. These would have made infinitely better conversation pieces than something I bought at IKEA or Target.<br /><br />OK. So I've been home since August. It's now February. You may be thinking, "Why has this taken so long and what have I been doing?" The reason it's taken me so long to write the last few posts and the trip wrap-up is because I didn't really know how the story was going to end. The story couldn't end with me being 37 years old, unemployed, and living with my parents. Also, it felt less weird to write posts when I was away and anyone reading them would be thousands of miles away.<br /><br />When I got home, my intention was to spend a couple of months at home and then get a job and start graduate school. I was accepted into the MHA program at the University of Washington. After three months of looking for a job out there and getting absolutely no responses, I had second thoughts. The plan was to work and go to school. But the prospect of a $7,000 tuition and fees bill with no money coming in was pretty daunting. I went out to the first weekend class meeting, and after talking to fellow students about the local economy, I felt even worse about my prospects of finding a job in the Pacific Northwest. I decided to leave the program in time to get my tuition refund and open my job search nationwide.<br /><br />Apparently a recession came while I was gone. It has taken a lot longer to find a job than I had imagined. But I've finally found a job at a hospital in Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. I start February 15.<br /><br />I have enjoyed writing about my trip. I hope you have enjoyed as well. My life will be exponentially less interesting going forward.<br /><br />I hope every one has enjoyed reading my blog. I had a blast writing it.<br /><br />JayJay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-15424091592035748442009-12-10T22:03:00.025-05:002010-01-26T23:16:14.700-05:00Europe Part 3On July 8 I took a bus from Skopje (pronounced Skopia), Macedonia to Sofia, Bulgaria. Most of the advice I got from other travelers who had been to Bulgaria was to skip the big cities and get out into the countryside and small towns. That was pretty good advice, although Sofia was not a bad place at all. I really didn't do much in Sofia other than get out for one good day of sightseeing. I was pretty worn out from the previous three days of traveling.<br /><br />Alexander Nevsky Cathedral<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo-ZNhGaMjRwFMQQggnatXP4xF5EbHnbGERsvXO8mfBGHyXOlJg4uydHTeE0OhlNrhRaXSHX-4W19skyXPagPrjazj3-0h-P4j-5aR3HCdnbG7zG97dMTC3GngEnvo5-p8FnhK02uhLvx/s1600-h/P1070817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo-ZNhGaMjRwFMQQggnatXP4xF5EbHnbGERsvXO8mfBGHyXOlJg4uydHTeE0OhlNrhRaXSHX-4W19skyXPagPrjazj3-0h-P4j-5aR3HCdnbG7zG97dMTC3GngEnvo5-p8FnhK02uhLvx/s320/P1070817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948274333292306" border="0" /></a>Some statue of a guy on a horse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomfKk0K9VpiXMYyaQicgiu9-UOw3SPaNHXXXCMYGF1HHcrcdOpUvrHJ_yHUXHlRFYJNkPAna543qWKVEF8WJDLIxJDLTWNKHhdkzDRWsdj3Hbq3-CXorWpTVi4u8IuW5fy3Dhk5WAzFH_/s1600-h/P1070819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomfKk0K9VpiXMYyaQicgiu9-UOw3SPaNHXXXCMYGF1HHcrcdOpUvrHJ_yHUXHlRFYJNkPAna543qWKVEF8WJDLIxJDLTWNKHhdkzDRWsdj3Hbq3-CXorWpTVi4u8IuW5fy3Dhk5WAzFH_/s320/P1070819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948266987744546" border="0" /></a>Another cool looking statue.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TMnMfTt-BUqTpJkZx-l7Mhu9y_xNe5iUVFaa54Sd6hZkquXQOrTFehFrq-lgNrByOceHPk0NlLozf4eU-deFOhil1b932X74aE-4cqvtuBIcEI2RjdQxYEj31uI0nZ0MaDzS9iPfhUmC/s1600-h/P1070831.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TMnMfTt-BUqTpJkZx-l7Mhu9y_xNe5iUVFaa54Sd6hZkquXQOrTFehFrq-lgNrByOceHPk0NlLozf4eU-deFOhil1b932X74aE-4cqvtuBIcEI2RjdQxYEj31uI0nZ0MaDzS9iPfhUmC/s320/P1070831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948266503358354" border="0" /></a>Some cool looking building.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbJ2mguAiToFEHR7w_9wsNafrTdqHE-69TsMZTwFKzk_5K0qgou2OzLVOhyvDNUhS4A20Qv2miLLZqJH16_G8HBIC2lH-I6YCxNK0UxJLPLY1Cl-wR30izKhetOAfxEWE2zlA0Xr2pksn/s1600-h/P1070836.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbJ2mguAiToFEHR7w_9wsNafrTdqHE-69TsMZTwFKzk_5K0qgou2OzLVOhyvDNUhS4A20Qv2miLLZqJH16_G8HBIC2lH-I6YCxNK0UxJLPLY1Cl-wR30izKhetOAfxEWE2zlA0Xr2pksn/s320/P1070836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948261314266210" border="0" /></a>Sports arena.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn-__JhbrfJZZ87olazwQBR9BOSa6fMA_aXHzTnx21p9k9ocQCTn7JQQmzoenmbbU1aEWg4C3_gQlCymSdipR5K_GcTKDjIL7-E5_pJuTSQOy3vvyuV_LIqBYlc9eq6uEUyeizx8Qogg0/s1600-h/P1070840.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn-__JhbrfJZZ87olazwQBR9BOSa6fMA_aXHzTnx21p9k9ocQCTn7JQQmzoenmbbU1aEWg4C3_gQlCymSdipR5K_GcTKDjIL7-E5_pJuTSQOy3vvyuV_LIqBYlc9eq6uEUyeizx8Qogg0/s320/P1070840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948258683735986" border="0" /></a>Advertisement. I'm not really sure what they are advertising. I can't tell if it is watermelon that is being advertised or if it's some kind of metaphor. It's a bit racy, but fairly representative of European norms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdgVlG4wBWAXEjeBbyHy0lFbcfQVuTcXeTSsGz4fRDAKDuPeSBX3QAa5lTIpKt_kk2M8tP6qLtd6BWfFIzKMZlL4oWCytXkwYfHU1lYXKluq0Q7OYxRt2Kwr9kgrDjjGc1otZdR7ztWoW/s1600-h/P1070843.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdgVlG4wBWAXEjeBbyHy0lFbcfQVuTcXeTSsGz4fRDAKDuPeSBX3QAa5lTIpKt_kk2M8tP6qLtd6BWfFIzKMZlL4oWCytXkwYfHU1lYXKluq0Q7OYxRt2Kwr9kgrDjjGc1otZdR7ztWoW/s320/P1070843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948005553557282" border="0" /></a><br />Many these countries use the Cyrillic alphabet. Bulgaria seemed to have less signage in English than many of the countries I've traveled in. Reading maps is difficult unless the streets are labeled with both English and the local language. An English-only map is useless because the street signs are in Cyrillic. A local language map is useless because it's impossible to pronounce the names of anything written in the local language. When traveling by train or bus, one has to know both. Below are them names of places in Bulgaria (<span lang="bg">България) that I visited:<br /><br /></span>Sofia - <span lang="bg">София</span><br />Plovdiv - <span lang="bg">Пловдив<br />Veliko Tarnovo - </span><span lang="bg">Велико Търново<br /><br />My train ticket from Sofia to Plovdiv.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XFYREOM4tqwK_5KRP1d6GEyH9_MuVDv0cMloQCqkUXwnVOx7RjL0a6UehKQeY1qO7skwc7p14RbqSP5hUWezX7bEMAxLHITE8q01V_csxtjVh5ZtnGDsJ9QqdXP9Q8WddiYQtyrz56i3/s1600-h/P1070852.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XFYREOM4tqwK_5KRP1d6GEyH9_MuVDv0cMloQCqkUXwnVOx7RjL0a6UehKQeY1qO7skwc7p14RbqSP5hUWezX7bEMAxLHITE8q01V_csxtjVh5ZtnGDsJ9QqdXP9Q8WddiYQtyrz56i3/s320/P1070852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419639808442103602" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="bg">I liked the Train station in Sofia. It had an old school communist-era vibe.<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KR3uKDDHVvLiEyvsCENympot-F6oWNWTVqesGVz7TgcoQ8xbX0EQ-iy7AK9qpKU5j00MfVrl3D5Pc6zVQnl5s-WqIZIeysacLvxzBcEzDBMROGRfYdC96J88eqZUcRIPB6PgZH5M6CZb/s1600-h/P1070848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KR3uKDDHVvLiEyvsCENympot-F6oWNWTVqesGVz7TgcoQ8xbX0EQ-iy7AK9qpKU5j00MfVrl3D5Pc6zVQnl5s-WqIZIeysacLvxzBcEzDBMROGRfYdC96J88eqZUcRIPB6PgZH5M6CZb/s320/P1070848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402948000629801362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlpoMgbM2Cq9qFUvR0IV7Tk-OeKHbLWmTzDLHJLSXQVvpM9wSOB7-8bMZ_sE7ue1LoGSuzLNco8GW4PJTQot5aQR1epod59xjQZLlR2IUBLbS6QdEI2uQhAjM9N7C9Okq30giq5jTjb5y/s1600-h/P1070850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlpoMgbM2Cq9qFUvR0IV7Tk-OeKHbLWmTzDLHJLSXQVvpM9wSOB7-8bMZ_sE7ue1LoGSuzLNco8GW4PJTQot5aQR1epod59xjQZLlR2IUBLbS6QdEI2uQhAjM9N7C9Okq30giq5jTjb5y/s320/P1070850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947997131386754" border="0" /></a><br />On July 10 I took a train to Plovdiv, The City of Seven Hills. Plovdiv dates back 6,000 years and is one of the oldest, continually inhabited cities in the world. Plovdiv was a beautiful city.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_n263fG3ctUj8vwcqjlGazSrDMbPop1PyRjYiE5iK6TWREfQUmrc-2V7idFXRmehtRIzdeTjkwTeBSxVAH3ZH7nbnnFgJ72vGDVirdYIX23Uvhst6ynXe3b6uT17rF-nju8X5HPx0xTY/s1600-h/P1070855.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_n263fG3ctUj8vwcqjlGazSrDMbPop1PyRjYiE5iK6TWREfQUmrc-2V7idFXRmehtRIzdeTjkwTeBSxVAH3ZH7nbnnFgJ72vGDVirdYIX23Uvhst6ynXe3b6uT17rF-nju8X5HPx0xTY/s320/P1070855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947994699593074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTvNJBv6yJbSTeO4XzbwnIO4hwXZpogAmomw4bN-xZYHouwvHBl4RkEhTqLE3NkWLKxfl-8yDNlIfQHhoJP4DUHXIU-1zVsrpu2vigZmoFVxtZbOmfNv3SQangx0ewSzIthn7XWBHcpc3/s1600-h/P1070859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTvNJBv6yJbSTeO4XzbwnIO4hwXZpogAmomw4bN-xZYHouwvHBl4RkEhTqLE3NkWLKxfl-8yDNlIfQHhoJP4DUHXIU-1zVsrpu2vigZmoFVxtZbOmfNv3SQangx0ewSzIthn7XWBHcpc3/s320/P1070859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947989679419138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAYjQwHecTBK67Hn-Kg0cxL2NuKmBXxg0uH8V_Ki1Z6rklWMrPSDHjqfGtWT6MVxhB7NQL19PfQks9GqVYdyE7pBEzIotPXfs4ku4Tfm40Ujuf24PT5eMHC9mYoSP9qZZ_qQUzw3205wV/s1600-h/P1070861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAYjQwHecTBK67Hn-Kg0cxL2NuKmBXxg0uH8V_Ki1Z6rklWMrPSDHjqfGtWT6MVxhB7NQL19PfQks9GqVYdyE7pBEzIotPXfs4ku4Tfm40Ujuf24PT5eMHC9mYoSP9qZZ_qQUzw3205wV/s320/P1070861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947725908669202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs844KHu0eqOkrztu6Qe-ElVJy3Lgbm8VaJ75k4DDALmN5oq5Fdd5Sien7d7I_QZfe9sjMb2Mo-o3b6IA9Gf4XCVzs-LgTmozGnNQ3lpnpN-n_m9VqBSKHY5fYKOsZkfvz_ff2vfJbXaZ/s1600-h/P1070870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWs844KHu0eqOkrztu6Qe-ElVJy3Lgbm8VaJ75k4DDALmN5oq5Fdd5Sien7d7I_QZfe9sjMb2Mo-o3b6IA9Gf4XCVzs-LgTmozGnNQ3lpnpN-n_m9VqBSKHY5fYKOsZkfvz_ff2vfJbXaZ/s320/P1070870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947718858400178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lKK2tSFdFI_llZWRhFYfy90h0qUi6mhDvDx3CQYUOXrasiVkVCqekjn6SAQdxLQ-BqTjc1Geugn-Bv5_OEYn6YVMUSZRZCCcV_HS0ValfzVdAyPsGdTOBf2yqxaYmfEKCvNfMhzXRfhv/s1600-h/P1070873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lKK2tSFdFI_llZWRhFYfy90h0qUi6mhDvDx3CQYUOXrasiVkVCqekjn6SAQdxLQ-BqTjc1Geugn-Bv5_OEYn6YVMUSZRZCCcV_HS0ValfzVdAyPsGdTOBf2yqxaYmfEKCvNfMhzXRfhv/s320/P1070873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947716417198786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvs5q8J37WQRP8Y5vJg3b6gXBaT616aJ29gCWDNA6U9LkuKhDrDdaLLQ80OVEFF9QurV8GhZe_CzMOPT3T5dGKIklMyceyMDJJ6c-ahAUhsvGX5_E0HVaMJXHTs0EAkAL7SaBy34NW0N-B/s1600-h/P1070886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvs5q8J37WQRP8Y5vJg3b6gXBaT616aJ29gCWDNA6U9LkuKhDrDdaLLQ80OVEFF9QurV8GhZe_CzMOPT3T5dGKIklMyceyMDJJ6c-ahAUhsvGX5_E0HVaMJXHTs0EAkAL7SaBy34NW0N-B/s320/P1070886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947711240401362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY11pi0AQ7PwtF7Q_Wr6TMM0um0C6egeBV202PgxVYrvvSTPP4wYPAcgi1Xc1Mxa4j1vRt1mw6cT5q4P51ViaC6rr4miR3lFIIpRaaELdNXiapPiu3j01vg3Xzg7x54YO6iFRE5TZ0zeK/s1600-h/P1070896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSY11pi0AQ7PwtF7Q_Wr6TMM0um0C6egeBV202PgxVYrvvSTPP4wYPAcgi1Xc1Mxa4j1vRt1mw6cT5q4P51ViaC6rr4miR3lFIIpRaaELdNXiapPiu3j01vg3Xzg7x54YO6iFRE5TZ0zeK/s320/P1070896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947469816997458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIccJFmlS4zR7rTVdB7TNN27Uq-xmcpOcTDr1qhIPV3Y1ryIV8wPqVE_Bid1jWxwJoSnFxhPGoYrcFmVTjpHeVQcyGKFBLalZNIIEKh0n1TUpr-XHDwh3_kQ2-AZVyt1iBPueU8lz_Dau/s1600-h/P1070907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIccJFmlS4zR7rTVdB7TNN27Uq-xmcpOcTDr1qhIPV3Y1ryIV8wPqVE_Bid1jWxwJoSnFxhPGoYrcFmVTjpHeVQcyGKFBLalZNIIEKh0n1TUpr-XHDwh3_kQ2-AZVyt1iBPueU8lz_Dau/s320/P1070907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947463250829874" border="0" /></a>It had a Roman Stadium and a Roman Amphitheater, both dating back to the 2nd century.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKf8a6mIV49lMB5QDifqo434v5_Cpna0p9jV0QVXyxqyx_ZG-H_n-rSvkILLwm3PXBDIBHK9l99in2lHZS6dF3QLThqo93sRIYvLUhMB1tkP2kekqkJRkOn6IH7TMDV0pEy2QttGz8V5y/s1600-h/P1070881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKf8a6mIV49lMB5QDifqo434v5_Cpna0p9jV0QVXyxqyx_ZG-H_n-rSvkILLwm3PXBDIBHK9l99in2lHZS6dF3QLThqo93sRIYvLUhMB1tkP2kekqkJRkOn6IH7TMDV0pEy2QttGz8V5y/s320/P1070881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947714539164882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroWd9jl2oGeuOfUNmMklhYMZwnXl-9i-H-1Em22GG7ZVnXYXoSzQ7lOU1rNcorFrAueLjid0h17xluuZD10kmLdij6vtpDqiIBaIR88VG06-wpTTjIwzpXuVCpm8Tbh4VgH31x7TIwYuE/s1600-h/P1070911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroWd9jl2oGeuOfUNmMklhYMZwnXl-9i-H-1Em22GG7ZVnXYXoSzQ7lOU1rNcorFrAueLjid0h17xluuZD10kmLdij6vtpDqiIBaIR88VG06-wpTTjIwzpXuVCpm8Tbh4VgH31x7TIwYuE/s320/P1070911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947461672487442" border="0" /></a><br />From what I've read, twenty years ago, commerce in Bulgaria was quite different. In the Communist days, people had money, but nothing to buy. People would line up for hours to buy staples and basic stuff. My experience walking the streets of Plovdiv was that the opposite was true. There were tons of stores lining the streets selling the latest fashions, but they were almost completely empty, with the shopkeepers sitting outside on the front steps smoking and talking with the other shopkeepers. It seems like there are tons of things to buy, but no-one was buying anything.<br /><br />I would have liked to have spent more time in Plovdiv, it was a really cool town, but there was no one else at the hostel I was staying at. I didn't really see any tourists (at least English-speaking) walking around or in the pubs. I only spent two nights in Plovdiv and then I took a train to Veliko Tarnovo.<br /><br />The train station in Plovdiv.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdqYEGplBowb4R3Bu9uAtrqca6WAcP2aDFqtmjNLmOLEKkl29rMzKjQzgCvyxPqpV9IE23z7ddZS8hEMUx2lO3GlPRB9NA6ObkAH-eUQ-yMOrsAIkev2hJGUgFsPhlyRNQ84LR8z3enHL/s1600-h/P1070917.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdqYEGplBowb4R3Bu9uAtrqca6WAcP2aDFqtmjNLmOLEKkl29rMzKjQzgCvyxPqpV9IE23z7ddZS8hEMUx2lO3GlPRB9NA6ObkAH-eUQ-yMOrsAIkev2hJGUgFsPhlyRNQ84LR8z3enHL/s320/P1070917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947168795472290" border="0" /></a>It was pretty small.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndQv8ZOchn-vy_XmdPeok3fgCWJFEPnRMOi4gmN41K2XdmtV6uVFiphZeAZcv6GNuC3OpsDnfptOxxdh1cz7dbEJ7HSNtny-xYTnIs6v-RfGtyyxJQaYoikOuKvb_oYD4uaSQZqNVgyU9/s1600-h/P1070919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndQv8ZOchn-vy_XmdPeok3fgCWJFEPnRMOi4gmN41K2XdmtV6uVFiphZeAZcv6GNuC3OpsDnfptOxxdh1cz7dbEJ7HSNtny-xYTnIs6v-RfGtyyxJQaYoikOuKvb_oYD4uaSQZqNVgyU9/s320/P1070919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947160779466498" border="0" /></a>Pics of sunflower fields taken on the train from Plovdiv to Veliko Tarnovo. The Bulgarian countryside was very nice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwsxDZBbAaZ_47NrJneNqeLb9ire4LcJ0jsnAulAreXvCJNYtXggj-9TLC0qXLFYhc7bFuoG7WcA5kFVN-6HH-P2X6tbnS4wjpG1TSJqO0AEqW2biU2sK-cZUF8XnNYQRKxa24nuI3LYy/s1600-h/P1070921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwsxDZBbAaZ_47NrJneNqeLb9ire4LcJ0jsnAulAreXvCJNYtXggj-9TLC0qXLFYhc7bFuoG7WcA5kFVN-6HH-P2X6tbnS4wjpG1TSJqO0AEqW2biU2sK-cZUF8XnNYQRKxa24nuI3LYy/s320/P1070921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947162498442434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV38yRotMJ8rM_YMYxW3blmVVgIO17NPAWLWlAL1w3s9s2y1N3V_Jrvpxyxu2zOO7IbcOrUZ-I5kq9EOhKH0AmL0KdRAblyJjOSFF2xF1r91b8PwuvpI_flR-aHTqoQuqt1fDrViV80z60/s1600-h/P1070922.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV38yRotMJ8rM_YMYxW3blmVVgIO17NPAWLWlAL1w3s9s2y1N3V_Jrvpxyxu2zOO7IbcOrUZ-I5kq9EOhKH0AmL0KdRAblyJjOSFF2xF1r91b8PwuvpI_flR-aHTqoQuqt1fDrViV80z60/s320/P1070922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947156589789058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p0fKuDNhCbS07EZWmBBiyL0pJQ2Ipr5LVg03tdtUYcLS9ZkoRF4YMchHDZH8Wrs3ZoWejC3McLlWT7qyW8kiati9kACE5F2qWn0gEb5wO8VMZkQgSplreyvlWpEGa9QS98QT6gzAKKJR/s1600-h/P1070923.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p0fKuDNhCbS07EZWmBBiyL0pJQ2Ipr5LVg03tdtUYcLS9ZkoRF4YMchHDZH8Wrs3ZoWejC3McLlWT7qyW8kiati9kACE5F2qWn0gEb5wO8VMZkQgSplreyvlWpEGa9QS98QT6gzAKKJR/s320/P1070923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402947157487281074" border="0" /></a>On July 12 I arrived in Veliko Tarnovo. It was a charming town nestled in a steep valley. There was a castle on a hill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBU7N8mlC-wMVq-ourxKrxsaigtvFlawv150gNmX9hyfjJkZcPMx9I0l4gfl0mPDpYni8FUCzWLXrGY-hJVuE1MvAOYWKIh5ySe9YxWsTStmql8eMKsv2iQWp1w8WQmNMqdipGuNXqpui/s1600-h/P1070924.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBU7N8mlC-wMVq-ourxKrxsaigtvFlawv150gNmX9hyfjJkZcPMx9I0l4gfl0mPDpYni8FUCzWLXrGY-hJVuE1MvAOYWKIh5ySe9YxWsTStmql8eMKsv2iQWp1w8WQmNMqdipGuNXqpui/s320/P1070924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946927747492290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg4xN6rq5qIea3jAyJS3Yg9mkaC2PskVvJ9Qb6KKrEcyYekUqkyVHh0oZZtTfoYd-kVRDokRc8_4S945SbgC9yRXilzUhVPzY1T2-HtH5DfNlDifFcU2viMV9XQDtFE9F3DUoUZMqEj3L/s1600-h/P1070929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg4xN6rq5qIea3jAyJS3Yg9mkaC2PskVvJ9Qb6KKrEcyYekUqkyVHh0oZZtTfoYd-kVRDokRc8_4S945SbgC9yRXilzUhVPzY1T2-HtH5DfNlDifFcU2viMV9XQDtFE9F3DUoUZMqEj3L/s320/P1070929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946923380097410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7HVCSKr95eNagPnqlJ-ix27gvIWTTXWEKtg3B_hU-V6E2s3Y6_TnZPKriMFqH8Pfl1pCdnMoJHbygrh_Hate40UJdHqJVx7BnCLSCaMwmZ1VoTpxP3wnfZUOzBgewq37yRGvzaUaAdGe/s1600-h/P1070943.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7HVCSKr95eNagPnqlJ-ix27gvIWTTXWEKtg3B_hU-V6E2s3Y6_TnZPKriMFqH8Pfl1pCdnMoJHbygrh_Hate40UJdHqJVx7BnCLSCaMwmZ1VoTpxP3wnfZUOzBgewq37yRGvzaUaAdGe/s320/P1070943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946924049707890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnLw8yGmYikN6MM4I4CPkzkgaHvwcABClx4QQqCqdtx4s8fL-Hp8LkxP1paMXu3yixf1NzUJoxm2T4IbCj0lHydF132MkwINaFrq6biaNM5JghmldRVAUhwuGpmgi4AfQ2pt3axINF5Fo/s1600-h/P1070955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnLw8yGmYikN6MM4I4CPkzkgaHvwcABClx4QQqCqdtx4s8fL-Hp8LkxP1paMXu3yixf1NzUJoxm2T4IbCj0lHydF132MkwINaFrq6biaNM5JghmldRVAUhwuGpmgi4AfQ2pt3axINF5Fo/s320/P1070955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946918285064530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhND6bN-TSu3TP4arM4bPGdUNQbYvd55EQpqvl2_CpWEY21PruCEiVaGpiJXnMoTdRh3ODcfjRFWpWMRxvgaCaIvhouGxH-UKvXOYYgIXb9tHnRa2dOsGTfgRnWs_KzCQ2ElPfWtofSAGwK/s1600-h/P1070957.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhND6bN-TSu3TP4arM4bPGdUNQbYvd55EQpqvl2_CpWEY21PruCEiVaGpiJXnMoTdRh3ODcfjRFWpWMRxvgaCaIvhouGxH-UKvXOYYgIXb9tHnRa2dOsGTfgRnWs_KzCQ2ElPfWtofSAGwK/s320/P1070957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946914501545570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDjy3vx01mgoRv3L15VFyKD84Sjk7ufhzisf2nxrWtGk_hZl5YFBaoVj-xBrvhsw45KWURsiZkOYBe1DeZOBK8uptqlfWxpYRrNa6OPw8fV8NIhlPtJxV3v3Zb0K1WuAyrqGBq1kA2Eew/s1600-h/P1070959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDjy3vx01mgoRv3L15VFyKD84Sjk7ufhzisf2nxrWtGk_hZl5YFBaoVj-xBrvhsw45KWURsiZkOYBe1DeZOBK8uptqlfWxpYRrNa6OPw8fV8NIhlPtJxV3v3Zb0K1WuAyrqGBq1kA2Eew/s320/P1070959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946745081404642" border="0" /></a>On July 16, I took an overnight train from Veliko Tarnovo to Bucharest, Romania.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm0gsVpX8R6l0QC3EzcznTsyJP_rEJ4iQpCoZDqLhu9g7VVaH0G-kCFvJ1xQmZFa2M_LBQUwRFPbJ06u2bhZtHF-fqi7owwd-CsCQdnDxjz6vaM4fRgvQs1WqMR_Ykxy7pwAunzYshyFa/s1600-h/P1070969.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm0gsVpX8R6l0QC3EzcznTsyJP_rEJ4iQpCoZDqLhu9g7VVaH0G-kCFvJ1xQmZFa2M_LBQUwRFPbJ06u2bhZtHF-fqi7owwd-CsCQdnDxjz6vaM4fRgvQs1WqMR_Ykxy7pwAunzYshyFa/s320/P1070969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946454405429074" border="0" /></a>Since I would be coming back to Bucharest to fly to Madrid, I didn't want to stay there so I decided to go on to Brasov. It was still pretty early in the morning. Getting cash in Romania proved to be the most difficult of all places I'd been. I heard people say they had trouble getting cash out of ATMs in all of Eastern Europe using cards from western banks due to the level of fraud. But I had no trouble at all until getting to Romania. I finally found an ATM that would work with one of my cards so I took out a bunch of cash, went back to the train station and caught the next train to Brasov, the capital of the Transylvania region.<br /><br />One good thing about being in Romania was a return to the Roman alphabet. The signs were easier to comprehend. The Romanian language originated from Latin, like Spanish, French, and Italian. This is a bit unusual geographically, with Romania being surrounded by Slavic countries.<br /><br />I took the 2.5 hour train ride from Bucharest to Brasov. Brasov is another cool town and is the home base for traveling in the Transylvania region. Their motto is, "Brasov, Probably the Best City in the World."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uIr806L7NKOilZFvqGxAjps8MUofD9dgXAdSYfBe73xTmhEOE4dOq9AJ8tt7KAG-iY1ylJvlUEPmp8w3Wn-arc-qurycPOcx148FNthIMwOMUjVS2u3X0LvcFXPleKSMiEjKmcPTzJLT/s1600-h/P1070996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uIr806L7NKOilZFvqGxAjps8MUofD9dgXAdSYfBe73xTmhEOE4dOq9AJ8tt7KAG-iY1ylJvlUEPmp8w3Wn-arc-qurycPOcx148FNthIMwOMUjVS2u3X0LvcFXPleKSMiEjKmcPTzJLT/s320/P1070996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946234939791602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kCgAywHds1326MipcPbyS_Brwzef3lDGfRUy3TT1NMd7HxGckyOUdtXfTQmSWkNdtytBlJ__CFkUXxAVZeQmf-PEjkIu3OL2VG-jNjBa_y2wvSQAL4XcELDY-1VLGruKS-b7mMs9A6Xs/s1600-h/P1070985.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kCgAywHds1326MipcPbyS_Brwzef3lDGfRUy3TT1NMd7HxGckyOUdtXfTQmSWkNdtytBlJ__CFkUXxAVZeQmf-PEjkIu3OL2VG-jNjBa_y2wvSQAL4XcELDY-1VLGruKS-b7mMs9A6Xs/s320/P1070985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946244883452962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb8by8c1rKoZYguHVWDddWvOMgTTwIc-KWODpdmVpdZTfSadazxYT1S1LVPiFhV45XyTz-7UiPtRJzb0vj1n2jsO_dBBnTUVGXcrqO4a6frjqZhUh8ZvTC_yyJfpCf_dTwCibp-w9Hia0/s1600-h/P1080008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb8by8c1rKoZYguHVWDddWvOMgTTwIc-KWODpdmVpdZTfSadazxYT1S1LVPiFhV45XyTz-7UiPtRJzb0vj1n2jsO_dBBnTUVGXcrqO4a6frjqZhUh8ZvTC_yyJfpCf_dTwCibp-w9Hia0/s320/P1080008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945712253958994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr0mUjcC_JbXmD2W1HEpnHSa07N4vU3XMFUZanyoN29uHMOm6voT9MqLSmYz0mfEZrmyzYZwrnZJZBN5Tp3QKlPwj4PMGIbNQ5mHlnjfPvMIG0dYUER3Qi8vVmFSRgl_Dt_iA0ySioCb5/s1600-h/P1070979.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr0mUjcC_JbXmD2W1HEpnHSa07N4vU3XMFUZanyoN29uHMOm6voT9MqLSmYz0mfEZrmyzYZwrnZJZBN5Tp3QKlPwj4PMGIbNQ5mHlnjfPvMIG0dYUER3Qi8vVmFSRgl_Dt_iA0ySioCb5/s320/P1070979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946445601133042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xIpXcCX1V49ZgJDm5j0q7QkN_X1IMDTaacXaNvQlzKx062gIMxiqZzanBD10fSHLdoOCowvYYnCfVZxgRA41Zb62q2Vnqj3QM68LF0BN_MxDYoDWLfKrNScuHgLfFo5f6X7paBOgrd2J/s1600-h/P1080001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xIpXcCX1V49ZgJDm5j0q7QkN_X1IMDTaacXaNvQlzKx062gIMxiqZzanBD10fSHLdoOCowvYYnCfVZxgRA41Zb62q2Vnqj3QM68LF0BN_MxDYoDWLfKrNScuHgLfFo5f6X7paBOgrd2J/s320/P1080001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945715667475362" border="0" /></a><br />On July 19 I took a castle tour.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqJkR4TXRxK_xzv5_JhsP58M5iSh5SKDhxzIiTXN9_DCGuRmGuts2b94gw0Qz-nQSFXQCHM3IHvY0NhWhqcZi6YNP19ifZ2XHfQsE8sNMDBJQWreA2150VOjsIkkayVstqzPcT8VepypA/s1600-h/P1070973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqJkR4TXRxK_xzv5_JhsP58M5iSh5SKDhxzIiTXN9_DCGuRmGuts2b94gw0Qz-nQSFXQCHM3IHvY0NhWhqcZi6YNP19ifZ2XHfQsE8sNMDBJQWreA2150VOjsIkkayVstqzPcT8VepypA/s320/P1070973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402946449200525970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx58fuwxAlhrGxEbeUrffrgVRFSMXZe_mHnyCGOhAd5DVD3v6ycffynCrD58fqqbliikfzH6AR2ZKfHV5WCPv4Nl9zzrXS8V3H1kgU9VrpMwoOu6mYzAFikMiKoiR6Xwk8UNQx-HBzfqq/s1600-h/P1080011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx58fuwxAlhrGxEbeUrffrgVRFSMXZe_mHnyCGOhAd5DVD3v6ycffynCrD58fqqbliikfzH6AR2ZKfHV5WCPv4Nl9zzrXS8V3H1kgU9VrpMwoOu6mYzAFikMiKoiR6Xwk8UNQx-HBzfqq/s320/P1080011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945704617620706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhmrOu4rY1f7SDtBPk58lanAv1gN0ym2ay-GgW7arP0Z0ufd2H7YKKKTE-fKMGabZsKZq3-odbi-hNPg7EBJyd6H2c8hH9ndzYJpfYnq-VbpcpxsPopNpX0sUHZPkYiUXQ_30QTzEEM2k/s1600-h/P1080012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhmrOu4rY1f7SDtBPk58lanAv1gN0ym2ay-GgW7arP0Z0ufd2H7YKKKTE-fKMGabZsKZq3-odbi-hNPg7EBJyd6H2c8hH9ndzYJpfYnq-VbpcpxsPopNpX0sUHZPkYiUXQ_30QTzEEM2k/s320/P1080012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945702925510770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdAr98vkcZ9Ds__GtLgO3fvc46EAvL8NRROy9iJr141mAa2YSenlAr8UlzbzhcRwdOIOJUxFLVINy0K-7TOqEEwu3newiFW2LXBwQ-ZurSU39njkxOIJ39LODMFe_Tnuwzcc_wdTae-vq/s1600-h/P1080016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdAr98vkcZ9Ds__GtLgO3fvc46EAvL8NRROy9iJr141mAa2YSenlAr8UlzbzhcRwdOIOJUxFLVINy0K-7TOqEEwu3newiFW2LXBwQ-ZurSU39njkxOIJ39LODMFe_Tnuwzcc_wdTae-vq/s320/P1080016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945122957940754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzP88xmqbvAhemhpEUhSNK-ttdwA5uQy4bsIyECLc2Z1rUT5K3AYbmePNHFLGX-r4KCSlUaVzT5lDJ7xZhiuVcH5Nlg11O4eEY2DdWNY3rr1gO3nwfkghuxzxUOFt0Rn-0Cpc4kBjnQnK/s1600-h/P1080025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzP88xmqbvAhemhpEUhSNK-ttdwA5uQy4bsIyECLc2Z1rUT5K3AYbmePNHFLGX-r4KCSlUaVzT5lDJ7xZhiuVcH5Nlg11O4eEY2DdWNY3rr1gO3nwfkghuxzxUOFt0Rn-0Cpc4kBjnQnK/s320/P1080025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945119919242658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCZeW1fgbrdiYPeimXR_lN9u1DKW6A8uJxhpzrez7yMrPPQJOW44TAT3UYA284sQa5K8c8BWk-sbZbvTZ16tF0Pqd3zqcTcdqH-Nsmmiv3JIG5pig2JsbRVxngVIbFoBdWmJCcqs03Jbl/s1600-h/P1080026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCZeW1fgbrdiYPeimXR_lN9u1DKW6A8uJxhpzrez7yMrPPQJOW44TAT3UYA284sQa5K8c8BWk-sbZbvTZ16tF0Pqd3zqcTcdqH-Nsmmiv3JIG5pig2JsbRVxngVIbFoBdWmJCcqs03Jbl/s320/P1080026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945115182003650" border="0" /></a>Transylvania has only a loose connection to Dracula. The below pic is of Castle Bran, also known as Dracula's Castle. Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, was an Englishman who never visited Romania. He had read about a charming Romanian Prince named Vlad the Impaler, who ruled with an iron fist and savagely brutalized his enemies by impaling them. Impaling involves inserting a long spike into the anus, through the torso, and, out the mouth, and leaving the person to die. Vlad's method of impaling was particularly painful because it was done without piercing the vital organs. If a vital organ was pierced, the victim would go into shock and die quickly. Vlad's method produced a slow, painful death.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY8VQwr807y55KfRkiV9_TVlPazJmGDSsmPzef7Uf-vT2prfv4kDtFTkWaZDkkulFsC6JGO5i_jpC69lsDu1oio7tbFq-7e2rEdSzbw8a7XePCfDdGhfmcw4ig2N07xFm3S6CbCxn3nMF/s1600-h/impale1.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY8VQwr807y55KfRkiV9_TVlPazJmGDSsmPzef7Uf-vT2prfv4kDtFTkWaZDkkulFsC6JGO5i_jpC69lsDu1oio7tbFq-7e2rEdSzbw8a7XePCfDdGhfmcw4ig2N07xFm3S6CbCxn3nMF/s320/impale1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428971414143974338" border="0" /></a><br />Castle Bran was the castle of his brother. There is no evidence or even likelihood that Vlad ever set foot in this castle, but it is the closest thing to a Dracula's Castle for tourists to visit. The Romanian people embrace their Dracula connection, or at least the people who sell Dracula related merchandise do.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLUzMDbL1A5K554p9l-k2zHmpLvVdlVsRmUdZJZGg-DW5opVmbIhUUMS1SGT04xaM6wLk0l3MDxvUgU0E5kLMHwfc7BWyIjNmwIWujB4pXmgJcVKXAANcPHcHht9bFFOGpKxBm8fWsxzc/s1600-h/P1080030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLUzMDbL1A5K554p9l-k2zHmpLvVdlVsRmUdZJZGg-DW5opVmbIhUUMS1SGT04xaM6wLk0l3MDxvUgU0E5kLMHwfc7BWyIjNmwIWujB4pXmgJcVKXAANcPHcHht9bFFOGpKxBm8fWsxzc/s320/P1080030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944896194791234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBazCFq-V56xJadJL-7pwhaCB_Gv4Q4_fPq1LGPUlgVu8y9Vip39d-Cc6b7NGE4lV4j4l7QuaMjs6bRdn8-TE1vCIYfyjzpbssufsVT_RPaGY2MZ3LFn274RGaRyPlCAoW6k9-FzYDRJg2/s1600-h/P1080027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBazCFq-V56xJadJL-7pwhaCB_Gv4Q4_fPq1LGPUlgVu8y9Vip39d-Cc6b7NGE4lV4j4l7QuaMjs6bRdn8-TE1vCIYfyjzpbssufsVT_RPaGY2MZ3LFn274RGaRyPlCAoW6k9-FzYDRJg2/s320/P1080027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945109512632786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAI-OYWBT5SRw-81sOmAytqe1gwxozQrgLgwLn6JYEukV3wG7dPb3pqFCWJ7Fz_gZjpDK5vYqhFsRfCTgOj1VvraVAnVWapSywN9KpMDQn_ElYSRoiIKhUTU_LBwF8IhPJu2chHx-IDw1/s1600-h/P1080028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAI-OYWBT5SRw-81sOmAytqe1gwxozQrgLgwLn6JYEukV3wG7dPb3pqFCWJ7Fz_gZjpDK5vYqhFsRfCTgOj1VvraVAnVWapSywN9KpMDQn_ElYSRoiIKhUTU_LBwF8IhPJu2chHx-IDw1/s320/P1080028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428970728754521282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yWy-07T5N2-0CgBgnHB_ocsAaA-DaRnp0ty0D3G9tJmqnlfQ0mH_X7IhG5RE0Gc4-qZSa79x2LHsmYn_9lA9KGDP5UxM_GIlogHvF4VqjIgn8x9SbhbbP-ysx_ErbLBK3uvxT9i-N3yp/s1600-h/P1080033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yWy-07T5N2-0CgBgnHB_ocsAaA-DaRnp0ty0D3G9tJmqnlfQ0mH_X7IhG5RE0Gc4-qZSa79x2LHsmYn_9lA9KGDP5UxM_GIlogHvF4VqjIgn8x9SbhbbP-ysx_ErbLBK3uvxT9i-N3yp/s320/P1080033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944886740675730" border="0" /> </a><br />Another castle on the tour. Some actors act out what I assume is a traditional Romanian play.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxAYRiS-B0aXXaSj5pL9VJolBubPxtRcXMCDDBS9cV9vdkBJlShLVB3Tk0MeEnYqQ1SiFFQiL9WWP8-u8-taoYZHRPD9PAAZCmyg0-GqUc477JPDci1EbzOV7vVweaNi_xpV2Qu9APweE/s1600-h/P1080057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxAYRiS-B0aXXaSj5pL9VJolBubPxtRcXMCDDBS9cV9vdkBJlShLVB3Tk0MeEnYqQ1SiFFQiL9WWP8-u8-taoYZHRPD9PAAZCmyg0-GqUc477JPDci1EbzOV7vVweaNi_xpV2Qu9APweE/s320/P1080057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944636641036274" border="0" /></a><br />One of the little things that really crack me up about traveling is the way some signs and menus get less than stellar translations to English. This menu at a little restaurant in Brasov is a good example. It covers the cute (Trout in the Frying Pan), to the funny (Fried Crap), to the accurate but not very appetizing literal translation (Salt and Vegetable Dressing). There were tons of examples of this all over the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58sXrbCp7NsVc1tGhCnCic7cbdoQ-woARpoU3Du88378gVX-DIuWPhd4qLbk6JCu81wJz3WI_3Rn_vG_Od6DFn6TPemnaldHbj5_byWPWPrpu2WiOfnT2vkMe_ijo2DnwQ7id7RfMrDMH/s1600-h/P1080010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58sXrbCp7NsVc1tGhCnCic7cbdoQ-woARpoU3Du88378gVX-DIuWPhd4qLbk6JCu81wJz3WI_3Rn_vG_Od6DFn6TPemnaldHbj5_byWPWPrpu2WiOfnT2vkMe_ijo2DnwQ7id7RfMrDMH/s320/P1080010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402945710276549490" border="0" /></a><br />On July 20, I took a train from Brasov to Bucharest, the capital of Romania. I had heard nothing but bad things about Bucharest. I heard it was nasty, dangerous, and there were stray dogs everywhere. If I hadn't heard all these things, I would probably have thought a lot less of Bucharest, but given my low expectations, I didn't think it was all that bad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy77d_Rbi_BCyIVeFjiZwF2qznY0nA80PmZ76o-OI7n6rHPmpJsY5KKvYpnr0zwF623orCzUKBSlF-dxl4vnwMWFwzkhnK91rxtrMd8BsCTWj5clStPnWQu8svuwnCfLfANqxs-dFJ5-n/s1600-h/P1080061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBy77d_Rbi_BCyIVeFjiZwF2qznY0nA80PmZ76o-OI7n6rHPmpJsY5KKvYpnr0zwF623orCzUKBSlF-dxl4vnwMWFwzkhnK91rxtrMd8BsCTWj5clStPnWQu8svuwnCfLfANqxs-dFJ5-n/s320/P1080061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944639097189234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowxjKyWJj2L9x_Pc-0QFtd1DNZaETR5ySVKAjIjM64jTzMuX98LBq8l6X7pHw0CmnRYk672Zzpzt0SNWZbYkNh6N_xxWHqDMFFbxxlt2A19fe3SNPdMWyeVNxqxTLjHA-BKn2DKH1ozXR/s1600-h/P1080064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowxjKyWJj2L9x_Pc-0QFtd1DNZaETR5ySVKAjIjM64jTzMuX98LBq8l6X7pHw0CmnRYk672Zzpzt0SNWZbYkNh6N_xxWHqDMFFbxxlt2A19fe3SNPdMWyeVNxqxTLjHA-BKn2DKH1ozXR/s320/P1080064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944631686080578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCQyfXHPOqkXrkg2UBeI1xLU9eerKujH9bDrCXUPDWxzv-jQGlEDHW0UPDtUuEn5swTnW4jZ4fX6uDsRIUomoSSUPM-lNS5uT3YxfJZ7tNhxNQU62_pMcE6bSk30LPXWLR3xFbjb9SWad/s1600-h/P1080066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCQyfXHPOqkXrkg2UBeI1xLU9eerKujH9bDrCXUPDWxzv-jQGlEDHW0UPDtUuEn5swTnW4jZ4fX6uDsRIUomoSSUPM-lNS5uT3YxfJZ7tNhxNQU62_pMcE6bSk30LPXWLR3xFbjb9SWad/s320/P1080066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944444054519042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE79rGxTMr_pJYsdDxPD8wVgEBd8qNEAES7qIWBPhSRbNSuy8G7akHlODGGiSZkq-3bdjtg5mtjR2U1-5Ee2_dUHh-34RW9DBNCW0ha28Y-txEYxlIoZKPBlARvvb0SfnX8e87CfP5_vC/s1600-h/P1080071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE79rGxTMr_pJYsdDxPD8wVgEBd8qNEAES7qIWBPhSRbNSuy8G7akHlODGGiSZkq-3bdjtg5mtjR2U1-5Ee2_dUHh-34RW9DBNCW0ha28Y-txEYxlIoZKPBlARvvb0SfnX8e87CfP5_vC/s320/P1080071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944441736239762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhB1uMWSkxQZq6ZN-9NfbJf0_9H80HMwiyhzbM3uXHqPsKRAyt1LSyFbyoPNC5iGKP0-tlg8tiDWQdIjHKsjnYfkEDlEyzlO9tZxDr1PaEjORJdIY4sEzuCm6Xhy7NaPUYn5X_xhxZMzd/s1600-h/P1080073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhB1uMWSkxQZq6ZN-9NfbJf0_9H80HMwiyhzbM3uXHqPsKRAyt1LSyFbyoPNC5iGKP0-tlg8tiDWQdIjHKsjnYfkEDlEyzlO9tZxDr1PaEjORJdIY4sEzuCm6Xhy7NaPUYn5X_xhxZMzd/s320/P1080073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944437331025298" border="0" /></a>I took a tour of the Palace of Parliament. The Palace was built in the 1980's under President Nicolae Ceausescu. A huge swath of the city's historic center was demolished to build this monstrosity of a building. It is the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvN0V10zREWfHejOXQymKpFixpcrBfrREp988FtXp5NhdZethJ-LYxAVi0qz9tjWhPysQeZwH0DkKWp2QNotzzX0bKJF1chmk8bk1VrEX9JiO-G3mO0Lh1GwyNS0PgJsoR7l4PjMJcyXY/s1600-h/P1080083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvN0V10zREWfHejOXQymKpFixpcrBfrREp988FtXp5NhdZethJ-LYxAVi0qz9tjWhPysQeZwH0DkKWp2QNotzzX0bKJF1chmk8bk1VrEX9JiO-G3mO0Lh1GwyNS0PgJsoR7l4PjMJcyXY/s320/P1080083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944432686566034" border="0" /></a>These steps were built and rebuilt five times to get them to Ceausescu's exacting specifications.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDXT56wCfMsIc1BnwB6G4GmuQ403EAOmU4U1p67i0yGwiUh6TH1efewIUwvY1YTXJQLS0i3PcFNWQ87thcROpT-qYKjhYU1aItuRpyf3WNSAyqaa_WlnVYwO_sp0c1KG6w28QZENis6gN/s1600-h/P1080092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDXT56wCfMsIc1BnwB6G4GmuQ403EAOmU4U1p67i0yGwiUh6TH1efewIUwvY1YTXJQLS0i3PcFNWQ87thcROpT-qYKjhYU1aItuRpyf3WNSAyqaa_WlnVYwO_sp0c1KG6w28QZENis6gN/s320/P1080092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944430190142018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTaxiryVOQ6jb1moA2-YZf9XGhWTlbp25kyEcVjJEG98v5wl6TkhN4jHdLqrlAnkeeptX2Y_F_Pr1xV4A_QUvxhDt5tIajCamHX9H_5Xm5vrgUfep13u8-Uo9CnpmvoMFayCYE-axSqfE/s1600-h/P1080095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTaxiryVOQ6jb1moA2-YZf9XGhWTlbp25kyEcVjJEG98v5wl6TkhN4jHdLqrlAnkeeptX2Y_F_Pr1xV4A_QUvxhDt5tIajCamHX9H_5Xm5vrgUfep13u8-Uo9CnpmvoMFayCYE-axSqfE/s320/P1080095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944240165294418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRuB3UxAsXyV9cGVOaVpgSynpdgeBjZBoK272Edz21FeRC_Ob6v84prAeGiDUQ2DVyTYpRyCyIPJ2LK5aWhP5pMcLFEs8GlnSUeezFPfWItrOY-uTfP6BRe_78ZTPEUYVYvxSoCSf9Zkg/s1600-h/P1080107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRuB3UxAsXyV9cGVOaVpgSynpdgeBjZBoK272Edz21FeRC_Ob6v84prAeGiDUQ2DVyTYpRyCyIPJ2LK5aWhP5pMcLFEs8GlnSUeezFPfWItrOY-uTfP6BRe_78ZTPEUYVYvxSoCSf9Zkg/s320/P1080107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944237404974178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpObQRSgqJ1KKPtPm_JeJNhTLSJfNlfVmIwVPJd6pk5rBzptwqVAczFRojdzoYWBVG1GOYq0zIdIvFVttX4AthujqH9g5QgEw0TLbpGBr9t827j0SmVMYFYlbxtcbI9LCXYanD5UjaG-s/s1600-h/P1080108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpObQRSgqJ1KKPtPm_JeJNhTLSJfNlfVmIwVPJd6pk5rBzptwqVAczFRojdzoYWBVG1GOYq0zIdIvFVttX4AthujqH9g5QgEw0TLbpGBr9t827j0SmVMYFYlbxtcbI9LCXYanD5UjaG-s/s320/P1080108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944232870092162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxWUIU5UJ8mDZacenV_FQ2Y87Wmm22x3vSYTNb9yNLHZPr_G-2Gy8i9F-nudErD7pn2rRRqn651JBLuQaubUR8y_BgDP6d1Gw5Lm9tSr-7Mb0QshlPsUNzUhHhcWLUzX8nfxHPzWQJuJo/s1600-h/P1080110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxWUIU5UJ8mDZacenV_FQ2Y87Wmm22x3vSYTNb9yNLHZPr_G-2Gy8i9F-nudErD7pn2rRRqn651JBLuQaubUR8y_BgDP6d1Gw5Lm9tSr-7Mb0QshlPsUNzUhHhcWLUzX8nfxHPzWQJuJo/s320/P1080110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944232279517842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fb9vNDGjzkpoeIskumyijDM33k6e2ZXfDw1fcJdZ1Ro6JSUVZwvNLca3Wn6_kAN168AiO1C93YfbzZ23-2V3nKdjUBt_tiIJg5v94KbXCC5K-algfjm50ZyHzHjcVXD5u6MKPzqquwUo/s1600-h/P1080113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fb9vNDGjzkpoeIskumyijDM33k6e2ZXfDw1fcJdZ1Ro6JSUVZwvNLca3Wn6_kAN168AiO1C93YfbzZ23-2V3nKdjUBt_tiIJg5v94KbXCC5K-algfjm50ZyHzHjcVXD5u6MKPzqquwUo/s320/P1080113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944230084067410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nR7ag71aJ9iyiW7x2AjGH4QxGddoLsOFxAXups890xavVwpFq1Q8tvu-69oQLLNjZ1B5vJHH6b7Dlnfa8VS8mtmWp03RdbtITY_ArVbNwgIEV4Ql3woy11YU5B_YrHZWv4lFJd2vNR3V/s1600-h/P1080121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nR7ag71aJ9iyiW7x2AjGH4QxGddoLsOFxAXups890xavVwpFq1Q8tvu-69oQLLNjZ1B5vJHH6b7Dlnfa8VS8mtmWp03RdbtITY_ArVbNwgIEV4Ql3woy11YU5B_YrHZWv4lFJd2vNR3V/s320/P1080121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402944076439017778" border="0" /></a>If I'm a little light on details about Bulgaria and Romania it's probably a combination of not really that much out of the ordinary happening and the amount of time that has passed since I was there. One night in Brasov me and about five guys took a girl out for her birthday. I don't remember her name (she was from Los Angeles), or the guys (one was from Australia and two from England), but we had a really good time. She did not know any of us before that day. Brasov had some pretty cool bars and nightclubs. I didn't tell anyone it was my birthday back in February, mostly because I had just gotten in to Australia the day before and slept most of the day because of the jet lag.<br /><br />On July 22, I flew from Bucharest to Madrid, Spain. Spain was hot. Damn hot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY4i0w8TVUaLl5bY83JFhR3bBkU1b4O_gJ13staWgBb4iSY1x1WW1-gRP-8prAxlcd6z3XC2TrCxFJW9LXKQ9SrWJC8pBUAE5S182uT0gXcswarOeTRSLE9Ux4vKu3OIEE6DPl6moqwGD/s1600-h/P1080136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY4i0w8TVUaLl5bY83JFhR3bBkU1b4O_gJ13staWgBb4iSY1x1WW1-gRP-8prAxlcd6z3XC2TrCxFJW9LXKQ9SrWJC8pBUAE5S182uT0gXcswarOeTRSLE9Ux4vKu3OIEE6DPl6moqwGD/s320/P1080136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943766317894450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldQNqOSfcFt0SGEubHR0ZKHS0YjB4nOBkPKN0PwHcFHmclXvP5JxUiJKI8NS7226nIhNXekAYW5loXFT6K3pp6hgBCWsp9Z6ei9tPrv6lkbWbSGY4lpm6iUmIfkLkrszWtSh0HCdutHuq/s1600-h/P1080138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldQNqOSfcFt0SGEubHR0ZKHS0YjB4nOBkPKN0PwHcFHmclXvP5JxUiJKI8NS7226nIhNXekAYW5loXFT6K3pp6hgBCWsp9Z6ei9tPrv6lkbWbSGY4lpm6iUmIfkLkrszWtSh0HCdutHuq/s320/P1080138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943763871809874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr80yE9iZhhgV3wwEbjFZJu7_SpzmU2PwEwyMlQYElqF_p06SCAkb6DP4VufrrUpwuUOcIKfP-QY_Pi7FW3flNdlQ9NdyYBKXVtcBw3J23hF3Je5H4EbbgdL-R64iqJvL8PR9a9_bnJmrD/s1600-h/P1080154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr80yE9iZhhgV3wwEbjFZJu7_SpzmU2PwEwyMlQYElqF_p06SCAkb6DP4VufrrUpwuUOcIKfP-QY_Pi7FW3flNdlQ9NdyYBKXVtcBw3J23hF3Je5H4EbbgdL-R64iqJvL8PR9a9_bnJmrD/s320/P1080154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943761406351634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz2WjD677Srp77BCFa2U52WGE-sJht2bZ10ngzJPrdDctupF47xo49NmhcyZ1ujPZorbt0srmgtEbiiHMKbijb4Yd7UlEkUgVaf3t_1xpZGIRxpx4kg6h1Oz5QPVpSqV5I183zZOEk2GO/s1600-h/P1080161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdz2WjD677Srp77BCFa2U52WGE-sJht2bZ10ngzJPrdDctupF47xo49NmhcyZ1ujPZorbt0srmgtEbiiHMKbijb4Yd7UlEkUgVaf3t_1xpZGIRxpx4kg6h1Oz5QPVpSqV5I183zZOEk2GO/s320/P1080161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943755363901874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBCRh7dM2sOi4TFL87Gqt6SbIvVkXBzy2Y7V3jgaKIJIl8hL7EEzt47rw6RnwSG0iuTOqloW5LyuWYeAP2YWuAFkBIahKBG0mk4gphYv3rUvHiqmO8up7fqmCEAqF10Pko6IuQ9tW3jkP/s1600-h/P1080169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBCRh7dM2sOi4TFL87Gqt6SbIvVkXBzy2Y7V3jgaKIJIl8hL7EEzt47rw6RnwSG0iuTOqloW5LyuWYeAP2YWuAFkBIahKBG0mk4gphYv3rUvHiqmO8up7fqmCEAqF10Pko6IuQ9tW3jkP/s320/P1080169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943520863200098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaLnsTbdDUbvJorj0x6HddNLth5EBRE9TzX5u41RedDbtmvYjKUFEPjDfRZ9J9_CSo-NE6qs5HT2Gj0guAbXsqdqdaPgBaUUXhkz8u9SQYviZxX5nBdyQfoKnxnmZfMQ6DGil-Ap27sq9/s1600-h/P1080177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaLnsTbdDUbvJorj0x6HddNLth5EBRE9TzX5u41RedDbtmvYjKUFEPjDfRZ9J9_CSo-NE6qs5HT2Gj0guAbXsqdqdaPgBaUUXhkz8u9SQYviZxX5nBdyQfoKnxnmZfMQ6DGil-Ap27sq9/s320/P1080177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943514200950930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljAEVmJQSvif4KB6PmQnLcSZ6yTsLo_fCIo11p8yni5O0gCN3nW49fSsINsy9Aq2PITyxcB7QZgWCfYf-c6RPbcMIWOTltBSwwHmBWUCSPOBIbwxm03iZUxNVGnHCa40iITvhP_WnnBLw/s1600-h/P1080198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljAEVmJQSvif4KB6PmQnLcSZ6yTsLo_fCIo11p8yni5O0gCN3nW49fSsINsy9Aq2PITyxcB7QZgWCfYf-c6RPbcMIWOTltBSwwHmBWUCSPOBIbwxm03iZUxNVGnHCa40iITvhP_WnnBLw/s320/P1080198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943515184122002" border="0" /></a>Spaniards love their ham. It can usually be seen hanging in the stores and restaurants with the hoof attached.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDY9T8UJMIK3Ulwhxdxo8-VE5zYPb5F9dZa2-wCXQVE0hneoCwW026ql0MzeNNhS5tqoogLF1SHUnPO9YurQxK06tT2MMSC9R9wnVfLZhLF4WPSFkbtVrs35Zc2qdSGUIfOrbM-VHbCJK/s1600-h/P1080201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDY9T8UJMIK3Ulwhxdxo8-VE5zYPb5F9dZa2-wCXQVE0hneoCwW026ql0MzeNNhS5tqoogLF1SHUnPO9YurQxK06tT2MMSC9R9wnVfLZhLF4WPSFkbtVrs35Zc2qdSGUIfOrbM-VHbCJK/s320/P1080201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943512061925970" border="0" /></a>I went to the Bilbao museum one day. I did some other stuff too, but I'm drawing a blank on the details.<br /><br />Madrid is a lively city. Spain is a late night town. People don't eat dinner until after 10:00. I even saw a lot of old people out after midnight in bars and outdoor restaurants.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtNzPNHSW3MWXGVTzgOny4m79PpG3iYc8k7oV7VM0lRD-6x7bdATz4IKyCzNiZR4aGFVdy-QvvQwFljvRZluCXDvJwspB2LDG6kLmHfWA8b7ALXX01A-xdsJU24Mv_BDFQLn5iaE8wPCf/s1600-h/P1080207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtNzPNHSW3MWXGVTzgOny4m79PpG3iYc8k7oV7VM0lRD-6x7bdATz4IKyCzNiZR4aGFVdy-QvvQwFljvRZluCXDvJwspB2LDG6kLmHfWA8b7ALXX01A-xdsJU24Mv_BDFQLn5iaE8wPCf/s320/P1080207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943507874907426" border="0" /></a>One thing I really wanted to do in Spain was go to a Bullfight. In South America I seemed to always be just missing the bullfighting season in whatever country I was in. In Spain, it was a bit of an off-season, but there was still a fight. The Sunday night bullfight in Madrid featured younger bullfighters and only cost 5 Euros (Yes!!!). I was having trouble finding someone to go to the bullfight with me. No one at the hostel wanted to go see a bullfight. It was easier to find a date to go to a prison in Bolivia than to find someone to go to a bullfight in Madrid. Finally I met John from Texas who wanted to go. He was raised in Texas and moved to Scotland when he was fifteen. He had the craziest accent I ever heard.<br /><br />Bullfighting is a bloody sport and I can can see how it would freak a lot of people out. The bull comes out and spends some time charging the Matador's team members. This is just simple charging with the team members holding pink capes. The matador is the only one who uses red. Then a guy comes out on an armored, blindfolded horse. The bull will charge the horse and the guy on the horse jabs a long spear a few times into the bull's back. The bull looses quite a bit blood and is weakened. Then the picadors come out. The bull charges the picadors and as it passes them, they get out of the way and jab two spears into the bulls neck. This weakens the bull further. After three passes (six spears) the Matador comes out and fights the weakened bull. After the bull charges the matador about a 15-20 times, the matador takes out his sword and sticks it into the bull's neck, killing the bull. The bull's carcass is dragged out of the ring by a horse cart and men come out and scoop dirt to cover the bloody spot. The process is repeated five more times (2 times per matador). It got a bit repetitive after the second fight.<br /><br />Bullfighting is a judged sport. If the matador does a good job, he gets the bull's ear as a trophy. If he does an outstanding job, he gets both ears. If he does a superb extraordinary job, he gets both ears and the tail. If the matador sticks his sword into the bull properly, it will kill the bull instantly. This is desirable in the scoring. As mentioned earlier, these were young bullfighters. One of them was only 19 years old. He looked like a little kid. None of them got to keep any parts of the bull this night. In fact, one of them took four stabs to finally kill the bull. Blood gushed out the bull's mouth. The crowd was not pleased.<br /><br />Plaza de Toros.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3t6joXt42IpipMqUGONRN1xsEqsMKCPtuIPn6NSecMcNfuVh6oEEfOLICcM2B_r_MfyTyqN37_vR0dmOYpZ8y058NAMt23X6OsQvaLmymvbPYQGRHtsWRY8SCppdxqn4xF-KNH0uffBf6/s1600-h/P1080213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3t6joXt42IpipMqUGONRN1xsEqsMKCPtuIPn6NSecMcNfuVh6oEEfOLICcM2B_r_MfyTyqN37_vR0dmOYpZ8y058NAMt23X6OsQvaLmymvbPYQGRHtsWRY8SCppdxqn4xF-KNH0uffBf6/s320/P1080213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943295007805234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFTC_9celrNKOd_pYYzUHSz5UX-wQbf4-IpA7ADbOoenw7IOJBp5Zqw8Rakofx9CG-Yc-Qe8C26GtGdDf0nDelyWAwMJWaQ7Lqup-hrDCyJC4ziAS1CrIIcAutjNvBxyEMmP3l2F3k5SU/s1600-h/P1080216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFTC_9celrNKOd_pYYzUHSz5UX-wQbf4-IpA7ADbOoenw7IOJBp5Zqw8Rakofx9CG-Yc-Qe8C26GtGdDf0nDelyWAwMJWaQ7Lqup-hrDCyJC4ziAS1CrIIcAutjNvBxyEMmP3l2F3k5SU/s320/P1080216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943293699865314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWsf6DXTNTflRTcLvwtmrWpHg1TizmB6JyeEKmCOQGmfHmUosSZNLj9eKl3SOp-yVdEazrdc-CCdjqOdj_gLPKqxWbpb6SXnI96cHjuB9fzVQyrE6FZMZo6ZqBbM3f2SCLv8FqNchXryz/s1600-h/P1080219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWsf6DXTNTflRTcLvwtmrWpHg1TizmB6JyeEKmCOQGmfHmUosSZNLj9eKl3SOp-yVdEazrdc-CCdjqOdj_gLPKqxWbpb6SXnI96cHjuB9fzVQyrE6FZMZo6ZqBbM3f2SCLv8FqNchXryz/s320/P1080219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943292500307474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUxNpts-MyKw5U01j_PiJmMcV8e-mW2eXx_vEyMSAVxhafg7S6QJ6-dprxqtCiM0iu5GB6cZ2yQwgK1GCQjLC-nF4vDMGsWoz3mFQZsrAFoOz2zb03iRxlNN1kc-zEIORBZ6cg2aofXRY/s1600-h/P1080225.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksIoCkLVDWBX0U8WC_i0jE1iKC40dQuQ_gPTBKnaqi5Vz22B_NK8s9mJBFJv1843XteHGpA1lbDqaCcRiDFbpFhauP7OTdaBJIB2vfQ147C6eMuSxQxeeYDWlFTvA-XkR8ChvjvxBewuY/s320/P1080253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402943012962458514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rmMb6w5md4Zz7_IBOFoJI6dLBRrJzhni-NVH-OVhFMMileW0Td1JeLplySB9GozEdaNFS4ko2xV4MuFKTydH6w1VYaZGuGwuHWZppmaT6Tx037ZX7Ghj0oxSKy09se6BQ5q41gxm9q7f/s1600-h/P1080264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rmMb6w5md4Zz7_IBOFoJI6dLBRrJzhni-NVH-OVhFMMileW0Td1JeLplySB9GozEdaNFS4ko2xV4MuFKTydH6w1VYaZGuGwuHWZppmaT6Tx037ZX7Ghj0oxSKy09se6BQ5q41gxm9q7f/s320/P1080264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942840347421874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0C1S1cpkJWBnUCBj0LZ_GpYDBII9XWNcOZsGMqIOEz1U_bbGI54yjx5fH-hajHOoLpmBDgPSQ8RDIkk7cZHTmZPPFSLPdDBl8b7sVCXHtud0NhuoLUdNoRAvnS15o7-cXCcMtg2jHYa2/s1600-h/P1080265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQ32ek7ml8P32rHjd5jI40lNNKyXjigd2e9pPpJse3aHDFnV7Wmsgh0rE_vJO8Y-M-386Tkc-Smd458DrjOdDBh-OZdk6MZV58es5htLMyyZVNSRnRWx0Ca402fRKwVQRRoypxksY7uaf/s320/P1080343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942652770054754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRDsIJeQeIv3nIMFAmyTwyEnYYgwP_-GEqyJ0ez-QVFGvS77xIYS-md7gMlM_u0uPGPqHpJHDHmtTmC6culxQeXI2UL7qEwLv_BpEb8tx6REqrMWN_qGc5U_bmVxuAbmLacaEnZ9pI8rp/s1600-h/P1080356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRDsIJeQeIv3nIMFAmyTwyEnYYgwP_-GEqyJ0ez-QVFGvS77xIYS-md7gMlM_u0uPGPqHpJHDHmtTmC6culxQeXI2UL7qEwLv_BpEb8tx6REqrMWN_qGc5U_bmVxuAbmLacaEnZ9pI8rp/s320/P1080356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942648058354194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcU07WXiPURtq8nUJNhqCw3brKWAUbcB6FOvPA4HQxcYscf0ItpbP7LqLSSkdNJtwZzbAsjV6eo3Wq5cxHGXFr1m3bYo5iKpZbnRrN_QFlqSYDR5ywnHyR-nvVORWd2BpcySwdHgfn3dG/s1600-h/P1080358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcU07WXiPURtq8nUJNhqCw3brKWAUbcB6FOvPA4HQxcYscf0ItpbP7LqLSSkdNJtwZzbAsjV6eo3Wq5cxHGXFr1m3bYo5iKpZbnRrN_QFlqSYDR5ywnHyR-nvVORWd2BpcySwdHgfn3dG/s320/P1080358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942649221229266" border="0" /></a><br />Although I was pleased with the low price of the ticket, it ended up costing me quite a bit more. Either at the fight or on the subway on the way back, I got pick pocketed. Luckily I had taken out my ATM cards and credit cards, but I lost about 100 Euros and my drivers license. This would be the last time I would be robbed on the trip.<br /><br />The next day I took a train to Sevilla. Spain has a very fast and efficient (if a bit pricey) train system.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhrLz6suLu5O8je9O61ytDFsWBGAaZDazI5nmoAFY6987qRUtD-wpBONa-01EPTFm9QU_-meSHU_p70C3TkKFa_wOxOqg-Ej5_xYSaXTNHM6lUVJmcimciK_ntb4_8Egu-BScN-XomW4d/s1600-h/P1080378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhrLz6suLu5O8je9O61ytDFsWBGAaZDazI5nmoAFY6987qRUtD-wpBONa-01EPTFm9QU_-meSHU_p70C3TkKFa_wOxOqg-Ej5_xYSaXTNHM6lUVJmcimciK_ntb4_8Egu-BScN-XomW4d/s320/P1080378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942415120637362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5I0iE-G6ucGgYjsIyyNeaUiZW88DOsdowHbs0HuMui8mbuDP8yZdUktIu4mM3P3I5k6r4Eoha6TSINzT05zKY16ByrMFGZYhZv0ijrDs9waXm1Ptz7ylX32lRLr-3uzhPSBwoDmmwT0-/s1600-h/P1080377.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5I0iE-G6ucGgYjsIyyNeaUiZW88DOsdowHbs0HuMui8mbuDP8yZdUktIu4mM3P3I5k6r4Eoha6TSINzT05zKY16ByrMFGZYhZv0ijrDs9waXm1Ptz7ylX32lRLr-3uzhPSBwoDmmwT0-/s320/P1080377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942411372134770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXZj2XrmHU-bzWhmpyimXTjuyyNbcedVIJwvEZ6HflEIFczufFFfKnPunQQ-d2okbjC5dXX86WB5yM0aZMwYC4hF3aqno-ELbtWreWjV8CE8DA618KPqIDbu2fpemF6A4T0aEEnbKulJ_/s1600-h/P1080382.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXZj2XrmHU-bzWhmpyimXTjuyyNbcedVIJwvEZ6HflEIFczufFFfKnPunQQ-d2okbjC5dXX86WB5yM0aZMwYC4hF3aqno-ELbtWreWjV8CE8DA618KPqIDbu2fpemF6A4T0aEEnbKulJ_/s320/P1080382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942406711867970" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Plaza de Espa<a class="text-middle-main-column-height-0-bold">ña. Some scenes of Star Wars Attack of the Clones were filmed here, but were digitally modified in the movie. </a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar0nzdMQOlQpiHXlY4YyZGoUX6X2EgfMqR1jqyzuNjT2UbCswiASX03QV05c8shJW2TVwZMvk2DmbRWfkc7DnvDbbJf_sfHTMDk8tYsrWTlVqQpMWbYkfee7NjVZEe4Xg-cg_STs7b4II/s1600-h/P1080390.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar0nzdMQOlQpiHXlY4YyZGoUX6X2EgfMqR1jqyzuNjT2UbCswiASX03QV05c8shJW2TVwZMvk2DmbRWfkc7DnvDbbJf_sfHTMDk8tYsrWTlVqQpMWbYkfee7NjVZEe4Xg-cg_STs7b4II/s320/P1080390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942224375469458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkU532zITu0EEKamWItMljNxGq4Vd9ZOj9pRMHJhJyz47SVQXSruJP5lO9UUlY8xGIFiNSh8TSyg3pMo2fCkstcCoyh12IY4jUJPCRc6quFAD4edc-CUh3MoetUlQFTSRfHYS09UpKS1e/s1600-h/P1080393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkU532zITu0EEKamWItMljNxGq4Vd9ZOj9pRMHJhJyz47SVQXSruJP5lO9UUlY8xGIFiNSh8TSyg3pMo2fCkstcCoyh12IY4jUJPCRc6quFAD4edc-CUh3MoetUlQFTSRfHYS09UpKS1e/s320/P1080393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942218037297090" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 5, 104);font-size:100%;" > </span><br />Typical Sevillan street.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAJNJGYaFs6c25pSBixg8exY-RPrNZkPHqsp-6P_cgsgFWjrqNjYlRNRj5oROhEN35VrbbomhBGW0MqBc6DFNUAVzOw4J2GA-tOjYmNaNldf2KbYH3Sde7oNjGkD7YIR41QahyUW_-Elj/s1600-h/P1080407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAJNJGYaFs6c25pSBixg8exY-RPrNZkPHqsp-6P_cgsgFWjrqNjYlRNRj5oROhEN35VrbbomhBGW0MqBc6DFNUAVzOw4J2GA-tOjYmNaNldf2KbYH3Sde7oNjGkD7YIR41QahyUW_-Elj/s320/P1080407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942214222796130" border="0" /></a><br />The Alacazar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDxN6XJdBnqSH4KSArIYSmrOBVlmWDp4KRcKvNXSZITKlqBUjUizWx_XHmUkqBEtgqHh9VGPHZanpKIvtEL4FbV7of3phdfmP3aq5A-XKXv-hn4usMaSLxtMv6-9X9cDz5PPs_xehO2rp/s1600-h/P1080420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDxN6XJdBnqSH4KSArIYSmrOBVlmWDp4KRcKvNXSZITKlqBUjUizWx_XHmUkqBEtgqHh9VGPHZanpKIvtEL4FbV7of3phdfmP3aq5A-XKXv-hn4usMaSLxtMv6-9X9cDz5PPs_xehO2rp/s320/P1080420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942214667172130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Cathedral.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJUrondN1nKBt_74_dG-dfo52pdGu1OQDCSPwv6SoJfeAgfErd_3JRuKpHVdDIKwnFzbPoRfgVZ6f4m45BwqocWLKhFdZiUEpK2eW7TQ7l5-Oc-fCjcBpTASK2Z06Vdy06IhkSPKuIwn1/s1600-h/P1080463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJUrondN1nKBt_74_dG-dfo52pdGu1OQDCSPwv6SoJfeAgfErd_3JRuKpHVdDIKwnFzbPoRfgVZ6f4m45BwqocWLKhFdZiUEpK2eW7TQ7l5-Oc-fCjcBpTASK2Z06Vdy06IhkSPKuIwn1/s320/P1080463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940971840674866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtJMjVkKaa7A32blDsWn5XIphD0Ksb_RN36fAiFoCvFWpN6oOoYfVN66Aqb6OXWbMCr3-NcrZk3WBOk_bM2wzn41s7niQhJfa_xdHAczeWHMVXofxoDvst97itAd_wAM434dLSZqas3jc/s1600-h/P1080472.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtJMjVkKaa7A32blDsWn5XIphD0Ksb_RN36fAiFoCvFWpN6oOoYfVN66Aqb6OXWbMCr3-NcrZk3WBOk_bM2wzn41s7niQhJfa_xdHAczeWHMVXofxoDvst97itAd_wAM434dLSZqas3jc/s320/P1080472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940954055830850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzc2DdvkK13PPxZzqRoD6D8b2CPanj_9OdYDyFW8KmRFClXhW0quTL28XVy9nBoRhjC9639hPxGGetAI7TperLFAeKGoMLvQpaVxOiPx0qcxztoIGL4gnFazzWtR_nE6yjeSAH_rKanld/s1600-h/P1080490.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzc2DdvkK13PPxZzqRoD6D8b2CPanj_9OdYDyFW8KmRFClXhW0quTL28XVy9nBoRhjC9639hPxGGetAI7TperLFAeKGoMLvQpaVxOiPx0qcxztoIGL4gnFazzWtR_nE6yjeSAH_rKanld/s320/P1080490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940779662555874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvPT_aFBjviHED9_ITDiYLQtwR0e9TsONeTcF0DBmWHYxkM34FyYT1wCkf3TMIPS3HLro3VUlIhuCcIG7_Qe1WfrU90vMz3LFpVMruEBa8LDzErhWv45tK4dNcV3aswdfClpZVDUvvjb8/s1600-h/P1080475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvPT_aFBjviHED9_ITDiYLQtwR0e9TsONeTcF0DBmWHYxkM34FyYT1wCkf3TMIPS3HLro3VUlIhuCcIG7_Qe1WfrU90vMz3LFpVMruEBa8LDzErhWv45tK4dNcV3aswdfClpZVDUvvjb8/s320/P1080475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940945890729410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nxTOGL5x_d0rjPy-jOj1nNup-E5WPaQFUkBhnOJHAHOxm1LnEvXP0Egc4aAdU-5UK4WqJMFQOORS7Dj2lwIpakdBQmvBHnXtp4ZRky2TY-UnadpFjykFMfO1UzGyHO97kh4KhL9G_f21/s1600-h/P1080495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nxTOGL5x_d0rjPy-jOj1nNup-E5WPaQFUkBhnOJHAHOxm1LnEvXP0Egc4aAdU-5UK4WqJMFQOORS7Dj2lwIpakdBQmvBHnXtp4ZRky2TY-UnadpFjykFMfO1UzGyHO97kh4KhL9G_f21/s320/P1080495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940774276381842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ9OR1bMvGXCXcbvjnXlgaDBFAC136RQ8u9idnoaRu4AjL_Y3kyNoMx9Xi110OQGvIEIlBYbBAcbxP6DVM2jb56kdj6whBcBImzSOa9FlKgRrfXUKCiDFpMiQ2u7LIXhAJKHqHJjb3OvH/s1600-h/P1080496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ9OR1bMvGXCXcbvjnXlgaDBFAC136RQ8u9idnoaRu4AjL_Y3kyNoMx9Xi110OQGvIEIlBYbBAcbxP6DVM2jb56kdj6whBcBImzSOa9FlKgRrfXUKCiDFpMiQ2u7LIXhAJKHqHJjb3OvH/s320/P1080496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940774408298674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q1Y4T1MsmOPCTvZpRGMExyhLCd82ByhwvTnicwDiMUfeV_Pxi1vLcUePEE6tP9p_tKEGLiFm34raIg9aSuHgSZQMEBEULZOsdyvXi9hOXMvqiBwkvbm26MTVjBVk3NSJFh2XUvM90njd/s1600-h/P1080500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5q1Y4T1MsmOPCTvZpRGMExyhLCd82ByhwvTnicwDiMUfeV_Pxi1vLcUePEE6tP9p_tKEGLiFm34raIg9aSuHgSZQMEBEULZOsdyvXi9hOXMvqiBwkvbm26MTVjBVk3NSJFh2XUvM90njd/s320/P1080500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940771007615106" border="0" /></a><br />Some miners were holed up in the cathedral on strike. I'm really not sure why they were in the cathedral. They kind of kept to themselves and didn't bother the tourists.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1K_ujtt2eWK0xSY78PiOm2yXtWkyC_fQrCO0ftfiHyD7jMEKPwJvTpewU-91tJbDz2998w_tIuvCKhV7lpwZUr1ejZ7ZGWYgkkTAX-woOC_gGjpL80R9paXjyk2HQ9XFLuuHjNuxLvHI/s1600-h/P1080467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1K_ujtt2eWK0xSY78PiOm2yXtWkyC_fQrCO0ftfiHyD7jMEKPwJvTpewU-91tJbDz2998w_tIuvCKhV7lpwZUr1ejZ7ZGWYgkkTAX-woOC_gGjpL80R9paXjyk2HQ9XFLuuHjNuxLvHI/s320/P1080467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940963640948770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsuQx8AM9bAJGioSBL-3taG38U2lD6UwnVhTGjlRVqHXsPE_UDkquaqSf3aX3GEiuaQG-HNrupDVge1dZBSERWNxTBmwjd7D-x84gCwNFRAJZnOPkCxJMdWQ_ygdJant3DFK5O1v-1LWn/s1600-h/P1080468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsuQx8AM9bAJGioSBL-3taG38U2lD6UwnVhTGjlRVqHXsPE_UDkquaqSf3aX3GEiuaQG-HNrupDVge1dZBSERWNxTBmwjd7D-x84gCwNFRAJZnOPkCxJMdWQ_ygdJant3DFK5O1v-1LWn/s320/P1080468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940960930189394" border="0" /></a><br />The Plaza de Toros.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LfBrWtbPhSBHs9_rNcvRySvSigXJ2hChv2tFjZAxtuyiIna5ZgfhNbRBtEIMx2_b3qztvd3hTlWCjFnJvdlK1duxpTSsiMQe4o-xirPIPYYy4EZn1OO4IuUHscbxIKofVDcb8p-hfsUw/s1600-h/P1080514.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LfBrWtbPhSBHs9_rNcvRySvSigXJ2hChv2tFjZAxtuyiIna5ZgfhNbRBtEIMx2_b3qztvd3hTlWCjFnJvdlK1duxpTSsiMQe4o-xirPIPYYy4EZn1OO4IuUHscbxIKofVDcb8p-hfsUw/s320/P1080514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940614079854450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrgX3ii1GpxKXqA5mu4ArZWu-kxgVeYgBwPPwNIgOjZ4THDj1OgpdKSWaZoMGBu3NqwOhes9Q6aBxtGvtbfTtepz_0xZ0PdIYidMAyVxAKvOThw4gJ-gp1ixhPcHZ_l56R6Dzja3nm-8M/s1600-h/P1080517.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrgX3ii1GpxKXqA5mu4ArZWu-kxgVeYgBwPPwNIgOjZ4THDj1OgpdKSWaZoMGBu3NqwOhes9Q6aBxtGvtbfTtepz_0xZ0PdIYidMAyVxAKvOThw4gJ-gp1ixhPcHZ_l56R6Dzja3nm-8M/s320/P1080517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940613946315106" border="0" /></a><br />Nighttime in Sevilla.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgsRMBfcpjxHkAgaEJsqOVNv4d_HnGBDfVA5fqTytROZ05raqTQ_4-9NYY1qR5JRlMFbh0bg-njMtnhWA88cZUC1TlL-rfnX916Wpt6ToyF_vAhf2z6Nm_VOCN6JUaNrumw5vd2eaTc6i/s1600-h/P1080530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgsRMBfcpjxHkAgaEJsqOVNv4d_HnGBDfVA5fqTytROZ05raqTQ_4-9NYY1qR5JRlMFbh0bg-njMtnhWA88cZUC1TlL-rfnX916Wpt6ToyF_vAhf2z6Nm_VOCN6JUaNrumw5vd2eaTc6i/s320/P1080530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940605373848210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLtRhVorqhCV2sffYlcqQXvzyzv0KL1UWdZs1xAfGvbo-nx-4oI5KCrERe6gO1lE96JrFLOQgxy-9l_rtm-fWlD6XsHyzsjbVWgftDLhS-L6WhUNNFDFzYWbj8MY11mByT19bd6osrQVS/s1600-h/P1080531.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLtRhVorqhCV2sffYlcqQXvzyzv0KL1UWdZs1xAfGvbo-nx-4oI5KCrERe6gO1lE96JrFLOQgxy-9l_rtm-fWlD6XsHyzsjbVWgftDLhS-L6WhUNNFDFzYWbj8MY11mByT19bd6osrQVS/s320/P1080531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940600691360322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdFMorU-rcY9y3Jv2Sh8TWfyPNGbKxesKiJEwb-id48U-NUjY2rBGR-uOTzUPZ5wCHjvxCo1iQfTkm8Hdt74-hWwEZUCVVvjPHAONu42C-bbYehsX-xuey_Rq0pGetbY3xVc5BY8bfE76/s1600-h/P1080524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdFMorU-rcY9y3Jv2Sh8TWfyPNGbKxesKiJEwb-id48U-NUjY2rBGR-uOTzUPZ5wCHjvxCo1iQfTkm8Hdt74-hWwEZUCVVvjPHAONu42C-bbYehsX-xuey_Rq0pGetbY3xVc5BY8bfE76/s320/P1080524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940609233925762" border="0" /></a><br />On July 28, I went to see The Boss at La Cartuga Olympic Stadium. I kind of planned my trip around this. I wanted to go to Spain and I wanted to go to Sevilla anyway, so I planned the timing around this show. I went with three Brits I'd met who were spending their holiday following The Boss around Italy and Spain. This had to be one expensive holiday. The general admission ticket was 75 Euros ($108). This is the most I've ever spent on one concert ticket. I don't know if it was worth 75 Euros, but it was a pretty damn good show.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54Z9rIDvPNuwpR-L3Uu5LvH88OTddcrNv1QEXqtnBbRbHpdXh_1vxin7Y_p8w0sn6dRyicwu0GkQIZi3fx6c6KRjNuUmldQWu1GlloAWGGOaxD2tiyFX3dRJEAjLI2cPWcMq-d60EHo1p/s1600-h/P1080426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54Z9rIDvPNuwpR-L3Uu5LvH88OTddcrNv1QEXqtnBbRbHpdXh_1vxin7Y_p8w0sn6dRyicwu0GkQIZi3fx6c6KRjNuUmldQWu1GlloAWGGOaxD2tiyFX3dRJEAjLI2cPWcMq-d60EHo1p/s320/P1080426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942210007156306" border="0" /></a><br />The stadium was not completely sold out, but it was pretty close.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AWnAe-pZlyPinh8PIZx684QUbxmeW6PWTStgnIj4x4KWDTQSySHZindHihVshSwZC5cnfyDU5zzyl00fhfW4gmVgn1joFbEc-922XQ-d4dhJwUbbV7_S3xGY9nyQ0ru-OyuLHcpJfYyM/s1600-h/P1080427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AWnAe-pZlyPinh8PIZx684QUbxmeW6PWTStgnIj4x4KWDTQSySHZindHihVshSwZC5cnfyDU5zzyl00fhfW4gmVgn1joFbEc-922XQ-d4dhJwUbbV7_S3xGY9nyQ0ru-OyuLHcpJfYyM/s320/P1080427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942059892973490" border="0" /></a>Urinals for men in the back of the floor area. Europeans are quite a bit less modest about urinating in public than Americans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQHB2s3H6YQeoARCuuv5x6bh9zKqzSWVJYh-2CziE30XXdbrWOOvY-wxzIDEVe26E5Ih4YFdC_r36A0MEEMkyfXna0AgOEq_iq7RZ9VFBtQ5dOop3C8pFebuWj6GmG2rFbV3E82xPhpG4/s1600-h/P1080428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQHB2s3H6YQeoARCuuv5x6bh9zKqzSWVJYh-2CziE30XXdbrWOOvY-wxzIDEVe26E5Ih4YFdC_r36A0MEEMkyfXna0AgOEq_iq7RZ9VFBtQ5dOop3C8pFebuWj6GmG2rFbV3E82xPhpG4/s320/P1080428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402942055073720946" border="0" /></a>The show was pretty damn good. This was my first time to see Bruce, so I was pretty pumped. He came to Nashville on August 21, 2008, exactly four days after I started this trip. This show was announced after I bought my ticket and paid for my Spanish school. Putting off the trip to catch this show wasn't really an option.<br /><br />I think Bruce learned about three or four phrases in Spanish and repeated them over and over again. At the beginning he yelled out "Ola Sevilla!" about ten times. When he introduced the band he yelled "El Hombre Grande!" about five times. The Brits I was with said the set lists were better in Rome and Bilbao, but I was happy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W7iS59dDj2ynFMKig2s5X9mgE60otPODIEgIGNBiAa-oqdy4Okb__yXKfrVdVMfny2OAARRuKRJzB2hkyDDqH1F56uWwov1rlwxDGf8ePB22fIsdVChbROFXuXxY6LauXkPOwFVmVBhL/s1600-h/P1080433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W7iS59dDj2ynFMKig2s5X9mgE60otPODIEgIGNBiAa-oqdy4Okb__yXKfrVdVMfny2OAARRuKRJzB2hkyDDqH1F56uWwov1rlwxDGf8ePB22fIsdVChbROFXuXxY6LauXkPOwFVmVBhL/s320/P1080433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402941410238608546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCaJAQ7RcuNnCjooOChtd1DIWDaRJtkBXbmyvh7xV_vDZzkkPw13S0A97C4CVIAeRnPVLBPmxbrNNRfe9DN_aTbGGT50UbbrMopxbqJfFHmbbBgA-1TvAV_-bnWjwpzx2nAvcZ_dfkRCa/s1600-h/P1080446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCaJAQ7RcuNnCjooOChtd1DIWDaRJtkBXbmyvh7xV_vDZzkkPw13S0A97C4CVIAeRnPVLBPmxbrNNRfe9DN_aTbGGT50UbbrMopxbqJfFHmbbBgA-1TvAV_-bnWjwpzx2nAvcZ_dfkRCa/s320/P1080446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402941407922433490" border="0" /></a><br />As true with Spanish culture the show started late, lasted until well after 1:00am, and people all seemed to have a killer time. I wonder where the Spanish get their money (75 Euro concert tickets and 8 Euro beers) and their energy (late night concert on a Tuesday night).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCfOpONgq18SNp8VuCMWYpzjKerU2nKwPToovoy251d8vDfGLadAo04434Hux-il-b98rjO9VbryirSlzrbyV0qrWZA3b7WDKq26KbEIPUkDad1u1fl2ufTViu47fY_zyEezSV0HiiQKk/s1600-h/P1080451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCfOpONgq18SNp8VuCMWYpzjKerU2nKwPToovoy251d8vDfGLadAo04434Hux-il-b98rjO9VbryirSlzrbyV0qrWZA3b7WDKq26KbEIPUkDad1u1fl2ufTViu47fY_zyEezSV0HiiQKk/s320/P1080451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402941403108366674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqcmQmCc32tuERd8HNBIM1omxkvVOfFbsAKTuRYN513yURGbAotLYlJn_zQIcnWf2vXN1V-tx_-d4EZVRRwD95cNpv7L0FdntJ9cCSsVgxvPKp2qmsvaDblCWxT-m0w9JLFSZQ8RPQ9kQ/s1600-h/P1080454.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqcmQmCc32tuERd8HNBIM1omxkvVOfFbsAKTuRYN513yURGbAotLYlJn_zQIcnWf2vXN1V-tx_-d4EZVRRwD95cNpv7L0FdntJ9cCSsVgxvPKp2qmsvaDblCWxT-m0w9JLFSZQ8RPQ9kQ/s320/P1080454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402941398997001010" border="0" /></a><br />Sevilla was extremely hot. In the afternoons it would regularly get up to about 110 degrees. The siesta is strictly observed. Businesses close down from about 2:00 to about 5:00. Everyone goes home to escape from the heat and to take a nap. Businesses open back up around 5:00 and stay open until about 7:00 or 8:00. Dinner is usually eaten between 10:00 and midnight.<br /><br />On July 30, I took a took a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Dublin, Ireland, my last country before returning home. Ryanair is one of, if not the largest discount carrier in Europe. Discount airlines in Europe advertise tickets for ridiculously cheap prices. Sometimes as low as a few Euros per ticket. When I booked my ticket, the initial fare for the one-way ticket was 15 Euros. As I clicked through the screens, it seemed like each click cost me more money. 18 Euros for taxes. Five Euros for an online check-in fee. Ten Euros for a checked bag. Five Euros to for a payment fee (I basically had to pay a fee to pay for the ticket). All told, my 15 Euro ticket ended up costing me over 50 Euros.<br /><br />Ryanair really is the bottom of the barrel for flying. Some people think flying on Southwest is slumming it, but Ryanair takes the cake. The seat pockets have been removed to make more room for more rows of seats. The doors to the overhead bins are plastered with advertisements. There was a soccer team on board and they screamed soccer soccer chants for the whole three hours.<br /><br />It was almost midnight when I got into Dublin. I handed my passport to the customs agent and he looked it over. By this time, my passport was quite full. I had just enough space for a European Union sized stamp to enter Ireland and a stamp to get back into America. The customs agent told me there wasn't any space left in my passport. I pointed to a spot on a page. He then proceeded to chow me the Irish stamp, which was different from the standard EU sized stamp. It took up almost an entire page, which I didn't have. He flipped through it again and told me that without sufficient space for a stamp, it was not a valid document. I didn't know what to say other than to beg for him to "be cool". He flipped through it one more time and stamped the back flap, which was totally not an authorized visa page, and let me pass. When I got back to the states I sent my passport off to have more pages attached so I could travel again some day.<br /><br />The next morning I took a walking tour of Dublin.<br /><br />Trinity College.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvTGmlUQVFXqs4COiYOo-B-mawrfQAkmJNaWwjtjq6sTP1gfM9SOi8c1RR7NsB33p5wdoT1DPuvBnGT_bivDx7f8m_pXywcymFZ00-thSRoyslnl0ynQa6V0YqyIw_zzbR2ZFDlWVUVE7/s1600-h/P1080537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvTGmlUQVFXqs4COiYOo-B-mawrfQAkmJNaWwjtjq6sTP1gfM9SOi8c1RR7NsB33p5wdoT1DPuvBnGT_bivDx7f8m_pXywcymFZ00-thSRoyslnl0ynQa6V0YqyIw_zzbR2ZFDlWVUVE7/s320/P1080537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940327422689426" border="0" /></a>Dublin Castle, which was not a castle at all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR03W2MC4Mrru6nd2gkOuktXc4Msg5DXBqXJh5OkvI7KXPaUDfE1qpjWgcKn7WOyGIt05UTD7qJSq8-p2Arxk8agtaTfjzxcMxP2cVrf15AQy1rQ4lkFQMdIc-55GJt38CCh0T9p-tRA7p/s1600-h/P1080541.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR03W2MC4Mrru6nd2gkOuktXc4Msg5DXBqXJh5OkvI7KXPaUDfE1qpjWgcKn7WOyGIt05UTD7qJSq8-p2Arxk8agtaTfjzxcMxP2cVrf15AQy1rQ4lkFQMdIc-55GJt38CCh0T9p-tRA7p/s320/P1080541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940266761106306" border="0" /></a>Sand sculptures near Dublin Castle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aebkqhzmo9osQ5pdUEM0Eh3yB6qaIt6FeZTW19OKSoAc7iexl0S6Z7qP_p_7ed2uuH92GcCFR1eKi1RB-EVllshZ2ffa-M2CHXgDuVB0NM6YsZyK58auMlAGip50yB-_DiSAJyeVqBQg/s1600-h/P1080548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aebkqhzmo9osQ5pdUEM0Eh3yB6qaIt6FeZTW19OKSoAc7iexl0S6Z7qP_p_7ed2uuH92GcCFR1eKi1RB-EVllshZ2ffa-M2CHXgDuVB0NM6YsZyK58auMlAGip50yB-_DiSAJyeVqBQg/s320/P1080548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940259480192866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ss6ZNoflWDwe2UUF_kGRinS7rlYqQCyT8_NQADhgdrJP08gDC2NydhCkzY6Pb1q6bTzcKglMynci02ICRofF480o27Chxkt1PU15CY2OVTi3A00mHxnNGkEd2KPkDc3yW0Nq9t7mO0Sl/s1600-h/P1080549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ss6ZNoflWDwe2UUF_kGRinS7rlYqQCyT8_NQADhgdrJP08gDC2NydhCkzY6Pb1q6bTzcKglMynci02ICRofF480o27Chxkt1PU15CY2OVTi3A00mHxnNGkEd2KPkDc3yW0Nq9t7mO0Sl/s320/P1080549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940258057084082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some churches - St something or other. There were two big ones in Dublin. Both charged 10 Euros each to go inside. By this point on my trip I had been in enough churches and didn't deem these two to be worth 20 Euros.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiofG9_IsZELH3zTiHLDBOvK17zBAI-nhLI0VyeGwbKax9-pRhI858NF8v8pBBApQxwghXXgH-JdIhaDuz5PN_ozA3VoG4qWXtuX8UKk75kI9-V_AofCjtIXyU-pY_4DwWIkko7fPVfVH/s1600-h/P1080556.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiofG9_IsZELH3zTiHLDBOvK17zBAI-nhLI0VyeGwbKax9-pRhI858NF8v8pBBApQxwghXXgH-JdIhaDuz5PN_ozA3VoG4qWXtuX8UKk75kI9-V_AofCjtIXyU-pY_4DwWIkko7fPVfVH/s320/P1080556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402940250119749778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_hYfInxgNVqvxpoeql3YujF8FAMcmgd7-X2nrwruiqv4nYUPmCbTqoanpfiRKd_5eJqASoX9K5CPICJp8NZu3BJ_UvtB1SmQB6mdsjzyGfziGsf4DllPAAIN5YfLp3puT-4mBQ7wLfWt/s1600-h/P1080558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_hYfInxgNVqvxpoeql3YujF8FAMcmgd7-X2nrwruiqv4nYUPmCbTqoanpfiRKd_5eJqASoX9K5CPICJp8NZu3BJ_UvtB1SmQB6mdsjzyGfziGsf4DllPAAIN5YfLp3puT-4mBQ7wLfWt/s320/P1080558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939911556906866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY23MW2zrsbmYDonLbzZ2jVpj3dUNaHNJY57d80Gaxx7CCxQpNQUQC5b92ZEEvv5mDDgyacSrreLqrzEFZUoruQjmo7fmE49gQXcKeYhXILQJTNarPNcswvBbaoi0RbaLizEoAwsVWzU_/s1600-h/P1080616.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY23MW2zrsbmYDonLbzZ2jVpj3dUNaHNJY57d80Gaxx7CCxQpNQUQC5b92ZEEvv5mDDgyacSrreLqrzEFZUoruQjmo7fmE49gQXcKeYhXILQJTNarPNcswvBbaoi0RbaLizEoAwsVWzU_/s320/P1080616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939129784060482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNMDwlJaU27yj-Yvg2qaAYh5vdW4goLljxhNQcRA1IkYfrt-PsAuJcZFUh-r9lPaX35TfapqnigHqRAWePdtDMNm7U5_XpZE0tvFtsL1Kdgzs4borT9dnUWQgYPET3ISaKAu7-RNj480S/s1600-h/P1080617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNMDwlJaU27yj-Yvg2qaAYh5vdW4goLljxhNQcRA1IkYfrt-PsAuJcZFUh-r9lPaX35TfapqnigHqRAWePdtDMNm7U5_XpZE0tvFtsL1Kdgzs4borT9dnUWQgYPET3ISaKAu7-RNj480S/s320/P1080617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938933300088866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This building was formerly a warehouse that was a music venue in the 70's and 80's. It is one of the venues where U2 got their start and built their following.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PSxVAQ7S3aiDuSiWiV6paR0qQXZsAnhuv60U3PptByh9auD3tR7etm8rvidc4Y9bNgLKhJcsj21NQXv12FPx_SzmQ1y9EqiQL1jov0_c7oLiFa1N1fVRk4Ei0XNrTXeZkHO-7C4kLN3U/s1600-h/P1080563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PSxVAQ7S3aiDuSiWiV6paR0qQXZsAnhuv60U3PptByh9auD3tR7etm8rvidc4Y9bNgLKhJcsj21NQXv12FPx_SzmQ1y9EqiQL1jov0_c7oLiFa1N1fVRk4Ei0XNrTXeZkHO-7C4kLN3U/s320/P1080563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939911425053762" border="0" /></a><br />Pubs, pubs, and more pubs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a9-n_gjco1y8UM91n1mpT9jIAShf6z3syZctWh0nUFC_NjD7X3ZVaUjqBVy-9Z2G0Kb2RHtVRapzP5RVgxHAWt83kd3y3ue7kx-EyRgM75IObNqhfrWf1RoPMYkpOFsY28Bdj3ihdwzG/s1600-h/P1080565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a9-n_gjco1y8UM91n1mpT9jIAShf6z3syZctWh0nUFC_NjD7X3ZVaUjqBVy-9Z2G0Kb2RHtVRapzP5RVgxHAWt83kd3y3ue7kx-EyRgM75IObNqhfrWf1RoPMYkpOFsY28Bdj3ihdwzG/s320/P1080565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939909925309442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyc4iau-MDNWN25F4qyU6kKOPD4EFh6Q_tmuJCOPkat8SclMmDpuXEj3mNjNpefjAV2xAEbI_FpFnipOk05NbnmZjshL8zJPOGNEu7VEU8sYYWrMLYPFFyTZ0on2Doq381W76nF1cE2tbl/s1600-h/P1080566.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyc4iau-MDNWN25F4qyU6kKOPD4EFh6Q_tmuJCOPkat8SclMmDpuXEj3mNjNpefjAV2xAEbI_FpFnipOk05NbnmZjshL8zJPOGNEu7VEU8sYYWrMLYPFFyTZ0on2Doq381W76nF1cE2tbl/s320/P1080566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939903945995522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNloMgDVYFz-PAmx91U6wp8yJZtkyB155iI1P1WVO_T6D9rwGrYkU8sqnD3i_gCjVFq7FEBU6Da4ASVZlzEGPVCyy81IXHbFdS2UvGD8O8RDy9aebJ6mr3NbQ4oaDe5ztZqYc6-WmwV5S/s1600-h/P1080593.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNloMgDVYFz-PAmx91U6wp8yJZtkyB155iI1P1WVO_T6D9rwGrYkU8sqnD3i_gCjVFq7FEBU6Da4ASVZlzEGPVCyy81IXHbFdS2UvGD8O8RDy9aebJ6mr3NbQ4oaDe5ztZqYc6-WmwV5S/s320/P1080593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939587667078978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYuw686uVq8yQVP8hlWGedRpfO-xCFOacN9VwfJ7Sl6StC9zg9MC0TgL5ihnUA5vBV1-IlICG7JWNI0nB3EK1E8V7nBPCemXeiRNQenyYbUOfV3tEnFIgHp9oqsO7QrHtR-_B92h436ij/s1600-h/P1080599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYuw686uVq8yQVP8hlWGedRpfO-xCFOacN9VwfJ7Sl6StC9zg9MC0TgL5ihnUA5vBV1-IlICG7JWNI0nB3EK1E8V7nBPCemXeiRNQenyYbUOfV3tEnFIgHp9oqsO7QrHtR-_B92h436ij/s320/P1080599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939394647924674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E7b1a8fqGCifNq8WGCkHJYM7GT6scLsluT_lwZT3ZXyEkx7xKLDw18EGRxTH9Z3Kn46S28SLZOvR_dxWbsDPUTTIJfl-y6lT9BKyxmoPTzJ3k5X-ZbRzkhWhsqDHzHxwJh7KI4mZWhVN/s1600-h/P1080739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E7b1a8fqGCifNq8WGCkHJYM7GT6scLsluT_lwZT3ZXyEkx7xKLDw18EGRxTH9Z3Kn46S28SLZOvR_dxWbsDPUTTIJfl-y6lT9BKyxmoPTzJ3k5X-ZbRzkhWhsqDHzHxwJh7KI4mZWhVN/s320/P1080739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402936146324693842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhOKyjhyphenhyphen1Ki_-dKl0FVUKE1bWfZJMGL9C0my_NeBjobkMStILjz0r79ib0A0rEOKYV_ImzCGFTwVVBkChFE1rI50nstkchZDdkJEwrV0I8GNbOvjv5YB0bMikm3p7D2H4mAyC-eEnHiyI/s1600-h/P1080737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhOKyjhyphenhyphen1Ki_-dKl0FVUKE1bWfZJMGL9C0my_NeBjobkMStILjz0r79ib0A0rEOKYV_ImzCGFTwVVBkChFE1rI50nstkchZDdkJEwrV0I8GNbOvjv5YB0bMikm3p7D2H4mAyC-eEnHiyI/s320/P1080737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402936148246385346" border="0" /></a><br />No better sight than a settling Guinness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Vtc2F_e3JHmJPjFmYM2oVWLQBgof55sc4qoNLzdoP6dUqnnOp3BupSfHB4QT1vNyIymS8QB2a2Kx0yYyl816C62UUT68fq-tHK5fD1hc9MWPhyepiv5N2lR1NwuVtxvF9G6aOoP5BYGv/s1600-h/P1080588.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Vtc2F_e3JHmJPjFmYM2oVWLQBgof55sc4qoNLzdoP6dUqnnOp3BupSfHB4QT1vNyIymS8QB2a2Kx0yYyl816C62UUT68fq-tHK5fD1hc9MWPhyepiv5N2lR1NwuVtxvF9G6aOoP5BYGv/s320/P1080588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939591812777730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was really looking forward to my first pint of Guinness. I've heard that a Guinness in Ireland tastes totally different from a Guinness in the states. I really couldn't tell a difference, but it had been over a year since I'd had a Guinness in the states. I had wanted to spend a good bit of my time in Ireland in drinking myself silly in pubs. But at 4.50 Euros a pint, I would only be able to drink myself mildly amusing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMwbfVpzp_6K6b-11l44A1Awhs7P7P0lazZNL76u7qmFmkPt-1piPOlhOznlDHGlsgVqBXi6Rc2udO6b9SZA1gWzQ-wctU1LPWQQ4BtJ9rdEwqff96yf_1nuMgjW9rqXIwseYg0gMAACf/s1600-h/P1080595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMwbfVpzp_6K6b-11l44A1Awhs7P7P0lazZNL76u7qmFmkPt-1piPOlhOznlDHGlsgVqBXi6Rc2udO6b9SZA1gWzQ-wctU1LPWQQ4BtJ9rdEwqff96yf_1nuMgjW9rqXIwseYg0gMAACf/s320/P1080595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939403988021570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmfvsdfN9fWx5LFx1KCbl7ydmyrenpQnNLYAdznYsRU09p5mUJ2KlkCiqxvjW10B9M-Vl2L_3IVYdbkNnJROzvdTTe1wkJAtzHVDND2h3sWgeyk0QCIeFlF1WeHZ200greyLSsjAb3CCT/s1600-h/P1080596.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmfvsdfN9fWx5LFx1KCbl7ydmyrenpQnNLYAdznYsRU09p5mUJ2KlkCiqxvjW10B9M-Vl2L_3IVYdbkNnJROzvdTTe1wkJAtzHVDND2h3sWgeyk0QCIeFlF1WeHZ200greyLSsjAb3CCT/s320/P1080596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939401731509474" border="0" /></a>Ireland is a crazy expensive country. A simple meal like fish and chips or Irish stew would be at least 10 Euros. A nicer dinner would be 25 Euros if you made the early bird special. The money I saved by traveling in Asia was spent in Western Europe.<br /><br />Bridges over the River Liffey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJG-GzpptBOujBmkfezYi5aX0UxXoDlS9KJRnrvutrTsjGNZ5a9yZrVND_MJJwXP114Q8wYAfX4y2biOUeCIg_n_unJAfJWrxuml-dHIsmNPxEmw-lXxgJqH1BlGvz0tM-eTdq5KjTyBlT/s1600-h/P1080569.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJG-GzpptBOujBmkfezYi5aX0UxXoDlS9KJRnrvutrTsjGNZ5a9yZrVND_MJJwXP114Q8wYAfX4y2biOUeCIg_n_unJAfJWrxuml-dHIsmNPxEmw-lXxgJqH1BlGvz0tM-eTdq5KjTyBlT/s320/P1080569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939609280580626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiEqYj7BJJPwI7TsmslhZbStOdK3ZVAvMkYdwL-Jj_PfMaVUVO_bRmHsOevCaNKiHO8eNshGOUxTYb8zfXOcCQlRBBR9JqeTKmj6Le_2P36kIOklAhjAJvEnAMcDzvPqNarSTSf5c7XGo/s1600-h/P1080708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiEqYj7BJJPwI7TsmslhZbStOdK3ZVAvMkYdwL-Jj_PfMaVUVO_bRmHsOevCaNKiHO8eNshGOUxTYb8zfXOcCQlRBBR9JqeTKmj6Le_2P36kIOklAhjAJvEnAMcDzvPqNarSTSf5c7XGo/s320/P1080708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937453944956482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrDx68iT0kCPtHIt_o-NjLMf4z_jJ_JFoLJZ7kplqTY-UHYHN0Lnb9JVIflv5tvHdOv-_BrSjdoxY3jHAzw2lPuqSn_hc4QmYU6k00hK2MVkuLOCOopSlPH2lrK6msjMNb8IBHQZMCA8I/s1600-h/P1080598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrDx68iT0kCPtHIt_o-NjLMf4z_jJ_JFoLJZ7kplqTY-UHYHN0Lnb9JVIflv5tvHdOv-_BrSjdoxY3jHAzw2lPuqSn_hc4QmYU6k00hK2MVkuLOCOopSlPH2lrK6msjMNb8IBHQZMCA8I/s320/P1080598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939396088643090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMX0zPNjkL7Yt9XEfEGHU6ptVi_xZPSoFEQ6pA15l9g2b3JZ7l674fqb2ZJoGWO_QTDNbRez7oSVhLWRe3_n2GSlHp4556hKCz0QrTEOh4SPZqWaPx-uGH0pCuCaEKNpNNLUxGWDaA7HD/s1600-h/P1080568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMX0zPNjkL7Yt9XEfEGHU6ptVi_xZPSoFEQ6pA15l9g2b3JZ7l674fqb2ZJoGWO_QTDNbRez7oSVhLWRe3_n2GSlHp4556hKCz0QrTEOh4SPZqWaPx-uGH0pCuCaEKNpNNLUxGWDaA7HD/s320/P1080568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939901678455698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayuhVzW8BDq1jUAHoJNlb8AFYWS7cYdWVTHCECek2nxK4sPBwJhN-uWEJg6N4bHE-xLiIIL3iVXgiBZ2sKmHFqA34VsxL8LVRTxIzn4Cd6SXLmB51tJI8KcmrEwV342D9JAWhCOkuAWBI/s1600-h/P1080571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayuhVzW8BDq1jUAHoJNlb8AFYWS7cYdWVTHCECek2nxK4sPBwJhN-uWEJg6N4bHE-xLiIIL3iVXgiBZ2sKmHFqA34VsxL8LVRTxIzn4Cd6SXLmB51tJI8KcmrEwV342D9JAWhCOkuAWBI/s320/P1080571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939598276353138" border="0" /></a>Doors of Dublin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia27zZZFw9ew3PP7Zjrk9x5kMyELpFeeObKPnGRy9HWNFtW5ikGen7JDyD17ksoInGcPUInnAp9NlpQkR_2wH282wgkDL_98WzEfF2N_6CD7Y_nrvSPk1VoA3XffR7SNxq9RqjHqlPdVmq/s1600-h/P1080582.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia27zZZFw9ew3PP7Zjrk9x5kMyELpFeeObKPnGRy9HWNFtW5ikGen7JDyD17ksoInGcPUInnAp9NlpQkR_2wH282wgkDL_98WzEfF2N_6CD7Y_nrvSPk1VoA3XffR7SNxq9RqjHqlPdVmq/s320/P1080582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939592771860626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwTAIMKg3XxQnwns5YWepX_7OGf4fOzz0CYz7w4JMHz_iuJrptv4W7a6_096HRtyqh7npVcDu0hD3oSz8tsjw2jaFN96mvfyc2gcrtKbO_a8D8H3BPDTuvza3BBmoySQoylG1NgJl4fux/s1600-h/P1080706.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwTAIMKg3XxQnwns5YWepX_7OGf4fOzz0CYz7w4JMHz_iuJrptv4W7a6_096HRtyqh7npVcDu0hD3oSz8tsjw2jaFN96mvfyc2gcrtKbO_a8D8H3BPDTuvza3BBmoySQoylG1NgJl4fux/s320/P1080706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937458671680802" border="0" /></a><br />Spire of Dublin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs4r_KQ66-f0jWNXrobeYFVOQ7Qnqw4gKhTXUi2flZInSlKrmvox5PsaKwLJVe6BWKdjTTI88LEnB70ndhXbIin2UARekckY1ARHtW2gojrFZ7tBUZlXw4rY5a4TtZJnqpJOG0gWop0Nb/s1600-h/P1080597.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs4r_KQ66-f0jWNXrobeYFVOQ7Qnqw4gKhTXUi2flZInSlKrmvox5PsaKwLJVe6BWKdjTTI88LEnB70ndhXbIin2UARekckY1ARHtW2gojrFZ7tBUZlXw4rY5a4TtZJnqpJOG0gWop0Nb/s320/P1080597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939396150173042" border="0" /></a><br />The Guinness Brewery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEas5cEQ52Yo_pEt7Opg7Il5U3WlVFSR0ywyJgC0cf-5veJ0mevKAhzWjaQ2tL2pg17txoDbkj1OVymEkz1HisMnR8WvmSyyGnnKSJ2fRex8rCSjWTTi4a0khzJYu_JaizETMQF1GnRxp/s1600-h/P1080600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEas5cEQ52Yo_pEt7Opg7Il5U3WlVFSR0ywyJgC0cf-5veJ0mevKAhzWjaQ2tL2pg17txoDbkj1OVymEkz1HisMnR8WvmSyyGnnKSJ2fRex8rCSjWTTi4a0khzJYu_JaizETMQF1GnRxp/s320/P1080600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939145919192962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFVa27kOV1ffjJWS96Pd4xkNb8Me9n4VQApnOfqTSsLDxWRj8nocmCyiKYbOk_vMudZuoKCo90MUcdLkKx0HCzpP_xgj3RrSPEgS9ZjrvZuM5TzjiOlw3xrgW12TAm_8Fr7HQ2icD0FCA/s1600-h/P1080606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFVa27kOV1ffjJWS96Pd4xkNb8Me9n4VQApnOfqTSsLDxWRj8nocmCyiKYbOk_vMudZuoKCo90MUcdLkKx0HCzpP_xgj3RrSPEgS9ZjrvZuM5TzjiOlw3xrgW12TAm_8Fr7HQ2icD0FCA/s320/P1080606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939140677986562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImpfInwPnjNejdLM89Vp3bHWBP-8mGvEBlBrXJzUfBkruOlrKi4KvJr_CKt-2Q1DhPYQH-ET4Yy0mNrAPCkOdf54RHw6_FaJVxXn9eqlZUMAP5qb92bHYsDLjBL9k84Vc1vUcnrxOVgxo/s1600-h/P1080608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImpfInwPnjNejdLM89Vp3bHWBP-8mGvEBlBrXJzUfBkruOlrKi4KvJr_CKt-2Q1DhPYQH-ET4Yy0mNrAPCkOdf54RHw6_FaJVxXn9eqlZUMAP5qb92bHYsDLjBL9k84Vc1vUcnrxOVgxo/s320/P1080608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402939133280870002" border="0" /></a><br />I had four days in Dublin, which was probably a little much for Dublin, but not really enough to get in another location. Dublin is a lot of fun, but it's really not a very attractive city. I wanted to get out and see the Irish countryside. On the advice of a fellow traveler, I decided to go hiking in County Wicklow.<br /><br />It seemed an easy day trip from Dublin. I took the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) to the last station Greystones and hiked to Bray, the next to last station. This was a good hike and a great way to see the Irish countryside, even if I did get a little lost along the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_IY8JDH0kqkKgYerl-aHlXwsnzIZ8m7foRNrS8Umi_TlkSj0_-pvuOnzx4iVezzo7Zu423azfeIb1RpdotnPt7vgJAKsVBNsrAbjg0kHj6nkBvLz6d6ll8WurViKXmq02jyWwc5eZ9ZQ/s1600-h/P1080621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_IY8JDH0kqkKgYerl-aHlXwsnzIZ8m7foRNrS8Umi_TlkSj0_-pvuOnzx4iVezzo7Zu423azfeIb1RpdotnPt7vgJAKsVBNsrAbjg0kHj6nkBvLz6d6ll8WurViKXmq02jyWwc5eZ9ZQ/s320/P1080621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938929082493810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V2Ar7beGMNqUw9Ldxj8Updzs-bV1yE20B45VT51dzChJGGHxDzI1nOiH_585nc5Pq5Bm29X1PitfgHYou2mTnRI4shx-b2F5Z66DHcWDU7dE2x9vmuacXKwfQlMXAU668Qr3uCCohDiB/s1600-h/P1080628.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V2Ar7beGMNqUw9Ldxj8Updzs-bV1yE20B45VT51dzChJGGHxDzI1nOiH_585nc5Pq5Bm29X1PitfgHYou2mTnRI4shx-b2F5Z66DHcWDU7dE2x9vmuacXKwfQlMXAU668Qr3uCCohDiB/s320/P1080628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938920166056258" border="0" /></a><br />I hike up a mountain/hill on a marked path. The marked path to the top was pretty straight forward. I wanted to go down a different way. So instead of turning around at the top of the hill, I just kept on walking. I figured if I kept going down the hill, I would eventually end up in Bray. It's not like it is in the US. Ireland is a small country and the chances of walking for a day, or even a few hours without running into a town, were small. I did go through some shady looking paths and climbed a few fences.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiec5rvFnp5zgRPcZGKhimDp5QRAtESxbBTrFNXyJNy7C9a2_A1V94BpkuXfNiviLXCyHPqw-dKHH5qJf3FwpGKVVzeshENSTEC_3bm131o9fFYxZcqzbWn71EyOu25Cx1AD9HyC_NH8caj/s1600-h/P1080630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiec5rvFnp5zgRPcZGKhimDp5QRAtESxbBTrFNXyJNy7C9a2_A1V94BpkuXfNiviLXCyHPqw-dKHH5qJf3FwpGKVVzeshENSTEC_3bm131o9fFYxZcqzbWn71EyOu25Cx1AD9HyC_NH8caj/s320/P1080630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938914430887138" border="0" /></a><br />Passed several sheep farms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypHQBQ2YHXsVlkJTWP7QT-onMSrmTgNDcoXorNsC-EvGuMpRDk-89pVkLQaQKZLNtd_EXxGfWnV2gPevvY6UeB_vtbxUbObOFknMHt5fzTcic_cJFDxloYp37FR4zu6i5YqF-KMos6ORC/s1600-h/P1080635.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypHQBQ2YHXsVlkJTWP7QT-onMSrmTgNDcoXorNsC-EvGuMpRDk-89pVkLQaQKZLNtd_EXxGfWnV2gPevvY6UeB_vtbxUbObOFknMHt5fzTcic_cJFDxloYp37FR4zu6i5YqF-KMos6ORC/s320/P1080635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938735051608514" border="0" /></a><br />I passed a farm house, after which a paved road started. A car was outside, and some kids were out playing in the back yard, but I kept on going. I came up on a motorized gate. I couldn't get around it or over it. I had to wait for a car to come by, which thankfully only took about 15 minutes.<br /><br />The countryside was absolutely gorgeous. Keep in mind that I am not a good photographer and have a very basic digital camera.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgkiiCIItL38hf1U3I0X3visDLmCJCZsnIzBCu_TKKA2SYMOwB85BFqJYYmSNGLUQROMMcCIc8gsS_0bm0YEMtqFF8Y2X3_heMYJ9ft8jFIzIT7qKX1I0eL93qR3zC6EK6qhAaMxOaLtr/s1600-h/P1080640.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgkiiCIItL38hf1U3I0X3visDLmCJCZsnIzBCu_TKKA2SYMOwB85BFqJYYmSNGLUQROMMcCIc8gsS_0bm0YEMtqFF8Y2X3_heMYJ9ft8jFIzIT7qKX1I0eL93qR3zC6EK6qhAaMxOaLtr/s320/P1080640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938730427255394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyJqhYFKtsqa95IvUOug1K6s-caifvSOYZv6hOM_Eq-_jmy0gYS2Pzfyy9zCvFs0Db7OO2KGXhhEatBCTTD4CKoazaNs1Ml-PRsojSyxzHbQ2usIrAO1uaoLgeuubnp7lLcfkIfSxq6sZ/s1600-h/P1080645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyJqhYFKtsqa95IvUOug1K6s-caifvSOYZv6hOM_Eq-_jmy0gYS2Pzfyy9zCvFs0Db7OO2KGXhhEatBCTTD4CKoazaNs1Ml-PRsojSyxzHbQ2usIrAO1uaoLgeuubnp7lLcfkIfSxq6sZ/s320/P1080645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938731251428050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNt3sNXXcagfOF0bkOC3S-wIfsWoez7UQp3oomSI3vn_pTIc7hSplYtC5nnFYppBgZ8ioZQFyP6XOPpsX4elkCgGc9yYyYt38HLuPyYzohADANuWjSs8at4jfz2W4WB27mEmFwWsFL0jC/s1600-h/P1080649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNt3sNXXcagfOF0bkOC3S-wIfsWoez7UQp3oomSI3vn_pTIc7hSplYtC5nnFYppBgZ8ioZQFyP6XOPpsX4elkCgGc9yYyYt38HLuPyYzohADANuWjSs8at4jfz2W4WB27mEmFwWsFL0jC/s320/P1080649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938728490023858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4krW18hXJNMurUcwzUQNFXJlb8WqmSMcofcEhIbYvWxGojNVL-2Z36YVck5hVUsj5hVV86ZrZm3q-r051d9eLvIjQ3bXcduTeUuFaRCUHKeL2z8OQKyMA250S74Ij-rPUewPCxgxk64eB/s1600-h/P1080655.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4krW18hXJNMurUcwzUQNFXJlb8WqmSMcofcEhIbYvWxGojNVL-2Z36YVck5hVUsj5hVV86ZrZm3q-r051d9eLvIjQ3bXcduTeUuFaRCUHKeL2z8OQKyMA250S74Ij-rPUewPCxgxk64eB/s320/P1080655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402938723144333634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW1cJFepf9zhxuXW96kPV2MhwFgtYsUmwNIf3fJDN3ov1c6IFCk9c3KaBCdjHAmFyS82Mxp-huHayhCFmieoyIsBH7Vxt28B9LigutCeiK67sVUrb15g7dbn0c_zMixT56wVu1KBq2w9f/s1600-h/P1080657.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW1cJFepf9zhxuXW96kPV2MhwFgtYsUmwNIf3fJDN3ov1c6IFCk9c3KaBCdjHAmFyS82Mxp-huHayhCFmieoyIsBH7Vxt28B9LigutCeiK67sVUrb15g7dbn0c_zMixT56wVu1KBq2w9f/s320/P1080657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937903264300130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNX2DP63sF_LvFb-9RnaZ4z_NOFg9MIAi6yMsE2O3h8EWouCnWc4ZWhHxu_Jn7jUMKjWKylHv4DoPLlxbTC-ssdyktsOWActSHd5hWE5aSIs44bDSqUKPyQSaSPYHEKYzY7WSOf0GPVRT/s1600-h/P1080667.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNX2DP63sF_LvFb-9RnaZ4z_NOFg9MIAi6yMsE2O3h8EWouCnWc4ZWhHxu_Jn7jUMKjWKylHv4DoPLlxbTC-ssdyktsOWActSHd5hWE5aSIs44bDSqUKPyQSaSPYHEKYzY7WSOf0GPVRT/s320/P1080667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937895571697362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQpdET8NfXTAFkN_mrs4hJY-pDBIDoSnYbh8geaKXC21h5x3-m5kMjVdvj9DRtF78cnT_jCUtoI3TF1SMR-eRWyYw7nKYOP6BqiUyeBZE6X2dFOWqi-BOAe-JdOME9EZf0NKLVKvfFz8P/s1600-h/P1080668.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQpdET8NfXTAFkN_mrs4hJY-pDBIDoSnYbh8geaKXC21h5x3-m5kMjVdvj9DRtF78cnT_jCUtoI3TF1SMR-eRWyYw7nKYOP6BqiUyeBZE6X2dFOWqi-BOAe-JdOME9EZf0NKLVKvfFz8P/s320/P1080668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937887818267026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOO_HfioJbOPhpCdpTGj6etRIxZAQJRIAH9D4YhsTCZE0kU60UxNUwwdPshWi4FYX65EvcMmIZOonpQsvnUvV3ikZxnjkx8_7bPFoMdex1nlJ-i78mlhZV0ysRgi5KmYjbU_0Jn_7xKhi/s1600-h/P1080671.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOO_HfioJbOPhpCdpTGj6etRIxZAQJRIAH9D4YhsTCZE0kU60UxNUwwdPshWi4FYX65EvcMmIZOonpQsvnUvV3ikZxnjkx8_7bPFoMdex1nlJ-i78mlhZV0ysRgi5KmYjbU_0Jn_7xKhi/s320/P1080671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937890382834290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezImujC7RwXknZ3WDt36SDNzWkK_P21rEMp4pf-l1bHcN5nLKqUUqm2qLgqfgCxMo2TLzeWecAh2-gX4LO2MIRBEn6-1lfL7G6LV8hOtR7cpgy2p1GsWm4hyvxR_YfMEta5ELEF36DYvM/s1600-h/P1080672.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezImujC7RwXknZ3WDt36SDNzWkK_P21rEMp4pf-l1bHcN5nLKqUUqm2qLgqfgCxMo2TLzeWecAh2-gX4LO2MIRBEn6-1lfL7G6LV8hOtR7cpgy2p1GsWm4hyvxR_YfMEta5ELEF36DYvM/s320/P1080672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937886396669906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZrZU3rE-iVJSNAztxEoRuLTSzx9jxFhZgDHD4Np2j3H9UC6QUdsfmSqMPJYcUMbBZ0PEDgLSSAg8rYqV_J_g_S-vXsWzu790R0otaO_JvHIKGpmEKKJ1WtSGGTAjJ1DfJ72gkBJeHtrf/s1600-h/P1080675.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZrZU3rE-iVJSNAztxEoRuLTSzx9jxFhZgDHD4Np2j3H9UC6QUdsfmSqMPJYcUMbBZ0PEDgLSSAg8rYqV_J_g_S-vXsWzu790R0otaO_JvHIKGpmEKKJ1WtSGGTAjJ1DfJ72gkBJeHtrf/s320/P1080675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937694529764018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSlYKytKXDhP3ACF6ktUjzQ_6BZG1680nvvq4lNMZQsrSBvsIWvqOkXeIeTfyB9rAOqD_4gXONKuhFH0YlHGMt1AhV6kGevEwW3y9cnsOW3um1ifyT9u6uD6nuzuQcsnda8WUDSb3Ei1T/s1600-h/P1080676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSlYKytKXDhP3ACF6ktUjzQ_6BZG1680nvvq4lNMZQsrSBvsIWvqOkXeIeTfyB9rAOqD_4gXONKuhFH0YlHGMt1AhV6kGevEwW3y9cnsOW3um1ifyT9u6uD6nuzuQcsnda8WUDSb3Ei1T/s320/P1080676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937694187510130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn4ZtOJXF8SV5OXyeRGoF2YUfL2c3vS7I6d-BRIVTwZaZfitCivy5cWQ39Xm5_Va9hj-XREB672NbFWML9ovoN-KATpdooyir99sc4NAYKupqzq4kJ-49Xk6Bggi7rhyaFo-t8i7TFNIP/s1600-h/P1080683.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn4ZtOJXF8SV5OXyeRGoF2YUfL2c3vS7I6d-BRIVTwZaZfitCivy5cWQ39Xm5_Va9hj-XREB672NbFWML9ovoN-KATpdooyir99sc4NAYKupqzq4kJ-49Xk6Bggi7rhyaFo-t8i7TFNIP/s320/P1080683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937684970283554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZYnDAPWygxo4eVl9uUbELRjIL0JmvLLQjnU24T3W6SfqNiFmg9_fM7xV501BFB6xy3M_Pemcg3AZ8qiJg3enQjFU5Z9-BNP9ntfF27pG5q6qiSEvDpMW5dKSrrsb1uRm0HVnuFjsBJhW/s1600-h/P1080692.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZYnDAPWygxo4eVl9uUbELRjIL0JmvLLQjnU24T3W6SfqNiFmg9_fM7xV501BFB6xy3M_Pemcg3AZ8qiJg3enQjFU5Z9-BNP9ntfF27pG5q6qiSEvDpMW5dKSrrsb1uRm0HVnuFjsBJhW/s320/P1080692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937468237225442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUw-MEdPk7wDSWkWz8rfvgfOdf3_oPWZZYqCME0EiiFXB85QKNyr30C6RSNkZ8_2CzyVu9NZ_hCD6YDD4mitjZCnBtYsaygmxj9nMaar5mjPR4oT0sHf83qXq9SI-z5aYPcOf5nZmBZQ8/s1600-h/P1080703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUw-MEdPk7wDSWkWz8rfvgfOdf3_oPWZZYqCME0EiiFXB85QKNyr30C6RSNkZ8_2CzyVu9NZ_hCD6YDD4mitjZCnBtYsaygmxj9nMaar5mjPR4oT0sHf83qXq9SI-z5aYPcOf5nZmBZQ8/s320/P1080703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402937466233301090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was closing in on the last day of my trip. I was growing weary of traveling, but I wanted to do something on my last day and night. During the day, I took the DART to Howth, a charming little fishing village on the last stop on the other end of the line.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDonC4jhc4iS2uiuYJQ2SUzUvjbx2RCV5-fkPQAX_2MnwAhEr80w25jg60WSeoWXXyw3nsXxchAGL4LXyKbASQjoQIIjaCvOrPRDxA8xgTe7_04GXv9a3_eCkXtISN0EUPA0oeKcNYIV97/s1600-h/P1080714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDonC4jhc4iS2uiuYJQ2SUzUvjbx2RCV5-fkPQAX_2MnwAhEr80w25jg60WSeoWXXyw3nsXxchAGL4LXyKbASQjoQIIjaCvOrPRDxA8xgTe7_04GXv9a3_eCkXtISN0EUPA0oeKcNYIV97/s320/P1080714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402936921113906706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2vpqztfJ9dMs8o1gMBiDZXgLtBaAp89B20RYgczMleleEqMPYMC0lbzgGojb7v4g4mZb0gStpOHMZwN_lFCx_6dLAkuhSfF8-OkU9Mf9lqB0wEb7VyD2Rzn0aU8w2cG2R2sv_ILKjNrx/s1600-h/P1080716.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2vpqztfJ9dMs8o1gMBiDZXgLtBaAp89B20RYgczMleleEqMPYMC0lbzgGojb7v4g4mZb0gStpOHMZwN_lFCx_6dLAkuhSfF8-OkU9Mf9lqB0wEb7VyD2Rzn0aU8w2cG2R2sv_ILKjNrx/s320/P1080716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402936916638815682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46apN8bhHWDJc4v8brj2oC3kMaoA-uriKFnzJr3MHfx3zBmZSZ4IYDwQ6ONgJzx4SLhoTeVLcwxbwjHP2EJYcVWDSMMSqrwjelVg5QCIIZs3qxR1XAHB3LeQIlHW-3hWiE25KFEFc0Ic9/s1600-h/P1080724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46apN8bhHWDJc4v8brj2oC3kMaoA-uriKFnzJr3MHfx3zBmZSZ4IYDwQ6ONgJzx4SLhoTeVLcwxbwjHP2EJYcVWDSMMSqrwjelVg5QCIIZs3qxR1XAHB3LeQIlHW-3hWiE25KFEFc0Ic9/s320/P1080724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402936360026497682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9YpoStoqoAJUxCtaxYyoXoWdbc4VlLkN2IQOHLLtQQ1MsPF-fgzBi5SMtKYbynrXkJvBC-Jb0xhNWUvDA7eZTfK1iZyhAxbNlrG8dv3uEeZbUkL58dfGL_pjz7P8xfG3V2iMFVtlT205/s1600-h/P1080726.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9YpoStoqoAJUxCtaxYyoXoWdbc4VlLkN2IQOHLLtQQ1MsPF-fgzBi5SMtKYbynrXkJvBC-Jb0xhNWUvDA7eZTfK1iZyhAxbNlrG8dv3uEeZbUkL58dfGL_pjz7P8xfG3V2iMFVtlT205/s320/P1080726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402936357005411890" border="0" /></a>That night I went on a literary pub crawl. Ireland has a great literary tradition (Wilde, Joyce, Shaw, Yeats, etc.) and many of the pubs where they drank themselves to death are still in business. Two Irish actors took a group of about 20 on a tour of five pubs. At each one they acted out works of Ireland's famous authors. It was a very entertaining look at that part of Dublin's history.<br /><br />On the morning of August 4, I took a bus to the airport. I was going home.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-27544604575884755992009-11-09T23:40:00.007-05:002009-11-14T08:56:33.425-05:00Europe Part 2<div>Serbia<br /><br />The train from Budapest to Belgrade was really old and not nearly as nice as the one from Salzberg to Budapest. It was an overnight train. The 70 Euro additional cost for a sleeper car seemed expensive, so I didn't purchase it. Luckily I had a whole seat meant for four people to myself so I could sleep a bit. I was woken three times up to check my ticket, to stamp the exit from Hungary and the entrance into Serbia.<br /><br />I got into Belgrade early in the morning. The sun had just come out to illuminate a horribly depressing place. Belgrade is big and much of it consists of old, rectangular, Soviet-era grey buildings. It also seemed slummy (not sure if that's a word). The first slums I'd seen in Europe. It very much reminded me of the scene in the movie Eurotrip when the gang get's their first taste of Eastern Europe.<br /></div><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzBMTYVtIMF1T62J65ByM43we8umTmDPEhb9xbusskCIeoK_6NIY0rOnIhCXCFoUEpLpaQGkgCWCOXJsVeN5gaG04X2xv-93IIdGH2VVcE3go4e09ZcItzLdx58zbtXrW_u4dm2kg2yFo/s1600-h/P1070270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382505824786725458" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzBMTYVtIMF1T62J65ByM43we8umTmDPEhb9xbusskCIeoK_6NIY0rOnIhCXCFoUEpLpaQGkgCWCOXJsVeN5gaG04X2xv-93IIdGH2VVcE3go4e09ZcItzLdx58zbtXrW_u4dm2kg2yFo/s320/P1070270.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpQBMXAay_EVPiNCQdYiydCjyKYHFxSCgiOG6Si6GGlz3jJe6oShzWD5uOzD-zQGOUmf_gdAWbD2EsqTJik6ct1-9Fr73573goELp1gXQmUs5MWAX57hEn6j1zfe-7OZpBehv842dU-hg/s1600-h/P1070273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382200692149934690" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpQBMXAay_EVPiNCQdYiydCjyKYHFxSCgiOG6Si6GGlz3jJe6oShzWD5uOzD-zQGOUmf_gdAWbD2EsqTJik6ct1-9Fr73573goELp1gXQmUs5MWAX57hEn6j1zfe-7OZpBehv842dU-hg/s320/P1070273.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJ4u8BfldEEnXBzDOFTCgHl9CZpd234G4JN9PO3tySkMlava9wNUAH6aY2URMnB441baSd_YAyaeM6Zat8BqgVaNDl-4iQP7VKYrqHKptrCeChyphenhyphenU6HNvDOW_CrLX7-1uapsMHXqeYLJnm/s1600-h/P1070277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382200690247399010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJ4u8BfldEEnXBzDOFTCgHl9CZpd234G4JN9PO3tySkMlava9wNUAH6aY2URMnB441baSd_YAyaeM6Zat8BqgVaNDl-4iQP7VKYrqHKptrCeChyphenhyphenU6HNvDOW_CrLX7-1uapsMHXqeYLJnm/s320/P1070277.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RqAJm3O6GncMxF7rNnpizVTtKMCfAV6ynD5tKgh2P6lOFkL5YS-8nVr0agmOU_do9Z-ZQVf1X6ORv1WFbzlwdfBQ6Sn8Lb40AiX8rDZVGnf6w39iuMXlm6Q-JTvalmmxToAr-oJcOaSC/s1600-h/P1070282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382200681286581330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RqAJm3O6GncMxF7rNnpizVTtKMCfAV6ynD5tKgh2P6lOFkL5YS-8nVr0agmOU_do9Z-ZQVf1X6ORv1WFbzlwdfBQ6Sn8Lb40AiX8rDZVGnf6w39iuMXlm6Q-JTvalmmxToAr-oJcOaSC/s320/P1070282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQsHixZLEQ71vna6mnPTs5bC5NdQJk-hO5PwlQPWrgC3k1QcJoor7uEHZUkJAMeczShwc6yLg_o9jm8cFxdRUwGV4Aytm3aHI94P0w3juhO8RdA99ypkgLqTDxoMfV0rSD8V-FRHX6n_J/s1600-h/P1070286.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382200670193405378" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQsHixZLEQ71vna6mnPTs5bC5NdQJk-hO5PwlQPWrgC3k1QcJoor7uEHZUkJAMeczShwc6yLg_o9jm8cFxdRUwGV4Aytm3aHI94P0w3juhO8RdA99ypkgLqTDxoMfV0rSD8V-FRHX6n_J/s320/P1070286.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Knez Mihailova is a pedestrian-only street in the old part of Belgrade. It is lined with fancy shops and restaurants. This is about as good as Belgrade gets.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq_sURPp1u9VyYvXHK3ERailUtNEIe3va34PO2ZzuA58_o5OrtcDfa1-AEnvtNstwviWZZrvW2CsoiYA4FQZRi79KW4-Y1ZL8_i7llAW9WRmitQMgHHoXOcs6BaoyQlynGL-y8cfDvBWL/s1600-h/P1070287.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382200663914726402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq_sURPp1u9VyYvXHK3ERailUtNEIe3va34PO2ZzuA58_o5OrtcDfa1-AEnvtNstwviWZZrvW2CsoiYA4FQZRi79KW4-Y1ZL8_i7llAW9WRmitQMgHHoXOcs6BaoyQlynGL-y8cfDvBWL/s320/P1070287.JPG" border="0" /></a>Belgrade fortress is pretty much the only tourist site in Belgrade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbVThGby0Z9J22b7XcB1NV7Kxm9EVcwHxRFI0fRGK9SfeZ_Xrkvo56zYH-8q6e1Pc4w2wVuI0in2RRaaLCx1zEwbGlV8RI4pyR5lzXSqZZB0y9dLOQgFQAN821yd8a03tAT80YrZ1ftJd/s1600-h/P1070304.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382198496372764706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbVThGby0Z9J22b7XcB1NV7Kxm9EVcwHxRFI0fRGK9SfeZ_Xrkvo56zYH-8q6e1Pc4w2wVuI0in2RRaaLCx1zEwbGlV8RI4pyR5lzXSqZZB0y9dLOQgFQAN821yd8a03tAT80YrZ1ftJd/s320/P1070304.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was cold and it rained pretty hard most of my three days in Belgrade. Luckily the hostel I stayed at had a large selection of DVDs, so I spent the majority of my time watching movies and drinking Turkish coffee.<br /><br />One of the highlights of my time spent in Belgrade was eating at the White Horse restaurant. As the name implies, the specialty of the house was horse meat, with steaks and tar tar seeming to be the most popular. It was an old school European restaurant that was decorated with pictures of horses. They didn't even have an English menu. I had the horse steak. I imagined horse meat being very tough, stringy and gamy. Horses look very lean and muscular and are always running around. I couldn't imagine the meat being any good. Boy was I wrong. It was very tender and juicy and was cooked a perfect medium rare. I was very impressed.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNlq8mDs6NEDNix3AqyNMlpE1U5wmH4e6uUAO20yxoq6oSTj1_vzkLoqkL28KIz0LaElFFI6uk4yq7eYBR8xoOlejoNaNPVsH5rQ2ZyHKfVfOyUS3sHpub5s7t9B8Aae2DZ9HbeiZ5D5c/s1600-h/P1070305.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382198493103193330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNlq8mDs6NEDNix3AqyNMlpE1U5wmH4e6uUAO20yxoq6oSTj1_vzkLoqkL28KIz0LaElFFI6uk4yq7eYBR8xoOlejoNaNPVsH5rQ2ZyHKfVfOyUS3sHpub5s7t9B8Aae2DZ9HbeiZ5D5c/s320/P1070305.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN7gto7nSLCNwcj8CWSRzeRfgdQ0I6NqLMq7TDVx1SEN-0F5fSZx_QZTl2EQ4KjFNS5HoLcAjUntFNUG1bBsbu3FtG3NVNUS_vUt4At8Zq0-Rl67kos8cCIZV2T59qY84aKU15gFulYYe/s1600-h/P1070306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382198486778252306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN7gto7nSLCNwcj8CWSRzeRfgdQ0I6NqLMq7TDVx1SEN-0F5fSZx_QZTl2EQ4KjFNS5HoLcAjUntFNUG1bBsbu3FtG3NVNUS_vUt4At8Zq0-Rl67kos8cCIZV2T59qY84aKU15gFulYYe/s320/P1070306.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There was a lot of construction going on in Belgrade. They are working to rebuild the city from the wars of the 1990's, but there are still plenty of bombed out buildings. If I see a sight like this in America, I assume that it is from neglect and disuse. In Eastern Europe, it is usually happened as a result of a war.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj377D7clPAgSKCTkfHLvkstymAuE7HkZV4GyAZKvAPW00qfjDi-pEj9apsvXq9cSiOGkEdD2oMW3gp43m4oWnYjismHn8vNTMIauiV6Bgryx1uGMUfWsHV_bVr1RG5SarVIxDnYF85peqB/s1600-h/P1070307.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382198478899354226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj377D7clPAgSKCTkfHLvkstymAuE7HkZV4GyAZKvAPW00qfjDi-pEj9apsvXq9cSiOGkEdD2oMW3gp43m4oWnYjismHn8vNTMIauiV6Bgryx1uGMUfWsHV_bVr1RG5SarVIxDnYF85peqB/s320/P1070307.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>Bosnia & Herzgovina</p><p>On June 23 I took a bus from Belgrade to Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Bosnia, like Serbia was once part of the former country of Yugoslavia. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia broke apart into the countries of Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. The various factions and ethnic groups basically could not get along and after the iron grip of the Soviet Union dissolved, various treaties and wars led to the map that currently exists today. The war in Bosnia between the Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Croats, and the Bosniaks, was particularly bloody and the scars are still very much visible. Serbs and the Croats are predominantly Christian and the Bosniaks were predominantly Muslim, but visually they are indistinguishable.<br /><br />Bosnia is mountainous country, but lacks dramatic, Alp-like peaks. It reminded me a bit of West Virginia. Sarajevo is a long, narrow city nestled between two mountain ranges.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkCzZOgSpz3WKkB4OTpCGn06PHYv2syVDFoDgSHPTXuCH6ahmlTngZpSUmsGGCrxBNBddh1P4iwIZD8X6G4fjXhagEtNOFh9Xo7-Tj5I7DpzdgL1F1ds2T5i-N9ksuT8LSa_V4G7OH3R6/s1600-h/P1070373.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382188668811604562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkCzZOgSpz3WKkB4OTpCGn06PHYv2syVDFoDgSHPTXuCH6ahmlTngZpSUmsGGCrxBNBddh1P4iwIZD8X6G4fjXhagEtNOFh9Xo7-Tj5I7DpzdgL1F1ds2T5i-N9ksuT8LSa_V4G7OH3R6/s320/P1070373.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>The bus went on one of the mountain ranges on the way in and I got some great views of the city. The bus then kept going about 30 minutes more and I wondered if I was on the right bus. Sarajevo has two international bus stations. One is in the center of town and the other is about 20 minutes out of town. My bus went to the one out of town. There were no ATMs at the bus station (or much of anything else). Not many people milling about spoke English. I finally found someone who spoke a bit of English and he directed to the place where I could get a bus into town. I had no local currency so I held up a five Euro note and asked the bus driver if he took Euros. He shook his head and got off the bus and talked to a guy standing at the stop. He got back on the bus, took back my 5 Euro note and gave me the equivalent of three Euros change in Bosnian Marks. I knew my hostel was near the city center, but other than that I really had no idea where it was or which stop I needed to get off at. I just had a brochure with a small map. An old man on the bus who spoke no English tried to tell me through a series of motions that he knew where my hostel was. I've been around the block before and I know what he's doing, but I went with him anyway. We walked for several blocks and he takes me to a hotel that is not at all my hotel, but on the way in, I noticed a street sign corresponding with a street on my map. I told him goodbye and he tried to get me to go into the other hotel (that will probably pay him a commission for bringing me in). I told him I have a reservation somewhere else. Some kids were playing soccer in the street and he tried to get them to translate. He was easy to loose being that he was old and couldn't walk very fast. This is the first time someone who didn't speak a lick of English tried to scam me. I finally made it to my hostel at the top of a very steep hill overlooking the city.<br /><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjPL5CaE1O9jI2EUATlLw0BHRLUKA9sK4m_vJqfPiTPZ99CdLlaTMkc8J-Tyywrj741y0E6x_cyTyBF_cXPv73FhCs80l7QiNyyMTb2vXBy9vOWxXCQmebVR-K1OynWe4U-4uRipqondE/s1600-h/P1070410.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382179833958763842" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjPL5CaE1O9jI2EUATlLw0BHRLUKA9sK4m_vJqfPiTPZ99CdLlaTMkc8J-Tyywrj741y0E6x_cyTyBF_cXPv73FhCs80l7QiNyyMTb2vXBy9vOWxXCQmebVR-K1OynWe4U-4uRipqondE/s320/P1070410.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't waste any time in Sarajevo. The next day Harris, the hostel owner took a group of us on a trip to Srebencia about two hours from Sarajevo on a very curvy road. Srebencia was the sight of a particularly brutal part of the war. Bosnian Serb forces had surrounded the town, which was a UN protected safe haven for the Bosniaks. People were evacuated from their homes and sent to shelters in nearby factories. The Bosnian Serbs entered Srebencia, ignoring a UN mandate and the Dutch peacekeeping soldiers. The men were sent to the hills and many were slaughtered. This was the bloodiest battle in Europe since World War 2.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DtxoyWKPSsDKoxZjgMHJQIemmtSOkvyC_8b8_w3MP2WORtHomVoi_m59R4PJIvPK07ccgypWzaV88hoyGfBZcFLgsIm11lsOJfFg9xoLz2RYoQtZw8LnSMF-_V0PGxUmgpPV2nUZyLlK/s1600-h/P1070322.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382193858278158978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DtxoyWKPSsDKoxZjgMHJQIemmtSOkvyC_8b8_w3MP2WORtHomVoi_m59R4PJIvPK07ccgypWzaV88hoyGfBZcFLgsIm11lsOJfFg9xoLz2RYoQtZw8LnSMF-_V0PGxUmgpPV2nUZyLlK/s320/P1070322.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFMfs2iYhyphenhyphenkWFjT3Gut8VJ1gpgD5SXoPIpkyMy6oKeeTuOoPEy4Q4od8t52HS0y8jGQslMxKhHJoylwbQtODD57KbqCbR_46eVYgQacHZ610Aj0E1ziUr7ooWTh1OwFgI0EV_C2YBihLz/s1600-h/P1070327.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382193845352326706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFMfs2iYhyphenhyphenkWFjT3Gut8VJ1gpgD5SXoPIpkyMy6oKeeTuOoPEy4Q4od8t52HS0y8jGQslMxKhHJoylwbQtODD57KbqCbR_46eVYgQacHZ610Aj0E1ziUr7ooWTh1OwFgI0EV_C2YBihLz/s320/P1070327.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWR90TbJaA3GcOmLghOlwCKlLag4lu3VRLmuHtzQF0I16InT4tQbudLGsOSdmwVO86Dhmto0W0DcdCrmr_nBGXFrjOk7Qy4z-fp1q9tKFI39qacwOs3gubH0QIZMRt1HL6nurdIs3jlw5/s1600-h/P1070317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382196281163066434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWR90TbJaA3GcOmLghOlwCKlLag4lu3VRLmuHtzQF0I16InT4tQbudLGsOSdmwVO86Dhmto0W0DcdCrmr_nBGXFrjOk7Qy4z-fp1q9tKFI39qacwOs3gubH0QIZMRt1HL6nurdIs3jlw5/s320/P1070317.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8mMpfKygurtPH26B4J_L9IYdqFpJQ9zM9oUfPaplYqDySvV6JMoZodXSrVjbT6jFElb2g8hdC4b_lbSib0Vu2Yc2OEpjLipjHnhqLZvzMU2Tq7CE55CMnGNO12rv4ufqXKoxDRNbeYf3/s1600-h/P1070318.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382196278877743602" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8mMpfKygurtPH26B4J_L9IYdqFpJQ9zM9oUfPaplYqDySvV6JMoZodXSrVjbT6jFElb2g8hdC4b_lbSib0Vu2Yc2OEpjLipjHnhqLZvzMU2Tq7CE55CMnGNO12rv4ufqXKoxDRNbeYf3/s320/P1070318.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0awvCR_QiIjQwAfws492nFjZZAhqddLukpC5iRGOTWGF6YYjGjlq8kh-bxDNAm-5FmcAvpfulPwNaTjXkEFtb7sbGBlJV-Fy5FKDwM7jXqABmhv_GfmA2_9YQd12pNj9xXxKAPEM33KY/s1600-h/P1070321.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382196270273490498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0awvCR_QiIjQwAfws492nFjZZAhqddLukpC5iRGOTWGF6YYjGjlq8kh-bxDNAm-5FmcAvpfulPwNaTjXkEFtb7sbGBlJV-Fy5FKDwM7jXqABmhv_GfmA2_9YQd12pNj9xXxKAPEM33KY/s320/P1070321.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMX_wgI8yTgC16O0bGCVizGMXXmYgUSggm_t8szp0EkzJiBXzyr2_3b-Rim3rkszH3Q1K_8Fwhum-f7NkPUNnSL9qntKpXi7gWop89LdDMSWY8_oqIuIKIqbTPc1hLg1JuXly3_tIguEoD/s1600-h/P1070335.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382192174082572338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMX_wgI8yTgC16O0bGCVizGMXXmYgUSggm_t8szp0EkzJiBXzyr2_3b-Rim3rkszH3Q1K_8Fwhum-f7NkPUNnSL9qntKpXi7gWop89LdDMSWY8_oqIuIKIqbTPc1hLg1JuXly3_tIguEoD/s320/P1070335.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievewjjTo86nw3tRXrR7vNhTVx9kF99wKLuTryKUtoEq3G2IxbK7X8VQauA7nPqS0lLePuEsQBSMPXZln3XeUdMrt1LnIhcoOutEwLXva9YEqhPbI9ISK_RNXXeS_SoDxGphvGqvfNb54F/s1600-h/P1070334.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382193833466926338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievewjjTo86nw3tRXrR7vNhTVx9kF99wKLuTryKUtoEq3G2IxbK7X8VQauA7nPqS0lLePuEsQBSMPXZln3XeUdMrt1LnIhcoOutEwLXva9YEqhPbI9ISK_RNXXeS_SoDxGphvGqvfNb54F/s320/P1070334.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGGjKB-eGXT2Q_ZdqYsKPAyO_i2A6tRDxmQT8Gmwcb-0blOCGPLOYQDRQBxE_AaM9JoRn87roA4SMFdEWJu65ON44IR8jT7XUa4I7vUew73kFC8YYDLRnL5GB_QU5AynAtIOiTYAx0t1r/s1600-h/P1070339.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382192162114082194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGGjKB-eGXT2Q_ZdqYsKPAyO_i2A6tRDxmQT8Gmwcb-0blOCGPLOYQDRQBxE_AaM9JoRn87roA4SMFdEWJu65ON44IR8jT7XUa4I7vUew73kFC8YYDLRnL5GB_QU5AynAtIOiTYAx0t1r/s320/P1070339.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9wo0QQSbD8spCjGKYzWByi67vxMf693XS5afCjTGiW441xPgqsfu3sYAaJTNcUzneHiLQZn503DHIu5IVECtW_-VnqUp4onie3PNMu8ksEX8x9Bptc4mUIVBoBt1o73-vI2nCZoPir1X/s1600-h/P1070341.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382192156759559154" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9wo0QQSbD8spCjGKYzWByi67vxMf693XS5afCjTGiW441xPgqsfu3sYAaJTNcUzneHiLQZn503DHIu5IVECtW_-VnqUp4onie3PNMu8ksEX8x9Bptc4mUIVBoBt1o73-vI2nCZoPir1X/s320/P1070341.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>I spent most of the next day on a tour of the city of Sarajevo.<br /></p><p>A tunnel system was dug to transport supplies and people through the Bosnian Serb controlled areas. The main tunnel went under the city's airport.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwKHPTz5JBdfQCpIpKQ76N1R_2pv25dc7kYoZvgjY8AHNFfawGlhyoklev4_l6_7LhB0d1K6JFAlPIdyPfEe1SyhucchQTVE1zzRQcZ1E3gWeoo_wVtraTW02ql3ZALPU2GdKE0DjALTU/s1600-h/P1070365.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382190613916784658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwKHPTz5JBdfQCpIpKQ76N1R_2pv25dc7kYoZvgjY8AHNFfawGlhyoklev4_l6_7LhB0d1K6JFAlPIdyPfEe1SyhucchQTVE1zzRQcZ1E3gWeoo_wVtraTW02ql3ZALPU2GdKE0DjALTU/s320/P1070365.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>Many, many buildings are still completely pockmarked with bullet holes.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLFwKA7QDI_2FvGXu-BJt9a6CL3BL0NoMM9cv-dXLqtbjX2BzeYpnHfUCqB80FlH5q9Yp153FN5-F0l8kOBGEC1EGWweXnrMMIiFwYH_ekuZyoDEeINEABF_UVvAVZp96SCpOzJk1UyLh/s1600-h/P1070374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382188666913832290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLFwKA7QDI_2FvGXu-BJt9a6CL3BL0NoMM9cv-dXLqtbjX2BzeYpnHfUCqB80FlH5q9Yp153FN5-F0l8kOBGEC1EGWweXnrMMIiFwYH_ekuZyoDEeINEABF_UVvAVZp96SCpOzJk1UyLh/s320/P1070374.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNjp8xCK6HfrANXsA69_JksPVVUjhpJnUTJvsD91plpa2aTRZCd3-b5lO7_mio7k8fO0RRisAgufr5_jiyw78d86hwExvij93rbhQ2Ijc3Q7chTuq3fsttdJc57GpRSPwRWC_KjGpQYvo/s1600-h/P1070375.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382186573005285746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNjp8xCK6HfrANXsA69_JksPVVUjhpJnUTJvsD91plpa2aTRZCd3-b5lO7_mio7k8fO0RRisAgufr5_jiyw78d86hwExvij93rbhQ2Ijc3Q7chTuq3fsttdJc57GpRSPwRWC_KjGpQYvo/s320/P1070375.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXGZEZsS3GHIY1x9hmvS3NKlZycLZjD-c3ta9vsbXthzEXICaYN59EtujZNPoq7tlhUmraP1oWq_WDxf7DKVqONva9o3iulHXvcW1MK1JqQBGPicH9ZTZQMpTatB5XJcLlxVkJGsGUcEJ/s1600-h/P1070376.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382186564536251586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXGZEZsS3GHIY1x9hmvS3NKlZycLZjD-c3ta9vsbXthzEXICaYN59EtujZNPoq7tlhUmraP1oWq_WDxf7DKVqONva9o3iulHXvcW1MK1JqQBGPicH9ZTZQMpTatB5XJcLlxVkJGsGUcEJ/s320/P1070376.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>It's so hard to imagine how such a long and brutal war could happen in the city that hosted the Winter Olympics less than ten years prior. We toured the stadium and the bobsled track from the 1984 Winter Olympics.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8lZVGYe7MB8jEOYpn0YWvEZ3ag_hd11tbEixcBcD4paBF_AvS6xI-xNWBWqWSzINYdyhCYfDhi0XhzocsQ0xVh6WddEeq85bde-AO7fG61cbDR1h2_zlQfp7T7KtpChnI55_nVPu-tCg/s1600-h/P1070384.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382185047092616226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8lZVGYe7MB8jEOYpn0YWvEZ3ag_hd11tbEixcBcD4paBF_AvS6xI-xNWBWqWSzINYdyhCYfDhi0XhzocsQ0xVh6WddEeq85bde-AO7fG61cbDR1h2_zlQfp7T7KtpChnI55_nVPu-tCg/s320/P1070384.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM7zz-cHV84rp2j5E_Gxpxvr-vlnoOmMvaAZ_lXbh-Tkl6MMwXo9CZwuPY-iFNWjMILxJAUTlBFgATZ-NumZVO0O4l278WRfELGCePAPJjvk-I7tRlKHpi7QW12WpHlgvMjDqHDpqBT-B/s1600-h/P1070381.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382186547493532146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM7zz-cHV84rp2j5E_Gxpxvr-vlnoOmMvaAZ_lXbh-Tkl6MMwXo9CZwuPY-iFNWjMILxJAUTlBFgATZ-NumZVO0O4l278WRfELGCePAPJjvk-I7tRlKHpi7QW12WpHlgvMjDqHDpqBT-B/s320/P1070381.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9D8s8bc5hmFa2d7Zh_Yk7zvpYSUGIoxcblS0yLwOxZDliTYjZCVf0s8xdDLKQKt2cbPQXzjpDlUOaQRkfMIxk2enMbFqOGB9pc99Gj-9CcDJeuF6fpeKHIpL1e3v2Vua42LOXCZovCHm/s1600-h/P1070366.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382188688373305778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9D8s8bc5hmFa2d7Zh_Yk7zvpYSUGIoxcblS0yLwOxZDliTYjZCVf0s8xdDLKQKt2cbPQXzjpDlUOaQRkfMIxk2enMbFqOGB9pc99Gj-9CcDJeuF6fpeKHIpL1e3v2Vua42LOXCZovCHm/s320/P1070366.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmEO0XBSgtV9agm_IRXx2CUw8gP-crJq-wj3jB2k-_j06A5J5bzd3f4qqt8eS7xb1eE-D5BL1G9tp8SiHHMgfRxf76Mfhg0YM7OX_2I29kWfyPJBrEO6MOYPq307ksdMkdyH5hg7_YXIs/s1600-h/P1070367.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382188682865467874" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmEO0XBSgtV9agm_IRXx2CUw8gP-crJq-wj3jB2k-_j06A5J5bzd3f4qqt8eS7xb1eE-D5BL1G9tp8SiHHMgfRxf76Mfhg0YM7OX_2I29kWfyPJBrEO6MOYPq307ksdMkdyH5hg7_YXIs/s320/P1070367.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>Much of the Bosnian countryside is off limits due to land mines. Clearing land mines is a painstakingly slow process and only a small percentage of the countryside has been cleared.<br /></p><p>Old Town Sarajevo.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PTRekI56qXXjL_cEscUR5jBnxuEiNlfse4udazX2AwxoZcpia4HngTlcle4-ADGZ1AnOi-hI9lEfzMf1m3d257kjEFrGzou0XwtXAwSKY0QmGpsXWgO9_Ju1UGuwFu-5Hwdq-O3kmmQA/s1600-h/P1070395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382185014430614146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PTRekI56qXXjL_cEscUR5jBnxuEiNlfse4udazX2AwxoZcpia4HngTlcle4-ADGZ1AnOi-hI9lEfzMf1m3d257kjEFrGzou0XwtXAwSKY0QmGpsXWgO9_Ju1UGuwFu-5Hwdq-O3kmmQA/s320/P1070395.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>The spot in downtown where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian empire was assassinated, which is considered to be the start of World War I.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uCkCd3e-eKXfSJPuA-se21dq4xEmG-zFKQhVF0X9tn_kZ4-yYQ0bHZ3qWhlYFOflJr2boqdbvwdOO0xY1MUhLmtf0wvI-T6xYsPi56udoRxHH2b63L9idz1xffKbp8WXN8-V9U6Ei8lN/s1600-h/P1070404.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382179860695780002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uCkCd3e-eKXfSJPuA-se21dq4xEmG-zFKQhVF0X9tn_kZ4-yYQ0bHZ3qWhlYFOflJr2boqdbvwdOO0xY1MUhLmtf0wvI-T6xYsPi56udoRxHH2b63L9idz1xffKbp8WXN8-V9U6Ei8lN/s320/P1070404.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>The Sarajevo Holiday Inn.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSew8Vojmiqp3f2UNsuaEF6oQ4ek69Jq97rRuLCC1Ya3-mF43loq7z5DzI5_DkrKzztRWZ6222sgZqZ3zcXhbFzfqH0Ls0xwyvb1wAa-SPbJ4IPGh_9lg3cbHE8T_KJhpaZBO0Eyzs-rN/s1600-h/P1070377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382186561733905442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSew8Vojmiqp3f2UNsuaEF6oQ4ek69Jq97rRuLCC1Ya3-mF43loq7z5DzI5_DkrKzztRWZ6222sgZqZ3zcXhbFzfqH0Ls0xwyvb1wAa-SPbJ4IPGh_9lg3cbHE8T_KJhpaZBO0Eyzs-rN/s320/P1070377.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>Other shots in and around the city.<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAOSu_Ja3DOPj_fzGs420r8HNaXgBOaPmXBQphve8AykrRPqOsWyiK10RDDe65UHLs0JZS7Q1IDalsAc0ZNw0AnU4TZ-Qqxc8yS6R-xFoQwvHUNBukUrALpDyDxb4gQXYqbShYHwZQsuh/s1600-h/P1070401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382182780244528466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAOSu_Ja3DOPj_fzGs420r8HNaXgBOaPmXBQphve8AykrRPqOsWyiK10RDDe65UHLs0JZS7Q1IDalsAc0ZNw0AnU4TZ-Qqxc8yS6R-xFoQwvHUNBukUrALpDyDxb4gQXYqbShYHwZQsuh/s320/P1070401.JPG" border="0" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BlYI0QN1LS8QisZgHtBwV6RllNsjnsRUGKtK4IzkZBevV0WAXauNRvHrmLvSQ4dxXs_biEqYZ1alR6AUHz9QybSRzMKAbKJGwAiwniTTB03AyJdesjk1pO1sYY14XFGaQ8qW03RtrytM/s1600-h/P1070406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382179854664681154" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BlYI0QN1LS8QisZgHtBwV6RllNsjnsRUGKtK4IzkZBevV0WAXauNRvHrmLvSQ4dxXs_biEqYZ1alR6AUHz9QybSRzMKAbKJGwAiwniTTB03AyJdesjk1pO1sYY14XFGaQ8qW03RtrytM/s320/P1070406.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnnL7IEwEBDjPNsV0CF-HNLT1Zjao073ImIWgUJRyxopsVrXjGZKp45ICd9mXwj_QAWKqAtyESZ8uytsXh-uhz7VuzAs-EQq23D5p6rnWxPRhF1TXQk0w1Kv3ASoEebfP97VZk39tEDvK/s1600-h/P1070407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382179849151283442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnnL7IEwEBDjPNsV0CF-HNLT1Zjao073ImIWgUJRyxopsVrXjGZKp45ICd9mXwj_QAWKqAtyESZ8uytsXh-uhz7VuzAs-EQq23D5p6rnWxPRhF1TXQk0w1Kv3ASoEebfP97VZk39tEDvK/s320/P1070407.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxCfoadjJj0lbOZgpUzNBBVirZ5vo1FQgWV7rV-JDz8eExcre59ovoOx6gA46p_ITY25TrhYOUrnBuKLY6RXa-MdJ1qXlNXOSz6uBgEslFOCZb4xJyHTONCjciAg-Tyyz0i_T7Q3NNAy1/s1600-h/P1070411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382173333859138850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxCfoadjJj0lbOZgpUzNBBVirZ5vo1FQgWV7rV-JDz8eExcre59ovoOx6gA46p_ITY25TrhYOUrnBuKLY6RXa-MdJ1qXlNXOSz6uBgEslFOCZb4xJyHTONCjciAg-Tyyz0i_T7Q3NNAy1/s320/P1070411.JPG" border="0" /></a><p>Although the war ended almost 15 years ago and the fighting has ceased, there is still a great deal of tension in the country between the factions. Cities are divided along ethnicities. On a hill overlooking Mostar sits a large cross built by the Bosnian Croats. To an outsider, it would seem to be no big deal, but to the Bosniaks, who are muslim, it might as well be a huge middle finger. Even beer has been politicized. A bar in Bosnia is either a Bosnian bar or a Bosnian Serb/Croat bar, with each serving brands of beer specific to that ethnic group. If a foreigner goes into a bar and asks for the wrong kind of beer, it will probably slide. But if a local goes into a bar and asks for the wrong brand of beer, well, that would get your ass kicked.</p><p>Also, a car bomb went off a few blocks from where I was staying.<br /></p><p>On July 26 I left Sarajevo for Mostar, a picturesque town with a bridge. The bridge is famous and dare devils will jump off the bridge (after collecting money from the crowd). The bridge was built in the 16th century and was destroyed during the war in 1993 and was later rebuilt.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN47vqykMrdWCYMF_lyMbQg7QNymW42wx86O3x4B0uzpvdelgVHYNYtTSdFn8yNxDrcBiNo7kdSuT6DZQLQ6ID-2F35hhEuxwbtS8riDohqmtKoxRYC-h-vhDJ6d1V5jCR5GwzQPBmwMN/s1600-h/P1070414.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382173309853678530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN47vqykMrdWCYMF_lyMbQg7QNymW42wx86O3x4B0uzpvdelgVHYNYtTSdFn8yNxDrcBiNo7kdSuT6DZQLQ6ID-2F35hhEuxwbtS8riDohqmtKoxRYC-h-vhDJ6d1V5jCR5GwzQPBmwMN/s320/P1070414.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lWHl1x6WCJg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lWHl1x6WCJg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /></p><p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5vBTWxQUSlHB4H1j-W1DkIK3bWz48nXwdPJ1JZs8e7JzN1GjQvgQjplDjNd-WRTGasf9q26X1is63k5ItGAGti7V5-UzAc6Zix2JnGz7TO1twdB__W3oiaE52Nwc8o9oI9CRJWHsMGLX/s1600-h/P1070428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382168444557086626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeh1AGyyTudmp-3CTRtAiqISpul7LddOPYrr8uToaBKy-KuT4oWMbbHvQg1TzMRQ5bCH145WiHJkT94vTBU2wQ-wKrH1DjM_cZdiJBHSpkDl4SkKzriO31fQxGITJOmJNKOPA4tAGN5h0/s320/P1070420.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBh9RdTFDlJ8vGUOk2j1gC8X7d7YA68CmDLMFEoe6B3SN1Lx-uyUEtv9G5zlfNBAj65_w1uciwOcMectYTBsohBpbXAPy9IjIh_pKkxWLA2V2yVAzMVg0Cdc1Yxpa3dznuCJLBpUBha6T/s1600-h/P1070421.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382169266883627634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBh9RdTFDlJ8vGUOk2j1gC8X7d7YA68CmDLMFEoe6B3SN1Lx-uyUEtv9G5zlfNBAj65_w1uciwOcMectYTBsohBpbXAPy9IjIh_pKkxWLA2V2yVAzMVg0Cdc1Yxpa3dznuCJLBpUBha6T/s320/P1070421.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsK8XP2ez8llGYbYOuF7J9L-ESKLwhpYuQ06dH5ZdsMkavTLgnzxiiy3kc7xQSJhzEFSw6xUbssiVZ6oajwQZrvHvQf2rJHWFBKwSM4yVZl3o5H7-U3oKChb-Ina45mxMJ6oq8Yf9PgHN/s1600-h/P1070422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382168460769449058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsK8XP2ez8llGYbYOuF7J9L-ESKLwhpYuQ06dH5ZdsMkavTLgnzxiiy3kc7xQSJhzEFSw6xUbssiVZ6oajwQZrvHvQf2rJHWFBKwSM4yVZl3o5H7-U3oKChb-Ina45mxMJ6oq8Yf9PgHN/s320/P1070422.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjlAxKiK7uuF7Hqgn8IE7-1P1RkpsRuIjvmo-EutE-Vu_o8p1rH4IJ1I-wg7WNE-kbq4z_ii28F6jRr6enPS-kayXBKDWlyjsJqpG-w3IjAuNb24cVWw2FXbT-6ido8-qXADSejmHk5aq/s1600-h/P1070423.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382168454864681794" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjlAxKiK7uuF7Hqgn8IE7-1P1RkpsRuIjvmo-EutE-Vu_o8p1rH4IJ1I-wg7WNE-kbq4z_ii28F6jRr6enPS-kayXBKDWlyjsJqpG-w3IjAuNb24cVWw2FXbT-6ido8-qXADSejmHk5aq/s320/P1070423.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On June 17 I went on Bada's tour. Bada was the brother of Majda, the hostel owner. Bada had a van with a disco ball. He was really high energy, like he'd been drinking about five energy drinks (whatever the Bosnian version of Red Bull is). There were about 9 people on the tour, including Tomas from Sweden, Aleksandra from Switzerland, and Simon from Australia, all of whom I met in Sarajevo and traveled to Mostar with. The tour started out with a tour of an old fortified city on a hill.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZetNpeCcsTqVrGBNtcBiZoi1rnvhLwEV32jpVaPZ2LgAHxoJMcSEXrB5m2q4RTJjqkchJchqocDcAzrRE8lEc2nJWyNyK4yQ3PakjaQES9vKLFMzhoJ0JMmjpuZsEwibGFWoZGQ3G3RDU/s1600-h/P1070439.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382168436853504194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZetNpeCcsTqVrGBNtcBiZoi1rnvhLwEV32jpVaPZ2LgAHxoJMcSEXrB5m2q4RTJjqkchJchqocDcAzrRE8lEc2nJWyNyK4yQ3PakjaQES9vKLFMzhoJ0JMmjpuZsEwibGFWoZGQ3G3RDU/s320/P1070439.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8iJQR374osaII_sKXGknTkuueTgTCSfd91HKd9KymFCYQlYkT5G_dgl-AW3UhGfaxqA3pEw65DG4kanmPc3qMLfbslAg5rL7C6sNayCOTvnKpHS95mbEg_wVzu9YkMcM9iAcF3GpkOnf/s1600-h/P1070444.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382166040056082306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8iJQR374osaII_sKXGknTkuueTgTCSfd91HKd9KymFCYQlYkT5G_dgl-AW3UhGfaxqA3pEw65DG4kanmPc3qMLfbslAg5rL7C6sNayCOTvnKpHS95mbEg_wVzu9YkMcM9iAcF3GpkOnf/s320/P1070444.JPG" border="0" /></a>The next stop was some waterfalls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwLFiCdQwdV4xXTd9KD7CJPtOZH270eQNBwO4whevo_6hbXV8AkfPCw863908L6cleQwVBjU61ccoXjTvTAmzUC37ylLU4akyDsjXzeYvncPyiz_kQZojOaP1ruKMjzxd8QVD84XA_lzT/s1600-h/P1070450.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382166033489672370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwLFiCdQwdV4xXTd9KD7CJPtOZH270eQNBwO4whevo_6hbXV8AkfPCw863908L6cleQwVBjU61ccoXjTvTAmzUC37ylLU4akyDsjXzeYvncPyiz_kQZojOaP1ruKMjzxd8QVD84XA_lzT/s320/P1070450.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW1HZlKTlzr-XFpSZ-FB_bRuK7j0FVKA4udYkFkRjjjwHV7EG0iYxGXIAJ_zBc8kjrbnB2UcJY7ZEBOdh10Vkg-LF7EVe7oVHNEOTvhyphenhyphenC2muzDTw2SWmFpb0WcwgMUwakAgBgFN7kGB0O/s1600-h/P1070453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382166026076224466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW1HZlKTlzr-XFpSZ-FB_bRuK7j0FVKA4udYkFkRjjjwHV7EG0iYxGXIAJ_zBc8kjrbnB2UcJY7ZEBOdh10Vkg-LF7EVe7oVHNEOTvhyphenhyphenC2muzDTw2SWmFpb0WcwgMUwakAgBgFN7kGB0O/s320/P1070453.JPG" border="0" /></a>At the waterfalls area, there was some kind of biker event going on. This could easily have been in Kentucky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SLwskO0Bbeuu_WiLGZ-gKI2jaLjYJInf_VGV7_d_sY13pqMapUKucWZioUpNBOqfUzpA9AFCWBaVbCFvsl2TkXRslDb_myUvmrcsnSgxuIrbTF3L3IMuov7BcakiS6CLnhDvS0XHDDFq/s1600-h/P1070456.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382166017504413074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SLwskO0Bbeuu_WiLGZ-gKI2jaLjYJInf_VGV7_d_sY13pqMapUKucWZioUpNBOqfUzpA9AFCWBaVbCFvsl2TkXRslDb_myUvmrcsnSgxuIrbTF3L3IMuov7BcakiS6CLnhDvS0XHDDFq/s320/P1070456.JPG" border="0" /></a>The next stop was the town of Medugorje. In 1981, six children saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in the nearby woods. The apparition has not been officially endorsed by the Catholic Church, but that doesn't stop thousands of Christian pilgrim from visiting the site every year. The town was quite small and considered a backwater, but is pretty built up now from tourism.<br /><br />A large church in the center of town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIdBeM9fVY5i9tGeSUbPTsZ8PT5NCxdKVDQUq8vVovJNtZA0t5afXZ9xbznIct9uhl2xWjFGGx_aIJna_RObQdzOzYHH5d5-p0sbDef4EZrOdbjWikyNr1SHpFzon-hHF85cM5nxxEkZB/s1600-h/P1070479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382162775350085266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIdBeM9fVY5i9tGeSUbPTsZ8PT5NCxdKVDQUq8vVovJNtZA0t5afXZ9xbznIct9uhl2xWjFGGx_aIJna_RObQdzOzYHH5d5-p0sbDef4EZrOdbjWikyNr1SHpFzon-hHF85cM5nxxEkZB/s320/P1070479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF3DEmKca0U9wPcci6hiyU_ikzTxh6Mt_SZT4UAFGf1cf4C2wpHIf9FLjyh5gbZTgavx3rl48xpAa8V1BzsjZQw3A7tdUW9QtM3-ral4FmA0pwUSJPXXMnLdqZOcRRLZe4N0kFjMJb5TS/s1600-h/P1070474.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382164466722193106" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF3DEmKca0U9wPcci6hiyU_ikzTxh6Mt_SZT4UAFGf1cf4C2wpHIf9FLjyh5gbZTgavx3rl48xpAa8V1BzsjZQw3A7tdUW9QtM3-ral4FmA0pwUSJPXXMnLdqZOcRRLZe4N0kFjMJb5TS/s320/P1070474.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On the church grounds sits a bronze statue of Jesus known as the Weeping Christ. Water trickles from a spot on the side of the knee. Pilgrims buy special tissues to wipe the statue and capture a bit of the water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlWHLufKRBTd0j-eGL_LOAEnYRSnQsUNzG_nplOho1YJultqmYV7o1pkxOVEDbakGQkhrGS_msSGOhoiXFsOZoBdVH42X14X5wLhDcTGhCoJ8NgkGZBYnREovsIvBCB80K75uStS2IUVb/s1600-h/P1070471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382164474806658450" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlWHLufKRBTd0j-eGL_LOAEnYRSnQsUNzG_nplOho1YJultqmYV7o1pkxOVEDbakGQkhrGS_msSGOhoiXFsOZoBdVH42X14X5wLhDcTGhCoJ8NgkGZBYnREovsIvBCB80K75uStS2IUVb/s320/P1070471.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZIYKKr0_VbcTfdRiWdMCMLDGh0GZa1vwnX4eWv8LFOa-hT0eJajtxvDWvqk3rRONf4WzNldqdHmvUP_ze8lgS1d__jicbwPkyMFpiL9UsBsRyPCuVOO1MBe9dFCfsjzOfUQ0PaPRJ3Ko/s1600-h/P1070465.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382164486573567634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZIYKKr0_VbcTfdRiWdMCMLDGh0GZa1vwnX4eWv8LFOa-hT0eJajtxvDWvqk3rRONf4WzNldqdHmvUP_ze8lgS1d__jicbwPkyMFpiL9UsBsRyPCuVOO1MBe9dFCfsjzOfUQ0PaPRJ3Ko/s320/P1070465.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The town is quite built up now, with many stores near the church in the main square selling souvenirs to the visiting pilgrims.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyErg_YNvBMbbznfo3tccNhK680BcQc-FT80BPw6MCI-1cAS9RwDMPj-rH_xwQcFPsyrp3hYY63gspGjPkUC_TvhSo4sUdo1Lnz07c2P2WF77SD9D7Irks4KrHCLYOqaKeQonk57FSXFkA/s1600-h/P1070482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382161263282592834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyErg_YNvBMbbznfo3tccNhK680BcQc-FT80BPw6MCI-1cAS9RwDMPj-rH_xwQcFPsyrp3hYY63gspGjPkUC_TvhSo4sUdo1Lnz07c2P2WF77SD9D7Irks4KrHCLYOqaKeQonk57FSXFkA/s320/P1070482.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll41n53C9GVi31pNQkYijs43FfCAuZCr6HCm95rhTrbPc0F-bp_FGc9RKk0PAIheaDJ6NAz9ot6ybujX-s3KTpvCy7CjeCfONaWzvxduKtP1pGXg8-2UPhDMDSGclw7t8cxSAPwFg5imo/s1600-h/P1070484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382161261835673426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll41n53C9GVi31pNQkYijs43FfCAuZCr6HCm95rhTrbPc0F-bp_FGc9RKk0PAIheaDJ6NAz9ot6ybujX-s3KTpvCy7CjeCfONaWzvxduKtP1pGXg8-2UPhDMDSGclw7t8cxSAPwFg5imo/s320/P1070484.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpO9UPZ3pDoxCU8wZnp5-zWEafWcfjJMsspBdyJs-w4o_ncNLrYpLedAyjMg14u-BJBC-g2UOmqacp8zY2acgwUBLYLb19H-3MEp7BK44Xc7o1kS3gf2EkUjyaSKOrkNvONnfMzAfqUnFc/s1600-h/P1070485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382161251721939314" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpO9UPZ3pDoxCU8wZnp5-zWEafWcfjJMsspBdyJs-w4o_ncNLrYpLedAyjMg14u-BJBC-g2UOmqacp8zY2acgwUBLYLb19H-3MEp7BK44Xc7o1kS3gf2EkUjyaSKOrkNvONnfMzAfqUnFc/s320/P1070485.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The last stop was at a Dervish Monastery. This monastery sits at the foot of a mountain that is the source for the Buna River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2IfIsPWwV-WIm6rOsdpFVCllUOkQR2BiDvZrQCGCunTwuvrY-Em8ZLXGIZnXWY53L9E8Rx1e45Al1hY4ZMkeRJRuM8EDk6mQlGanHGO8zgXiQ3evf1AfZsqO9jES97nOW6mYYXOMcj_p/s1600-h/P1070491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382159633494496066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2IfIsPWwV-WIm6rOsdpFVCllUOkQR2BiDvZrQCGCunTwuvrY-Em8ZLXGIZnXWY53L9E8Rx1e45Al1hY4ZMkeRJRuM8EDk6mQlGanHGO8zgXiQ3evf1AfZsqO9jES97nOW6mYYXOMcj_p/s320/P1070491.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcd-AljVwBKuBPik3KmcSbO_ubx0O7jJFSY9CC2-PUUURv86WqD9QTHCcVB9zbHRQqX-WF_i4YU-ES0AVyeF3IejzNN3qQn5RzBtAg5BIeIgYxHWFtTo9VIWd6Jd7qAEmCL1DlY-PP4rvP/s1600-h/P1070494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382159620248164562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcd-AljVwBKuBPik3KmcSbO_ubx0O7jJFSY9CC2-PUUURv86WqD9QTHCcVB9zbHRQqX-WF_i4YU-ES0AVyeF3IejzNN3qQn5RzBtAg5BIeIgYxHWFtTo9VIWd6Jd7qAEmCL1DlY-PP4rvP/s320/P1070494.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NTmZM3wXLjdBuPgxY0KrSPW8LXRjwQk5FdNxZW5wQV7xYMZSfizns5o7_wHiUh-Ahqu8yPEk6ljLUZmuG8y0NmvV5Np4GwJ3w9QQnsoFbLAota-qIjx9SkQPrVBi_wSRfX4daY3DCUGN/s1600-h/P1070496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382159616972150338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NTmZM3wXLjdBuPgxY0KrSPW8LXRjwQk5FdNxZW5wQV7xYMZSfizns5o7_wHiUh-Ahqu8yPEk6ljLUZmuG8y0NmvV5Np4GwJ3w9QQnsoFbLAota-qIjx9SkQPrVBi_wSRfX4daY3DCUGN/s320/P1070496.JPG" border="0" /></a>I think there were some other stops, but I can't remember exactly what they were and I dont have any pictures. The tour was great, but it was a little long (about 12 hours) and I had had my fill of Bada by the end of the day.<br /><br />Croatia<br /><br />On June 28, I took a bus to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Dubrovnik sits between the Adriatic Sea and the mountains and has a very beautiful, well-preserved old town. Dubrovnik is probably the most tourist visited city in the former Yugoslavia and is a popular port of call spot for Cruise ships. It was packed with tourists during the day.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xcYihRGmXyFBW5WIriKzxYIEtFC3vF4MFskdMJowWRhVnOk8p9_SKFUeAFqG8YVtoGpHuKEfw2UpfEk5BfQ-tqvelzI3aAtxg0RiU904e2bBAasl3BP74fpUQMPpdSqEzrdgjF5TiI2Q/s1600-h/P1070519.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382157002277467650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xcYihRGmXyFBW5WIriKzxYIEtFC3vF4MFskdMJowWRhVnOk8p9_SKFUeAFqG8YVtoGpHuKEfw2UpfEk5BfQ-tqvelzI3aAtxg0RiU904e2bBAasl3BP74fpUQMPpdSqEzrdgjF5TiI2Q/s320/P1070519.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaBDeAe4ok-OeaAGPPSQoBPbka_UCsoUj6aZUsQGeAE4OQBUblQq29uWe3nHtpzVVX8XiYa4YhUp2jqKkHwKBRyWmWLYe73hoIwmNsE0m2p6UN1o8VqR2b4RzaJLbXt2zz16tkClMtVAy/s1600-h/P1070521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382156996651863458" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S1L_kAdKbaAs2ndJuPSg6g5yrvNvPsxSE5rXLPljUvZgvXWDlZ3r_D7BTkgo_mKHcuiTD7Wjojgn8VrJAqeHS86fhuA6MQaSnhpBnqgawA-Z3DbA1ebtuucbm3uIn93dgWGxKTUK875T/s320/P1070575.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTOx396IuMebwE8RuZM3zdRSIGUXMfPuf2Ob7fo8HmXbCDCjIRnG4qZ8Rnx_5GUH19HNuXZ015gXfEewsY1AY-0qeZKAMqu7lVw5Hm5W8as3l0jbqVThLK2wZ2UBXPQ7kpKt8JaOsGRno/s1600-h/P1070576.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382146307706803874" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTOx396IuMebwE8RuZM3zdRSIGUXMfPuf2Ob7fo8HmXbCDCjIRnG4qZ8Rnx_5GUH19HNuXZ015gXfEewsY1AY-0qeZKAMqu7lVw5Hm5W8as3l0jbqVThLK2wZ2UBXPQ7kpKt8JaOsGRno/s320/P1070576.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfVKck-OCVbn12L6hyphenhyphenMC8NOEcxMiuFSp_nKUHgZZsz9khk3jTP0skuUbeWuwpptYrqkylz3yqv_Ae1_GalOLixRoRZkOiWSfyJEfI1CvvjwZysFQACZPT7hTsv9ZSnAZQ3LXjQ337xYTj/s1600-h/P1070581.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382146300991832418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfVKck-OCVbn12L6hyphenhyphenMC8NOEcxMiuFSp_nKUHgZZsz9khk3jTP0skuUbeWuwpptYrqkylz3yqv_Ae1_GalOLixRoRZkOiWSfyJEfI1CvvjwZysFQACZPT7hTsv9ZSnAZQ3LXjQ337xYTj/s320/P1070581.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yvBD6su19CNpufDAWM2WygD30amltnTolTjM__xZmk5lMTHCU2XYr3OMcZiTFEXxNnZeqV9rt-gljoDJUXHfGd1wZz6Z8itU8qlUOJ4GhEVQaDk5oPQh0ngKYnLWaAtULrea_j5RDW5q/s1600-h/P1070587.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382146294677510994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yvBD6su19CNpufDAWM2WygD30amltnTolTjM__xZmk5lMTHCU2XYr3OMcZiTFEXxNnZeqV9rt-gljoDJUXHfGd1wZz6Z8itU8qlUOJ4GhEVQaDk5oPQh0ngKYnLWaAtULrea_j5RDW5q/s320/P1070587.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm57EMRXbwYKzMUVp8eYbMC8TiWh-cgbZAF6L20TggZ5ok9FvjCSri4k6e3niZfbzDm6DhcH9_Qa3juZEYY30n6ziwAGbt-iLYt3ZGkPbVGbuRTmw5KCj2jnmwkMJ47gjuTscs76DgJd-S/s1600-h/P1070600.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382146288657230770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm57EMRXbwYKzMUVp8eYbMC8TiWh-cgbZAF6L20TggZ5ok9FvjCSri4k6e3niZfbzDm6DhcH9_Qa3juZEYY30n6ziwAGbt-iLYt3ZGkPbVGbuRTmw5KCj2jnmwkMJ47gjuTscs76DgJd-S/s320/P1070600.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJVbng4rNpeRDbqgaZuAWZdXM_414KindMssnt33pUAZyWlvFt__PI-QyoW0frJ_0v91ruTXXUekslotlJsTGSbks64N4M_ah7T9bvTOsbevP7CFyRZUKqog7nLL6Zcdqln9MxcySV189/s1600-h/P1070602.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382146285119630706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJVbng4rNpeRDbqgaZuAWZdXM_414KindMssnt33pUAZyWlvFt__PI-QyoW0frJ_0v91ruTXXUekslotlJsTGSbks64N4M_ah7T9bvTOsbevP7CFyRZUKqog7nLL6Zcdqln9MxcySV189/s320/P1070602.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I spent about three days in Dubrovnik. Aside from exploring the old town and walking the city walls, I spent most of my time relaxing at the beach. Dubrovnik was a great spot for that after several days of heavy touring in Bosnia.<br /><br />Montenegro<br /><br />On July 1, I took a bus from Dubrovnik to Budva, Montenegro. Montenegro split off from Serbia in 2006. Leaving Serbia a land locked country and the Serbian Navy wondering what they were going to do.<br /><br />Lots of people ask me how the hostels were. As with hotels, and guest houses, there was quite a bit of variation, but overall they were clean, well-kept, a bit noisy, but very social. They weren't at all scary. The scariest thing I saw in a hostel was coming back to my bed and finding a cat nursing two kittens, like I did in Budva.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEhRx4DNIp-RSeI7_gxNjMMWjiufvIEcz8fvgYgYvekPR6GD_sTfOSr5CMi8yTv-uFXfazq1bJrktB2BS45x1UeNOzp_jSJ60VaSuZw_l0CPb51rijJry9eFtLUKHli65eV3jXOtBVKaN/s1600-h/P1070605.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382144843767533890" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEhRx4DNIp-RSeI7_gxNjMMWjiufvIEcz8fvgYgYvekPR6GD_sTfOSr5CMi8yTv-uFXfazq1bJrktB2BS45x1UeNOzp_jSJ60VaSuZw_l0CPb51rijJry9eFtLUKHli65eV3jXOtBVKaN/s320/P1070605.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-FacjbmwGKXo1lFOai0aHWyMbn6WHeWNx4CFpzyekU_785Qgf3vXCJO2pJS606raLDg1u3EZg3MM6Jx3dPaR-fnG-8qumqGG7SWcO19sEfloXeuGhlVJMlatjtbCCmO9rvUk7h1s16j8/s1600-h/P1070606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382144837154639714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-FacjbmwGKXo1lFOai0aHWyMbn6WHeWNx4CFpzyekU_785Qgf3vXCJO2pJS606raLDg1u3EZg3MM6Jx3dPaR-fnG-8qumqGG7SWcO19sEfloXeuGhlVJMlatjtbCCmO9rvUk7h1s16j8/s320/P1070606.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1oHKnU_I95gIEKdDI_COXggYMFPTSncy7jOLNu9ot9UgH_jgv9jyufmUL0N5EVZJuHpUzsCeF4tDs2BHpfyEgFa9e85J4ou3te08neca3RbWCJEwEQI9fuS1PphiHcDK1KMEQPVk_S4p/s1600-h/P1070607.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382144829989097986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1oHKnU_I95gIEKdDI_COXggYMFPTSncy7jOLNu9ot9UgH_jgv9jyufmUL0N5EVZJuHpUzsCeF4tDs2BHpfyEgFa9e85J4ou3te08neca3RbWCJEwEQI9fuS1PphiHcDK1KMEQPVk_S4p/s320/P1070607.JPG" border="0" /></a>We took the kittens downstairs and outside the building. The mother was soon to follow. They changed by bedsheets and all was right. Until the cat brought her kittens back. I'm not sure what it was about my particular bed that the cat found so inviting. After another change of linens, all was right once again.<br /><br />Budva is like a smaller Dubrovnik. It is on the Adriatic sea, perched between the sea and mountains, and has a well preserved old town. Budva, like Dubrovnik, has a rocky beach. It is kind of a party town, with loads of visiting Italians and Russians taking advantage of the warm climate and (relatively) low prices.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDzbZTgosV-0enQGWiv54mAdn7Z4USleHe7TLJc5IZxT8Je4HdG0opKJnkIzyBlVvtfbFTfYntaAWAtYPrEjF4Wp-ElzJmEKxwr69o_F1i-6hgjc9VjL_qloxRvHkYTN4Mo5TnhPu5i4x/s1600-h/P1070610.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382144823454120162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDzbZTgosV-0enQGWiv54mAdn7Z4USleHe7TLJc5IZxT8Je4HdG0opKJnkIzyBlVvtfbFTfYntaAWAtYPrEjF4Wp-ElzJmEKxwr69o_F1i-6hgjc9VjL_qloxRvHkYTN4Mo5TnhPu5i4x/s320/P1070610.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXsOcSoUeLrXQeXZZKUx3VcBLFbLv0dwl4pPu_YBhCd1PC3sH8_OzyLRpaKAyhouOA0-VEjyZFX8MPrA2MM_JJqw73FDcUdixsJ3hkJinFkLoshLcesDXHY3uKZxeU9Vk_dAQ1V9E6jOb/s1600-h/P1070612.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382144816431901714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXsOcSoUeLrXQeXZZKUx3VcBLFbLv0dwl4pPu_YBhCd1PC3sH8_OzyLRpaKAyhouOA0-VEjyZFX8MPrA2MM_JJqw73FDcUdixsJ3hkJinFkLoshLcesDXHY3uKZxeU9Vk_dAQ1V9E6jOb/s320/P1070612.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmQWU82DCzoD7YvoaiDvJAAhh2bSW8Evmm7w9tGFVkKkwSj1C1xbD3HWnWRvTen0OYBLyUfzxXNrxJ0QmkmrltKHXvjzht_Eoajxne2oGneskDkRBvPQvYHNvkLVmgPkFt2HhwBpf1fjR/s1600-h/P1070620.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382143432242433330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmQWU82DCzoD7YvoaiDvJAAhh2bSW8Evmm7w9tGFVkKkwSj1C1xbD3HWnWRvTen0OYBLyUfzxXNrxJ0QmkmrltKHXvjzht_Eoajxne2oGneskDkRBvPQvYHNvkLVmgPkFt2HhwBpf1fjR/s320/P1070620.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogd7s9MPmNxKgf1-mqYa7iF8gF5ctvKrCSU60DNNofJ2IYkhO3N8CLPD_O8kb9J9-mLm7s9rNLZTRQihtD4zN2oaw_pW7dF5aEsYRRA7W8vTHLJw4pAYULpd4VXMu8ZMPqVmfkICjOQgs/s1600-h/P1070629.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382143427093419634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogd7s9MPmNxKgf1-mqYa7iF8gF5ctvKrCSU60DNNofJ2IYkhO3N8CLPD_O8kb9J9-mLm7s9rNLZTRQihtD4zN2oaw_pW7dF5aEsYRRA7W8vTHLJw4pAYULpd4VXMu8ZMPqVmfkICjOQgs/s320/P1070629.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDpRqQ_H00RpA9_UIT_5S8fklnS1l4BYvyo8pb3WHcO-mOL2ZqZwcIlkXLuKSKgz8XCQgiy0HsP13EZl8We0jrHZBA0lOYIJ2jar9LMrbdSjA-8dpZl__wFu0aD2qQFEzSeaBtyCI-Kur/s1600-h/P1070630.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382143421055935554" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDpRqQ_H00RpA9_UIT_5S8fklnS1l4BYvyo8pb3WHcO-mOL2ZqZwcIlkXLuKSKgz8XCQgiy0HsP13EZl8We0jrHZBA0lOYIJ2jar9LMrbdSjA-8dpZl__wFu0aD2qQFEzSeaBtyCI-Kur/s320/P1070630.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnkEDZOdUkXV_9Xz1qcP_WvTe6eoUfX13fnlipHBGfBAUUaiz3Ncm1TfVEyzf9I1kPayupXN_pNMf7wkRR60OBljkNOTd0acm-bCuDTQ-hJ7Vpa_QHK96XCQ3Ruudd78OJZVoP6xoyLot/s1600-h/P1070645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382143416158347250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnkEDZOdUkXV_9Xz1qcP_WvTe6eoUfX13fnlipHBGfBAUUaiz3Ncm1TfVEyzf9I1kPayupXN_pNMf7wkRR60OBljkNOTd0acm-bCuDTQ-hJ7Vpa_QHK96XCQ3Ruudd78OJZVoP6xoyLot/s320/P1070645.JPG" border="0" /></a>Dinner at the Disney pizzeria in Budva. I don't think it was licensed by the Disney company.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0pKymXeb5UGQJieOdMgJ21WhXepshbEijxgnddQOzGmrYH7HOUircactsqC1BZ-iIuNLvpr9NdOnr25Htxa0wsvnCPFFtSSFFHfQT75zOuj7ClOHhKzfPqjCsilzWc33L0keK-jUB-5b/s1600-h/P1070648.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382143406818311330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0pKymXeb5UGQJieOdMgJ21WhXepshbEijxgnddQOzGmrYH7HOUircactsqC1BZ-iIuNLvpr9NdOnr25Htxa0wsvnCPFFtSSFFHfQT75zOuj7ClOHhKzfPqjCsilzWc33L0keK-jUB-5b/s320/P1070648.JPG" border="0" /></a>I took a side trip to Kotor, about 30 minutes away by bus. It looked a lot like Budva. It was on the Adriatic sea and had an old town.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyCb5pAREnAhTipLfs5BW35WGtAseCchwMzZrWLs7BhoeViyAYzUtAG_489ndEWJvT-ieC20jsZ2wHqrhapHNLJUbO-zJrhJhIaKn0IsSBypAFLWQQs8k2DjMVZ8dPE9dC1cgwQLuXdtE/s1600-h/P1070651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381815503379047858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyCb5pAREnAhTipLfs5BW35WGtAseCchwMzZrWLs7BhoeViyAYzUtAG_489ndEWJvT-ieC20jsZ2wHqrhapHNLJUbO-zJrhJhIaKn0IsSBypAFLWQQs8k2DjMVZ8dPE9dC1cgwQLuXdtE/s320/P1070651.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNscdnFAC1A5kY0k3UCCFrGdiH7r9aVd2QwcmN6VXNDeZwC-b1T56sM-sM1UA_9NaB92Wjjmd4hmXgJ79bTmPKxeQjfKxlbJBLX4XIkmOWJRk1bVDtlK8pS0wuH6IuegmzaXjh2D2L0Pwj/s1600-h/P1070662.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381815494984470194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN8q2g4l1o0sIGRP1MYL6uIchJebQi67gbfQqGA_GK8FteTA55cXLcCo-JQZQomZQDt0Z6b_2W06oNLLfRO9LAvOfH0AtMXR_WrNJCoCF4Wvb0Y3I8YIU44VP7CLAmH2iZTwqkeB8luTE/s320/P1070680.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8Gq8p7x5QYPbWWpgFDB96vYH5YsUWPoARbOisYyPmAXBG6mMra5ulE3YJPr2Dg5vXYkqRAGVMqFiuSh-ZwX_GCHxLrfBFIvWoN-ZF0RVRw6iNiz5yAkwJlUf7tMYO28fFjUi8yX79VpH/s1600-h/P1070690.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381813913910785794" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8Gq8p7x5QYPbWWpgFDB96vYH5YsUWPoARbOisYyPmAXBG6mMra5ulE3YJPr2Dg5vXYkqRAGVMqFiuSh-ZwX_GCHxLrfBFIvWoN-ZF0RVRw6iNiz5yAkwJlUf7tMYO28fFjUi8yX79VpH/s320/P1070690.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GdCo8CoMy4Pn81OKR1k2SFV9FcQlZLqrNDPzGNp0oEAbuY1HhmSHRepKt7kIQN6THLFW4EyQ57gLOaOC_7_y9a8ZF7YtWeHoAe7maFA_NfGeta_RaEqHpK4LyEJGZ4m7P8boiq1oQuju/s1600-h/P1070697.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381811018983378994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GdCo8CoMy4Pn81OKR1k2SFV9FcQlZLqrNDPzGNp0oEAbuY1HhmSHRepKt7kIQN6THLFW4EyQ57gLOaOC_7_y9a8ZF7YtWeHoAe7maFA_NfGeta_RaEqHpK4LyEJGZ4m7P8boiq1oQuju/s320/P1070697.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-KA763j_-6mHUdShUz09533d6nyNh8jJtsqY4w2aqTQLdeBYi434LRw1xPSuQYTVJBOfFORGCDuECC3u2Fyoyz1JCq9v8COlgAhGfuJ4xrbovXU0xRjzsbsJxiyV5roZwNTqAlSL6Ad2/s1600-h/P1070702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381811009997905682" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-KA763j_-6mHUdShUz09533d6nyNh8jJtsqY4w2aqTQLdeBYi434LRw1xPSuQYTVJBOfFORGCDuECC3u2Fyoyz1JCq9v8COlgAhGfuJ4xrbovXU0xRjzsbsJxiyV5roZwNTqAlSL6Ad2/s320/P1070702.JPG" border="0" /></a>I spent July 4th Weekend in Budva. We had a Forth of July cookout at the hostel, despite the fact that I was the only American there. Some things are pretty universal. If you charge four guys with starting a grill, there will be four separate opinions about how to light the fire and how to cook the meat. This is universal and crosses all cultures. Myself, an Australian, a Brit, and a Lebanese took turns trying to get a fire to start and arguing over the best method to do it (being as there was no lighter fluid).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdReNT0sN_eQQ36HXlfnot9mBmzJ4_NZXk2vfEUJdE57kajUowvoXznzclZbzHapw3aIyFN1UgfgkXGBHyjo85LGGrVRjlb9w31SEoR_765mjZes-KzRNZt1DmtcAfoDIjZgJXfajeW4q/s1600-h/P1070706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381811004149724850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdReNT0sN_eQQ36HXlfnot9mBmzJ4_NZXk2vfEUJdE57kajUowvoXznzclZbzHapw3aIyFN1UgfgkXGBHyjo85LGGrVRjlb9w31SEoR_765mjZes-KzRNZt1DmtcAfoDIjZgJXfajeW4q/s320/P1070706.JPG" border="0" /></a>One thing that annoyed me a bit about Budva was people parking cars on the sidewalk. In order to get around, you have to walk out in the street.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCWP74qVaEVgy396inU44If6Kh4vPcM0untQ3zUDIZ1Cb4ElNmdQKPHA29bCuquHCzzMqxPCGLb7abHs22qKBdqI-R1z-DQNDUkRX7VRWiYHWXqxVmi9pOszWMNBcaOcuDDzYmEsGxz6Q/s1600-h/P1070707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381810995080554306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCWP74qVaEVgy396inU44If6Kh4vPcM0untQ3zUDIZ1Cb4ElNmdQKPHA29bCuquHCzzMqxPCGLb7abHs22qKBdqI-R1z-DQNDUkRX7VRWiYHWXqxVmi9pOszWMNBcaOcuDDzYmEsGxz6Q/s320/P1070707.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia - Three depressing countries in three days.<br /><br />Looking ahead, I had booked a ticket on Easy Jet to fly from Bucharest, Romania to Madrid Spain on July 22. I wanted to see Bulgaria and that was my next destination. I could have taken one bus from Budva all the way to Sofia, but it would have been about 20 hours, and judging by the quality of the buses I taken previously, I wasn't very interested in doing that. I could have taken the train, but the former Yugoslavia is not served well by trains and I would have had to go really far out of the way to get there. So, in the interest of breaking up my trip, I would go to Tirana, Pristina, Macedonia, and then Sofia. I tried to avoid just going to a country for a day just to say I'd been and get a stamp on my passport, but this seemed like a good way to break up the trip. Also, if I got somewhere and wanted to stay longer, I could have (I didn't).<br /><br />On July 5, I took a bus from Budva to Tirana, the capital city of Albania. Albania is probably the most behind of all the Eastern European countries that I visited. In order to get to Tirana, I had to first take a bus to Ulcinj to catch another bus to Shkodra. From Shkodra, I had to take yet another bus to Tirana. Shkodra didn't have a bus station. The bus from Ulcinj stopped in the middle of town. There wasn't much English spoken in Shokdra, but from the directions I'd received in Budva, mini-buses, or furgons, would be circling the main square and I would ask which one went to Tirana. That is exactly what happened. In the span of about five minutes, numerous furgons pulled up. The side door would slide open and a guy would announce where the bus was going. I was told there were lots of furgons going to Tirana, as it is the largest city in Albania. Sure enough the third furgon that pulled by was going to Tirana. It seemed a bit shady, but it worked.<br /><br />The window on the bus to Ulcinj. Obviously Michael Sembello has fans all over.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwHFH_VN4i5GOUcB5bQPzNmDVP7QWx1ySthhC2K4vsK3UNLg9OMdO1TaJm2cZ3gMh7h4L5AwzxJ1Kt9DtczPY1OBlgZErCQvjSaI7h04Yxs9VGZ6g_jfVkdEj4hOTKWzEJQwoYQm5y3nP/s1600-h/P1070709.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381808795289416242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwHFH_VN4i5GOUcB5bQPzNmDVP7QWx1ySthhC2K4vsK3UNLg9OMdO1TaJm2cZ3gMh7h4L5AwzxJ1Kt9DtczPY1OBlgZErCQvjSaI7h04Yxs9VGZ6g_jfVkdEj4hOTKWzEJQwoYQm5y3nP/s320/P1070709.JPG" border="0" /></a>After six hours, two buses, and one furgon, I'd made it to Tirana. At first glance, I didn't see anything in Tirana that would make me want to stay there.<br /><br />Mother Theresa Square.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-JI9c-mFSkPeGA7LuBbQGi3iR8j2_OtO5jjrJvfHEGr2bgKFxVypxgmWAeOrbtfTykHs4t050b_CM9hEv9MS0IERiBJWsMDkcO5MREItYZAPTHeF0Ev90-KgUlvIpWa4qKqqP7G6D64o/s1600-h/P1070710.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381808788729387394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-JI9c-mFSkPeGA7LuBbQGi3iR8j2_OtO5jjrJvfHEGr2bgKFxVypxgmWAeOrbtfTykHs4t050b_CM9hEv9MS0IERiBJWsMDkcO5MREItYZAPTHeF0Ev90-KgUlvIpWa4qKqqP7G6D64o/s320/P1070710.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXr7lAuPxFOValXG_P7T-YphKI4IBIWdJmUM98DH0DvHsqGoD5Htd7xvb1z2XxZZIj0pnr7JUQa_Xhxw4_snn96OxygKNX_075UQiNOwZayrUS2E0S4tCU3GsEGcR0qNqydMpfzPngWn-/s1600-h/P1070712.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381808782350513906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXr7lAuPxFOValXG_P7T-YphKI4IBIWdJmUM98DH0DvHsqGoD5Htd7xvb1z2XxZZIj0pnr7JUQa_Xhxw4_snn96OxygKNX_075UQiNOwZayrUS2E0S4tCU3GsEGcR0qNqydMpfzPngWn-/s320/P1070712.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnybY6nj-vanc64LsZ-2Qh-zdzHUct-5brel3hxc3B_oq-HKePJiy5FQjypI71XqoTLcq_bTmPSsj647FaIVnhrMaRGqa4XndreyrrSlvrcvD4QuhcGH7gw1hzqq2gs9UraIUQjdVQNK-C/s1600-h/P1070713.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381808778704344786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnybY6nj-vanc64LsZ-2Qh-zdzHUct-5brel3hxc3B_oq-HKePJiy5FQjypI71XqoTLcq_bTmPSsj647FaIVnhrMaRGqa4XndreyrrSlvrcvD4QuhcGH7gw1hzqq2gs9UraIUQjdVQNK-C/s320/P1070713.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Many things in Albania seemed just a little off. There were no McDonald's in Tirana (that I saw), but there were Kolonats. It sort of looked like a McDonald's, and the food was sort of similar to McDonald's, but it wasn't close enough to be an outright ripoff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_P1TFkY_rm-mDAMM4DdM_YYy4E69lA23Pr3Hc7PVidx4JBelK-BZx8AnF8EEZmYlRSuUfC_M6AJVl0gIyLEsU9hpnkGs_0fMP0NFxOXivRIA_UCQd5Debqtp6s-1c3McLp_Kjbf3IzVq/s1600-h/P1070714.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381808766735488274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_P1TFkY_rm-mDAMM4DdM_YYy4E69lA23Pr3Hc7PVidx4JBelK-BZx8AnF8EEZmYlRSuUfC_M6AJVl0gIyLEsU9hpnkGs_0fMP0NFxOXivRIA_UCQd5Debqtp6s-1c3McLp_Kjbf3IzVq/s320/P1070714.JPG" border="0" /></a>Albania was a Communist country until 1992, but it had no ties with the former Soviet Union after 1961. The Blloku district was once home to the Communist party leaders and non-Communists were not allowed in. After the Communists were ousted in the 1992 elections, Albanians were curious to see this neighborhood that had been such a mystery. Many imagined posh mansions. It was actually quite meager living. They must have been really disappointed. The district now hosts many restaurants and nightclubs and is the trendy (for Albania) part of the city.<br /><br />The Blloku district.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdRyWt6yMTXqXeMzZy1HDA_EOi_cWtpCFnKLlIzxoezLTf1JnWS2MyWsmdR1MfFLOvaXLIHuR4bZc193PY9rhDPTS6_KqrMR8ASI6bm0fxXN2VQ41P3KqyMQaGF47V2wCOfb6p-MitHBh/s1600-h/P1070715.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381806586259682498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdRyWt6yMTXqXeMzZy1HDA_EOi_cWtpCFnKLlIzxoezLTf1JnWS2MyWsmdR1MfFLOvaXLIHuR4bZc193PY9rhDPTS6_KqrMR8ASI6bm0fxXN2VQ41P3KqyMQaGF47V2wCOfb6p-MitHBh/s320/P1070715.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXQA5AzAwetnh3if0ApPM1ofr4_k697zZV3jzKxKZnd12LJflC2H_oYB1506mBjE0Gp9U3C9Mu6MgXgBbGq7ZotbC9Oj2V0HFeHOSCtWCGsLMZbluAem7UzVHYLHtO6xipZ3KhcOinFvT/s1600-h/P1070728.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381804973684834610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXQA5AzAwetnh3if0ApPM1ofr4_k697zZV3jzKxKZnd12LJflC2H_oYB1506mBjE0Gp9U3C9Mu6MgXgBbGq7ZotbC9Oj2V0HFeHOSCtWCGsLMZbluAem7UzVHYLHtO6xipZ3KhcOinFvT/s320/P1070728.JPG" border="0" /></a>Albania is a poor country. Budding entrepreneurs rent mini-four-wheelers to local kids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXNz_sbQcnH4-_VgUXmeKYTPQ4ii-0CHKuYDItV1AHGJWvkZ5RYVJJIx3X1svdG22at0sUdn1mQCmuuHI19O-qseql7TiLOIbXvn7iPZuvxLQBdDwJtY2ZR_1kaPZDED1kLgZnL9Ay9NR/s1600-h/P1070730.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381804968510466322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXNz_sbQcnH4-_VgUXmeKYTPQ4ii-0CHKuYDItV1AHGJWvkZ5RYVJJIx3X1svdG22at0sUdn1mQCmuuHI19O-qseql7TiLOIbXvn7iPZuvxLQBdDwJtY2ZR_1kaPZDED1kLgZnL9Ay9NR/s320/P1070730.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Skanderberg Square<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-3PvrugFxw-X4YuiSMjcLzo6Wj4LIFdWUPVRfl4FiQJV0Gfv7nIuIrGHNSRB3c8QDsxS2UahOxm15WanWildlVgfqiWH_gyBjpuW3uWNtciH9qWwt9Lol6MDnXdUy5sLEWECmpEBXJsg/s1600-h/P1070722.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381806563197716242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-3PvrugFxw-X4YuiSMjcLzo6Wj4LIFdWUPVRfl4FiQJV0Gfv7nIuIrGHNSRB3c8QDsxS2UahOxm15WanWildlVgfqiWH_gyBjpuW3uWNtciH9qWwt9Lol6MDnXdUy5sLEWECmpEBXJsg/s320/P1070722.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know what programs are offered at UFO University, and I was afraid to ask.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wDymBEADXDmNo3ylQHNfkGLWKVuijj5IJG0mpeOHMUfhwPkSkJqs4p9AkxC0kVg6-B4DX1up0OIn9T8zsUcDZDphhcrL3fyBmRBo7g1qK9w0R7KRRY2mGqaYsJqke11tyazyxfBSIZu3/s1600-h/P1070735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381792851951340722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wDymBEADXDmNo3ylQHNfkGLWKVuijj5IJG0mpeOHMUfhwPkSkJqs4p9AkxC0kVg6-B4DX1up0OIn9T8zsUcDZDphhcrL3fyBmRBo7g1qK9w0R7KRRY2mGqaYsJqke11tyazyxfBSIZu3/s320/P1070735.JPG" border="0" /></a>Tirana has more than it's share of Soviet era buildings. They have done a decent job of making them more presentable by painting them in wild pastel colors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYur7MoI57UlOCgvhY3JQ8U7zuObG_tztrluPq7J1oSnhMXda2m3ln3VLzCBtrgqZhOGd8u2My87KuQKY6ZrdFzpAXj7-4szxeural_Btz83F2HQOXGhMWHEU6B5DcGIuKIajErPCzYD9/s1600-h/P1070737.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381792847919059954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYur7MoI57UlOCgvhY3JQ8U7zuObG_tztrluPq7J1oSnhMXda2m3ln3VLzCBtrgqZhOGd8u2My87KuQKY6ZrdFzpAXj7-4szxeural_Btz83F2HQOXGhMWHEU6B5DcGIuKIajErPCzYD9/s320/P1070737.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBz-nNTnx6-WI8nOYa0LE_caVTyDNsGOIPKLiOlyrEqkHp53Vc7v9U31rgyK7vcIIQAEh1D5Hqjs4SLbcZt4wI5asBve7whVBlxSq7UV8MrJB2QAU5NeHhf_C5rvNr-EV9NeXTiIKrenN/s1600-h/P1070732.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381792869396782610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBz-nNTnx6-WI8nOYa0LE_caVTyDNsGOIPKLiOlyrEqkHp53Vc7v9U31rgyK7vcIIQAEh1D5Hqjs4SLbcZt4wI5asBve7whVBlxSq7UV8MrJB2QAU5NeHhf_C5rvNr-EV9NeXTiIKrenN/s320/P1070732.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Locals call Albania Shqiperia and call Croatia Hrvatska. I don't know how these English names came about. Usually it's fairly easy to figure out the English names for places. Italy (Italia), Venice (Venezia), and Florence (Firenze) were pretty easy. These were a little confusing. <br /><br />On July 6 I took the bus from Tirana, Albania to Pristina, Kosovo. The bus left near Skanderberg Square at 6:00pm. There was no bus station, just an area where most of the buses gathered passengers. There were several buses to Tirana and all of them left at 6:00. There was no English spoken and no other tourists except for me. I asked how much the fair was and the guy on the bus pulled out a 10 Euro note and showed it to me. I paid him the 10 Euros. I probably overpaid, but it's hard to haggle with a guy who doesn't speak English.<br /><br />The bus ride was supposed to take eleven hours, which would have put me in Pristina at 5:00am. Which was fine. I could explore the city and possibly get out that afternoon without having to pay for a room. Well, the bus pulled into Pristina at 12:00 midnight, which seemed like a very inconvenient time for all buses leaving Tirana to arrive. I hate getting into a city late at night with no reservation. I was left in the position of asking a cab driver to recommend a hotel and take me there. I might as well have asked, "Take me to an overpriced hotel in town that pays you a big fat commission". He took me to a place that was actually a room in someone's house. It wasn't too bad and it was only 10 Euros. The owner asked me to give the driver 1 Euro for his commission. It's a racket, but at least they were up front about it. I got up fairly early the next morning and left. I didn't need much time in Pristina.<br /><br /><br />Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, but my country does not recognize it as a independent state. They did not stamp my passport when I entered. The process for crossing borders by bus in these countries is that a border guard will get on the bus and collect everyone's passport, take them to the border office, stamp them, and return them to the bus driver, who will then hand them back out. I'm not sure why they didn't stamp my passport. Even though my country's government doesn't recognize Kosovo's independence, I am not forbidden from traveling there. I didn't think too much about it until I left Kosovo and the border guard asked me (I think) where was my stamp. I made stamping motions while shaking my head and saying "To Pristina, No Stamp". They let me leave the quasi-country, which was a relief.<br /><br />Pristina looks like a lot of cities in Eastern Europe. It had its share of Soviet era buildings and buildings dilapidated by war.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKyZpRm0WFnFng3j00Bxw4hVSCzW_XR6W8ClL0gkLIGQa1vTfgqAUZx8id9jcAlOxMsnwAq0IA7UYcaoewpZD3uf_gA1N4S3t3YBMlVse3KHGvA7vZu7ljpz5uGPi73qRHSuE_jyn1VIV/s1600-h/P1070748.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381791539364167634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKyZpRm0WFnFng3j00Bxw4hVSCzW_XR6W8ClL0gkLIGQa1vTfgqAUZx8id9jcAlOxMsnwAq0IA7UYcaoewpZD3uf_gA1N4S3t3YBMlVse3KHGvA7vZu7ljpz5uGPi73qRHSuE_jyn1VIV/s320/P1070748.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI5RWfQ4IiuOWYyxuwrPn7PTOsp_K8Xr4u_ADtaF3B09nwjgNRcwcN5vPgJOvSNl0ff3B7mSOauRFN0u-B4eXF34lqXI-mHnfX9KFrKZcEHS9ozzP_ctr7bBInFs0kyTJlGYJO-6bN7QR/s1600-h/P1070749.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381791537709329586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI5RWfQ4IiuOWYyxuwrPn7PTOsp_K8Xr4u_ADtaF3B09nwjgNRcwcN5vPgJOvSNl0ff3B7mSOauRFN0u-B4eXF34lqXI-mHnfX9KFrKZcEHS9ozzP_ctr7bBInFs0kyTJlGYJO-6bN7QR/s320/P1070749.JPG" border="0" /></a>One thing I did find amusing about Pristina was that the two main streets in the city were Mother Theresa Boulevard and Bill Clinton Boulevard. There was a Caesars casino at the intersection of these two streets (which is probably not affiliated with the US Caesars Palace).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU59m2MsU-_12oZVhZr3BXve30VEnSt-4__U8Q4m0zrwuDj5tHCAw_5_Oixog2uSEy7r9J2LCo2iTOvrU3JHq8kQwJFxSOVnlHEU8N3JLsY9NYWyiRM2qDYf-swo_tCxgiHirZZ7r8tPc6/s1600-h/P1070751.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381791526647666210" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU59m2MsU-_12oZVhZr3BXve30VEnSt-4__U8Q4m0zrwuDj5tHCAw_5_Oixog2uSEy7r9J2LCo2iTOvrU3JHq8kQwJFxSOVnlHEU8N3JLsY9NYWyiRM2qDYf-swo_tCxgiHirZZ7r8tPc6/s320/P1070751.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu-i_CSFB-eGYYpkKs-0AWyFjPaQ6ci54WU2lM7t-2q9yIJ9k8UxyFoVjl0Fi1VcGWAqpiQYaZXKrfnFeNAXP0hztsi7rXCPu_rsAQvZOV9Vy7unvy4nn0Z0Fgjd_6-19Lvev7ZntUT8l/s1600-h/P1070752.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381791523563638578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu-i_CSFB-eGYYpkKs-0AWyFjPaQ6ci54WU2lM7t-2q9yIJ9k8UxyFoVjl0Fi1VcGWAqpiQYaZXKrfnFeNAXP0hztsi7rXCPu_rsAQvZOV9Vy7unvy4nn0Z0Fgjd_6-19Lvev7ZntUT8l/s320/P1070752.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't spend too much time in Pristina. There really wasn't much to see. On July 7 I took a bus to Skopje, Macedonia. It was fairly forgettable.<br /><br />There was an old bridge that crossed the river into the old town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMzXQ3Ndi-6ZWf1Eulv-WGu_8xqgKZ_d4TQsa-JkpKqFIVyJV_tzHW9GL269nKML0n4-d0zc6HkL3YSZTSwpHJfQKTw7IzDBANmce-R9IYagOWGUi-HpC8wXgEoKwIqjotVtuFcOg-A73/s1600-h/P1070765.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381785711684067858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMzXQ3Ndi-6ZWf1Eulv-WGu_8xqgKZ_d4TQsa-JkpKqFIVyJV_tzHW9GL269nKML0n4-d0zc6HkL3YSZTSwpHJfQKTw7IzDBANmce-R9IYagOWGUi-HpC8wXgEoKwIqjotVtuFcOg-A73/s320/P1070765.JPG" border="0" /></a>There was a pedestrian boulevard lined with restaurants and shops.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3F8KMcWiLF1CvJeCtNYgxARTUa3G6Bv4x4wJn9V0brTjGE65qmUGSmEH70IQxEk1ducJOmcddXx1G4MCQXzE4A_Vjx4wGCZDWXswKliCO9yX3kdyzemt4tly6wKX4i0TQofQ2T8xerPV/s1600-h/P1070766.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381785706377378610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3F8KMcWiLF1CvJeCtNYgxARTUa3G6Bv4x4wJn9V0brTjGE65qmUGSmEH70IQxEk1ducJOmcddXx1G4MCQXzE4A_Vjx4wGCZDWXswKliCO9yX3kdyzemt4tly6wKX4i0TQofQ2T8xerPV/s320/P1070766.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There was an old church that reminded me of something. I couldn't quite place it.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXH6A2F2UgWf-PsopyYfCWtKo-itVrsqelIhiPtqgOv3bSg5HTqP2gEf8W4-E0X4DaaGSpd4xp2FQaxIcegm6Qg6ehTMhzHOplEmrjQXewbEIMvK6wZZZ-u53q67fTPnjLHLZkgN2DSQZ/s1600-h/P1070768.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381784169497865602" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXH6A2F2UgWf-PsopyYfCWtKo-itVrsqelIhiPtqgOv3bSg5HTqP2gEf8W4-E0X4DaaGSpd4xp2FQaxIcegm6Qg6ehTMhzHOplEmrjQXewbEIMvK6wZZZ-u53q67fTPnjLHLZkgN2DSQZ/s320/P1070768.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Old town.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHzXc1jBh01H-Iqtriz-fTXP-hbepqGCeQQIQgimLwHGBZS5rMpRX7dm5eWvGrp62IeGJtPcN7ucz9KAxyGXtP0_WIJ-ZSAqxukTsStJqnHT6JQGaUcelZ4sawn1rs2tp9yBP61RXMxUi/s1600-h/P1070771.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381784164876087074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHzXc1jBh01H-Iqtriz-fTXP-hbepqGCeQQIQgimLwHGBZS5rMpRX7dm5eWvGrp62IeGJtPcN7ucz9KAxyGXtP0_WIJ-ZSAqxukTsStJqnHT6JQGaUcelZ4sawn1rs2tp9yBP61RXMxUi/s320/P1070771.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNI-nJFwa3Cq_hD9QNmpCPjDu0SDMh8RETsX44uacrCyVIDGalw1IAnZXBmQrtXT2y7z64x-DGhpSWHg-B1rX7ClvYu6ggQ_AkawAg4iyvLH5Js6Eyebn5oVnJYnNA5svxriDoQazhkNV/s1600-h/P1070774.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381784151649574242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNI-nJFwa3Cq_hD9QNmpCPjDu0SDMh8RETsX44uacrCyVIDGalw1IAnZXBmQrtXT2y7z64x-DGhpSWHg-B1rX7ClvYu6ggQ_AkawAg4iyvLH5Js6Eyebn5oVnJYnNA5svxriDoQazhkNV/s320/P1070774.JPG" border="0" /></a>I can't believe Patty Smith, Carlos Santana, and George Benson were this hard up for gigs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm-WYs4v0fBh6NV7PuvFK-z6szFLpE8lWBqvqH80wnJVJBTaPaPwT1_So2neTpz7cnfyRYazCQUW4Fj7FYw-ZmxIXV-ibyGTbX60F8Rgn4yXJCedXAnrhwmsY4KOesSch0LzWAXV4XFVe/s1600-h/P1070776.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381784151316388530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm-WYs4v0fBh6NV7PuvFK-z6szFLpE8lWBqvqH80wnJVJBTaPaPwT1_So2neTpz7cnfyRYazCQUW4Fj7FYw-ZmxIXV-ibyGTbX60F8Rgn4yXJCedXAnrhwmsY4KOesSch0LzWAXV4XFVe/s320/P1070776.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gheLu0bv_fQcibJVDmjrz4me4uD03jz9lFB6Z26_NwCVmOV6RBsQ_IX3TsBamk0YkHuN8CPU9YW9aUxoSTPD_hVKcnYYteBBFYB9TfRvlr1lxaAYjEbQILOY2ZvsHlTj9InX-XbVzwDj/s1600-h/P1070781.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381782550049480690" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gheLu0bv_fQcibJVDmjrz4me4uD03jz9lFB6Z26_NwCVmOV6RBsQ_IX3TsBamk0YkHuN8CPU9YW9aUxoSTPD_hVKcnYYteBBFYB9TfRvlr1lxaAYjEbQILOY2ZvsHlTj9InX-XbVzwDj/s320/P1070781.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />An unusual looking modern church.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwCEO34aGHmulZnvqy4Zy_1FzRHTI54knojOtWD7F42cNIeIHOFyZryTmNK55vy_BXSkYDD3rqQ1bmalBXCVIPkbTwPzdsLj8SnakTj6sxOxGlOmFDw657tGepzfMaKZfCpumb_FhBcEV/s1600-h/P1070780.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381782560960983714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwCEO34aGHmulZnvqy4Zy_1FzRHTI54knojOtWD7F42cNIeIHOFyZryTmNK55vy_BXSkYDD3rqQ1bmalBXCVIPkbTwPzdsLj8SnakTj6sxOxGlOmFDw657tGepzfMaKZfCpumb_FhBcEV/s320/P1070780.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7WZiILEYS2qfdGwY2ocM18tQUKLURM-N7mzR71kY3lgXRCcqwqjP1TOR1TO0Lw7eS_Zgkszk3xNXVoPR3NcrtREu7Exm8bdpoluk462Rn6OGUe2fUoElEEyc6gawopk5gUMPh73eoRJI/s1600-h/P1070782.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381782541086207026" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7WZiILEYS2qfdGwY2ocM18tQUKLURM-N7mzR71kY3lgXRCcqwqjP1TOR1TO0Lw7eS_Zgkszk3xNXVoPR3NcrtREu7Exm8bdpoluk462Rn6OGUe2fUoElEEyc6gawopk5gUMPh73eoRJI/s320/P1070782.JPG" border="0" /></a>It is a small world and just like in Asia, Australia, and other parts of the world, I ran into people I met along the way. Most everyone goes to the same places, so it's not unusual to see people again. When you see someone it's exciting and like seeing a long lost friend, even though you knew this person for only a few days or a few hours. In Skopje, I ran into Josie from Holland who I had met in Sarajevo. In both Budva and Tirana, I ran into Aleksandra from Switzerland, who I hung out with in Sarajevo and Mostar. She probably thought I was stalking her.<br /><br />I found myself really missing America, and not just my friends, family, favorite restaurants, but also the references. Most people who travel speak English, but they don't usually pick up on all of the cultural references. For example, when I was in Machu Picchu, I saw some llamas and said, "Tina, come get some ham!". If I was with Americans, we would have shared a little laugh. Then there would be about 3-5 minutes of trading lines from Napoleon Dynamite. Germans don't pick up on Napoleon Dynamite references.<br /><br />I saw two things in Bosnia that made me laugh, but it had to be a quiet laugh by myself. One was this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkiPFYTVCLAYU2HiX3bJZ_kHJyxLOxEQp-6T6M7nwxayM4rCNKLqRQeO1DFlaRdSuaSik-wWejOZB_Ww2osY5vwZFnza_a9AOrSXGzZIFLl_lYJ5bqn9BaFbOJbUWvQ1vnL5avoUpTaVG/s1600-h/P1070399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382182790620648354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkiPFYTVCLAYU2HiX3bJZ_kHJyxLOxEQp-6T6M7nwxayM4rCNKLqRQeO1DFlaRdSuaSik-wWejOZB_Ww2osY5vwZFnza_a9AOrSXGzZIFLl_lYJ5bqn9BaFbOJbUWvQ1vnL5avoUpTaVG/s320/P1070399.JPG" border="0" /></a>The name Blagojevic is synonymous with the disgraced former governor of Illinois and future Celebrity Apprentice contestant Rod Blagojevic. But here it is a pretty common surname.<br /><br />The other was the man on the 20 Mark note who bore an uncanny resemblance to Ohio congressman and perennial presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLknyV6C9X6BFP8sanoBrkumZFGv08OjVTl_voHPVOl5areOCrVdBBHAsU1Pnh2AbCb33dnuDxA92VC6l8gOY6C2ksIX-7nyacUKB4ZakpF4Ab99W5SzfCpDD-QvhtufZEUU_mROUxs3UE/s1600-h/P1070408.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382179844142897746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLknyV6C9X6BFP8sanoBrkumZFGv08OjVTl_voHPVOl5areOCrVdBBHAsU1Pnh2AbCb33dnuDxA92VC6l8gOY6C2ksIX-7nyacUKB4ZakpF4Ab99W5SzfCpDD-QvhtufZEUU_mROUxs3UE/s320/P1070408.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I had less than a month until going home. By now, I was really kind of over the trip. A year is a long time to be away from all the things familiar to me. I had four more countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, and Ireland) to visit before coming home. Any other time I would be as excited as all get-out to visit these places. But I was not very excited. I wasn't hating it, I just didn't really feel anything. I had to keep reminding myself of the great opportunity I was having and remind myself how lucky I was.<br /><br />On July 8 I took a bus to Sofia, Bulgaria.<br /><p></p>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-88994190119618906392009-08-24T13:08:00.036-04:002009-09-15T15:36:13.282-04:00Europe, Part 1My apologies for taking so long to get my blog updated for Europe. I've been home for a little over a month and, to be honest, I've been pretty worthless. I've been getting caught up on a year' worth of television, spending time with family and friends, and looking for a job (still no word). This is the first of three posts that will cover my time in Europe.<br /><br />I flew from Tel Aviv, Israel to Munich, Germany. I flew because leaving Israel to the north by land really is impossible. It would involve going through either Lebanon or Syria, neither of which have diplomatic relations with Israel. Neither country would let me enter anyway because of the Israeli stamp on my passport. Neither even country recognizes the state of Israel. I flew to Munich Germany because it was a cheap flight on one of the few discount airlines serving Tel Aviv. I checked on rates to Istanbul, Turkey and Athens, Greece. Those flights were quite expensive (at least $400 one way), even though they were much closer to Tel Aviv. Only two discount airlines fly from Tel Aviv. I could only get to Germany or Riga, Latvia for less than $200. Since I wasn't really sure where in Europe I was going, I chose Munich because it was fairly centrally located and I really wanted to see the Bavarian Alps of Southern Germany.<br /><br />I got into Munich about 5:00am and took the train from the airport into the city. I couldn't check into my hostel until 3:00. It was still really early. I had breakfast, checked my email, wrote a bit of my blog, and it was still really early. I was about to fall asleep and decided I needed to get out and do something.<br /><br />I walked around central Munich. Munich is a beautiful city. It was mostly leveled during WW2 and was rebuilt almost exactly the way it was prior to the war. I found a free walking tour by the same company that did the tours in Jerusalem. It wasn't as good as the Jerusalem tour. The tour guides had this sort of weird energy and were kind of annoying.<br /><br />The Glockenspiel in Marienplatz. Three times a day the bells ring and the statues go around in a circle. There is always a large crowd of people gathered to see this happen, but it is really nothing special and is a pretty big letdown.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYPh0iSaZoIENIiRTmt9v8KlKg924fSENDxaOj2bVXq81qwTHsCepzR5-N4FVDjE6uilVcP3WrdchrJfsscuvhLg13qpc12TeqoHTMfHywKFQghZjnoBeAu0Ye__mAkX79DCTtJqhGeKJ/s1600-h/P1060792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYPh0iSaZoIENIiRTmt9v8KlKg924fSENDxaOj2bVXq81qwTHsCepzR5-N4FVDjE6uilVcP3WrdchrJfsscuvhLg13qpc12TeqoHTMfHywKFQghZjnoBeAu0Ye__mAkX79DCTtJqhGeKJ/s320/P1060792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373625979315277298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoLnS4FDimvkKjrfqUD4YT9KmjP3o-7iR3YNofm6AP8bnPmlBPkZBneHDcrzmetu3Q8Ckco3iN5NTxWzi9Mnj4Wbfau2op0HU2b6igFWV01tZDdO53pc8jos7QjgbXM0hxo1h1iVsOHPA/s1600-h/P1060796.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoLnS4FDimvkKjrfqUD4YT9KmjP3o-7iR3YNofm6AP8bnPmlBPkZBneHDcrzmetu3Q8Ckco3iN5NTxWzi9Mnj4Wbfau2op0HU2b6igFWV01tZDdO53pc8jos7QjgbXM0hxo1h1iVsOHPA/s320/P1060796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373625984987771202" border="0" /></a><br />Other pics from Marienplatz.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya-S7PSOFeZsBcuoQhp_Z3VJunRpM9oEzmj8RAwibwAEUH8IUC88mhyMpsRKAnR6VZ5rhmEKhvcWTk5Sqm6ZHXVHwmu2388H-j5vD7gFXHxdh3ECk1IBqFe3EiM6OVlrOOQ0EfyO_mgL_/s1600-h/P1060804.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya-S7PSOFeZsBcuoQhp_Z3VJunRpM9oEzmj8RAwibwAEUH8IUC88mhyMpsRKAnR6VZ5rhmEKhvcWTk5Sqm6ZHXVHwmu2388H-j5vD7gFXHxdh3ECk1IBqFe3EiM6OVlrOOQ0EfyO_mgL_/s320/P1060804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373625413981664978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCEKUKL2CLLieuQsVQJi8klKCihP_HeqU09rKJ9D4C0JQbYW4XF4v3R6eQ-bn06UAzRyeUZNbqyWgJRdpz0KPeDLx2tJGu7zXHp9_-VvlIGe5Gfm3xYhd-55_S-xkYuZ4HsP4qZwK2mzT/s1600-h/P1060815.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCEKUKL2CLLieuQsVQJi8klKCihP_HeqU09rKJ9D4C0JQbYW4XF4v3R6eQ-bn06UAzRyeUZNbqyWgJRdpz0KPeDLx2tJGu7zXHp9_-VvlIGe5Gfm3xYhd-55_S-xkYuZ4HsP4qZwK2mzT/s320/P1060815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373625404982803442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCyZTn4qcSxDaMzjepgPFTyXi985cPSW7b91OrgAfTCtdjx6XJF2zqW6p9EyX3apAm2cBCuWZSR-eelRQsqWeSgTdnQhnp1tNkV5OdmnX20A7lFFVrQPU2lYdSvVlBkYhS70DeXWzVy4W/s1600-h/P1060820.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCyZTn4qcSxDaMzjepgPFTyXi985cPSW7b91OrgAfTCtdjx6XJF2zqW6p9EyX3apAm2cBCuWZSR-eelRQsqWeSgTdnQhnp1tNkV5OdmnX20A7lFFVrQPU2lYdSvVlBkYhS70DeXWzVy4W/s320/P1060820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373625400503998114" border="0" /></a><br />There were tons of biergartens and outdoor cafes with people drinking beer at noon on a weekday. Beer drinking is very ingrained in the German culture and they usually drink it by the liter. German law stipulates that German citizens have the right to drink up to a liter of beer at lunch without suffering repercussions. I can't imagine drinking a liter of beer at lunch and then going back to work.<br /><br />On June 12 I took a tour to the Bavarian Alps and Neuschwanstein Castle. The German language is kind of funny in that you see a lot of really long and complicated words, but they're really just 3 or 4 words combined together. Neuschwanstein translates to English as New Swan Stone. The scenery on the way to Neuschwanstein was absolutely gorgeous. Everything looked perfect. Not a single house, mountain, street sign, or even a blade of grass seemed out of place. This is real storybook, Grimm Brothers territory.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpu_3ubG3EAkQ_jtKkRYPXOeOYe1HnCTxNCMk8HUXB0cBJHzN8Sd4VQ9R1opI650TP-OK8Oenk2Xetq1uSqT908x22HglhDoyogLM7XSqYMqLLciQbKz979frSZe08_awwySWCl1xGP_Wv/s1600-h/P1060836.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpu_3ubG3EAkQ_jtKkRYPXOeOYe1HnCTxNCMk8HUXB0cBJHzN8Sd4VQ9R1opI650TP-OK8Oenk2Xetq1uSqT908x22HglhDoyogLM7XSqYMqLLciQbKz979frSZe08_awwySWCl1xGP_Wv/s320/P1060836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373625393269237458" border="0" /></a><br />The first part of the tour was a bicycle ride around Swan Lake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY256nTmfkPM8wouXYOW8w4E9R2qvyvKYSK4JBpS9NmR-8Y-OyuuwFeygO7RqJzoYI2dhJTdduLfY6UeRMZatoGv0MhgXN-KQefCbqtpzFgIsSLZua66znN21YdsTvTVqy1kaXY03vYzy/s1600-h/P1060850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY256nTmfkPM8wouXYOW8w4E9R2qvyvKYSK4JBpS9NmR-8Y-OyuuwFeygO7RqJzoYI2dhJTdduLfY6UeRMZatoGv0MhgXN-KQefCbqtpzFgIsSLZua66znN21YdsTvTVqy1kaXY03vYzy/s320/P1060850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373624121391476034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8MzU_MwWo_s9gx523kG21ElIysI33mUnNVuYECGEE_YOrPcytoWkaAIXw3PGfc6Onh3ljkCopnDsGN6eMw9ljzRsDy7OoTXC9a9OA2rEfW-sAVL6Gu8G6Owjy4uFXdMHDIH0eg4kNcfl/s1600-h/P1060847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8MzU_MwWo_s9gx523kG21ElIysI33mUnNVuYECGEE_YOrPcytoWkaAIXw3PGfc6Onh3ljkCopnDsGN6eMw9ljzRsDy7OoTXC9a9OA2rEfW-sAVL6Gu8G6Owjy4uFXdMHDIH0eg4kNcfl/s320/P1060847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373624129321419090" border="0" /></a>The trip included time for a swim in Swan Lake. However, it was a bit brisk that day and it was, after all, an Alpine lake, so only two people jumped in. Me being one of them. The water was really, really cold and, needless to say, it was a short swim.<br /><br />Neuschwanstein Castle is thought to be the inspiration for the castle at Disney World. It was built on a mountain in southern Germany between 1869 and 1886 for King Ludwig II. The king was an interesting figure. He was obsessed with Richard Wagner and much of the castle design was an homage to him. The King died under mysterious circumstances before it was completed and it was opened to tourists just a few months after his death.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfcKegZe4-cqXvSZL_D32iWhBEWCRKOpPeBb1GRwFWakcljjerYo1CHZh0pPk2cTO6OHt8YMakrg-qnrLGkKuoD1Weaqa8HPmnlfYHnEj8AZLg2L-vTq7tS1n19Eha2ZRRdw7unikgN1R/s1600-h/P1060838.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfcKegZe4-cqXvSZL_D32iWhBEWCRKOpPeBb1GRwFWakcljjerYo1CHZh0pPk2cTO6OHt8YMakrg-qnrLGkKuoD1Weaqa8HPmnlfYHnEj8AZLg2L-vTq7tS1n19Eha2ZRRdw7unikgN1R/s320/P1060838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373625386937006018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_eQBsO5WaAp5y4qpjdQaTw_4FdoUqDymjaQvy5J2n6zSaO7tLzMG1BtFXDehrb0DFOuLTFykWPZk12hl7oEXrg8Bk3jfutxzw4OiXUS2J4expq4lQhm3Pbvbht1OpoheyqHc5iVenHfr/s1600-h/P1060846.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_eQBsO5WaAp5y4qpjdQaTw_4FdoUqDymjaQvy5J2n6zSaO7tLzMG1BtFXDehrb0DFOuLTFykWPZk12hl7oEXrg8Bk3jfutxzw4OiXUS2J4expq4lQhm3Pbvbht1OpoheyqHc5iVenHfr/s320/P1060846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373624130303077042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uSs3YQ-q7aOydpG7p4gt_79CWtTFp9bPvejWiV_InKLx2rliulwGYKBj-kzPZMGerFWI0r5F0coPi3oCmFLf1HE7WD31ffCgOTLlUE6kqA7Se5_x_r9LA5EwYVGp3rn5A-kYA6xhD2WL/s1600-h/P1060866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uSs3YQ-q7aOydpG7p4gt_79CWtTFp9bPvejWiV_InKLx2rliulwGYKBj-kzPZMGerFWI0r5F0coPi3oCmFLf1HE7WD31ffCgOTLlUE6kqA7Se5_x_r9LA5EwYVGp3rn5A-kYA6xhD2WL/s320/P1060866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373624115289347170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaHDjwzbGLWIZapPGZ3P_Xxgcvtno277fvGSvzt7Pc3HDGlzRfuFx55oCIn738tAxb5sNXYgkOqd0lAgvt4TOvqxf1LHgHvMv9BQOE4x1ffYM3HlH-z2skU7aNwiPqXbRkcxIm3SVf86Y/s1600-h/P1060874.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaHDjwzbGLWIZapPGZ3P_Xxgcvtno277fvGSvzt7Pc3HDGlzRfuFx55oCIn738tAxb5sNXYgkOqd0lAgvt4TOvqxf1LHgHvMv9BQOE4x1ffYM3HlH-z2skU7aNwiPqXbRkcxIm3SVf86Y/s320/P1060874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373624112896569426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKIGE3ExOeaCYZr6puVh1k9sj_t8kKNY3vRqkykzDqQej8Kp5miHv5KBi821avAaIKE7joQXGRLx3HQoMm8Y-cDQOjRDcWLhv8TI2KJZkAW82mD38ATe060cT1P-X7QHO9KQMYUTDX3JV/s1600-h/P1060890.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKIGE3ExOeaCYZr6puVh1k9sj_t8kKNY3vRqkykzDqQej8Kp5miHv5KBi821avAaIKE7joQXGRLx3HQoMm8Y-cDQOjRDcWLhv8TI2KJZkAW82mD38ATe060cT1P-X7QHO9KQMYUTDX3JV/s320/P1060890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619559211060226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnReBRsQ14JKJHQmr5YJDfAdQHtpViq8vnW1B16hXlnxQYcWfmHL8SThK-iXtb0eIvuQPAMa25nxL-6PKvzomwiV6b4hSkONC8-bm-PgQNrzoZjkj2OwUs9g3vsiFmjYSOpv5klX1Wueu/s1600-h/P1060897.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnReBRsQ14JKJHQmr5YJDfAdQHtpViq8vnW1B16hXlnxQYcWfmHL8SThK-iXtb0eIvuQPAMa25nxL-6PKvzomwiV6b4hSkONC8-bm-PgQNrzoZjkj2OwUs9g3vsiFmjYSOpv5klX1Wueu/s320/P1060897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619543459022162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MUfdhXTvuaaQvg_eSDZsinBVhEBwXqUyHUaONkhk7vZkNP6R6MmFXLy-xn-yj7gcNOzFLHRBqoTVoZLNhLwE9T5vpjirwYwNOJnm_aadb88CJ6F_Cy1rVK54sFD7qiaRH3FgMhBs9xhC/s1600-h/P1060898.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MUfdhXTvuaaQvg_eSDZsinBVhEBwXqUyHUaONkhk7vZkNP6R6MmFXLy-xn-yj7gcNOzFLHRBqoTVoZLNhLwE9T5vpjirwYwNOJnm_aadb88CJ6F_Cy1rVK54sFD7qiaRH3FgMhBs9xhC/s320/P1060898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619539950752178" border="0" /></a><br />Typical Bavarian building in a town near the castle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZD64hwuULbUo6FPTTPw5gF5j5j6G6JekdhUONk6TFtCX41MmGBrpHnNnm40PUe32f9qwyIbvjfXbEhi11DTRCRTW5T0UldZUr8Ddy2HfFx9bu03MLXx8ImQwG_3ReH-K5c6kthU4hXJ9/s1600-h/P1060904.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZD64hwuULbUo6FPTTPw5gF5j5j6G6JekdhUONk6TFtCX41MmGBrpHnNnm40PUe32f9qwyIbvjfXbEhi11DTRCRTW5T0UldZUr8Ddy2HfFx9bu03MLXx8ImQwG_3ReH-K5c6kthU4hXJ9/s320/P1060904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619506597716738" border="0" /></a><br />On the night of June 13 I went to a few beer halls with some people I'd met at the hostel. I don't remember any of their names. Beer in Germany is, it goes without saying, quite tasty. These beer halls and biergartens are huge and packed. The most famous beer hall is the Hofbrau House. I can't imagine what Munich must be like during Oktoberfest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5WTn1KkP_ZAdLw8fvFfvD1CH9H1Yor6k74LX7Bq2AyOJWoHkhvbKPITzfO_j5dQxT3Vc3vw6pYLduMy9kjl0G0FQSUfCo6iFzUTaKmJMClY-s5ffs54sCkMR8vpuSIHK6xwKA6vIna1X/s1600-h/P1060909.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5WTn1KkP_ZAdLw8fvFfvD1CH9H1Yor6k74LX7Bq2AyOJWoHkhvbKPITzfO_j5dQxT3Vc3vw6pYLduMy9kjl0G0FQSUfCo6iFzUTaKmJMClY-s5ffs54sCkMR8vpuSIHK6xwKA6vIna1X/s320/P1060909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619499966945906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xTfO9nGswuQZh5csNoGJYC5AJpwUp2gErgmN2ZLuzhxpl1aNYVjUnq0-81ta9oak5LVT3z8KVn3K0EHvLo1fS4SI8QIOnUqETvDpeJWEL3qcCcE9kIhOgouz9MU1_0A5KeBNudlhcVmp/s1600-h/P1060910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xTfO9nGswuQZh5csNoGJYC5AJpwUp2gErgmN2ZLuzhxpl1aNYVjUnq0-81ta9oak5LVT3z8KVn3K0EHvLo1fS4SI8QIOnUqETvDpeJWEL3qcCcE9kIhOgouz9MU1_0A5KeBNudlhcVmp/s320/P1060910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619490762503378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriZge5AaVX5lnb1gnHUJ_E2l-docOzpVTk1PPAX410NCGcGq2SE3vyQ2FyfgPfRVY9Nln0Bz8_VfOnPu6Y5zkzn96S66_6gTJ3GkoJAeVkdUhbVjQTLE7thFlsYpryTCHb8opNLT-UZFc/s1600-h/P1060912.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriZge5AaVX5lnb1gnHUJ_E2l-docOzpVTk1PPAX410NCGcGq2SE3vyQ2FyfgPfRVY9Nln0Bz8_VfOnPu6Y5zkzn96S66_6gTJ3GkoJAeVkdUhbVjQTLE7thFlsYpryTCHb8opNLT-UZFc/s320/P1060912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619478860874530" border="0" /></a><br />The guy in the pic below to my immediate right threw up all over the table. He was American. Young Americans seem to have a hard time holding their alcohol. We get a later start than our European and Australian counterparts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2nvIJ5H0ccZ7oL8Mx0zClnlHubg_wqs-W6Y0zMNR1BJfTMCg3wg10SR3vLLAGUdC873TzgSSZAh3H-9lJRo2p0rt5VnoWYu5mMyA-Wg7GKmnoGzxWgDcsa3EMgvN7ZF7ZC0vxsZOxZsG/s1600-h/P1060916.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2nvIJ5H0ccZ7oL8Mx0zClnlHubg_wqs-W6Y0zMNR1BJfTMCg3wg10SR3vLLAGUdC873TzgSSZAh3H-9lJRo2p0rt5VnoWYu5mMyA-Wg7GKmnoGzxWgDcsa3EMgvN7ZF7ZC0vxsZOxZsG/s320/P1060916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373619474641271250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX0M92r39dMbpEf8v_OdeiohyphenhyphenoOD9_PQ-pXzrDWpQN4Dzj8iiarGdyNAK-eYeykmM-G-h0UdfOWkcgnkmEEHwfJpf6t6IxZxdcf7Y09o44MYYuAulZ9d0avVkWTOczLzob52hH1LfWmH6/s1600-h/P1060928.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX0M92r39dMbpEf8v_OdeiohyphenhyphenoOD9_PQ-pXzrDWpQN4Dzj8iiarGdyNAK-eYeykmM-G-h0UdfOWkcgnkmEEHwfJpf6t6IxZxdcf7Y09o44MYYuAulZ9d0avVkWTOczLzob52hH1LfWmH6/s320/P1060928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376883673358029378" border="0" /></a>The people I met traveling in Western Europe tended to be younger, and on shorter trips. This makes sense as first trips to Europe are usually Britain, France, Germany, and Italy and not Serbia, Bosnia, or Romania. They also tended to have this weird energy that I found off putting. I had a few "I'm getting too old for this shit" moments in Germany and Austria. I decided I would spend most of this leg of my trip in Eastern Europe. In addition to the travelers being a bit more mature and laid back, things are quite cheaper than in Western Europe. It always surprises me how much things cost in Western Europe. The prices are marked in Euros and at first glance, look reasonable. But the price has to be multiplied by 1.42 to get the price in US dollars. Also, Eastern Europe is in a transitory period now and I wanted to see it before things changed too drastically. Scotland, France, Scandinavia, etc., will look about the same in 20 years as they do now. My immediate plans were to travel to Salzberg, Austria, and then to Budapest, Hungary.<br /><br />On June 14 I left Munich and took a two hour train ride to Salzberg, Austria. Salzberg is a small, beautiful, remarkably well-preserved city in the Austrian Alps, famous for being the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz0lrhZj3XgxoTuoLlkr7fMHfv37wvPLWDkrQEkg_c303ujXojF9VZ6lUezekljH2B22ioHENZpQZx5Rj_CoCRGHJUnos0r5Ho1zl9wJWi3KZjxkS_H95J7h09mi5yxaH2q3EKfrUdW2H/s1600-h/P1060933.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz0lrhZj3XgxoTuoLlkr7fMHfv37wvPLWDkrQEkg_c303ujXojF9VZ6lUezekljH2B22ioHENZpQZx5Rj_CoCRGHJUnos0r5Ho1zl9wJWi3KZjxkS_H95J7h09mi5yxaH2q3EKfrUdW2H/s320/P1060933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373617617421598562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29C39bwLZGKbLKUDi0bEeEmO_2_BYC5xMOB23zTm75VnZsIM5WkIJOllfI7EQEiW_AFaNbotGmYrLXREb9P3r3U_zNF844gdLPFOIqJMqD0OpiVhSaEroYf2R_pgSQqH_LVhvOBmPlj00/s1600-h/P1060935.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8X4wS62jH7Q3EGEHBCkqBKfV1L73h9gVSPCojF6go61cnsnbjdHf6FO2q3Em1X9kqBwZ9RWmT652WrkAv15yVlhLyflLc-MGBTg1bYog0VyqnFdNNwOeddA-n2_heb33F7C_7-137jn3/s320/P1060977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373615620872293250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLay8VgAl1faao2VipzeChJ5a2e44SI-xE7PpNHn0CVjqAZPvYWW5nDsdYP69OFEAhjXXng_EaH15G57mmO1PSpIp6Lov3E4XJTYs7cGFpfwP_lpnuaYstEbCoGQTZq6QeGJi9853N8Ll5/s1600-h/P1060981.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLay8VgAl1faao2VipzeChJ5a2e44SI-xE7PpNHn0CVjqAZPvYWW5nDsdYP69OFEAhjXXng_EaH15G57mmO1PSpIp6Lov3E4XJTYs7cGFpfwP_lpnuaYstEbCoGQTZq6QeGJi9853N8Ll5/s320/P1060981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373615610197348834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0RTlR_915AEzHjH087RX4v1WRm851PlHIBBKDYLy5e7vS9-86gzX8uOPXhXIffdjb8ECzvpUzJ8Zb1supt8D9GNCY1OZWuQM1TMHB2BA_N1Ky31wkt3PyyFZEWJPx6rnDaldmsIkYiyO/s1600-h/P1060985.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0RTlR_915AEzHjH087RX4v1WRm851PlHIBBKDYLy5e7vS9-86gzX8uOPXhXIffdjb8ECzvpUzJ8Zb1supt8D9GNCY1OZWuQM1TMHB2BA_N1Ky31wkt3PyyFZEWJPx6rnDaldmsIkYiyO/s320/P1060985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373615605135936482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWlNzYF574AUg2il5LRNhQ7iNtisRIUksJQec4uBHBjO4gx4CrTDB3Hdu8t98Q0QdH1XLxIfKSbKRo8hHVdKUByjQ21Wm1v5bpSYjrqf_wz4FDzX42jegBsXtNatVzbVJ1jnJDlAvHc9O/s1600-h/P1070001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWlNzYF574AUg2il5LRNhQ7iNtisRIUksJQec4uBHBjO4gx4CrTDB3Hdu8t98Q0QdH1XLxIfKSbKRo8hHVdKUByjQ21Wm1v5bpSYjrqf_wz4FDzX42jegBsXtNatVzbVJ1jnJDlAvHc9O/s320/P1070001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373611849832613138" border="0" /></a><br />On June 15, I went on a Sound of Music tour that went to most of the filming locations as well as other locations pertinent to the real Von Trapp family. I know a Sound of Music tour doesn't sound like the most manly way to spend a day. It would be easy to say that I only went on the tour because two cute American girls, Stephanie and Jillian, I'd met the night before were going. But I really wanted to go on this tour. Many of the images in my head of Europe come from the Sound of Music. The tour, led by a very funny Scotsman, was very entertaining and included a lot of trivia about the movie, differences between the movie and the real Von Trapp story, and what has happened since the filming.<br /><br />The Sound of Music is based on the real lives of the Von Trapp Family Singers and for a Disney movie-musical, stays reasonable true to the real story. Maria Augusta was really studying to be a nun and was sent to be a governess to a wealthy local Naval Commander's seven children. The children took a liking to her, they married, and fled Austria prior to the Nazi annexation of Austria. There were a few changes made for the movie for dramatic effect which I will discuss later.<br /><br />Also on the tour was a family of three from Mumbai, India. It occured to me that if I think Austria is an expensive place, then these people must really think things are expensive. I went from paying about $4-$6 per night for a hotel with private bath in India to paying $30-$35 for a hostel bed in Germany and Austria. A cup of tea in India was about 20 cents. Here I had one for about $3.<br /><br />The tour started and ended in Mirabell Park in central Salzberg. This is where the Song "Do-Re-Mi" ended. Through the magic of movie making, the song began in a meadow about 40 kilometers outside Salzberg. Maria and the kids learn to sing, ride bicycles, take a horse carriage ride, and make it all the way to Mirabell Park in downtown Salzberg all in the span of about six minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y9dUnspvishMrn4Lttjfi9ADabEEFtCrJgEjAh8M5q9yyZ88OABJKpkUgSn4dkY6TBf9KMFtz4K6W6SwD5X1OY3dZj53UUGpqsdHfDIzXdlNO4NgN_izGS1PhX3OzfGljoFo7ogF_Y_W/s1600-h/P1070012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y9dUnspvishMrn4Lttjfi9ADabEEFtCrJgEjAh8M5q9yyZ88OABJKpkUgSn4dkY6TBf9KMFtz4K6W6SwD5X1OY3dZj53UUGpqsdHfDIzXdlNO4NgN_izGS1PhX3OzfGljoFo7ogF_Y_W/s320/P1070012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373611833200196498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0pv6L1DvYAwcfvci5jdpjXUexitg9URAcmf5aAzq8JMk1ZT9V2abZHZF5ZaPam0vFfwk9pFwqHqj_NCW8E0srBv7TYx-0D5KhcyYNj8p1Aoog-MyZ2NA5zK5YeMHv4p5VAPnfIh4-ozp/s1600-h/P1070013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0pv6L1DvYAwcfvci5jdpjXUexitg9URAcmf5aAzq8JMk1ZT9V2abZHZF5ZaPam0vFfwk9pFwqHqj_NCW8E0srBv7TYx-0D5KhcyYNj8p1Aoog-MyZ2NA5zK5YeMHv4p5VAPnfIh4-ozp/s320/P1070013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373611828730085106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPeuzzsoZl0Rg-g_JvcPe4WyqvwaxvHAAF9KgqITB8xAjatJH2WnS6mcD5Fi71obJujbjbMKy4bVB75dt-9B_HPhD6GEnGm7fCfdP5j5L_Tvxw4WQ8uCMWbgVHX4TJxzQEP-_tNY-rrdm/s1600-h/P1070107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPeuzzsoZl0Rg-g_JvcPe4WyqvwaxvHAAF9KgqITB8xAjatJH2WnS6mcD5Fi71obJujbjbMKy4bVB75dt-9B_HPhD6GEnGm7fCfdP5j5L_Tvxw4WQ8uCMWbgVHX4TJxzQEP-_tNY-rrdm/s320/P1070107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373602808061562850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYG344rYKOIcWvp2yNZcmPpnGuKoqb1OKV2mgmG8EU2ixde8Au7FPXiJIaZLlkrgmn76cLezo2U9-B9f1LOw2DcUJ8Xh3dvc470GDnd1empzvAunLeMia5kRQovXtpDvUUNPpnUXLN515/s1600-h/P1070102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYG344rYKOIcWvp2yNZcmPpnGuKoqb1OKV2mgmG8EU2ixde8Au7FPXiJIaZLlkrgmn76cLezo2U9-B9f1LOw2DcUJ8Xh3dvc470GDnd1empzvAunLeMia5kRQovXtpDvUUNPpnUXLN515/s320/P1070102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373605020021280914" border="0" /></a><br />The house where the scenes of the back of the house were shot. It is now a conference center. The actress playing Gretl nearly drowned here when all the children fell out of a boat. No one knew she couldn't swim.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-ZPZ5SMIL-dwVb-KNMiaXVKyakSwB24LIar_jx4hMsJe92rMLLiZ_Y3bMDztQ8imQeWJf72pX1MKzrJGISUWMnYWcWso8-v-v3HPvL2efTeX0xc7ZqPSrncKUhN9CWWalBneYA04qrWc/s1600-h/P1070031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-ZPZ5SMIL-dwVb-KNMiaXVKyakSwB24LIar_jx4hMsJe92rMLLiZ_Y3bMDztQ8imQeWJf72pX1MKzrJGISUWMnYWcWso8-v-v3HPvL2efTeX0xc7ZqPSrncKUhN9CWWalBneYA04qrWc/s320/P1070031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373609996647518946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_wdoFHNRDeW-9JQVJhj54UnYXJyxllRb7fSI_dGtfA3bKFvYICoHGYlnmpv4nn1XE9HwhmJXX421euxeOgk1qoLbtx6gl0zf2o4YiWM1yeznc0CfHVaMaP3QsP1ec0HRvklIAashPC2P/s1600-h/P1070035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_wdoFHNRDeW-9JQVJhj54UnYXJyxllRb7fSI_dGtfA3bKFvYICoHGYlnmpv4nn1XE9HwhmJXX421euxeOgk1qoLbtx6gl0zf2o4YiWM1yeznc0CfHVaMaP3QsP1ec0HRvklIAashPC2P/s320/P1070035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373609991674991778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillFE5H4PB6KvaVmdQkEmT-CddOhIftDpzYQH687xY3-W-DGwX6IHH_N1JET87jib8A9SNOjNy3K3yvZtYiSTwO3iDig-hTm6qWaFdO-37r7FpFcaJVhVelfK5uHYBv1bqi-pwwYXlh7NM/s1600-h/P1070039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillFE5H4PB6KvaVmdQkEmT-CddOhIftDpzYQH687xY3-W-DGwX6IHH_N1JET87jib8A9SNOjNy3K3yvZtYiSTwO3iDig-hTm6qWaFdO-37r7FpFcaJVhVelfK5uHYBv1bqi-pwwYXlh7NM/s320/P1070039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373609987885245794" border="0" /></a><br />The gazebo where the exterior shots of the "16 Going on 17" were filmed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfO771VJYPbSwo5PZI8T5tV78xA2fw_kegU_hqpjsVgvxrccjpnsfN5x02EEJsMM4bGM4btBRhgEofAHY-EN_apOZtVx2C_fMPQGiLwy5xOhOV4Nhnt-J5EfJSrlrLCdkb7QLA2m-xQyX/s1600-h/P1070049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfO771VJYPbSwo5PZI8T5tV78xA2fw_kegU_hqpjsVgvxrccjpnsfN5x02EEJsMM4bGM4btBRhgEofAHY-EN_apOZtVx2C_fMPQGiLwy5xOhOV4Nhnt-J5EfJSrlrLCdkb7QLA2m-xQyX/s320/P1070049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373608400906235314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsFz0NYg0fXByzAnMcNXC638lSRAbWnWX3NyQsZmOW2KMOQ-yEz3TlzvYmhp3MmorDZUmADZc_ATz-BMX_fBXIeBC0KS2WvKZ3LpuRkZfBpLsDmlpreHSUYwptS_QKTq-UGyPeenDgZjN/s1600-h/P1070048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsFz0NYg0fXByzAnMcNXC638lSRAbWnWX3NyQsZmOW2KMOQ-yEz3TlzvYmhp3MmorDZUmADZc_ATz-BMX_fBXIeBC0KS2WvKZ3LpuRkZfBpLsDmlpreHSUYwptS_QKTq-UGyPeenDgZjN/s320/P1070048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373608395025021842" border="0" /></a><br />All of the interior shots were filmed in a studio in Hollywood. Only external shots were filmed in Austria. The gazebo was built for the movie and was originally located on the grounds of the building in the previous photo. The owners liked the gazebo and decided to keep it there. But there were too many instances of people who were 16 going on 42 sneaking in and night, dancing around, and injuring themselves. The gazebo was eventually moved to a park a few kilometers from the original location and usually remains locked.<br /><br />The road where Maria, with her guitar and suitcase, skips and sings "I Feel Confident" on her way to the Baron's house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9K-CQpuSPoF5sLUltUO89GLWec1f29lw-jiz1V1C3jy5MziBpGI3AhXi3bPZRiLLHzZ-8beq2WCzPXGlZrzAq5Qp0XjYnYK0memTu6CueEJ9AZG7BkQeJI5lueY5Tx9TruGFyNopJOfO2/s1600-h/P1070042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9K-CQpuSPoF5sLUltUO89GLWec1f29lw-jiz1V1C3jy5MziBpGI3AhXi3bPZRiLLHzZ-8beq2WCzPXGlZrzAq5Qp0XjYnYK0memTu6CueEJ9AZG7BkQeJI5lueY5Tx9TruGFyNopJOfO2/s320/P1070042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373608386185794722" border="0" /></a>Mondsee is a town a few miles from Salzberg. The wedding scene was filmed in the Mondsee Cathedral.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmBVH5xCMKLP_bUSihT7CvxhoyLP2PCf6mVxDBe-4GDv3G6wMSD5BStaVxqU6EjhHNM7grNM3vfC-bhsYtbmQM2FQiJnS32ebhLabD32_aX7sxy4SG7KM60QtHwYF25yPsUc7STXjmYcl/s1600-h/P1070096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmBVH5xCMKLP_bUSihT7CvxhoyLP2PCf6mVxDBe-4GDv3G6wMSD5BStaVxqU6EjhHNM7grNM3vfC-bhsYtbmQM2FQiJnS32ebhLabD32_aX7sxy4SG7KM60QtHwYF25yPsUc7STXjmYcl/s320/P1070096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373605004841076962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmqw_LvOguv-IgfXiRJrq0q-cLwODuUFdGlcuiAYa2e-hymQuBfBggMg6paU3gpV6X3QWipKAr_LXAlWbQde0lAY_A3hT8-OW98tv1dkonrEMWwgvBZAuS_q4m12aA8PV78N6bHr1kMUd/s1600-h/P1070077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmqw_LvOguv-IgfXiRJrq0q-cLwODuUFdGlcuiAYa2e-hymQuBfBggMg6paU3gpV6X3QWipKAr_LXAlWbQde0lAY_A3hT8-OW98tv1dkonrEMWwgvBZAuS_q4m12aA8PV78N6bHr1kMUd/s320/P1070077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373606643610554306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7flWjhr0e78Tu_4bUkXZtGidaHm_TfZB37Y2Ec5dbZ0-jEAZBUzyrwvGJyPeMQc9ne28269Kmcoz1hrA4iMLA2fbdiNjAqQVxRLar2RQ68BN-48R2_9SWFcf35pQndR5acxke_17l-P9/s1600-h/P1070088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7flWjhr0e78Tu_4bUkXZtGidaHm_TfZB37Y2Ec5dbZ0-jEAZBUzyrwvGJyPeMQc9ne28269Kmcoz1hrA4iMLA2fbdiNjAqQVxRLar2RQ68BN-48R2_9SWFcf35pQndR5acxke_17l-P9/s320/P1070088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373606651101120418" border="0" /></a>An actual collection of skeletons adorns the front of the cathedral.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRpCxLgRAdszo7ldQVpW5uSy2jmcq8puUPRyclhP50vikUc8TmsKyXUEsLN1WuS2c4OYhaMQRAFdCykh6wWPoOZ8kNANcaRGuGTWCwOayc5rf5PsD1Ilrfmxlutx9jbZ_iepX9VFIK87M/s1600-h/P1070091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRpCxLgRAdszo7ldQVpW5uSy2jmcq8puUPRyclhP50vikUc8TmsKyXUEsLN1WuS2c4OYhaMQRAFdCykh6wWPoOZ8kNANcaRGuGTWCwOayc5rf5PsD1Ilrfmxlutx9jbZ_iepX9VFIK87M/s320/P1070091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373604999918071778" border="0" /></a>Some other scenery near Salzberg. It was incredible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn_JmPTyoINBU693-4tKHRGGdI0JodxUH6-xznIzpjot5y4e6s6RdEGpi4MLPTlns77Y5t4jgxlU5ui-75LJewlAUlmArVhzu8XhVPPeeWLJPdBdHHgnFuxzMfwAwKW3krO7Sqx08TXmv/s1600-h/P1070060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn_JmPTyoINBU693-4tKHRGGdI0JodxUH6-xznIzpjot5y4e6s6RdEGpi4MLPTlns77Y5t4jgxlU5ui-75LJewlAUlmArVhzu8XhVPPeeWLJPdBdHHgnFuxzMfwAwKW3krO7Sqx08TXmv/s320/P1070060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373608415729167458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkygUefT3tlqKOA67AqJjw3UMeCxQh56I9G4IdE-XrNnRItz8auAM22RzrA1SLik6mlqLjSMJ7AczY0QZgX-xjxU3bQWLr4dI6SyBlxs822ys-NudVT3Z9KS6fuRp-1owoXsf0ug2ivgy/s1600-h/P1070066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkygUefT3tlqKOA67AqJjw3UMeCxQh56I9G4IdE-XrNnRItz8auAM22RzrA1SLik6mlqLjSMJ7AczY0QZgX-xjxU3bQWLr4dI6SyBlxs822ys-NudVT3Z9KS6fuRp-1owoXsf0ug2ivgy/s320/P1070066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373606625332606210" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, a few more things and I'll stop talking about the Sound of Music. A few differences between the movie and the real Von Trapps:<br /><br />1. The Von Trapps had been married for ten years and had three kids of their own before they fled Austria. The Baron considered joining the Third Reich, but decided against it.<br /><br />2. They did not flee over the montains into Switzerland. They took the train to Italy. In fact, although Switzerland does border Austria, it is nowhere near Salzberg. In reality, crossing the mountain as they did in the movie would have put them in Germany and they would have walked right by Hitler's summer home.<br /><br />3. The Baron was not the cold, hard disciplinarian, as he was portrayed in the movie. The family always denied this.<br /><br />4. The childrens' real names were Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna, and Martina.<br /><br />The family moved to London, then to America before eventually settling in Stowe, Vermont. They were nearly penniless when they left Austria due to the failure of an Austrian bank in which he kept most of his money.<br /><br />After the tour we went to the Hohensalzberg Castle. This is the castle on the hill in the background of the below pic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK1z4Fzo45RO-85dZhUYw1v21Jp_eVDrs3HCXqP2zIIkRloW85R2UAv4PrDk4_EovVC4RGZzrNa-kFRNfn1cndAS-BvuEcUBp9jJGr5D-hiCKpGmHjAMKjWFBTlKd9yTCmOLw9bBCxHLb/s1600-h/P1070100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK1z4Fzo45RO-85dZhUYw1v21Jp_eVDrs3HCXqP2zIIkRloW85R2UAv4PrDk4_EovVC4RGZzrNa-kFRNfn1cndAS-BvuEcUBp9jJGr5D-hiCKpGmHjAMKjWFBTlKd9yTCmOLw9bBCxHLb/s320/P1070100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373605013831770034" border="0" /></a>Views of the city from the castle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b6_PdOT8AV6WMPE_cS24FaF-PFf9CR8JK3BLjBfPaupLgKY8TzJJg-lwizqrgPDvfw2-P8wzt6XH87UfGxlZhjp2qGdG8_gkXGKGZ-xnsbgKYeb_QLaK-vfMJPjaeXF8Kcdis_W8zAa5/s1600-h/P1070128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b6_PdOT8AV6WMPE_cS24FaF-PFf9CR8JK3BLjBfPaupLgKY8TzJJg-lwizqrgPDvfw2-P8wzt6XH87UfGxlZhjp2qGdG8_gkXGKGZ-xnsbgKYeb_QLaK-vfMJPjaeXF8Kcdis_W8zAa5/s320/P1070128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373602834340209890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETH1DeSBpjkdGQ1fWyOxGWhpMD1NLF7NUpLNcV-kuHYOQjHY5M_RoHH9Bw_yoOEe-6hKqNdiM5mRLPYoK4V93Ha09EwSX-cKeC5Ocny-vv-kj7t5PQ19SgbZvZBPeLySsLS_KG5vo7DvJ/s1600-h/P1070146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETH1DeSBpjkdGQ1fWyOxGWhpMD1NLF7NUpLNcV-kuHYOQjHY5M_RoHH9Bw_yoOEe-6hKqNdiM5mRLPYoK4V93Ha09EwSX-cKeC5Ocny-vv-kj7t5PQ19SgbZvZBPeLySsLS_KG5vo7DvJ/s320/P1070146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373601612180099010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Castle.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmVz5rzWY9TfIkNGKwYeI8M0gJJANMGkWR3KgfnsSVeMxZaundvcADacENKrTCWGw_fAxHI3exXyyUgOziFC1HOPdnQuwzkpEg-GSXEen5KfBY05de1AruQQg6t_VCtHKbkCArb2i_DDg/s1600-h/P1070119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmVz5rzWY9TfIkNGKwYeI8M0gJJANMGkWR3KgfnsSVeMxZaundvcADacENKrTCWGw_fAxHI3exXyyUgOziFC1HOPdnQuwzkpEg-GSXEen5KfBY05de1AruQQg6t_VCtHKbkCArb2i_DDg/s320/P1070119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373602819688049218" border="0" /></a><br />The hostel I was staying at had a nightly showing of the Sound of Music. I was excited to see it after being on the tour earlier. I had never seen the movie all the way through and had no idea that there was this Nazi subplot. I sat down to watch it with Stephanie and Jillian. We got kind of bored after an hour and decided to go to a pub down the block. I still haven't seen the movie all the way through.<br /><br />On June 16, I took a train to Budapest, Hungary. It's kind of hard to read in the below pic, but the monitor indicates the speed of the train is 253 km/hour (157 mph). I know there are trains in Japan that go faster, but that's pretty damn fast. It's the fastest I've ever traveled on the ground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFB6cBzlYHC4vbC_nov31SZNqKCBp5k2YC_aO9Tc95uT4WsBwssLIil0njaKEgX_T0KvSWxuMSn1-K37lqmJVcNcToQTQEnC032wU5IFtd-liJuKvbXU8FjFS0pM6Vo0nfkBSAyw8cJbr/s1600-h/P1070161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFB6cBzlYHC4vbC_nov31SZNqKCBp5k2YC_aO9Tc95uT4WsBwssLIil0njaKEgX_T0KvSWxuMSn1-K37lqmJVcNcToQTQEnC032wU5IFtd-liJuKvbXU8FjFS0pM6Vo0nfkBSAyw8cJbr/s320/P1070161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373580729274211890" border="0" /></a><br />The Salzberg train station. I love all the old train stations in Europe and the fact that they are still being used as train stations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH9DOKJrE6AA_BprswUIzi812FsebBktOLqrcjONv03aLPOD9MOOh4HDXVr3LikVQkxA7MEYOV74-pt1HZilZ4xVpeeVljWxQTBnhsi6pE4CNB9pHpT7LCl6D1OZ3KAreXAdxLumaVc0v/s1600-h/P1070268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH9DOKJrE6AA_BprswUIzi812FsebBktOLqrcjONv03aLPOD9MOOh4HDXVr3LikVQkxA7MEYOV74-pt1HZilZ4xVpeeVljWxQTBnhsi6pE4CNB9pHpT7LCl6D1OZ3KAreXAdxLumaVc0v/s320/P1070268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373600464689392242" border="0" /></a><br />The Budapest train station.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsyEE6DomkDPpsYxpBemkfC6vbQ6og3MsLmNd2vmF9OzRQrbPc3N6ZmB7gn-XBldOdOezpyocju1gdsbasUVu4fU6VpPxEto-4ZgsCylME38AF5c-JSVbnBatnfbfJveAnl46G08Dzh2i/s1600-h/P1070266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsyEE6DomkDPpsYxpBemkfC6vbQ6og3MsLmNd2vmF9OzRQrbPc3N6ZmB7gn-XBldOdOezpyocju1gdsbasUVu4fU6VpPxEto-4ZgsCylME38AF5c-JSVbnBatnfbfJveAnl46G08Dzh2i/s320/P1070266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373600456282167826" border="0" /></a>Budapest is a great city. It has very little of the ugly, grey, rectangular, Soviet era archetecture that (I would later find) dominates the former Soviet controlled countries. It is a good transition from Western Europe to Eastern Europe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqZ-lJoZNtygSpVnJOoizNjubWTI83u9w36TenIHZSoGXEjHG61jJ-XPtdkizVVJdUTS_SO9KwwhgIY-jyr9JjLQQOdFADWV8X6EW6wgxSfnC6mlr3UxNvy3IG2TO-nD8JkXKgSGpEL9s/s1600-h/P1070229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqZ-lJoZNtygSpVnJOoizNjubWTI83u9w36TenIHZSoGXEjHG61jJ-XPtdkizVVJdUTS_SO9KwwhgIY-jyr9JjLQQOdFADWV8X6EW6wgxSfnC6mlr3UxNvy3IG2TO-nD8JkXKgSGpEL9s/s320/P1070229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373593590090473618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcXBAnaxtwBir60OHIkCZOOcz32vS-gMSYmoPzVw6LXOEJpoKN7aa5BarOEHDMaGWE2fDh_tKCySpm6WFLMq_Xa4TR2ml1bf2D_PhZyNyOqKlirQv9XvdR1FCIOGm8YjQsppMGNr0aVq8/s1600-h/P1070218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcXBAnaxtwBir60OHIkCZOOcz32vS-gMSYmoPzVw6LXOEJpoKN7aa5BarOEHDMaGWE2fDh_tKCySpm6WFLMq_Xa4TR2ml1bf2D_PhZyNyOqKlirQv9XvdR1FCIOGm8YjQsppMGNr0aVq8/s320/P1070218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373593578171246002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73WiiFsn3VezJzsElmf2BAsGQmr6w6JXre1ADods2Ih3HyXsab4jWv1MDyi9bgmrIUolnmMY__FU2oRwNfhr0pkAHC_O7sLNQNkPyE9KG9GoPK0E3dZv77ZSgMcm3TI3J4lHA-9XtosRI/s1600-h/P1070216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73WiiFsn3VezJzsElmf2BAsGQmr6w6JXre1ADods2Ih3HyXsab4jWv1MDyi9bgmrIUolnmMY__FU2oRwNfhr0pkAHC_O7sLNQNkPyE9KG9GoPK0E3dZv77ZSgMcm3TI3J4lHA-9XtosRI/s320/P1070216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373593568814654226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAyuCr6Cm7kB1XPUThEKO_BPUunkPRWPo89Tp9fnAA7AexlzMrxABedY4uKfruJ1hT3ZwGTR60J7jDhH3JNsjSAHB3vS79xtXBGFBed1pqJJAAWV3aRGS-N4mwpugtgQzZGWoBf3rumn4/s1600-h/P1070166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAyuCr6Cm7kB1XPUThEKO_BPUunkPRWPo89Tp9fnAA7AexlzMrxABedY4uKfruJ1hT3ZwGTR60J7jDhH3JNsjSAHB3vS79xtXBGFBed1pqJJAAWV3aRGS-N4mwpugtgQzZGWoBf3rumn4/s320/P1070166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373580742416133202" border="0" /></a><br />The Danube river separates Buda and Pest, the two main parts of the city. Buda is hilly and Pest is rather flat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1x7Uyc5JGqe_mBs6LugoeCK9n5KBzBBS_O3fB_Jfw1hlZ62RFDiuB7-yawm__TJpqU497qDkJnCIwd1sgKmicf08bd3ElUy700LjWPPZ4jmbm7u4MlggaDAuuntiG46IBLFKbsZbTS3w/s1600-h/P1070221.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1x7Uyc5JGqe_mBs6LugoeCK9n5KBzBBS_O3fB_Jfw1hlZ62RFDiuB7-yawm__TJpqU497qDkJnCIwd1sgKmicf08bd3ElUy700LjWPPZ4jmbm7u4MlggaDAuuntiG46IBLFKbsZbTS3w/s320/P1070221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373593580657794034" border="0" /></a><br />I stayed at Tiger Tim' place, a newer hostel in Budapest. It was one of my favorite hostels on the trip. The staff took everyone out to bars and clubs every night. It was great for the three days I spent there, but I can't imagine working there and doing it all the time. I like going out with locals to local restaurants and bars. It is a much better way to experience a place. As a tourist, I only know what is in the Lonely Planet, which usually runs a few years behind. And when places get a Lonely Planet mention, their quality tends to stagnate or suffer because of the automatic traffic the write-up brings in. Budapest is a great city, by the way, for nightlife. And fairly inexpensive.<br /><br />Bath's are a big part of Hungary. The Szechenyi bath is one of the biggest and oldest. It has many pools, both indoor and outdoor, heated at different temperatures and is filled with people of all ages (well, ok, mostly older people). The waters are thought to have healing properties. They felt pretty good after a few nights on the town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAR-kFcqXegKO0GWMhpet3ljWioWl-aKz0_gZb19um-rv-F6DyLVPltRHVues9nqrJ5Mht7yn6zjeiu6eubJb_OCSmZfqZVY_f3HrKeqyB8TO0F_9bDukV15M7qvXV50ZAwjvWpgXspGn/s1600-h/P1070261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAR-kFcqXegKO0GWMhpet3ljWioWl-aKz0_gZb19um-rv-F6DyLVPltRHVues9nqrJ5Mht7yn6zjeiu6eubJb_OCSmZfqZVY_f3HrKeqyB8TO0F_9bDukV15M7qvXV50ZAwjvWpgXspGn/s320/P1070261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373600449252380050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR7PBozDQ6POy5UvO2snwtPhYEVn80xgRNYcF_sEFJ9YCyDU6Ry2_vpX21-fAaOYVd1DUKo4TVWmmWNOzaimsyMC_cxW52FaMZD2YSHJ0Vk9A__14q6r1DbHMzVL5F_cKL3ofT-ULsOhs/s1600-h/P1070260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR7PBozDQ6POy5UvO2snwtPhYEVn80xgRNYcF_sEFJ9YCyDU6Ry2_vpX21-fAaOYVd1DUKo4TVWmmWNOzaimsyMC_cxW52FaMZD2YSHJ0Vk9A__14q6r1DbHMzVL5F_cKL3ofT-ULsOhs/s320/P1070260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373600447013389698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRVhPrHyFgvL6jbdryGhJeBzK6M27__agQrFa6giqJPKn_J7-ADUUWg47pRUQpwyePTji40jkNnqcyjFK2ew21Gyz-DYw7Uyd1RhFMkJr5IH52tzcQsWYtDOxCqG3ATWHXnuLgklASn_a/s1600-h/P1070258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRVhPrHyFgvL6jbdryGhJeBzK6M27__agQrFa6giqJPKn_J7-ADUUWg47pRUQpwyePTji40jkNnqcyjFK2ew21Gyz-DYw7Uyd1RhFMkJr5IH52tzcQsWYtDOxCqG3ATWHXnuLgklASn_a/s320/P1070258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373599606493077010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpHayX0mvoRveF9KThCRdmY1nRySHrIwD50Mn6BLSGrVsz4-pbshSbUmBVT2_bGsl6cxAwk2DGE854sHkAcIBVMWQggE8rCVflKO1L1qPEyFBh3UDq1FT_SlI8Y25bvv8s8ZajeB0V_-r/s1600-h/P1070257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpHayX0mvoRveF9KThCRdmY1nRySHrIwD50Mn6BLSGrVsz4-pbshSbUmBVT2_bGsl6cxAwk2DGE854sHkAcIBVMWQggE8rCVflKO1L1qPEyFBh3UDq1FT_SlI8Y25bvv8s8ZajeB0V_-r/s320/P1070257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373599598896818146" border="0" /></a>Hungarian Parliament building.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UfSbf4DTgf8nQ9Whc0fOdryvCBLaIS1hZfzGHo7j6J2iwkP84ZDCoXYP1X07lv-nyr_LK-osMlHUBfmXWG8c6Z3ymjWjb7ey92jC5RWNMJH8PhouBB7Skzqd5U-ICBVFNtGG1beEcdd0/s1600-h/P1070206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UfSbf4DTgf8nQ9Whc0fOdryvCBLaIS1hZfzGHo7j6J2iwkP84ZDCoXYP1X07lv-nyr_LK-osMlHUBfmXWG8c6Z3ymjWjb7ey92jC5RWNMJH8PhouBB7Skzqd5U-ICBVFNtGG1beEcdd0/s320/P1070206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373592430782942402" border="0" /></a><br />St Stephen's Basilica.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfXbGXivjnoBSqLbY48xBizgEHKQaztHKgPBxnHeJwOsbmC6VQCwfXylqrcYggtk6hdC8G-HkPTX9HCDOd5smmvFNw54fMkx3ZQOXQe_9Y6EDXvrhPqsooy2oeDLnlUWhMUAEX-sGY53e/s1600-h/P1070174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfXbGXivjnoBSqLbY48xBizgEHKQaztHKgPBxnHeJwOsbmC6VQCwfXylqrcYggtk6hdC8G-HkPTX9HCDOd5smmvFNw54fMkx3ZQOXQe_9Y6EDXvrhPqsooy2oeDLnlUWhMUAEX-sGY53e/s320/P1070174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373580757122141490" border="0" /></a><br />Inside St. Stephens is the Basilica of the Holy Right Hand, which contains the mummified right hand of St. Stephen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f2fErP7vvSDWuaQLVBx3hQ_GK_GKdKi-INBp0fUhxcQnpck895KQlVfoJkc9yj6blJRsvE4TBR9yWq6L7bDKenewuC9YT4PAAUWfrb1CaUiQ1CJlykg_4_Zs878CIWUmNWJwin_6-m7C/s1600-h/P1070186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f2fErP7vvSDWuaQLVBx3hQ_GK_GKdKi-INBp0fUhxcQnpck895KQlVfoJkc9yj6blJRsvE4TBR9yWq6L7bDKenewuC9YT4PAAUWfrb1CaUiQ1CJlykg_4_Zs878CIWUmNWJwin_6-m7C/s320/P1070186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373582651657917474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFrDkHLuvfM8MFjQWKy6WLKGvVaT4VTvReX3j2r2-uiRtKO12biYSq4DG2Io20ZXEkhUutF6SXVRnXeoIyp3ORlmunMv0xsrRvJVgAzJmdOz3cYkDTZMmHUaNHssJZ0UZIJyyKXrgdfoJ/s1600-h/P1070184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFrDkHLuvfM8MFjQWKy6WLKGvVaT4VTvReX3j2r2-uiRtKO12biYSq4DG2Io20ZXEkhUutF6SXVRnXeoIyp3ORlmunMv0xsrRvJVgAzJmdOz3cYkDTZMmHUaNHssJZ0UZIJyyKXrgdfoJ/s320/P1070184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373582641598747922" border="0" /></a><br />Pics of the city from the top of St Stephens.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh6KuLMWTnuo3vGXH2w2x6WfBGDAZpAI_eqvL1aGn06G-Ts61JNn73HKE-ZBFSb7Wa3o2Wx2TS4rfcdp0cswo8Dz2vFhPCuOsMrFlQlFQIa6BN61ECa3V7ChLxIy_sRGNQg3jz3PRSOlx/s1600-h/P1070199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh6KuLMWTnuo3vGXH2w2x6WfBGDAZpAI_eqvL1aGn06G-Ts61JNn73HKE-ZBFSb7Wa3o2Wx2TS4rfcdp0cswo8Dz2vFhPCuOsMrFlQlFQIa6BN61ECa3V7ChLxIy_sRGNQg3jz3PRSOlx/s320/P1070199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373592424092148466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutAQDZslkW1HWFGqLiLACZcvnln0SVthA4tGmmslrAcu86s_gjyk0_YhGbsklgjOV5Ht0YRreHYRvzy1gFyy7QWtzk9T1B09wkBl3Xvw6KuH9lh9c3BI22OfLO4kz4wQxX5U3hJLQ-W6h/s1600-h/P1070196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutAQDZslkW1HWFGqLiLACZcvnln0SVthA4tGmmslrAcu86s_gjyk0_YhGbsklgjOV5Ht0YRreHYRvzy1gFyy7QWtzk9T1B09wkBl3Xvw6KuH9lh9c3BI22OfLO4kz4wQxX5U3hJLQ-W6h/s320/P1070196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373592414776411762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8vBuGf2ZvWdFlGpO0CaW0WG3JdUXzIC6pq7JTn3-T3nF7xkWY05GpDjg7OEkdzGjb2Eji0qIArF6hWIOYwCY9X5diuMq1mFZ5-HuupThb4h-n0aFHi8fQaY776226aADQRzI27RFQlg_/s1600-h/P1070193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8vBuGf2ZvWdFlGpO0CaW0WG3JdUXzIC6pq7JTn3-T3nF7xkWY05GpDjg7OEkdzGjb2Eji0qIArF6hWIOYwCY9X5diuMq1mFZ5-HuupThb4h-n0aFHi8fQaY776226aADQRzI27RFQlg_/s320/P1070193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373592404269551346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-vbaVaXRaHAczEpmPVK1WLJVprkbGJbuyo3CagVyI_tDLMbl1OiMShExsKgOTysAGDVNQ77kWkLDUSLwjGXy0hlaXFv-kHXLh_UumQnP7lNy4e9tHHF9g_TNKAnhC1ejjbXxSAmu1ke9/s1600-h/P1070191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-vbaVaXRaHAczEpmPVK1WLJVprkbGJbuyo3CagVyI_tDLMbl1OiMShExsKgOTysAGDVNQ77kWkLDUSLwjGXy0hlaXFv-kHXLh_UumQnP7lNy4e9tHHF9g_TNKAnhC1ejjbXxSAmu1ke9/s320/P1070191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373592399219617778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1OobgfKpApvf6pApfFFxL9WzU6hrbXjmWujfeToAQLZYzvnrQxfyUUbWophJ8updumYbXPoQ4vutMP0hD8MPfmaGCY7JwWBsNdrXpIlyhjz805_3Tt4Ddha5gG4gcQCfqHhZwApu9gnv/s1600-h/P1070190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1OobgfKpApvf6pApfFFxL9WzU6hrbXjmWujfeToAQLZYzvnrQxfyUUbWophJ8updumYbXPoQ4vutMP0hD8MPfmaGCY7JwWBsNdrXpIlyhjz805_3Tt4Ddha5gG4gcQCfqHhZwApu9gnv/s320/P1070190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373582662085499474" border="0" /></a>On June 19, I took an overnight train from Budapest to Belgrade, Serbia.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-86854761732659304012009-07-23T11:24:00.002-04:002009-07-23T12:00:19.319-04:00Coming HomeI'm coming back on Tuesday, August 4. My flight gets in around 3:30. I plan to make a beeline to the Outback on West end if anyone wants to meet me for a drink. I'm assuming of course that the outback on West End is still there. Someone please email me if it is not. <br /><br />It's hard to believe I'm coming home in just 12 days. Traveling for a year has been absolutely great and I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything, but I'm really ready to get back. I would equate it to eating 12 pieces of a really good a pie. The first three were really great. The second three were really great. The last few have been good, but it's the 12th piece! It's time to push away from the table. I'm looking forward to seeing my own country, to see how it's changed, to see how I've changed. <br /><br />I need to update the blog for Europe, but it probably won't happen until I get home. I've been in Europe since June 10, mostly in Eastern Europe. I've been to Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania and am currently in Spain. I will be in Spain for a little over a week and then I will go to Dublin, Ireland. From there I will fly home.<br /><br />I've have been accepted to the Executive Masters in Healthcare Administration program at the University of Washington, which will begin in late September. I'll be looking for a job in that part of the country as well. I'm really looking forward to getting started with the program. But I'm looking forward more to spending some time with friends and family, going to all my favorite restaurants, and getting caught up on a year's worth of TV.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-57707362177088459652009-07-14T09:06:00.004-04:002010-01-26T23:28:08.178-05:00IsraelIsrael has fascinated me for a long time. It's amazing that such a small country that is only 60 years old had been the center of of so much fighting and controversy - a place that flares strong emotions for both sides. The Israeli Declaration of Independence was made in May 14, 1948, an event is known as Al Nakba (The Catastrophe) in the Arab world. I don't pretend to even begin to know how the situation will eventually resolve. If you talk to Israelis it's all the Palestinians fault. If you talk to Palestinians, it's the Israelis fault. Israelis say if the Palestinians put down their weapons and recognize the state of Israel, then there will be peace. Many Palestinians fully expect to return to their old homes in Israel. They also think that is they stop the fighting, then Israel will try to take more land and build more settlements. They think many want to see Israel inhabit and settle all the land from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River (and truth be told, they probably do).<br /><br />On June 3 I arrived at the Israeli border crossing. The Israelis don't mess around when it comes to security. At the first station they opened my backpack and went through every single article I had. I felt bad for them because I had been doing some serious hiking the last few days and my socks were pretty funky. They were all pretty young and probably carrying out their military service. All Israeli men and women must serve in the military for three years. The next station was an interview with a cute girl probably also carrying out her military service. She asked me a lot of questions. She asked the standard questions like why I was entering Israel, where I was going, where I was staying, how long I was staying, how I was leaving, did I know anyone in Israel. Many countries state they require proof of onward transport, but this was the only place I've been asked for it. She seemed really interested in my trip. She flipped through my passport and asked me what I did and where I went in Malaysia, Egypt, and Jordan. She asked me what my religion was. I thought, "Woo, slow down baby, that's kind of personal, we just met." The whole process took about 30 minutes. I walked out of the border station and into the land of milk and honey. I then realized I didn't have any New Shekels. I had to go back into the border station, I had to check in with the guard, who had to check with her boss, who then came out and escorted me back in to the exchange counter so I could exchange my Egyptian pounds.<br /><br />Because I have an Israeli stamp on my passport, I am forbidden from visiting Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen (Kuwait? After all we did for those guys back in 1991?) All these countries consider Israel to be enemy-occupied territory. Even if you can convince an Israeli border guard not to stamp your passport, they will look for other evidence such as an exit stamp from Egypt or Jordan. I don't plan on visiting any of these places any time soon, maybe ever. But if I do, I'll have to get a new passport.<br /><br />I took a cab to the Eliat bus station to catch a bus to Tel Aviv. The next bus wasn't leaving for another two hours, so I had lunch and walked around a bit. Eliat is a resort town on the Red Sea. Taba (Egypt), Aqaba (Jordan), and Eliat are all very close, I would guess only a few miles, but traveling between the tow would take a very long time due to the border crossings. It was a really hot day and I grew tired of walking around and went back to the bus station to wait on my bus. There were a lot of soldiers at the bus station and on the bus, many with big rifles strapped across their backs. I'd gotten used to seeing police and military personnel with large guns, but in Israel, it's often women. There's something kind of sexy about a girl in an army uniform with big rifle.<br /><br />It was about a five hour bus ride to Tel Aviv. Southern Israel is a dry, hot, barren desert. I got into the bus station about 10:00pm and took a cab to the hostel. Tel Aviv is a modern city on the Mediterranean reminiscent of Miami. I didn't do too much the next day other than walking around taking some photos and doing some much needed laundry.<br /><br />I was taken by how normal everything seemed. If you take away the Jewish aspect and it's rocky history, it is basically a European country located smack dab in the middle of the Middle East. It is a very wealthy country with a large middle class. In most Middle Eastern countries it is either difficult or impossible to find a drink. In Israel, that is definitely not a problem.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAiIQviD1I4fKLZEAe0mEfQ5Cf7L-ICiRvgdRFvOkQW2EDc23ljvVpbhRKv0MHS03ji-FlPCqKUPcsmMDDvBt4R1sOSuU6Y8tpSNyC_kHX6EdhGZXwEReqFwS03ZWU-Z1S8TkETKDrUSh/s1600-h/P1060321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAiIQviD1I4fKLZEAe0mEfQ5Cf7L-ICiRvgdRFvOkQW2EDc23ljvVpbhRKv0MHS03ji-FlPCqKUPcsmMDDvBt4R1sOSuU6Y8tpSNyC_kHX6EdhGZXwEReqFwS03ZWU-Z1S8TkETKDrUSh/s320/P1060321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350652004887126914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ve1FvhSC-wUYnjxDefV9cuqpUSh4_xaIVv6_SHxOBC_Js7DZcjnuTinIdMf7SUFWQ72AW6a4j5LHNHwvul43li8hhm5XrdEnBajCL-WVwtYxfgJ1NBen2RxHw2z6cwrPWL-bSvHu_oRT/s1600-h/P1060315.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ve1FvhSC-wUYnjxDefV9cuqpUSh4_xaIVv6_SHxOBC_Js7DZcjnuTinIdMf7SUFWQ72AW6a4j5LHNHwvul43li8hhm5XrdEnBajCL-WVwtYxfgJ1NBen2RxHw2z6cwrPWL-bSvHu_oRT/s320/P1060315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350652002364023634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EGoigOcsZAWoUeuSuR439tJ1eB23BH0iO2W6MYRErVO6KfpXgoCandEk8z0HnWiGoyszk2vkJdhR62tYxkvJPgK3AjdV_EDPbq7TVEENcKFXIVN5ybvfznY0xgPfRW_J8D0Ac9kgUnK6/s1600-h/P1060317.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EGoigOcsZAWoUeuSuR439tJ1eB23BH0iO2W6MYRErVO6KfpXgoCandEk8z0HnWiGoyszk2vkJdhR62tYxkvJPgK3AjdV_EDPbq7TVEENcKFXIVN5ybvfznY0xgPfRW_J8D0Ac9kgUnK6/s320/P1060317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350651999873954290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynA7sYS-skSf9JxT1LN59u2JVx6jvTdWnzbsxR9du_ARhJ0n7HJpLtcrXr9Jl1D8nI1yjRcIPJZESvLT6Nsv8NHSuGLYGqsi7d-AaGuUQGaAWc49EtdMIErKsU7xHd4ihPWSWQ-tlQQlA/s1600-h/P1060327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynA7sYS-skSf9JxT1LN59u2JVx6jvTdWnzbsxR9du_ARhJ0n7HJpLtcrXr9Jl1D8nI1yjRcIPJZESvLT6Nsv8NHSuGLYGqsi7d-AaGuUQGaAWc49EtdMIErKsU7xHd4ihPWSWQ-tlQQlA/s320/P1060327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350652009220394770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw1xEc4evmRw9KpXBH25C7CK5bUDy_lqJTCtkpJL9j55SWdSRrMaGBlLmggknVX-ZJT6RSVgrJKdI8REn6xE8BWg38HVlFZaBgCAtoVuvVrHf_VyuqXwQGaX22MXoGbT968-1ddhLi-wC/s1600-h/P1060341.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw1xEc4evmRw9KpXBH25C7CK5bUDy_lqJTCtkpJL9j55SWdSRrMaGBlLmggknVX-ZJT6RSVgrJKdI8REn6xE8BWg38HVlFZaBgCAtoVuvVrHf_VyuqXwQGaX22MXoGbT968-1ddhLi-wC/s320/P1060341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355339551967070178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2be6LRVHL8uhJqnTu3BDGzJVdHoUZ6d4nFeka3b7Yv7Y70eZX28RQYR_T6y4x-RlHwEBpgTpDwlmLH84RTKqOKKbN8R_lnZS_N5qkvD7WSPzIqAfGzxPCr-PZ7mHXdhLwnGtORDo5lcm/s1600-h/P1060343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2be6LRVHL8uhJqnTu3BDGzJVdHoUZ6d4nFeka3b7Yv7Y70eZX28RQYR_T6y4x-RlHwEBpgTpDwlmLH84RTKqOKKbN8R_lnZS_N5qkvD7WSPzIqAfGzxPCr-PZ7mHXdhLwnGtORDo5lcm/s320/P1060343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355339552685658338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVbMgLH8pk9552169BA6H9hxb-94kUbQBxNiO9M-OEmLPIj2U5B94GgdI1EFIM9C3RVgU78ySGOPfbXTKIOLJTgdf0fwxscMz4eJhZdcwSfIZeE0XQnoXZsV2e6DjdwcdK9JIpEZfvw6c/s1600-h/P1060345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVbMgLH8pk9552169BA6H9hxb-94kUbQBxNiO9M-OEmLPIj2U5B94GgdI1EFIM9C3RVgU78ySGOPfbXTKIOLJTgdf0fwxscMz4eJhZdcwSfIZeE0XQnoXZsV2e6DjdwcdK9JIpEZfvw6c/s320/P1060345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355339564870366594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I met Arielle and Dena, two Americans from New Jersey and we decided to go out that night to see the nightlife in Tel Aviv. We went first to a beach bar - basically lawn chairs on the beach mixed with illuminated orange cones. Then we went to a blues bar. Then to an Irish pub. There are a lot of bars in Tel Aviv. Then we went to a club that was only open to men over 25 and women over 21. I was the youngest guy there by at least ten years. There were a lot of older guys with young women. It was a little creepy. I realize that I'm not too many years away from being the creepy old guy, but this place had a strange vibe. We left and went to a dance club. They played good music. We were dancing and having a good time when I got challenged to a dance-off. I don't know what I was thinking getting sucked into this because the guy was a much better dancer than me. Several people in the club were watching and I heard at least one "Oh no you didn't!".<br /><br />There weren't many historical or cultural sites in Tel Aviv. I thought about going to the Diaspora Museum the next day, but I went to the beach instead. There would be plenty of that kind of stuff in Jerusalem.<br /><br />Tel Aviv was a lot of fun. God's chosen people like to have a good time. There were a lot of really beautiful women in Tel Aviv. I'm kind of surprised there aren't more Israeli supermodels. It makes me a little sad though. It's not impossible to date an Israeli girl, but you start with two strikes against you for not speaking Hebrew and for being a Gentile.<br /><br />On June 6 I went on a tour of Nazareth and the Sea of Gallalee. I was a little surprised that I could get a tour that day with it being the Shabbat. I'd heard that Israel really shuts down from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday, but that was really more true in Jerusalem than in Tel Aviv, with Tel Aviv being more secular and Jerusalem being more Orthodox. The first stop of the tour was in Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. Modern Nazareth is a city of about 60,000 people, but back in Jesus's time, it was a small Jewish village of about 500 people, most of whom lived in caves.<br /><br />For most Christian holy sites, churches are built over them. The name of the church usually relates to the site it covers. Also, most of the churches are at least the third built on the site. Churches are destroyed and rebuilt by Byzantine, Persian, and Crusader invaders.<br /><br />The first stop was the Basilica of the Annunciation. This Basilica was built over the cave where Mary received word from the Angel Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yqX8dMjO6PDTFemVv9f59q8fyYxyaiJ6s5SpKK8z-8ZOFQDFJiaJ6xGxdjTks-G2OhilsNKkw4Q9QSJtt0JI7CKkGmlIeGnjQoK49aJ0FiBAel6R0rq0LEofGF5sx-fV6YmVP9_5dFED/s1600-h/P1060366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yqX8dMjO6PDTFemVv9f59q8fyYxyaiJ6s5SpKK8z-8ZOFQDFJiaJ6xGxdjTks-G2OhilsNKkw4Q9QSJtt0JI7CKkGmlIeGnjQoK49aJ0FiBAel6R0rq0LEofGF5sx-fV6YmVP9_5dFED/s320/P1060366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355342429217375906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oRmofRffm89TVLtZG-UA9eTaoz3s6fklKfPwQjHt79ZEKggbYN_ZDE4ZytG1iP12B-rPhbgbKfXvXvdfilsoP4qlhwsq6eeze5n_m4Qgie7Whpg52yl8lH_1tjwzVM5ILKUgYuiIVFhh/s1600-h/P1060370.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oRmofRffm89TVLtZG-UA9eTaoz3s6fklKfPwQjHt79ZEKggbYN_ZDE4ZytG1iP12B-rPhbgbKfXvXvdfilsoP4qlhwsq6eeze5n_m4Qgie7Whpg52yl8lH_1tjwzVM5ILKUgYuiIVFhh/s320/P1060370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355342434805409890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSmZCSyUrVDNm1cyKkAP13_vnF_0VcZSimo4TyR16k16A_i8H6G3LtzX3Rm7VEIPsfO4cV60zKnoQUFIiB8NAQFheOuYf9EPmo-jxUdgwwCt-Gsx0ucwvcx9gCBsMSykvBZqJHq48QkM5/s1600-h/P1060369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSmZCSyUrVDNm1cyKkAP13_vnF_0VcZSimo4TyR16k16A_i8H6G3LtzX3Rm7VEIPsfO4cV60zKnoQUFIiB8NAQFheOuYf9EPmo-jxUdgwwCt-Gsx0ucwvcx9gCBsMSykvBZqJHq48QkM5/s320/P1060369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355342430554339186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIzuObrXrBnrjE-oXGj9L3TqwPf8M5YwOAn4TT-zmvfJH4HsrEqi6JF5OQqRXqsEpaROf9evkznuf1lhyx7fK9oCFiwWVhYOM3aHaDE0L8xFwEuL2T_cnsAcxuSkYBp5t1nM8Q9MUH_CQ/s1600-h/P1060376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIzuObrXrBnrjE-oXGj9L3TqwPf8M5YwOAn4TT-zmvfJH4HsrEqi6JF5OQqRXqsEpaROf9evkznuf1lhyx7fK9oCFiwWVhYOM3aHaDE0L8xFwEuL2T_cnsAcxuSkYBp5t1nM8Q9MUH_CQ/s320/P1060376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355344423206226946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgW5gjOYLa64V4maHJ3i8TLdAeofGVSwzfs8lbXVB66cmZPmhXVbR31Z7yjFGkub-swxsqPOwzSN2nqHRM6TCuxh6LwNTjTAVUE6fCcTdHxdTE7f4-6gdmabnTibjzBcQJDCB8AvHu5Lq/s1600-h/P1060382.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgW5gjOYLa64V4maHJ3i8TLdAeofGVSwzfs8lbXVB66cmZPmhXVbR31Z7yjFGkub-swxsqPOwzSN2nqHRM6TCuxh6LwNTjTAVUE6fCcTdHxdTE7f4-6gdmabnTibjzBcQJDCB8AvHu5Lq/s320/P1060382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355344428382759954" border="0" /></a>The next stop was a short walk to the St. Joseph church. It is built over the cave containing the carpenter workshop of Joseph and the home of the Holy Family.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhV5amMaRxUoauMyA4-NfjxC3IyIJ1ZJ9SS4jH5TLYSZepBMPUyISqEI3WeR9FNYAt5WvqnI7KbSm8Epiz-OWXM0l1-k1I9QHERw4rDicOaDNRlInYRl9VuaussENJEaJpMWEMlahJFT_/s1600-h/P1060412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhV5amMaRxUoauMyA4-NfjxC3IyIJ1ZJ9SS4jH5TLYSZepBMPUyISqEI3WeR9FNYAt5WvqnI7KbSm8Epiz-OWXM0l1-k1I9QHERw4rDicOaDNRlInYRl9VuaussENJEaJpMWEMlahJFT_/s320/P1060412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345131338869522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZLOCt3DPqFZ1IHHoJ-yeGyHz85dpRhOxlMKKPRipDUBEjCOiyjxDbz48Xxiuehlxxo-B1i5aRyVhgL8CUsyDHNL11uVBpgoCmAOJH3Y1V1Xt8SBA2Aj0bQgMUUwO4Td9tSnGeBhNUmnU/s1600-h/P1060401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZLOCt3DPqFZ1IHHoJ-yeGyHz85dpRhOxlMKKPRipDUBEjCOiyjxDbz48Xxiuehlxxo-B1i5aRyVhgL8CUsyDHNL11uVBpgoCmAOJH3Y1V1Xt8SBA2Aj0bQgMUUwO4Td9tSnGeBhNUmnU/s320/P1060401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355344434005835522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aRCaHKQIaNX4g1dlJzJeI2prwDH_vCEHrkkby8A1IkfB5r76a5a2knVSEgT7myqHyNUYeXSodiBzlkC9FzF3CsuLJZUnvdP77a_Oytoud_sJirhW3B1-0SSJgdEGKxZH0kHWTHCwFylw/s1600-h/P1060406.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aRCaHKQIaNX4g1dlJzJeI2prwDH_vCEHrkkby8A1IkfB5r76a5a2knVSEgT7myqHyNUYeXSodiBzlkC9FzF3CsuLJZUnvdP77a_Oytoud_sJirhW3B1-0SSJgdEGKxZH0kHWTHCwFylw/s320/P1060406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345124115907074" border="0" /></a><br />Next we went from Nazareth to Capernaum. The Israeli countryside is really pretty. Orchards, vines, and green fields light, fed by irrigation from the Jordan River light up the hillsides.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdsAQJDebC3mSMWT4Uy1jgEiED8uYBVXlFNqxqmVCr9675memwg8LF4Z_wAxY1qeueDjDI_eBbTcbIuW-K0MrkRXiu7LZjfJ66wXE2hDcIUrDB6otrK_fNKZhNB1gTjfvSftM3gBqriTd/s1600-h/P1060421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdsAQJDebC3mSMWT4Uy1jgEiED8uYBVXlFNqxqmVCr9675memwg8LF4Z_wAxY1qeueDjDI_eBbTcbIuW-K0MrkRXiu7LZjfJ66wXE2hDcIUrDB6otrK_fNKZhNB1gTjfvSftM3gBqriTd/s320/P1060421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345894340441874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw1lzDTXIWo_NCJBgbH0gCOgQlk89a2hiw00j2y0gZuDqENhZarXjPghmgheGt9vAko4iKdlozeoqVOgrJ77siFhhJAO6mqqA_Z1o6bpPi1GzXXkprwSr9sYsOEZpwHL15iiCtPq0frWH/s1600-h/P1060423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifw1lzDTXIWo_NCJBgbH0gCOgQlk89a2hiw00j2y0gZuDqENhZarXjPghmgheGt9vAko4iKdlozeoqVOgrJ77siFhhJAO6mqqA_Z1o6bpPi1GzXXkprwSr9sYsOEZpwHL15iiCtPq0frWH/s320/P1060423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357940847014745474" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, this comes at a price in that the Dead Sea is evaporating at an alarming rate.<br /><br />We drove by, but didn't stop at the Wedding Church where Jesus performed the water into wine miracle. It is obviously not the actual church, mind you, but one built on the site of the wedding where the wine was needed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yAjwPibMoAjIB4ZBkxKoRSQfquNqw8ofAVAWSkaR9g9gIjAvPTDWWK8-OQr16lTuhq2Amh9DivFtIEcLHB2nFHf_dmm6G5gLHJili7nzXWs-SHRYKKEj_JB5fuekr0dltUOFQPAfciE5/s1600-h/P1060417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yAjwPibMoAjIB4ZBkxKoRSQfquNqw8ofAVAWSkaR9g9gIjAvPTDWWK8-OQr16lTuhq2Amh9DivFtIEcLHB2nFHf_dmm6G5gLHJili7nzXWs-SHRYKKEj_JB5fuekr0dltUOFQPAfciE5/s320/P1060417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345139342771618" border="0" /></a>The well where the servants drew the water that was to become wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQAQ0wYCYAfp-dgnHVGi8o9FjvcPe1ZaqhG-6gsGiYL9M_HOhuaaf8SCW_2U-azpaeiBI2MTZvWo1DXhd8RjVc0zP3hxQE5BYlflqC6n9fw3ooYBuRt3jhURjpm4EN08GI4zE7ThnvkD0/s1600-h/P1060415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQAQ0wYCYAfp-dgnHVGi8o9FjvcPe1ZaqhG-6gsGiYL9M_HOhuaaf8SCW_2U-azpaeiBI2MTZvWo1DXhd8RjVc0zP3hxQE5BYlflqC6n9fw3ooYBuRt3jhURjpm4EN08GI4zE7ThnvkD0/s320/P1060415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345135252930290" border="0" /></a><br />Capernaum was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus lived, taught, and performed most of his miracles. St Peter, as well as other Apostles also lived here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQ9pKMctL_zpwzB7aNJlhuYtkFzm7gJp0XxkkRQGB7MMSfqDuOS3syF5Dx7ftcvznLgVAqfl9BTEWS5ZTHQXkT6NvqfblgreihG1mdotdFDDdfWTfwGvkYirTwmPPugeeg4k63FByjG7A/s1600-h/P1060426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQ9pKMctL_zpwzB7aNJlhuYtkFzm7gJp0XxkkRQGB7MMSfqDuOS3syF5Dx7ftcvznLgVAqfl9BTEWS5ZTHQXkT6NvqfblgreihG1mdotdFDDdfWTfwGvkYirTwmPPugeeg4k63FByjG7A/s320/P1060426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345892725773842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxjVC6z0f-HRTLmCDp_6n7BSd04HLK4suboNgaDeMOZS-r-WW2IzArE367acxZjouiEYdClNAR06Nhc2nhihMRTu49FSS4q98GDFL751jEnSrFrIxtPbVYxW4O1bJGb-uXcGTtpnIoeIq/s1600-h/P1060438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxjVC6z0f-HRTLmCDp_6n7BSd04HLK4suboNgaDeMOZS-r-WW2IzArE367acxZjouiEYdClNAR06Nhc2nhihMRTu49FSS4q98GDFL751jEnSrFrIxtPbVYxW4O1bJGb-uXcGTtpnIoeIq/s320/P1060438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355346723840640290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Church of the House of Peter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHD7wjXex31t6EcxgGq0jqOUJYS2vYYL79VSojBUq3sT93kM-ZtmN7NTGLdOpUroeAs-Rc-GAfh9ICDJlNhXH7RD4b7P9n5zEkqSO39Ifid6hTEZMSuS501P6CHlHh8G3ZFv1_U8gvsoz/s1600-h/P1060434.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHD7wjXex31t6EcxgGq0jqOUJYS2vYYL79VSojBUq3sT93kM-ZtmN7NTGLdOpUroeAs-Rc-GAfh9ICDJlNhXH7RD4b7P9n5zEkqSO39Ifid6hTEZMSuS501P6CHlHh8G3ZFv1_U8gvsoz/s320/P1060434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345911578218386" border="0" /></a>House of Peter, underneath the church.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5fYAmehI-h5WVswY3VQCTWqDt7Ymbkp2r81vKvu4kHSuxEJEMClE_nLFowsviwEHnf2oQoH90vjpRdIharkbwQYw41-pn__6vjpOv2tglp3qpSg1qC0SP_1C3vQVunkTJCvQ4lWHKGy8/s1600-h/P1060432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5fYAmehI-h5WVswY3VQCTWqDt7Ymbkp2r81vKvu4kHSuxEJEMClE_nLFowsviwEHnf2oQoH90vjpRdIharkbwQYw41-pn__6vjpOv2tglp3qpSg1qC0SP_1C3vQVunkTJCvQ4lWHKGy8/s320/P1060432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345906368482338" border="0" /></a><br />Remains of the synagogue where Jesus taught.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUYmMBrweM5HyAyx78xDVEtDGx8jHgHQMHmR9_lFqDvpK17vV7gFMuCvOHnlhDXhScAuUvy5g4QwsjXM4ylLgUkwzhQh0raEr9GNrVqshRNw6J0VYI-TvoufeMB9Y8WntRqGcygzQ6r5z/s1600-h/P1060440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUYmMBrweM5HyAyx78xDVEtDGx8jHgHQMHmR9_lFqDvpK17vV7gFMuCvOHnlhDXhScAuUvy5g4QwsjXM4ylLgUkwzhQh0raEr9GNrVqshRNw6J0VYI-TvoufeMB9Y8WntRqGcygzQ6r5z/s320/P1060440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355346733226998626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdVqsx2p8rRhNuUd0sX8w6l0k-ZiuPCAkJn-xIb6LcxfmWrB2UnPs6rftInO7xKM7HfsvyW_86GR218BX1985MbqZzF36xl2UO0kMvfqkV00xur_Q27eUiNjGbU8a6WSf10Z_CH-uNzZA/s1600-h/P1060439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdVqsx2p8rRhNuUd0sX8w6l0k-ZiuPCAkJn-xIb6LcxfmWrB2UnPs6rftInO7xKM7HfsvyW_86GR218BX1985MbqZzF36xl2UO0kMvfqkV00xur_Q27eUiNjGbU8a6WSf10Z_CH-uNzZA/s320/P1060439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355346725534256178" border="0" /></a><br />Sea of Galilee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNwiI-qD0xSWnqSnKLoUkW289k9ORUN5FRquSmUTe3tfS7gHygvps8TxcUKjEmlhHiMzGYMfrNHaNvT5ILcye62UlpbKqgOGBfUEB6W02PzVs75_J9Qdi7hId9WR-ImsZqqSIjTpLnfGb/s1600-h/P1060457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNwiI-qD0xSWnqSnKLoUkW289k9ORUN5FRquSmUTe3tfS7gHygvps8TxcUKjEmlhHiMzGYMfrNHaNvT5ILcye62UlpbKqgOGBfUEB6W02PzVs75_J9Qdi7hId9WR-ImsZqqSIjTpLnfGb/s320/P1060457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355347371354831042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTX-jVsHHFHDwm2t03hzyV893_rDMB-7mKIvxRt-_7fGB9eK4ZnJuifW2M9Nja49nprUY2XcgZsbRakoYhqYjWSQcRTd_d0XNOPv4IC1kXjoVEEslUqLlpnuYUmvEan-XAkAXSN8EZgri/s1600-h/P1060456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTX-jVsHHFHDwm2t03hzyV893_rDMB-7mKIvxRt-_7fGB9eK4ZnJuifW2M9Nja49nprUY2XcgZsbRakoYhqYjWSQcRTd_d0XNOPv4IC1kXjoVEEslUqLlpnuYUmvEan-XAkAXSN8EZgri/s320/P1060456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355346740862646098" border="0" /></a><br />Next was a short drive to Tabgha to the Church of the Multiplication. As it's name suggests, this is the site where Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000 people with two fishes and five loaves of bread.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I7NiC0RjRXKhlhXT3Sj9FXApVJhsQjgXwdelMIZVXoZJ0B6cjESGUQ42r6gOpdkmuWop7hApuOGNXYpiEM1RSp2EIZpiQ7-ZiTJ9M0hc3xDOF5I-lbbUY8dZKoQ8tj81lexDnMW6JLkX/s1600-h/P1060462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I7NiC0RjRXKhlhXT3Sj9FXApVJhsQjgXwdelMIZVXoZJ0B6cjESGUQ42r6gOpdkmuWop7hApuOGNXYpiEM1RSp2EIZpiQ7-ZiTJ9M0hc3xDOF5I-lbbUY8dZKoQ8tj81lexDnMW6JLkX/s320/P1060462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355347378101764050" border="0" /></a><br />The rock upon which the loaves and fishes were multiplied.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw60PvYXdnGe7zpnK61uK-OiqKyc5ymrV5JNU6Zx0Bt3gN_Qg1BkQaQT2vX1x4lFliX1tZDGtSG_NFsfEbQB4lNe8uqt6xwwMdpf9hqDWrxZCpIu2fV0vJiKRldlG_2VUa8HXb9AGh7ilN/s1600-h/P1060459.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw60PvYXdnGe7zpnK61uK-OiqKyc5ymrV5JNU6Zx0Bt3gN_Qg1BkQaQT2vX1x4lFliX1tZDGtSG_NFsfEbQB4lNe8uqt6xwwMdpf9hqDWrxZCpIu2fV0vJiKRldlG_2VUa8HXb9AGh7ilN/s320/P1060459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355347376816201506" border="0" /></a><br />The last stop of the tour before heading back was to the Jordan River. This spot was directly south of the Sea of Galilee (which is dammed). The river is wider at this point and the scenery is much nicer that the site I visited in Jordan. There were signs indicating that the site of Jesus' baptism occurred a few meters from this site. So which is the real site? Well, as with pretty much all biblical places, the actual locations are subject to a certain amount of speculation and guesswork, since the Bible doesn't give exact coordinates. However, from what I've read, most biblical scholars believe the site in Jordan to be the actual site. But if I was filming a movie about the baptism of Jesus, I would probably use this location as it is more scenic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbg1oxrynkNNna39zJ8FEx68HQCgHQOzFnSE0m3zWqO6OWiOJbIqMSnodWE5nr4misy842HjbOEUW2SAzEiizX-z0t5qx7s3gONE-83_MPFrIpUQCCrY1QiFJ7JGUgARmIln54yHQ02_7/s1600-h/P1060466.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbg1oxrynkNNna39zJ8FEx68HQCgHQOzFnSE0m3zWqO6OWiOJbIqMSnodWE5nr4misy842HjbOEUW2SAzEiizX-z0t5qx7s3gONE-83_MPFrIpUQCCrY1QiFJ7JGUgARmIln54yHQ02_7/s320/P1060466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355347389077506066" border="0" /></a><br />There were quite a few people getting baptized that day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39Ciqi0PBUHmPT7UnQR6aOPbS46ZxkenHaR94QsXRavkS8hftVrxfCuDnloHWxCJgqjYoXzUW6FfAcVi9z4lLIskx8-olv9V3e7q3rQ2OD9zMWHB9dzkOUwgeH_4td9GzseoPQIWiTra0/s1600-h/P1060470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39Ciqi0PBUHmPT7UnQR6aOPbS46ZxkenHaR94QsXRavkS8hftVrxfCuDnloHWxCJgqjYoXzUW6FfAcVi9z4lLIskx8-olv9V3e7q3rQ2OD9zMWHB9dzkOUwgeH_4td9GzseoPQIWiTra0/s320/P1060470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355347408382733154" border="0" /></a><br />That was the end of quite a long day. We headed back to Tel Aviv and then to Jerusalem.<br /><br />Since it was the Shabbat, some streets were closed down. They take the Shabbat pretty seriously in Jerusalem. In the Old Town, ATM's do not even work from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. I checked into my hostel, which was in a 700 year old building in the Old City. I liked staying in the Old City because that's where all the sights are, but it really shut down after dark, requiring a 15-20 minute walk to central Jerusalem for dinner or a drink.<br /><br />Jerusalem is old. The current city walls were built around 1500, and are a relatively new addition to the city. It is also a holy city for three of the world's major religions.<br /><br />I went on a free walking tour of the city that covered most of the major sites. The Via Dolorosa is the route leading from the Lion's Gate into the heart of the city. It is famous for being the route taken by Jesus to carry the cross to his crucifixion and includes markers for the 14 stations, the last five of which are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUKwKrLDHMK7aE4UeemfQmetMfV8TcyCtZKNUPjL7wC3glYajZswGJdC6sujcki3jCC2D7KVMyZlIF1FGG9h_jZw-icQNLY3OMmeQ2oJo9rX5ndKS8RrLI7Xv0kWadOwk9_EWRW-3BCgL/s1600-h/P1060603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUKwKrLDHMK7aE4UeemfQmetMfV8TcyCtZKNUPjL7wC3glYajZswGJdC6sujcki3jCC2D7KVMyZlIF1FGG9h_jZw-icQNLY3OMmeQ2oJo9rX5ndKS8RrLI7Xv0kWadOwk9_EWRW-3BCgL/s320/P1060603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355356212324726786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrE8QgxCR3GqJLjkT91-QaDjzmXZr4_s8swtVNVrJkn8V2vAqLNwrikSCplmfyjFVU3_7pcJKLAtWX-WcZK_Cu862p0rOeBYNi9EkRo_X7ZizRml0EFFA2Pv_yCcVEjT0h9V5whWrF4so/s1600-h/P1060598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrE8QgxCR3GqJLjkT91-QaDjzmXZr4_s8swtVNVrJkn8V2vAqLNwrikSCplmfyjFVU3_7pcJKLAtWX-WcZK_Cu862p0rOeBYNi9EkRo_X7ZizRml0EFFA2Pv_yCcVEjT0h9V5whWrF4so/s320/P1060598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355356204709212178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBVzT_tn15deWeJfi1QtVL39h4DSLi4aJZk-UGlEMk_vm19LCXmchsOw1_0VogqXYw-1K2taKCbRWJIzTLkJZzsBrhdvRH2gUpwc6xReAsvhGbOoQHPIRiecdbkeqa_U5kLFVqPoX2oKI/s1600-h/P1060612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBVzT_tn15deWeJfi1QtVL39h4DSLi4aJZk-UGlEMk_vm19LCXmchsOw1_0VogqXYw-1K2taKCbRWJIzTLkJZzsBrhdvRH2gUpwc6xReAsvhGbOoQHPIRiecdbkeqa_U5kLFVqPoX2oKI/s320/P1060612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355357014599941778" border="0" /></a><br />The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is built over the sight of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFiWqn0RhMvA02W3Zxid-kdxDpT5UzQTt-bjou1nxaV5MiK17n0yyxYyWN3J44u_bvaXHZzrWEQDEJtk0FeLw47rDdps72ogAbRChvr8fnXcFrqJktgMhV4MaSZPEOplnwzBGzQnU_44C/s1600-h/P1060511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFiWqn0RhMvA02W3Zxid-kdxDpT5UzQTt-bjou1nxaV5MiK17n0yyxYyWN3J44u_bvaXHZzrWEQDEJtk0FeLw47rDdps72ogAbRChvr8fnXcFrqJktgMhV4MaSZPEOplnwzBGzQnU_44C/s320/P1060511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355352639565541410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDHDFwjPPz70BxHwwkL8fc8YujJikiDesFPB3pSHGCefpPKcRqrFC4HEnbBO5Y2sMOKFgMHI1BqazHquUjTcrWal8oCKIKQEHKN9M1TM7bFvMvmVxj_xNw8b55UbADqj68YF40mMWlfg9/s1600-h/P1060515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDHDFwjPPz70BxHwwkL8fc8YujJikiDesFPB3pSHGCefpPKcRqrFC4HEnbBO5Y2sMOKFgMHI1BqazHquUjTcrWal8oCKIKQEHKN9M1TM7bFvMvmVxj_xNw8b55UbADqj68YF40mMWlfg9/s320/P1060515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355352647192455442" border="0" /></a><br />Below is the altar over the rock of Calvary, the site of Jesus' crucifixion. The process is to get in line to the right of the area. Then you get down on your knees and knee-walk to a spot under the table. There is a gold plate with a hole in it signifying where the cross was mounted. People kiss the hole and lay objects on it they want to have blessed. Having objects blessed was kind of an unfamiliar concept to me. Most people were blessing necklaces and crosses on the gold plate. I had my passport blessed.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3iwS2cyjVy6zQuZ4t5Jon68o5Y1kXYF4BgC6wkmfGnvorHFTxErwXwyxNZPcAKrmWM9uHqV4WsLKJi_eP0q-GfUoi_tEW-WXoqaQaDzjj6NUrnlKSmGu-pvUkLNN7_GMgeNwGH_sFQxS/s1600-h/P1060552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3iwS2cyjVy6zQuZ4t5Jon68o5Y1kXYF4BgC6wkmfGnvorHFTxErwXwyxNZPcAKrmWM9uHqV4WsLKJi_eP0q-GfUoi_tEW-WXoqaQaDzjj6NUrnlKSmGu-pvUkLNN7_GMgeNwGH_sFQxS/s320/P1060552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355353605168076834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9NpCg-d77AQYqJPN6fXTegdRpDckbXUAJgcZQQmpK0n_xQOqwRTXFbjmfJVhptG2P1KpKunsIrpJ8tGEdsIlONARK1RwxkR_ZpLZR_7atb_A1FU-s4qXr_9N3FW9znFSYk0DpHZ0tsD_/s1600-h/P1060557.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9NpCg-d77AQYqJPN6fXTegdRpDckbXUAJgcZQQmpK0n_xQOqwRTXFbjmfJVhptG2P1KpKunsIrpJ8tGEdsIlONARK1RwxkR_ZpLZR_7atb_A1FU-s4qXr_9N3FW9znFSYk0DpHZ0tsD_/s320/P1060557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355353608935560562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnK00EzSfY8DqxdXzV5FlDIx86JNj0fTHRO12jChPTXpLGXwFEuY8OHbQ5fQqRUfuRmohZ60TnKHf2D5GrTxO5bZsILrLLsw18WT_cFznkL63kd1epCjZkxed9yKJTpXqzP-ql335sU8q/s1600-h/P1060549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnK00EzSfY8DqxdXzV5FlDIx86JNj0fTHRO12jChPTXpLGXwFEuY8OHbQ5fQqRUfuRmohZ60TnKHf2D5GrTxO5bZsILrLLsw18WT_cFznkL63kd1epCjZkxed9yKJTpXqzP-ql335sU8q/s320/P1060549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355353600392259682" border="0" /></a><br />The Stone of the Anointing. Where Jesus' body was prepared for burial.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7M5-FDlbbtwL0y_ub7EkO9Gr69jC7nfrQHHKp8pcEFxHBaeNvGmudTwgAdtJCstp-oWU1sDd8qGJYKNJbYQL2feOW1qwG1CtE2tIdILIDWvMDau9Kze_tObQKIoSToFzCJxDVt0Fw5dD/s1600-h/P1060532.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7M5-FDlbbtwL0y_ub7EkO9Gr69jC7nfrQHHKp8pcEFxHBaeNvGmudTwgAdtJCstp-oWU1sDd8qGJYKNJbYQL2feOW1qwG1CtE2tIdILIDWvMDau9Kze_tObQKIoSToFzCJxDVt0Fw5dD/s320/P1060532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355352660742798610" border="0" /></a><br />The Rotunda contains a piece of the round stone used to close the tomb and the tomb itself. For the tomb, the process was the same as with the crucifixion spot. You had to get on your knees and walk to a spot underneath a table. There was an loud and curt Orthodox priest making sure the line kept moving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKkDe6oPlMeRCoHZkPtS3ujgqo9I7fLVelFIaT7Kf4l59I4cQfxXUhwHcYNPpxu_APhaFEqLoR0JHV8HH70s5DKK4Eh-TtNg7Rx4jeC28cO0jMoy9cwVJwZsga-C7_XtYkLZpnsNP99_P/s1600-h/P1060525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKkDe6oPlMeRCoHZkPtS3ujgqo9I7fLVelFIaT7Kf4l59I4cQfxXUhwHcYNPpxu_APhaFEqLoR0JHV8HH70s5DKK4Eh-TtNg7Rx4jeC28cO0jMoy9cwVJwZsga-C7_XtYkLZpnsNP99_P/s320/P1060525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355352654405687346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGuAzR7PLblAED40d7skJuyMutzPEXaC8uy2nzaH6WGmm4LDsJ6my7nNTVTqL2YQBOQ3bJurSy4mcSIAY7t0zGV0nMFVxIjzG4udTGO423gjrYe7DcpEBC4knlmIZlH8rQgvK4BlEOAQ6/s1600-h/P1060629.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGuAzR7PLblAED40d7skJuyMutzPEXaC8uy2nzaH6WGmm4LDsJ6my7nNTVTqL2YQBOQ3bJurSy4mcSIAY7t0zGV0nMFVxIjzG4udTGO423gjrYe7DcpEBC4knlmIZlH8rQgvK4BlEOAQ6/s320/P1060629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355357028746186162" border="0" /></a><br />The gold dome so central to most photographs of Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock. It is built on a larger area called the Temple Mount. The Temple Mount is a holy place for Jews in that it is built over the biblical Mt. Moriah, the location of the foundation stone of the world. It is the place where Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. It is holy for Muslims in that it is the spot where Mohammed ascended into heaven to confer with Allah and the prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. This meeting established, among other things, the Islamic tenet of praying five times a day. This makes Jerusalem the third holiest city in Islam, behind Mecca and Medina. The dome is actually controlled by Muslims as part of a deal. People of all faiths (except Orthodox Jews) can enter the Temple Mount and walk around the grounds, but only Muslims can enter the Dome of the Rock.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRbk_NhI0yYJLy4rKj7aHrtizM-dsdErE81LLOVeSdWnhFtdk04F7YVp82fuqzODkegpXjcyRe8Guy7sCtVMVPR-vxJ7zcz8zYX1AAYlP0wOSk6eAKJ3c-ZV_8HqTPH4k0vGwlzRIp_UI/s1600-h/P1060778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRbk_NhI0yYJLy4rKj7aHrtizM-dsdErE81LLOVeSdWnhFtdk04F7YVp82fuqzODkegpXjcyRe8Guy7sCtVMVPR-vxJ7zcz8zYX1AAYlP0wOSk6eAKJ3c-ZV_8HqTPH4k0vGwlzRIp_UI/s320/P1060778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356043081051410882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4D8cLAgZuplQmtse5n7A42dHXyabZH8tKP0ECvtV0aGPCecdS7UiSTTf2h3PTPAaCY90sLfBj_IR9e1RwywReWF3vjW6B2GHhFvwsZrWdxF1vqUEZw_38qqISFSV_M5LPjv_b4P4fD_E/s1600-h/P1060782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4D8cLAgZuplQmtse5n7A42dHXyabZH8tKP0ECvtV0aGPCecdS7UiSTTf2h3PTPAaCY90sLfBj_IR9e1RwywReWF3vjW6B2GHhFvwsZrWdxF1vqUEZw_38qqISFSV_M5LPjv_b4P4fD_E/s320/P1060782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356043084389306658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe4xNRipmXTZ29J9gQyfEx3TVUi35h6uNPnFOGv50jY8xjR5dfHXbJSsoYfc_i-XIO-mQfSuSHodpmpDNNbI207EDZt9TDZI1e-jtlBFboEMdxI6vwIaAiK6lLB4lL4WvczKSHj0OUfJf/s1600-h/P1060783.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe4xNRipmXTZ29J9gQyfEx3TVUi35h6uNPnFOGv50jY8xjR5dfHXbJSsoYfc_i-XIO-mQfSuSHodpmpDNNbI207EDZt9TDZI1e-jtlBFboEMdxI6vwIaAiK6lLB4lL4WvczKSHj0OUfJf/s320/P1060783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356043953109110898" border="0" /></a><br />The Western Wall of the Temple mount is considered the most holy Jewish Shrine. It was built 2,000 years ago as a retaining wall for the Temple Mount, which contained the Second Temple. The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. It is also known as the Wailing Wall because the Jews gather to express sorrow over the temple's destruction. Visitors to the wall must dress conservatively, and there are separate sections for men and women.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnMAOuJVOMk3ZEihIRLcOER3hBE7fzQ8rtK2hmOdRJN3VgsE6CisIRtsLxEZ_Pi8kM_Axh019g-6RvpG89b4ys8zQi2K-nBFc9VbtwzKrSOFoTrqhuBBuL8Cy1C0CRgRNtEvOUgXlLEkA/s1600-h/P1060578.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnMAOuJVOMk3ZEihIRLcOER3hBE7fzQ8rtK2hmOdRJN3VgsE6CisIRtsLxEZ_Pi8kM_Axh019g-6RvpG89b4ys8zQi2K-nBFc9VbtwzKrSOFoTrqhuBBuL8Cy1C0CRgRNtEvOUgXlLEkA/s320/P1060578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355354528184976226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezyXLW50VEzql285WnWiJP13_JHLHtmf8gG0kiw6h4aHLjfExR9YvO5lBv0F7kaQ9Lzr4bixJlPYvFvEo-rUUyJoPREGl7k4ukqTLp9Kl4AvFr0uvsTR1M6Rc_Z-qwWY50hX2nEd9blk-/s1600-h/P1060587.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezyXLW50VEzql285WnWiJP13_JHLHtmf8gG0kiw6h4aHLjfExR9YvO5lBv0F7kaQ9Lzr4bixJlPYvFvEo-rUUyJoPREGl7k4ukqTLp9Kl4AvFr0uvsTR1M6Rc_Z-qwWY50hX2nEd9blk-/s320/P1060587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355354533447830274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EMINnzMUnLSmsCjE-91MTzKYvRfEI4BRuGICISCsdvHXMQasek3ocuyLMtLyTGwRitkofBWGUf5MXaQO25e12JI1PqEXlDLH1ZtUMkoTgROBhiBG34Mj9HkfTOshYSk5BnBuTz9eLqiI/s1600-h/P1060584.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EMINnzMUnLSmsCjE-91MTzKYvRfEI4BRuGICISCsdvHXMQasek3ocuyLMtLyTGwRitkofBWGUf5MXaQO25e12JI1PqEXlDLH1ZtUMkoTgROBhiBG34Mj9HkfTOshYSk5BnBuTz9eLqiI/s320/P1060584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355354532807951298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNZ6ua22zaUZLohhMCEXvFZjj6UcKKsehlopvJSzeXR2PHymJ97nCf07VkxXh3XSFhwCBen4TSjPKs6aETqqOplyrfo5iWpg3E2zLZYveiwbBr7Jnaqu7PGA1tk_guA4WxIGKso9zIB5G/s1600-h/P1060586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNZ6ua22zaUZLohhMCEXvFZjj6UcKKsehlopvJSzeXR2PHymJ97nCf07VkxXh3XSFhwCBen4TSjPKs6aETqqOplyrfo5iWpg3E2zLZYveiwbBr7Jnaqu7PGA1tk_guA4WxIGKso9zIB5G/s320/P1060586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355354534370231234" border="0" /></a><br />Men must cover their heads. Paper kippahs are provided for people without their own. Mine kept blowing off my head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyDTYgeJG2OHk99R5mV2AdDXjmUUvRzeLSZfgTDliFxV3qZkB0sr1aU6o1tKuvf9-LyHFk7NdRidDR2yP-ehc_fvcn5tDYfgnYRGvfNwe7atntUtjdeoqww5qR_njg2buei0sHrbIjlX0/s1600-h/P1060594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyDTYgeJG2OHk99R5mV2AdDXjmUUvRzeLSZfgTDliFxV3qZkB0sr1aU6o1tKuvf9-LyHFk7NdRidDR2yP-ehc_fvcn5tDYfgnYRGvfNwe7atntUtjdeoqww5qR_njg2buei0sHrbIjlX0/s320/P1060594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355356203286716274" border="0" /></a><br />The tradition is for visitors to write their prayers down on a piece of paper and stuff it into one of the cracks in the wall. Prayers written by famous people, for example the Pope (who had visited the previous month) and President Obama (the previous year), will invariably be retrieved by someone and sold to the media. So if you are famous and visit the wall, you may not want to write anything too personal on your note.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgby_ShYtvOUu9LjTpQY8tohstxydidrR7-TUrvEbrMI0k52Wz7bM0mNdTpmt34tfCLhuIqEqKRfagHjy5MGh8ZJKEWXbyucVvwIPDTK_uvOKV0DPWKypuc3sCozkVMWeL3ZsOLVlqRWf77/s1600-h/P1060590.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgby_ShYtvOUu9LjTpQY8tohstxydidrR7-TUrvEbrMI0k52Wz7bM0mNdTpmt34tfCLhuIqEqKRfagHjy5MGh8ZJKEWXbyucVvwIPDTK_uvOKV0DPWKypuc3sCozkVMWeL3ZsOLVlqRWf77/s320/P1060590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355356185725492930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dJnngB3uTDXV38SBrtDIkr7yB8X9NbUbvRts0Cj_h5mBTY3iT1W3Dawe0oxXnlO_plpFcZZx5gsGx2l5O7E5Qp7OfiLYqMgZqn2S2vNFFSSAOqKf3HjcyqruwmCG69_qqqX7qTSSeXt3/s1600-h/P1060589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dJnngB3uTDXV38SBrtDIkr7yB8X9NbUbvRts0Cj_h5mBTY3iT1W3Dawe0oxXnlO_plpFcZZx5gsGx2l5O7E5Qp7OfiLYqMgZqn2S2vNFFSSAOqKf3HjcyqruwmCG69_qqqX7qTSSeXt3/s320/P1060589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355356178818451218" border="0" /></a><br />The next day, June, 8, I went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is located in the West Bank. The West Bank was captured by Israel in the 1967 war and occupies a grey area somewhere between being occupied by Israel and being run by the Palestinians. I got a tip from a Canadian couple that a bus could be taken from the Damascus Gate in Old Town into Bethlehem for about $1.25. So I took the bus, passing the infamous security wall, into Bethlehem. I took a cab with an older Australian couple from the bus stop to Manger Square.<br /><br />The Church of the Nativity, as the name implies, is built over the cave where Jesus was born. It includes three chapels, one Orthodox, one Catholic, and one Armenian.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilI-_U5hBmiV9tKN7WzkOv9Zb1CpbTGLEYRxuohFgA-6unG_yhbFFQJT44IKekuEkxgCmfjwFNJ95umwuAsrYcxCdvV525UhkbjbpK5beD4AZGYxGVRLnRLBR3S1YmeR_fdqXhbMg9sDp4/s1600-h/P1060637.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilI-_U5hBmiV9tKN7WzkOv9Zb1CpbTGLEYRxuohFgA-6unG_yhbFFQJT44IKekuEkxgCmfjwFNJ95umwuAsrYcxCdvV525UhkbjbpK5beD4AZGYxGVRLnRLBR3S1YmeR_fdqXhbMg9sDp4/s320/P1060637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355357748175315858" border="0" /></a><br />The main door to the church is only about four feet high, signifying the humility one must exercise as one walks in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlz2IxdG1svz4E7J2FZmGQjtd9xupttS9M86gS8_QPgYcfdofftFo3WLh29JC1WweZlx9Nn7ZcnvUO86CZs1afB-XM2eooEdkrNDOPAtnxrYB1H-_gh4a89UvNIiUfWY1qum4_hYJBh11/s1600-h/P1060644.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlz2IxdG1svz4E7J2FZmGQjtd9xupttS9M86gS8_QPgYcfdofftFo3WLh29JC1WweZlx9Nn7ZcnvUO86CZs1afB-XM2eooEdkrNDOPAtnxrYB1H-_gh4a89UvNIiUfWY1qum4_hYJBh11/s320/P1060644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355357759674898642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqDD5JxSGB3vhGIjc_zYGUzIbMyVBZ1w26udhZYt2GU23RWTHuDjQ8cIUuguqUasFf_mbRNorltMdGs6J3QaStdxhScK2XFpFCZAh6hjnkBftNlmunFriehhY_cyA1W-9as_LoqwvEYBL/s1600-h/P1060647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqDD5JxSGB3vhGIjc_zYGUzIbMyVBZ1w26udhZYt2GU23RWTHuDjQ8cIUuguqUasFf_mbRNorltMdGs6J3QaStdxhScK2XFpFCZAh6hjnkBftNlmunFriehhY_cyA1W-9as_LoqwvEYBL/s320/P1060647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355357764926863090" border="0" /></a>The Orthodox chapel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0vLkwM4yAA2AgV_GGhhah2K26eKvhVbr9fTrzSgyCqd-DgmfgOrOjOnaqbJvBXwvZuLXLnfUQ54keEw93f0K1eXaVed3vWBAY9rp49Cho3glpbubQBryrxTmfDwHZJPHEtbXBCF9uheS/s1600-h/P1060640.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0vLkwM4yAA2AgV_GGhhah2K26eKvhVbr9fTrzSgyCqd-DgmfgOrOjOnaqbJvBXwvZuLXLnfUQ54keEw93f0K1eXaVed3vWBAY9rp49Cho3glpbubQBryrxTmfDwHZJPHEtbXBCF9uheS/s320/P1060640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355357762440081058" border="0" /></a><br />The Catholic Chapel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLMWWx4H3XLhUb5kegoarWzMSjw-TxURPYIzRymLZvXx1gpBeZFSMzgyVgAfFIUkMEh4qQM0pYYoCNmEUsF2MrEAlMUWNJt6nazAt_U12mCIIHxTWemkQcyaFyL2UTg2y-NAXDTD1N_uH/s1600-h/P1060662.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLMWWx4H3XLhUb5kegoarWzMSjw-TxURPYIzRymLZvXx1gpBeZFSMzgyVgAfFIUkMEh4qQM0pYYoCNmEUsF2MrEAlMUWNJt6nazAt_U12mCIIHxTWemkQcyaFyL2UTg2y-NAXDTD1N_uH/s320/P1060662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038016238691282" border="0" /></a><br />The Grotto. The silver star marks the spot where Jesus was born. The process here was the same as at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA-B18nBLkIFUXUZcqXIvPnw5Ygn8SfcvUmHtkr7hIonPsutnk5fhKe9d7-ocOy-h2kGuDLvX20use2GKinRTuJ8IWEudlP95V_x5PXaIbCRxFFpa8ChzPaiyjFPPSpJKbJ4HCBIF00S9/s1600-h/P1060652.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA-B18nBLkIFUXUZcqXIvPnw5Ygn8SfcvUmHtkr7hIonPsutnk5fhKe9d7-ocOy-h2kGuDLvX20use2GKinRTuJ8IWEudlP95V_x5PXaIbCRxFFpa8ChzPaiyjFPPSpJKbJ4HCBIF00S9/s320/P1060652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355357773478569554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiedfpFcQC_8A_vzB1K5H82jRSWkZIlfH4huaIjRpLMh4BJaWYC_ecOWFPD02FMoqegbk2mc_DD02E35AkIYLzBsBAeCkpgZkZEGLf6yrijlCbWA7Jgm1fAigwNX1cVKHsk-tyAWLIACMd/s1600-h/P1060669.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiedfpFcQC_8A_vzB1K5H82jRSWkZIlfH4huaIjRpLMh4BJaWYC_ecOWFPD02FMoqegbk2mc_DD02E35AkIYLzBsBAeCkpgZkZEGLf6yrijlCbWA7Jgm1fAigwNX1cVKHsk-tyAWLIACMd/s320/P1060669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038024136951282" border="0" /></a><br />The main street through Bethlehem. It really wasn't a bad place. You get a different view of the Israel/Palestinian conflict here. The people here are very restricted. Most of them cannot enter Israel and find it easier to get to other countries. They are basically trapped there. They were quick to tell me they were occupied.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauDHSy-dYxEL0bINuM3crfaK0VlP2sC9sa-XkxNXLrAk4g5fgLWV4jczSWKo1f6UPGTep-vjIYhancX_ezVrCYlZM4yScLKcs5X7zd1DTOZu2G3uF_Ku7fACHGAjbkA3iGWm3V1HvKNVi/s1600-h/P1060663.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauDHSy-dYxEL0bINuM3crfaK0VlP2sC9sa-XkxNXLrAk4g5fgLWV4jczSWKo1f6UPGTep-vjIYhancX_ezVrCYlZM4yScLKcs5X7zd1DTOZu2G3uF_Ku7fACHGAjbkA3iGWm3V1HvKNVi/s320/P1060663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038017882944450" border="0" /></a>That afternoon I took a tour of the Mount of Olives by the same company that gave the free tour the day before. The Mount of Olives is directly east of Old Town Jerusalem.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyEel-YlqyhsOUgFgV04CIJ_ucpWt-iFfQuqHRDf_MVdc4sfhHC7Q4850z0jBxNyh1SaVfMla2mLVlg-zenteV8Q1Ze5o34wH6WLe-JsCKTAVBhnPOK3Bv418RaS7m-XPUoiIoZGiPM1L/s1600-h/P1060695.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyEel-YlqyhsOUgFgV04CIJ_ucpWt-iFfQuqHRDf_MVdc4sfhHC7Q4850z0jBxNyh1SaVfMla2mLVlg-zenteV8Q1Ze5o34wH6WLe-JsCKTAVBhnPOK3Bv418RaS7m-XPUoiIoZGiPM1L/s320/P1060695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038911273761554" border="0" /></a> We took a car to the top of the hill. Starting at the top was an easier tour, since were walking downhill, but it presented the sights in reverse chronological order. We started at the top of the hill at the Chapel of the Ascension, a small chapel built on the site where Jesus ascended into heaven.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_iVpZjb0JLUqhNnknxmV0ITTkkf8iJztd5uhyphenhyphenn0-9AMntei0Zqg1lY4omY9rCUrzyBm0aznjN3OJAPN98C3-EcCOXRophFeP7Gev5nfYirVsq823lJUhtvB-pLyD3bj-Wf6dRjEajioQ/s1600-h/P1060673.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_iVpZjb0JLUqhNnknxmV0ITTkkf8iJztd5uhyphenhyphenn0-9AMntei0Zqg1lY4omY9rCUrzyBm0aznjN3OJAPN98C3-EcCOXRophFeP7Gev5nfYirVsq823lJUhtvB-pLyD3bj-Wf6dRjEajioQ/s320/P1060673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038375358690562" border="0" /></a><br />Footprint of Christ in the Chapel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43gspIgICTm4BkakTCNCSiClnFSsauEHPfJTqIHLPRAaS7lCm9y_WB4qIbsWUQ4ba53Iss4j2Yk6SG4Z9K4QvJPqdHksWViEBR6BGNA6BsxL1dLYNeSwh6pnpG2zFoxg7l-qxZHXnzT6S/s1600-h/P1060675.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43gspIgICTm4BkakTCNCSiClnFSsauEHPfJTqIHLPRAaS7lCm9y_WB4qIbsWUQ4ba53Iss4j2Yk6SG4Z9K4QvJPqdHksWViEBR6BGNA6BsxL1dLYNeSwh6pnpG2zFoxg7l-qxZHXnzT6S/s320/P1060675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038384834306754" border="0" /></a><br />The next stop was the Church of the Pater Noster, where Jesus taught his disciples to pray (The Lord's Prayer).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbla01QOuhd1ktwEBQZKQeOyo_nnxrwfEFAitk0SzfX7MMCuYdGv4AEu2iW9vsg3bRFEnC4AEm67mcNM-lRF9WipjHPDaAOJaJannQiWjon08vOlUsyAQ2vf5qbfazMxq8-KLSy2eIje5/s1600-h/P1060676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbla01QOuhd1ktwEBQZKQeOyo_nnxrwfEFAitk0SzfX7MMCuYdGv4AEu2iW9vsg3bRFEnC4AEm67mcNM-lRF9WipjHPDaAOJaJannQiWjon08vOlUsyAQ2vf5qbfazMxq8-KLSy2eIje5/s320/P1060676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038386956271458" border="0" /></a><br />The interior and exterior walls are filled with translations of the Lord's prayer in every conceivable language.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlpBcSrJRxvj2WS7_eKBSXAlvT7-AJ3JRkexS-sxRTztQEaWZSt_SUxyMgQ5s-FLqJrK9IkKNkqJBjCLhUX1mi8LiRe1cf1Pxj6Rg-CjSnZ5SeWIU6IBpiEy3y_W0g10akGaSdfmaWo_6/s1600-h/P1060687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlpBcSrJRxvj2WS7_eKBSXAlvT7-AJ3JRkexS-sxRTztQEaWZSt_SUxyMgQ5s-FLqJrK9IkKNkqJBjCLhUX1mi8LiRe1cf1Pxj6Rg-CjSnZ5SeWIU6IBpiEy3y_W0g10akGaSdfmaWo_6/s320/P1060687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038905919638210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOYt9Pxq8xx1l2Itlm22_GQ2Wbd3qo3qfSZtgCLdpeZSp3XZdV-r8yBaYCquOzbY7EZjfuu3px8HnoVKH4P3nmfQfLbc2gNp8JnPy3mE0nImvieJISQCbMV-A_NEdEUfB_dk5IEZDQTbz/s1600-h/P1060681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOYt9Pxq8xx1l2Itlm22_GQ2Wbd3qo3qfSZtgCLdpeZSp3XZdV-r8yBaYCquOzbY7EZjfuu3px8HnoVKH4P3nmfQfLbc2gNp8JnPy3mE0nImvieJISQCbMV-A_NEdEUfB_dk5IEZDQTbz/s320/P1060681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038894262309906" border="0" /></a><br />The large Jewish cemetery covers a large part of the Mount of Olives.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRf3MR1wcwD9O0JwhEecV0SX9Voe8So35n8CslYAL1ZQ8Nk295oCYGk4HUuBAqK6rA4AviZZpRb4dM7tv0LuIAlLzg4q8QZ0fHa0qdJyWxf3cQ9LtagYjCS7yeWAOO9KsDdLqdVahBZwJ/s1600-h/P1060717.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRf3MR1wcwD9O0JwhEecV0SX9Voe8So35n8CslYAL1ZQ8Nk295oCYGk4HUuBAqK6rA4AviZZpRb4dM7tv0LuIAlLzg4q8QZ0fHa0qdJyWxf3cQ9LtagYjCS7yeWAOO9KsDdLqdVahBZwJ/s320/P1060717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356039293541791762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VyqieRjZCRRK_aLoR8yXpfisKdQXtIayMnxv4GY-1tdFbhz8nR-6uesgWCg5xdzxQevTYvAZ7Wrkhy3W0o3DC56XvyTsbkGTY2O_mqSZkWJza1oWzEwpNJUgCy3Ed-TJhquv7CiUW2uc/s1600-h/P1060692.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VyqieRjZCRRK_aLoR8yXpfisKdQXtIayMnxv4GY-1tdFbhz8nR-6uesgWCg5xdzxQevTYvAZ7Wrkhy3W0o3DC56XvyTsbkGTY2O_mqSZkWJza1oWzEwpNJUgCy3Ed-TJhquv7CiUW2uc/s320/P1060692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356038910361959314" border="0" /></a>The next stop was the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. The Garden of Gethsemane is the place where Jesus and his disciples prayed the night before his execution and where he was arrested. The Church of All Nations is built over the sight where Jesus wept and sweated blood. The oldest olive trees in the garden are believed to be about 500-600 years old. The olives produced by these trees are for the Pope. Every year the olives are harvested, pressed into oil, and shipped to the Vatican.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBKiSB4ibarDd6-ihvtLQ0cKAUoHXRZUu63cCxZpPQw3wojdi5mfAwpnKHRXLmCYqjhvFVTuan9T-jIQsx39sn4mJVe3DylgJyNNvNS-9uB1tdoL-HwsLBwdx7yi4AWC7yK2mkvI_xOwN/s1600-h/P1060726.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBKiSB4ibarDd6-ihvtLQ0cKAUoHXRZUu63cCxZpPQw3wojdi5mfAwpnKHRXLmCYqjhvFVTuan9T-jIQsx39sn4mJVe3DylgJyNNvNS-9uB1tdoL-HwsLBwdx7yi4AWC7yK2mkvI_xOwN/s320/P1060726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356041773960512738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiVpA9Ys8-Yf8lnLPkKrC5KPtLeoY8Qw-R07HslkjAnBLBVVSSAlcCg5zh0TsAFBOeQsrPoCEGBk6uxKHA0hI1DXKyUQ9H-AEydvnOITH4gOCLGUdkiedzO5E1FgloXZohuTzzWqw9UdK/s1600-h/P1060727.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiVpA9Ys8-Yf8lnLPkKrC5KPtLeoY8Qw-R07HslkjAnBLBVVSSAlcCg5zh0TsAFBOeQsrPoCEGBk6uxKHA0hI1DXKyUQ9H-AEydvnOITH4gOCLGUdkiedzO5E1FgloXZohuTzzWqw9UdK/s320/P1060727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356041776435082786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4uFdBIf8NZFEvIG2U8jOH5X8tBY2eG-fTwBngU5QQh0_WQHt1jL9YF7z9gtqJ_slp8iIUFFVL8-iJLJB10bn_WxFGWpVuB84mrp8ZT7izr1HsZz8GNVeGS1mTw6hXW2g3DQV1adDkFhe/s1600-h/P1060724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4uFdBIf8NZFEvIG2U8jOH5X8tBY2eG-fTwBngU5QQh0_WQHt1jL9YF7z9gtqJ_slp8iIUFFVL8-iJLJB10bn_WxFGWpVuB84mrp8ZT7izr1HsZz8GNVeGS1mTw6hXW2g3DQV1adDkFhe/s320/P1060724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356041768624168642" border="0" /></a><br />The Church of All Nations includes the bedrock where Jesus prayed the night before his arrest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1RBtx-gro-d1BN2r08yeu57CjiiM0FjgR5ZO34fonGGC2lXFyJiohYZFzsGM0deLOieYIIwnKLCRW-N2a0H-9yP5HO2WjlKN5zDmJq_DMYP7Jdws-7ch0i3okOJjAPAuwTSt20-uLat3/s1600-h/P1060735.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1RBtx-gro-d1BN2r08yeu57CjiiM0FjgR5ZO34fonGGC2lXFyJiohYZFzsGM0deLOieYIIwnKLCRW-N2a0H-9yP5HO2WjlKN5zDmJq_DMYP7Jdws-7ch0i3okOJjAPAuwTSt20-uLat3/s320/P1060735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356043065619324914" border="0" /></a><br />This was the second day of intense touring. I was knackered.<br /><br />On June 9, I wrapped up a few loose ends I wanted to see in Jerusalem. I had a flight booked on June 10 from Tel Aviv to Munich at 1:15. I asked the hostel manager about buses to the airport, telling him I had a 1:15 flight. He asked AM or PM. I booked the ticket a month ago and the whole time assumed it was 1:15 PM. I looked it up and it was, in fact 1:15 AM! I had plenty of time to get a bus to the airport, but I'm really glad I checked. So I would be leaving the night of the 9th to catch my flight and would get into Munich in the early morning hours of the 10th.<br /><br />I found Israelis to be very friendly people. Many really went out to their way to meet and talk to me. They are really appreciative that I was visiting their country. They were understandably very opinionated on Israel issues.<br /><br />One thing I didn't find in Israel was a Jewish deli. Israeli food is very Mediterranean, with Pitas, hummus, and fresh salads with fresh tomatoes. The food was really, really good, but I really had my heart set on a pastrami on rye with mustard and a Dr. Brown's Creme Soda.<br /><br />Flying out of Tel Aviv is about what I expected. Passengers are recommended to get to the airport three hours ahead of time. First is an interview. It was similar to the interview I had getting in to the country. It was another lovely lady who seemed really interested in my trip. She looked through my passport and asked what I did in Malaysia, Jordan, and Egypt. I went through baggage security next. They x-rayed my bags and still opened and thoroughly examined the contents. Then I went to the check in counter. Then through emigration, then through gate security. All in all it took a little under one and a half hours to get from the airport entrance to my gate.<br /><br />I was looking forward to getting to Europe. I was looking forward to eating pork again.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-28565155709670668672009-07-04T07:22:00.002-04:002009-07-04T07:26:36.377-04:00Happy 4th of JulyI wanted to drop a quick note to wish everyone a happy 4th of July.<br /><br />I'm a bit behind in updating my blog. In the past month, I've been to Israel, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro. I've been a bit busy. But hopefully in the next few days I'll have some quiet time to myself to catch up on the blog.<br /><br />I'm coming home in exactly one month. I fly home from Dublin, Ireland on August 4. Hard to believe I've only got a month left. But I'm looking forward to coming home.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-40030093194121054952009-06-23T10:17:00.006-04:002009-06-30T18:07:45.243-04:00EgyptThird world annoyances at first world prices.<br /><br />On May 22, I took a ferry from Aqaba, Jordan to Nuweiba, Egypt. I had gotten my visa for Egypt the day before at the Consulate's office in Aqaba. The one hour ferry ride cost $70, which I thought was an exorbitant sum and couldn't believe everyone on the boat had paid that much. It ended up being about 3.5 hours from the time we boarded to the time we got off in Egypt.<br /><br />I purchased my ticket at the ferry station as well as my exit stamp for Jordan. I took a bus down to the boat and showed my passport to the inspector. He said, "No stamp". I showed him my stamp (the kind you stick on) but he repeated, "No stamp". I think that was the only English he knew. He talked to a group of guys and motioned for me to go with them. They spoke a bit of English and were from Syria. We had to go back to the place I purchased the ticket to get an exit stamp (the kind with ink and a stamper) for Jordan. So we returned to the boat with our exit stamps in place.<br /><br />The four Syrians were really, really nice guys. They had obtained one year visas to work in Libya, which has more and better paying jobs than Syria. Two were computer technicians and one was a chef. I don't know what the fourth one did. One of the guys didn't speak English as well as the others and they would cut on him and give him grief like guys do. We talked about what American music they liked, most of them were older artists. They loved Lionel Ritchie. They asked me what Americans thought of Syrians. I had to think about that for a second. They said laughingly, "that we're a bunch of terrorists?" I didn't have the heart to tell them that that probably wasn't too far off the mark. Like everyone I encountered in the Middle East, they didn't hate America or the West.<br /><br />During the ferry ride, two men came around with an ear thermometer. They took the temperature of all western-looking (i.e., white) people on the boat. I hope there aren't any ear to ear transmittable diseases. If there are, I probably have one. Shortly before, the government of Egypt ordered the slaughter of all 300,000 hogs in the country as a precaution against swine flu. I thought 300,000 hogs in a mostly Muslim country sounded like a lot, but about 10% of Egyptians are not Muslim. There weren't any swine flu cases in Egypt, and many people thought it was a bit of a drastic step. I think there might be some prejudice against hogs.<br /><br />When the boat was approaching the dock on the Egypt side, they went around one by one and asked the foreign passengers (i.e., white) people to go to the front of the boat. The boat stayed docked for what seemed like over an hour. They interviewed all the western people, mainly asking us how we were feeling. We presented the form given to us when they took our temperature. Finally they let us off the boat.<br /><br />It was pretty little late in the afternoon when we finally got off the boat. It was really hot. Much hotter than in Jordan. I split a taxi to Dahab with an American and two Canadians. I had dinner with Rick, the American. He was living in Jordan and moved over here to study Arabic because he wanted to be a translator. He said he had been spending his time trading stocks online and hadn't been keeping up with his Arabic. He was kind of an odd guy and reminded me of Michael Bolton from the movie Office Space.<br /><br />People traveling in the middle east tend to be older and on tour buses. It's more unusual and a bit more difficult to travel independently, definitely the path of most resistance. If I had it all to do over again, I would have skipped Egypt on this trip and done an organized trip later in life.<br /><br />I spent the next three nights in Dahab. Dahab is a resort town on the Red Sea, more specifically the Gulf of Aqaba. Saudi Arabia was visible across the water. Diving is popular here. I went for another introductory dive and have to say that the Red Sea is the best diving out of the three places I've been (the other two being the Cayman Islands and Great Barrier Reef, Australia). It was the clearest, bluest water I've ever seen. However, having said that, now that I've been diving three times and gotten over the novelty of breathing under water, I can't say that I'm dying to do it again or get certified.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClHLhJqunbQoHqZOwVriHjbafxFcSkmuZCsWCEO5d8VeUJm752b2sckSpPkWbfmc5WL0UixQ3CiFkWOIVS7vxYqM058EBm8T-_Vu5PwUf4SfGh6i8e7Z2aSiIKRJSgy6fLMyNXiWP8I5o/s1600-h/P1050546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClHLhJqunbQoHqZOwVriHjbafxFcSkmuZCsWCEO5d8VeUJm752b2sckSpPkWbfmc5WL0UixQ3CiFkWOIVS7vxYqM058EBm8T-_Vu5PwUf4SfGh6i8e7Z2aSiIKRJSgy6fLMyNXiWP8I5o/s320/P1050546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346136946220937922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Odg8owJmaqnn7suVmEA_uHrHZ0RMOcWZ-GWN_LoAKo3ytZRzNUPps5xdslo_8A9YoOj2CvoiT6QQlLx_ZYIAB9BX4so_8El2AdOP6OSrG54zU8CwDuKENlSAt1TzJO8ZojYwEeSHgpPv/s1600-h/P1050551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Odg8owJmaqnn7suVmEA_uHrHZ0RMOcWZ-GWN_LoAKo3ytZRzNUPps5xdslo_8A9YoOj2CvoiT6QQlLx_ZYIAB9BX4so_8El2AdOP6OSrG54zU8CwDuKENlSAt1TzJO8ZojYwEeSHgpPv/s320/P1050551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346136952325456610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-86rLqvwaSRWeMOhFFoj1eCip4vY89sUlExAwqKPKw-hSTUvI2ulBZwMbXhbPPhnzQ0c6pYiljWmI5Nmeqr8wmwMcSY1cw23TzzORLKYqZMtKecgKGsq9Fx5bnMKDcO8Ft-WGMIon3RH/s1600-h/P1050565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-86rLqvwaSRWeMOhFFoj1eCip4vY89sUlExAwqKPKw-hSTUvI2ulBZwMbXhbPPhnzQ0c6pYiljWmI5Nmeqr8wmwMcSY1cw23TzzORLKYqZMtKecgKGsq9Fx5bnMKDcO8Ft-WGMIon3RH/s320/P1050565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346136961532760514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIwrdY6mdFdqMqK1HLAKL6FN7uBB2RYUpWCTKitGk-nR0be-EKUhgj_jN58MFewdXZRYwlnvuXyV_g-i-hTvHVZLJNrDtD_6gkCHPy9BfGB7wOwU_BpBCbNH6fPAbZj3rw7x5_ieXRwsZ/s1600-h/P1050562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIwrdY6mdFdqMqK1HLAKL6FN7uBB2RYUpWCTKitGk-nR0be-EKUhgj_jN58MFewdXZRYwlnvuXyV_g-i-hTvHVZLJNrDtD_6gkCHPy9BfGB7wOwU_BpBCbNH6fPAbZj3rw7x5_ieXRwsZ/s320/P1050562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346136954246801426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On May 25 I left Dahab and took a bus to Cairo. I took a cab from the bus station to my hotel in the Talat Haarb section of the city. Cairo is a large, modern city with few crosswalks. Crossing the street is absolutely mad. I've crossed some pretty crazy streets before, but Cairo takes the cake. It's like playing chicken with the cars. You have to put yourself out there and confidently walk out there. If you wait for a comfortable crossing distance between cars, you'll stand there all day. I found the best way to cross the street is to wait for some locals to go and walk on the opposite side of them from the cars so they act like a human body shield.<br /><br />Egypt is sort of a democracy. In 1981, the country declared a state of emergency and has been under it ever since. The government has the right to imprison any individuals for any period of time for any reason. Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak, has been president since the former president Anwar Sedat was assassinated in 1981. Elections have been held over the years, but he was usually the only candidate on the ballot due to restrictions. This is a good example of how giving up liberties for safety is a slippery slope.<br /><br />Men greet each other with a warm embrace and a double kiss on the cheek. Sacha Baron Cohen always did this as his character Borat. I thought it was just a comedic bit to make westerners squirm. But men in the Middle East really greet each other this way.<br /><br />Aluminum cans in the Middle East have the old pull tabs that I hadn't seen since the 70's. Pull tabs are all over the place and litter the streets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytCC9OuCDqZoVhaaP2hROteX07uEdk6GArgtme0V5wTG4bmzJpgr102mwmCajxqA8Cl0_pZYvpZUCQSuGnbb6X8svnJQHtsg15hr25XqwxHzjsba471HYqh9YlfJlQrIgWeB_A7EMjGeQ/s1600-h/P1060269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytCC9OuCDqZoVhaaP2hROteX07uEdk6GArgtme0V5wTG4bmzJpgr102mwmCajxqA8Cl0_pZYvpZUCQSuGnbb6X8svnJQHtsg15hr25XqwxHzjsba471HYqh9YlfJlQrIgWeB_A7EMjGeQ/s320/P1060269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349884563898456866" border="0" /></a><br />On May 26, I visited the Egypt Museum. The museum had the best collection of artifacts, some dating back 4,000 years, I've seen, but the museum is really old and badly in need of updating. The descriptions of the artifacts are either inadequate or non-existent. Cameras were not allowed inside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj864WU4IAzynkzPO8puewueXVGUzIXzSWTWlY0CgRt1olK9SKo4F-mGW3OIBLEkrWcGbXSb8Eu4BW-f5UMdl2AwX1CWkISba3R6_zgh6v0lB3Te_esvTu1ft1u7_1soJN7nBtMenSW2Xfl/s1600-h/P1050588.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj864WU4IAzynkzPO8puewueXVGUzIXzSWTWlY0CgRt1olK9SKo4F-mGW3OIBLEkrWcGbXSb8Eu4BW-f5UMdl2AwX1CWkISba3R6_zgh6v0lB3Te_esvTu1ft1u7_1soJN7nBtMenSW2Xfl/s320/P1050588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137169980455634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7EbanulJmuSEmoZw-7j7qVZSHf8Q0LNnIrRorQQrX9uCOEU118wXTpgQ83NE3-a3-o3LcU_5RK2LAvaLD5EdHbEN75QovpgR_S7noSdZowQlgk_RaKqCkGW91A8hOF3dYNqcDF4ya2PE/s1600-h/P1050589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7EbanulJmuSEmoZw-7j7qVZSHf8Q0LNnIrRorQQrX9uCOEU118wXTpgQ83NE3-a3-o3LcU_5RK2LAvaLD5EdHbEN75QovpgR_S7noSdZowQlgk_RaKqCkGW91A8hOF3dYNqcDF4ya2PE/s320/P1050589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137171722473650" border="0" /></a><br />The Mummy Room cost an extra $20 to enter. But it was well worth it. The ancient Egyptians really had the whole mummification process down. It's one thing to see statues, carvings, and paintings, of ancient Egyptians, but it's another thing altogether to see King Ramses II in the flesh. I got the below picture from the internet.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrORQCgNWvCvAGy9K5MkOUnulYzJZVDBoB2Yo_sQ4U5qmkdYRxxBUUtOFS7FvHssv4BM2hbGtwsVATxtG7FaKK1YQMAHSkBUqGCeAuS2SaKw8ywWmA8gkR5g-q5e2qv4eNorTs7XyxUu9L/s1600-h/RAMmummy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrORQCgNWvCvAGy9K5MkOUnulYzJZVDBoB2Yo_sQ4U5qmkdYRxxBUUtOFS7FvHssv4BM2hbGtwsVATxtG7FaKK1YQMAHSkBUqGCeAuS2SaKw8ywWmA8gkR5g-q5e2qv4eNorTs7XyxUu9L/s320/RAMmummy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349791945276642882" border="0" /></a><br />King Ramses the second ruled from 1278 to 1213 BC and is the most famous of the ancient Pharaoh kings. He had 200 wives (some of whom were also his daughters) and over 150 children. Incest was common and quite acceptable in ancient Egypt.<br /><br />With spending so many resources on temples and tombs and so much inbreeding, it's no shock that the ancient Egyptians died out. Very little of the ancient Pharaohs is apparent in today's Egyptians, with centuries of invasions by Greeks, Romans, Persians, and Arabs. However, that doesn't stop them from cashing in on it.<br /><br />For my first few days in Egypt in Dahab and Cairo, I was really kind of digging it. On May 27 I visited the pyramids. I won't say my opinion of Egypt went downhill from there so much as it went off a cliff. I've never seen more touts, scammers and people wanting backsheesh than at the pyramids. I expect there to be some hassle at a site as famous as this, but it was really off the charts.<br /><br />I had two goals for the day. See the pyramids and really spend some quality time there, and do it cheaply. Most people spend only one or two hours at the pyramids, which seems like a really short time to spend on the only remaining of the seven wonders. Organized tours were running about $50 plus admission prices. I decided to try my hand at taking the bus. Tourists don't take buses in Cairo because all the writing was in Arabic. I went to the main bus stop and tried to find the right bus using my limited knowledge of Arabic numbers. I was about to give up when I guy saw me and asked me if I was going to the pyramids. He said he was going there as well and he'd show me what to do. I smelled tout on this guy, but I had absolutely no idea what I was doing so I went along. He had a good story. He was living and working in Dubai as a manager of a Pizza Hut and was here visiting home on a holiday. His wife was Hungarian and he had an early morning training session in downtown Cairo and was returning home to Giza from that. He would point out things along the way, like the Nile River, Cairo University (where President Obama was to speak in a few days), and the only Pizza Hut in Giza. It was about a 40 minute bus ride and at about 30 minutes he mentioned a government run place where I could buy a tour that would include all entrance fees. I knew it. He was being entirely too nice to be helpful. So we got to the bus stop in Giza by the pyramids and he took me to this place. It just didn't have the look and feel of a government run tourist place. I then sat though the hard sales pitch. I said no thanks several times and that I wanted to see the pyramids on my own. He said you can't See the pyramids on your own. It's too far to walk. I finally got up and left. The guy on the bus with me tried to give me the hard sell again. I asked him why he was doing it and he said he was just trying to help me out. I thanked him for his help (he was really helpful and I was pretty clueless about which bus to take) and went to see the pyramids.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuyC3rGfYdAlw2Up7-aFWKWqOTqf87KE_EmgqOHcJXwOw8dGjfjZe2FgOPSV8Kl4EJ1rwxwI7aa32AZFgEY9XACKc6vQOLvWssqS8YI1QsDABnnfFeosB5naoColL92V7uxVptVzQOJfX/s1600-h/P1050600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuyC3rGfYdAlw2Up7-aFWKWqOTqf87KE_EmgqOHcJXwOw8dGjfjZe2FgOPSV8Kl4EJ1rwxwI7aa32AZFgEY9XACKc6vQOLvWssqS8YI1QsDABnnfFeosB5naoColL92V7uxVptVzQOJfX/s320/P1050600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137174612898178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRoGZJejUJOYr4xJhCFgCGY2DCSOIiRt4OV0xRHcJbRuEQBjI5OJntbeNC1B3aSURnzGQwGKpzMmsxD3GSZcRc13_K8CR048tbPIRPGI1FH7BKV8D_6XbDMATTPFkevkOKLSa6DRVNzXs/s1600-h/P1050602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRoGZJejUJOYr4xJhCFgCGY2DCSOIiRt4OV0xRHcJbRuEQBjI5OJntbeNC1B3aSURnzGQwGKpzMmsxD3GSZcRc13_K8CR048tbPIRPGI1FH7BKV8D_6XbDMATTPFkevkOKLSa6DRVNzXs/s320/P1050602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137178184997938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YIZT88PRjL2TXDRoVw6L1UZwOcISYxD1KRwqVKFrAmgAn3AOn5rC0lzRc-lzGtM434puRRo-gWMfiZJgJD8Z79acIn7l43XPVqht9fSemvIUXNSiEfD7CbdOBSShwJN80zsJDVFj2jaD/s1600-h/P1050615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YIZT88PRjL2TXDRoVw6L1UZwOcISYxD1KRwqVKFrAmgAn3AOn5rC0lzRc-lzGtM434puRRo-gWMfiZJgJD8Z79acIn7l43XPVqht9fSemvIUXNSiEfD7CbdOBSShwJN80zsJDVFj2jaD/s320/P1050615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137178479086418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wg2gOhpAIrSZ0EFDRROxeYC4aa_xWkmlnblAHm9A6rAvkY1hGZ-L40BdjGcRV2RE8M4Tu7DstaHSSmJELru0BiOULcXf65aBRz7_-_-vqLItO40l_wcGZrBbZm9qUoRA2ATvYHmeR48V/s1600-h/P1050684.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wg2gOhpAIrSZ0EFDRROxeYC4aa_xWkmlnblAHm9A6rAvkY1hGZ-L40BdjGcRV2RE8M4Tu7DstaHSSmJELru0BiOULcXf65aBRz7_-_-vqLItO40l_wcGZrBbZm9qUoRA2ATvYHmeR48V/s320/P1050684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137936008491474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq7FoXE57eEcUMjEh8v93zj1L1c23vSPDgQHHnuY9fdPtce5L2aP51-1xpuVUQDYW08YpIzp_OxDQVKPtnnDlYsIa4bmxZGxzbiiYg64hX9G23zL__JATU_neTDVSDK0flgTZ8B2woYma/s1600-h/P1050693.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq7FoXE57eEcUMjEh8v93zj1L1c23vSPDgQHHnuY9fdPtce5L2aP51-1xpuVUQDYW08YpIzp_OxDQVKPtnnDlYsIa4bmxZGxzbiiYg64hX9G23zL__JATU_neTDVSDK0flgTZ8B2woYma/s320/P1050693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137945105866850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08VyIZZR5WC8VQAn4j13Y4D_cl4jPnu4M0Ypllm2rok0kHtjsj8C1xgfyOSizPT8ux7s2xPT1jPUa4v6CgVHi46wxJfPNM6h9xZmrNAOTvkFVzRHK7m_usjhRSwOZLBHV4XLFXNaybcMl/s1600-h/P1050699.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08VyIZZR5WC8VQAn4j13Y4D_cl4jPnu4M0Ypllm2rok0kHtjsj8C1xgfyOSizPT8ux7s2xPT1jPUa4v6CgVHi46wxJfPNM6h9xZmrNAOTvkFVzRHK7m_usjhRSwOZLBHV4XLFXNaybcMl/s320/P1050699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346137942056189762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW854S9zSCdGW24FLLQtfl631iL1Sc0F_YfIwhzQCH_0_4WRc2pkautLzZ0WcsmccQcPm-Pbxvpn-RUNtC6aoRTXYj1lEOlAMkKPHARHZ1hllGm2bnmzwuTU8d0SZPLaQWdjycmZoPlAh/s1600-h/P1050622.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW854S9zSCdGW24FLLQtfl631iL1Sc0F_YfIwhzQCH_0_4WRc2pkautLzZ0WcsmccQcPm-Pbxvpn-RUNtC6aoRTXYj1lEOlAMkKPHARHZ1hllGm2bnmzwuTU8d0SZPLaQWdjycmZoPlAh/s320/P1050622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350641858922003378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre4vQ0Qbyta_z4JLViapRH5GIzvLK3qQ1JrwiP1XFxjXLfy4YmOjxVHrqQyckbKMYGBlky6yp_pyAK4Wpt73ZvqFMpAIm3FTRUxiZ3Nv2hIyC7NvwokDuYAv8ywZVa4MyYX5TULisHN90/s1600-h/P1050659.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre4vQ0Qbyta_z4JLViapRH5GIzvLK3qQ1JrwiP1XFxjXLfy4YmOjxVHrqQyckbKMYGBlky6yp_pyAK4Wpt73ZvqFMpAIm3FTRUxiZ3Nv2hIyC7NvwokDuYAv8ywZVa4MyYX5TULisHN90/s320/P1050659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350641858472776978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaSvjeAWYerKQ9MPpDEVXeW5llmKGh9lNSSgohgLselcZ7FivBAe_yKpH5o-puaS5ac6v3V3QjkklT9wZRGCWyxu3AkwXtjNW9I1Ep0IzjdD6I9yCaYIeo9fQWjG_awtd3cJV0XkpVFUw/s1600-h/P1050621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaSvjeAWYerKQ9MPpDEVXeW5llmKGh9lNSSgohgLselcZ7FivBAe_yKpH5o-puaS5ac6v3V3QjkklT9wZRGCWyxu3AkwXtjNW9I1Ep0IzjdD6I9yCaYIeo9fQWjG_awtd3cJV0XkpVFUw/s320/P1050621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350641849541560738" border="0" /></a><br />It was no better once inside. There were tons of people selling postcards, trinkets, miniature pyramids, etc. I despised how they come up to you and, after asking the first time, start walking along beside me invading my space asking me to buy their crap seven or eight times.<br /><br />One of the scams is someone in the park asking to see your ticket. You show them your ticket and they say "follow me". They take you a few feet to where you can get a good picture. They will keep this going for as long as they can. They will then ask for backsheesh. Anything you give them they will say it's an insult and ask for exactly twice as much. You can give them $100 and they'll ask for $200. If you don't give them backsheesh they will follow you around and pester you until you do. I got roped into this one time before I realized what was going on. The guy really didn't even do anything. He asked for backsheesh and I told him he didn't do anything. He kept following me around and finally I went up to a uniformed tourist policeman and told him to get the guy off me. After telling the guy to get lost, he then asked me for backsheesh for getting the guy to leave. Oh yeah. The police are in on the whole backsheesh bit too. Anyone in Egypt who is being nice or helpful to you only wants to sell you something or wants backsheesh. You can't ask someone for directions. If you do, they will say follow me and take you there. Then they'll want backsheesh. You really have to be on top of your game to avoid this. I would be at a sight and some guy would point me to a place to take a photo that I was going to anyway. Then he would want money.<br /><br />So the first lesson was to never show the ticket once on the inside of the park. After the first time I would simply say I showed my ticket at the gate already. Then they would ask if I wanted a camel ride or a horse ride. Also when getting a picture taken they will rush in right as the picture is being taken and then they would want backsheesh for posing in the picture. It was so sleazy there I couldn't stand it. That scene in The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman sitting on a hill looking at the pyramids in silence could never happen. In reality, they would have been surrounded by touts selling postcards, crappy souvenirs, or camel rides. President Obama was in Cairo a few days after I left and I saw on TV that he toured the pyramids. I'm guessing he probably didn't have to deal with the touts. In fact, I bet they shut down the whole park that morning.<br /><br />I paid about $25 to go inside the the two largest pyramids. Going inside the pyramids is a complete waste of time and money. There is nothing, I repeat, nothing to see inside the pyramids. There is a low tunnel that leads to a chamber. That's it! There were no carvings on the walls, no statues....nothing. It took maybe about ten minutes tops at each pyramid.<br /><br />Looking back, I think I would have preferred to have seen the pyramids for an hour on a guided tour.<br /><br />That night, I went to a bar with two Canadians and a Costa Rican to see the Manchester United - Barcelona football match. This was apparently the biggest game of the year and was for the world championship. The Costa Rican was the only one who really cared about the game, the rest of us just didn't really have anything better to do. Alcohol is legal in Egypt but not really part of the culture. A night out usually means men going to a cafe to drink tea and smoke sheesha. We walked around for a while and finally decided to try the Cairo Hilton. Luckily for us, there was an English pub there with a big screen TV. Unluckily for us, it was really expensive. I had a $20 shepherd's pie and two $6.50 pints of Stella beer (not to be confused with Stella Artois). Barcelona won and I still don't care about soccer. Soccer, hot tea, and the metric system are three things the rest of the world is crazy about but never really caught on in America.<br /><br />On May 28, I went to visit the Islamic Quarter and Coptic Cairo. The Islamic quarter consisted of a bunch of narrow, jumbled streets, mosques, and markets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnra_W6PFkQu-nfyp59BSSoCwv3oK4eKa3tqdETsv_IhaDSA_lLpsIw-URxjC-JCOLUITW4rXRbGSkOdirGJc365l6pp13afVl3lEaVWJjroaiGjR_GCAU_ogDJYuAaNUhxq0Gx3mL0ywZ/s1600-h/P1050730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnra_W6PFkQu-nfyp59BSSoCwv3oK4eKa3tqdETsv_IhaDSA_lLpsIw-URxjC-JCOLUITW4rXRbGSkOdirGJc365l6pp13afVl3lEaVWJjroaiGjR_GCAU_ogDJYuAaNUhxq0Gx3mL0ywZ/s320/P1050730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140184194179714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy8KmaqoNHuspTY1WKkpTrFvo3LTo5M05ZoqHHieH4HCDHeHsLjI1V3jx1Shhh0oHYjAWnTY_8lOYYRIpRODBqSxZwWoNp98L0zMJcTirb7E95lJgLZZtPpHx03d-gJPuj5nWC-BNIidf/s1600-h/P1050724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy8KmaqoNHuspTY1WKkpTrFvo3LTo5M05ZoqHHieH4HCDHeHsLjI1V3jx1Shhh0oHYjAWnTY_8lOYYRIpRODBqSxZwWoNp98L0zMJcTirb7E95lJgLZZtPpHx03d-gJPuj5nWC-BNIidf/s320/P1050724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346138101478507266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE_h5erVyyWgQQvS0JcfyznYzy3iSRPJl-URbKXDR6ASiFpYdPmp64LED-8GijFZASsxM4vb1qwhkL1Cbyud2KJr273XH49Fp5zD8vwA1Z-OK151VVPhPP5zwK3RgGNgfgzwdb6HIfPyk/s1600-h/P1050719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE_h5erVyyWgQQvS0JcfyznYzy3iSRPJl-URbKXDR6ASiFpYdPmp64LED-8GijFZASsxM4vb1qwhkL1Cbyud2KJr273XH49Fp5zD8vwA1Z-OK151VVPhPP5zwK3RgGNgfgzwdb6HIfPyk/s320/P1050719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346138096495271282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6rr81u0rYXbz9BfWHrV8DerNSqyuKfA2uV8VEnkEzxgMyIBVexIYFDReZftBW9Dk1jzaWQQLnuEBLuS7nL5qIifeYrUuSzaPoJV4qqDU3VjAckDWXN8o3euyEbOZ-wdpRlL_Yx_OFc3D/s1600-h/P1050729.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6rr81u0rYXbz9BfWHrV8DerNSqyuKfA2uV8VEnkEzxgMyIBVexIYFDReZftBW9Dk1jzaWQQLnuEBLuS7nL5qIifeYrUuSzaPoJV4qqDU3VjAckDWXN8o3euyEbOZ-wdpRlL_Yx_OFc3D/s320/P1050729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346138103581364498" border="0" /></a><br />I thought this was useful as a reference for identifying Arabic numbers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRWIs3beYlY6_GERa4MIi30Fur7EomSIxbUKMg3E-qxNZfytiDX7ansWj-NFFJcWw-2udqGaV7Xd8I3aZL_64OAM7vu63BBkoF1t0-a_EPm2B3eYQZEPLsP9V1JJg_YI5x58TgcmTcTC-/s1600-h/P1050732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRWIs3beYlY6_GERa4MIi30Fur7EomSIxbUKMg3E-qxNZfytiDX7ansWj-NFFJcWw-2udqGaV7Xd8I3aZL_64OAM7vu63BBkoF1t0-a_EPm2B3eYQZEPLsP9V1JJg_YI5x58TgcmTcTC-/s320/P1050732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140188133583026" border="0" /></a><br />I walked around a bit and then took the subway to Coptic Cairo. The Cairo subway system is pretty good. Some of the cars are for women only. I unintentionally got on one of the women-only subway cars. I was looking at the map, thinking about where I needed to get off when a lady came up to me and told me that it was a women-only car and I was forbidden from riding on it. She was nice, but direct. I jumped off right before the doors closed and waited for the next car to come along.<br /><br />Coptic Cairo is the city's Christian quarter. In ancient times, the Holy Family spent a few years here in hiding from King Herod.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD26nxjgPPXNIy6WOBOumOk7TTpWtphhUb_T-NTpDq0067irn0GaB9xh4-iZVamn7-1TBvnBco8tKWDlyzI5sRFSS0ZvoK8pzBQw1vakPFkLeG5EPP5TDcRaLoP_GTSvtYfOSJWw3ON6S/s1600-h/P1050745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD26nxjgPPXNIy6WOBOumOk7TTpWtphhUb_T-NTpDq0067irn0GaB9xh4-iZVamn7-1TBvnBco8tKWDlyzI5sRFSS0ZvoK8pzBQw1vakPFkLeG5EPP5TDcRaLoP_GTSvtYfOSJWw3ON6S/s320/P1050745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140195920009378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuU7fKUcRb3DWRcrs6G945qwTS-KCkbkUlimXB3NfvRHyi8zH4pQiFrPypx7GPVyuMF9OikWrOb93AoNV_Z1asbtnbjqihe3kERdm-xCiMQ8t6VTttlyMGf_KqF2hoJgxvc2TvunKF5zj/s1600-h/P1050756.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuU7fKUcRb3DWRcrs6G945qwTS-KCkbkUlimXB3NfvRHyi8zH4pQiFrPypx7GPVyuMF9OikWrOb93AoNV_Z1asbtnbjqihe3kERdm-xCiMQ8t6VTttlyMGf_KqF2hoJgxvc2TvunKF5zj/s320/P1050756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140196475373314" border="0" /></a><br />The tourist cop in the below picture was trying to scam me for backsheesh because he pointed me in the direction of one of the churches I was looking for and told me the closing time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZM28-EuO8YDbIP0Kt19xLJ4doKqWeyXn9KS1yGIgypTTT-oKCJ7eMENMsxo-LTbBAeJufhB1-rZeRy4b8ZyAGIJqUHd-dYY6FPY04K9fCIrkFoewc5YAHfX1cND-zdxvITJ3Vzg6Oprj/s1600-h/P1050757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZM28-EuO8YDbIP0Kt19xLJ4doKqWeyXn9KS1yGIgypTTT-oKCJ7eMENMsxo-LTbBAeJufhB1-rZeRy4b8ZyAGIJqUHd-dYY6FPY04K9fCIrkFoewc5YAHfX1cND-zdxvITJ3Vzg6Oprj/s320/P1050757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140358031043122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVNmhvt3BAl_4PeEIqqz553XLUvxGLxhVnYwKTfbOscYrQ3CZcjSuLxGV7Nf4w9LLy8YNKJc36mQW2jL1KLJ3uwLgNi-viiRFwXoQZwTMxQY4R1oGWfwwd01D70Pln0OUBFrwss6CzaQz/s1600-h/P1050760.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVNmhvt3BAl_4PeEIqqz553XLUvxGLxhVnYwKTfbOscYrQ3CZcjSuLxGV7Nf4w9LLy8YNKJc36mQW2jL1KLJ3uwLgNi-viiRFwXoQZwTMxQY4R1oGWfwwd01D70Pln0OUBFrwss6CzaQz/s320/P1050760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140365954652962" border="0" /></a><br />On the evening of May 28, I took an overnight train to Aswan. I had gone to the train station earlier that day to buy a ticket. The sleeper train was $60 for a shared sleeping compartment. The lady at the station wrote this amount down on a piece of paper and also wrote down "tip". "Whatever you like," she said. I asked why she wanted a tip. It wasn't like she was a delivery person delivering the tickets to my hotel room. I came down to the station to buy the ticket. She responded, "Whatever you like." I thought about it. Well, maybe there's some way to screw me if I don't giver her a tip. So I gave her $1. I was getting fed up with this. I was tired of being viewed as a walking ATM. I guess I didn't mind the hassle so much in India because everything was so cheap. But in Egypt things were expensive.<br /><br />Cairo train station.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvtr9H8rzfc_NWsRmMPQZkMPbKOcjR3rSSLIE5jqrtN8MOeNhXp858G2JSvtdxy2eZDB-zyhG0yFIeNfy1pTSYqeWAkgF4XmegQqBXMm43AklRXWEnlvoHHydN7z_StbjbW_X6Qs8wjj0/s1600-h/P1050720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvtr9H8rzfc_NWsRmMPQZkMPbKOcjR3rSSLIE5jqrtN8MOeNhXp858G2JSvtdxy2eZDB-zyhG0yFIeNfy1pTSYqeWAkgF4XmegQqBXMm43AklRXWEnlvoHHydN7z_StbjbW_X6Qs8wjj0/s320/P1050720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346138098142185042" border="0" /></a><br />I boarded the train and got settled in. There was no other person in my compartment. The waiter (I guess for lack of a better term) came in and said if I wanted the compartment for myself he could arrange it. I said that wouldn't be necessary. I paid for a ticket for a double and I fully expected another person. There were not enough people on the train to require another person and he was trying to scam me for some backsheesh. He came back in a few minutes later and said that he didn't mind arranging for a private compartment and if not, he might have to put an Egyptian in with me. That statement disgusted me on several levels. After the train took off he came back and said he had taken care of securing me the private compartment. I said thanks.<br /><br />I got into Aswan in the morning of May 29. I thought I could walk to the hotel from the train station. After walking around about 15 minutes I accepted a ride on horse drawn carriage for 5 pounds (about $1). I didn't even haggle with him. I was probably fairly close to the hotel, but was really lost. It seemed like a good deal and I took it without even haggling. When we got to the hotel, I paid the guy five pounds. looked at it and said, "No, five English pounds". I said not just no, but hell no. He then said ok and asked me for backsheesh for the horse. I said no and went to my hotel. At this point, I came to the realization that I really didn't want to be here.<br /><br />Markets in Aswan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFZEhLs91vkyemrhSAkqiJbJYn8qJVmusl4w32vM_61m_BrRMC_sF1onWrXMZvOY_AxHGkuAEzVfPEKfsYBW_TeYdkCWiRLsCP-dr10Lva7IODUP1Vv64L_U1yIAaxPzH8YVXXFshdJ0s/s1600-h/P1050805.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFZEhLs91vkyemrhSAkqiJbJYn8qJVmusl4w32vM_61m_BrRMC_sF1onWrXMZvOY_AxHGkuAEzVfPEKfsYBW_TeYdkCWiRLsCP-dr10Lva7IODUP1Vv64L_U1yIAaxPzH8YVXXFshdJ0s/s320/P1050805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140580195411650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KXsbV8j7GPkn9FkztNoczeewfzyyTmry2exa3yIdz_MumKPq-SMPY20uuFpUgg3KdeewNN9gCK2mxykRyZ2yTPMa0g-BqVMvNfYU7E0PdlRXqWt9Ccme60icdRKOU5eZn3Tz8YwCG1R5/s1600-h/P1050799.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KXsbV8j7GPkn9FkztNoczeewfzyyTmry2exa3yIdz_MumKPq-SMPY20uuFpUgg3KdeewNN9gCK2mxykRyZ2yTPMa0g-BqVMvNfYU7E0PdlRXqWt9Ccme60icdRKOU5eZn3Tz8YwCG1R5/s320/P1050799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140576292259794" border="0" /></a><br />The guy at the hotel asked me if I wanted to book a trip to Abu Simbel. It left a 3:15 the next morning. That was a little bit earlier than I was wanting to get up, but it was something I wanted to see. Abu Simbel is about 3 hours from Aswan, near the Sudanese border. Leaving at that hour would put me there at sunrise. Then there would be about three more stops to some temples and a dam and I'd be back around 3:00pm.<br /><br />On May 30 I got up at 3:00 am and left for Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel has been totally relocated to avoid floodwaters caused by a dam on the Nile. The statues are real, but the mountain is constructed of blocks and mortar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgX1uzVe7KcL-ed4yDk4pBvgtCu01CadZEH1NMNFsJD3nRtkgYCn6s4daVmrEdV46B_TobSUQGJe7WI0qr9ixEJK0JTrhnwcX0PN-cVNDF4UiufaAsPpYIw1ftyobdkmJqVMasXbTVouK/s1600-h/P1050823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgX1uzVe7KcL-ed4yDk4pBvgtCu01CadZEH1NMNFsJD3nRtkgYCn6s4daVmrEdV46B_TobSUQGJe7WI0qr9ixEJK0JTrhnwcX0PN-cVNDF4UiufaAsPpYIw1ftyobdkmJqVMasXbTVouK/s320/P1050823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140583911493794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD8_6xeiOz4Q9_H-29SLSvlhhuI_CFZguvBPgP28ydAVU_xm6l2-3qPGkc8zwehD6lzkgVVYN9Ht5AzftjbpiZo9eWjQDCWU-ZZTSAnGGzMOWbqGMq33lakSXkziW3_4VPOW5BcSGvS7F/s1600-h/P1050826.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD8_6xeiOz4Q9_H-29SLSvlhhuI_CFZguvBPgP28ydAVU_xm6l2-3qPGkc8zwehD6lzkgVVYN9Ht5AzftjbpiZo9eWjQDCWU-ZZTSAnGGzMOWbqGMq33lakSXkziW3_4VPOW5BcSGvS7F/s320/P1050826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349063039168440274" border="0" /></a><br />The next stop was the Philea temple. The tour van dropped us off. We bought tickets. We had to take a boat to the island. Of course that involved haggling. It hurts your bargaining position since they knew we'd already paid to get in, but an Egyptian girl from London did the bargaining and got us the boat ride for about $1 each.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HW4GrgJoKiA96OGGqCzToITY8erJImUFpN9FNBbIMg3lLNg2iBHtqFFayc1808zvWMlUl3rMqxmQopN8BkCarEauOedF01Vnw0LlxSLSo4KJeELsATeuO8oy6oDWS9m_PYbXRSn3bRao/s1600-h/P1050850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HW4GrgJoKiA96OGGqCzToITY8erJImUFpN9FNBbIMg3lLNg2iBHtqFFayc1808zvWMlUl3rMqxmQopN8BkCarEauOedF01Vnw0LlxSLSo4KJeELsATeuO8oy6oDWS9m_PYbXRSn3bRao/s320/P1050850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140816350589234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs3lOnRmxjObUBcR2zynz-eZ4uG1DXF2XbGqqKcC-sDPX7zCE5fO-jqN8z0ZHpAX4ZJOFBxW-65UO2JiBPbvPW93931-CU4v6zTL5s5slvxfZs7xyhlEDq3NGFlx_7UXCYO3raKrRkUrE/s1600-h/P1050853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs3lOnRmxjObUBcR2zynz-eZ4uG1DXF2XbGqqKcC-sDPX7zCE5fO-jqN8z0ZHpAX4ZJOFBxW-65UO2JiBPbvPW93931-CU4v6zTL5s5slvxfZs7xyhlEDq3NGFlx_7UXCYO3raKrRkUrE/s320/P1050853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140815529164706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlIlElQMRmxBy23KqSWBzAHNmrAuxqu8jAGi5xBXBpIvibb4DhbVCyNhqF7_iqHtmcjCXepAadxsLImNlO3wR4ptgt8IHzt7UBZ6Z-nMD0-dm2LnDkvsLhyphenhyphentpdqIa6TYOPHKxPblO77LL/s1600-h/P1050876.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlIlElQMRmxBy23KqSWBzAHNmrAuxqu8jAGi5xBXBpIvibb4DhbVCyNhqF7_iqHtmcjCXepAadxsLImNlO3wR4ptgt8IHzt7UBZ6Z-nMD0-dm2LnDkvsLhyphenhyphentpdqIa6TYOPHKxPblO77LL/s320/P1050876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140822195763954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCKddDi0lPgevCrCL0WSZ5P3bYip3AiJRYvX5xt8ptHchfkCzXF4JDYm_vCVcIb2WIUDrrb41rVKaRbZy4_XS4Mntt6RTCk5Ryt1HsN4jyudweX5WxpW82Yl1_GCIveOQouUofuE0GGsZ/s1600-h/P1050884.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCKddDi0lPgevCrCL0WSZ5P3bYip3AiJRYvX5xt8ptHchfkCzXF4JDYm_vCVcIb2WIUDrrb41rVKaRbZy4_XS4Mntt6RTCk5Ryt1HsN4jyudweX5WxpW82Yl1_GCIveOQouUofuE0GGsZ/s320/P1050884.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140827744740738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfpIvIo9g8WA0RDHRRjuNBpXafBHjTaMygDfXXKO1WDEJAddaFQhktRORGRH1FA3AMvUd-v50aDjfJqrGf5n6CQVSYAekUjhLnftpvFF8g8Il5FRr3AVqDRt52fCvrVYeBBBQwd1CQdU4/s1600-h/P1050888.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfpIvIo9g8WA0RDHRRjuNBpXafBHjTaMygDfXXKO1WDEJAddaFQhktRORGRH1FA3AMvUd-v50aDjfJqrGf5n6CQVSYAekUjhLnftpvFF8g8Il5FRr3AVqDRt52fCvrVYeBBBQwd1CQdU4/s320/P1050888.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140825996926482" border="0" /></a><br />When we got back to Aswan, we took a feluca (sailboat) ride on the Nile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_UAf18aJTD-1CHIoRLmtlBnNu2uH62_FVlZtwM3gs3NdrrfVRUM_yvWH6AKpJ6Ln9qKn6b_js7oqY2tDEYS40WyQzHVkY5zXTEVYzjFlSkyVAcJugghNS-TMV1W2sh7OJ7_JJ1k3qW1U/s1600-h/P1050782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_UAf18aJTD-1CHIoRLmtlBnNu2uH62_FVlZtwM3gs3NdrrfVRUM_yvWH6AKpJ6Ln9qKn6b_js7oqY2tDEYS40WyQzHVkY5zXTEVYzjFlSkyVAcJugghNS-TMV1W2sh7OJ7_JJ1k3qW1U/s320/P1050782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140371082669426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXunayHJOZ51CN2GIv2xkvlvBuFoxXRnQspDgqqhnYGw-rMk0Y184gCK5b5nw2ovZr8XQMa0d6xIXJMYPSByftYapGQ1e5Y8ObugjZwS8DqzCRnFaitDZXiS8xV91Be_Pog0DgqwXxlm-M/s1600-h/P1050794.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXunayHJOZ51CN2GIv2xkvlvBuFoxXRnQspDgqqhnYGw-rMk0Y184gCK5b5nw2ovZr8XQMa0d6xIXJMYPSByftYapGQ1e5Y8ObugjZwS8DqzCRnFaitDZXiS8xV91Be_Pog0DgqwXxlm-M/s320/P1050794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140566243870850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xMMjp3JEMWprXzCbbqMCgBfCJVFgfx5thQOGlpPG53pLisxw921CLqTpxiU72BRn9vvOtxsFojCu2lG3-BwAMRitza_ELP6e09F1Tl0wKcv-U901IbwsJMzDSssg6bOVygpq-qthqCdF/s1600-h/P1050797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xMMjp3JEMWprXzCbbqMCgBfCJVFgfx5thQOGlpPG53pLisxw921CLqTpxiU72BRn9vvOtxsFojCu2lG3-BwAMRitza_ELP6e09F1Tl0wKcv-U901IbwsJMzDSssg6bOVygpq-qthqCdF/s320/P1050797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140570824335570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />On May 31, I took a van tour from Aswan to Luxor, stopping at the Kom Obo & Edfu Temples on the way. Egypt is all desert except for the areas around the Nile. The Nile valley is very fertile farmland, unlike any of the rest of the country, which is the driest, most barren desert you can imagine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCk0sprEZu6ieoisXV-5RUoLu5x1fFgYQxRG2h_BeeQmqJJ-ESCISHb86jupwU-bN7LvZQPBcB55C9L_6ZC164D23EWvz11sh1TEYDT7w_4nyxsyYnIJqrTpenpb56ORNHUv4YYmMcbgw/s1600-h/P1050901.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizCk0sprEZu6ieoisXV-5RUoLu5x1fFgYQxRG2h_BeeQmqJJ-ESCISHb86jupwU-bN7LvZQPBcB55C9L_6ZC164D23EWvz11sh1TEYDT7w_4nyxsyYnIJqrTpenpb56ORNHUv4YYmMcbgw/s320/P1050901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346140926217628226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTSMsfwMy8LW-dW1nGC7yX3Y5KyPgsyHopPtgrPLOcyNwM4fZW2oje8IgqUeZlWiTWjrfVSFfqKZWW161Jhqea-B2KrEC8aupTiKLSDW5JUJzH6FnVK1oKA8dT5ErHdOGR0ohb91Da-rI/s1600-h/P1050906.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTSMsfwMy8LW-dW1nGC7yX3Y5KyPgsyHopPtgrPLOcyNwM4fZW2oje8IgqUeZlWiTWjrfVSFfqKZWW161Jhqea-B2KrEC8aupTiKLSDW5JUJzH6FnVK1oKA8dT5ErHdOGR0ohb91Da-rI/s320/P1050906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350636254949597442" border="0" /></a><br />Kom Obo Temple.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqm1Rtwsiu6-Q1CG5svTk41frP9aGsZ7N-JBGyubC39XSFFtW0oqq6n4ZtTrsaJuJhxjfQQ_ifqIYvIvwNv6XyvSh1yyfhV5UjkJIDQ7ADuMRwOh5wiAl-WhbMFv3In0eqqPJ9qcqgk-J/s1600-h/P1050908.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqm1Rtwsiu6-Q1CG5svTk41frP9aGsZ7N-JBGyubC39XSFFtW0oqq6n4ZtTrsaJuJhxjfQQ_ifqIYvIvwNv6XyvSh1yyfhV5UjkJIDQ7ADuMRwOh5wiAl-WhbMFv3In0eqqPJ9qcqgk-J/s320/P1050908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349831215532971378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiIKS0fqln4mjtaZi5vrNv1h73JoP_5P0Po6-Jv4uGs-23CuFKyIENVtpyaYnSanCgQhZYbsSzAMCD4I6migpBF4xMM79DKNpdg0d-AkdYhqJLf3h7DR6B8M58yxN8g4J4-qKgOl5vbO_/s1600-h/P1050953.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiIKS0fqln4mjtaZi5vrNv1h73JoP_5P0Po6-Jv4uGs-23CuFKyIENVtpyaYnSanCgQhZYbsSzAMCD4I6migpBF4xMM79DKNpdg0d-AkdYhqJLf3h7DR6B8M58yxN8g4J4-qKgOl5vbO_/s320/P1050953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349831228374741698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAcSr2D76_x-tZqcnALef24IEpeL66uQfIGNphliSk3wf8UquWAxf-oWH4kB-gZ08ME4QKyOLI4ngeMJz0SN4oo0V59PZr8hjBQ5mEd42co_8NcUBVnXlVj3zWwqbdbCL0wFyCubUIgEa/s1600-h/P1050947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAcSr2D76_x-tZqcnALef24IEpeL66uQfIGNphliSk3wf8UquWAxf-oWH4kB-gZ08ME4QKyOLI4ngeMJz0SN4oo0V59PZr8hjBQ5mEd42co_8NcUBVnXlVj3zWwqbdbCL0wFyCubUIgEa/s320/P1050947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349831228859138002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xiOGOVBmbzE8L6xiRpw1OF3DEl-LZM1cgTh4sJg_ZToylYhoxlgAcJIO5YkYles4DN3HJmtOUlI1ApVf9daTO2Xj9CXF9dEjZJlpcz5cYmutReSaNFANFSpMatbl4Qhobk_gu1aN_g2-/s1600-h/P1050931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xiOGOVBmbzE8L6xiRpw1OF3DEl-LZM1cgTh4sJg_ZToylYhoxlgAcJIO5YkYles4DN3HJmtOUlI1ApVf9daTO2Xj9CXF9dEjZJlpcz5cYmutReSaNFANFSpMatbl4Qhobk_gu1aN_g2-/s320/P1050931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349831224142583714" border="0" /></a><br />Edfu Temple.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1zedYzDfS6-tzDLDt-259zc-hJiQD4smby73IHfn6rib4vl1Z326_MFpXps2snVHG57ZZiyr2Z6QR8oZR4hxRE-KchCB160avowrlSK7s086VH2dYEvHvJnp1qBS1gr5TDyAXBY48Gqk/s1600-h/P1060031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1zedYzDfS6-tzDLDt-259zc-hJiQD4smby73IHfn6rib4vl1Z326_MFpXps2snVHG57ZZiyr2Z6QR8oZR4hxRE-KchCB160avowrlSK7s086VH2dYEvHvJnp1qBS1gr5TDyAXBY48Gqk/s320/P1060031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349832559608405218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-FEcV_6jf27Gy3NmcRi2eMEq4FwhFpBPy_GK9dCZN4C4FtdTvV4NBb4qA16UYIG3DLdDv7l1arDSljjafnNq6el_-wgPAMA3yMpmdLYjyUu_UxCE42xWxOwNIPTzCUrldob6wEpa5b4n/s1600-h/P1060004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-FEcV_6jf27Gy3NmcRi2eMEq4FwhFpBPy_GK9dCZN4C4FtdTvV4NBb4qA16UYIG3DLdDv7l1arDSljjafnNq6el_-wgPAMA3yMpmdLYjyUu_UxCE42xWxOwNIPTzCUrldob6wEpa5b4n/s320/P1060004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349832557274341186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiAGRvohFPq_O905rh33AAz5d037lUYyUdKmuKdPFLX9BFfVLsHp0TEt_glkOQaST-NYVMav86lUWaT151EusMsJe44OsimMWcdvALrAQeyl2kR_iF-xRUlOGlRo7R7mMdM-m3PKnu9Vy/s1600-h/P1050995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiAGRvohFPq_O905rh33AAz5d037lUYyUdKmuKdPFLX9BFfVLsHp0TEt_glkOQaST-NYVMav86lUWaT151EusMsJe44OsimMWcdvALrAQeyl2kR_iF-xRUlOGlRo7R7mMdM-m3PKnu9Vy/s320/P1050995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349832554242056610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEtMceOsYEL10_10Phw9RYRH6whV4RDtddKm9qXFn9l2rTkTKJfmuGdK_l85d9YF5TIv5YMGFHDiZgmuwEl49vz4LJvQI3OeKW3SgUewiq8wbyFfvfnUt1vZpShyphenhyphenw45uPlxZlLDjdP3rA/s1600-h/P1050992.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEtMceOsYEL10_10Phw9RYRH6whV4RDtddKm9qXFn9l2rTkTKJfmuGdK_l85d9YF5TIv5YMGFHDiZgmuwEl49vz4LJvQI3OeKW3SgUewiq8wbyFfvfnUt1vZpShyphenhyphenw45uPlxZlLDjdP3rA/s320/P1050992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349832551727802114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisx-Mz5oIV5FQz1jYKJFGhU1_zv9SAabfmLl6RC6DCaWNwGSnP3FgXQvIaR3cSm7D1UKlyOUd5y5VPbjj61h-AURMO4ux4XuNLGvayErePBk_SL9K0mtQAUYvjBhzKRUq-_bSKIE8kiUXj/s1600-h/P1050980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisx-Mz5oIV5FQz1jYKJFGhU1_zv9SAabfmLl6RC6DCaWNwGSnP3FgXQvIaR3cSm7D1UKlyOUd5y5VPbjj61h-AURMO4ux4XuNLGvayErePBk_SL9K0mtQAUYvjBhzKRUq-_bSKIE8kiUXj/s320/P1050980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349832547666666146" border="0" /></a><br />I was really kind of tired of temples at this point. They all started to look the same and I was growing more and more tired of dealing with touts.<br /><br />I got into Luxor fairly early in the afternoon. I checked into the Bob Marley Hotel, which is exactly what you would picture, with posters all over the walls and a chilled out staff. It seemed a bit out of place in Egypt. Signs on the door indicated it was a no hassle zone. I bought a train ticket and arranged a tour of the tombs of the West Bank for the next day. I walked to the Karnak temple and Luxor temple that evening. They were the most spectacular of the temples I saw. I definitely saved the best for last.<br /><br />Karkak Temple.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1CBlK-NbIcS3lCFbBfDIK7LRQnz043avhH78nYANKtUUEMY_DgXmycUOWXcHAZXOTjN4a8SNWOXt5L8QgbMMgsRzypcqRgk8YNkFwbqlcwLicTybQN1J-o6tsImzSV-0FyDviqHIsfEj/s1600-h/P1060113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1CBlK-NbIcS3lCFbBfDIK7LRQnz043avhH78nYANKtUUEMY_DgXmycUOWXcHAZXOTjN4a8SNWOXt5L8QgbMMgsRzypcqRgk8YNkFwbqlcwLicTybQN1J-o6tsImzSV-0FyDviqHIsfEj/s320/P1060113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349842268843267202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV1Rx3YE6uI56bbeHSk2jF4xI44tBV7P7bfaB4V1YbwV8fZEkv8O0kxjjcKln83HOnvxlfKkxmULLpUtLnQqiGSxe7bHbrdr_sFz6hl6Yasp9YVmkiX6t_4hNZSa7anx_6hMXMMABfj8K/s1600-h/P1060112.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV1Rx3YE6uI56bbeHSk2jF4xI44tBV7P7bfaB4V1YbwV8fZEkv8O0kxjjcKln83HOnvxlfKkxmULLpUtLnQqiGSxe7bHbrdr_sFz6hl6Yasp9YVmkiX6t_4hNZSa7anx_6hMXMMABfj8K/s320/P1060112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349842262058891026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGX5-YF1XYFA4JUkKzT8mUeKt4183s2-lw3AoQTvGvQoo6HWyOQO41COjAl7nCPNmTt2yF6_W6rZMcj-sXOSSQ59hyMLRTqx5LQvmSOAd6-atJ8XV8Cp4otYqUlDn5WukZmqRXDcGaf-zS/s1600-h/P1060109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGX5-YF1XYFA4JUkKzT8mUeKt4183s2-lw3AoQTvGvQoo6HWyOQO41COjAl7nCPNmTt2yF6_W6rZMcj-sXOSSQ59hyMLRTqx5LQvmSOAd6-atJ8XV8Cp4otYqUlDn5WukZmqRXDcGaf-zS/s320/P1060109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349842257006368834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-ty4BnEyFu6R8Bzi6BNCkQtDW2AkbCJt2kgtckGUwVOIMrQF6EWYZ-fU_RiMn8vTLiwXW7IePNp9hZuHvtNGqeIXDmHK4fvhkODr5mcfhyphenhyphen__-IsJljw4g-C84NKx37CFD8TkpeInnXWP/s1600-h/P1060106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWjvjhSQyvEAyRzYbEsDYHQ1MTIkweO-w1hvBpL1Q90G7ppB8cbcrGZiMFWN0GdSinPxWtHScp8nTCuemXRyQiP_bx3gm7-tbST_2Bl1iYqibNJOP9NYi7JUYqJAk7liGARXW2BpH4JYe/s320/P1060044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349839791461600770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_4yQ6Lmsk6KPBOgg8y3c4VHWv35P7d9iWijROR3YnUtHvRfyTJyd18DBiW5FA0JQSjscaoSP-chVuOQHQxq8qLJ_BI7rDm64Ew4qip54SRRYW-V-LsGg4c4r3gbWH1GPhewu9LYJ3vYJ/s1600-h/P1060035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_4yQ6Lmsk6KPBOgg8y3c4VHWv35P7d9iWijROR3YnUtHvRfyTJyd18DBiW5FA0JQSjscaoSP-chVuOQHQxq8qLJ_BI7rDm64Ew4qip54SRRYW-V-LsGg4c4r3gbWH1GPhewu9LYJ3vYJ/s320/P1060035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349839790231685330" border="0" /></a><br />Luxor Temple.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCWGlEmpy41qnDoraMOKpOKRVeG-XFABxDiHECadKMAnsMyBCnJ6t1752WPU4ZPsDGWsTUgtLx1dKmaKr2MbSMr9iw7noZF00fcXij9OjxmQ2eSUAnfAu1gEgFnmwKuDn_-veVfuF-_TW/s1600-h/P1060124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCWGlEmpy41qnDoraMOKpOKRVeG-XFABxDiHECadKMAnsMyBCnJ6t1752WPU4ZPsDGWsTUgtLx1dKmaKr2MbSMr9iw7noZF00fcXij9OjxmQ2eSUAnfAu1gEgFnmwKuDn_-veVfuF-_TW/s320/P1060124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349844474384372850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufTf-aRPXGstt1_CTftqc0D_WprwOS88ymuUZ42xPXTO53fl2GI-P-zhyphenhyphenR_awFLbqtsi5FcycHxH4Qr6plAgxRBoc0LJ2s_7bz_cTrTquGCYMCkMGS07nxFIlj-WZfy74CPFl01ammHur/s1600-h/P1060138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufTf-aRPXGstt1_CTftqc0D_WprwOS88ymuUZ42xPXTO53fl2GI-P-zhyphenhyphenR_awFLbqtsi5FcycHxH4Qr6plAgxRBoc0LJ2s_7bz_cTrTquGCYMCkMGS07nxFIlj-WZfy74CPFl01ammHur/s320/P1060138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349844477586706866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWk6JBmGRZ7E1XKG6i3sAouaOXmQTG1luS8YRKvpZUNL3WQOjP7XWfHPQ6n-8gS8pLvbs214BUaZ2O4tQrNDlOW8mURw9dTaQxAMqfqjgx6L0XzXZhF-wv1ktyHDi1isrq214LGQavzvR/s1600-h/P1060136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsY9pXMLdVroFDi8WYyVOqCtlPqz4DHO4wz29LN9ak0ahWiGWlv7m_QOYSkbA36OhS2l0ycsqS7kIOXWPevX0tIKRoCRlGvVyDcAWQ78j7GFq3IA-axtDX-FmWoyjsH6IIbVCGX3cNH6l/s320/P1060183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349845845170825618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFE5n7eY3jzgCO57OaRMx5Gff3GBLE84GN0j0HS20PYlMvd4okea0e_ziGjtWu6JfQNsOZm6FvkwXVESp0JTzJplewbxCLJjZY8owy_O7e9hUOd0I9syexyPPpxQX_djWVdykrejgdJIy/s1600-h/P1060177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFE5n7eY3jzgCO57OaRMx5Gff3GBLE84GN0j0HS20PYlMvd4okea0e_ziGjtWu6JfQNsOZm6FvkwXVESp0JTzJplewbxCLJjZY8owy_O7e9hUOd0I9syexyPPpxQX_djWVdykrejgdJIy/s320/P1060177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349845838954673842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDOgGRH7irizYYpTTN1qMO563YjI5l84C9i5W5ZMnYVaGiLB5lm00YYmezqt8mMUaiGsePQgW9AajGzm9tZh6NSmhPTzFfU9Nw32KjqqWsk2eFR9Fl_wONiDquXiujiDjWJShp5iV8Hjj/s1600-h/P1060187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDOgGRH7irizYYpTTN1qMO563YjI5l84C9i5W5ZMnYVaGiLB5lm00YYmezqt8mMUaiGsePQgW9AajGzm9tZh6NSmhPTzFfU9Nw32KjqqWsk2eFR9Fl_wONiDquXiujiDjWJShp5iV8Hjj/s320/P1060187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349845848918285234" border="0" /></a><br />On June 1 I took a tour of the tombs of the Valley of the Kings in the West Bank. No photos posted as camera were not permitted inside the tombs. But the paint on the images was remarkably intact and the colors were brilliant.<br /><br />The Al-Deir Al-Bahari Temple.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdkFkVU0hQIBAXFf-tlfFFxrCdEHbIM54Wn3Dsgkw8JdbfFLfNpKCm4IbxQwS5LxVJTSDE_0u3g62qpJu_iZIRHzT1BKAEtMge26uInOkTVHDWWr_8Dx3KyCvQYQV9z-cISCLyVFZ-imG/s1600-h/P1060254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdkFkVU0hQIBAXFf-tlfFFxrCdEHbIM54Wn3Dsgkw8JdbfFLfNpKCm4IbxQwS5LxVJTSDE_0u3g62qpJu_iZIRHzT1BKAEtMge26uInOkTVHDWWr_8Dx3KyCvQYQV9z-cISCLyVFZ-imG/s320/P1060254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349860190502176242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTeRcT1GQn7FvFJ5jGXLlJgjzQvYE_OXY8LD6JMXtEBj1b7SXyloK2Y_F8SDTleLFgwrOTStk6flplY7sQ8rxUNOwvnphIsoqrmaSHRp9wTbp4cBnpAvxgwY_P0XRQYLbnyHTZFJNWORJ/s1600-h/P1060250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTeRcT1GQn7FvFJ5jGXLlJgjzQvYE_OXY8LD6JMXtEBj1b7SXyloK2Y_F8SDTleLFgwrOTStk6flplY7sQ8rxUNOwvnphIsoqrmaSHRp9wTbp4cBnpAvxgwY_P0XRQYLbnyHTZFJNWORJ/s320/P1060250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349860187080892850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiFhaQgFmWvyPHizfYu08UHyoQEW1ryeGPnVj9TJ-UYx5Ho2KLdDCT-YR05y_-45T7VC4iUjorWNHnV1g0EQ7M7qXx_AI6XVhd46A0DCr7gZTYc3zkopxEl5XucSTanL9Zjy6XPaU7jwt/s1600-h/P1060246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiFhaQgFmWvyPHizfYu08UHyoQEW1ryeGPnVj9TJ-UYx5Ho2KLdDCT-YR05y_-45T7VC4iUjorWNHnV1g0EQ7M7qXx_AI6XVhd46A0DCr7gZTYc3zkopxEl5XucSTanL9Zjy6XPaU7jwt/s320/P1060246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349860175555367234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_Q5lNYPQSXQOa5EqT227rRrXcZ1nyPTBdHa-EapDlKoTrUyzPXJsc2X-GZWhJZXFtPIKxxbn3eWbhUCUOcBKgHe5Y2MbBmnnKOd-UhMG4zK45oCzP5yDQ5oBa4j8TdjjWDUe7OI7v3WY/s1600-h/P1060245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_Q5lNYPQSXQOa5EqT227rRrXcZ1nyPTBdHa-EapDlKoTrUyzPXJsc2X-GZWhJZXFtPIKxxbn3eWbhUCUOcBKgHe5Y2MbBmnnKOd-UhMG4zK45oCzP5yDQ5oBa4j8TdjjWDUe7OI7v3WY/s320/P1060245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349860174884657970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC04YN9dUUCOmbXz2hDfZn74G00dHiQy3a8IkSvbKXR9mWev4WHWiSsKlPld9awWVLP1zmb1a17ZlJz01sNyHsI4ru1LVHYAexPCyk_D19LnKrbLFnya26YD_AmpuHP_DFBJv0Z347lPe0/s1600-h/P1060242.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC04YN9dUUCOmbXz2hDfZn74G00dHiQy3a8IkSvbKXR9mWev4WHWiSsKlPld9awWVLP1zmb1a17ZlJz01sNyHsI4ru1LVHYAexPCyk_D19LnKrbLFnya26YD_AmpuHP_DFBJv0Z347lPe0/s320/P1060242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349853809179366754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXpr-rV_zYOvXpTnmK5pP72DFd9rEmVxmlOfpcAyEhJ8vPvPwWVp08pfFO9jz3FwLu8j9KxL1tcHpgu41CmmOV9bqsj-IPhmHaa_g7gWZ6hKIkPsBtnWlG7k650AS8oRbVaBtk3uY1yxb/s1600-h/P1060237.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXpr-rV_zYOvXpTnmK5pP72DFd9rEmVxmlOfpcAyEhJ8vPvPwWVp08pfFO9jz3FwLu8j9KxL1tcHpgu41CmmOV9bqsj-IPhmHaa_g7gWZ6hKIkPsBtnWlG7k650AS8oRbVaBtk3uY1yxb/s320/P1060237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349853808592575602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ1Fp3Sg-O99y-G_9u6eX-KLoItfCZUrOlaia4kEZ_AogJX1GLWleiBfq0T-4FsVD6Txh8WKfI9Nwg-wOsBmZv59MF07wNVSUq2GkgdTQpfVxRBtZjZhrcC31B4JrK_tSnsgmaofNSRrr/s1600-h/P1060218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ1Fp3Sg-O99y-G_9u6eX-KLoItfCZUrOlaia4kEZ_AogJX1GLWleiBfq0T-4FsVD6Txh8WKfI9Nwg-wOsBmZv59MF07wNVSUq2GkgdTQpfVxRBtZjZhrcC31B4JrK_tSnsgmaofNSRrr/s320/P1060218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349853803108449266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXDlrxKHFw64M6DIBYsmgZpDHpal6h6i_KNQECP02WThCRfaUkjs05wFkaODc4iybpnMuAYN20VwM1QJ2vmApaJg6vKVGEQ0qProNbIw2WfAP-FBrZCW-i5JBNyPQ_an0KY4vRYstTchk/s1600-h/P1060216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXDlrxKHFw64M6DIBYsmgZpDHpal6h6i_KNQECP02WThCRfaUkjs05wFkaODc4iybpnMuAYN20VwM1QJ2vmApaJg6vKVGEQ0qProNbIw2WfAP-FBrZCW-i5JBNyPQ_an0KY4vRYstTchk/s320/P1060216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349853794718436610" border="0" /></a><br />I noticed the below eye symbol all over Egypt. It looked familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. It is the Eye of Horus an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection. Finally it hit me....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_LrE71MwsFw1ZrroZOYZIrdVCJUcxx3Zm8PCIU_8HWegW7xOdSD4AEmA6geOWjhXaTQGKdQdKSGHRMeED1CjVD0tF3bKmB6zU_ZPDvGLX2z_VpzczM0ZiSAR1foQIZjD52Q2N7JZwTl_/s1600-h/P1060249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_LrE71MwsFw1ZrroZOYZIrdVCJUcxx3Zm8PCIU_8HWegW7xOdSD4AEmA6geOWjhXaTQGKdQdKSGHRMeED1CjVD0tF3bKmB6zU_ZPDvGLX2z_VpzczM0ZiSAR1foQIZjD52Q2N7JZwTl_/s320/P1060249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349860180760229266" border="0" /></a>It was from the cover of 1982 album Eye In The Sky by the Alan Parsons Project.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2R4V1P0gaQPzwK94H09WeDo7e-EeNpWJ9SCPD6RzPNZsjkGoVDQfEUqrW8i4g1OgHEmtpF8pWmxhh4XUJR9kRKw70BB_4bmQKG2WwH1g5DZN-yyS7gxiv5KVVMg8CipVYj1yiDrfEQT-r/s1600-h/TheAlanParsonsProject-EyeintheSky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2R4V1P0gaQPzwK94H09WeDo7e-EeNpWJ9SCPD6RzPNZsjkGoVDQfEUqrW8i4g1OgHEmtpF8pWmxhh4XUJR9kRKw70BB_4bmQKG2WwH1g5DZN-yyS7gxiv5KVVMg8CipVYj1yiDrfEQT-r/s320/TheAlanParsonsProject-EyeintheSky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349863562190427586" border="0" /></a><br />The evening of June 1 I took an overnight train back to Cairo. I got into Cairo on the morning of the 2nd. I would have stayed another night or two in Luxor, but President Obama was giving a speech in Cairo on June 4 and I wanted to get out of town before the big "O" rolled into town. On normal days security in Egypt is pretty tight. I went through more police checkpoints than I could count. I can't imagine what it would be like with the current US president in town. I went to the bus station and caught a bus to Mt. Sinai. At the bus station, I met Jeff, a paleontologist from Michigan, who was also going to Mt. Sinai. He had been working in Egypt on a grant and spoke a bit of Arabic. We got into Mt. Sinai about 10:00pm and went to the base near St. Katherine's Monastery. We wanted to hike up the mountain but they told us we needed a guide. It was a full moon outside and the path was well-marked. I wondered if this was another scam. The tourist policeman at the office said we did, indeed need a guide and it would cost $15. This still seemed like a scam, but he wasn't letting us go up without one. The guide showed up in about 10 minutes and took us up the mountain. We got up there about 2:00am. It was about a two hour hike and was pretty steep. I was spent. We rented some blankets from a local shopkeeper at the top and slept on top of the mountain.<br /><br />Mt. Sinai is the place where Moses climbed and received the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments from God. We woke up about 5:30 to see the sunrise. I did not see two stone tablets, but I did see hoards of German and French tourists. Most people climb the mountain early in the morning while it is not too hot and to see the sunrise. That was a good idea as the views were incredible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QPoqO2R98BB3XjB0hhExR8xY7qbw_LF5WNG_cjbJeI7Y0nfRP2A88djdo6UTGKmL-TQBlsDMOfRTSqIvKlGZS0P4DHcuckDVtgtSjry2g9kpW5o9kULuqZceSqsdmlcR3ENi9Tv9FhMI/s1600-h/P1060294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QPoqO2R98BB3XjB0hhExR8xY7qbw_LF5WNG_cjbJeI7Y0nfRP2A88djdo6UTGKmL-TQBlsDMOfRTSqIvKlGZS0P4DHcuckDVtgtSjry2g9kpW5o9kULuqZceSqsdmlcR3ENi9Tv9FhMI/s320/P1060294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349878309570250562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KqQLLo7sjks9jsHtAI8GAWRbqGcwEIYB3PSwH_7QIyvEN6LAk2vnvi1cgnS58BF1cQMk4CWEv40Hd3uGnh4-rpGdAf0i9oMvXtGvM6AwgyOz1s1Ma8fs2guoWhihrMhGL58TDdhh0ort/s1600-h/P1060292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KqQLLo7sjks9jsHtAI8GAWRbqGcwEIYB3PSwH_7QIyvEN6LAk2vnvi1cgnS58BF1cQMk4CWEv40Hd3uGnh4-rpGdAf0i9oMvXtGvM6AwgyOz1s1Ma8fs2guoWhihrMhGL58TDdhh0ort/s320/P1060292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349878034618308498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2VnwdyZ9nAHh6lbWMSSTSgYxuJK4kQcKJeuBrJq7ybkj2_uRlewykX16hkUIsUx1uvIxmZV05z1YLGFdmYYytLlWHxHh2l5AkETQXHjF7dejvEUlInIIAmJRcxH97P9Y_estNzIsCUXK/s1600-h/P1060291.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2VnwdyZ9nAHh6lbWMSSTSgYxuJK4kQcKJeuBrJq7ybkj2_uRlewykX16hkUIsUx1uvIxmZV05z1YLGFdmYYytLlWHxHh2l5AkETQXHjF7dejvEUlInIIAmJRcxH97P9Y_estNzIsCUXK/s320/P1060291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349878031470409714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qfySDT6tiD16op-hwM0GyGh7GyO-5vBRAplUZq-fA3ivMd4sHlShOHQl7upzihBPzoYn9mxwxl6CEDhcZ8tztAbXybqM4kc0QSKJzeoXs4xsoDYIjVSEROBnDyopvmT-6aLmwZdPJXKp/s1600-h/P1060289.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qfySDT6tiD16op-hwM0GyGh7GyO-5vBRAplUZq-fA3ivMd4sHlShOHQl7upzihBPzoYn9mxwxl6CEDhcZ8tztAbXybqM4kc0QSKJzeoXs4xsoDYIjVSEROBnDyopvmT-6aLmwZdPJXKp/s320/P1060289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349878024984494002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdltSI-CSAT7Bypft48RNE_nVj4A51s1fRKN2F-L-3fMvkHwhkDEMz95PVvUh6qjLp8gBeYoSRsT1gvMvbO1Dx7o8HRreCE840b-yatiilDQyZjQ69pwZMrp3-BqZfbZU3DAC9xtZaWhYc/s1600-h/P1060288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdltSI-CSAT7Bypft48RNE_nVj4A51s1fRKN2F-L-3fMvkHwhkDEMz95PVvUh6qjLp8gBeYoSRsT1gvMvbO1Dx7o8HRreCE840b-yatiilDQyZjQ69pwZMrp3-BqZfbZU3DAC9xtZaWhYc/s320/P1060288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349878022715057394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOjBvL6fwyeBvieSurJBHrgsg2yqJmAbiL_bpAXe3wvEpKqyVqc9Uz2iKZER8a2X-Drt9VXAh9pVX2xe0g0Wa3gK1hecwkaNLuLzpy4A2iQrvFst-fvufnuTKmnXH7M2YuvN0UyUOLaSa/s1600-h/P1060274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOjBvL6fwyeBvieSurJBHrgsg2yqJmAbiL_bpAXe3wvEpKqyVqc9Uz2iKZER8a2X-Drt9VXAh9pVX2xe0g0Wa3gK1hecwkaNLuLzpy4A2iQrvFst-fvufnuTKmnXH7M2YuvN0UyUOLaSa/s320/P1060274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349878017003832690" border="0" /></a><br />St. Katherine's Monestary is at the foot of the mountain and was built on the site of the burning bush.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCo25vEeD6k5wek8Sgy3QVoxnaDWKAf6gTLYGBX2We3GlaYxpOc53J8JnPM7P29-euuCu5H_-3WLpubLv9SpP5z_eYxUfmAC_FhmHTsW2nMxRUnRnwQNUZ2ZsJA_QxRV4Q18pXieO_rjD/s1600-h/P1060303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCo25vEeD6k5wek8Sgy3QVoxnaDWKAf6gTLYGBX2We3GlaYxpOc53J8JnPM7P29-euuCu5H_-3WLpubLv9SpP5z_eYxUfmAC_FhmHTsW2nMxRUnRnwQNUZ2ZsJA_QxRV4Q18pXieO_rjD/s320/P1060303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349883851001985730" border="0" /></a><br />On June 3 I came down from the mountain and took a taxi to Nuweiba. There was no bus service from St. Katherines to the east, despite what the Lonely Planet guidebook said. I then took a bus from Nuweiba to Taba and then walked to the Israeli border.<br /><br />I was looking forward to Israel and Europe. I was getting a little weary of the hassles of traveling in Egypt, and maybe the third world in general.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-736131265598078632009-06-11T13:17:00.015-04:002009-06-12T16:07:07.163-04:00JordanOn May 14, I flew from Delhi to Amman, Jordan via Kuwait City. Of Cairo, Tel Aviv and Amman, Amman was the cheapest place to fly to from Delhi. Of all the carriers to Amman, Kuwait Airways was cheaper than the others by about $50. So I thought, why spend $50 more for the same ride? Kuwait is the third richest country in the world in per-capita income. How bad could their national airline be? I would later come to regret that decision. I purchased a ticket on their website. I've had problems with my Capital One Visa credit card authorizing plane and train tickets purchased online. I've been denied a total of five times, each time involving at least two phone calls to Capital One. One of those times was for a $10 train ticket purchased on the India Rail website. I've explained to those morons no less than eight times that I'm traveling and airline and train tickets should be expected, so I thought that finally it would be over. I was actually a bit surprised when the transaction went through. I got a confirmation email and all was right with the world, until the next day.<br /><br />I got an email from Capital One stating that there had been suspicious activity on my account and I needed to call them. I also got an email from Kuwait Airways saying my reservation had been canceled due to "suspected activity on the account" I called them and, sure enough, they thought my airline ticket was a suspicious activity. I asked to speak with a manager. I asked her, "How many ^*$^#W@ times do I have to tell you I'm traveling and will be buying airline tickets online? Will you look at my transaction history? How many charges were denied for suspected fraud? How many went through after calling? All of them right? Do you people just like hearing my voice?". I was talking loudly because I was using Skype and the connection wasn't the best. Everyone in the internet cafe was looking at me. She said the charge was not denied and it was simply a verification service to alert me of potential fraud. The airline website didn't have a customer service number, so I called the local Delhi office. They told me the charge did not go though, which is not what my credit card company told me. It was coming up on two days before my scheduled flight. They said they would check with headquarters and try to resolve for me. My goal was to fly to Amman, Jordan on May 14 and only be charged once for it. It didn't seem like too much to ask for. They told me that to fly on that route, I would need to come to their office on Cannaught Place in Delhi and to pay for the ticket. I had a hotel near the airport and was looking forward to sleeping after that crappy 12 hour bus ride back from Dharamsala. So I took a rickshaw into Cannaught Place ($3). Went to the Kuwait Airways office on the fourth floor of a non-descript building and paid cash for a ticket that cost $7 more than the ticket I'd booked online (they said that booking through the internet was cheaper). What kind of payment acceptance operation is this? I then took a rickshaw back to my hotel ($3). Having gone through that, Capital One owes me $13 and a day of my life back. I'm still waiting. I could have booked a ticket online on antother website, but I really couldn't chance having another charge denied by Capital One since I was flying out the next day.<br /><br />I cannot wait until I get home and cut up this stupid Capital One Visa card. In fact, I don't think cutting it up will do justice. I need something bigger. In an action movie, the villain cannot die simply from a random gunshot. He has to die some spectacular, horrible death with explosions. I need to think of some spectacular way to destroy this credit card when I get back. Any suggestions would be appreciated.<br /><br />I went to the airport and boarded my 6:00am Kuwait Airlines flight. The in flight magazine gave a history of Kuwait Airways and noted that in 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, the company and all it's aircraft fleet were stolen or destroyed. In 1991, they relaunched with an all new, modern fleet. It appeared that little had changed since 1991. The plane, and everything about it seemed old. When the in flight safety instruction video got to the part about portable electronic devices, it showed crossed out pictures of an old Sony Walkman cassette player, an early 90's Gameboy, and a really ancient looking laptop computer. The seat in front of me had a very small, fuzzy screen for in flight entertainment. They passed out headphones, but that was pretty much a worthless exercise since the audio wasn't working on the entire plane. I probably shouldn't complain, it was really no worse than flying Delta, but after flying Ethiad from Brisbane to Singapore, with the personal entertainment center with over 100 movies, young and attractive flight attendants, great food, and a wide variety of free booze, it was really a let down. It was how I imagine flying was 50 years ago (except for the personal entertainment center). Kuwait Airways had crappy food, mostly male flight attendants, an entertainment center that would have been impressive 15 years ago had it had sound, and no booze at all (alcohol is illegal in Kuwait). Looking back, I would have gladly spent the extra $50 to fly Ethiad through Abu Dahbi or Gulf Air through Bahrain. I couldn't have possibly envisioned the hassle and disappointment this flight would bring when I booked the ticket.<br /><br />I had an eight hour layover at the Kuwait airport. The airport was really nice but small and with few shops and restaurants. No smoking signs were flagrantly disregarded. There was a cloudy haze as the airplane was approaching. I thought I would be able to see one of the average two days of rain Kuwait gets annually. I boarded my connecting flight to Amman. I guess the airport is pretty far out of the city, because all I could see out the window was the desert and a massive sandstorm.<br /><br />Jordan is a country of over 6 million, 65% of which are Palestinian. Jordan has taken in a lot of Palestinian and later, Iraqi refugees. It has a very western friendly King (Abdullah II) who is the head of state, but there is an elected parliament. His wife, Queen Rainia wears western clothes, champions many causes such as education and womens' rights in the middle east, and is absolutely stunning. The Jordanians love their royal family and their pictures are literally everywhere. It has pretty good relations with Israel. Alcohol is legal (although not really part of the culture). Although it has its problems, Jordan seems to be a model of what a modern, moderate middle-eastern country can be. I don't think that gets enough attention in the press.<br /><br />I got into Amman that evening and took a bus from the airport into town, then a taxi to my hotel. Amman was a good base for day trips and I spent a couple of days there. The first couple of days I spent walking around Amman getting oriented.<br /><br />The Roman Amphitheater.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolx6EWerg_lqiM8cr_9AWnrOI3j18a4brfuHvhQ4S7f1UqvG2iQV37LYbTS0O65PgVMQzweOJSBn-khmtjAif9zwZYP6M7xbX1ot16_zC0eHvkWk3tCHxaCR0kpl2Tuu-0lS4DH_dYriH/s1600-h/P1040826.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolx6EWerg_lqiM8cr_9AWnrOI3j18a4brfuHvhQ4S7f1UqvG2iQV37LYbTS0O65PgVMQzweOJSBn-khmtjAif9zwZYP6M7xbX1ot16_zC0eHvkWk3tCHxaCR0kpl2Tuu-0lS4DH_dYriH/s320/P1040826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346046949711860994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaZXcJjmHuTpd256Ahe8GIpAW420fKPavEpe4CHZTuMF0rJREQoVVhE973HTCszQ8pNJozuyTrq0JY93WcDgtfK5JCjsfai_uMTppbCVmwMPKV2bYYOhk6-pPNSZYpVhlgbSIjpGaVCco/s1600-h/P1040812.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaZXcJjmHuTpd256Ahe8GIpAW420fKPavEpe4CHZTuMF0rJREQoVVhE973HTCszQ8pNJozuyTrq0JY93WcDgtfK5JCjsfai_uMTppbCVmwMPKV2bYYOhk6-pPNSZYpVhlgbSIjpGaVCco/s320/P1040812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346046944777087106" border="0" /></a>Al-Husseiny Mosque.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4152V29jGWltmZnAJCiUl0Rw4AWGqqsOoZKE_S4fj2EulQK9iOxpgPnkgtyRRuCi-6K1x1zGBa9BnKWUExI9iSadVQMW9bKONAnb5qDu2UW8H0UbOECv4OTZKTpMwoPGxJB3B4URwZ-Ys/s1600-h/P1040773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4152V29jGWltmZnAJCiUl0Rw4AWGqqsOoZKE_S4fj2EulQK9iOxpgPnkgtyRRuCi-6K1x1zGBa9BnKWUExI9iSadVQMW9bKONAnb5qDu2UW8H0UbOECv4OTZKTpMwoPGxJB3B4URwZ-Ys/s320/P1040773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346046947129255938" border="0" /></a><br />The Citadel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJJ_YFKkxk4osziftji0ZSc37Cc4sLFrH11jxkb0_DqEshj-XpRjMtku5SddBGxiKWYqG_19QiynVl4E_OJfq-sydoHvzqBShZNPCwSnBEXqDuDGrt69y9aKMv3hvXcMm4rZSGIZdeBQX/s1600-h/P1040905.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJJ_YFKkxk4osziftji0ZSc37Cc4sLFrH11jxkb0_DqEshj-XpRjMtku5SddBGxiKWYqG_19QiynVl4E_OJfq-sydoHvzqBShZNPCwSnBEXqDuDGrt69y9aKMv3hvXcMm4rZSGIZdeBQX/s320/P1040905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047207271367730" border="0" /></a>The National Archeological Museum includes parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFOTUA9s6xxNT6spQ8EZz2CKW4RbiHHVXAAiEgPtVkOWqZ7-RzsejJEfYj8t37M82ELMpw4y8L5weIzwNbBQq3N_K8vh5QuAE1CSg7d3NoWj_jLOuc6nBxssbBMB2K2YXJXpZzc6h1gUo/s1600-h/P1040878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFOTUA9s6xxNT6spQ8EZz2CKW4RbiHHVXAAiEgPtVkOWqZ7-RzsejJEfYj8t37M82ELMpw4y8L5weIzwNbBQq3N_K8vh5QuAE1CSg7d3NoWj_jLOuc6nBxssbBMB2K2YXJXpZzc6h1gUo/s320/P1040878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346046954109962226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKL813dpDDnfC8pfXODsOVlQATgIvcyM9vfdXai7j1lzMNPVMJhytt0PT7JyzMHuKjonu8hxOHn9OwoGI0btMjXgAGKO-h-3Y0Q5PU2jbjxsHEpzpP8l7za9UHI1mbVqzfWWRGn1I_E19/s1600-h/P1040883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKL813dpDDnfC8pfXODsOVlQATgIvcyM9vfdXai7j1lzMNPVMJhytt0PT7JyzMHuKjonu8hxOHn9OwoGI0btMjXgAGKO-h-3Y0Q5PU2jbjxsHEpzpP8l7za9UHI1mbVqzfWWRGn1I_E19/s320/P1040883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346046959144514018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hotel arranged day tours and I took two. They weren't tours so much as they were an arranged driver. On May 17, I took a day trip with four Italians to sights in northern Jordan. The first stop was to the Roman ruins of Umm Qais.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFH9-gOdG57IZn-6Ph1vkahQ8LKTmz9RjB0NW7XM1k7qUx6HXdZ35rrP8TCjYdOuNO3c3Iox5pTDwS-WaTiPcEg3vr_zbyUrUTKRMIkQzBKt_f84g7YvMdv55_MLGZqZhg9AT9ioiAnNK/s1600-h/P1040916.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFH9-gOdG57IZn-6Ph1vkahQ8LKTmz9RjB0NW7XM1k7qUx6HXdZ35rrP8TCjYdOuNO3c3Iox5pTDwS-WaTiPcEg3vr_zbyUrUTKRMIkQzBKt_f84g7YvMdv55_MLGZqZhg9AT9ioiAnNK/s320/P1040916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047213124025826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4P_nbnUaFpGBI9pB8bN8SzzetZhDYNwytBdhiK5Q4apy0EbWz2IgViEKngcEdrkRtcaeShq6yKQEcX3kH5tBwh62PLc4ymVfXYc3a_9FmOYq1imSh7agh7Dk3rfM2QjMhARvpcd7UB_6U/s1600-h/P1040941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4P_nbnUaFpGBI9pB8bN8SzzetZhDYNwytBdhiK5Q4apy0EbWz2IgViEKngcEdrkRtcaeShq6yKQEcX3kH5tBwh62PLc4ymVfXYc3a_9FmOYq1imSh7agh7Dk3rfM2QjMhARvpcd7UB_6U/s320/P1040941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047215867705234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQaNjNiBEr4om7dusldccjS1d5QmmLzLgZH2xMpwDLnMXZkWU6XYGsWwx0iG2U-ARZtwcdbMPW6lkWBM-yew3vNS6cswtPtUmq2wUbOhtNkmtwpBrhMgS1mJoWRI9yBI47TiqDlo0ptsJ/s1600-h/P1040942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQaNjNiBEr4om7dusldccjS1d5QmmLzLgZH2xMpwDLnMXZkWU6XYGsWwx0iG2U-ARZtwcdbMPW6lkWBM-yew3vNS6cswtPtUmq2wUbOhtNkmtwpBrhMgS1mJoWRI9yBI47TiqDlo0ptsJ/s320/P1040942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047218759991874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH18OZLGWCPC_G-ZaTcB5E-HyjEwRI5ur2zN1aU8ULETidg7ezyJx2G3XsAa7J0uXo6flj3Ey2HqHXAbTqUWDvFye1QRf9TFKfGdkGIAfclwJw5dTGB1l8oIbiGZBM5E6g8oywD2S344p/s1600-h/P1050003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH18OZLGWCPC_G-ZaTcB5E-HyjEwRI5ur2zN1aU8ULETidg7ezyJx2G3XsAa7J0uXo6flj3Ey2HqHXAbTqUWDvFye1QRf9TFKfGdkGIAfclwJw5dTGB1l8oIbiGZBM5E6g8oywD2S344p/s320/P1050003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047512827088962" border="0" /></a><br />The second stop was Ajloun Castle. Ajloun was built high on a hill between 1184-1188 by the Arabs as protection against the crusaders. It had some fantastic views over the countryside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZwQRf_1U4-OJAdWVgLAIqElmUIvGaUytnEB82dbHHLuSPg11z47VHXKUZcsn1fqbzTOeBM7Vr8gPQpaBvxEmI_B13-dBOI4hz0aLpbIwmjtmq11W_lHRnaL2ZwkU3V7y8tQCJVUiDv5N/s1600-h/P1040986.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZwQRf_1U4-OJAdWVgLAIqElmUIvGaUytnEB82dbHHLuSPg11z47VHXKUZcsn1fqbzTOeBM7Vr8gPQpaBvxEmI_B13-dBOI4hz0aLpbIwmjtmq11W_lHRnaL2ZwkU3V7y8tQCJVUiDv5N/s320/P1040986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047220225351330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB5ankPyXhHudfm2sLl1yAywRF7J0hU1Cdb-q_PfNyvbXaVKxln0gfvttg6gJDJF8PV6PMCwah2cr23Z7eCfMYnRfnxsAEg6jj5J356BIRgK0Z6CTWWqn8LXoEvdt0I8VtnZxadFWSB2U/s1600-h/P1040994.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB5ankPyXhHudfm2sLl1yAywRF7J0hU1Cdb-q_PfNyvbXaVKxln0gfvttg6gJDJF8PV6PMCwah2cr23Z7eCfMYnRfnxsAEg6jj5J356BIRgK0Z6CTWWqn8LXoEvdt0I8VtnZxadFWSB2U/s320/P1040994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047511438847202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH18OZLGWCPC_G-ZaTcB5E-HyjEwRI5ur2zN1aU8ULETidg7ezyJx2G3XsAa7J0uXo6flj3Ey2HqHXAbTqUWDvFye1QRf9TFKfGdkGIAfclwJw5dTGB1l8oIbiGZBM5E6g8oywD2S344p/s1600-h/P1050003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH18OZLGWCPC_G-ZaTcB5E-HyjEwRI5ur2zN1aU8ULETidg7ezyJx2G3XsAa7J0uXo6flj3Ey2HqHXAbTqUWDvFye1QRf9TFKfGdkGIAfclwJw5dTGB1l8oIbiGZBM5E6g8oywD2S344p/s320/P1050003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047512827088962" border="0" /></a><br />The third stop was Jerash. Jerash is probably the second most popular attraction in Jordan next to Petra. It has an outstanding collection of Roman ruins - much better than the one's I've seen in Rome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nRkaUQUZRFhPRZpDA0swSCvhyD2HxS4X8EtWHz5WX-SsKcv-WVymMlYWQBibvLE3AkOigUBfqHXlq8nLGpGTDbVjNlEJ-DnPQ5lTAl4rYWVw8oLS5Ipb6E3bkpATk8P57AVcR6QkVgPW/s1600-h/P1050020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nRkaUQUZRFhPRZpDA0swSCvhyD2HxS4X8EtWHz5WX-SsKcv-WVymMlYWQBibvLE3AkOigUBfqHXlq8nLGpGTDbVjNlEJ-DnPQ5lTAl4rYWVw8oLS5Ipb6E3bkpATk8P57AVcR6QkVgPW/s320/P1050020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047516086498050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDwE9q02RZniIUyal6ngNbecBIoKmVJTdptIdOpYqDToPA1zeW5A8ocMXQgL8eAfJwVAM7YPG8YCUyE54tMRlX33oVktj0OVK99LLOThZ5fz_jBoKyL4oKhcXBdvptMxVq1FBKtEeZ0Zh/s1600-h/P1050029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDwE9q02RZniIUyal6ngNbecBIoKmVJTdptIdOpYqDToPA1zeW5A8ocMXQgL8eAfJwVAM7YPG8YCUyE54tMRlX33oVktj0OVK99LLOThZ5fz_jBoKyL4oKhcXBdvptMxVq1FBKtEeZ0Zh/s320/P1050029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047516384975858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXaXpLTR3__SIUrXIjNyGkpocYjyy6YMNDeYx4ikgRsX3yGeuipExaECYIu_pfTcgFtT4ah4kLcJOjVNyfBail1iq3yqi9WiLohphvJGP7gtCRPd1E2teOAPismdh-k4w09xe6nV7-e3i/s1600-h/P1050046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXaXpLTR3__SIUrXIjNyGkpocYjyy6YMNDeYx4ikgRsX3yGeuipExaECYIu_pfTcgFtT4ah4kLcJOjVNyfBail1iq3yqi9WiLohphvJGP7gtCRPd1E2teOAPismdh-k4w09xe6nV7-e3i/s320/P1050046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047520373986002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7C2gV3AgbSQCJtOsQGvKbcpdAeFhN1OP210WbW-WE72-x063owj3cmat5Mi13KN3UC29wBgFbcsKTisxxCYdLddN2gDAh_fjMhX2YDmOWvuWJr3w8yNfVEoJLt9IDLvShNGiGwYg3jqp/s1600-h/P1050073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7C2gV3AgbSQCJtOsQGvKbcpdAeFhN1OP210WbW-WE72-x063owj3cmat5Mi13KN3UC29wBgFbcsKTisxxCYdLddN2gDAh_fjMhX2YDmOWvuWJr3w8yNfVEoJLt9IDLvShNGiGwYg3jqp/s320/P1050073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047751011245026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q-5iua-XeD6sTOU2zFtxUtWC_AROSc4EqhIeK8wD0ha5Fanl7D8K9UgLjDBpSwffTRlmalJJS6l-DE4nJmlGHVshHGjO0epEZ7F-xc9TMHwv9nRSVsBhUdr8Bx-wN7mOHnAHXQirCUAi/s1600-h/P1050091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q-5iua-XeD6sTOU2zFtxUtWC_AROSc4EqhIeK8wD0ha5Fanl7D8K9UgLjDBpSwffTRlmalJJS6l-DE4nJmlGHVshHGjO0epEZ7F-xc9TMHwv9nRSVsBhUdr8Bx-wN7mOHnAHXQirCUAi/s320/P1050091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047752481122338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPddUbxLCk48a1cDaRUT5Q5PdDPoUM_oKyuOJBWvpg5EGAwncMmjWd77LwpjN6i27dD_Zns0FxnOUG1v5lkFLVv68KF-q7sPNFrusIu2yuKaGChTxHXHUIlBBqywXUAuL09Q0JcVZAAYq/s1600-h/P1050092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPddUbxLCk48a1cDaRUT5Q5PdDPoUM_oKyuOJBWvpg5EGAwncMmjWd77LwpjN6i27dD_Zns0FxnOUG1v5lkFLVv68KF-q7sPNFrusIu2yuKaGChTxHXHUIlBBqywXUAuL09Q0JcVZAAYq/s320/P1050092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047753994978258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlWFXx5O6XvBVP_RHeAGF-l_zeVpqQSyWPmiI1mONUxaEkI_OgNPrdME-adzBCg-0vv7AOXImQT2hQUTdaAlmjCrwGGYCy4fP3XsMX7zJA8VA2w4WfGoxEuOTgSPgcxmVss1gI_9UTbbE/s1600-h/P1050098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlWFXx5O6XvBVP_RHeAGF-l_zeVpqQSyWPmiI1mONUxaEkI_OgNPrdME-adzBCg-0vv7AOXImQT2hQUTdaAlmjCrwGGYCy4fP3XsMX7zJA8VA2w4WfGoxEuOTgSPgcxmVss1gI_9UTbbE/s320/P1050098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047757774593730" border="0" /></a><br />On May 18, I took a trip to Madaba, Mt Nebo, Bethany Beyond the Jordan, and the Dead sea with two old French ladies. Old people share a lot of similarities regardless of where they are from. They are a bit clueless and verbalize it. If they can't find something, they will say, "I can't find this, where is it?" to no one in particular. They were very sweet, however, and I had a great time with them that day.<br /><br />They had both either been to or were going to Syria. Most people I met traveling in Jordan were going there. It was not somewhere I had originally thought of going, but it sounded like an interesting place to visit and a lot of people go there. I did a little research. Syria requires a visa before going and the consulate in Amman does not issue visas to foreigners. So I'll add that to the list for a future trip - maybe when I'm as old as the French ladies.<br /><br />The first stop was St George's Church in the city of Madaba. St. George's was built in the 19th century, but has a floor with a mosaic map of the holy land that dates back to 560 AD. The map was a remnant of an old Byzantine church long since destroyed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFZ63bmJ_wqHJYG9L2D1crN4vKhHP96A0X1N1yHzOFiB95kqe6EhFO2OS8UhXJJ5DuBTlM8cXd-3fXzAro2yiOkHwhfwVjrou7B-VvJQvY3sPmaKbOZUosM9uZt_rtRWw6Ps4o69cASRf/s1600-h/P1050107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFZ63bmJ_wqHJYG9L2D1crN4vKhHP96A0X1N1yHzOFiB95kqe6EhFO2OS8UhXJJ5DuBTlM8cXd-3fXzAro2yiOkHwhfwVjrou7B-VvJQvY3sPmaKbOZUosM9uZt_rtRWw6Ps4o69cASRf/s320/P1050107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047946231045538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5m4rRWvudAPwRCFJWmbxrchQKmMBkvjegTfwwan1yqzXgRrBMDZLI_XHqC32gvHBzoUadGQ1D7-5VisGzihqZTIwNiNcxekhzc_du0gp-H2vLndUuw5ybCbC74NI2jDwcR-FeqDrLsRBM/s1600-h/P1050112.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5m4rRWvudAPwRCFJWmbxrchQKmMBkvjegTfwwan1yqzXgRrBMDZLI_XHqC32gvHBzoUadGQ1D7-5VisGzihqZTIwNiNcxekhzc_du0gp-H2vLndUuw5ybCbC74NI2jDwcR-FeqDrLsRBM/s320/P1050112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047949589557650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfaj2TPu5sxcHds3DqvfsA9HlwYS7YeKQu9i_x-VnLg15ln448rHajr1zMkXbkaAd9YE_apg_TqQDKDk9dMT5SKtWB-pHLR4XVD6v4YGeCwIBiw1NKlfL19QQAAtGbOBN0vHma2RugBgO/s1600-h/P1050116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfaj2TPu5sxcHds3DqvfsA9HlwYS7YeKQu9i_x-VnLg15ln448rHajr1zMkXbkaAd9YE_apg_TqQDKDk9dMT5SKtWB-pHLR4XVD6v4YGeCwIBiw1NKlfL19QQAAtGbOBN0vHma2RugBgO/s320/P1050116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047955219691330" border="0" /></a><br />The second stop was Mt. Nebo. Mt. Nebo is the place where Moses climbed, looked out over the promised land, and subsequently died at age 120. On a clear day you can see Jerusalem. It was a bit hazy that day and I, unfortunately, could not see the promised land.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtcKqYaQVG_sMCil2sDdNfesrXAs0r0kkBp814scVzaV3g6eRQCu4lnYRD7QGflmB-Ix1AtmCj6pkpUYsoV71E4eq7CWc74aFTCLoMY4MmJ9owHfWnCH9QdEWuoQgzDKyoG6YK4g4L5qQ/s1600-h/P1050146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtcKqYaQVG_sMCil2sDdNfesrXAs0r0kkBp814scVzaV3g6eRQCu4lnYRD7QGflmB-Ix1AtmCj6pkpUYsoV71E4eq7CWc74aFTCLoMY4MmJ9owHfWnCH9QdEWuoQgzDKyoG6YK4g4L5qQ/s320/P1050146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346048836647071778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL7GDzkxDHPcw-hzVYMt_bvzwFXUXZY_HJRTd_JM5JpLFL1VHc6CHhC0I1L_Q9VR6rQs52b8Y2ip-JWiJIvYFZwfM40i4aDBlpBPkjtbB0vUdxxenbLrLu_I9o2I-FRZA8WpvZn-tlU74/s1600-h/P1050135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL7GDzkxDHPcw-hzVYMt_bvzwFXUXZY_HJRTd_JM5JpLFL1VHc6CHhC0I1L_Q9VR6rQs52b8Y2ip-JWiJIvYFZwfM40i4aDBlpBPkjtbB0vUdxxenbLrLu_I9o2I-FRZA8WpvZn-tlU74/s320/P1050135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346047956493273650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DqqguYDIPEPnFolBN45A3vA6r_LKs21QtZbKqerx20b1QkjWcyaIF6cTjpgEGwhtRd7uP0sx6WXzS7710jprgGG1u9KQX0y_bihrF-vRFXVxingauru7HqcaBUe6CgNhhyt5MPXhNUkq/s1600-h/P1050138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DqqguYDIPEPnFolBN45A3vA6r_LKs21QtZbKqerx20b1QkjWcyaIF6cTjpgEGwhtRd7uP0sx6WXzS7710jprgGG1u9KQX0y_bihrF-vRFXVxingauru7HqcaBUe6CgNhhyt5MPXhNUkq/s320/P1050138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346048833445870354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjT84DPcwUDyv9fpLRLSJgdvXsTh1NU1mvWYEHVyQYMvDRGulbKMFws7yFTmV7faRyB3U1RBoGPAr8_Tv6oT_u50MWurPKYinCvQIra_LU5WME7hf8eQNgYYG9gJfmvte3DlUFsMbJ74b/s1600-h/P1050147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjT84DPcwUDyv9fpLRLSJgdvXsTh1NU1mvWYEHVyQYMvDRGulbKMFws7yFTmV7faRyB3U1RBoGPAr8_Tv6oT_u50MWurPKYinCvQIra_LU5WME7hf8eQNgYYG9gJfmvte3DlUFsMbJ74b/s320/P1050147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346048834815886418" border="0" /></a><br />Bethany Beyond the Jordan is the site of the baptism of Jesus. Over the years several churches had been built near the sight, all of which which were destroyed by flooding, earthquakes, and/or invaders. These ruins were not excavated until 1994 after Jordan signed the peace treaty with Israel. Jesus was actually baptized in a spring feeding into the Jordan, not the actual river itself. After 2000 years of climate change and 50 years of diversion of the Jordan for irrigation, the river is a sad little stream that could easily be walked across if not for the Israeli soldiers with big guns on the other side. The actual sight of the baptism is no longer under water, but a hole has been dug and filled with water from the spring. You can be baptized in this very sight if you have the forethought to bring along your own priest or minister and don't mind getting in green, stagnant water.<br /><br />The Jordan River (what's left of it) near the sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ClYiroYGZbcOtgr63hve7nJMbSW0rTPOVhuSxdh3S2QyQLgGF4wOJGkSOyupfxhAFEpj1kBn2FE0kp0FFBsDHJPmAJfT7BM5S9VjZNxL3bt-SpzZu0P5t6L-VK37hpraO-x_CQ5j83L1/s1600-h/P1050165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ClYiroYGZbcOtgr63hve7nJMbSW0rTPOVhuSxdh3S2QyQLgGF4wOJGkSOyupfxhAFEpj1kBn2FE0kp0FFBsDHJPmAJfT7BM5S9VjZNxL3bt-SpzZu0P5t6L-VK37hpraO-x_CQ5j83L1/s320/P1050165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346122706931858402" border="0" /></a>The Baptism sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8I_K6eo_PkwS2bx44RBK2ko5xtj3ppbbg_LD4AOT5iTaOY1QqMvWutySnYbrLt0a8oCsWvVcyM-7MTP-9bormysjqB1gNaEXYjvdUVwMQBMbva4owmlUcgEjDMRMvu0Lf95_DBgSf83X/s1600-h/P1050172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8I_K6eo_PkwS2bx44RBK2ko5xtj3ppbbg_LD4AOT5iTaOY1QqMvWutySnYbrLt0a8oCsWvVcyM-7MTP-9bormysjqB1gNaEXYjvdUVwMQBMbva4owmlUcgEjDMRMvu0Lf95_DBgSf83X/s320/P1050172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346049033123227794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWoaHTbM2p4qUR6AXWDMPiq9bd1X-sQPONGEZaBcSlG2Tj1h77OMfwourJH22U4dtiwFIdzJMe7rPHcIXxuhuQjaLuhNMDPN2T-__thyphenhyphenCaXI9TJ_l5cn_Gnhp4s-6AZWSf3GxlM53Ju8J/s1600-h/P1050175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWoaHTbM2p4qUR6AXWDMPiq9bd1X-sQPONGEZaBcSlG2Tj1h77OMfwourJH22U4dtiwFIdzJMe7rPHcIXxuhuQjaLuhNMDPN2T-__thyphenhyphenCaXI9TJ_l5cn_Gnhp4s-6AZWSf3GxlM53Ju8J/s320/P1050175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346049038941277394" border="0" /></a>Ruins of churches built near the sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt9J3ciCxZZi5-dyiu4dG7Z3mtlecaCsEznDEsKNh30DiL2BWbptLh-4wpJtj6vWFyGsBRIu5YeEWsrXzn3s4I8wDaGpdNrr6cFcRoiKmoFYanu4o_XjOg0mnXC-o46RFRqGNYZ_yS-CJ/s1600-h/P1050177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzt9J3ciCxZZi5-dyiu4dG7Z3mtlecaCsEznDEsKNh30DiL2BWbptLh-4wpJtj6vWFyGsBRIu5YeEWsrXzn3s4I8wDaGpdNrr6cFcRoiKmoFYanu4o_XjOg0mnXC-o46RFRqGNYZ_yS-CJ/s320/P1050177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346049039908415314" border="0" /></a><br />Modern Greek Orthodox church built near the sight. Most Christian churches in the Middle East are Greek Orthodox.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoR9JjEs_u_FLNlPA2SFTjsdq2hnrtORGtxPMw1kxjP3xXA4Wn_6zxWLLD-oFctuPBKwWLLino1AMCtmToKKbHX-vGVJuq0lrWwQPfMYKymdv_neyoYXcHvPH2t63Crm44GcXntS6pibd/s1600-h/P1050181.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoR9JjEs_u_FLNlPA2SFTjsdq2hnrtORGtxPMw1kxjP3xXA4Wn_6zxWLLD-oFctuPBKwWLLino1AMCtmToKKbHX-vGVJuq0lrWwQPfMYKymdv_neyoYXcHvPH2t63Crm44GcXntS6pibd/s320/P1050181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346049047185248034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwua0tprWoi8Z1SlobJoxMAu7KFqFTP50Cmj30wDYX99_VpLeGvlKF5jTmXPmomqXVBV8f1VTjKC_TmSm-V27vt3da2mjZnaUXYiw2ulLw_SvcOB70QsZYsJHLxTiPnGBMjefz4gMaUTm/s1600-h/P1050171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwua0tprWoi8Z1SlobJoxMAu7KFqFTP50Cmj30wDYX99_VpLeGvlKF5jTmXPmomqXVBV8f1VTjKC_TmSm-V27vt3da2mjZnaUXYiw2ulLw_SvcOB70QsZYsJHLxTiPnGBMjefz4gMaUTm/s320/P1050171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346049027541357362" border="0" /></a><br />The fourth and final stop of the day was the Dead Sea. The Jordan River runs from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It does not empty into an ocean, so the salt and mineral content are incredible high and one can float quite well. It was a strange experience and one I'd been looking forward to for a long time. Out of curiosity I touched my finger to my tongue to see what it tasted like. I expected something close to the taste of ocean water. But it was so strong and powerful I can't really describe it. It burned my tongue. The Dead Sea is actually evaporating at what is quite an alarming rate.<br /><br />I posed for the obligatory picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegY3QDkYZl8tN3Bz5lX_BzmPFFjZa33-54M2IrVT_A1_HsSJqm8Xql7IgpvkFumic35nZoe9cVaiM0Q0v8ifj7vzHJAUotDpm-kPUTAjbI5AAKIDCP8jsnji25dXeQIThY9StQ4BJUQjo/s1600-h/P1050206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegY3QDkYZl8tN3Bz5lX_BzmPFFjZa33-54M2IrVT_A1_HsSJqm8Xql7IgpvkFumic35nZoe9cVaiM0Q0v8ifj7vzHJAUotDpm-kPUTAjbI5AAKIDCP8jsnji25dXeQIThY9StQ4BJUQjo/s320/P1050206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053258930779282" border="0" /></a>As I was posing for the camera, one small drop of water rolled from the top of my head into my eye and burned like crazy. Much worse than my tongue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuc-AjndyuENAqs3AifHFppIs29uhtQ1MypGNiDupXOevrmcwRSk-9HTQDwwj8s0GDuyjV6f_t8c0jyZ76cFHwEsjLljEii6d_rziniQ1zYLfXUanEDmf-jM69Z3Czr2flQE2cfDwH4kXa/s1600-h/P1050209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuc-AjndyuENAqs3AifHFppIs29uhtQ1MypGNiDupXOevrmcwRSk-9HTQDwwj8s0GDuyjV6f_t8c0jyZ76cFHwEsjLljEii6d_rziniQ1zYLfXUanEDmf-jM69Z3Czr2flQE2cfDwH4kXa/s320/P1050209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053258878630610" border="0" /></a><br />On May 19, I took a public bus to Wadi Musa, home of the famous Petra ruins. Petra is probably most famous for being a filming location for the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnFsEaW_MFxuBakjQig9ix00vuDBTJUL9ILEuJcf3iWIjkJ7sLxYaQaZKI-jRrldh3i0iDcHZn9AcH8ZxmeOpwbreU05CAIpNP8cXupzZ4O51Rn-c7mNFVLxGSV5uBo4okIKJxjNLdMpF/s1600-h/P1050161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnFsEaW_MFxuBakjQig9ix00vuDBTJUL9ILEuJcf3iWIjkJ7sLxYaQaZKI-jRrldh3i0iDcHZn9AcH8ZxmeOpwbreU05CAIpNP8cXupzZ4O51Rn-c7mNFVLxGSV5uBo4okIKJxjNLdMpF/s320/P1050161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346048844148180930" border="0" /></a>My guidebook recommended devoting two days to Petra. I went the first afternoon and then the next day. If pressed for time, I could have probably gotten most in most of it in one full day.<br /><br />Petra was built in the 3rd century BC by the Nabataeans. From the park entrance it is about a 1.5 kilometer walk through a ravine that comes out at the Treasury.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJsllq76XzsjoOWesreqTGw1zecCnqW-OH7TjAUgZ_RETnB3Cfw3M2F79tWRBMDmrSThiYldifz9i5UfSs_Mh4C1AEOd_pn5kQC-Y8kl10nhG7dn2zv55cdK2keaMOqXiZExaq-89Ncsd/s1600-h/P1050230.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJsllq76XzsjoOWesreqTGw1zecCnqW-OH7TjAUgZ_RETnB3Cfw3M2F79tWRBMDmrSThiYldifz9i5UfSs_Mh4C1AEOd_pn5kQC-Y8kl10nhG7dn2zv55cdK2keaMOqXiZExaq-89Ncsd/s320/P1050230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053263702863554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCND_Wo1hfyuR0LkHKOFbR0Eo0yWrbeSXMsX4RLzP2RL_4LSIlHvN9kP51RHRom_p-tpZbjZUTcM3VRlBKPnqdgrzzDMYPk24sGvaeKTd8UJxGMlcJdyGTip4EctGOKECx-BduNwTEldA/s1600-h/P1050392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCND_Wo1hfyuR0LkHKOFbR0Eo0yWrbeSXMsX4RLzP2RL_4LSIlHvN9kP51RHRom_p-tpZbjZUTcM3VRlBKPnqdgrzzDMYPk24sGvaeKTd8UJxGMlcJdyGTip4EctGOKECx-BduNwTEldA/s320/P1050392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053754807779522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCVhKnJJSXWdeSXh9xveolZLeUxkBHL-e6eGCejkMVtTDbm0yI81akRer5_971ebC8BbBJrfvVb2J_a2UElIVqblQgUJDzLOJqcCDxafsigZLZXoSiJho5GSnjx3fRiYR1is9e3tjPCdc/s1600-h/P1050394.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCVhKnJJSXWdeSXh9xveolZLeUxkBHL-e6eGCejkMVtTDbm0yI81akRer5_971ebC8BbBJrfvVb2J_a2UElIVqblQgUJDzLOJqcCDxafsigZLZXoSiJho5GSnjx3fRiYR1is9e3tjPCdc/s320/P1050394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054353598832210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9427wLhaJD-vk_Yev6co1IHVE71ZmGVqthoCG6UaGwb9kTssImvJs8XiprYer11k415DDkKOigFIgN53c0-Vjx3a36jVWhdktKr2TM8vzMgAdvnlhKpSDtwranQzsao_IOzD5MuMd9gfq/s1600-h/P1050531.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9427wLhaJD-vk_Yev6co1IHVE71ZmGVqthoCG6UaGwb9kTssImvJs8XiprYer11k415DDkKOigFIgN53c0-Vjx3a36jVWhdktKr2TM8vzMgAdvnlhKpSDtwranQzsao_IOzD5MuMd9gfq/s320/P1050531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346103735928659778" border="0" /></a>On the second day, I hiked up to the monastery. It was a long climb but well worth the effort.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbT2PIghm60UwUjLGqjnYiLkoG4HNDni9W_I15eGlWkCNurAtq6rg4po4UYg_Cds6fnH3EuDig8FESbvwKnWVyRMAWl4eW4j4TdvHsAzu_LSu28rG_Ot-fDFbFyUAri8ieyeLOvS4LwyZ/s1600-h/P1050371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbT2PIghm60UwUjLGqjnYiLkoG4HNDni9W_I15eGlWkCNurAtq6rg4po4UYg_Cds6fnH3EuDig8FESbvwKnWVyRMAWl4eW4j4TdvHsAzu_LSu28rG_Ot-fDFbFyUAri8ieyeLOvS4LwyZ/s320/P1050371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053748259200530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A5X1Fb_tQMgl3b2BzxKnpB-G7dmsdDBQW7GRtOsuvVn-G-MXHZ7IMnNmQmJZhdf-3idxarZyrBgRNEw97uQJ82fZI2NEjMshAplJ83oDLioWFwdrIKDB6b74WQPm5MxOk2-Ij8kzhCYG/s1600-h/P1050326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A5X1Fb_tQMgl3b2BzxKnpB-G7dmsdDBQW7GRtOsuvVn-G-MXHZ7IMnNmQmJZhdf-3idxarZyrBgRNEw97uQJ82fZI2NEjMshAplJ83oDLioWFwdrIKDB6b74WQPm5MxOk2-Ij8kzhCYG/s320/P1050326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053538848824450" border="0" /></a><br />Climbing around the monastery is forbidden, but after 5:00, apparently no one cares. A guide took a few of us up to the top. It was a strange feeling being on top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2PYryMX4Kb_D9VtF61JLGYUNiVmnpgC7tevtNms7-LAaO2A_gN7er9rewyNVwB47z0ML9mMUdpnn88Sq6ZsFi30CvuA0LOtXDFDJd0O5Rfcz0VwgqxwbhvEWlN8j9fM9nNZwBQOgRHNX/s1600-h/P1050364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2PYryMX4Kb_D9VtF61JLGYUNiVmnpgC7tevtNms7-LAaO2A_gN7er9rewyNVwB47z0ML9mMUdpnn88Sq6ZsFi30CvuA0LOtXDFDJd0O5Rfcz0VwgqxwbhvEWlN8j9fM9nNZwBQOgRHNX/s320/P1050364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053746201064098" border="0" /></a><br />It was even stranger when the guide took off running from the rim and climbed up on top of the center ball.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_GoLS4zCDF9Ce2nfh5FiPcTM-ExVDvDGWW-jxQ9pLMks6IYvcQS4Cxl5M_VPiP98VlBH-tE4j1vKshRtl_0bC2tfZfy7p5U-7fKFqI65xg6ZZGvk0YXxK4rzwmJH5yv6JkOjyGyNbnDY/s1600-h/P1050362.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_GoLS4zCDF9Ce2nfh5FiPcTM-ExVDvDGWW-jxQ9pLMks6IYvcQS4Cxl5M_VPiP98VlBH-tE4j1vKshRtl_0bC2tfZfy7p5U-7fKFqI65xg6ZZGvk0YXxK4rzwmJH5yv6JkOjyGyNbnDY/s320/P1050362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053547676388114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkPwuQjkQaSgxzTK-KUr31KatnYz9nwW-yMusCl_b-9LW0gDzCuU5NDakEoxcd41WZCSBW44WeFEFezVDWbeNokA_j2enON1wT0W1oV2k9W7RZzUPr7EyMy__3mmIC26U1p9QLa6oogqd/s1600-h/P1050363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkPwuQjkQaSgxzTK-KUr31KatnYz9nwW-yMusCl_b-9LW0gDzCuU5NDakEoxcd41WZCSBW44WeFEFezVDWbeNokA_j2enON1wT0W1oV2k9W7RZzUPr7EyMy__3mmIC26U1p9QLa6oogqd/s320/P1050363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053741714552994" border="0" /></a><br />The Treasury and the Monastery were the two best preserved carvings. There were many other sights that were a bit more worn by time and the elements.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sfTh_Q9qkkcgNGKMzrIqWYRoCs-NcXlw6WCz-S5cuatWTi-N_SqgQZkjyvHUN0rMzG99_eti6WJBJr_Z3tYMJsUgg03CCXcD-_-hRqYZZA3JS_qS31OevdnoPtf8ZAWzkkDr1bjZdqOx/s1600-h/P1050502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sfTh_Q9qkkcgNGKMzrIqWYRoCs-NcXlw6WCz-S5cuatWTi-N_SqgQZkjyvHUN0rMzG99_eti6WJBJr_Z3tYMJsUgg03CCXcD-_-hRqYZZA3JS_qS31OevdnoPtf8ZAWzkkDr1bjZdqOx/s320/P1050502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054357976940402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xl5f1dsORbS4itxt0oASAVL0FBPkSiYoDCrUsOzjvLhdjhQXwCADLfgJpBk43Bl5pSchpptSFmgJu7u79scr5iv-B0EJrqvHpmphypShMPADVxaXW9aSNsnEXwCzmrADPn5IS2pJLNJi/s1600-h/P1050504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xl5f1dsORbS4itxt0oASAVL0FBPkSiYoDCrUsOzjvLhdjhQXwCADLfgJpBk43Bl5pSchpptSFmgJu7u79scr5iv-B0EJrqvHpmphypShMPADVxaXW9aSNsnEXwCzmrADPn5IS2pJLNJi/s320/P1050504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054357257043778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUICWZgTU-50pKQ_fQWuQI9GTGmZtD-usgo-wbu8TNCbV0teziqovZhDi1zWogluMaggtyLt0ZMjFBIf9-V1Dzef14glGvtBiTMDApcJAHRjEw8Un8WWBaPY2mb78ZeALkC2_kRrKqFLN4/s1600-h/P1050510.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUICWZgTU-50pKQ_fQWuQI9GTGmZtD-usgo-wbu8TNCbV0teziqovZhDi1zWogluMaggtyLt0ZMjFBIf9-V1Dzef14glGvtBiTMDApcJAHRjEw8Un8WWBaPY2mb78ZeALkC2_kRrKqFLN4/s320/P1050510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054363541345938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAa4ZlGLIRcI_Mg7d9tqAimSvlZDb3PSqOjYB6gUzMBUZNtWSr3ycE-6ObXWd9waGmtB_cqSBxKmBmdkaTZWiSCdBssbnzdq-iaYesSBCnBVOB9g82kfuotuBNK2YcosvvznuwhPntcBz3/s1600-h/P1050525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAa4ZlGLIRcI_Mg7d9tqAimSvlZDb3PSqOjYB6gUzMBUZNtWSr3ycE-6ObXWd9waGmtB_cqSBxKmBmdkaTZWiSCdBssbnzdq-iaYesSBCnBVOB9g82kfuotuBNK2YcosvvznuwhPntcBz3/s320/P1050525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054367040291922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qZR4f6nGaOmbdEhuAY96mVIwObBoH6wJPRW2cmQXBzCjMtcYrfxTVzxJfbwCpMac1yxh6g_NiSC3410-E0qQY0k74z8rlg_DKkTBF14ovPL7HaF4RQo0QV13JNGG7oG6keTplZsL6brR/s1600-h/P1050537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qZR4f6nGaOmbdEhuAY96mVIwObBoH6wJPRW2cmQXBzCjMtcYrfxTVzxJfbwCpMac1yxh6g_NiSC3410-E0qQY0k74z8rlg_DKkTBF14ovPL7HaF4RQo0QV13JNGG7oG6keTplZsL6brR/s320/P1050537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054543583752914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94mo9PhgF4RYBT1KETmKrldqQMjxp-jHGkmyyPniBTIHAe4ohWL3iTJnzKM4fPKdI7Vert6bW6ZEqfcf-2IjQmh0ljh0IMu8d7KV7ZtOjnSJb9pT0sZBbw0ZdhwZhpx2HvgmILeGOufNq/s1600-h/P1050312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94mo9PhgF4RYBT1KETmKrldqQMjxp-jHGkmyyPniBTIHAe4ohWL3iTJnzKM4fPKdI7Vert6bW6ZEqfcf-2IjQmh0ljh0IMu8d7KV7ZtOjnSJb9pT0sZBbw0ZdhwZhpx2HvgmILeGOufNq/s320/P1050312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053533892770450" border="0" /></a><br />The desert landscape views were incredible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenvy1ZkSfpcDZpT4QI7wTzWcN2psmJSA5Pi8GFyd4Q2al8eNqJSUnhNRj2fgzB8onGhjoiNvAMfybWvvLsRpBZPwBYf4NrpYoN4u55FFwAwmftlpZG8Y4n7hoQOp9CKbOl9AY-kB8PbZL/s1600-h/P1050346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenvy1ZkSfpcDZpT4QI7wTzWcN2psmJSA5Pi8GFyd4Q2al8eNqJSUnhNRj2fgzB8onGhjoiNvAMfybWvvLsRpBZPwBYf4NrpYoN4u55FFwAwmftlpZG8Y4n7hoQOp9CKbOl9AY-kB8PbZL/s320/P1050346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053546269539362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0J2E6eK3nX93AL4oI2hQGBlIiuwqoNoiafZgEmxHvnq2vsal949ofkdB470dbICzoHM0rFpWatujFnQveNz6CbRG7tHqtJ4dZqZnm5u2Qd3JsLPdh-qKEztOmGrqvW1Z8GktwYDDf6sk/s1600-h/P1050333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0J2E6eK3nX93AL4oI2hQGBlIiuwqoNoiafZgEmxHvnq2vsal949ofkdB470dbICzoHM0rFpWatujFnQveNz6CbRG7tHqtJ4dZqZnm5u2Qd3JsLPdh-qKEztOmGrqvW1Z8GktwYDDf6sk/s320/P1050333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346053543665417698" border="0" /></a><br />After the second day, I stopped at the Cave Bar outside the park entrance for an incredibly expensive beer. I couldn't resist a beer in a bar that was 2,000 years old (the cave structure, not the actual bar).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZJgb3Z0JNRXflC2dxXDquBUc6dawe71WrpGnzpTny3o4Vk8qitp-BNCSgQlkgfK6ZOUdfaH3zRG7ZYwoIn0TwEQMfYQIpTJPUvUJuqG3IhqPAIaeU3hQN5IKi2XqgE_LEes5h7V6N377/s1600-h/P1050539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZJgb3Z0JNRXflC2dxXDquBUc6dawe71WrpGnzpTny3o4Vk8qitp-BNCSgQlkgfK6ZOUdfaH3zRG7ZYwoIn0TwEQMfYQIpTJPUvUJuqG3IhqPAIaeU3hQN5IKi2XqgE_LEes5h7V6N377/s320/P1050539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054550221004994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxr_-8f8wwV324idwMc2SMVzfJ1IiWSKlHsMimSavGXiRQ4r-hZ1v29PinGtOQTBpB1vxxt5kedLJWDDjm4IHG5B1OiiIk6WZ8Tf1OaZXRz25M4BEg1Nk1RbH0OOCe3VEFitrMLnoo0Zh/s1600-h/P1050541.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxr_-8f8wwV324idwMc2SMVzfJ1IiWSKlHsMimSavGXiRQ4r-hZ1v29PinGtOQTBpB1vxxt5kedLJWDDjm4IHG5B1OiiIk6WZ8Tf1OaZXRz25M4BEg1Nk1RbH0OOCe3VEFitrMLnoo0Zh/s320/P1050541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346054553600205218" border="0" /></a><br />On May 21, I left Wadi Musa by bus to Aqaba. Aqaba is a resort town on the Red Sea. I was going to spend a few days here, but decided to leave after a day as there was not really much going on and I'd heard Dahab in Egypt was a better Red Sea location.<br /><br />On May 22, I took a ferry from Aqaba, Jordan to Nuweiba, Egypt.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-4703279818243393132009-05-26T10:53:00.003-04:002009-05-27T12:52:22.610-04:00India<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wow</span>!<br /><div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">different</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">South</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">America</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">similar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">US</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Australia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">practically</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">same</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">country</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">southeast</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Asia</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">seem</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">different</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">different</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">country</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">knew</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">wouldn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">able</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">everything</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">would</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">pick</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">see</span>? I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">knew</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">wanted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">Taj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Mahal</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">so</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">thought</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">limit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">trip</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">north</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">settled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">Delhi</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Agra</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">Rajastan</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">mostly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">Australia</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">found</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">rather</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">small</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">Lonely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">Planet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">guidebook</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">areas</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">talking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">others</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">realized</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">trip</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">North</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">complete</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">without</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">visit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">Varanasi</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">Also</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">heard</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">good</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">abbout</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">Dharamsala</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">So</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">decided</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">areas</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">visit</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">On</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">April</span> 20 I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">flew</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">Bangkok</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">Delhi</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">about</span> 10:00<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">pm</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">time</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_134">luggage</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_135">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">made</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">through</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">customs</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">Since</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">getting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">late</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">reserved</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">room</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">ahead</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">sent</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">driver</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">holding</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">sign</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">name</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">it</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">thing</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">noticed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">heat</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">incredibly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">hot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">night</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">despite</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">being</span> 10:00<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">pm</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">hotel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">Pahargan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">area</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">near</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">New</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">Delhi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">train</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">station</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">On</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">April</span> 21 I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">wanted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">take</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">tour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">Delhi</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">left</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">hotel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">search</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">government</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">near</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">Cannaught</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">Place</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">Seemed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">like</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">short</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">walk</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">morning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">quite</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">busy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">yet</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">were</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">street</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">vendors</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">and</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">sitting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">curb</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">getting</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">shave</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">not</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">bustling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">as</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">expecting</span>. A <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">approached</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">saying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">college</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">student</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">wanting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">practice</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">English</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">As</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">walked</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">following</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">questions</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">which</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">clockwork</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">Indians</span>:<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">What</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">your</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">name</span>?<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">Where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">from</span>?<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">What</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">do</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">do</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">states</span>?<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">First</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">India</span>?<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">You</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">married</span>?<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">Where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">going</span>?<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">him</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">government</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_317">office</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_318">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_319">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">knew</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_325">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">take</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">there</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">Since</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">bit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">lost</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">him</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">basically</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">desk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">and</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">sign</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">above</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">door</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">government</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">office</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">read</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">scams</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">this</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">try</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">unsuspecting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">tourists</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">into</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">sell</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">overpriced</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">tour</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">package</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">figure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_389">things</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_390">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_391">suppossed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_392">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_393">cost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_394">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_395">India</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_396">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_397">him</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_398">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_399">think</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_400">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_401">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_402">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_403">governemnt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_404">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_405">office</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_406">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_407">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_408">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_409">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_410">branch</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_411">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_412">away</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_413">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_414">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_415">literally</span> 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_416">seconds</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_417">another</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_418">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_419">came</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_420">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_421">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_422">me</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_423">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_424">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_425">same</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_426">conversation</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_427">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_428">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_429">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_430">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_431">guy</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_432">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_433">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_434">knew</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_435">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_436">name</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_437">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_438">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_439">street</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_440">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_441">looking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_442">for</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_443">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_444">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_445">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_446">the</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_447">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_448">office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_449">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_450">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_451">street</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_452">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_453">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_454">said</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_455">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_456">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_457">it</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_458">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_459">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_460">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_461">lonely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_462">planet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_463">guidebook</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_464">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_465">noted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_466">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_467">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_468">government</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_469">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_470">office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_471">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_472">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_473">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_474">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_475">side</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_476">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_477">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_478">street</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_479">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_480">across</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_481">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_482">street</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_483">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_484">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_485">government</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_486">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_487">office</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_488">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_489">looking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_490">for</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_491">Unfortunately</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_492">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_493">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_494">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_495">government</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_496">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_497">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_498">India</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_499">For</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_500">tours</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_501">fo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_502">Delhi</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_503">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_504">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_505">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_506">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_507">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_508">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_509">Government</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_510">Tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_511">Office</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_512">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_513">Delhi</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_514">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_515">gave</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_516">me</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_517">map</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_518">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_519">showed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_520">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_521">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_522">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_523">was</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_524">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_525">looked</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_526">bit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_527">further</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_528">away</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_529">than</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_530">wanted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_531">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_532">walk</span>.<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_533">strolled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_534">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_535">Cannaught</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_536">Place</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_537">bit</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_538">Cannaught</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_539">Place</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_540">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_541">fancy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_542">shopping</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_543">area</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_544">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_545">New</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_546">Delhi</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_547">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_548">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_549">about</span> 9:30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_550">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_551">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_552">morning</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_553">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_554">nothing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_555">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_556">open</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_557">yet</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_558">Almost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_559">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_560">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_561">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_562">stores</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_563">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_564">shuttered</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_565">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_566">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_567">McDonalds</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_568">mainly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_569">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_570">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_571">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_572">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_573">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_574">place</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_575">open</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_576">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_577">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_578">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_579">meal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_580">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_581">India</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_582">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_583">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_584">last</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_585">fast</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_586">food</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_587">chain</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_588">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_589">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_590">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_591">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_592">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_593">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_594">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_595">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_596">India</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_597">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_598">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_599">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_600">breakfast</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_601">food</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_602">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_603">hamburgers</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_604">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_605">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_606">chicken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_607">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_608">veggie</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_609">sandwiches</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_610">got</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_611">chicken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_612">sandwich</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_613">fries</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_614">and</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_615">coke</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_616">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_617">fries</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_618">tasted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_619">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_620">same</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_621">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_622">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_623">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_624">states</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_625">As</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_626">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_627">eating</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_628">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_629">guys</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_630">sitting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_631">near</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_632">me</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_633">cusriously</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_634">without</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_635">food</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_636">engaged</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_637">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_638">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_639">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_640">same</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_641">conversation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_642">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_643">above</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_644">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_645">ended</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_646">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_647">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_648">recommending</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_649">tourist</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_650">office</span>.<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_651">decided</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_652">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_653">see</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_654">few</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_655">sights</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_656">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_657">Delhi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_658">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_659">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_660">own</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_661">Using</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_662">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_663">map</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_664">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_665">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_666">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_667">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_668">Ghandi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_669">Museum</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_670">Ghandi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_671">Memorial</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_672">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_673">Raj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_674">Ghat</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_675">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_676">place</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_677">where</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_678">Gandi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_679">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_680">cremated</span>.<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_681">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_682">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_683">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_684">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_685">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_686">Red</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_687">Fort</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_688">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_689">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_690">Jama</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_691">Masijd</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_692">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_693">largest</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_694">mosque</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_695">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_696">India</span>). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_697">At</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_698">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_699">Jama</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_700">Masijd</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_701">entry</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_702">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_703">free</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_704">but</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_705">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_706">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_707">pay</span> a 200 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_708">rupee</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_709">charge</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_710">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_711">use</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_712">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_713">camera</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_714">Looking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_715">back</span>, I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_716">pretty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_717">sure</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_718">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_719">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_720">scam</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_721">even</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_722">though</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_723">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_724">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_725">sign</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_726">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_727">stating</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_728">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_729">fee</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_730">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_731">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_732">beautiful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_733">building</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_734">built</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_735">in</span> 1658. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_736">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_737">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_738">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_739">after</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_740">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_741">sunset</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_742">prayers</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_743">As</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_744">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_745">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_746">around</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_747">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_748">approached</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_749">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_750">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_751">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_752">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_753">if</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_754">wanted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_755">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_756">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_757">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_758">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_759">top</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_760">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_761">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_762">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_763">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_764">spires</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_765">thought</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_766">why</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_767">not</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_768">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_769">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_770">by</span> a 100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_771">rupee</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_772">ticket</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_773">We</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_774">climbed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_775">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_776">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_777">stairs</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_778">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_779">did</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_780">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_781">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_782">great</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_783">views</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_784">figured</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_785">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_786">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_787">wanting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_788">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_789">kind</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_790">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_791">tip</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_792">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_793">wasn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_794">climbing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_795">these</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_796">steps</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_797">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_798">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_799">health</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_800">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_801">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_802">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_803">tip</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_804">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_805">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_806">much</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_807">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_808">customary</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_809">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_810">said</span> 650 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_811">rupees</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_812">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_813">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_814">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_815">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_816">crazy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_817">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_818">give</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_819">him</span> 100. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_820">Thus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_821">began</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_822">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_823">argument</span>. 100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_824">rupees</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_825">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_826">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_827">good</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_828">tip</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_829">should</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_830">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_831">only</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_832">given</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_833">him</span> 50. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_834">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_835">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_836">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_837">most</span> 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_838">minutes</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_839">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_840">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_841">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_842">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_843">as</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_844">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_845">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_846">away</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_847">saying</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_848">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_849">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_850">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_851">outrage</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_852">and</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_853">should</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_854">give</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_855">him</span> 200 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_856">more</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_857">Then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_858">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_859">wanted</span> 100 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_860">more</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_861">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_862">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_863">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_864">haggling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_865">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_866">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_867">reverse</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_868">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_869">give</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_870">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_871">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_872">more</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_873">Finally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_874">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_875">stopped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_876">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_877">along</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_878">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_879">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_880">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_881">went</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_882">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_883">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_884">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_885">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_886">next</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_887">target</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_888">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_889">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_890">process</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_891">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_892">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_893">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_894">repeated</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_895">many</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_896">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_897">times</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_898">while</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_899">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_900">India</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzj6Frvy8s3CvNEK9jj3mRXUovgiTv5v23Bsoxe6coFggR4kZWiPOOZcmtk0jJ4XSEI4NnyQEWiADCrK0_0KhbbZDL6RjeVxKSbCx56guoYthmxHEprUy7wdkpDGGwWnf2a3e0ezICCXX/s1600-h/P1030480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337207176864274610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzj6Frvy8s3CvNEK9jj3mRXUovgiTv5v23Bsoxe6coFggR4kZWiPOOZcmtk0jJ4XSEI4NnyQEWiADCrK0_0KhbbZDL6RjeVxKSbCx56guoYthmxHEprUy7wdkpDGGwWnf2a3e0ezICCXX/s320/P1030480.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_901">Gandhi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_902">Museum</span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_Fs5bTiS1H0TCuLq2GL0MgwLwD24qLXpoi595kghYXVDDhjwwLpmYTLydCJ5d9_3KLfo-Dg8grjlhMuU-ZCYrA2PHlpX3ImW7mSaTTpCRGkZDrXiScffXwYu107foiD_E6qa2pF9dsRc/s1600-h/P1030485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337207183777368370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_Fs5bTiS1H0TCuLq2GL0MgwLwD24qLXpoi595kghYXVDDhjwwLpmYTLydCJ5d9_3KLfo-Dg8grjlhMuU-ZCYrA2PHlpX3ImW7mSaTTpCRGkZDrXiScffXwYu107foiD_E6qa2pF9dsRc/s320/P1030485.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8RIxNOCtdEGl2hvgMPdAxbqwsW4qBBaAbAFnrxp6U_QHsGwpogEv1Jbrp-7yzqotj3QSKsSlBgbBTaeIhXbSMjvGtHHmSP14DKpIXRpFJi_CkYum8dAFQSEJcZiMdKNtB0yJQnG94PPe/s1600-h/P1030486.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337207184174357586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8RIxNOCtdEGl2hvgMPdAxbqwsW4qBBaAbAFnrxp6U_QHsGwpogEv1Jbrp-7yzqotj3QSKsSlBgbBTaeIhXbSMjvGtHHmSP14DKpIXRpFJi_CkYum8dAFQSEJcZiMdKNtB0yJQnG94PPe/s320/P1030486.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_903">Gandhi</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_904">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_905">stick</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_906">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_907">used</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_908">during</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_909">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_910">salt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_911">march</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9J78gw9CSRMRUp2sI-qCnaF8WMhDd3jsDIFm_Q30LnQh0eTN0vPpUQCvsxmUSYDdjAt6It-5NVhYacrA4YtHI6JZ2S8kyvxA8IomDdanct15lggd-g4aRmFUg1BbaeKnh_mfxn9zPzHs/s1600-h/P1030490.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208389898558994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9J78gw9CSRMRUp2sI-qCnaF8WMhDd3jsDIFm_Q30LnQh0eTN0vPpUQCvsxmUSYDdjAt6It-5NVhYacrA4YtHI6JZ2S8kyvxA8IomDdanct15lggd-g4aRmFUg1BbaeKnh_mfxn9zPzHs/s320/P1030490.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_912">Raj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_913">Ghat</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_914">Site</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_915">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_916">Gandhi</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_917">cremation</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQHtmtkuI20vKJrkQSlOJ4ifwOmcFK8MNePD6fveDB9bUCat-xAM4wNeuGSgFY_ifv5dJTOfnDrjcPPrHXaXFALM24M5jQ-VScrdX1NLW4ogEPTH-2Ts0fOlQieFEoJ2x7SXSTYZhxhK4/s1600-h/P1030501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208390137326594" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQHtmtkuI20vKJrkQSlOJ4ifwOmcFK8MNePD6fveDB9bUCat-xAM4wNeuGSgFY_ifv5dJTOfnDrjcPPrHXaXFALM24M5jQ-VScrdX1NLW4ogEPTH-2Ts0fOlQieFEoJ2x7SXSTYZhxhK4/s320/P1030501.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_918">Photos</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_919">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_920">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_921">Red</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_922">Fort</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicYknP8YnpEqPzRiXgY07UwAbm3nBFPYVuQ1kieN_7ov2BALm3Lm0RVWi6yrI7nZWNVtLl_cm1ymq9npgcB4TdGX9mEpFwsGk8MNYhK18JqZPJALBjYgmk84jksa8ryQvpVf4vuhTtR6y/s1600-h/P1030507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208393265557826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicYknP8YnpEqPzRiXgY07UwAbm3nBFPYVuQ1kieN_7ov2BALm3Lm0RVWi6yrI7nZWNVtLl_cm1ymq9npgcB4TdGX9mEpFwsGk8MNYhK18JqZPJALBjYgmk84jksa8ryQvpVf4vuhTtR6y/s320/P1030507.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ABih0sEGgFiF6wZvrt9PAovMEElbW00ExGUBlKt0wJ_kyfHOm9W29CdlrHTAch5v2cI_VZVSxRTShti-1fJBrp5RBKb6qni7MfJpq5boey7ayFUpp1TvoBL8SwVOfVOLjjtKAnzuSwwp/s1600-h/P1030523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337211081412473890" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ABih0sEGgFiF6wZvrt9PAovMEElbW00ExGUBlKt0wJ_kyfHOm9W29CdlrHTAch5v2cI_VZVSxRTShti-1fJBrp5RBKb6qni7MfJpq5boey7ayFUpp1TvoBL8SwVOfVOLjjtKAnzuSwwp/s320/P1030523.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_923">Jama</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_924">Masjid</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuzqVBHOrnntUg_BD8klUIvZfi4H3rMGzknL8wtUUJDkXCrjzNo1VXffIk6EHQaYmkTQGiAnPw2L0ZGI57n4LED1p93kXwPSt7z7qELf-Am3s87pGpApwCIFmpjNNlazuRbAm5Ahzs1Vy/s1600-h/P1030545.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337211083369926306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuzqVBHOrnntUg_BD8klUIvZfi4H3rMGzknL8wtUUJDkXCrjzNo1VXffIk6EHQaYmkTQGiAnPw2L0ZGI57n4LED1p93kXwPSt7z7qELf-Am3s87pGpApwCIFmpjNNlazuRbAm5Ahzs1Vy/s320/P1030545.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP60pX-7WL4CHzDpix0yoFreqms_hCXMLXodjB_NWOP2H8es6rogAWftjpx7zm6fpc3THg2FAc64FulRysSW7742g8dZ96QKJckUtwzjVlB5tkoEnBic1zFuDGlIqdaEDt94bRCTlsFUF_/s1600-h/P1030559.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337211084039665682" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP60pX-7WL4CHzDpix0yoFreqms_hCXMLXodjB_NWOP2H8es6rogAWftjpx7zm6fpc3THg2FAc64FulRysSW7742g8dZ96QKJckUtwzjVlB5tkoEnBic1zFuDGlIqdaEDt94bRCTlsFUF_/s320/P1030559.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE_0PEFj4Y9dxA7e-e-40-zpOV6aDgSnv2p0aZFO_G49UOSofZv87Cy_LVtAlBmK7UJYPLqYY7GgRy5F0Y9EYpbUd8kdOyaQLE6vKGL7tnTthk9TVWxyouXT0Y4y7N1F3y1BnmrR3gNNO/s1600-h/P1030562.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337211084593063634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE_0PEFj4Y9dxA7e-e-40-zpOV6aDgSnv2p0aZFO_G49UOSofZv87Cy_LVtAlBmK7UJYPLqYY7GgRy5F0Y9EYpbUd8kdOyaQLE6vKGL7tnTthk9TVWxyouXT0Y4y7N1F3y1BnmrR3gNNO/s320/P1030562.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXLcizgPSHBL8BVPmWRpDlx2_YGMGNc5lXXNrAD-OE66S5A85NnNFheyz9laLli80RF3DNeVAs4J_zWXAItje1Mev7WVLhnCZtFOCKmNPYH7o12327Rvs2s0ulE4xwSJd6uekE5bY6hyphenhyphen/s1600-h/P1030555.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337211087721224370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXLcizgPSHBL8BVPmWRpDlx2_YGMGNc5lXXNrAD-OE66S5A85NnNFheyz9laLli80RF3DNeVAs4J_zWXAItje1Mev7WVLhnCZtFOCKmNPYH7o12327Rvs2s0ulE4xwSJd6uekE5bY6hyphenhyphen/s320/P1030555.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_925">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_926">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_927">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_928">incredibly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_929">hot</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_930">day</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_931">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_932">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_933">madness</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_934">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_935">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_936">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_937">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_938">wearing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_939">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_940">down</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_941">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_942">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_943">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_944">many</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_945">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_946">here</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_947">Way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_948">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_949">than</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_950">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_951">seems</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_952">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_953">city</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_954">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_955">designed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_956">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_957">hold</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_958">People</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_959">cars</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_960">rickshaws</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_961">motorcycles</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_962">bicycles</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_963">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_964">animals</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_965">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_966">share</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_967">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_968">same</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_969">narrow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_970">streets</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_971">Sidewalks</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_972">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_973">either</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_974">non</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_975">existent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_976">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_977">rendered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_978">useless</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_979">because</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_980">they</span>'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_981">re</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_982">taken</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_983">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_984">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_985">vendors</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_986">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_987">parked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_988">motorcycles</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_989">Rickshaws</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_990">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_991">motorcycles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_992">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_993">buzzing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_994">past</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_995">me</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_996">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_997">too</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_998">close</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_999">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1000">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1001">too</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1002">fast</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1003">By</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1004">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1005">end</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1006">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1007">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1008">day</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1009">my</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1010">nerves</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1011">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1012">shot</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1013">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1014">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1015">confusing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1016">place</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1017">It</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1018">economy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1019">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1020">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1021">taking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1022">off</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1023">due</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1024">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1025">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1026">outsourcing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1027">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1028">IT</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1029">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1030">customer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1031">service</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1032">call</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1033">centers</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1034">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1035">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1036">seems</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1037">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1038">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1039">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1040">worst</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1041">technology</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1042">infrastructure</span> I'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1043">ve</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1044">seen</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1045">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1046">electricity</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1047">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1048">constantly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1049">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1050">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1051">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1052">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1053">internet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1054">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1055">terribly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1056">slow</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1057">Everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1058">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1059">paper</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1060">based</span>. I'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1061">ve</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1062">seen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1063">hardly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1064">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1065">cash</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1066">registers</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1067">Most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1068">shopkeepers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1069">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1070">throw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1071">money</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1072">randomly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1073">into</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1074">drawer</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1075">Roads</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1076">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1077">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1078">generally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1079">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1080">have</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1081">lane</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1082">painted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1083">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1084">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1085">middle</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1086">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1087">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1088">line</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1089">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1090">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1091">pretty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1092">meaningless</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1093">Drivers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1094">use</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1095">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1096">entire</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1097">road</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1098">Sometimes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1099">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1100">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1101">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1102">three</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1103">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1104">four</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1105">cars</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1106">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1107">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1108">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1109">down</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1110">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1111">lane</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1112">road</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1113">Drivers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1114">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1115">constantly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1116">honking</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1117">They</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1118">honk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1119">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1120">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1121">want</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1122">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1123">pass</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1124">or</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1125">want</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1126">someone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1127">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1128">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1129">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1130">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1131">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1132">way</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1133">When</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1134">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1135">honk</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1136">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1137">cars</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1138">ahead</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1139">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1140">them</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1141">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1142">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1143">over</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1144">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1145">enough</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1146">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1147">give</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1148">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1149">car</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1150">enough</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1151">space</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1152">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1153">pass</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1154">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1155">about</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1156">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1157">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1158">three</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1159">inches</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1160">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1161">spare</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1162">Bus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1163">drivers</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1164">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1165">pass</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1166">other</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1167">cars</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1168">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1169">oncoming</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1170">traffic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1171">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1172">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1173">over</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1174">just</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1175">second</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1176">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1177">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1178">cars</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1179">meet</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1180">It</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1181">pretty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1182">intense</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1183">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1184">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1185">pretty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1186">conservative</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1187">country</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1188">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1189">homosexuality</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1190">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1191">taboo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1192">subject</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1193">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1194">men</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1195">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1196">very</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1197">affectionate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1198">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1199">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1200">another</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1201">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1202">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1203">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1204">extremely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1205">common</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1206">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1207">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1208">men</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1209">holding</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1210">hands</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1211">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1212">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1213">their</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1214">arms</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1215">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1216">each</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1217">other</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1218">They</span>'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1219">re</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1220">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1221">gay</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1222">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1223">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1224">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1225">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1226">angry</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1227">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1228">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1229">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1230">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1231">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1232">were</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSEOthK3nvafELUpwTWINnnQ8aDd2gofbIo-Mvr5PGUblNkhi6WEAJJ01Ff8Ha3oN-OK1vAi-te4Do5-5OLLbyXdLOza_Q79GQD3vDQJZeYgcb8600eL4ePayBWvg8i4ssfGCssfj6a8I/s1600-h/P1030511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208392693240706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSEOthK3nvafELUpwTWINnnQ8aDd2gofbIo-Mvr5PGUblNkhi6WEAJJ01Ff8Ha3oN-OK1vAi-te4Do5-5OLLbyXdLOza_Q79GQD3vDQJZeYgcb8600eL4ePayBWvg8i4ssfGCssfj6a8I/s320/P1030511.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PN-b_Q4dP_0Ljh93CGfm9W3ORHrs54DwJE0eYqP526oHw_wCv8gmRYw6AM-Ck-DwmSdqrptwXqe4jO5_X4PsuZbtz0bBI8pJ-7xNLsq1-KmgzEBJRf3ctQHe91GeXzV8av6dmuoQs1vx/s1600-h/P1030521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337208396050907762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PN-b_Q4dP_0Ljh93CGfm9W3ORHrs54DwJE0eYqP526oHw_wCv8gmRYw6AM-Ck-DwmSdqrptwXqe4jO5_X4PsuZbtz0bBI8pJ-7xNLsq1-KmgzEBJRf3ctQHe91GeXzV8av6dmuoQs1vx/s320/P1030521.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLyf7zM3yjKY63T3FgTpF6VNF9jLIj8xdIVhmd4Q2I9WuuVAdArnTMwZMA2iGy7L3mALMqHPseXvfBDlXUNMv1gb7-7UwHFUVog7hNRlH7JwgsNm0cqyrVclnmiHj6ari37DXGMaVsU-P/s1600-h/P1040590.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337238543401654498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLyf7zM3yjKY63T3FgTpF6VNF9jLIj8xdIVhmd4Q2I9WuuVAdArnTMwZMA2iGy7L3mALMqHPseXvfBDlXUNMv1gb7-7UwHFUVog7hNRlH7JwgsNm0cqyrVclnmiHj6ari37DXGMaVsU-P/s320/P1040590.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1233">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1234">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1235">cows</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1236">everywhere</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1237">That</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1238">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1239">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1240">thing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1241">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1242">people</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1243">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1244">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1245">traveled</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1246">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1247">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1248">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1249">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1250">me</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1251">thought</span>, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1252">Big</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1253">deal</span>". I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1254">grew</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1255">up</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1256">around</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1257">cows</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1258">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1259">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1260">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1261">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1262">incredibly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1263">jarring</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1264">sight</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1265">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1266">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1267">cows</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1268">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1269">down</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1270">busy</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1271">crowded</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1272">street</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1273">among</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1274">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1275">people</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1276">cars</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1277">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1278">rickshaws</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1279">Hindus</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1280">believe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1281">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1282">cow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1283">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1284">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1285">sacred</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1286">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1287">beef</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1288">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1289">not</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1290">available</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1291">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1292">India</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1293">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1294">least</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1295">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1296">see</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1297">any</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7Fow52eekyKFUcvU1UBueoVI7bTqk2z9oInCSZFEyl6655I6hObab1r0TnudR1wmEUrPpYJtOy0-dPt60ekCArrtdb3JNaILWyAVg-BhyphenhyphenTyq9UzQdZrFsCmmStJ2PHBJf5a8h4-NwZWR/s1600-h/P1030564.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337212010798711250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7Fow52eekyKFUcvU1UBueoVI7bTqk2z9oInCSZFEyl6655I6hObab1r0TnudR1wmEUrPpYJtOy0-dPt60ekCArrtdb3JNaILWyAVg-BhyphenhyphenTyq9UzQdZrFsCmmStJ2PHBJf5a8h4-NwZWR/s320/P1030564.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIccjQhBtDlJpGaa9ou8dvY-Hhyphenhyphenn0W3Yq9AN-287Z4mcDGNODuFU3LiqLCkw3YP6_JMkr1eEuRde-Pb77h_6qJWKNRWol8859dOWSlBUSh-K7Er3A1MGfsZjk8O-jG7_gMBmFIOPJQ7ztQ/s1600-h/P1030974.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337218684593084418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIccjQhBtDlJpGaa9ou8dvY-Hhyphenhyphenn0W3Yq9AN-287Z4mcDGNODuFU3LiqLCkw3YP6_JMkr1eEuRde-Pb77h_6qJWKNRWol8859dOWSlBUSh-K7Er3A1MGfsZjk8O-jG7_gMBmFIOPJQ7ztQ/s320/P1030974.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkBJ3FP0qOh01l2Xi0fz4rmEEDLZWy2zp1CXayJSRTz4gpgZIbCLQdgOOU3sfB3zdquogxE5UNcwxX1_5GFgvYj-8yW1L81PUUDvVCHnHQvqWfhMD5NBY8Ic-WDd68Pmf-H3CiV0Zs1Rx/s1600-h/P1040484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337235079612499362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkBJ3FP0qOh01l2Xi0fz4rmEEDLZWy2zp1CXayJSRTz4gpgZIbCLQdgOOU3sfB3zdquogxE5UNcwxX1_5GFgvYj-8yW1L81PUUDvVCHnHQvqWfhMD5NBY8Ic-WDd68Pmf-H3CiV0Zs1Rx/s320/P1040484.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1298">Also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1299">pigs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1300">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1301">camels</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnrrFxefoxJeYlRYORUfigG0Qfqn2_Qsgij05CAskKpq9uAlI4GMJdieJqrO5i5FS6ZllEY-X1izteWrqCYu-0XkPOtduj-6uPAS1aq7la9x5_k0DfEvU4H5Vt1Q643s4vPltb4fvi4xx/s1600-h/P1040354.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337230077474128434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnrrFxefoxJeYlRYORUfigG0Qfqn2_Qsgij05CAskKpq9uAlI4GMJdieJqrO5i5FS6ZllEY-X1izteWrqCYu-0XkPOtduj-6uPAS1aq7la9x5_k0DfEvU4H5Vt1Q643s4vPltb4fvi4xx/s320/P1040354.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6lZV_RwAaOqsq7i2w516GzIBHDVxiwYj_0b3cYJ7R3mHLQazHyz22SiEnpMi6IH-belJb756OC6q3uXabxYn05aQM9_i-7mcz67IWAKwt4546kv1uaWz5UKveGYs1Jux8P88ZhaOItMO/s1600-h/P1040054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6lZV_RwAaOqsq7i2w516GzIBHDVxiwYj_0b3cYJ7R3mHLQazHyz22SiEnpMi6IH-belJb756OC6q3uXabxYn05aQM9_i-7mcz67IWAKwt4546kv1uaWz5UKveGYs1Jux8P88ZhaOItMO/s320/P1040054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339330447049576834" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1302">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1303">goats</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc9XVYnZkEKcGuuAfDWUa0CWxUO0pMn3Ai97EL15DPX7zaj3E-K1qrk02ftAaC729j_jgkeB_p3UUOpX9qSlKOd99axVuRJOWqIUN_tXhjizFPgtjJddhVfcUhRHdb5dZJoLYmOjJMFW6/s1600-h/P1040522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337236276488740834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc9XVYnZkEKcGuuAfDWUa0CWxUO0pMn3Ai97EL15DPX7zaj3E-K1qrk02ftAaC729j_jgkeB_p3UUOpX9qSlKOd99axVuRJOWqIUN_tXhjizFPgtjJddhVfcUhRHdb5dZJoLYmOjJMFW6/s320/P1040522.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JZ7ZUwdbkNCZvS94cCA8Logd0zw3bTUuhfmExN6iTjx9BeDxNiU0GVmFBJcmMUTbGsPAJH-ytf0XBG_IJ4lIob0smnHzjo8pnNXzue4pCAnCu-RWzhujOXGOYe0Xa1eiSFGQ0FIN-r2N/s1600-h/P1040679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338287168627204994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JZ7ZUwdbkNCZvS94cCA8Logd0zw3bTUuhfmExN6iTjx9BeDxNiU0GVmFBJcmMUTbGsPAJH-ytf0XBG_IJ4lIob0smnHzjo8pnNXzue4pCAnCu-RWzhujOXGOYe0Xa1eiSFGQ0FIN-r2N/s320/P1040679.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1304">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1305">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1306">acceptable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1307">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1308">men</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1309">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1310">urinate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1311">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1312">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1313">side</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1314">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1315">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1316">street</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1317">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1318">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1319">about</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1320">month</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1321">before</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1322">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1323">monsoon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1324">season</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1325">so</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1326">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1327">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1328">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1329">dry</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1330">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1331">dusty</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1332">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1333">smell</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1334">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1335">urine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1336">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1337">cow</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1338">shit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1339">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1340">overpowering</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1341">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1342">swastika</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1343">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1344">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1345">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1346">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1347">most</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1348">universally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1349">despised</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1350">symbol</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1351">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1352">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1353">west</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1354">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1355">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1356">India</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1357">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1358">represents</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1359">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1360">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1361">forms</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1362">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1363">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1364">creator</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1365">god</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1366">Brahma</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1367">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1368">is</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1369">revered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1370">symbol</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1371">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1372">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1373">quite</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1374">common</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHsZCgF8UgXM0-p9nRL_23PkdeXavZmLgl0ep_7ViX576okfL4Pu67k5sdcq0CqLklAIKAUNxzdJ_K29u0al83DXbfJ67ZkhbbmB6ef0pCqR8hUo5wmodS-qi1sfa-qvSTAH4k6kfRx_M/s1600-h/P1040666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338287156183132562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHsZCgF8UgXM0-p9nRL_23PkdeXavZmLgl0ep_7ViX576okfL4Pu67k5sdcq0CqLklAIKAUNxzdJ_K29u0al83DXbfJ67ZkhbbmB6ef0pCqR8hUo5wmodS-qi1sfa-qvSTAH4k6kfRx_M/s320/P1040666.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ6Xou0ts3g8b8RcIFEukX32H5h08Z177fVco1OTcPt8w4b9_wi-NAzC-K5q3AwPf3DDn1_I8hcWVxr3wC_RSptnpYdFWGcAIz9yEQWZquv1UaTqn5NdikYnrveldc7bfyg8Uoj6xulAK/s1600-h/P1040667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338287158532750738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ6Xou0ts3g8b8RcIFEukX32H5h08Z177fVco1OTcPt8w4b9_wi-NAzC-K5q3AwPf3DDn1_I8hcWVxr3wC_RSptnpYdFWGcAIz9yEQWZquv1UaTqn5NdikYnrveldc7bfyg8Uoj6xulAK/s320/P1040667.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1375">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1376">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1377">definitely</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1378">two</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1379">tiered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1380">pricing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1381">system</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1382">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1383">India</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1384">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1385">commonly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1386">known</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1387">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1388">scams</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1389">There</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1390">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1391">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1392">official</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1393">scams</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1394">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1395">foreigners</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1396">paying</span> 700 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1397">rupees</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1398">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1399">visit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1400">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1401">Taj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1402">Mahal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1403">vs</span> 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1404">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1405">Indians</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1406">Then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1407">there</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1408">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1409">non</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1410">official</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1411">scams</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1412">Almost</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1413">nothing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1414">has</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1415">price</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1416">tag</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1417">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1418">everything</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1419">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1420">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1421">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1422">haggled</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1423">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1424">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1425">fun</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1426">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1427">first</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1428">but</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1429">got</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1430">old</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1431">pretty</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1432">quickly</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1433">In</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1434">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1435">US</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1436">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1437">are</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1438">used</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1439">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1440">convenience</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1441">Wal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1442">Mart</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1443">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1444">all</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1445">its</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1446">faults</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1447">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1448">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1449">least</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1450">convenient</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1451">except</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1452">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1453">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1454">one</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1455">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1456">West</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1457">Nashville</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1458">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1459">never</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1460">seems</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1461">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1462">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1463">more</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1464">than</span> 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1465">lanes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1466">open</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1467">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1468">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1469">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1470">you</span>'<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1471">re</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1472">getting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1473">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1474">same</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1475">prices</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1476">as</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1477">everyone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1478">else</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1479">no</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1480">matter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1481">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1482">one</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1483">country</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1484">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1485">origin</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1486">Here</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1487">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1488">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1489">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1490">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1491">out</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1492">what</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1493">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1494">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1495">price</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1496">is</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1497">offer</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1498">it</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1499">get</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1500">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1501">an</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1502">argument</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1503">threaten</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1504">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1505">walk</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1506">away</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1507">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1508">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1509">finally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1510">agree</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1511">on</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1512">price</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1513">For</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1514">example</span>, a 1.5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1515">liter</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1516">bottle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1517">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1518">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1519">should</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1520">cost</span> 15 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1521">rupees</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1522">When</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1523">ask</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1524">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1525">much</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1526">bottle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1527">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1528">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1529">is</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1530">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1531">usually</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1532">say</span> 20-25. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1533">Then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1534">we</span>'d <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1535">haggle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1536">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1537">if</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1538">they</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1539">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1540">come</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1541">down</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1542">to</span> 15, I'd <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1543">go</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1544">somewhere</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1545">else</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1546">Whenever</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1547">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1548">correct</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1549">change</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1550">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1551">just</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1552">ask</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1553">for</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1554">bottle</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1555">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1556">water</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1557">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1558">give</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1559">them</span> 15 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1560">rupees</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1561">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1562">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1563">buy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1564">toilet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1565">paper</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1566">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1567">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1568">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1569">going</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1570">rate</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1571">on</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1572">toilet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1573">paper</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1574">so</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1575">asked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1576">how</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1577">much</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1578">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1579">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1580">said</span> 50 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1581">rupees</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1582">told</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1583">him</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1584">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1585">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1586">ridiculous</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1587">gave</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1588">him</span> 30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1589">rupees</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1590">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1591">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1592">probably</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1593">still</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1594">too</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1595">much</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1596">took</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1597">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1598">toilet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1599">paper</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1600">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1601">walked</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1602">away</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1603">This</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1604">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1605">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1606">unacceptable</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1607">behavior</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1608">back</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1609">home</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1610">and</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1611">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1612">likely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1613">result</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1614">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1615">getting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1616">arrested</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1617">But</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1618">here</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1619">it</span>'s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1620">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1621">accepted</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1622">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1623">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1624">doing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1625">business</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1626">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1627">guy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1628">really</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1629">didn</span>'t <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1630">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1631">any</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1632">recourse</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1633">If</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1634">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1635">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1636">called</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1637">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1638">police</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1639">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1640">would</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1641">have</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1642">gotten</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1643">in</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1644">trouble</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1645">for</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1646">ripping</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1647">off</span> tourists. Now that I think about it, he didn't really fight much when I gave him 30 rupees. Maybe I should have given 20. The holy grail of traveling in India is getting the price that locals get. Even with getting overcharged, things here are really cheap. I paid on average about $4-$5 per night for a hotel room.<br /><br />On April 22 I took a train to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. The train stations are incredibly crowded here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HcOHyMIbiuIuh9W9BmrBcE5WIcheufglSaLMVn1m_xm0eKlK1gRSC0_oY9DJSON0XX3eewgEt9WHoozU_HmRcoPVWMPHUwG16BpIuOT4-6lDudBffo0TrErxtxdIdQFFfRYWXJJkLCfn/s1600-h/P1030565.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337212007453910642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HcOHyMIbiuIuh9W9BmrBcE5WIcheufglSaLMVn1m_xm0eKlK1gRSC0_oY9DJSON0XX3eewgEt9WHoozU_HmRcoPVWMPHUwG16BpIuOT4-6lDudBffo0TrErxtxdIdQFFfRYWXJJkLCfn/s320/P1030565.JPG" border="0" /></a>Luckily for us, there is a tourist-only ticket counter upstairs away from the craziness.<br /><br />On the train I met a Japanese guy whose name, I hate to say, I don't remember. It started with an A. For purposes of this blog, I'll call him Annyong. I had dinner with Annyong and the next day we went to see the Taj Mahal and other sights around Agra. The rooftop restaurant of the hotel offered an awesome sunset view of the Taj. The Taj Mahal is incredible any time of the day. It is best seen at different times of the day when the sun's reflections on different parts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsCcfN5ZxLYPwekV44yb1IcQJsSR3nRYHiuEYN2AnQEGnE2gNGvw0Qu0uVEJqN6iRoUzNHV1KQwvhSWMxZsBXAePjxdx_eWz9zdDiruUX5fcUSaiU1Z2xLHaG9CbcgVah4Eia0TZvdwK-/s1600-h/P1030578.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337212012367725074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsCcfN5ZxLYPwekV44yb1IcQJsSR3nRYHiuEYN2AnQEGnE2gNGvw0Qu0uVEJqN6iRoUzNHV1KQwvhSWMxZsBXAePjxdx_eWz9zdDiruUX5fcUSaiU1Z2xLHaG9CbcgVah4Eia0TZvdwK-/s320/P1030578.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7oUPQO_nfAgyuYnaFTjZEwH87xESmdgdjMo4dsBem0zo0TKWDBI8Clm4aNDp2o0gPbgb7beca5GOKsL-MJcO3L6Vs2D8mqTmjEKzssYlVCp8HFP47g1jxZipVE4qghP-mOGsRwu8Voxw/s1600-h/P1030583.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337212014987151746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7oUPQO_nfAgyuYnaFTjZEwH87xESmdgdjMo4dsBem0zo0TKWDBI8Clm4aNDp2o0gPbgb7beca5GOKsL-MJcO3L6Vs2D8mqTmjEKzssYlVCp8HFP47g1jxZipVE4qghP-mOGsRwu8Voxw/s320/P1030583.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On April 23, I went to the Taj Mahal at 5:45am. The Taj Mahal is one of those places that is as beautiful in real life as it is in pictures. It almost looks fake. Seeing it in the morning was a good idea because it wasn't quite so hot and the sun's reflection really illuminated the dome well, plus it hadn't gotten very crowded just yet. I took about a million pictures of the Taj from every possible angle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuKtYwTzSxvXsiEmLSUalQsuYrx0nREeb5HlO2OYt9rL2m28NI6rw718Z4xEzHDOPOnSjxmMRHMXpUiBdXz6sHJDQBaftSnQ7hvfgZFVRq4FPLhYSo18B_k3wALB8NtDPIwgYOLrRtPbb/s1600-h/P1030707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213150256898162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuKtYwTzSxvXsiEmLSUalQsuYrx0nREeb5HlO2OYt9rL2m28NI6rw718Z4xEzHDOPOnSjxmMRHMXpUiBdXz6sHJDQBaftSnQ7hvfgZFVRq4FPLhYSo18B_k3wALB8NtDPIwgYOLrRtPbb/s320/P1030707.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvFmNaeJKohQ5tuPQNb8rxRN_x1AzkpgomBHLAbu5_tzkM3bERJGxiGMporETiIgDzHbZWMKvkEekzibvjhPDeZIqfFn0kFFjO8Xt6Rc1rRlYrSMwreLQ9aYMnDA2-tlMWH3vf9bUB5-s/s1600-h/P1030674.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213145613435570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvFmNaeJKohQ5tuPQNb8rxRN_x1AzkpgomBHLAbu5_tzkM3bERJGxiGMporETiIgDzHbZWMKvkEekzibvjhPDeZIqfFn0kFFjO8Xt6Rc1rRlYrSMwreLQ9aYMnDA2-tlMWH3vf9bUB5-s/s320/P1030674.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBw2U-ptOgiDQ2o8RwhHoHencXC8NoXDsBNN5_KGr_v9xjLG1Il7L62rNZ5YBJMkAoLIcY_rz4Zml5v4PPKvMLQiT_v1W19XsF-OSzlUnU4yW4itkRA2k5oBLFubWkNPLZZJh-cNUXfWw/s1600-h/P1030635.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213144519704514" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBw2U-ptOgiDQ2o8RwhHoHencXC8NoXDsBNN5_KGr_v9xjLG1Il7L62rNZ5YBJMkAoLIcY_rz4Zml5v4PPKvMLQiT_v1W19XsF-OSzlUnU4yW4itkRA2k5oBLFubWkNPLZZJh-cNUXfWw/s320/P1030635.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsSOgAQF9T_jNXmbA4n8ddhzstAfw212GzhGi2xw5WhJY_rTu8l7L5_hdosPOhcmpnT_jvrvZKeW1CucCx3-jYiC97_61GDr1Y4SAOwL-EHOlOHEPg3OyC4rtdTUX8UtOPVtOg2WABTOc/s1600-h/P1030706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213149982316018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsSOgAQF9T_jNXmbA4n8ddhzstAfw212GzhGi2xw5WhJY_rTu8l7L5_hdosPOhcmpnT_jvrvZKeW1CucCx3-jYiC97_61GDr1Y4SAOwL-EHOlOHEPg3OyC4rtdTUX8UtOPVtOg2WABTOc/s320/P1030706.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5uMRL_UNCcHiDHMr41G6jwt9g7n_075Rbw9s-0YpdC7oZBgutLrx6RHaYJbbJniGp4Te6CL3B6_AoSyIf1bM3mLgkWxbovmQKlVexn6DnCaUFTrt2Djz7OYmqcNRSXgpKi-GLebY126-/s1600-h/P1030681.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213149346637954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5uMRL_UNCcHiDHMr41G6jwt9g7n_075Rbw9s-0YpdC7oZBgutLrx6RHaYJbbJniGp4Te6CL3B6_AoSyIf1bM3mLgkWxbovmQKlVexn6DnCaUFTrt2Djz7OYmqcNRSXgpKi-GLebY126-/s320/P1030681.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The Princess Diana bench.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHg8vUJTD3QA6z6fQ0sKK_u4lwyk1yGPzJO8vVCi4R2kq-JW7nsvLHwenunRsY247CvRTmvI9WwcK6C2f2WUO-XWUb_5BTt_bQZKpN6RvJBGwHnKsMXackCs7lezuFKgJviZE__DjnNQ2/s1600-h/P1030621.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337212017590062098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHg8vUJTD3QA6z6fQ0sKK_u4lwyk1yGPzJO8vVCi4R2kq-JW7nsvLHwenunRsY247CvRTmvI9WwcK6C2f2WUO-XWUb_5BTt_bQZKpN6RvJBGwHnKsMXackCs7lezuFKgJviZE__DjnNQ2/s320/P1030621.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />All the stereotypes about Japanese tourists are true. At least they were with Annyong. The dude was all over the place, running around taking pictures and wandering off. He had some serious ADD, changing his plans about every 10 minutes. He kind of wore me out. But he was a good photographer and I picked up some really good tips.<br /><br />After the Taj, we hired a rickshaw driver to take us to see Itmad's Tomb (Baby Taj), the Red Fort, and to see the Taj Mahal from the back side across the river.<br /><br />Itmad's Tomb<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wtMfNdXNzddGwDbtFEA3_EAeDNT7M_ER8rJ7fkAf30gYFfAIcU3J5nqZLqH-KziVEhAe8sSuxLSM9g8iuwDRiK2N2zPypISXXll9lRueGNGAB4na_gKRZRrmk1Ccea_c4enJtAUla0yA/s1600-h/P1030744.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213918741695906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wtMfNdXNzddGwDbtFEA3_EAeDNT7M_ER8rJ7fkAf30gYFfAIcU3J5nqZLqH-KziVEhAe8sSuxLSM9g8iuwDRiK2N2zPypISXXll9lRueGNGAB4na_gKRZRrmk1Ccea_c4enJtAUla0yA/s320/P1030744.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHjMF2nD4PxEpDozV590_6JwcxjOB8dVOBicm_p5n3g3jBTStDYlMVZidyh8LsgqHkFs9D1z-LUEL9tHY3N0uBQVg-MrBl3YsRdmWCQz2VoybAhEKIpBteqrDo-K7jZ8i5S2triNuCwL5/s1600-h/P1030752.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213926689817698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHjMF2nD4PxEpDozV590_6JwcxjOB8dVOBicm_p5n3g3jBTStDYlMVZidyh8LsgqHkFs9D1z-LUEL9tHY3N0uBQVg-MrBl3YsRdmWCQz2VoybAhEKIpBteqrDo-K7jZ8i5S2triNuCwL5/s320/P1030752.JPG" border="0" /></a>The back side of the Taj from across the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurUAeDIu2R8ub0n0_y6DebcALd4ELMho6qzUPmOc1Rbf3McxNPouZNkI5sYwoaBfv1TCoLf7X0o_Z53FnwldCFNeHDY8jxVQIbK8yF83j75LczLMhiWFJ1fGl2VtEKORppk73nhcy5B2J/s1600-h/P1030777.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214733680434450" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurUAeDIu2R8ub0n0_y6DebcALd4ELMho6qzUPmOc1Rbf3McxNPouZNkI5sYwoaBfv1TCoLf7X0o_Z53FnwldCFNeHDY8jxVQIbK8yF83j75LczLMhiWFJ1fGl2VtEKORppk73nhcy5B2J/s320/P1030777.JPG" border="0" /></a>Annyong and the begging children that seem to show up every place you want to take a picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oJPUgdK9MYfLC1qCbUMHjCal35AoRvS_tF7V17oSkZAP9zYxLQGVYasRqhCSJGoXyAUtJdoQl1DYtiUTDzazWfJ3tV3wbgTLCzwNsSSQLR2niTEYoxHH8ayG43YIqyN8tha9L4RG5N4n/s1600-h/P1030775.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337213928368215762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oJPUgdK9MYfLC1qCbUMHjCal35AoRvS_tF7V17oSkZAP9zYxLQGVYasRqhCSJGoXyAUtJdoQl1DYtiUTDzazWfJ3tV3wbgTLCzwNsSSQLR2niTEYoxHH8ayG43YIqyN8tha9L4RG5N4n/s320/P1030775.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Agra Fort.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QBVa2O667mRVw7PkLGSqUWc-DgOJMuMm0YaeGOLKgPEpALaxWYKV_BA5mHHiWFiMBPUigPsqNe09akla5krKydqrPNenPuc36R21re1x65KrlTgemP96Zsooa1MIEk14WzjkD60u9TQB/s1600-h/P1030781.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214730479466274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QBVa2O667mRVw7PkLGSqUWc-DgOJMuMm0YaeGOLKgPEpALaxWYKV_BA5mHHiWFiMBPUigPsqNe09akla5krKydqrPNenPuc36R21re1x65KrlTgemP96Zsooa1MIEk14WzjkD60u9TQB/s320/P1030781.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaRs_VOs7tecvsRdCBrRDcwihJ21nXHkmk_pOlZVfrIg_ZV_Ux7WuqKZNmZ-o9efSYSnciBxNIrdsdwbdrOjxTv5xXdu5eqiKMvInX3HKXlkBjzkVKyyxOvfEFFEwkWWr-6AYeJC2TRlo/s1600-h/P1030789.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214737463963778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaRs_VOs7tecvsRdCBrRDcwihJ21nXHkmk_pOlZVfrIg_ZV_Ux7WuqKZNmZ-o9efSYSnciBxNIrdsdwbdrOjxTv5xXdu5eqiKMvInX3HKXlkBjzkVKyyxOvfEFFEwkWWr-6AYeJC2TRlo/s320/P1030789.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAtG7k4T-rtNYsw_PQyGFHBsyT9cvpXxHbhjji2mbIDGfs11tSF1vLX_G_lERBTzOzzyFLGfMxEf-htFY3PHJOdViG_PIUSt8ZUMVJrY8sEfiwE32ZV_tSf6KbYP6yTAc-h1wOqb44Tlr/s1600-h/P1030798.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214741298704818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAtG7k4T-rtNYsw_PQyGFHBsyT9cvpXxHbhjji2mbIDGfs11tSF1vLX_G_lERBTzOzzyFLGfMxEf-htFY3PHJOdViG_PIUSt8ZUMVJrY8sEfiwE32ZV_tSf6KbYP6yTAc-h1wOqb44Tlr/s320/P1030798.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUMxKgf8HqScVts13QwNgBKtIIduWPaIQNgGqOhEUgocAqi-p34Q6VchAiQ8mVDv1jLUkGzX-IFTEHbOhRR_a6VSw1FRMdDIiu9YIrLq5EYARDGEPYK3Y6fM8N4gizbmAchNYgMaM8pq4/s1600-h/P1030802.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337214739535326082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUMxKgf8HqScVts13QwNgBKtIIduWPaIQNgGqOhEUgocAqi-p34Q6VchAiQ8mVDv1jLUkGzX-IFTEHbOhRR_a6VSw1FRMdDIiu9YIrLq5EYARDGEPYK3Y6fM8N4gizbmAchNYgMaM8pq4/s320/P1030802.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The next day I took a local bus to Fatapur Sikri.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y4asqUvL56gvH8p5zm4RDJtnhVpUJ20-5zfCxFxuATJqXjaFIjlD55YVKBCJTCfUNgIo9sptJfKBjpDusjXEDa-d8FW-QfmGLEiuOwNFmtr2UnPuyeRC-N08UO0QD0C5cSykVCVIV6Y7/s1600-h/P1030860.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216241443022258" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y4asqUvL56gvH8p5zm4RDJtnhVpUJ20-5zfCxFxuATJqXjaFIjlD55YVKBCJTCfUNgIo9sptJfKBjpDusjXEDa-d8FW-QfmGLEiuOwNFmtr2UnPuyeRC-N08UO0QD0C5cSykVCVIV6Y7/s320/P1030860.JPG" border="0" /></a>Fatapur Sikri is a fortified ghost city built in 1585 and was about an hour away from Agra by bus. It's two main attractions are the Dargah Mosque and the palaces of Emperor Akbar and his three wives. It was built in a place that suffered from water shortages and was abandoned shortly after Akbar's death. The palaces and the mosque were very well preserved. I went to the mosque first. As expected, a guy approached me and started talking. I was getting used to the process by now. They never ask you if you want a guide, they just start talking and walking with you. So after about two minutes I said time out. How much are you going to want after this is over, trying not to repeat the argument at the Jama Mosque back in Delhi. He said I could pay whatever I liked. He was a decent tour guide, but he took me to a guy on the ground selling these carved elephants and I got the hard sell. They usually talk fast and don't pause to give a chance to say no thanks and excuse myself. After I said no thanks, I got the sad story about it being off season and they were in hard times. After saying no about eight times and standing up and walking away, they said, "Hey, no problem". When it came time for his tip, I gave him 50 rupees. Again, this is a very good tip for 20 minutes work. I would have given him 100 if I hadn't had to sit through the hard sell on the carved elephants. Of course he acted mad and said the tip was inadequate. He walked along with me as I was walking away demanding more money. This is something about India that really got on my nerves. People walking up close next to me, invading my space, and trying to sell me something or beg for money.<br /><br />Fatapur Sikri Mosque<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMwzBl3Zwbjw9BuXi56ewVyzhccC_a4PTAZmthxtKpVAP51BIF0lAFcd8amO_qIR7uuDAPRNetyITsGwd2hT7BjypbCVfe1a5Q7aHuEYJKhfGQc33VvNm_fVgrrBbwyCrmbpPmpLVj7IG/s1600-h/P1030865.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216238403058306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMwzBl3Zwbjw9BuXi56ewVyzhccC_a4PTAZmthxtKpVAP51BIF0lAFcd8amO_qIR7uuDAPRNetyITsGwd2hT7BjypbCVfe1a5Q7aHuEYJKhfGQc33VvNm_fVgrrBbwyCrmbpPmpLVj7IG/s320/P1030865.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KgeRrlbfLG902UkND0gKL_39cX2c32Hmy30Q42HY5DXudesIt57f4hcWRhQ-saedGNYamL70szPDUTCp8W_Nj-yDs_JrkMsA86eXojRvYXI_ZawGPsAUlTDwEHd_Sy5SPLo4gxGlvOpR/s1600-h/P1030877.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216247272743250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KgeRrlbfLG902UkND0gKL_39cX2c32Hmy30Q42HY5DXudesIt57f4hcWRhQ-saedGNYamL70szPDUTCp8W_Nj-yDs_JrkMsA86eXojRvYXI_ZawGPsAUlTDwEHd_Sy5SPLo4gxGlvOpR/s320/P1030877.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Knees must be covered when inside a mosque. They usually provided a cover when I was wearing shorts. Also one's head must be covered.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHWErugc103P9-F1gjI2vZrii8D6T7olGV2I5s8fiIjqiVeNipBG8CoJ49-Ik692Aau12H0Bq__Aw2btYVmpP4rfkw_H2q0qLbHRCTmn3ci8HUcQU7kB6oSQ-98vBu-59LSttIkRamRpF/s1600-h/P1030876.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216243467103362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHWErugc103P9-F1gjI2vZrii8D6T7olGV2I5s8fiIjqiVeNipBG8CoJ49-Ik692Aau12H0Bq__Aw2btYVmpP4rfkw_H2q0qLbHRCTmn3ci8HUcQU7kB6oSQ-98vBu-59LSttIkRamRpF/s320/P1030876.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKNUarTl6ddB1qUI_yYroprMleazGm9EFPDsKIKFPEa8cZ_unRWoxhQUk5wHZCbdQ0PwwbAPgHyqYBgBif4ZX2KIxu3pZ6ZlYguw6H8Fxta0JoXwVxfIS8LBPaS4XPF4P6jwfOCEFLjds/s1600-h/P1030891.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216248428856162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKNUarTl6ddB1qUI_yYroprMleazGm9EFPDsKIKFPEa8cZ_unRWoxhQUk5wHZCbdQ0PwwbAPgHyqYBgBif4ZX2KIxu3pZ6ZlYguw6H8Fxta0JoXwVxfIS8LBPaS4XPF4P6jwfOCEFLjds/s320/P1030891.JPG" border="0" /></a>I hired a state approved guide to see the palaces. The official price was 125 rupees. I offered 100 and he said that the prices were set by the government and not negotiable. I decided not to even get a guide and walked away. He said he would do it for 100. It was an interesting tour and I was glad I had gotten a guide.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2Oh7ZHGXPhxHk2Duil2HMkSoaLdaSSjqfEVXul3oITRLjhCKwgIE6wMIQ4Y2dUlT67F__weeXkGu01knCgIkN9zYHo4arZXoR2o-0KtOJ2vTM9yCtYTVf_JaPfyq_E64qEnecMneV_ob/s1600-h/P1030898.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216966432103474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2Oh7ZHGXPhxHk2Duil2HMkSoaLdaSSjqfEVXul3oITRLjhCKwgIE6wMIQ4Y2dUlT67F__weeXkGu01knCgIkN9zYHo4arZXoR2o-0KtOJ2vTM9yCtYTVf_JaPfyq_E64qEnecMneV_ob/s320/P1030898.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wf_Jm6GDqIMVghaaaafBxW4QyxB7oHHQhYg-Hr4c7iD7AW4yhU0g18coKcehnFoFjelderNerudpDgl-bNXq_zhNsTHv66AfWOrIinCmpaBjU40qYSkd2N2BTfWOUPoPI4r9eBHqbnBM/s1600-h/P1030900.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216969908369778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wf_Jm6GDqIMVghaaaafBxW4QyxB7oHHQhYg-Hr4c7iD7AW4yhU0g18coKcehnFoFjelderNerudpDgl-bNXq_zhNsTHv66AfWOrIinCmpaBjU40qYSkd2N2BTfWOUPoPI4r9eBHqbnBM/s320/P1030900.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE28sojVYhZy-HgwZ0Na_zbCEvjfrKbJhMaThvtmv-PjLx39GkdkZ6sPPQc1tvwSzjE9q0yrKYk8k7M1YZA7kDku-rLfC7YyR5a___I6NA8Hj8IHeB4VEVyb0qlFz_O-YxbQiP_48uMTec/s1600-h/P1030903.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216971590010402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE28sojVYhZy-HgwZ0Na_zbCEvjfrKbJhMaThvtmv-PjLx39GkdkZ6sPPQc1tvwSzjE9q0yrKYk8k7M1YZA7kDku-rLfC7YyR5a___I6NA8Hj8IHeB4VEVyb0qlFz_O-YxbQiP_48uMTec/s320/P1030903.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktRajJT7qzUXQaA0ZiSwsTooXUG5O_W17MTV1AysRNx3TsJH179smveLv-Uh8wNUPyi4NhNxj65pqQUZK9mRvu3zSxJsoLoeMNtbBx5C5ntQa5opuz3XTSEtMk9YGNbHIRlyyPrB6yZQf/s1600-h/P1030911.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216975214761650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktRajJT7qzUXQaA0ZiSwsTooXUG5O_W17MTV1AysRNx3TsJH179smveLv-Uh8wNUPyi4NhNxj65pqQUZK9mRvu3zSxJsoLoeMNtbBx5C5ntQa5opuz3XTSEtMk9YGNbHIRlyyPrB6yZQf/s320/P1030911.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEjAEnavFI3LOePR9BEV_-LaprHY8l__RS67uGlrkPb67yeufZOG9jaLC9PTzsEo00MmuK97xVN-cSOGS3xvQa86-dIZrb7Qo1QSRwHIRzCdutdKknrJaMqrdyREEPtDiJYOZkB334SC8/s1600-h/P1030937.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337216979885116818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEjAEnavFI3LOePR9BEV_-LaprHY8l__RS67uGlrkPb67yeufZOG9jaLC9PTzsEo00MmuK97xVN-cSOGS3xvQa86-dIZrb7Qo1QSRwHIRzCdutdKknrJaMqrdyREEPtDiJYOZkB334SC8/s320/P1030937.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After walking though the ruins for about an hour, I went back to the bus stop. There were abut 30 people or so, a mixture of tourists and locals. I waited for about 1.5 hours for the bus back to Agra, but it appeared it wasn't going to come. The locals started leaving. So seven of us got together and after about 30 minutes of bargaining, found a decently priced taxi to take us back to Agra (600 rupees). I had to catch a bus that night to Pushkar.<br /><br />The god Brahama dropped a lotus flower on the earth and Pushkar floated to the surface. Pushkar is a very important place for Hindus. The lake in the middle of town is considered holy and there are many bathing ghats lining the lake. Or they would be lining the lake if it wasn't mostly evaporated. The monsoons come in June and hopefull the lake will be refilled, but it was quite small when I was there. The ghats (stairs leading down to the water) didn't quite reach the lake. Since Pushkar is a holy place, alcohol, meat and eggs are not allowed. It didn't really seem like it would be my kind of place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtssGJZ2ahLIQZoPgrOYa2gbkspffgzRSkaMiC-8p6XidAKQfnNfak8ARlh8ESrT0kNH_5YYRrOisHqB4htuPhZzLEYISl_fuhHSsZDvWq3Vxe6TqjCnxa-CE-pewFCTBovCEcqzmyrEgk/s1600-h/P1030946.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337217633591008978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtssGJZ2ahLIQZoPgrOYa2gbkspffgzRSkaMiC-8p6XidAKQfnNfak8ARlh8ESrT0kNH_5YYRrOisHqB4htuPhZzLEYISl_fuhHSsZDvWq3Vxe6TqjCnxa-CE-pewFCTBovCEcqzmyrEgk/s320/P1030946.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASNnShL10WMabbMeTvaF7Irl1CvOUYIkgADp7NguygtXg3YoGlPwzZmjK40HJALTEqAPCHvmFx9jf_NI11UhXMzm0cqDb8uKoYENO623bthRADtt3GanxFUB1KW32m9y-zNpnFHyNtG9y/s1600-h/P1030949.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337217637906094290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASNnShL10WMabbMeTvaF7Irl1CvOUYIkgADp7NguygtXg3YoGlPwzZmjK40HJALTEqAPCHvmFx9jf_NI11UhXMzm0cqDb8uKoYENO623bthRADtt3GanxFUB1KW32m9y-zNpnFHyNtG9y/s320/P1030949.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5ZqGoDwnp-YlpcQYvNyN1GSLm8JbWHB_JAto6MHQ1jKl0y_hmQxBHzfyxdQnvgHwlg1Ht5Aez47hCAzMG52wA-7couijGLmY7Esk-mdcOyNJuI13SYvc1ahmMQHL4_L7ezeLooNjhKjI/s1600-h/P1030951.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337217635210040130" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5ZqGoDwnp-YlpcQYvNyN1GSLm8JbWHB_JAto6MHQ1jKl0y_hmQxBHzfyxdQnvgHwlg1Ht5Aez47hCAzMG52wA-7couijGLmY7Esk-mdcOyNJuI13SYvc1ahmMQHL4_L7ezeLooNjhKjI/s320/P1030951.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaV5X8tv54eD_Y-wQ5wGKyRxc75UXZFkM5XZHGKpFR1tZluJr6LPMLx5kWBR6Sz29xZf9H1fkEkDfwHJ7JLkuTRkI8bp1ClhodFYfQADR-tzP2RLJVZF7SK7BKxJqnfvPgnwP2PZprtsC/s1600-h/P1030954.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337217634747214658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaV5X8tv54eD_Y-wQ5wGKyRxc75UXZFkM5XZHGKpFR1tZluJr6LPMLx5kWBR6Sz29xZf9H1fkEkDfwHJ7JLkuTRkI8bp1ClhodFYfQADR-tzP2RLJVZF7SK7BKxJqnfvPgnwP2PZprtsC/s320/P1030954.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE807dv-_D4z7sKsnN3HYTDs4fiWZ8n2dRVn4VECBnUsmsYHMu-DUu6mIPHwNlomqaAZDdO-ylAE5h0mooU9Ad1uFVY_aSTDhbsKgzbBi8fj7JgAqgn-zu61T1bI5rWyhDoOfygd3QCWy/s1600-h/P1030989.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337218679966346114" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE807dv-_D4z7sKsnN3HYTDs4fiWZ8n2dRVn4VECBnUsmsYHMu-DUu6mIPHwNlomqaAZDdO-ylAE5h0mooU9Ad1uFVY_aSTDhbsKgzbBi8fj7JgAqgn-zu61T1bI5rWyhDoOfygd3QCWy/s320/P1030989.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7ZmMeQxRqMfzwG-J1R2leZSii8PnGZOR7-9L9GAyTtGpPRwSgp3aHjoMRy1nK4yrKshYV69jK6jjmdsQGMVyzwUjcM7mVvnKWdrv_L_1iQFn1k7wld7HsqfHYidzmU4C6k3hE7ngeRQh/s1600-h/P1030984.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337218678703806786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7ZmMeQxRqMfzwG-J1R2leZSii8PnGZOR7-9L9GAyTtGpPRwSgp3aHjoMRy1nK4yrKshYV69jK6jjmdsQGMVyzwUjcM7mVvnKWdrv_L_1iQFn1k7wld7HsqfHYidzmU4C6k3hE7ngeRQh/s320/P1030984.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Z1gIWoXmK6qYD4SEQ393EP4naKGDTem1xyfADiMOyiZGcAg7E_N3n1pYO1audoAjxmGSWQfdP7CbT_WUjUKRxcrb2NV2V9mNJkVXMLJZU0U7zvajurOT5T9wP62RMYX9gCfftJHlJBD/s1600-h/P1040029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337221877246796562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Z1gIWoXmK6qYD4SEQ393EP4naKGDTem1xyfADiMOyiZGcAg7E_N3n1pYO1audoAjxmGSWQfdP7CbT_WUjUKRxcrb2NV2V9mNJkVXMLJZU0U7zvajurOT5T9wP62RMYX9gCfftJHlJBD/s320/P1040029.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHuajB5W9how9G40_mj1IzjJ9TCXLAkJjoQaxoNYPvq0MlJhpMfmj1ZXQsrqcpdBe-ZJkF0KUvbtofe84_1LggAzWNXCdSEwBBPa1j-HZ8FYwC8HQJjgi9hB5oz219aFHewR6_ksh3foh/s1600-h/P1030982.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337218685136862434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHuajB5W9how9G40_mj1IzjJ9TCXLAkJjoQaxoNYPvq0MlJhpMfmj1ZXQsrqcpdBe-ZJkF0KUvbtofe84_1LggAzWNXCdSEwBBPa1j-HZ8FYwC8HQJjgi9hB5oz219aFHewR6_ksh3foh/s320/P1030982.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwC6B9bDykgy4NRavyHRa2a8d1iLu6ugziE1RZ5JThg6vocYVMR_GkFEUOvpV9aLGSadLhOssW_dAgrNMa9tOJY1dcyvGX96ThQxPSIdvz68Y7bwIHZRNJJtrHhDMHCScHW2ANLyFDQzE/s1600-h/P1030966.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337218686324965618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwC6B9bDykgy4NRavyHRa2a8d1iLu6ugziE1RZ5JThg6vocYVMR_GkFEUOvpV9aLGSadLhOssW_dAgrNMa9tOJY1dcyvGX96ThQxPSIdvz68Y7bwIHZRNJJtrHhDMHCScHW2ANLyFDQzE/s320/P1030966.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Just to make clear about any references to religous events in this blog, I'm not necessarily saying that I believe the events happened. But I will tell them as how the followers of those religions believe the events to have happened. This is out of respect for the religions and to keep from repeating myself.<br /><br />I had dinner one night in a rooftop restaurant. I don't think I could ever be a vegetarian, but if I had to be, India would be the place. In the west, we pay far more attention to meat than to vegatables. We will season, marinate, dry rub, score, and basically really go out of our way to season meat and make it taste good. Then we'll take the vegatables and boil them in water with a little salt. In India, they really put the time in and make vegetarian dishes that are filling and actually taste good. When I finished dinner, I got up and while I was putting my backpack on, I raied my arms in the air and heard a strange noise. I had put my index finger up in a ceiling fan. It was bleeding, but didn't really hurt right away. India is the last place I want to get a flesh wound. Ceiling fans are dirty anyway. I'm the farthest thing from a germ phobe, but here in India, I sometimes want to wrap myself in a plastic bubble. Since I was the only person in the restaurant, the waiters noticed me right away and gave me some rubbing alcohol and some cotton. I bought some bandaide and neosporin at a pharmacy. I'm happy to report that my finger has healed quite nicely.<br /><br />On April 27, my last day in Pushkar, I got up before dawn and hiked up the mountain to the Savutri temple to see the sunrise. I was greeted by a group of French hippies and monkeys. The views were really incredible. Pushkar was nice, but my one complaint (other than the heat) was that most of the temples were off limits to non-Hindus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ1dPqP8m58QdtL79ms9si-ZCNP0zHMswxgjA7L_aAJhyhJYWkLt1R6pk3CWZI_w7lZ3eJfCztZAR8JfWhS3GPxrt11DLTq2L7ugahLx8xgVPnb6TB0KMdJEQVpm8i8i2HrHdcW_v6qCb/s1600-h/P1040005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337220914669319090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ1dPqP8m58QdtL79ms9si-ZCNP0zHMswxgjA7L_aAJhyhJYWkLt1R6pk3CWZI_w7lZ3eJfCztZAR8JfWhS3GPxrt11DLTq2L7ugahLx8xgVPnb6TB0KMdJEQVpm8i8i2HrHdcW_v6qCb/s320/P1040005.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq1Po43SDE0EerK1UpydzsjSRBeiDfa8_v6_hV00ae2HHLp75GCIwGW3yqMTWEqc_6p7gK4Y6syA-cIZB27viP-bs5RTofzAsBTwUOcqCAo8ZIRdybTBzuHnPAwEXMX_dk0DMm9EfVu6T/s1600-h/P1040012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337220911180090434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq1Po43SDE0EerK1UpydzsjSRBeiDfa8_v6_hV00ae2HHLp75GCIwGW3yqMTWEqc_6p7gK4Y6syA-cIZB27viP-bs5RTofzAsBTwUOcqCAo8ZIRdybTBzuHnPAwEXMX_dk0DMm9EfVu6T/s320/P1040012.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUIFAxsdow1Kva4_8ejMFjSSEY1VNTLU1Zre-IgpX47cTrVyACkbjkp2TjIOChigJYjLny1IKQntlVOuXfC7biYd1vEhZePbY7Rc0IGUkSFvNedPrW2tK9aRxWatv7mV9jyeJTT88p04o/s1600-h/P1040018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337221869278632898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUIFAxsdow1Kva4_8ejMFjSSEY1VNTLU1Zre-IgpX47cTrVyACkbjkp2TjIOChigJYjLny1IKQntlVOuXfC7biYd1vEhZePbY7Rc0IGUkSFvNedPrW2tK9aRxWatv7mV9jyeJTT88p04o/s320/P1040018.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdVUK0p02qJXLvIjtmN12-iRm7xWt4Qa0ZgO6pphStNg9FYeRbyaoJEW1_DpXqwt1Td1Kt0X4SC2Xhqun9kIWZsUqIl-J5A5JldUZEPUTogQ__mh84o7A3ip1IO3_fOCsHfgoZ7R7lOy0/s1600-h/P1040009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdVUK0p02qJXLvIjtmN12-iRm7xWt4Qa0ZgO6pphStNg9FYeRbyaoJEW1_DpXqwt1Td1Kt0X4SC2Xhqun9kIWZsUqIl-J5A5JldUZEPUTogQ__mh84o7A3ip1IO3_fOCsHfgoZ7R7lOy0/s320/P1040009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339330440580078930" border="0" /></a><br />I went back to Ajmer by bus on April 27 and had a few hours to kill before my train to Udaipur. I deposited my bags in the cloakroom and checked my guidebook for something to see here. I went to see Dargah and Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra. Dargah houses the tomb of a Sufi saint and is one of India's most important Muslim pilgrimage sites. According to my guide, who was a Sufi priest and wasn't nearly as pushy as guides I'd had previously, this was a holy place for both Muslims and hindus and people came from all over to make pilgrimages. It was packed with people. There weren't any other tourists there as far as I could see. He took me into some sacred room and gave me a blessing. He seemed more interested in me donating money to pay for food that is provided to picgrims than in his own tip.<br /><br />The Entrance to the Dargah. Cameras were not permitted inside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO_1NPrmsuwgVRyhuQi2bnGNW3n-yQ4_nUhGjflrVDlN_eCTw1N6hp5rarMPgvYdScVrQCEkKqkBYWmP3u9WEzeWJNxdqNZhkJJOIo6H9SuNWMX10G_sXNHB8vYBFgx4SMuuIbpvYaM4u/s1600-h/P1040051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337221885040596386" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO_1NPrmsuwgVRyhuQi2bnGNW3n-yQ4_nUhGjflrVDlN_eCTw1N6hp5rarMPgvYdScVrQCEkKqkBYWmP3u9WEzeWJNxdqNZhkJJOIo6H9SuNWMX10G_sXNHB8vYBFgx4SMuuIbpvYaM4u/s320/P1040051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After the Dargah, I went to see the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra. This building was built as a sanskrit college in 1153 but was converted into a mosque after Mohammed of Ghori seized Ajmer in 1198. There are some really, really old buildings in India.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMB76SjjOJq-0et0_3EAIhjL8nm7PDkp_RhaM-NpglPiYpmz1mMeagOMOu1ouCpmy0PmCykpzfX4eb_egZyFCdlQeVm75LP5Xrf2VMEnnu_oJUZqXkBPN25_V9dOjoigC6UlqhdZ2Qf2q/s1600-h/P1040049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337225627179864338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMB76SjjOJq-0et0_3EAIhjL8nm7PDkp_RhaM-NpglPiYpmz1mMeagOMOu1ouCpmy0PmCykpzfX4eb_egZyFCdlQeVm75LP5Xrf2VMEnnu_oJUZqXkBPN25_V9dOjoigC6UlqhdZ2Qf2q/s320/P1040049.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I took the train to Udaipur. I had arranged a hotel ahead of time since I as getting in kind of late at night. The hotel sent a rickshaw driver for me and sure enough he was holding a card with my name on it.<br /><br />Udaipur is most famous for being a filming location for the movie Octopussy, the 1983 James Bond film most famous for having a cute name that somehow made it past the censory board. My rickshaw driver mentioned this on my way in from the train station. Udaipurians are very proud of this. Many rooftop restaurants in Udaipur have nighlty screenings. Not really having anything better to do, I went to a restaurant to see it one night . I hadn't seen it before. It was an OK movie, but I thought Roger Moore was a little too old to still be playing James Bond.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAyG_Hkll8GHhpBBSxT8dsepYVcGXBDyKnRXTVSoAmiQAP7dUTEtRyus4_KNDkgOJynXRKl_Xyy_cD_yp0NTenyU2ZfFlgReWJtoD5Fxlw7cKqJbNT1vafPTtbQtIqScL_OzTKVr1ZK1z/s1600-h/P1040066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337225112864286274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAyG_Hkll8GHhpBBSxT8dsepYVcGXBDyKnRXTVSoAmiQAP7dUTEtRyus4_KNDkgOJynXRKl_Xyy_cD_yp0NTenyU2ZfFlgReWJtoD5Fxlw7cKqJbNT1vafPTtbQtIqScL_OzTKVr1ZK1z/s320/P1040066.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD4NLEDBKWfnIXt1uCiArCDFSAcZZ9sbCzirH6S5CsGf-MOKVaRnSTwxIYEzd3WiFUnd2bsbf7Rf1N-Auz07RfUauVp7zDmH912N-wdYPhjXZ-BqBvCKz5scXLmeJZp3GrlTsvox5pDZB/s1600-h/P1040197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337226838180763378" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUD4NLEDBKWfnIXt1uCiArCDFSAcZZ9sbCzirH6S5CsGf-MOKVaRnSTwxIYEzd3WiFUnd2bsbf7Rf1N-Auz07RfUauVp7zDmH912N-wdYPhjXZ-BqBvCKz5scXLmeJZp3GrlTsvox5pDZB/s320/P1040197.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH39hZmPM2yaVcSSPokeT8bt8MuWk0CJtQNachiJW_uC1nb9b7pZvj_KeJCtaSNFU1pyilrnwP015ymouSXsHOytdQ7LQc5i6m8nST9eBQeMh7SgOoQz17I-apPi8ZRRjtgvj749reXAn4/s1600-h/P1040062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337225116333928226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH39hZmPM2yaVcSSPokeT8bt8MuWk0CJtQNachiJW_uC1nb9b7pZvj_KeJCtaSNFU1pyilrnwP015ymouSXsHOytdQ7LQc5i6m8nST9eBQeMh7SgOoQz17I-apPi8ZRRjtgvj749reXAn4/s320/P1040062.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Rooftop restaurant with nightly Octopussy showing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8n_c-gM6UuDcRzUTYC9H54F0XDJY8Ew7jimSGYAUg3mG8VFgYKrar_G6z8bTyPrOMbkTMvDiNmLpY8TD_-TmnhNovaqcJ7kJbfBSVSVDr6CrEFTyX2mIh6s46dkxMVuUEDYK6xzy_m6p/s1600-h/P1040077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337225113125097650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8n_c-gM6UuDcRzUTYC9H54F0XDJY8Ew7jimSGYAUg3mG8VFgYKrar_G6z8bTyPrOMbkTMvDiNmLpY8TD_-TmnhNovaqcJ7kJbfBSVSVDr6CrEFTyX2mIh6s46dkxMVuUEDYK6xzy_m6p/s320/P1040077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Udaipur has a lake in the middle of town with two notable islands. Jagniwas Island is covered by the Palace Hotel built in 1754. Jagmandir Island contained a palace built in 1620 and is said to have provided some of the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.<br /><br />Jagniwas Island & The Palace Hotel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib__wRX_q9x750KiIXV52QxFNpwRtE6Bv-PA2_FpP3wMqU6KS4ko9zmXY4FUrPA9oKHtPkK2ZkPfkCJEnGMC54bjE6FkcALvmvVnzooJZD7Ct3s3arNxfZa0FPkoWcaLuLSUjgOQ9tTPWa/s1600-h/P1040101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib__wRX_q9x750KiIXV52QxFNpwRtE6Bv-PA2_FpP3wMqU6KS4ko9zmXY4FUrPA9oKHtPkK2ZkPfkCJEnGMC54bjE6FkcALvmvVnzooJZD7Ct3s3arNxfZa0FPkoWcaLuLSUjgOQ9tTPWa/s320/P1040101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339334967449249378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9z_1Z72k82VZVZfcoJZU4SP0LCRQtePnnIjn_sFQzt1u1Ze3wnvSlG616YzhkCmYjivGUkcZNBUkuTnL8A7_XXyEYlx7G1Bs_9WdQlk0aKUQD5-bO52WOUVKtm5BtRDUHQE_mrph6JMa/s1600-h/P1040262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9z_1Z72k82VZVZfcoJZU4SP0LCRQtePnnIjn_sFQzt1u1Ze3wnvSlG616YzhkCmYjivGUkcZNBUkuTnL8A7_XXyEYlx7G1Bs_9WdQlk0aKUQD5-bO52WOUVKtm5BtRDUHQE_mrph6JMa/s320/P1040262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339334968618112770" border="0" /></a><br />Jagmandir Island. In the film, this was used as the palace of Octopussy (Maud Adams) and the women who were members of her Octopus cult. I found none of these women on the island. In fact, I found no one except a few security guards and gardeners. I was the only one tourist on the island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L_mZMuv3baEEaHWvrOfYAJF_tyZNL7Z_9q9-BtPuJpObJcN7Sh8Y87w9YUMFiDLVy9k8jTR2Gi7L9DKd1lS2rN-R6LcV438xVItBj6YUoXEwi7D8C9_1AbtU8GjaLk_JnkjItGISns9a/s1600-h/P1040171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337224072950361074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L_mZMuv3baEEaHWvrOfYAJF_tyZNL7Z_9q9-BtPuJpObJcN7Sh8Y87w9YUMFiDLVy9k8jTR2Gi7L9DKd1lS2rN-R6LcV438xVItBj6YUoXEwi7D8C9_1AbtU8GjaLk_JnkjItGISns9a/s320/P1040171.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXLUQnZZ5REwrZNah4_-33KOfwyiMyrUieDL2V3x1qT-LOaYz3pHhx8W07xjPeRpciZVabcWzvP5x6nJCocB5y6Tvwh3Awrjj8CfiwwfphU1fJFkCrHOctfFX_2tdCLrbtj0t_b7504lW/s1600-h/P1040175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337224073682722914" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXLUQnZZ5REwrZNah4_-33KOfwyiMyrUieDL2V3x1qT-LOaYz3pHhx8W07xjPeRpciZVabcWzvP5x6nJCocB5y6Tvwh3Awrjj8CfiwwfphU1fJFkCrHOctfFX_2tdCLrbtj0t_b7504lW/s320/P1040175.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISQUPbipdCDjlH6dD9K5E5uq-cDv_Z_lxi6_WlibAb7crHQiDs_2eymVNPHG9flT7j-3XJCcP20Vp5MkE2IbIoZnQyXlUEYv_FhyphenhyphenggPz0LVMXppGlfQPT5Vr7lvNV3M1-V_5BUOuuhwct/s1600-h/P1040164.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337224079650118674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISQUPbipdCDjlH6dD9K5E5uq-cDv_Z_lxi6_WlibAb7crHQiDs_2eymVNPHG9flT7j-3XJCcP20Vp5MkE2IbIoZnQyXlUEYv_FhyphenhyphenggPz0LVMXppGlfQPT5Vr7lvNV3M1-V_5BUOuuhwct/s320/P1040164.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoFT-JB9sMg7JoxLmOiij05WEghm20_H4V3yFKpIuTAkkqMaTiCMzZPWVG881ff284LBBRqEEqyjO7wJKE2Hpc8gbAjO_1OmYdNArGRBO171rBBnhyCoPZDj_pvHuZS-t_8T90b3mk_Fv/s1600-h/P1040166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337224080337531138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoFT-JB9sMg7JoxLmOiij05WEghm20_H4V3yFKpIuTAkkqMaTiCMzZPWVG881ff284LBBRqEEqyjO7wJKE2Hpc8gbAjO_1OmYdNArGRBO171rBBnhyCoPZDj_pvHuZS-t_8T90b3mk_Fv/s320/P1040166.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It was definitely the off season for Rajistan (Pushkar, Ajmer, Udaipur, and Jaipur). The daytime temperature was usually around 105-110. There just weren't many tourists. A good bit of Lake Pichola was dried up and cattle were grazing on it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca43BhH_6USxZheddpOK814I9uWnAkNvnujsTIBjo6H5qwtqMI5O2G0InR3a74jEMkFY6wkwHmIr_j3knSUn576U9MojpL4cK9q0tL6fC3FkCr3p63OGl6UNyeK8yhHwJQgLtzrYyG-Uj/s1600-h/P1040178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337224069044342386" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca43BhH_6USxZheddpOK814I9uWnAkNvnujsTIBjo6H5qwtqMI5O2G0InR3a74jEMkFY6wkwHmIr_j3knSUn576U9MojpL4cK9q0tL6fC3FkCr3p63OGl6UNyeK8yhHwJQgLtzrYyG-Uj/s320/P1040178.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One could walk to the Palace Hotel if not for the secutiry guard with the big gun. It also seemed to have far fewer tourists here now than its infrastructure would suggest. There were many hotels and rooftop restaurants. But finding a restaurant that wasn't empty was kind of a rare sight. If this was in the states, most of these establishments would likely have closed down for the season. But I guess the cost of labor and other expense is so cheap here, they stay open. I found myself going through Rajistan really quickly because I never met many people and never found anywhere that I wanted to chill out and spend a few days.<br /><br />My hotel in Udaipur had a TV. Most of the channels were in Hindi, but there were a few in English. A lot of channels showed Bollywood musicals featuring elaborate song and dance numbers by mostly light skinned Indian actors. I don't know if there is outright racism here, because I didn't experience it myself, but there is definitely a preference for lighter skin in Asia. Most of the people on TV, billboards, and magazines had very light skin.<br /><br />On my last night in Udaipur, I took a rickshaw up to the Monsoon Palace on a hill overlooking the city to see the sunset. Very Pretty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT1e4zm8oTzL5vLfo4-t-1_vpsUHBSe4mciCEpcP5vezk0p1zbs1bTKom8ur8xuYX9J370P6ufRZri7uMBCoVfXzuagMxpIKOH9NuHi7x_Wi6XnIucqbmJyvkfhelHBWQ_PgcQ2j-iBmH/s1600-h/P1040202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337226849289223122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT1e4zm8oTzL5vLfo4-t-1_vpsUHBSe4mciCEpcP5vezk0p1zbs1bTKom8ur8xuYX9J370P6ufRZri7uMBCoVfXzuagMxpIKOH9NuHi7x_Wi6XnIucqbmJyvkfhelHBWQ_PgcQ2j-iBmH/s320/P1040202.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVPPxjzvhDp8r60x6s8MaU422mwT2n6h9Wk3PSW-cOWsLr1wN6vyriYwKikYXUR7aBE39g65x1RJbSkuRZoE4Y1cwIa0velBdSxqFSGpeXIYVtasZ7Fo5ngiH4Fgu2h8aIa-siXI9NlWy/s1600-h/P1040218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337226848707736626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVPPxjzvhDp8r60x6s8MaU422mwT2n6h9Wk3PSW-cOWsLr1wN6vyriYwKikYXUR7aBE39g65x1RJbSkuRZoE4Y1cwIa0velBdSxqFSGpeXIYVtasZ7Fo5ngiH4Fgu2h8aIa-siXI9NlWy/s320/P1040218.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNRuI2UUlzmHSxzBmhz9tIfr_C2sYGhl7tWq8H-LXZEaYeITxXJT7nNMvdp64GkO7SVDdBMy0tZGpHlCQR39Qn4mP6eGK9Y7PzkFKSqV2LQ-8nJwmWOVlZD4g_RZCyC9kzK78Hn8n_9MU/s1600-h/P1040227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337226851979503234" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNRuI2UUlzmHSxzBmhz9tIfr_C2sYGhl7tWq8H-LXZEaYeITxXJT7nNMvdp64GkO7SVDdBMy0tZGpHlCQR39Qn4mP6eGK9Y7PzkFKSqV2LQ-8nJwmWOVlZD4g_RZCyC9kzK78Hn8n_9MU/s320/P1040227.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIK389t6qnlXGOPcWefYpefVz35BZtCYsd2MCsJQWJyKOGlcGBy-73S4IArOUs0PI2UtQozKPo5QBAJyfnVieG4ehPPhpvi91MARZI_v16ajb_k7xf6rVxVwsdR7X37mvMrJkj9uWqi1kQ/s1600-h/P1040239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337227285537915042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIK389t6qnlXGOPcWefYpefVz35BZtCYsd2MCsJQWJyKOGlcGBy-73S4IArOUs0PI2UtQozKPo5QBAJyfnVieG4ehPPhpvi91MARZI_v16ajb_k7xf6rVxVwsdR7X37mvMrJkj9uWqi1kQ/s320/P1040239.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1D9ROvSI2EjlnTpx-sLTZCGhDbee2LoB1sIA54Zkp-mK39WAqENqgbDwkmM2fiAGOV9-FmoaDa-nXfsJiEV9wPt_uVj5rGjRYEqTjrkqplzT7UP2gqNhJthN7JF-CURBLkgt95k5K5djh/s1600-h/P1040250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1D9ROvSI2EjlnTpx-sLTZCGhDbee2LoB1sIA54Zkp-mK39WAqENqgbDwkmM2fiAGOV9-FmoaDa-nXfsJiEV9wPt_uVj5rGjRYEqTjrkqplzT7UP2gqNhJthN7JF-CURBLkgt95k5K5djh/s320/P1040250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339338911942761954" border="0" /></a><br />On April 30, I took an overnight train to Jaipur. The train was suppossed to get there at 6:00am. This would give me the better part of a day to see Jaipur before catching another overnight train on May 1 to Varanasi. I slept through my stop. I guess I just assumed they would wake me up. It was about 8:30 when I woke up, but I really wasn't that far from Jaipur since the train was over two hours behind schedule. I asked the guy on the train what I should do, and he said to get off at the next station in Dausa and take a train back to Jaipur. There was a train scheduled to depart at 9:00 but usually it was late. The train stopped in Dausa and the guy pointed me where I needed to go and told me I needed to run. The train going the other direction was stopped at the station and was unloading passangers. I ran up the stairs to cross over to the other platform. There were a ton of people getting off the train and crossing the stairs in the opposite direction as me. I was running, pushing people aside trying to get to the train. As I got about halfway down the steps, the train started pulling out. I was really pushing and shoving at this point. I got down the stairs and ran and jumped on the moving train going to Jaipur. It couldn't have been more like an action movie if I was chasing a bad guy. I didn't have a ticket. I was glad they didn't check for them on this segment.<br /><br />I got into Jaipur and hired a rickshaw into the old town. I saw the City Palace, Jantar Mantar, a few temples, and visited a few markets in the old (pink) city. It was really too hot to be walking sround much, so I took a rickshaw back to the train station and waited for my overnight train to Varanasi. There were many more sights to see in Jaipur, but I was spent.<br /><br />City Palace. Not that impressive for the price of admssion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOzdi-MIAvSfKFOmC0-yK0_iTRQul48lnlMSqLxwxTMRemoyd9DuxjqF0EIVDfWE_a19AzYZgjc2U-JOBY0aO1yyKW5oamfOX7TdC1wvZzyAyDhqs8DDexDwYwNBjSn16IoFmfjbiAL-N/s1600-h/P1040310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOzdi-MIAvSfKFOmC0-yK0_iTRQul48lnlMSqLxwxTMRemoyd9DuxjqF0EIVDfWE_a19AzYZgjc2U-JOBY0aO1yyKW5oamfOX7TdC1wvZzyAyDhqs8DDexDwYwNBjSn16IoFmfjbiAL-N/s320/P1040310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339341064947910530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXChWcPqA4K7DT13reMz4S6jXBDDh0oHJuN9rNVL6229MRi9rwwQePhrxv2Foq4S3jiRnKK_HZFmektQ93v0W5j6hhQJYRqOvy5zpsMR5jVBvIt6MFRv6HhnBp_k4aM1jq8Q7Qnq41VaY/s1600-h/P1040298.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229215202618802" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXChWcPqA4K7DT13reMz4S6jXBDDh0oHJuN9rNVL6229MRi9rwwQePhrxv2Foq4S3jiRnKK_HZFmektQ93v0W5j6hhQJYRqOvy5zpsMR5jVBvIt6MFRv6HhnBp_k4aM1jq8Q7Qnq41VaY/s320/P1040298.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jantar Mantar. Very cool collection of astrological sculptures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iK83wtcxacvNeMb_JywglraOZ_wJQY-gNK8q2XuS1oGSVr4-04sA9LfZiXpytmMUWWehEIa_JLpfS6s_1hYfdgY7fdO5EImgMXyyoX2QAfKMGZajw6gdRUE72yFo7mouF5aHzHkUGQDj/s1600-h/P1040285.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229211396015362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iK83wtcxacvNeMb_JywglraOZ_wJQY-gNK8q2XuS1oGSVr4-04sA9LfZiXpytmMUWWehEIa_JLpfS6s_1hYfdgY7fdO5EImgMXyyoX2QAfKMGZajw6gdRUE72yFo7mouF5aHzHkUGQDj/s320/P1040285.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxuvTfu65hcbfRNkp_nHi1qQOZujFon8459aVGUJ7fE4SpiqIN4D1pLf4Uq6epgr3HdhPudARTg60O69Lg3dpvJFmC-HX9S6Xqh0n14sF9-hv97eOElcz-FZ-mLiurjEHNaB4cb9Rc6Ky/s1600-h/P1040292.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229213866221890" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxuvTfu65hcbfRNkp_nHi1qQOZujFon8459aVGUJ7fE4SpiqIN4D1pLf4Uq6epgr3HdhPudARTg60O69Lg3dpvJFmC-HX9S6Xqh0n14sF9-hv97eOElcz-FZ-mLiurjEHNaB4cb9Rc6Ky/s320/P1040292.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sun dial accurate to within 20 seconds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h7rgrdNd0nb8TyV55X3lQ84mCOyxVvbSvDEbNj_tMlCzTebhgzMi32eCRGKD2Df0n81OT0WwJ_u-RVAyexJUkFFjWgoXDajh1Tou7loJiJG-5h5dCSEyuw4smShpHwdT8RRN1BY7r8y8/s1600-h/P1040269.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337227293339227666" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h7rgrdNd0nb8TyV55X3lQ84mCOyxVvbSvDEbNj_tMlCzTebhgzMi32eCRGKD2Df0n81OT0WwJ_u-RVAyexJUkFFjWgoXDajh1Tou7loJiJG-5h5dCSEyuw4smShpHwdT8RRN1BY7r8y8/s320/P1040269.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfHZ6btsLVPi6jEjy1iUHQ7lI1fYmAkwFY9_BMr6EkDSpmX8g1sXrXMHaYmtRb0kvMts6jqcxHbYwbnMdhPLlJ2AdyDzoA2CkPEqptOsspYNUP1Tqwthf_LNa5xhfcL6nJWXYo69z9WeC/s1600-h/P1040267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337227293381749282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfHZ6btsLVPi6jEjy1iUHQ7lI1fYmAkwFY9_BMr6EkDSpmX8g1sXrXMHaYmtRb0kvMts6jqcxHbYwbnMdhPLlJ2AdyDzoA2CkPEqptOsspYNUP1Tqwthf_LNa5xhfcL6nJWXYo69z9WeC/s320/P1040267.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A few other palaces in Jaipur.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0NQ0pQwvcR1snOX8BaesNDOJ4UDe1R-Yr-5yLaod7xxjzvsM8zin0DyCJwfOP8KhWGk98iggts9V_0nQc9nzzcycnOX3AnDT5Mr-Bczz6F3LOMGQZabmORGU4L53MdLZSqnbzqlW43J_/s1600-h/P1040318.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337230069456200946" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0NQ0pQwvcR1snOX8BaesNDOJ4UDe1R-Yr-5yLaod7xxjzvsM8zin0DyCJwfOP8KhWGk98iggts9V_0nQc9nzzcycnOX3AnDT5Mr-Bczz6F3LOMGQZabmORGU4L53MdLZSqnbzqlW43J_/s320/P1040318.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFxkTPOnKzxbXjJLZFn_Qf_sBcCGykXYGoNm5-1eLZ08GC2bpEKj08moQRfqBWdodXSWugpgGBV8p1GFbOtA0csg0n9Au27CJTo5aJ6W0YB42355lOORiG2jg4EAyV7PxkxazfysaC0L6/s1600-h/P1040314.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337229217403757938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFxkTPOnKzxbXjJLZFn_Qf_sBcCGykXYGoNm5-1eLZ08GC2bpEKj08moQRfqBWdodXSWugpgGBV8p1GFbOtA0csg0n9Au27CJTo5aJ6W0YB42355lOORiG2jg4EAyV7PxkxazfysaC0L6/s320/P1040314.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The Old (Pink) City.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVFnZjO1XMEZll0jz3rfIdrklft3gXluts6RXypuRBqHbLEz3LlKQ_1SpQUW-INKKbAdQ97Qg56GeAPKq4s-wFVQVafADO_PNNnQsKtJVwT-UTzvnLlHKjx4UpsP6V1YsjeaP8GXqpJ5N/s1600-h/P1040356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337230084324258130" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVFnZjO1XMEZll0jz3rfIdrklft3gXluts6RXypuRBqHbLEz3LlKQ_1SpQUW-INKKbAdQ97Qg56GeAPKq4s-wFVQVafADO_PNNnQsKtJVwT-UTzvnLlHKjx4UpsP6V1YsjeaP8GXqpJ5N/s320/P1040356.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu75JfqAtJHO13q_LtjMLL_kQ-bM2tfCZ2Z-W3L_LCCVr_a3c_DFdVHhGIf0rNmxcRR7d5u7anKZHZwoLEihZE2eeY_PuCRZJ4icCrx5yw46hsBRL_KQozg-gOoHP-N4XxROADT8s2fViz/s1600-h/P1040362.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337230905830965826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu75JfqAtJHO13q_LtjMLL_kQ-bM2tfCZ2Z-W3L_LCCVr_a3c_DFdVHhGIf0rNmxcRR7d5u7anKZHZwoLEihZE2eeY_PuCRZJ4icCrx5yw46hsBRL_KQozg-gOoHP-N4XxROADT8s2fViz/s320/P1040362.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My train to Varanasi. India has an extensive rail network that carries 14 million passengers per day. India Rail is the second largest employer in the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VpAnsV0GdQR-kDsEkxDKSN5oG8Yp2fsHBcQxFwVgRzwdW9egsvFJSnTd24u52tUCJ_HVSgmwL0mz1RezeVOTTz83LSguAytTJ3ZkRxxZwH86ZkmCho8Apgd8HjgtVhwlL9NFZgOtu4s3/s1600-h/P1040369.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337230910081940706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VpAnsV0GdQR-kDsEkxDKSN5oG8Yp2fsHBcQxFwVgRzwdW9egsvFJSnTd24u52tUCJ_HVSgmwL0mz1RezeVOTTz83LSguAytTJ3ZkRxxZwH86ZkmCho8Apgd8HjgtVhwlL9NFZgOtu4s3/s320/P1040369.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0eudg1a95NoaE1_HgS4FRoN90BmlARXUb1KXc4mmoDciS5zwc0j4zuKR1gKX3fqUFKJ6hXQr8927pCUvDY66pBGAhqEciCP36_M4MNgj20l4_T6L6uln8nxvWLmshFnSGyyujYSEdivB/s1600-h/P1040374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337230917998923874" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0eudg1a95NoaE1_HgS4FRoN90BmlARXUb1KXc4mmoDciS5zwc0j4zuKR1gKX3fqUFKJ6hXQr8927pCUvDY66pBGAhqEciCP36_M4MNgj20l4_T6L6uln8nxvWLmshFnSGyyujYSEdivB/s320/P1040374.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I got into Varanasi on the morning of May 2. Varanasi is on the Ganges river (here it's called it the Ganga) and is one of the holiest cities in India for Hindus. The river is lined with ghats, where Indians bath, drink the water, and cremate the deceased. Bathing in the river washes away all sins.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj60ed0V39oQogYF6F8TwnPrNvOkJL7i6Vci6f9hhX7V3HmvQAjBbStizTCbAI3XDsMwLiknF5NHspqKjFQmDnNRDRd8nMdE_nH44p6VUlwxtb1WXpfWtuVp381PF5Dn-Itt29A08tovd/s1600-h/P1040471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337234386310071122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj60ed0V39oQogYF6F8TwnPrNvOkJL7i6Vci6f9hhX7V3HmvQAjBbStizTCbAI3XDsMwLiknF5NHspqKjFQmDnNRDRd8nMdE_nH44p6VUlwxtb1WXpfWtuVp381PF5Dn-Itt29A08tovd/s320/P1040471.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-N-QR-oVxnYGzPuu5Gxsvjiyc8ZE7AdB8d6CDo7t-mWYl24yZ7L5qLzGTwtqf0UYz1WS3BZET6ZSlytEuYzs2TK2qqVRoXKTwxgM2teqlIeniUjueNzdbkWTjZgOJ161HJyq3eI6cKs_/s1600-h/P1040466.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337234380170856898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-N-QR-oVxnYGzPuu5Gxsvjiyc8ZE7AdB8d6CDo7t-mWYl24yZ7L5qLzGTwtqf0UYz1WS3BZET6ZSlytEuYzs2TK2qqVRoXKTwxgM2teqlIeniUjueNzdbkWTjZgOJ161HJyq3eI6cKs_/s320/P1040466.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissY3g6CnQ4kX9pP_x_ZEzI8OO7Jehzmav5GKNq8lZhOKNWWcnTaXLqc-rdI3VDvJeutk3fswY4TYWiA_CXZuL06IqYnVRojDYP795stGTC6ryvV5gs7hdiAc31vlND00iPNiw5SoigsnG/s1600-h/P1040402.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337231776459574322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissY3g6CnQ4kX9pP_x_ZEzI8OO7Jehzmav5GKNq8lZhOKNWWcnTaXLqc-rdI3VDvJeutk3fswY4TYWiA_CXZuL06IqYnVRojDYP795stGTC6ryvV5gs7hdiAc31vlND00iPNiw5SoigsnG/s320/P1040402.JPG" border="0" /></a>Every night they have a really mesmerizing festival.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bi6oOhAB3NAKNqHGeuXJD6pZDjyOkc2-Ntv1T9TJIlQ8v-JBmu-FvihRkOwuwM7mIbw7Des94FGLlZf8bNNR97QZH5qG3ZNruoVaPJFhCeHlg15KYLETRnKZpYu00W268zJedPenxDAf/s1600-h/P1040448.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337232840985267938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bi6oOhAB3NAKNqHGeuXJD6pZDjyOkc2-Ntv1T9TJIlQ8v-JBmu-FvihRkOwuwM7mIbw7Des94FGLlZf8bNNR97QZH5qG3ZNruoVaPJFhCeHlg15KYLETRnKZpYu00W268zJedPenxDAf/s320/P1040448.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHw0uLY2URHWzx_Jn4NMh_DE5a0UvM8gyT6bqL22czeDbrMfemkBSOZ8G5I1P0i7nTHDbBCPHhVB2sJofMb3EbXgMl4e4eXUarA0KEJNPoQIBlQmKn5pV6tT4Y4GMFk6j_T4KFLq-f75b8/s1600-h/P1040452.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337232842801548274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHw0uLY2URHWzx_Jn4NMh_DE5a0UvM8gyT6bqL22czeDbrMfemkBSOZ8G5I1P0i7nTHDbBCPHhVB2sJofMb3EbXgMl4e4eXUarA0KEJNPoQIBlQmKn5pV6tT4Y4GMFk6j_T4KFLq-f75b8/s320/P1040452.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOq2sxeHwVT1D2ipQe_-wqNQfaCisb78iP2KxZq44CALBT9G6X9o3V0RZCviACw4biC2ua-hTfi0gj_hZ2WjE47vTvVrZ_E3VwIx7afQDfFec227q453Hq0ZGWTo0CoTQO_xebJJL8ZhO/s1600-h/P1040521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337236276061025698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOq2sxeHwVT1D2ipQe_-wqNQfaCisb78iP2KxZq44CALBT9G6X9o3V0RZCviACw4biC2ua-hTfi0gj_hZ2WjE47vTvVrZ_E3VwIx7afQDfFec227q453Hq0ZGWTo0CoTQO_xebJJL8ZhO/s320/P1040521.JPG" border="0" /></a>My hotel had free boat rides on the Ganga. So I took a dawn boat ride and also a sunset boatride.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ25w8XQjWDDbYc2uRbtqoJJtFonw4_Z1lYfr2RFrSKvUhSYrbGJ4pkrbHj0TR8E8Ox7RAniIVFElSfKOOtRXO7jLIkUuQWyoLgDsRlBiHJuMRMeoqAwOu0jPO06G-HMOSqicNFZ_tvOJn/s1600-h/P1040401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337231781389863122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ25w8XQjWDDbYc2uRbtqoJJtFonw4_Z1lYfr2RFrSKvUhSYrbGJ4pkrbHj0TR8E8Ox7RAniIVFElSfKOOtRXO7jLIkUuQWyoLgDsRlBiHJuMRMeoqAwOu0jPO06G-HMOSqicNFZ_tvOJn/s320/P1040401.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQogNquGPlj6IKU2xFvgHzS9sy014sCDzOHo5OViKH8PnH41cTiE4sxc8kAD10TnsvXIDxaha3yGr8V37eNddfhwsqZY-J6pjz2J5DbdFNBYrgV-YM7HKE8aujMD3ClbjswtctruOtnCk_/s1600-h/P1040430.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337232839751170434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQogNquGPlj6IKU2xFvgHzS9sy014sCDzOHo5OViKH8PnH41cTiE4sxc8kAD10TnsvXIDxaha3yGr8V37eNddfhwsqZY-J6pjz2J5DbdFNBYrgV-YM7HKE8aujMD3ClbjswtctruOtnCk_/s320/P1040430.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeyMwfJqIXqnZcb2qZJXcU5ivEC1VHJBGny3H7DtDPFW4dqYWlGUS-35o3jNKpdOkNNZX3Dw9KMKJ2vGTiZNRC-CudVPZEdZDNEJ3aMF-3dPPkXlpKGinwfiPzu2VnbCKlHEIhVnhB5cd/s1600-h/P1040412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337232831604456162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeyMwfJqIXqnZcb2qZJXcU5ivEC1VHJBGny3H7DtDPFW4dqYWlGUS-35o3jNKpdOkNNZX3Dw9KMKJ2vGTiZNRC-CudVPZEdZDNEJ3aMF-3dPPkXlpKGinwfiPzu2VnbCKlHEIhVnhB5cd/s320/P1040412.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNkNlkx91rrGFaVxL2ZATQvy_bYU-GhJ3c-iAexoCDjbz-IH766CgX4uDwgavGlrWcaTLmRMvX_a7p8Quf7sdeke_2OP_vsUJi5rKuMI2h9jgo8IvDR8Oe3PskuaM6S9bbYAMfxoF7Huv/s1600-h/P1040459.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337234376016334770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNkNlkx91rrGFaVxL2ZATQvy_bYU-GhJ3c-iAexoCDjbz-IH766CgX4uDwgavGlrWcaTLmRMvX_a7p8Quf7sdeke_2OP_vsUJi5rKuMI2h9jgo8IvDR8Oe3PskuaM6S9bbYAMfxoF7Huv/s320/P1040459.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9t4W7GCrusM93XW8fF65PIznrOCmEBS8hMa0yUr3cg2cne8VKJt9R7AVKQ4kiieVcpzKFAZiR_IvDadNL28guSsFpd0PRAYPS_pkcmHDQTRIYHcGOhG5l7dkewqF-7TlnHHHRQmM1etD/s1600-h/P1040468.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337234384731405186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9t4W7GCrusM93XW8fF65PIznrOCmEBS8hMa0yUr3cg2cne8VKJt9R7AVKQ4kiieVcpzKFAZiR_IvDadNL28guSsFpd0PRAYPS_pkcmHDQTRIYHcGOhG5l7dkewqF-7TlnHHHRQmM1etD/s320/P1040468.JPG" border="0" /></a>The Manikarniki Ghat was just a few blocks from my hotel. Over 200 bodies a day are cremated here. At any given time there were as many as eight fires going simultaneously. Hindus who are cremated here receive Moksha, or freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth. There are efforts to promote electric cremation, which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but wood burning is an old and revered tradition here.<br /><br />Only the untouchables can burn bodies. The guy who owns the wood supplying business is one of the richest men in Varanasi, but he is still an untouchable because one can never change casts.<br /><br />I had a priest give me a guide through the ghats. I was just standing there, watching the fires, and he came up and started talking. I tried to ignore him, but he was really interesting. He explained the process to me. The families carry the bodies through town down to the river. The body is given a final bath in the Ganga. The ceremonial orange clothes are then removed and placed in the river. The body, with a white robe-like outfit is brought to shore and placed on an organized piled of wood (pyre). The body is sprinkled with sawdust and spices. A designated member of the family get's his head and beard shaved. He then brings a fire down from a temple. The fire in the temple has been burning for 1,500 years. Only men attend the funerals. Women get emotional and several have died from jumping on to the fire to embrace the deceased one last time (keep in mind this is the priest talking and not me). He took me for a walk around the burning pyres. I seriously wanted to take some pictures because you really need a visual to get a sense of what's happening. But photography of the cremations is strictly prohibited and are considered very disrespectful to the families.<br /><br />Not everyone is burned. Holy men, children under 14, pregnant women, and people who died from a cobra bite are not cremated. Their bodies are simply thrown in the river and are eventually eaten by dogs, pigs, and other animals. When animals die, they are thrown into the river. I took both a dawn and sunset boat ride down the Ganga and saw a few decomposing bodies during the boat ride.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgK6WR3vGEUODbn8XabZhKK0Z7IWACbrSFnb74KjhtXQJ4XjV2JUWcUokGJvjt8czhrV8Sh3CVXdSe8sSQGeGoRPDCr1nFkk8KRdv7mIRiUzqbg8aSA7DTVWkrhODAZRQvuIFVikz5STe/s1600-h/P1040427.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337232837265460674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgK6WR3vGEUODbn8XabZhKK0Z7IWACbrSFnb74KjhtXQJ4XjV2JUWcUokGJvjt8czhrV8Sh3CVXdSe8sSQGeGoRPDCr1nFkk8KRdv7mIRiUzqbg8aSA7DTVWkrhODAZRQvuIFVikz5STe/s320/P1040427.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There are several hospices around the burning ghat where the elderly and the sick come and wait to die. He asked if I wanted to see one of them. I said ok and he took me in and introduced me to the caretaker. They asked for money to help pay for wood for the cremations for the poor people in the hospice. This could have been a scam, but it seemed like a good one. I offered 200 rupees and they wanted 450. I was in an argument about how much to donate to pay for wood to burn bodies of poor people. It was one of the more strange arguments I'd been in. I'd read in my guidebook that they try to get you to donate some outrageous sum. Nevertheless, when it was apparant I wasn't giving any more money, they accepted and gave me a blessing.<br /><br />Other photos around Varanasi.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnujGllD-PEt0whbx33R9BdIQavyJ5yQJ4jTh8tz513MaN6LwmGOi3MFHscJd6q0xcFbqABbf1DjaiEhFnbzX8kli7JGZ3JDLhew_dWKZKpVC2uMXRkhsLZLV9j8gjo6OF2QcGDMR539p/s1600-h/P1040384.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337230916407492466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnujGllD-PEt0whbx33R9BdIQavyJ5yQJ4jTh8tz513MaN6LwmGOi3MFHscJd6q0xcFbqABbf1DjaiEhFnbzX8kli7JGZ3JDLhew_dWKZKpVC2uMXRkhsLZLV9j8gjo6OF2QcGDMR539p/s320/P1040384.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ntZXyUyftktoeJTR9g7p34V5ZulEYbI7R85BRzQOUMs2is6TJH9zH13bhLouHemh1hEUwwQCJ64JKni3H_yvRCDSh-eKkvJhvSe7trt3Z9wYnsQyqU0Oj8Y0tRnI9Wu_Zs04yVTTUIgh/s1600-h/P1040385.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337231787106899042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ntZXyUyftktoeJTR9g7p34V5ZulEYbI7R85BRzQOUMs2is6TJH9zH13bhLouHemh1hEUwwQCJ64JKni3H_yvRCDSh-eKkvJhvSe7trt3Z9wYnsQyqU0Oj8Y0tRnI9Wu_Zs04yVTTUIgh/s320/P1040385.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-zjK7Qc00DE6d-JXFctHNfOSsc-8gRQdQ1ygfU_kyy33XvT8NQ3UcpV3dOgDB49t79ghpUMM4W0CXJVKkbz6lBq-DfIATDPEm3Stezmxilixkau1DYeJ2aJ3QWKrqhmIDmiw_hgBXBY1/s1600-h/P1040479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337235076519030818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-zjK7Qc00DE6d-JXFctHNfOSsc-8gRQdQ1ygfU_kyy33XvT8NQ3UcpV3dOgDB49t79ghpUMM4W0CXJVKkbz6lBq-DfIATDPEm3Stezmxilixkau1DYeJ2aJ3QWKrqhmIDmiw_hgBXBY1/s320/P1040479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A guy on a ghat who was washing a cow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77MD-5CiK4Ypf-rxytVN9-tnewkGCGOT3cL5PzxPHCoUUCEFNzeUYpGPKERpZKapLbel-7pRkcOljdiwpG1_sL_Cd8waIDBSXdUhrwvI-FuJmGHTzjcIDjPHPkjbnHhEjj7mKTqAsTGZT/s1600-h/P1040477.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337235083578235730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77MD-5CiK4Ypf-rxytVN9-tnewkGCGOT3cL5PzxPHCoUUCEFNzeUYpGPKERpZKapLbel-7pRkcOljdiwpG1_sL_Cd8waIDBSXdUhrwvI-FuJmGHTzjcIDjPHPkjbnHhEjj7mKTqAsTGZT/s320/P1040477.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Indians are absoultely crazy about cricket. I don't understand cricket at all. Best I can tell, it's kind of like baseball but more boring and the games take longer (if you can believe that).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CJRJywXwown2uLvtYJVkwgp42ShXYgbkwzlR3y_OAteK7iapzpWvdRmgnSCp3OfmK3kpLvjU3uqzOhIyj96MgjlAwlwrc39Gh8U0Ba9tH5DU_vzVEPKSGkNjK_N-AxvZvydPydgSDLnH/s1600-h/P1040496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337236270056162098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CJRJywXwown2uLvtYJVkwgp42ShXYgbkwzlR3y_OAteK7iapzpWvdRmgnSCp3OfmK3kpLvjU3uqzOhIyj96MgjlAwlwrc39Gh8U0Ba9tH5DU_vzVEPKSGkNjK_N-AxvZvydPydgSDLnH/s320/P1040496.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Beer is widely available in India. Usually costing around $2.50 Normally I would be very happy with $2.50 beer, but when hotel rooms cost $3-6, spending that much money on a beer seemed indulgent.<br /><br />This is the longest I've ever gone without eating beef. Eating beef is illegal here since the Hindus consider the cow to be sacred. Pork is also not very common due to India's substantial Muslim population. Mutton and chicken were pretty much the only meats available. But meat is not very commonly consumed and the vast majority of Indians rarely eat meat. I would see a cow walking down the street and it's head would turn into a cartoon picture of a big juicy steak, or a cheeseburger. I knew then it was getting time to go somewhere where I could get me some cow.<br /><br />On May 5 I left Varanasi, taking an overnight train to Amritsar.<br /><br />Amritsar is home to the Gold Temple, a holy site for the Sikh religion. Sikh is a mixture of Islam and Hinduism, but really different from either. Sikhs from all over the world come to make pilgramiges to the Palace. The Sikhs are very welcoming and offer a place to stay and meals for people of all faiths. I stayed in an onsite dormitory specifically for westerners. Some people were sleeping outside on a marble floor. The meal was a simple one of lentil curries, chipati flat bread, and water. Everyone would take a tray, bowl, and a spoon and sit on the floor in this massive room. Sikhs came by and served food. The meal and lodging were free, but they asked for donations. This was one place where I felt like a good donation was warranted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKBYtYo4t9DA6NCWrh9rNtDwztz1dAWSThe5VZ2Z5gevJuBSDz_bFlBgVf-QoJFpVpjnQOgOuPWJqSMCovgFBOd2NBsvrc5l6P2AmJSDatFMFZwdYrtmeqzC4e7v_dGMW_QLJVLYA6UZT/s1600-h/P1040599.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337238548793991506" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKBYtYo4t9DA6NCWrh9rNtDwztz1dAWSThe5VZ2Z5gevJuBSDz_bFlBgVf-QoJFpVpjnQOgOuPWJqSMCovgFBOd2NBsvrc5l6P2AmJSDatFMFZwdYrtmeqzC4e7v_dGMW_QLJVLYA6UZT/s320/P1040599.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y-vrAfe55YRsGCucUGtkKj3eclL4fF9MI2cDRqey__Df50YExWteJwVRpE-iJOIeMsW8SubCPsjwB3Pka-gN6Mwt4UEdLKcfVgLQdHNfwqLJZH5tkI8mD4lGaR6tw278wEc2ytD_IQlU/s1600-h/P1040595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337238548501315762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y-vrAfe55YRsGCucUGtkKj3eclL4fF9MI2cDRqey__Df50YExWteJwVRpE-iJOIeMsW8SubCPsjwB3Pka-gN6Mwt4UEdLKcfVgLQdHNfwqLJZH5tkI8mD4lGaR6tw278wEc2ytD_IQlU/s320/P1040595.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40IZKtEx9pYZIdhhLrJztlSqi8rkcovUudMaGYByH2Vzekq_JJEc8OYT3rW8IAQMoSbnMHHVCMNVPqLBUDqZAs-N-2J-hoNMrwSIsA3vIh73qr6qRID3eYaqEF4ru-Mq4t-dQLm_KmwqN/s1600-h/P1040606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337239655396411906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40IZKtEx9pYZIdhhLrJztlSqi8rkcovUudMaGYByH2Vzekq_JJEc8OYT3rW8IAQMoSbnMHHVCMNVPqLBUDqZAs-N-2J-hoNMrwSIsA3vIh73qr6qRID3eYaqEF4ru-Mq4t-dQLm_KmwqN/s320/P1040606.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SzXnSvThyphenhyphenGr0kvuPaHhNqP65ghEyTURv8pTrEBBJiLWNkD6169DbYC7pqIE1Vfq51k7yI6yvBDZtgMCg14RzcVAGrSJiAWZ4IysvngQF78PbsAvryH7J-jR9byDP3xqPOHXdR0x0Amsv/s1600-h/P1040602.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337239651545927202" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SzXnSvThyphenhyphenGr0kvuPaHhNqP65ghEyTURv8pTrEBBJiLWNkD6169DbYC7pqIE1Vfq51k7yI6yvBDZtgMCg14RzcVAGrSJiAWZ4IysvngQF78PbsAvryH7J-jR9byDP3xqPOHXdR0x0Amsv/s320/P1040602.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSczqXTDBcskwkq28RLIzg_1W30ZdaBhwwYJ6hbtRPcH-qoLQNllB2b6g8a8GzZaRWzUpc-HWSsFZEaXNCMNCnc-7N-b6JsyITRckoHGrwzMg0Is48AdzqKCarViEANAoOG35pn9vu8MHl/s1600-h/P1040610.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337239658219242834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSczqXTDBcskwkq28RLIzg_1W30ZdaBhwwYJ6hbtRPcH-qoLQNllB2b6g8a8GzZaRWzUpc-HWSsFZEaXNCMNCnc-7N-b6JsyITRckoHGrwzMg0Is48AdzqKCarViEANAoOG35pn9vu8MHl/s320/P1040610.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-Z948LJwCtExASyLxMLfoRFbE1p0jhwMobLNN5dv4kjpzSiowXppG_aiQaojQagEUrunQb5lQl3aV39k4QjEq9rROG0WKzdVrQirXM95Qzx4yQBU6zMjhw3dICXchr96k8K4iGY743D6/s1600-h/P1040604.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337239651656694098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-Z948LJwCtExASyLxMLfoRFbE1p0jhwMobLNN5dv4kjpzSiowXppG_aiQaojQagEUrunQb5lQl3aV39k4QjEq9rROG0WKzdVrQirXM95Qzx4yQBU6zMjhw3dICXchr96k8K4iGY743D6/s320/P1040604.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sikhs from all over come to bathe in the pool waters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1RoWFbAV8hfyl0SiGbaPyzbqgA6JJV8KU2Mwrfx3GopMLK2j88DhAqRd5y0k5VJsRzXTDLQYIUj6wTT0GHVWrLUPBhqNDGkEzixml6D9Q98Xba_CZiEDUQeHXzBeuOO_6HKmCXV5_AHW/s1600-h/P1040630.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338283269242766018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1RoWFbAV8hfyl0SiGbaPyzbqgA6JJV8KU2Mwrfx3GopMLK2j88DhAqRd5y0k5VJsRzXTDLQYIUj6wTT0GHVWrLUPBhqNDGkEzixml6D9Q98Xba_CZiEDUQeHXzBeuOO_6HKmCXV5_AHW/s320/P1040630.JPG" border="0" /></a>Outside the dining hall. Platters used in feeding the pilgrims and guests.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhcnHqD3M9QTaKe-x4rYIzmtXLnnXRbdWbEymhFepQTZrsXQ1QhLGytUW_HoUA0lQTTHAtntDj-SVbR5E0w7EfbZk_5o-0SP8zhIP-jP_WQriz8c3vLalm-Ptho_q7zmJu8aSdPiRW4Ba/s1600-h/P1040620.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338283264198166834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhcnHqD3M9QTaKe-x4rYIzmtXLnnXRbdWbEymhFepQTZrsXQ1QhLGytUW_HoUA0lQTTHAtntDj-SVbR5E0w7EfbZk_5o-0SP8zhIP-jP_WQriz8c3vLalm-Ptho_q7zmJu8aSdPiRW4Ba/s320/P1040620.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Most Sikhs wear turbans, have long beards, and carry swords.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1_fNcrTK805Sl5cT1LSRoO58ksivSHZltSiKS282jEvab9ibm_Ynm1qHOO6Hue-VWpAW9o1mc6b5jTZ4JY6Z61FuGzo0sxIKoAHTeMlzmN-5sEOEmMUeXKJiqRk-uo0WvU4pI2yghDEP/s1600-h/P1040631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338283266792027106" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1_fNcrTK805Sl5cT1LSRoO58ksivSHZltSiKS282jEvab9ibm_Ynm1qHOO6Hue-VWpAW9o1mc6b5jTZ4JY6Z61FuGzo0sxIKoAHTeMlzmN-5sEOEmMUeXKJiqRk-uo0WvU4pI2yghDEP/s320/P1040631.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIjRVb9fRcR6SJo0qtg0kEjirtoJr6HmGu8v9OHKAZJeC7Sk9codN67ZMikiFtK-ZBBWC6zKAeeV7ggPQQ9QEhGoTHePJWBuSBH9oY-m6zYo6aYbasoiX_KPnNSMDQUQkNYJI5DiCcjT2/s1600-h/P1040616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337239662718509138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIjRVb9fRcR6SJo0qtg0kEjirtoJr6HmGu8v9OHKAZJeC7Sk9codN67ZMikiFtK-ZBBWC6zKAeeV7ggPQQ9QEhGoTHePJWBuSBH9oY-m6zYo6aYbasoiX_KPnNSMDQUQkNYJI5DiCcjT2/s320/P1040616.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm4CRWtyRw8FR5ZKSpRE45Bm3yZCJlfBtnvJTK-edkH46rZ1FtSxisznVTKjZrwOg0jzexY86u5NcIR3cpW_qLE7evm3vc5FypZuROYLrMKks4mI770IWZ9pISwRBmPBr9baqOtiytVaH/s1600-h/P1040634.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338283274663790722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm4CRWtyRw8FR5ZKSpRE45Bm3yZCJlfBtnvJTK-edkH46rZ1FtSxisznVTKjZrwOg0jzexY86u5NcIR3cpW_qLE7evm3vc5FypZuROYLrMKks4mI770IWZ9pISwRBmPBr9baqOtiytVaH/s320/P1040634.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEcSRY4D9Toym0yiLEH1SrZTPw34QaZmwyi9jUzw8eB-ym9BpPIp6h1VsVTCzyUDz5ovLgHffR6TUm3aklYGZEdmux-qP6CV70k7snF0LuEh-f6mqX5Vk8rG6_vsPkyPXGaYosfuUQXti/s1600-h/P1040641.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338283278312690450" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEcSRY4D9Toym0yiLEH1SrZTPw34QaZmwyi9jUzw8eB-ym9BpPIp6h1VsVTCzyUDz5ovLgHffR6TUm3aklYGZEdmux-qP6CV70k7snF0LuEh-f6mqX5Vk8rG6_vsPkyPXGaYosfuUQXti/s320/P1040641.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkGtkJeCS8WlEEnbtki3CqKteJoB4jZ3j4-EZAT2BOxW5jtkSiQHuMjxRNsBpGLwti-GlkEJ8VlwgsHWACw92Gw9a1-SEjYqstIKIdZiiz6_EnVFhd4k02D9KmxKFVSzBEGAyynt_85Fp/s1600-h/P1040645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338284854388091218" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkGtkJeCS8WlEEnbtki3CqKteJoB4jZ3j4-EZAT2BOxW5jtkSiQHuMjxRNsBpGLwti-GlkEJ8VlwgsHWACw92Gw9a1-SEjYqstIKIdZiiz6_EnVFhd4k02D9KmxKFVSzBEGAyynt_85Fp/s320/P1040645.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The evening I arrived in Amritsar, I took a shared taxi to Attari. Attari is the only official border between India and Pakistan. Indians and Pakistanis hate each other. Every night at sunset, they close the gate and lower the flags as part of this bizarre ceremony. There are stadiums on both sides of the border. Thousands of people come to see the ceremony every night. On the Pakistan side, the men and women sit in separate sections. Each side cheers on their border guards with the intensity usually only seen at soccer matches. The guards march in high step, puff out their chests, and seem to almost be kicking their foreheads. It looked like almost the same actions were being carried out on the Pakistan side. The flags on both sides were lowered at exactly the same time and the gates were closed for the night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUsi-MUFK-ijfqk9aPR97G5IqjHJhYr3FO3-lqf51jpbdb1xNMA6XetuLIQuxfQWI4CRLefx96YVCjxQw9rPiBg-mVb5rM03G0WGYORUz8m3FzV2KU12Ce7AoLIpf7LX-xjc0WEA4OfEq/s1600-h/P1040544.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337236998542021394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUsi-MUFK-ijfqk9aPR97G5IqjHJhYr3FO3-lqf51jpbdb1xNMA6XetuLIQuxfQWI4CRLefx96YVCjxQw9rPiBg-mVb5rM03G0WGYORUz8m3FzV2KU12Ce7AoLIpf7LX-xjc0WEA4OfEq/s320/P1040544.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DzS_I9oBCioHG7r3A4mPs9XOYRKL1mpn6hEzX20tZQYUZ8Wcqtw6iUSa-1hkZhYOWqjfyqngSEHGUfS6y4ug0myVi9QXFNwTQGZ7cRHHkxQFRKuCy9hlTrLHCOc544ehmcLw0Xzg7Sy2/s1600-h/P1040546.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337237002935852546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DzS_I9oBCioHG7r3A4mPs9XOYRKL1mpn6hEzX20tZQYUZ8Wcqtw6iUSa-1hkZhYOWqjfyqngSEHGUfS6y4ug0myVi9QXFNwTQGZ7cRHHkxQFRKuCy9hlTrLHCOc544ehmcLw0Xzg7Sy2/s320/P1040546.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpaaIDhNOAtX8YWYefWECTYdeIM5fxJtozPSaMvp1adKSOPAoIN0QiS3cgPmV7IwdNygbmZMfqr0gGWg2gLwR3NwqFUnWPp-9i1r1LJiBZGSlITihx0VpObLm7LnfPOdcfTSKOnAchS1I/s1600-h/P1040551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpaaIDhNOAtX8YWYefWECTYdeIM5fxJtozPSaMvp1adKSOPAoIN0QiS3cgPmV7IwdNygbmZMfqr0gGWg2gLwR3NwqFUnWPp-9i1r1LJiBZGSlITihx0VpObLm7LnfPOdcfTSKOnAchS1I/s320/P1040551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339352926453349282" border="0" /></a><br />The Pakistani side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTnwIoPPvQqIcYewITfnYfyH_v4aZCKTEGfY96-iM5IsXlqCZLGHOYBFehsWMhubTFeefIBxT4HHGNuWppOEYBB4EwegYv9bTkMQLPaicrP5IAf67sK5oIvg6gutoel0G3zlb7ttG21Ui/s1600-h/P1040573.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337237566529490546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTnwIoPPvQqIcYewITfnYfyH_v4aZCKTEGfY96-iM5IsXlqCZLGHOYBFehsWMhubTFeefIBxT4HHGNuWppOEYBB4EwegYv9bTkMQLPaicrP5IAf67sK5oIvg6gutoel0G3zlb7ttG21Ui/s320/P1040573.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lowering the flags.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWJ5D2wjfeF63H2iwOiwwW1WYv3RNELEXVuWGg8B4QR9yVXwfdOXC-qx2bYu3UDBqsWz0oLF2l1Il8ktTlF1d7FA8Ssw1XGjNJ3RpARvNg1r95fxeTGodpZ6UpnoVwVKCfETYi7Oh9t6i/s1600-h/P1040571.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337237007881214146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWJ5D2wjfeF63H2iwOiwwW1WYv3RNELEXVuWGg8B4QR9yVXwfdOXC-qx2bYu3UDBqsWz0oLF2l1Il8ktTlF1d7FA8Ssw1XGjNJ3RpARvNg1r95fxeTGodpZ6UpnoVwVKCfETYi7Oh9t6i/s320/P1040571.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPpgiXpT9QRjOjNYEVO67oisvvgwkuxhMTUr1Bp9S79hNe4fIH5ZwSCFyALVcu2oMs0tqIIrF7LArMNNoq4CP8iojECibGXY8RVvOs-RGNFb0jeeAHYzttSkdUu5UV4CQoWiMLWkucr2S/s1600-h/P1040574.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337237566762725810" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPpgiXpT9QRjOjNYEVO67oisvvgwkuxhMTUr1Bp9S79hNe4fIH5ZwSCFyALVcu2oMs0tqIIrF7LArMNNoq4CP8iojECibGXY8RVvOs-RGNFb0jeeAHYzttSkdUu5UV4CQoWiMLWkucr2S/s320/P1040574.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkkIF8eVXNnIuQcjMNwF566bn6N1RC_ejxG0DOX6z_6LbBAgTh5PNLZI1nkdts11SbwTCSv46jMPz7R0pgYB_rQcEtoy6CkpvJlFaUB9z2aDbs2Xgz8f20dI2cEc1Z8NmvHpjeBMonNMq/s1600-h/P1040586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337237579609415906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkkIF8eVXNnIuQcjMNwF566bn6N1RC_ejxG0DOX6z_6LbBAgTh5PNLZI1nkdts11SbwTCSv46jMPz7R0pgYB_rQcEtoy6CkpvJlFaUB9z2aDbs2Xgz8f20dI2cEc1Z8NmvHpjeBMonNMq/s320/P1040586.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Indians are proud of being the world's largest democracy. Elections were going on when I was there. The elections take an entire month.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWGu6EzzlJ2Xq2qMM5uorDweGYcwFUwHj3VvIvyAqK8-d-LUvMcTSMynqAdSYP_bxvsMMKcJw5QZH6ACD75pY8-joCjcUdRffcUzI6fYTw6BIrR8XJYiq8rXhvJ0mSGuaIQOshGYgbhIq/s1600-h/P1040588.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337238539819660642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWGu6EzzlJ2Xq2qMM5uorDweGYcwFUwHj3VvIvyAqK8-d-LUvMcTSMynqAdSYP_bxvsMMKcJw5QZH6ACD75pY8-joCjcUdRffcUzI6fYTw6BIrR8XJYiq8rXhvJ0mSGuaIQOshGYgbhIq/s320/P1040588.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There's a certain pecking order with other travelers. Whoever has been travleling the longest gets bragging rights. Whoever has been to the most obscure place also usually gets a leg up. They will talk about how great it was, how unspoiled it was, and how they fear that it will change as it becomes more discovered by tourists. Most of the places I've been have been pretty close to the well worn tourist trail. I met two guys in Amritsar, a German and a Belgian who were riding motorcycles pretty much across the world, shipping them where they couldn't pass because of oceans or customs. They had traveled across Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan before crossing over into India. Their trip puts most others to shame.<br /><br />On May 7, I took a bus to Dharamsala with Sam, a Brit I had met in Amritsar. We met two other Brits Rayanne and Kim and hung out together for the next several days. Dharamsala is in the foothills of the Himilayas and is the home of the Tibetan exile community. Most tourists stay about 6 kilometers away, in McLoud Gange. The Daili Lama resides in McLoud Gange.<br /><br />On May 9, the word was that the Daili Lama was coming back from a trip to the states. He was supposed to arrive at 3:00. I went to the temple to see if I could catch a glimpse. There were many people there, myself included, waiting to catch a glimpse of His Holiness, the 14th Daili Lama.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkw7ca-zLbJOtIv1tMBGfS1Gid42kiJuPYOSMjS2vglHpnktmKsk4cGI4JJ1e2x-oo3M9tWyh0QiM3xu0N46odyMruqJGEed6jf-GJgfrBAdtFFgiyD7N-PyuB0Cun5TWQ0tn4vkt_cW5/s1600-h/P1040699.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338290387514949234" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkw7ca-zLbJOtIv1tMBGfS1Gid42kiJuPYOSMjS2vglHpnktmKsk4cGI4JJ1e2x-oo3M9tWyh0QiM3xu0N46odyMruqJGEed6jf-GJgfrBAdtFFgiyD7N-PyuB0Cun5TWQ0tn4vkt_cW5/s320/P1040699.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />His entourage arrived at about 4:30. And then it was over. I caught about a two second glimpse of his holiness in the passenger side. So I got that going for me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pgw3gHzBfnW24vCjiStpIZa0kSDPd6Pu-6Jkb8s1UzPNknTFnoWYqZJKwZlLzMTb0Lc6OoMLuc45udQOLvn0fzDdL7VS1qCF-Vqp0aXstEIr8C4jTkK2OAowCAifeGX_8I5zrZikGK6Q/s1600-h/P1040706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338294119136024098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pgw3gHzBfnW24vCjiStpIZa0kSDPd6Pu-6Jkb8s1UzPNknTFnoWYqZJKwZlLzMTb0Lc6OoMLuc45udQOLvn0fzDdL7VS1qCF-Vqp0aXstEIr8C4jTkK2OAowCAifeGX_8I5zrZikGK6Q/s320/P1040706.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />More McLoud Gange pics.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVo-Tf3xxqbwIObm7yw8A-UoBR06cbtlPFgqTJZhpIY_mXgsyNPSio0wpZhw4sRwBGwDPV9sfMVVC9x3LJnom9FwwZ4NgLu6BZ8uByvP1vgrwLvGVV6_miVnIH0XVn3MLpCjPXESmhCQFU/s1600-h/P1040692.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338290386470549458" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVo-Tf3xxqbwIObm7yw8A-UoBR06cbtlPFgqTJZhpIY_mXgsyNPSio0wpZhw4sRwBGwDPV9sfMVVC9x3LJnom9FwwZ4NgLu6BZ8uByvP1vgrwLvGVV6_miVnIH0XVn3MLpCjPXESmhCQFU/s320/P1040692.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIyWBqOTr4b-TjfAyiLZ3E-CxOOTq1C0pHdcO4TcscnvUbyfhCreMdoOAeinEIhGOkZznhrrRkMr8A9jagXbkC6aWtYnWke5CFeGF1RnRzJTCCFI4dIiz7Kc1fVQSc6Cw0fakHwmAzfwU/s1600-h/P1040676.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338287164133930946" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIyWBqOTr4b-TjfAyiLZ3E-CxOOTq1C0pHdcO4TcscnvUbyfhCreMdoOAeinEIhGOkZznhrrRkMr8A9jagXbkC6aWtYnWke5CFeGF1RnRzJTCCFI4dIiz7Kc1fVQSc6Cw0fakHwmAzfwU/s320/P1040676.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnVTFHY8sfr9X5NTdpX2pRByqAnE509GzVOF1geLf2GgNlt1Ai2PhIu_GGw7RHRn1CLlHwtF3uWJra7QTk9k_Xl8-x702cWI__3wlvoy_jvgyT6dXggm1ztl9AeaDfrVR5yceCLG-SDB2/s1600-h/P1040674.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338287160622630290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnVTFHY8sfr9X5NTdpX2pRByqAnE509GzVOF1geLf2GgNlt1Ai2PhIu_GGw7RHRn1CLlHwtF3uWJra7QTk9k_Xl8-x702cWI__3wlvoy_jvgyT6dXggm1ztl9AeaDfrVR5yceCLG-SDB2/s320/P1040674.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHUGWcrG5dIFUmxU_-_XZt-LUkRTFuoT_uv214K47lEBIex8FS37mSkqFtb6MZ2pn0axkEUuYazlyG3snk5dzb6yBZv4ITFVovYSry_OrWwOChjXfF8CIfVTohwhdaJSGP81hpmyOu_ak/s1600-h/P1040658.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338284862473065698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHUGWcrG5dIFUmxU_-_XZt-LUkRTFuoT_uv214K47lEBIex8FS37mSkqFtb6MZ2pn0axkEUuYazlyG3snk5dzb6yBZv4ITFVovYSry_OrWwOChjXfF8CIfVTohwhdaJSGP81hpmyOu_ak/s320/P1040658.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1ikTRqQOWUADFYxFk1prcwN9lmJrm0PMM73B0hYLi7fzkI5HCOUCaaZpjXSS1aVHy47_dIdeHHiinddHKoxA03adoajpUZwP5pVz134Xh3jQ5lUL6NBhACeq7F_VDSk6b9Ivs2tYEFHy/s1600-h/P1040748.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1ikTRqQOWUADFYxFk1prcwN9lmJrm0PMM73B0hYLi7fzkI5HCOUCaaZpjXSS1aVHy47_dIdeHHiinddHKoxA03adoajpUZwP5pVz134Xh3jQ5lUL6NBhACeq7F_VDSk6b9Ivs2tYEFHy/s320/P1040748.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339327650257794434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ31exGvU4EgG5d4jSjtPWwg96LBikd5fMZ4VKj2E3Th8kfIbS0Z44nmtFbdVbyAtl-ly-SCWSdKB-KgI19KBHs4mCL15u4ykvL2WMKLARrYqeB1PPYgOhhiPfctTFg7hUC2iOhxgUKho/s1600-h/P1040749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ31exGvU4EgG5d4jSjtPWwg96LBikd5fMZ4VKj2E3Th8kfIbS0Z44nmtFbdVbyAtl-ly-SCWSdKB-KgI19KBHs4mCL15u4ykvL2WMKLARrYqeB1PPYgOhhiPfctTFg7hUC2iOhxgUKho/s320/P1040749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339327646390812994" border="0" /></a><br />One day we hiked up to Triund. It was rainy and cold, but ther views were still incredible. Donkeys carry supplies such as water and food up to vendors in Triund and points along the way, so the path is littered quite generously with donkey poop. The path up to Triund was not well marked and we got lost a couple of times. We decided that by going "up" we couldn't go wrong. We ended up doing quite a bit of rock climbing, which I had never really done before. We eventually found the path again after some pretty intense climbing. I never thought I'd be so happy to see donkey shit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1_cQLDB9gAWHflKhFVkGwTaghY8W9pS490on3PJmSkKVjL8yGPqFKIeDe9TLkRhjpfDZFE6d-jm9HUcOCFd012T0Vq4bFphYoYfHM8_yuUGhJREHLh71-anc1Ae_2VtO9BBId36A7K0k/s1600-h/P1040734.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338294136200417202" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1_cQLDB9gAWHflKhFVkGwTaghY8W9pS490on3PJmSkKVjL8yGPqFKIeDe9TLkRhjpfDZFE6d-jm9HUcOCFd012T0Vq4bFphYoYfHM8_yuUGhJREHLh71-anc1Ae_2VtO9BBId36A7K0k/s320/P1040734.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YmqQgzIk9Z7jIBFIzvzl3KKIZiFpZ0pNzn99yAecqdlohnUUa3cMZKW7cdmKEmre5KvmDHYLUITl_-jcW2Dka0EkaLsskgq4cd57tklo3IYDsQr9J6midxrgqldz0BL_KjFReDszqX-R/s1600-h/P1040682.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338290382586579570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YmqQgzIk9Z7jIBFIzvzl3KKIZiFpZ0pNzn99yAecqdlohnUUa3cMZKW7cdmKEmre5KvmDHYLUITl_-jcW2Dka0EkaLsskgq4cd57tklo3IYDsQr9J6midxrgqldz0BL_KjFReDszqX-R/s320/P1040682.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFj97e8Bgu1BNzaDasMpHBLeYsDR_fUUG6c4i3-ALRsmSpo9esdI2ZLk7-pcWTsT1gNsHwx49q8E7MZiHUIasGOnWtobdCKwc-L3WsIrQhg0sL_z0rsi450cGXzrQ57ajm2pIsxgkI4SB/s1600-h/P1040740.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFj97e8Bgu1BNzaDasMpHBLeYsDR_fUUG6c4i3-ALRsmSpo9esdI2ZLk7-pcWTsT1gNsHwx49q8E7MZiHUIasGOnWtobdCKwc-L3WsIrQhg0sL_z0rsi450cGXzrQ57ajm2pIsxgkI4SB/s320/P1040740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339327653510276834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-dKD9eN4Zo3UZ3TAyN_UJv2JS9rzyqva2V74izad_Lyf5GstrNDQGifhoZ3sqkt1_0SyUqKqnrVGnMRX67HfG3Scw3btMGRCZ4JJQvyJCp-PSZZU6fVFRnG5XUTXmggonYFjSljEncqb/s1600-h/P1040747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-dKD9eN4Zo3UZ3TAyN_UJv2JS9rzyqva2V74izad_Lyf5GstrNDQGifhoZ3sqkt1_0SyUqKqnrVGnMRX67HfG3Scw3btMGRCZ4JJQvyJCp-PSZZU6fVFRnG5XUTXmggonYFjSljEncqb/s320/P1040747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339327655053481394" border="0" /></a>Dharamsala definitely had a hippie vibe. Many peeople in Dharamsala looked like they arrived as visitors and found themselves unable to leave. I could definitely see that. I was certainly not looking forward to a crazy 12 hour bus ride back to the insanity and heat of Delhi.<br /><br /><div><div>I wanted to meet more locals, but 95% of the Indians I met were touts and beggars. Even on the trains I didn't really meet any locals. The trains were filled with seeming well-off Indians who apparantly have never seen a white person. I found people staring at me constantly. I would walk into a train station or a local restaurant and people would stare at me. I would wake up in my sleeper car on a train and people were staring at me. This must be how really hot girls go through life.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br />India was a very frustraing place. But it was a very beautiful country very much worth the hassel. I would probably not recommend traveling here in April or May because of the heat. Even though people were constantly trying to rip me off, India was a very safe country. I don't know anyone who has been robbed or had their things stolen in India.<br /><br />I spent a few days in Dharamsala enjoying the good weather and the atmosphere. I dreaded the crazy bus ride back to the insanity of Delhi, but I had a flight to catch.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-15318820646169018102009-05-02T09:43:00.004-04:002009-05-02T09:47:54.234-04:00Mustache MayI have joined the moustache community. I will be participating in Moustache May, where I will be posting a new photo every day as technology allows. See www.moustachemay.com for more. You may have to do a search on "Jay" to see mine, but that would deprive you of browsing all the other great staches.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-49956876964501246232009-04-30T05:04:00.002-04:002009-04-30T08:53:55.374-04:00LaosI took a bus from Hue to Vientiane, Laos. I paid $31 for a ticket on a "Tourist" bus. They informed me that I would have to change buses one time in Dong Ha and that it would be air-conditioned. In America, we are very used to truth in advertising and scouring the fine print to ensure we get exactly what we're promised. Traveling in Asia for a while has lowered my expectations on getting what is promised.<br /><br />I got on the bus at 8:00am. It arrived in Dong Ha after a few hours and I had to get on another bus that would take me to Lao Bao to cross the border into Laos. Crossing the Laos border was uneventful. Visas were available on site and I went right on through.<br /><br />Usually when traveling by public transportation, there are always some other westerners on board. This usually provides me with someone to talk to and a partner to get through a strange experience. Sometimes it's just nice to have another person to exchange blank stares with when the driver makes an announcement or makes an unexpected stop. There was only myself and a Finn on the bus. He was only going as far as Savanakett. Prior to Savanakett, the bus stopped and the driver pointed at me and said "Vientiane". So I said goodbye to the Finn and got off the bus. This bus stop was in the middle of nowhere. There was only a tiny office and a woman selling grilled chicken skewers. I tried to get some information, but no one spoke English. So I sat down on a bench. Two teenage girls started talking to me and asking me questions (not in English). After asking questions, I would respond. My usual response was, "I don't understand you." They would then look at each other and giggle. After about an hour a rickety looking local bus with some people already in it pulled up. Someone pointed at me and then pointed at the bus and said, "Vientiane". So I got on it. I was the only westerner on the bus. Even though I was on a packed and noisy bus, I'd never felt more alone. I grabbed an open seat and prepared for the rest of the journey to Vientiane. In a few minutes I was spotted by an enthusiastic Lao girl who was moving up to sit beside me. Her name was Kahmu and she was a college student traveling to her home for New Years. She had been learning English for about the past eight months in her school and wanted to practice. She was studying to be a teacher. Her English was really basic, and after about 30 minutes we kind of ran out of things to talk about. She had never been outside of Laos. But it was nice to know there was someone on the bus who at least spoke some English in case something happened. She got off the bus when it got to her village about three 3 hours later.<br /><br />There are no public restrooms in Laos, so every few hours, the bus stops and people get off to relieve themselves at the side of the road.<br /><br />I was told, or maybe I dreamed that the bus would get into Vientiane at 6:00am. However at around 1:00am, the bus stopped. I thought it was just one of many, many stops it made that night. The driver looked at me and said, "Vientiane". Since I thought I would be getting in at 6:00am, I hadn't planned on getting a hotel room. I really like to reserve a room ahead of time when I arrive somewhere late at night. So I got a taxi into town. By taxi, I mean a pickup truck with two benches mounted in the bed. The driver dropped me off in a tourist area of town. I walked by several guest houses and they all had signs on the door stating that they were full. I finally found a hotel. The night clerk was asleep in a mosquito tent in the lobby. It was a nice place and they only had one double room. So I paid $30 US for a room, which is really expensive for Laos.<br /><br />I woke up fairly early on the morning of April 12 and went out for breakfast. I met an older American guy from Ithica, New York. We talked a bit about the inns and outs of traveling around Laos. I hope when I'm that age I'm still traveling. Vientiane was kind of dead. It was dead because it was Laos New Year and everybody goes to Luang Prabang for New Year. Not seeing much in my guidebook about sights to see in Vientiane, I decided to head on up to Luang Prabang. I asked around at a couple of tourist agencies about getting a tourist bus ticket. They all said that either the buses were all full or there were no tourist buses going to Luang Prabang because of New Year. My only option would be to go to the bus station and take the local bus.<br /><br />Local buses in Laos have timetables, but they are pretty much worthless. They sell tickets until a bus gets full. When it gets full, it leaves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK-MALtWES_u8TWwgze_mMPl7c28TxBDh2-2paoQdBBxsXDnoplMmAhkgeG769iKxuAMYnhPkPUm8AeLzlsE_4D06l7XGYw7T3VB4-LGd_1Ft39iBV3SwNFVizxiiW0vnVjxDc3nRD5c1/s1600-h/P1030169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK-MALtWES_u8TWwgze_mMPl7c28TxBDh2-2paoQdBBxsXDnoplMmAhkgeG769iKxuAMYnhPkPUm8AeLzlsE_4D06l7XGYw7T3VB4-LGd_1Ft39iBV3SwNFVizxiiW0vnVjxDc3nRD5c1/s320/P1030169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328913713523940290" border="0" /></a><br />The bus doesn't get full until the center aisle is full. They do, however, bring in stools for the aisle people to sit on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtgoTGRGUxCmCzxl2VqWBH7gKPGNZP7Y-578DglGBH7_pQehHRUJkFKJJiZHLaiwf24rliRGYAyHMJf75vmJ1Cg1ai5tWw-6E4h2G7KU2EgBbrp-6KKTMzRdE_aZZCqLIQUPgNz9yuMHJ/s1600-h/P1030171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtgoTGRGUxCmCzxl2VqWBH7gKPGNZP7Y-578DglGBH7_pQehHRUJkFKJJiZHLaiwf24rliRGYAyHMJf75vmJ1Cg1ai5tWw-6E4h2G7KU2EgBbrp-6KKTMzRdE_aZZCqLIQUPgNz9yuMHJ/s320/P1030171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328913721049827666" border="0" /></a><br />I got into Luang Puabang about 11:00 at night. I took a tuk-tuk to my hotel. Luang Prubang is the place to celebrate New Year and the correspondingly jack up the hotel prices. My hotel would that would have normally cost about $5 per night was about $14. I nearly fell over when the manager quoted me the price. Laos is supposed to be one of the cheapest places on earth.<br /><br />Luang Prabang is a world heritage sight, it's small, and has a really laid back vibe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1K1gfQdg7m3tYQE-WmmzeFjzCpHtM0j80egGKRANG2vElatZXdZn481l5iD8sU1MYFVrY-2mqa5ovgpxrIGXvlxKtfrivkVTcPR2hXnGuyOTFslMPlO_zin09wVzpPcTy0k8I-At4BGZ/s1600-h/P1030238.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1K1gfQdg7m3tYQE-WmmzeFjzCpHtM0j80egGKRANG2vElatZXdZn481l5iD8sU1MYFVrY-2mqa5ovgpxrIGXvlxKtfrivkVTcPR2hXnGuyOTFslMPlO_zin09wVzpPcTy0k8I-At4BGZ/s320/P1030238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915186769720130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmh0LLjq6HandM6ZuTP9Bii7ba3VvRrkkU5vZdIfrgUmc1gQ5GSXSavBenoTTb_5604sgmIdRVw6U6hgbMneyQakIZqdettxjVb9hjGdZI4Vsv0R87IG8AT9cl9gklDNykLk7N2BGGTgO/s1600-h/P1030340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmh0LLjq6HandM6ZuTP9Bii7ba3VvRrkkU5vZdIfrgUmc1gQ5GSXSavBenoTTb_5604sgmIdRVw6U6hgbMneyQakIZqdettxjVb9hjGdZI4Vsv0R87IG8AT9cl9gklDNykLk7N2BGGTgO/s320/P1030340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328917314286633906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaseV_Ar8rnOPMVprvjRGtwOWsntYs2v8sadvq48wZhq_6VnMrUBeYtvN1RI0u4aVA4HVC32f5lPYj-YxkjeGtJ9o1MF7w2-Dc73ne1sfbXrJRKYMxF0LCFUPGxnTrBSL4kiavRt7h935r/s1600-h/P1030205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaseV_Ar8rnOPMVprvjRGtwOWsntYs2v8sadvq48wZhq_6VnMrUBeYtvN1RI0u4aVA4HVC32f5lPYj-YxkjeGtJ9o1MF7w2-Dc73ne1sfbXrJRKYMxF0LCFUPGxnTrBSL4kiavRt7h935r/s320/P1030205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328913724066368178" border="0" /></a><br />As in all southeast Asian countries, one spends a lot of time visiting Buddhist temples.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoyaak1briMe9TbHfr7mm3BTaaFyIUuR5QoV9D3rO-mJoVz6K84DAdW0mCi1GxyoeOyVAk_POhpNB6t5QDLF1gp8ZmJWXA2h9X_SNfxFnEOCa6R843UuAr4OFsrlc6SOk4mdGn32daMdL/s1600-h/P1030185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoyaak1briMe9TbHfr7mm3BTaaFyIUuR5QoV9D3rO-mJoVz6K84DAdW0mCi1GxyoeOyVAk_POhpNB6t5QDLF1gp8ZmJWXA2h9X_SNfxFnEOCa6R843UuAr4OFsrlc6SOk4mdGn32daMdL/s320/P1030185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328913721440906242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl-SWTgBqW92xzds-gTqCbCc23eeByMOmntga64QojFzrjuyVvPyNsv9tgScznoegztpEZ64YANWWILWJN58vqQsmqgia7B10NjDROBNShbhkVWHoM9F2pym8OUPqXsvT1yfaZHb4spf4/s1600-h/P1030256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl-SWTgBqW92xzds-gTqCbCc23eeByMOmntga64QojFzrjuyVvPyNsv9tgScznoegztpEZ64YANWWILWJN58vqQsmqgia7B10NjDROBNShbhkVWHoM9F2pym8OUPqXsvT1yfaZHb4spf4/s320/P1030256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915187376734338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8jGkGOvjCbSRb4bw8T-vZ5iXwvE8Bo3kf9ZuIhth2mXOiUwncHBLmsVWa8bxbH-aFtFwAsp3o5H4D-Yn6TzVmgmvNtEuPjfso8ZKI-VvhszrLvtGaODF25kS_g1XAVwaE5r20TqStpPu/s1600-h/P1030190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8jGkGOvjCbSRb4bw8T-vZ5iXwvE8Bo3kf9ZuIhth2mXOiUwncHBLmsVWa8bxbH-aFtFwAsp3o5H4D-Yn6TzVmgmvNtEuPjfso8ZKI-VvhszrLvtGaODF25kS_g1XAVwaE5r20TqStpPu/s320/P1030190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330445437955990194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf_0-SpQpVpMT4JqETehzd3tTWu3_ajt4vwBn0mZPD4GogRMdcJQg8mwjY8d9UpJ5aMBEqN-2K9KV-mqVbX9NtHJ8WwfuBKrTplDIDaXOmUZgdHXjnjRnbyeQRM3hjX-59pk85OPhENhB/s1600-h/P1030218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf_0-SpQpVpMT4JqETehzd3tTWu3_ajt4vwBn0mZPD4GogRMdcJQg8mwjY8d9UpJ5aMBEqN-2K9KV-mqVbX9NtHJ8WwfuBKrTplDIDaXOmUZgdHXjnjRnbyeQRM3hjX-59pk85OPhENhB/s320/P1030218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915184350120306" border="0" /></a><br />Laos is probably the least developed place I've been on this trip next to Bolivia. Visitors have only been allowed in since 1990. It really seems like taking a step back in time. The hassle from touts is very low here compared to Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. Maybe it's because it's New Years. By the way, it's still a bit strange to be greeted with "Happy New Year!" in April. Especially after getting doused with water.<br /><br />I had specifically avoided traveling in Thailand for new years because, in general, I like to experience places for the first time on normal days. I wasn't really thinking logically, but the concept of New Years in April is a Buddhist holiday, so all of these countries would be celebrating New Years during this time. New Years celebrations stretch out over 4-5 days. During this time it is impossible to walk down the street without getting drenched with water. The water is believed to wash away the bad luck for the year. If this is the case, I should be a very lucky man this year. Many people were walking around with water guns and spraying people. But worse are the buckets of water. Getting doused with large buckets of water was the most fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFaSl1S98zvVn6gmt7BUFpO5q6UOFCMPE8vzPGkPzN0XklbxQ16AbU3aJ_ULlPS7qdw-wLjGQzl9kWzUCO04ikEITbQTLGd2wOvW4LFkES5ynNOZapV29CHtThJsgBQ2ZZV3H_k3mG9FP/s1600-h/P1030271.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFaSl1S98zvVn6gmt7BUFpO5q6UOFCMPE8vzPGkPzN0XklbxQ16AbU3aJ_ULlPS7qdw-wLjGQzl9kWzUCO04ikEITbQTLGd2wOvW4LFkES5ynNOZapV29CHtThJsgBQ2ZZV3H_k3mG9FP/s320/P1030271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915884270481026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPoPhfgmZeVZERqpG6CKhqpggkUpmpdJjDPipITDctR_e1iRaNBKRHnVFE7_vPkfCj2OBBTWxCPiHTBv7ZyS-oB1BXhm0NdUzHemj2BqdBySQXbidhlSYyU-0fFIps98OjliNzU2HdNXh/s1600-h/P1030300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPoPhfgmZeVZERqpG6CKhqpggkUpmpdJjDPipITDctR_e1iRaNBKRHnVFE7_vPkfCj2OBBTWxCPiHTBv7ZyS-oB1BXhm0NdUzHemj2BqdBySQXbidhlSYyU-0fFIps98OjliNzU2HdNXh/s320/P1030300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328916707544761698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL6jmr9w8fc23RKzN4uMqE_mCVlLchgzxbE_tYSVhfrjIvwuk6HrJ-kf7pKJxkedypOfZfxo57kr3fnPaTOJuZpI3PQv-fOVyfJFirWq5n5kALxxbnBeyIBUGXQ9WJa3O-SID7bTfMyAR/s1600-h/P1030268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL6jmr9w8fc23RKzN4uMqE_mCVlLchgzxbE_tYSVhfrjIvwuk6HrJ-kf7pKJxkedypOfZfxo57kr3fnPaTOJuZpI3PQv-fOVyfJFirWq5n5kALxxbnBeyIBUGXQ9WJa3O-SID7bTfMyAR/s320/P1030268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915887214841298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoAa_zBAf9N1RmJA3rDg_VeTTY74REzdqMNknG3HtxwuC3cxeL8hbbWKSzx3ETLlcMFawY_gW_H2wZnEjYvsGjPl0xqfVXSlTaEelLimBVUIaEIXlwNqfgCkgHu3yKaAgaKHLSC0lzc2v/s1600-h/P1030265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoAa_zBAf9N1RmJA3rDg_VeTTY74REzdqMNknG3HtxwuC3cxeL8hbbWKSzx3ETLlcMFawY_gW_H2wZnEjYvsGjPl0xqfVXSlTaEelLimBVUIaEIXlwNqfgCkgHu3yKaAgaKHLSC0lzc2v/s320/P1030265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915189421288242" border="0" /></a><br />It only takes a few to get completely soaked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMeeJ1IogyyvtJ9BH8mmjnVv9fJEOSzSwvPFDTTY4xqxMsKN9_Y6lR8vSRyXM6hHZRPE8hLo_Rrs2Bi5gaLj-nH4OeSLiEf1kScC8ZkUPTs6Pp7xChfQFOE7u4aCjTiy-Ik3gugprl25_/s1600-h/P1030274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMeeJ1IogyyvtJ9BH8mmjnVv9fJEOSzSwvPFDTTY4xqxMsKN9_Y6lR8vSRyXM6hHZRPE8hLo_Rrs2Bi5gaLj-nH4OeSLiEf1kScC8ZkUPTs6Pp7xChfQFOE7u4aCjTiy-Ik3gugprl25_/s320/P1030274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915887457970658" border="0" /></a><br />There was a parade one day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_qT1ng4zKOrrkxY3Ne2vdtbVMOzUYgemwFw_-M9yeJGWf8_Z312pF6_fFxEvSfPTshqysdk-aRumrXWQnXFmgYBKzvEYtbmYADETtvnsfyZXru43Lklvcyyq0kDqHojV3rCchg6USX30/s1600-h/P1030329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_qT1ng4zKOrrkxY3Ne2vdtbVMOzUYgemwFw_-M9yeJGWf8_Z312pF6_fFxEvSfPTshqysdk-aRumrXWQnXFmgYBKzvEYtbmYADETtvnsfyZXru43Lklvcyyq0kDqHojV3rCchg6USX30/s320/P1030329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328917312193233090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQrerYeWjywTNhYFbgn_9z1I8yjF_UQYTVTpYLbuhbiywixKa8RC4N6ofjnKQI3VA0h3UksnpSiJCVZ_g1oDtDqY0aQMpGmCzDYbiP-pyB5nJa403lhbgSnmgPNLMcROmMdzRN48xoVN5/s1600-h/P1030325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQrerYeWjywTNhYFbgn_9z1I8yjF_UQYTVTpYLbuhbiywixKa8RC4N6ofjnKQI3VA0h3UksnpSiJCVZ_g1oDtDqY0aQMpGmCzDYbiP-pyB5nJa403lhbgSnmgPNLMcROmMdzRN48xoVN5/s320/P1030325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328916713095826562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-xSmAbgHS1b7gVq3oYKw_090-95Da_DLTNR6Jo0Lznv7IhVcOrtjLCOVKzQH-mNE9zcv_f1xv327aHjlWpBxtPkr4gzPUPbG33L1Qhihdkfg7Tx23HZXTfxNBeHkp8irun4lPGGJQa-h/s1600-h/P1030324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-xSmAbgHS1b7gVq3oYKw_090-95Da_DLTNR6Jo0Lznv7IhVcOrtjLCOVKzQH-mNE9zcv_f1xv327aHjlWpBxtPkr4gzPUPbG33L1Qhihdkfg7Tx23HZXTfxNBeHkp8irun4lPGGJQa-h/s320/P1030324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328916714655946418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiyQSws_TQrCbYrkgaYgPhmQGRBlbbpQ_Jn3FE5MoxBZD4SuXFtmUrr1Z1XGHJFdXOYLZhvmdD4uaim_E1ep_4CbNsXwxhQ0cy3489fETsaQYWf1UW9l5qGqf-AuIMNNUbwDxBR-MZi4s/s1600-h/P1030322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiyQSws_TQrCbYrkgaYgPhmQGRBlbbpQ_Jn3FE5MoxBZD4SuXFtmUrr1Z1XGHJFdXOYLZhvmdD4uaim_E1ep_4CbNsXwxhQ0cy3489fETsaQYWf1UW9l5qGqf-AuIMNNUbwDxBR-MZi4s/s320/P1030322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328916710781625314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuA2mj04Tvanf9t1f2997xHvhfMOSiEIgGHFX8KoxCtmsL9ITun1rGc4uGdd3CIgfnnDrwd1sT_rjU_b2OMEnJcpGbVQVa2knEtt9iButhaXIAe6zpw2yqwN3m27QgBJnXgJFbcDoGWzT/s1600-h/P1030319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuA2mj04Tvanf9t1f2997xHvhfMOSiEIgGHFX8KoxCtmsL9ITun1rGc4uGdd3CIgfnnDrwd1sT_rjU_b2OMEnJcpGbVQVa2knEtt9iButhaXIAe6zpw2yqwN3m27QgBJnXgJFbcDoGWzT/s320/P1030319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328916703850556962" border="0" /></a><br />Street food in Luang Prabang. Very tasty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYM8CdlXxfdRJqxt3OGrUB2WLaWg_2njefnKYWAJUuNjNhR7XBU-YRgH7mtsVPkeMl-fmOnMPcm0JjwSP7T40-HHeyTpvAtRncpdajDX7IK39PSjxt5q1Lh2vZ2FzNonpUJJ9LQQbhYp-/s1600-h/P1030277.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYM8CdlXxfdRJqxt3OGrUB2WLaWg_2njefnKYWAJUuNjNhR7XBU-YRgH7mtsVPkeMl-fmOnMPcm0JjwSP7T40-HHeyTpvAtRncpdajDX7IK39PSjxt5q1Lh2vZ2FzNonpUJJ9LQQbhYp-/s320/P1030277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328915892972684770" border="0" /></a><br />One night I had dinner at a street stall like the one above with an American couple (originally from Australia). As is normal when I meet Americans during my travels, the conversation shifted to why more Americans don't. I've met some Americans on my travels, but not nearly as many as Europeans and Australians. Take Ireland for example. It's actually a really small country of only about 4 million people. The U.S. has a population of about 300 million. So reason would say that for every one Irish person, I should meet 75 Americans. But the actual figures I've experienced are closer to the opposite. I've come up with several theories over many dinners and drinks over the last few months of why Americans don't travel. These include money, lack of time, and lack of interest.<br /><br />Lack of Money. Many Europeans and Australians travel right after college (or, as they call it, "Uni"). In many parts of Europe, Ireland, again for example, undergraduate college is free. In America, we have to pay big bucks for college, and it keeps going up every year. Many students leave school with large amounts of debt, making a job right of college a necessity. Also, it's just part of our culture. We go straight from high school to college and straight to work. When I was graduating from college, I didn't know that traveling for a period of time was an option, even if I did have the money.<br /><br />Lack of time. It surprises a lot of people that there are no legally required minimum vacation days in the US. Many people starting a job get maybe two weeks and there are restrictions on how soon and when those can be used. Europeans and Australians generally get four to six weeks of vacation the first year on the job. It's the law. Europeans expect at least one three week vacation each year. Many Americans will never see a three week vacation.<br /><br />Lack of interest. I didn't have much interest in seeing the world when I was younger. It was not really until my late 20's that the desire hit me. I didn't even get a passport until I was 28. Americans tend to prefer to spend their money on things rather than experiences. Europeans and Japanese tend to live in small apartments and don't have room for a lot of stuff. Most of them also don't have cars due to having good public transportation and lack of parking. Also licenses, gas, insurance, etc. are all quite a bit more expensive there. As we Americans get new jobs, raises, etc., and earn more money, we tend to by more stuff (bigger houses, nicer cars, dining room chairs from the Pottery Barn, etc.). Europeans are more likely to spend their money on travel. One of the theories (among many) for why the Japanese recession of the 1990's lasted so long was market saturation. People weren't buying new stuff because everybody already had everything. Marketers of household appliances in Japan now must first identify something in a Japanese home that should be gotten rid of before they can sell their product. So Europeans, Australians, and Japanese have money, but a slightly more limited range of things to spend it on.<br />I'm not faulting anyone. It's a free country and people should spend their money however they see fit. At one time I was actually toying with the idea of buying a new condo. Two primary reasons were that I wanted a bigger kitchen and a third bedroom. The third bedroom I'd earmarked as storage room. I was running out of space for all my stuff. After my grandfather died, we had an estate sale. The auctioneer chattered all day long out in the hot sun. Eventually everything was sold. That's when it kind of hit me that all the things we work so hard to earn money to buy will eventually be sold at an auction for pennies on the dollar. I decided I would rather reach the end of my life knowing I saw the world and had a lot of good experiences rather than having a basement and attic full of stuff. Ironically, that very same morning, I had bought a new car.<br /><br />On April 16 I boarded a slow boat for a two day trip up the Mekong River. This was an extremely relaxing two days. The river is dotted with a few tiny villages, but was otherwise uninhabited.<br /><br />Our boat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_aRarsHpxHy60vdAa3U97d5n7Dm7IjCo92TkK3-SkyngywhAnqL_9ZzpnOXS8o4JZMSf0WyK4EpaM2mxHDG1rbAbxrz5Xrm1i9rj3ydEoT3739px6-g0G0mknHJJjMF_MCyCf-S72MZt/s1600-h/P1030383.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_aRarsHpxHy60vdAa3U97d5n7Dm7IjCo92TkK3-SkyngywhAnqL_9ZzpnOXS8o4JZMSf0WyK4EpaM2mxHDG1rbAbxrz5Xrm1i9rj3ydEoT3739px6-g0G0mknHJJjMF_MCyCf-S72MZt/s320/P1030383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328918204172214930" border="0" /></a><br />Our Captain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoqvvC6DzI4SBOFv_w2YUDVMHZbBoCN6EpZ1KBsT3-J-97KWLxMsFMKw_PoujefyhW7Pl8jCQ_GyIDyfxzZ69qZTcyIRUPK7f-38Ss5p0TCZd7UD-rHhiZzX-0Pg6jXyLJcKFNx3jaCnQ/s1600-h/P1030399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoqvvC6DzI4SBOFv_w2YUDVMHZbBoCN6EpZ1KBsT3-J-97KWLxMsFMKw_PoujefyhW7Pl8jCQ_GyIDyfxzZ69qZTcyIRUPK7f-38Ss5p0TCZd7UD-rHhiZzX-0Pg6jXyLJcKFNx3jaCnQ/s320/P1030399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328918206029084626" border="0" /></a><br />I dialed up some Creedence on my Ipod and rolled on down the river (or up the river). <br /><br />There was some really great scenery on the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM39-U9vOCHnnr6Wt0lOv5LzpoKasXowSlfgTHb7KkrWfBVK5y8awCpqaBCk8vZpmKLbmsXG5lpGXms_Y7y6VezS8UNi20hSVXecqVIwQebUX_nX2TNNk9b8csXpyA-vKdQdlJWlxXFdSp/s1600-h/P1030348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM39-U9vOCHnnr6Wt0lOv5LzpoKasXowSlfgTHb7KkrWfBVK5y8awCpqaBCk8vZpmKLbmsXG5lpGXms_Y7y6VezS8UNi20hSVXecqVIwQebUX_nX2TNNk9b8csXpyA-vKdQdlJWlxXFdSp/s320/P1030348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328917314128293810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdYyazkwPbHLzqexaPZvPWPep7hxsak5OTw_GehDEXKBTnCHgy-T6o_wG5Nrzio7CtJ1pWSGkOLdKQYfxT28xsSntEFFZu29-kFemkBhge-2635wxVftIX238UnOgc7ytqTRcSn53nKoq/s1600-h/P1030380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdYyazkwPbHLzqexaPZvPWPep7hxsak5OTw_GehDEXKBTnCHgy-T6o_wG5Nrzio7CtJ1pWSGkOLdKQYfxT28xsSntEFFZu29-kFemkBhge-2635wxVftIX238UnOgc7ytqTRcSn53nKoq/s320/P1030380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328918205869814274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGjpBI5pubjWOTZOs1pt1BbOdkO-hkAIljiHh_d_BZCUk-nz7ttmllNGRnP1ux8AucI86BOFl5efY4j0sUs75RrdIQMVgy09fbzYfJ7zr_nTurNRTktgz7du09HCiS5Q0nv0L0VQnqfZ_/s1600-h/P1030379.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGjpBI5pubjWOTZOs1pt1BbOdkO-hkAIljiHh_d_BZCUk-nz7ttmllNGRnP1ux8AucI86BOFl5efY4j0sUs75RrdIQMVgy09fbzYfJ7zr_nTurNRTktgz7du09HCiS5Q0nv0L0VQnqfZ_/s320/P1030379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328918200986074786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xWN6GeX7YYscHashIzETxRItgz8JSlazNnzHdPtvXx4NzprxuSovS8kwaE2O4hQJW5_iUYURhM60YdMIPlgzsueqYNpYQMwPFbwcCEdPub8cLzicU1b-uVZ8XOX6ykjv5ohEn6wYBhnR/s1600-h/P1030374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xWN6GeX7YYscHashIzETxRItgz8JSlazNnzHdPtvXx4NzprxuSovS8kwaE2O4hQJW5_iUYURhM60YdMIPlgzsueqYNpYQMwPFbwcCEdPub8cLzicU1b-uVZ8XOX6ykjv5ohEn6wYBhnR/s320/P1030374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328918201214772258" border="0" /></a><br />Traveling by river gave me a taste of how I think it might have been to travel in America 100 years ago. I grew up near the Mississippi river. But I never knew anyone whoever traveled on it who wasn't working on a barge. In America, if you look at old downtown areas of towns on major rivers, they seem like they would have been much more interesting places 100 years ago than non-port towns. I like to think that in part this was due to the diverse range of people traveling through trading and socializing with the locals, along with a few seedy elements as well.<br /><br />One family got off along the way after going into town for supplies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jZgM2oiggafyIzXbUot-Uvcw2wy4ZKqpNMU4T5eMiSxKTLEt3kZgLDfkBFcZuu06BFHLRil1zFdRdJsft18_jJUnsj9uxAJzmVhp_MuJ0LMQcAmKN-6My4CtyN61tS8vSXHf2_HSt7Q5/s1600-h/P1030364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jZgM2oiggafyIzXbUot-Uvcw2wy4ZKqpNMU4T5eMiSxKTLEt3kZgLDfkBFcZuu06BFHLRil1zFdRdJsft18_jJUnsj9uxAJzmVhp_MuJ0LMQcAmKN-6My4CtyN61tS8vSXHf2_HSt7Q5/s320/P1030364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328917317872568482" border="0" /></a><br />Another stop. That old lady climbed straight up that rock.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaD9hvh-QJN7libRX_kKAB7hPNx7oS7E069Rdnmu9jnk0JYXdJQU8REQGINAqjJJy7bLAkNbK8susFWwgPiLi7LMLpsujnehAt1ybvsw_EsizNJAoshSr1vv4x7qFEyYwbxdcyMowCNrv/s1600-h/P1030407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaD9hvh-QJN7libRX_kKAB7hPNx7oS7E069Rdnmu9jnk0JYXdJQU8REQGINAqjJJy7bLAkNbK8susFWwgPiLi7LMLpsujnehAt1ybvsw_EsizNJAoshSr1vv4x7qFEyYwbxdcyMowCNrv/s320/P1030407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919334030276690" border="0" /></a>The first day we stopped in Pak Beng after ten hours of sailing. Pak Beng was the largest city between Luang Prabang and the Thai border. City might not be exactly the right word. It was more like one road lined with a few restaurants and guest houses, along with some local markets, many selling what appeared to electrical products from the 1980's. The town's power shuts off every night at 10:00pm.<br /><br />The second day was another 10-11 hours from Pak Beng to Houaysa, on the Thai border. There was even less going on in Houaysa. But we arrived there after the border crossing closed at 6:00pm so we stayed in Houaysa.<br /><br />On April 18 we got up early to cross the border into Chaing Khong Thailand. "We" in this case was myself, a Brit, a Czech, a Malaysian, and a Japanese who I met on the slow boat. This was the most geographically diverse crew I've traveled with. We exited at Lao emigration and paid $1.30 each to take a boat across the river into Thailand. We then took a mini bus to Chang Mai. Crossing the Mekong River from Laos into Thailand is like going ahead in time about 80 years. Thailand has modern buildings, shops, factories, and well paved, four lane highways.<br /><br />I had one night in Chang Mai before taking an overnight bus back to Bangkok to catch my flight to India on April 20. I had dinner with Janna, the Czech on the slow boat. I haven't meet many people from the old Soviet Block countries. Most of the people I meet are from Britain, Ireland, Holland, Germany, and Scandinavia. After dinner, on the first floor of the restaurant, this killer band was playing American rock songs. We ended up staying for three bands. The singers sang without any accents. It was an interesting crowd - a mix of rich Thais and tourists.<br /><br />The hardest rocking band in Thailand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuKSQoapXME67N_GvE8khkjxJjy2zC3QRPkrUbTvQ2CIbBkKoMEFb9dMWyUFVrjWQZ1tFY3iCnzBYZRDRHm8-28ZaNCERc36ZnAapHPnZZlLSgUrbUCTrpjTt0wv1O-moPwJdxLGvQzJS/s1600-h/P1030429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuKSQoapXME67N_GvE8khkjxJjy2zC3QRPkrUbTvQ2CIbBkKoMEFb9dMWyUFVrjWQZ1tFY3iCnzBYZRDRHm8-28ZaNCERc36ZnAapHPnZZlLSgUrbUCTrpjTt0wv1O-moPwJdxLGvQzJS/s320/P1030429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919337563301282" border="0" /></a><br />The biggest head bangers in Thailand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2J8rJoEu8ge2UZbAYBI7cPvmtfuOlXvc5TChB9EGnfeufrVqchflIWbOO_5Cc56Dpd8eSvO13bTZoUMUgpenYu9cS9zOEg1qGIHFk_xrGQVTWmeZanP2Hmr8s_kfCRXvaIMHDU9bqYNB/s1600-h/P1030438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2J8rJoEu8ge2UZbAYBI7cPvmtfuOlXvc5TChB9EGnfeufrVqchflIWbOO_5Cc56Dpd8eSvO13bTZoUMUgpenYu9cS9zOEg1qGIHFk_xrGQVTWmeZanP2Hmr8s_kfCRXvaIMHDU9bqYNB/s320/P1030438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919342938864978" border="0" /></a>On April 19, I went to see the Doi Sutep temple. It is a temple on a hill outside of Chang Mai. I didn't see it the first time I was in Chang Mai die to time constraints. I was glad I got to see it this time. It would be my last Buddhist temple for a while.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJXm_HHBHKNu-7g_m8zUkjZSvAQVofd5uC6MPF_e09o-GgSVTqoqFM5zlIT69oClQ3BcEaMkhY5FEN3yaqVtfvG_COAA_y70MX4Av_h-XCfREz0hMUUO9qpTXG5zLBYhLdVYvgInNI4-C/s1600-h/P1030442.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJXm_HHBHKNu-7g_m8zUkjZSvAQVofd5uC6MPF_e09o-GgSVTqoqFM5zlIT69oClQ3BcEaMkhY5FEN3yaqVtfvG_COAA_y70MX4Av_h-XCfREz0hMUUO9qpTXG5zLBYhLdVYvgInNI4-C/s320/P1030442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919904487437602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLziF5__Arxjv_A5BwvCvO80S1WpMLrB8ah6KRE3-nqtS0iP-L4C4HPFnnpDBTcac9WEa-Ives4DhkZb7xNZMUFNyqGgEEJd9QHFq-WJeTpXmHd-xcor3ND5hFFE36VN5wiZnofY6Y7hx/s1600-h/P1030452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLziF5__Arxjv_A5BwvCvO80S1WpMLrB8ah6KRE3-nqtS0iP-L4C4HPFnnpDBTcac9WEa-Ives4DhkZb7xNZMUFNyqGgEEJd9QHFq-WJeTpXmHd-xcor3ND5hFFE36VN5wiZnofY6Y7hx/s320/P1030452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919903973541266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9LKPhAl3AqVy2t8bObRsroh9zOflJ9-6NetfAoWAKWlDxey2jRUHwpLXtWE9umbaDd_SO490kmmHE12cfabIJejiXV6qXOAUZY5l3HxyqmT_dsJN0AJUjZxaRoLhzwDSKj5hhUnmuViY/s1600-h/P1030462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9LKPhAl3AqVy2t8bObRsroh9zOflJ9-6NetfAoWAKWlDxey2jRUHwpLXtWE9umbaDd_SO490kmmHE12cfabIJejiXV6qXOAUZY5l3HxyqmT_dsJN0AJUjZxaRoLhzwDSKj5hhUnmuViY/s320/P1030462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919902510673922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYm2JDdt3_lDfHbi0gKqmDRmJLzJh3bpC-8ELC6dZXABZQUTD9ZB7Q7WSJ2HTSm2fznQXt05_F7uxWHfNc9nlJE1_0byeJV3A2lKr0J346djbUBse_e3ln4kitwaZUpRgqS9XpnkI_hfV/s1600-h/P1030478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYm2JDdt3_lDfHbi0gKqmDRmJLzJh3bpC-8ELC6dZXABZQUTD9ZB7Q7WSJ2HTSm2fznQXt05_F7uxWHfNc9nlJE1_0byeJV3A2lKr0J346djbUBse_e3ln4kitwaZUpRgqS9XpnkI_hfV/s320/P1030478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919897711808018" border="0" /></a><br />The Thais love their royal family. Their image is everywhere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz7pWv8nTpSO3CnpbJa5V4YI6iRG8GbZvCFEeLDUpSgXZkkS1r6b5tQMKQeokesZT98vwFV5kBMjEFNOMBE_hhr0EZpqGDvdEyZNgBtMIDxiKwRnAImEz7tcUCIbJCSdtOQ4XCDhw_vK0/s1600-h/P1030441.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz7pWv8nTpSO3CnpbJa5V4YI6iRG8GbZvCFEeLDUpSgXZkkS1r6b5tQMKQeokesZT98vwFV5kBMjEFNOMBE_hhr0EZpqGDvdEyZNgBtMIDxiKwRnAImEz7tcUCIbJCSdtOQ4XCDhw_vK0/s320/P1030441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328919347599687394" border="0" /></a>About a week before I was to be in Bangkok for my flight to India, there was a violent protest in Bangkok that shut down an inter-Asian conference and caused many leaders to have to be evacuated. The protest was led by the supporters of the old prime minister who was overthrown in a military coup in 2006. I checked around but everyone seemed to think it was safe to come back to Bangkok to fly home. Bangkok seemed as normal as it did when I was there previously. By the way, Thailand seems like too modern of a country to be having leaders overthrown by military coups.<br /><br />I got into Bangkok on April 20 and left that evening on a Jet Airways flight bound for Delhi, India.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-75253546238080720982009-04-25T05:43:00.010-04:002009-04-25T08:51:05.778-04:00VietnamOn April 3, I took a bus from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The city's name was changed from Saigon shortly after the fall of Saigon in 1975; however, the central district is officially known as Saigon and many locals still refer to the whole city as Saigon. So I will refer to it as Saigon, but there are many images of Ho Chi Minh all over Vietnam and his picture is on all the Dong (Vietnam currency).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpVXgCE0_ZuydlTZgJmvUyDHv2jyejRD01f-mUmUuRrpjtqBpL51-9_C7IhyQEK5yyP89TTYVwXEepssvAuyOmu0qMJ4jUEedEk8wPd8P1opLsa_DcW3kl9awGaUwveFTy9hClr8Xv1ik/s1600-h/P1020976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpVXgCE0_ZuydlTZgJmvUyDHv2jyejRD01f-mUmUuRrpjtqBpL51-9_C7IhyQEK5yyP89TTYVwXEepssvAuyOmu0qMJ4jUEedEk8wPd8P1opLsa_DcW3kl9awGaUwveFTy9hClr8Xv1ik/s320/P1020976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328133465385859874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Many people I've talked to either loved Vietnam or they hated it. One British couple was planning to stay there for a month and left after two days. Two Australians I met were going back for the second time in three years. I liked it. The hassle level was high, but I didn't thin it was too unbearable.<br /><br />I got in to Saigon about 6:00 at night. Saigon is really big and really crazy. I've never seen so many motorcycles in one place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKHzWjsIwtJbJ0goe-CB-LQNAdSXpp2G_Rov_Um7RjNffuWCm3hxJre-oZhgaanMAG7-AkOv7CuVmPcmz_GeiPjHKr0ylDLuwqi65XBbKBGqunvf_90VJBS2OZWFp4rF51jYiP2_I72KG/s1600-h/P1020694.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKHzWjsIwtJbJ0goe-CB-LQNAdSXpp2G_Rov_Um7RjNffuWCm3hxJre-oZhgaanMAG7-AkOv7CuVmPcmz_GeiPjHKr0ylDLuwqi65XBbKBGqunvf_90VJBS2OZWFp4rF51jYiP2_I72KG/s320/P1020694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328128153562799394" border="0" /></a><br />Crossing the street in Saigon is like jumping into the pool. It requires momentum and a little courage. It's also a little like playing the old Frogger video game. Avoiding motorcycles is easier than avoiding cars. The hardest part is trying to determine which side the motorcycle will take, and whether the driver will take into account that you are moving.<br /><br />My first full day I toured a few sites in the city. First stop was the Ho Chi Minh City museum. It was fairly small and didn't have many things. They were doing a photo shoot of bridal fashions.<br /><br />The next stop was the Independence (or Reunification) Palace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3YDeJJJ77r_Op87QNUMAcAmRcMU8QMIjtz8nucHjT7DCloF_v9_yEauUMnmI8S2ed2nanzxV4NiWWrFE6fjKGM1Ut6cgKV7YHfMuCAkVB-DYt4n3EUWzEPKiRDTK53Qx5o9poBjx5nEJ/s1600-h/P1020719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3YDeJJJ77r_Op87QNUMAcAmRcMU8QMIjtz8nucHjT7DCloF_v9_yEauUMnmI8S2ed2nanzxV4NiWWrFE6fjKGM1Ut6cgKV7YHfMuCAkVB-DYt4n3EUWzEPKiRDTK53Qx5o9poBjx5nEJ/s320/P1020719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328128153329530946" border="0" /></a>The Independence Palace housed the president residence and offices of what was then South Vietnam. It was captured in 1975 when North Vietnamese tanks rolled in. The decor had a seventies vibe and looked like not a thing had been changed since then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_Aqz6C4icSifHb34pXv_SID4wOy8c7yw5YVPoIgQOFsMX9bYRd5y1Xd6wTfpn7Swj-Rs5hCNbAlWQuSCmZh6Y4nrFxTM338KBX90IGHaUb1BUiQ1D1Jb40osgtO6Z_5sXskomDSXiFwh/s1600-h/P1020738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_Aqz6C4icSifHb34pXv_SID4wOy8c7yw5YVPoIgQOFsMX9bYRd5y1Xd6wTfpn7Swj-Rs5hCNbAlWQuSCmZh6Y4nrFxTM338KBX90IGHaUb1BUiQ1D1Jb40osgtO6Z_5sXskomDSXiFwh/s320/P1020738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328128160150121362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRjTK0MLaOqqkA6gzrOa8YkOQUfe9MxGN2uAnY-QPzHdkGIdEeCxWMkv9Fdl6RewCndSWaKHAImwaEOXy0aaMG44asXOiQIiYo84zP6pMrEWtPYWkjrB5WtBdHztYM6ZZhq_8Q8bllc3U/s1600-h/P1020728.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRjTK0MLaOqqkA6gzrOa8YkOQUfe9MxGN2uAnY-QPzHdkGIdEeCxWMkv9Fdl6RewCndSWaKHAImwaEOXy0aaMG44asXOiQIiYo84zP6pMrEWtPYWkjrB5WtBdHztYM6ZZhq_8Q8bllc3U/s320/P1020728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328128158894078866" border="0" /></a><br />It had a really cool gambling room that I want to recreate in my house one day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIg28-tvte94oRWfJL4VAUAdenfYeNK09WHEV7IfyVNfNQ8OQvzZxomaVyuOV2eI8EiNZBUV86o_nc_Y-o4jgeOGO1HTuI8sWbX5t2fQPWb9QdtP2cj_-Z4Nv9T1t8IMS3lj4ITGIDSVAm/s1600-h/P1020743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIg28-tvte94oRWfJL4VAUAdenfYeNK09WHEV7IfyVNfNQ8OQvzZxomaVyuOV2eI8EiNZBUV86o_nc_Y-o4jgeOGO1HTuI8sWbX5t2fQPWb9QdtP2cj_-Z4Nv9T1t8IMS3lj4ITGIDSVAm/s320/P1020743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328128162745160242" border="0" /></a><br />On April 5, I signed up for a one day tour of the Cow Gai temple and the Cuchi tunnels. The Cow Gai is a minority religion in Vietnam that utilizes parts of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. We watched a service, or at least the first part of it. I don't know how long it went on after we left, but after about 20 minutes of kneeling, bowing, and chanting, I had had enough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaZd9QktlHCKClLqGYy3a5fYfYOQum9-nvOtBa7Xec8tYBy2auWxRhLo0YmDCH7rcDv0RlvvfPmkpdngij6o5Npr9W0sBstkNx-9aYCm09DheHySRbO3ZI3OM5FQK2FQqVTm9xA4pvEo4/s1600-h/P1020777.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaZd9QktlHCKClLqGYy3a5fYfYOQum9-nvOtBa7Xec8tYBy2auWxRhLo0YmDCH7rcDv0RlvvfPmkpdngij6o5Npr9W0sBstkNx-9aYCm09DheHySRbO3ZI3OM5FQK2FQqVTm9xA4pvEo4/s320/P1020777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328129803186742210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtrVv9ZCVpOatt_LkYnoAt7A9FWfa3ghoPL-ozMtXmvJtvDIJ3eCfHNPFM8C1-36XS858abThEInedVwxBVIdrfjWTvBUret6E8ycqbTNlGM-v8w2A4rfVjN7_6c8ZeZwvTrdyswFC0tj/s1600-h/P1020779.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtrVv9ZCVpOatt_LkYnoAt7A9FWfa3ghoPL-ozMtXmvJtvDIJ3eCfHNPFM8C1-36XS858abThEInedVwxBVIdrfjWTvBUret6E8ycqbTNlGM-v8w2A4rfVjN7_6c8ZeZwvTrdyswFC0tj/s320/P1020779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328129807322310898" border="0" /></a>We were able to catch a service there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNdqif_GS6pGhPxpRaz8RTGFamfRAbiT6uTVATr8C2oPBZu_7mO_3JVD5RMdqFIkNfiebj9POFoDdCnFGAyhQnb1DtA-eLggRZBPYgaMXHd8dBbG_V7-GsSdyPq4IrWQRg3X5ZIZhH-u-/s1600-h/P1020801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNdqif_GS6pGhPxpRaz8RTGFamfRAbiT6uTVATr8C2oPBZu_7mO_3JVD5RMdqFIkNfiebj9POFoDdCnFGAyhQnb1DtA-eLggRZBPYgaMXHd8dBbG_V7-GsSdyPq4IrWQRg3X5ZIZhH-u-/s320/P1020801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328129810062444322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJ-QXN_wPmyYSsw6pbjWfIenJ2Q_PBgOXazptYg6GBjK7A3V-n3ujLqgL1ijPDpLmWk1iPw9MrUSuHNFccA_UstKyZk7Gy2Fic3POk5j7Rr80sdPFI5qlsHPO-T0CaBsEtSe9cX6G_ZWE/s1600-h/P1020800.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJ-QXN_wPmyYSsw6pbjWfIenJ2Q_PBgOXazptYg6GBjK7A3V-n3ujLqgL1ijPDpLmWk1iPw9MrUSuHNFccA_UstKyZk7Gy2Fic3POk5j7Rr80sdPFI5qlsHPO-T0CaBsEtSe9cX6G_ZWE/s320/P1020800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328602415926580098" border="0" /></a><br />The second part of the tour was the Cuchi tunnels. These are a series of tunnels used by the Viet Cong to hide from..........well, from us. It is amazing how small and intricate these tunnels were. They had one section of tunnel the had been just about doubled in height and width. Even with the widening, it was incredibly small and I got pretty claustrophobic. They also had replicas of traps made from bamboo spikes. It was a weird feeling touring this place, knowing it was used against our soldiers 40 years ago. But it's a big tourist draw and everyone that goes to Vietnam goes on this tour. It was pretty free of propoganda though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXEHOM2Gxjv9fZxdlIXAta2FYVnxm6bt6kMwHmzbpiftkMep-ivnMoABu5cI4lcJXiKlgg9qvcroF_vjbGZV1UU0QTlaeMiAEyPZJFtv0bgO18ARpWE1ROWUkYgANL7nZ8QDHxqSMcmFB/s1600-h/P1020817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXEHOM2Gxjv9fZxdlIXAta2FYVnxm6bt6kMwHmzbpiftkMep-ivnMoABu5cI4lcJXiKlgg9qvcroF_vjbGZV1UU0QTlaeMiAEyPZJFtv0bgO18ARpWE1ROWUkYgANL7nZ8QDHxqSMcmFB/s320/P1020817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328129817339384498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuAKHRcLDi1xUZ2ORvvit2xPrbbnA2j38hMpupXpWVyTXT-3qM0mD7eQviEP0zH4tGEA46fbPuVVr4PCqs8YGbRAxPMltan8ONJJeWvgK-GGqeCE07y_Va_ptscGG1drtRwWHdI1CtT_X/s1600-h/P1020830.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuAKHRcLDi1xUZ2ORvvit2xPrbbnA2j38hMpupXpWVyTXT-3qM0mD7eQviEP0zH4tGEA46fbPuVVr4PCqs8YGbRAxPMltan8ONJJeWvgK-GGqeCE07y_Va_ptscGG1drtRwWHdI1CtT_X/s320/P1020830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328131141952938722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I signed up for a two day tour of the Mekong delta and departed Saigon on April 6 by bus. Several of the people on this tour were also on the previous day's tour. The first stop was at a Vinh Long village in the An Binh Islands. They showed us how they made coconut candy, rice paper, and puffed rice. Then they obviously asked us if we wanted to by any. We left the village by boat and went to a rice mill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDzr8m-6fXiBaELPWKVp3ku1Nm74UcOIhSl3rD0d3A7G6z_W5AoG2Hw2mSBNzAOq62ULkeEUUJ2UhDDERIewPBwqq503TIb0A6FHawIWVo2lgnaxUAXbrGl-klf_JwOEUkTtuCyimKNy1/s1600-h/P1020970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDzr8m-6fXiBaELPWKVp3ku1Nm74UcOIhSl3rD0d3A7G6z_W5AoG2Hw2mSBNzAOq62ULkeEUUJ2UhDDERIewPBwqq503TIb0A6FHawIWVo2lgnaxUAXbrGl-klf_JwOEUkTtuCyimKNy1/s320/P1020970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328600901373221698" border="0" /></a><br />After a lengthy explanation (too long) by our tour guide, we left Vinh Long and went, still by boat, to the Mekong Delta city of Cantho. It was about a 3-4 hour boat ride through some tiny villages. We saw many, many people in the villages, and practically all of them seemed very happy to see us. They were waiving enthusiastically. We also saw a bunch of people bathing in the river - a very common practice. These people are quite poor, but they seem really, really happy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC-P3-7Ss8Cu7PDszJVwr5nvOpSf7AxmqGMtNdufSGRmqxADqfilI8wqJbDiEYnUsrFWQGwEBLWp-BOXo0sI2l0sRV8i5FToR_DDUxpMMTpKJP6NwTrprTuMo27307bhullyrG8ySld5s/s1600-h/P1020868.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoC-P3-7Ss8Cu7PDszJVwr5nvOpSf7AxmqGMtNdufSGRmqxADqfilI8wqJbDiEYnUsrFWQGwEBLWp-BOXo0sI2l0sRV8i5FToR_DDUxpMMTpKJP6NwTrprTuMo27307bhullyrG8ySld5s/s320/P1020868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328131148561498914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghWAhJr5rO2JLMVA2TN4q7GmYDy6uApeLR1jYuCouPzRMVzU2nWE0TthnBxsSnwz7R0oLWW_2OY-OIyItNJZi3xXmof-yCtjRvZePDFOkQN56eMipen1tkNjQeUELeOfapxvYWqZbpHbz/s1600-h/P1020889.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghWAhJr5rO2JLMVA2TN4q7GmYDy6uApeLR1jYuCouPzRMVzU2nWE0TthnBxsSnwz7R0oLWW_2OY-OIyItNJZi3xXmof-yCtjRvZePDFOkQN56eMipen1tkNjQeUELeOfapxvYWqZbpHbz/s320/P1020889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328131150126996258" border="0" /></a><br />Cantho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta. It had a few restaurants and bars, but nothing really special other than being a jumping off point for the floating markets.<br /><br /><br />I had dinner and a few drinks with a 40 something British couple. The wife ordered Snake, a Vietnamese specialty. I wanted to try snake, but was too hungry to order it for my dinner since I heard it wasn't good. I tried a bit of hers. It was tough and stringy. Not very good. But at least I got to try it.<br /><br />They were on a three week holiday. European vacation laws amaze me. Most European countries have a legally minimum holidays of 4-6 weeks and almost all expect at least three consecutive weeks of vacation every year. When I ask Europeans how long they're traveling, if it's less than two months, they will say, almost apologetically "Only for three weeks". Most Americans will never see a three week vacation in the absence of a job transition.<br /><br />The next day we visited the Cai Rang floating market. The floating market is mostly for locals selling produce to other locals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_QaDzrFKiEZdyBQvEiggyPUPwdJtesd3Nj0YLFKb0JaROo9Wtcp1o4UGAU716RripFUFYhsjWJO1_mG4z2HmiQaWS86KdyVmnfjs08H7OoPgEHkM9SnU6FqcQNxCGbgisD1efdRR-BWE/s1600-h/P1020935.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_QaDzrFKiEZdyBQvEiggyPUPwdJtesd3Nj0YLFKb0JaROo9Wtcp1o4UGAU716RripFUFYhsjWJO1_mG4z2HmiQaWS86KdyVmnfjs08H7OoPgEHkM9SnU6FqcQNxCGbgisD1efdRR-BWE/s320/P1020935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328131157769670642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL0Nm8P-wan1Wnjsp6d96jDhWJVhD3hug03NBZFFtN4-2cDQukPhXelQ88bYdva8sutu8l7rDueAr9sw4fkn5LAm_hZk2bO5335GuQt5xWWmd_S6c1wqHauAXRIeaPT_7vsgUvyERR5KK/s1600-h/P1020929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL0Nm8P-wan1Wnjsp6d96jDhWJVhD3hug03NBZFFtN4-2cDQukPhXelQ88bYdva8sutu8l7rDueAr9sw4fkn5LAm_hZk2bO5335GuQt5xWWmd_S6c1wqHauAXRIeaPT_7vsgUvyERR5KK/s320/P1020929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328131153554442594" border="0" /></a><br />But there was one boat selling pineapples to tourists<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi3ThDN9ZNtmAccTzC0tKgVRe_wIrEHr4anglwCpq-xs3U6mDiKhSEcgcUaWwG3vCEJNKu5PjRpGaeAVpADQphQauqeNVJGgdduGdxX1QLQ9cXNGXePSdAXqbisBptSMcMpnXT0mY5jdB/s1600-h/P1020941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi3ThDN9ZNtmAccTzC0tKgVRe_wIrEHr4anglwCpq-xs3U6mDiKhSEcgcUaWwG3vCEJNKu5PjRpGaeAVpADQphQauqeNVJGgdduGdxX1QLQ9cXNGXePSdAXqbisBptSMcMpnXT0mY5jdB/s320/P1020941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328132339174393346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzO5drwo3XFUBiZyUbQ7SQmUX65OEt0xWojzJp8fzSHSwM86qFVfmk9ZyuohSaunkwTJYhmi8yZAkcEDSSZ_W8pCeEoIl2468aDO4SE9maFPiVFB8aZd9uAAyIpRlZaipscdgG3h6ggRUy/s1600-h/P1020943.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzO5drwo3XFUBiZyUbQ7SQmUX65OEt0xWojzJp8fzSHSwM86qFVfmk9ZyuohSaunkwTJYhmi8yZAkcEDSSZ_W8pCeEoIl2468aDO4SE9maFPiVFB8aZd9uAAyIpRlZaipscdgG3h6ggRUy/s320/P1020943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328132340962652242" border="0" /></a><br />These were the world's smallest life preservers. No one could zip them up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLbGdm_OPhLJUNNlA_97PcMKUn_r4qpr4E-iI6-xZszITm1qNPHxP9v1fkWuhNmhmUH_1fT72E0qW5JiRWgr8tRcTl3lJSC-35wErRUYtxg5_g0DGOxxNRpF0JoQE31BqxpjnDG5mGz8x/s1600-h/P1020936.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLbGdm_OPhLJUNNlA_97PcMKUn_r4qpr4E-iI6-xZszITm1qNPHxP9v1fkWuhNmhmUH_1fT72E0qW5JiRWgr8tRcTl3lJSC-35wErRUYtxg5_g0DGOxxNRpF0JoQE31BqxpjnDG5mGz8x/s320/P1020936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328132336577777282" border="0" /></a><br />The Cantho market was near the floating market. They had all parts of all animals for sale. Again, they were selling to locals and mainly loeft the tourists alone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-eqZArRt6SqwGsTDPlZdlc1qXgluzJM2F1wcuXXvIsV3BE_e5s9WDhI2m3YybbB6u60ig5KkvieGN155WcHEN2DuVQuRZ-7_Y7awrkET18HMUcJgrzCIRbrC2TbnqsO10P7yjDzA23SY/s1600-h/P1020963.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-eqZArRt6SqwGsTDPlZdlc1qXgluzJM2F1wcuXXvIsV3BE_e5s9WDhI2m3YybbB6u60ig5KkvieGN155WcHEN2DuVQuRZ-7_Y7awrkET18HMUcJgrzCIRbrC2TbnqsO10P7yjDzA23SY/s320/P1020963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328133463488369010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJpid-OQpscpEPPyWXkC5szZW8Ir8EEAbUe-ueZ1dNiZNfILMkGRm9nQcgYRR9X97MpgRVfasgc4Tl1avWZYtzNPVlwxzfHJTogQanaY-z1ovrJyZCLGunBp7-bld8-NmOhlDYjPeZ2RX/s1600-h/P1020957.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJpid-OQpscpEPPyWXkC5szZW8Ir8EEAbUe-ueZ1dNiZNfILMkGRm9nQcgYRR9X97MpgRVfasgc4Tl1avWZYtzNPVlwxzfHJTogQanaY-z1ovrJyZCLGunBp7-bld8-NmOhlDYjPeZ2RX/s320/P1020957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328133458535194018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoHfudrm3oXKgAfqpIVdGpJtCRJu4I60mc9KBT6bhDE600MRBvoqGxOJcUpQ9GNtSDCg7XxqWMTPhkmO3qQDCZImgvsiuae9R8EaFxKBEJxpL5tbjq6GRkBLx1-Zfq0zKkeZwKa-pOL-1/s1600-h/P1020955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoHfudrm3oXKgAfqpIVdGpJtCRJu4I60mc9KBT6bhDE600MRBvoqGxOJcUpQ9GNtSDCg7XxqWMTPhkmO3qQDCZImgvsiuae9R8EaFxKBEJxpL5tbjq6GRkBLx1-Zfq0zKkeZwKa-pOL-1/s320/P1020955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328132345094789698" border="0" /></a><br />We got back into Saigon about 7:00 that night. I had to catch an overnight train to Da Nang departing at 11:00. I shared a sleeper cart with this really nice older Australian couple. They were on a three week holiday.<br /><br />View of the rice fields from the train.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjPzFdU3pWdvcOD_kkQuDZxvUT5_jzhvJwoekbPSwLKP5BVQ-wgdIDUXVEiFAOn7Y_s9tncCJ65x-21RiXL22xELcSyHbCXsGWluHhVsJ7jisT11WsLB8TG6E_TJNZ8dUhrvgcHpsPDoh/s1600-h/P1020984.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjPzFdU3pWdvcOD_kkQuDZxvUT5_jzhvJwoekbPSwLKP5BVQ-wgdIDUXVEiFAOn7Y_s9tncCJ65x-21RiXL22xELcSyHbCXsGWluHhVsJ7jisT11WsLB8TG6E_TJNZ8dUhrvgcHpsPDoh/s320/P1020984.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328133464539558338" border="0" /></a>On the morning of April 8 I got into Da Nang. There is really nothing special about Da Nang except for a cool sounding name. I was there to travel to Hoi An, about 20 kilometers away. While waiting for the local bus, I got many offers for a motercycle ride to Hoi An. I was told everything in the book. I was told the bus wouldn't come for three hours. I was told the bus was really crowded and uncomfortable (which was true). I did not want to ride a motorcycle all the way to Hoi An, but the dude just didn't understand. He got down to 50,000 Dong (about $3 US). Finally the bus came, well before he said it would. They really loaded the bus up. Several really old women got on the bus and sat on the floor. Other than that, I got into Hoi An without incident.<br /><br />Hoi An is a really beautiful town that has been well preserved. It reminded me a bit of New Orleans. It is strictly for toursits, and many people traveling there kind of poo poo it, but I thought it was really nice. Also, if a place is beautiful, it stands to reason that there will be a lot of tourists there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV25JhTApV4MMHVJ2YrT55j5I6uLI2XtmpvT3LhWlH134QIZ-cJkLhAFvIIUZvt72JHi-s1V7o58L9Kp5xTCY3IiqHQx7r4ErgUh3zlRthaMkEDfxaFnDY9NUEZntCWnbkhXjHjUitmKdL/s1600-h/P1020991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV25JhTApV4MMHVJ2YrT55j5I6uLI2XtmpvT3LhWlH134QIZ-cJkLhAFvIIUZvt72JHi-s1V7o58L9Kp5xTCY3IiqHQx7r4ErgUh3zlRthaMkEDfxaFnDY9NUEZntCWnbkhXjHjUitmKdL/s320/P1020991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328134625201814098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypmv4U6l3LBFuk2M2SvBteplZnejI7JeOPTNb5LF1J9VNdEN0Sbb6nz8T7noOb029BRxyZHw7Kgl6tGMizqHOi0Um9AJj-YiYIJfNxaLlWnpyd4JyjQEKxP7YWoeDSAJ6hD0OyeMSG7iO/s1600-h/P1020998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypmv4U6l3LBFuk2M2SvBteplZnejI7JeOPTNb5LF1J9VNdEN0Sbb6nz8T7noOb029BRxyZHw7Kgl6tGMizqHOi0Um9AJj-YiYIJfNxaLlWnpyd4JyjQEKxP7YWoeDSAJ6hD0OyeMSG7iO/s320/P1020998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328134623309625442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP37UoRGX1oWRtUDOXp878NzPi9l29lNCQGvvMxHC_DCjEI4c_KpxS-Y2n03gR83bcHfm-132VWOm85s3WI2FQTq_YljWaswPehSU7US9SgGQfQ8tcCte_m7-6rIvVPXWV3LmfDOylM7_/s1600-h/P1020999.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP37UoRGX1oWRtUDOXp878NzPi9l29lNCQGvvMxHC_DCjEI4c_KpxS-Y2n03gR83bcHfm-132VWOm85s3WI2FQTq_YljWaswPehSU7US9SgGQfQ8tcCte_m7-6rIvVPXWV3LmfDOylM7_/s320/P1020999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328134627682783890" border="0" /></a><br />On April 10 I took a bus from Hoi An to Hue. Hue's main attraction is the very well preserved Citadel. The Citadel was built between 1805 and 1832 by the Nguyen dynasty. Hue served as the capital until 1945.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit1forX1CJtwRgWvrU-OKk6NRVzGhc7PoDGr7UodtlL8Zox9ZXTpvmsotK6HSU0Vtu2jZyWfAZ1MxYvFT4i6GJhOPQNGf-YSRx5eculL75c0D3DWrYTX7mraNvqao0IfBKf9ofw9Nf3OJ/s1600-h/P1030124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit1forX1CJtwRgWvrU-OKk6NRVzGhc7PoDGr7UodtlL8Zox9ZXTpvmsotK6HSU0Vtu2jZyWfAZ1MxYvFT4i6GJhOPQNGf-YSRx5eculL75c0D3DWrYTX7mraNvqao0IfBKf9ofw9Nf3OJ/s320/P1030124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328135989708278322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK2m6KLRwW5M2_7xERhL8EsxgqrWZ_Z1iP4ozptwFC3Bafnt1pOPRze9fPdxVwfCAG659b_MODCPZpqsoK8eBNrA-QYih2sol-Z0LqK4TyygtOCvb4kSsO73agCISFQ7SsjKRz-KIYuj1/s1600-h/P1030158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK2m6KLRwW5M2_7xERhL8EsxgqrWZ_Z1iP4ozptwFC3Bafnt1pOPRze9fPdxVwfCAG659b_MODCPZpqsoK8eBNrA-QYih2sol-Z0LqK4TyygtOCvb4kSsO73agCISFQ7SsjKRz-KIYuj1/s320/P1030158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328135976075981458" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted to eat lunch at a restaurant near the Citadel that I'd read about in my guidebook. The name of the restaurant was Lac Thien. It is run by a deaf family and it is in all the guidebooks and highly recommended. I found Lac Thien, but the restaurant next door was Lac Than, and the restaurant three doors down was Lac Thuan. A good review in a guidebook cannot be underestimated in the amount of business it will draw. And some will try to cash in on a tourist not paying close attention. At the Lac Than restaurant, a man was standing outside looking at me and making eating motions (rather than yelling "Hello, excuse me sir!!"). It was humorous. The meal was delicious.<br /><br />There were quite a few Catholic churches in Vietnam, which is unusual for Southeast Asia. Vietnam is about 7% Catholic, which makes it one of the most Christian nations in Southeast Asia, next to the Philippines.<br /><br />The Vietnamese language uses the Roman alphabet, albeit with a lot of accent marks. So it looks kind of familiar compared to Thai and Cambodian. At least city names and street names can be reasonably identified.<br /><br />My favorite food in Vietnam. A nice sandwich on a baguette. They cost 10,000 Dong (about 60 cents US) from a street stall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmu8xtzOLCZ05GRyp-g_1GaG7UV3IrEneOJgScn2IKa0ytivzjWVlGypG28VHF0aPcaKTyVA3TbD3YQwvyrc9lrt2GpTLzJC7Ho9kNfJm9nG9R-2Eap46OH7ZtCrotU0yHIDcWFcy41hf/s1600-h/P1030057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmu8xtzOLCZ05GRyp-g_1GaG7UV3IrEneOJgScn2IKa0ytivzjWVlGypG28VHF0aPcaKTyVA3TbD3YQwvyrc9lrt2GpTLzJC7Ho9kNfJm9nG9R-2Eap46OH7ZtCrotU0yHIDcWFcy41hf/s320/P1030057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328608991673425778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On April 11 I got up early to take a bus to Vientiane, Laos.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-91021752301280662222009-04-13T02:59:00.004-04:002009-04-30T08:52:54.875-04:00CambodiaI left Thailand on March 28. I really wanted to like Bangkok and give it a chance, especially since most everyone I talked to hated it and said to get out as soon as possible. I have to agree with them. It has a nice airport and a few good temples, but if I was pressed for time, I would forgo Thailand for Cambodia and Vietnam.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><br />I took a minibus to the Cambodian border. There were 12 people on the bus - 11 guys and one girl. I was hoping there would be more girls. The bus took us to the Cambodian Consulate in Aranyaprathet at the border to get our visas. Then we walked across the border into Poipet Cambodia. We were then taken to a bus station to get shared taxis to go into Siem Reap, home of the Angkor Wat temples. I met three Brits from Liverpool on the trip, Craig, Tony, & Tom. I spent the next few days hanging out with them and traveling to Phnom Penh. After about eight total hours of traveling, we made it into Siem Reap.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd0nh4OgiU47_1_ta5qPVkiRuqtdt2509TISHMDAvLAV2ip7B3VYJZ1WQBUS7Qa55iar0u6x-zfJ6gtlLpVmrWGMKwi2h7p5oXvH4dTD6ASVWvoHrt6I4E2D8u8ODQ413LYt5SDG8lnhC/s1600-h/2640_1141503656151_1184228625_30459085_433653_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd0nh4OgiU47_1_ta5qPVkiRuqtdt2509TISHMDAvLAV2ip7B3VYJZ1WQBUS7Qa55iar0u6x-zfJ6gtlLpVmrWGMKwi2h7p5oXvH4dTD6ASVWvoHrt6I4E2D8u8ODQ413LYt5SDG8lnhC/s320/2640_1141503656151_1184228625_30459085_433653_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330466409743797410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Cambodian border.<br /></div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321164482617428722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLqY1C4F-zFfaUmRewvDmZo5RHgMNtGYUsEUR26nLy5zCkkwMtsidB0jAHYSGoXQJkxLZUlW-KBM2nmuUhWywvUGoKf-12HjrCO2WhNuHaE0SQMUi4WWPiMZBOItzFA26Kj5KyFHSZ6co/s320/P1020290.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p>Cambodian landscape. Cambodia is very, very flat, like north Mississippi between Memphis and Tunica. Mississippi has a few more paved roads though. It was also the dry season. </p><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321164487901871570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1YUkmzW1qnN2vta5zyUYadwp_tu99JSBgkShackYKX4YEwf2fqFB4-4hNqG4MYyZoDhZAzSgeaD1QzUj7iQBNqqAL1YIrM36JZycmSYAPWybG79yRY99AT53-bWhJoreJNfupmspkGzf/s320/P1020293.JPG" border="0" /><br />There are a lot of new-looking luxury hotels and resorts along the main road into Siem Reap. I was told that the most expensive room in town cost $4,000 US dollars. This strikes me as totally ridiculous in a country where the average daily wage is $2 and a perfectly good, immaculately clean room with a private bath and breakfast can be had for $6 ($12 if you want air conditioning). </div><div></div><br />Cambodia was once a colony of France. The first evidence of this was at breakfast. You get a nice baguette with breakfast instead of the weak-ass white toast you get in Thailand. Also, Cambodia has its own currency, the real, but prices are always quoted in US dollars. It's actually easier to pay in dollars. It still amazes me how a country on the other side of the world uses the US dollar as its preferred currency.<br /><br /><div>The Cambodians are quite attractive people. They have this beautiful bronze skin tone, the kind that white people spend hours and hours in the sun or in tanning beds trying to attain, risking skin cancer, premature aging, and sunspots. They also appear to be very happy. I've seen some of the biggest smiles ever here. KFC is the only American fast food chain in Cambodia and the one in Siem Reap had just opened a few weeks prior. I couldn't believe how happy the workers were. In the states, people who work in fast food restaurants have this look like it's all they can do to keep from killing themselves. Here it's different.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321173591858029010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Y75Gzqy6c1nIH__8rwM-XrScLHmtu0w5pyi97LKfo16mooQeRxrVng4_0mQ329eqUbZbhPmLNIeH1bgTYuccbBjSHWfebNR177tQlkScZ9TRFC77dwHzY-gKB4WM1dvFW3xh1mzLNJP5/s320/P1020429.JPG" border="0" /><br />On March 29, we toured the Angkor Wat temples. There is actually a series of temples, of which Angkor Wat is the largest. I saw five temples in one day. It was incredibly hot and really wore me out. But the temples were amazing. When I bought the ticket, they took my picture and I got a personalized ticket.<br /></div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsWtaaT9941TW-HzcgAqx7v7jIbA9B58uQSnY3FjMnXVkaeo0ZGytxZ3ZZIIXDoMH6Dp8W9IK7xjk8vYg-KnR8QNK-5EIfYGMgRtcZv0SPQD4P5OpkusY08z3FvWCCErrOUaY8CDPNWer/s1600-h/P1020297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321164491727850322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsWtaaT9941TW-HzcgAqx7v7jIbA9B58uQSnY3FjMnXVkaeo0ZGytxZ3ZZIIXDoMH6Dp8W9IK7xjk8vYg-KnR8QNK-5EIfYGMgRtcZv0SPQD4P5OpkusY08z3FvWCCErrOUaY8CDPNWer/s320/P1020297.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />When the tuk tuk pulled in and dropped us off at Angkor Wat, we were immediately surrounded by at least a dozen really young kids selling drinks, postcards, guidebooks, bracelets, etc. Since I already had a bottle of water and was not interested in another, they tried to get me to promise to buy another when I came back. I made no promise, but that didn't stop them from asking me 100 times as we were walking to the temple. When we came back, sure enough the kids were there. As it became apparent we were not going to buy any of their drinks, they started turning the screws. "You promise me", "I wait for you for two hours". Then they started getting nasty. "You good lying man!" (I think they meant "no good lying man") "You number one liar!" It was funny but sad that these kids were not in school. I kind of wish I'd given them a dollar for entertainment value, even though the money doesn't really go to help these kids. </div><br /><p>I don't mean to make fun of these kids' grasps of the English language, they couldn't have been older than eight. A lot of people in southeast Asia speak a little bit of English. Most of them don't have the greatest grasp of the language, but that doesn't stop them from trying. It is kind of humorous to see translations on menus, signs, and instructions that aren't exactly right. But the fact that so many people speak some English is good for me as a tourist. It's much more widely spoken in Asia than it is in South America, making travel quite a bit easier. In Asia, most hotels and guest houses have a travel agent on site who speaks English and can book tours and tickets. In South America, usually I had to make a special trip to the bus station and purchase a ticket there from somebody who spoke no English.</p><p>Angkor Wat is the largest of the temples. </p><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoBfIVRIotB66wsP5Q69x1whk93NIU3r_UnZkPidKdoH2Lp5_AIG3MKCuSswFz4wzFhRdWKHL2PfajI5zbX4_b-2IowYDesFDet1_rObUSL7WXLZ8hNi_LLviGA6-v57TQFcBqNZXk3Rw/s1600-h/P1020478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321173591132283346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoBfIVRIotB66wsP5Q69x1whk93NIU3r_UnZkPidKdoH2Lp5_AIG3MKCuSswFz4wzFhRdWKHL2PfajI5zbX4_b-2IowYDesFDet1_rObUSL7WXLZ8hNi_LLviGA6-v57TQFcBqNZXk3Rw/s320/P1020478.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324108136936916594" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e-EK1boMUeyWRJfgTz0fkwhvcOHmW8tkbeOy92BiECGej5Jvj64TGc3jYKfEOBQv-CWabuiMbWig3M446Z2d73nAYxh24BvWemK9yN3KJkbhWcmMHoaL2paHpyB1nGxxAdKaHZ4WrYgj/s320/P1020631.JPG" border="0" /><br />I thought Wat Bho was the most interesting.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKyrhYiNMc1sDX44e0iQQSWbrgF7pumRg6Sn_oMK8rMOtngxd6WBKYvE_5SRlZ8hr3_aJLeehlsVt8uC4X0YKvPppNKkE5Lo0RWMRkE7dCy06KGFfnps0Op0ZpwcaAc8IFej9ZvpAm-QV/s1600-h/P1020361.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321164500131817122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKyrhYiNMc1sDX44e0iQQSWbrgF7pumRg6Sn_oMK8rMOtngxd6WBKYvE_5SRlZ8hr3_aJLeehlsVt8uC4X0YKvPppNKkE5Lo0RWMRkE7dCy06KGFfnps0Op0ZpwcaAc8IFej9ZvpAm-QV/s320/P1020361.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPk_rlGC4F_hOnCn1cPCkiL1GHL-lDWUjLoIQDJq45hJx9HrZRlbIaWNI0G81DCyNNYsPCEcTAVZz3Mj3W32FHfw2ROxsQ7TamABQy0F0U4Nbfvn1Zic5RqORt6KtG5QiaML67w6h2dqg/s1600-h/P1020352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321173568270867234" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPk_rlGC4F_hOnCn1cPCkiL1GHL-lDWUjLoIQDJq45hJx9HrZRlbIaWNI0G81DCyNNYsPCEcTAVZz3Mj3W32FHfw2ROxsQ7TamABQy0F0U4Nbfvn1Zic5RqORt6KtG5QiaML67w6h2dqg/s320/P1020352.JPG" border="0" /></a>I forget the name of this one, but I call it the one with the trees growing up through it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qaOEV5cMfBnytgaxD6FI7rUUNw9J_29sKgXpYQ06AwZIaul6flegKQl2mlOSSKVrshc827ujot_UIRHoywzKbUOZgIPkR0f4IJT_fLA5ESpN-psN3fb66Zg9aApruF3ad5uZ2lUr9tfd/s1600-h/P1020410.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321173583181234562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qaOEV5cMfBnytgaxD6FI7rUUNw9J_29sKgXpYQ06AwZIaul6flegKQl2mlOSSKVrshc827ujot_UIRHoywzKbUOZgIPkR0f4IJT_fLA5ESpN-psN3fb66Zg9aApruF3ad5uZ2lUr9tfd/s320/P1020410.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I spent the next few days chilling in Siem Reap. I liked the town. It wasn't very big, but due to the number of tourists coming in, it had enough restaurants, diversions, and a chilled vibe that made it worthy of a few days. I particularly enjoyed Amok with fish - a very typical Cambodian dish. One night we went to a really local place with some people we'd met who were there more long term doing volunteer work. It was quite a bit away from the tourist part of town. The door to the kitchen was open and the cook was not wearing a shirt. We had a chicken bone stir-fry. This is basically what is left over after cutting up a chicken, mostly the back. It was cut in to bite-sized pieces and stir fried with vegetables in a spicy-sweet sauce. So you obviously had to get your hands dirty to get at the meat. Most westerners don't like to get their hands dirty when eating. We only pick up food with our hands if it's dry or crispy (ribs being one exception). Most people in the east are quite comfortable with this.<br /><br />A fish massage is a must-do when traveling to Siem Reap. I don't think it is technically a massage, but you pay $3 for 20 minutes to let fish eat the dead from your feet. It was a really strange sensation - somewhere between ticklish and painful. </p><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323064238877900690" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6mNC9MCnF9-GTinxPYNIs8xg8faai7yGXftf9GULiKPs5DlAtXlmDc5AK4T5ypNSfH3odwym5f0UUccoUEE2ljiI0zGkFvWN8qxM7yI0RIHqyOaheyCpOOQtq7s8bf3dwClDY9dC1AR2/s320/n501833662_1663808_2517004.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323064231882086674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLtzu9Hl-USeoDQi0yvVWrwAMHsRRMmXq3XuOdOPrheTtVdgCd4uhlUyxIhtR9en2mGECxtSW-2MzkE22jYqArbneq2G3lnKDYQMmU5mzYCYgflx5sQjfk-aoKjRqPfaRlpGG2qIKxIYk/s320/n501833662_1663806_5031525.jpg" border="0" />After seeing some pictures of Angkor Wat at sunrise, I really wanted to go back and get some better pictures. On April 1, I went to Angkor Wat by myself to see the sunrise. It was my last day in Siem Reap. It was a cloudy day and my pictures didn't come out quite as magnificent as I'd hoped. There were about 50 or so people out there at 5:30am waiting to see a disappointing sunrise.<br /><br /><p>Here is what I saw.</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321175978755864562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDadnWM5EDt17mxpq6IkO8sgJgJEYl42foeohLMXsgC5sO0KBKj7AGuH9ktAnuSdSRjmHzb-QyGoHXwtkEYudGjpHPRbCSjl-sRFEHYz966VW0VN54GJFn7R6mN95FGrAS7h60ooma598j/s320/P1020518.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>Below is a photo from the internet. This is what it would have looked like if it had been a clear morning and I had been a professional photographer.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323070758644867458" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 226px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwbqx-OfHP0WekESrZtzJ-JIEl9NOz0SVxKNGSlTZGT61DGMzJXg9xjPIUJvRSDnX1ewM-FvrZx3HRtD16QteSZE5zJYNmIvG1BI0Jow4rekmNhDKHvPOy5quCBgICD0aHpMeMdhyphenhyphenoLBC/s320/527078736_5dea2d9e8a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p>I waited there until about 7:00 am, kind of knowing it was not going to get any better. At one point I looked down at my feet. I was wearing someone else's flip flops. In most Asian hotels and guesthouses, they make you take off your shoes at the ground level before walking upstairs to your room. It was dark when I left at 5:15 and I couldn't really see what I was doing.<br /><br /><p>At 9:00 on April 1 we took a bus to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The entertainment on the bus was a bunch of Karaoke videos. At first they were in Cambodian. The background for all the videos seemed to be the same guy looking off in the distance with a brooding look while the lyrics in Cambodian flowed across the bottom of the screen. After a while they popped in a disk of some American songs. They were mostly crappy ballads like Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx, Hello by Lionel Richie, and Feelings by Albert Morris. So of course we had to sing along. No one else on the bus seemed to mind, as our singing wasn't nearly annoying as playing karaoke videos in the first place. The most hard rocking song played was Hotel California. </p><p>Lots of motorcycles in Asia. It is very common to see 2-3 people on a bike plus kids and babies. No seat belt laws here.</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322525713598784706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpUmBO_Sy_b24_JokpbFHq2WFp1H-2gA0oLodltjFghESnaPqeRWm9FlqhVeGafqzWWC6mRqNRdrivWRfKSLAx0otYq_ZPMjv3O9DXnCdbT87VuBjslMCYqJ3xQQB3VM671E7N8fTtiR3/s320/P1020560.JPG" border="0" /></p><p></p><p></p><p>We got into Phnom Penh in the afternoon and checked into an even cheaper guesthouse ($5/night) on a lake in the middle of town. It was very tranquil, but lots of bugs. </p><p>On April 2, we hired a tuk tuk driver and went on tour of Phnom Penh. In Phnom Penh, you re constantly hounded by offers for tuk tuk rides. We finally decided on a guy who was at least nice about it. He basically said he would take us around for six hours for whatever we wanted to pay him. We paid him $4, which was probably too much. </p><p>The first stop was at a shooting range. I haven't shot a gun in a really, really long time. I'd heard you can shoot some pretty big guns here. The driver took us to a Cambodian military base. After looking over the assortment of guns, I decided on an M-16. The cost was $50, a large chunk of cash here, to fire 30 rounds. I tried to haggle the guy down, but he said the price was set by the Cambodian Army. Deciding that not many opportunities to shoot an M-16 were in my future, I bit the bullet (so to speak) and went for it. I shot a few rounds semi-automatic, then the dude flipped a switch and I shot the rest automatic. I was firing at a target.</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324090085083510754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fMhzpYMMdqNju84panfjWJMT9hw2rvWVbzmpiIs2rVORZB_nivTBZckX973B8hwv2mbqcTNTePot94l3bpmRYb_9LrFXQmU0xsbLEmq0xn2xoQo5ytguimIRpeGVeTPTgvnY7chKTOdF/s320/n500302820_2102362_6490698.jpg" border="0" /><br />Then they asked if I wanted to shot another machine gun with 40 rounds. The 30 rounds went pretty quickly, and I wasn't really to shell out some more money. Then he asked me if I wanted to shoot a chicken for $15 more. I thought $15 was a lot of money for a chicken, since one can be had fully cooked in a restaurant for much less than that. So I offered $5 and we settled on $10. The bullets weren't negotiable but the chicken was. </p><p>I know there's no way I'm going to come out of this looking good. My friends who've never hunted or never been around farms will think it's brutal and inhumane. My other friends will think it's not very sporting to shoot a bird that's tied to the ground. But at that moment, there was nothing I wanted to do more that shoot a chicken with a machine gun. The guy went and got the chicken and tied it to a rope at the end of the target range. Then he set up this really ancient looking machine gun. I asked him how old it was and he said ten years, but it could have easily been older than me. He attached a flat cylinder containing the rounds (looked like something old filmstrips came in) to the top and liberally oiled it in several places. It would have been embarrassing to spend as much money as I did and fired 40 rounds and missed, but I hit it, probably more than a few times. </p><p>I have videos of the shooting range uploaded to Youtube. See the links below if interested. Warning: Explicit language.<br /></p><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksEakkU2jn8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksEakkU2jn8</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksEakkU2jn8"></a></p><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30b2_zD44ks">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30b2_zD44ks</a></p><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osg8Fn4C70w">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osg8Fn4C70w</a><br /></p><br /><p></p><p></p><p>The rest of the day was much more sobering. The next stop was Choeung prison, about 15 kilometers outside central Phnom Penh. Choeung is more commonly known as the Killing Fields. The Khmer Rouge regime, led by Pol Pot took over Cambodia, taking Phnom Pehn in 1975. They then proceeded to evacuate the city and moved everyone out to work in the rice fields. Pol Pot had a vision of turning Cambodia back to "Year Zero" and envisioned a prosperous country based on the production of rice using ancient methods. While doing this, intellectuals, minorities, the middle class, the educated, police, and military offices were identified and executed. From April 1975 to January 1979, over 2 million Cambodians died of starvation, torture, or execution. A Buddhist Stupa was constructed at the prison site and is filled with over 5,000 human skulls. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321175997027336322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZPtegedc5WZFjRzGgyRaqJ5hZKkg9LBR13GJZdggkWWdNwIgFERh-BJ1OmsoEO4bl6W688Lve1h9EOWAmu7KGntw80khB_PZu1AEVjV692L3E2RrCVWUXA9l9idz3VD83wuRcjrDUPLh/s320/P1020591.JPG" border="0" /><br />Mass graves containing almost 9,000 bodies were discovered here after the Khmer Rouge regime fell. Some have been excavated, leaving craters in the ground.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321176004840461074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKN38yuXFHkctAROAro623k9NlLsdRTUbdImpn0mW8R903YT5mhYagS7KYzN2WsEMwhbbzdoXFcH6M1zdDO07uvOnrEBVmEKJSRUFeLRd9moxtzufgiCDGQpP2KlidYZU0j-QEb2ABxMIM/s320/P1020613.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321176011027383666" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4rA7ReBFJXbRXSyACCmCwmeabAkJ79R1gdLmllpD2WpQ1ejVbzBXmK6MeB39ipE59FoLKTElD_2OdivdDd_udzFEa5VWCRWa7RLJL1cd8rDbzTI5RKftkfOgODd6_5Tdy5_Eu4lnAido/s320/P1020599.JPG" border="0" />The prison grounds are littered with human remains. What at first site appear to be sticks embedded in the ground are actually human bones.</p><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321176001229545074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2muZePYMp8G7lTi3BjxUZDc9eVIGub2uMbuHH-2G0JcaKXrzf0-aZQNbwKL7UlY6u0CME1V89YESvzm3cqNhSnqz1RiWFwkDdThVOTKmWb8rSpYj6-i2NOyu8hXawsQt7CG_yKjq6FK0/s320/P1020619.JPG" border="0" /><br />The next stop was the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Toul Sleng was a former high school that was converted into a prison. People were taken here to be tortured and coerced into naming family members and associates, who were then rounded up, and the cycle continued. Over a period of about four years, about 17,000 are estimated to have been imprisoned. Only 12 people are known to have survived. The prisoners were photographed upon arrival. There are several prison rooms dedicated to photo displays. </p><br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06X_dxd55-yRrabS7nP5XQDejvjVWlEHZjHwcswlrtelU2nAkkukMjY4b5_uaAdQqdxYV_4lR0EsilDthWgTn8oLVHOcwSRpWk5Wj11uJb283_geaSjMn8qh7wZkCCjLPDwRf-PR_XR-q/s1600-h/P1020641.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321180938624530114" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06X_dxd55-yRrabS7nP5XQDejvjVWlEHZjHwcswlrtelU2nAkkukMjY4b5_uaAdQqdxYV_4lR0EsilDthWgTn8oLVHOcwSRpWk5Wj11uJb283_geaSjMn8qh7wZkCCjLPDwRf-PR_XR-q/s320/P1020641.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUnTTvH2keP1TsQZ0cwMoJsnJ3OTbgGBSIhrJCdxueuWYQNfcAmKyAqT2UKD4bDTC3KmBS2QQwU0F8QIUVf82Bt2NfBOFAQWDap-WSiWqNNkfDaoj8J852P-QACCIxzYkBo2hBNivOGOK/s1600-h/P1020640.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321180930175094018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUnTTvH2keP1TsQZ0cwMoJsnJ3OTbgGBSIhrJCdxueuWYQNfcAmKyAqT2UKD4bDTC3KmBS2QQwU0F8QIUVf82Bt2NfBOFAQWDap-WSiWqNNkfDaoj8J852P-QACCIxzYkBo2hBNivOGOK/s320/P1020640.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn9wb_TtBkKlV_UQuufY7qwNQ-MCZ9A9dm5k-YeTD8DLWnIHYCC-dz2NcNGAgXAAyq0HYCmk8ULcsxMgjM-yb8POXgNEqA03RXLiPZrrdRD7q83wxm-8nBGbw5k7Ycb92TLpg27fZ-PGK/s1600-h/P1020627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321180925043144066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn9wb_TtBkKlV_UQuufY7qwNQ-MCZ9A9dm5k-YeTD8DLWnIHYCC-dz2NcNGAgXAAyq0HYCmk8ULcsxMgjM-yb8POXgNEqA03RXLiPZrrdRD7q83wxm-8nBGbw5k7Ycb92TLpg27fZ-PGK/s320/P1020627.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324102444899375474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhcZ76_JgKQCSlCG6quB1N3HrmphsA1NwC-3CRXvmJj99Ri1zsh3xYvfXq7xUuLOmhpfLzgQsE2uWV1yEDwkkHdW5PYoB_PdrLCW9ZxUg5JwgjfOkN0JwkaYySfHdkONe5W8Q_jIXvlCz/s320/P1020631.JPG" border="0" /><br />It's hard to imagine this all happened a little over 30 years ago. Some of the kids in the pictures would be my age if they were still alive. I'd like to think that something like this could never happen again, but it's happening in some countries now as we speak.</p><p>On April 3, I took a bus from Phnom Pehn to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.</p></div></div></div></div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-84459333322013602432009-03-31T02:39:00.002-04:002009-04-08T23:15:16.654-04:00Singapore, Malaysia, and ThailandOn March 12, I flew from Brisbane, Australia to Singapore. It was a seven hour flight. I didn't think about Australia being that far away form Asia. One can almost get from the US east coast to Europe in that amount of time. As per the earlier post, the flight food and service was really good and I had all three seats to stretch out. But I didn't like the way it started. The lady at the ticket counter asked me if I had a visa to enter Singapore. I told her I was not required to have a visa to enter Singapore. She then looked it up and sure enough, I didn't need a visa to enter Singapore. But the notes in her system said you need a passport, proof of sufficient funds, and proof of onward travel. I told here that I was going to go by train to Malaysia after leaving Singapore. She wasn't having it. She was not going to let me on the plane without it. But there just so happened to be a tour desk right by the Etihad check-in counter. So I ended up having to buy a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia for about $50. I was seething. Most countries stipulate that travelers need proof of onward travel. But I have never once been asked to show it and was not asked for it by customs in Singapore. Oh well. No train ride for me.<br /><div><br />Singapore is a city state that became independent in the 50's. It is very clean and westernized (to an extent). English is one of the official languages. It is a good transition from West to East.<br /><br />Eating is Singapore is one of the great experiences, especially in the food centers. It's basically around 5-10 restaurants serving a food court area. These are all over Singapore and have a wide variety of foods that reflect it's make-up - Chinese, Malaysia, & Indian. You see Singaporeans at these food centers at all hours drinking beer and eating this incredible food. In one day in one food center, I had barbecued stingray and pig's organ soup.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36DxsfMOAkxC2OQsN3qVl1mLt5jBUG4cgQ3wuFXO20VZx9u8NhVhT_LQrldUPp0IAoXQLUrnDAZ5QE6DUPj3bbx5an-ot-492zRaYP4sJvfiA4Us0AS29H6ky69e9U_52Dd4Qoz6JKdlU/s1600-h/P1010955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36DxsfMOAkxC2OQsN3qVl1mLt5jBUG4cgQ3wuFXO20VZx9u8NhVhT_LQrldUPp0IAoXQLUrnDAZ5QE6DUPj3bbx5an-ot-492zRaYP4sJvfiA4Us0AS29H6ky69e9U_52Dd4Qoz6JKdlU/s320/P1010955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317806447621744546" border="0" /></a>Sentosa is a theme park and is the southern-most point of continental Asia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9_eZ03JmX3r432Jka5Fs-19pczP-VQUH0dzGnMo4roCL9OWmuInYhASPd14_JrUnpI5gTeCP_GcbmJIvvTT2ArnUoXLX8NXxyu5jHQi9io3PRXdo8GxMVrK0pJl6TOCElZy7jQx-s-Px/s1600-h/P1010950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9_eZ03JmX3r432Jka5Fs-19pczP-VQUH0dzGnMo4roCL9OWmuInYhASPd14_JrUnpI5gTeCP_GcbmJIvvTT2ArnUoXLX8NXxyu5jHQi9io3PRXdo8GxMVrK0pJl6TOCElZy7jQx-s-Px/s320/P1010950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317806445988858866" border="0" /></a><br />Durian is an Asian fruit with a unique smell that I got to try. From a distance, it smells like a combination of pooh and sweetness. The smell isn't as noticeable close in, or maybe I just got used to it. It actually wasn't that bad. The inside pods tasted like custard. I would recommend it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bKbmbXMEHdtc19ut0_Vaqd4hjIr04n8n4O7CSybZb7gJ1EX5O8JJHZkLi-E8DIRS_MmdIOs_FRlv7UWJZVxs2WSjcXNoa-b6TSeJNRCpu4LVc-qzuH3pGzYRvTDGxwcGO77S6WV9C5gy/s1600-h/P1010942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bKbmbXMEHdtc19ut0_Vaqd4hjIr04n8n4O7CSybZb7gJ1EX5O8JJHZkLi-E8DIRS_MmdIOs_FRlv7UWJZVxs2WSjcXNoa-b6TSeJNRCpu4LVc-qzuH3pGzYRvTDGxwcGO77S6WV9C5gy/s320/P1010942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317806440917713218" border="0" /></a><br />I enjoyed my four days in Singapore. It is a good place to visit and not nearly as boring as it's reputation. Although chewing gum is illegal and the government controls the media. The 7-11s have mashed potato machines. For on Singapore dollar (about 70 cents) you can get a cup of mashed potatoes with gravy. The machine dispenses this semi clear liquid that turns into mashed potatoes in about 5 seconds. It's best not to watch it being dispensed. Perfect at 1:00am after a few drinks.<br /><br />I flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 16. I only spent two days in KL. The big thing to see in Kuala Lumpur is the Petronas Towers. The Petronas Towers were built in 1998 and were the tallest buildings in the world until 2004, although there is some controversy about how they are measured. If you take away the spires, they are quiet a bit shorter than the Sears Tower in Chicago. The antennas on the Sears tower are not counted in the height. Still, they are quite impressive, especially for a small country.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_C7aH_OhPO_hV6FpgHwg70y7qmlU0KrxUFZVQDIROkhi8cmBpR9e1dM0BkUIwHsnyXrXNEx1iUAWOtFzOYEI9615KDeuhvZ3h7nPcRlWA0mfBIy0KUvYEH-ILK1vNg7FnTpewybluWQb0/s1600-h/P1010987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_C7aH_OhPO_hV6FpgHwg70y7qmlU0KrxUFZVQDIROkhi8cmBpR9e1dM0BkUIwHsnyXrXNEx1iUAWOtFzOYEI9615KDeuhvZ3h7nPcRlWA0mfBIy0KUvYEH-ILK1vNg7FnTpewybluWQb0/s320/P1010987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317807084166760754" border="0" /></a><br />Free tickets to the bridge at the 41st floor were provided beginning at 9:00am until they ran out. It was impressive, but it seems like they would have some sort of observation deck closer to the top floor. I only spent two days in Malaysia. I saw an Outback Steakhouse near my hostel. I was feeling a bit homesick and had a sudden craving for Alice Springs chicken, so I went in. The decor, menu, and uniforms were just like back home. But the meal was not all I had hoped. The food in Asia is more spicy and the flavors are more intense than food typically is back home. I don't know my tastes are changing or if I got a bad order of Alice Springs Chicken, but it was quite bland. Even the Diet Coke with ice and free refills left me wanting.<br /><br />Getting out of Kuala Lumpur proved to be more difficult than I imagined. The airport in KL is quite impressive, but pretty far from the city (about 60 kilometers). There is a train service that gets you into the city in about 25 minutes for about $12 US. I took that train from the city back to the airport. When I got there, I didn't see the Air Asia flight listed on the big Departures board. So I thought, hmmmm that's odd. I went to the information desk and the lady said Air Asia departs from the LCC terminal about 20 kilometers away and the best way to get there in time was by taxi. So that was another $12. The LCC terminal was awful. It was basically a tin building and you have to walk around this crazy route because of the construction. And it was packed. Nothing like the nice terminal I flew into. I found my way to the check in desk. The lady informed me that my bag was over the weight limit. I had only purchased 15 kilograms of baggage and my bag weighed 18. Cost of the extra weight - an extra $17 US. I had now paid $41 to get to the airport to board a flight that cost $52. This probably doesn't sound like a lot of money, but this is in a country where lunch typically costs about $2.<br /><br /><br /><br />On March 18, I flew to Bangkok Thailand. I took the airport bus to Kho Sahn Road.</div><div> </div>Kho Sahn Road is the ground zero for tourists in Bangkok and usually the first place most people traveling in southeast Asia stay. There are many, many street vendors selling food, bootleg DVDs, fake Rolex watches, fake IDs, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXa0tL37BmVpyVXB2LvTN_QruwUAekSCP75uFx8UdDrFpf6Rr1nba4GplRk4eGiyGCAiaZ3AV10lbymHgW4CLxOuS6y48wHHLdIVKI3xdUF0N0zWLZUshU8eSk19O8clIMdmdgR4yP4au/s1600-h/P1020021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXa0tL37BmVpyVXB2LvTN_QruwUAekSCP75uFx8UdDrFpf6Rr1nba4GplRk4eGiyGCAiaZ3AV10lbymHgW4CLxOuS6y48wHHLdIVKI3xdUF0N0zWLZUshU8eSk19O8clIMdmdgR4yP4au/s320/P1020021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317810613292057810" border="0" /></a>There is an interesting variety of street food in Thailand. Noodles make up a big part of it, but you can also get insects and a variety of animal parts not normally consumed in the states. I had a few smaller insects. I'm pretty daring when it comes to trying new food, but some of the bugs were really, really big. They are usually salted and deep fried, which gives them potato chip and pork rind like flavors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiff39RnUwUWVeyOS0SZoRi7lbAI6YcTuIrDDfDP7PUfd6E7tXJGHtFLYTMpsHk6hiwn-B0HFCQDHQ6wKksYNfabArvpPhkSqoK_9vt7naygtri78gnVjeVeGtC7JmAKAaX10rb4RE3GS_s/s1600-h/P1020093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiff39RnUwUWVeyOS0SZoRi7lbAI6YcTuIrDDfDP7PUfd6E7tXJGHtFLYTMpsHk6hiwn-B0HFCQDHQ6wKksYNfabArvpPhkSqoK_9vt7naygtri78gnVjeVeGtC7JmAKAaX10rb4RE3GS_s/s320/P1020093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317807746620792850" border="0" /></a>Fried chicken feet. They tasted like....(wait for it).....chicken.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDi2yGh17BVVMrE7vB7ET_5Ov3BRO9ysUDg3ThR2ZydQR-jWOULHxt3tE-W6PuZ4e3SdsqiG0MPGCJdAs6s8wNmhRoDpqEmgkpwQ6frtlV7KdlNqtB6Pf61YbdhjBjfJwY-UsuEf5e9_b/s1600-h/P1020085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDi2yGh17BVVMrE7vB7ET_5Ov3BRO9ysUDg3ThR2ZydQR-jWOULHxt3tE-W6PuZ4e3SdsqiG0MPGCJdAs6s8wNmhRoDpqEmgkpwQ6frtlV7KdlNqtB6Pf61YbdhjBjfJwY-UsuEf5e9_b/s320/P1020085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317807741825276226" border="0" /></a><br />A variety of pics from temples. Anyone traveling to southeast Asia will spend a lot of time taking off their shoes and visiting temples.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_fpfJi6k9e1Jnn7c9cnRp4FwiFiRhYEGIBv-5P0jWtbh-Q1QM2CXFwCM9w7_pnKYy2zK8OKResBR-2D8HIlSJBFcgcLEVEW-iAOdrmEusA562csjf8iIVw3bFB5mWXvpVQVLmiRfttvX/s1600-h/P1020045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_fpfJi6k9e1Jnn7c9cnRp4FwiFiRhYEGIBv-5P0jWtbh-Q1QM2CXFwCM9w7_pnKYy2zK8OKResBR-2D8HIlSJBFcgcLEVEW-iAOdrmEusA562csjf8iIVw3bFB5mWXvpVQVLmiRfttvX/s320/P1020045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317807731876132802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK34M2as46-UW-5S5frj57QZ3a19EoFOpkxj0W5fzxfdhkzVD4vFRnRu9RCQON5tFYYdlsPK63-MAhzmzUvGpjia_qj8ZSR8AKeExI4-Hqtj2fVGOi6SBL6eXiRUZqA_YhZMYwCOCS2awl/s1600-h/P1020055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK34M2as46-UW-5S5frj57QZ3a19EoFOpkxj0W5fzxfdhkzVD4vFRnRu9RCQON5tFYYdlsPK63-MAhzmzUvGpjia_qj8ZSR8AKeExI4-Hqtj2fVGOi6SBL6eXiRUZqA_YhZMYwCOCS2awl/s320/P1020055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319269875073718034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmRBg7uzaF3-OS8hTLvQkM7oBdhjNmWjBVJ_UmUyqi5v7Ims3OQfRH389ALTDRZckwtt01DTEr6GucBoBTBrnI5JU8GfU6nF7i1dZczKWnXQLBbkMRmADadOZFYP10hyE78ONHVZ3fbOQ/s1600-h/P1010929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmRBg7uzaF3-OS8hTLvQkM7oBdhjNmWjBVJ_UmUyqi5v7Ims3OQfRH389ALTDRZckwtt01DTEr6GucBoBTBrnI5JU8GfU6nF7i1dZczKWnXQLBbkMRmADadOZFYP10hyE78ONHVZ3fbOQ/s320/P1010929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317806436719862354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRWXtDywD_a_7kJELtSmHW5RIQaiM9mR0PC-buTrzKdNlPlSg0M7dxWJc8ugIetv5h4GCW0H7YuF5xs9UfQSCcz6lwab9mCdQ8cnBHVAOVgOXAdSNWWbldwrs3ZIouFWC6Q-Ed6lT9Gpp/s1600-h/P1020037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRWXtDywD_a_7kJELtSmHW5RIQaiM9mR0PC-buTrzKdNlPlSg0M7dxWJc8ugIetv5h4GCW0H7YuF5xs9UfQSCcz6lwab9mCdQ8cnBHVAOVgOXAdSNWWbldwrs3ZIouFWC6Q-Ed6lT9Gpp/s320/P1020037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317807094811171010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuz_zgiy49bHY4I5NOCklNBHPo-9pLW9xKOf9xmZOnWCBgxzw-j1Tsh1J7HvjosUxuoSy1TdbivrbWyp5mjR8ueGf4pgMDaysU6jOC5JLZzdaGysTWAegDfWX4lmFYt-X58ab1v29faS_/s1600-h/P1020255.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuz_zgiy49bHY4I5NOCklNBHPo-9pLW9xKOf9xmZOnWCBgxzw-j1Tsh1J7HvjosUxuoSy1TdbivrbWyp5mjR8ueGf4pgMDaysU6jOC5JLZzdaGysTWAegDfWX4lmFYt-X58ab1v29faS_/s320/P1020255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319266761368943506" border="0" /></a><br />Things are really cheap here, but there is this constant feeling that you're getting screwed. You have to haggle for everything. The cabs use the meter sometimes. The price has to be agreed on ahead of time for the tuk tuks. The hotel I stayed at off Kho Sahn road cost about $7.50 US for shared bath.<br /><br />My guesthouse in Bangkok didn't really lend itself to meeting people the way hostels do. One day, I decided to treat myself to a spa. I had a one hour Thai massage ($5). A Thai massage is not nearly as good as it sounds. It is mostly pressure based and was quite uncomfortable. It also involved a lot of cracking of joints. Joints I didn't previously know could be cracked. I then had a manicure and a pedicure ($5.70). I'd never had either. I was unaware that a pedicure involved taking a razor-like instrument and actually shaving the dead skin off the feet. I then had a one-hour oil massage ($5.70). The oil massage is more like what I was used to.<br /><br />Anyone traveling to southeast Asia will spend a lot of time visiting Buddhist temples, trying to avoid getting ripped off, and eating great food. The tuk tuk drivers are the worst. You have to haggle with them, not just to get a fair price, but to actually get them to take you where you want to go. They always suggest other places. Right outside the Wat Pho, home of the famous reclining Buddah, the touts and tuk tuk drivers boldly lie to your face and tell you that the temple is closed. I walked from Kho Sahn road to the temple and was told by four touts that the temple was closed until 2:00pm. Two of them were right outside the temple walls. They all seemed to have their stories straight. What they were trying to do is get you to ride in their tuk tuk. They would then take you to a few temples and then some jewelry and souvenir stores that pay them.<br /><br />On March 20, I took an overnight train to Chang Mai. Pretty much everyone that travels to Thailand goes to Chang Mai and does a jungle trek and stays with a hilltribe village. My first day in Chang Mai I visited the Tiger Kingdom and the monkey show. At the Tiger Kingdom, you get up close and personal with tigers inside their cage. I was literally a few feet from a couple of tigers going at each other. I also got to pet the tigers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayHgsOiyqGYXvbO2XmHt6QL8yBiSrdvMNAxoUR0awcZOXMfdAIJwZCQYlLtENHp_MqO5aWdK9af2sc0g8yqi9OX-dYRLbxHHcqqKJq8AiTvTfKVRjzTb8A2qPbTX8gRAgQ1RtwNRxEY38/s1600-h/P1020115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayHgsOiyqGYXvbO2XmHt6QL8yBiSrdvMNAxoUR0awcZOXMfdAIJwZCQYlLtENHp_MqO5aWdK9af2sc0g8yqi9OX-dYRLbxHHcqqKJq8AiTvTfKVRjzTb8A2qPbTX8gRAgQ1RtwNRxEY38/s320/P1020115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317808709724119698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytagYXabnzisQtvj12Cbw42rEztVHRIoX3Nx9ib_yJQRLtVBlA0_La2Yr9MNvFPXzFeUeXxXMVgaI8C6iT_ixvMHVI_5dzO5p27Y55P1r4rtvhguVMhCJtnqFoi6I2hdENNlJzTsWGyg_/s1600-h/P1020127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytagYXabnzisQtvj12Cbw42rEztVHRIoX3Nx9ib_yJQRLtVBlA0_La2Yr9MNvFPXzFeUeXxXMVgaI8C6iT_ixvMHVI_5dzO5p27Y55P1r4rtvhguVMhCJtnqFoi6I2hdENNlJzTsWGyg_/s320/P1020127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317808716138848914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfeV8puswXjKeDCYExJRlKnAxX-i_fsfYao9RHoJVBevNIuRMY6-GS1KgL8pZSz_UE4oe1_8970kme5MjE6t_fjzJbqVcRKVaz8do2ZPindaJUoMS4QjtL68qmNlPv5ZBiHECf3zUgoDj/s1600-h/P1020140.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfeV8puswXjKeDCYExJRlKnAxX-i_fsfYao9RHoJVBevNIuRMY6-GS1KgL8pZSz_UE4oe1_8970kme5MjE6t_fjzJbqVcRKVaz8do2ZPindaJUoMS4QjtL68qmNlPv5ZBiHECf3zUgoDj/s320/P1020140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317808719958714546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFS4Raw36WWSs15RZ0cgpLoMXNsNg7H0MyNf8GC90Rrw-ZK5xJYMGP17yWgOF8mj4WbF307_xYSdBV6j31TSJqy4syuROVupT11Yh_k19RzQ5ZLCkX6PgnKrOSU6lMmCob_B6N5hGKdT/s1600-h/P1020145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFS4Raw36WWSs15RZ0cgpLoMXNsNg7H0MyNf8GC90Rrw-ZK5xJYMGP17yWgOF8mj4WbF307_xYSdBV6j31TSJqy4syuROVupT11Yh_k19RzQ5ZLCkX6PgnKrOSU6lMmCob_B6N5hGKdT/s320/P1020145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317808723336205298" border="0" /></a><br />On March 22, I left for a three day trek in the jungle. It was a group of 12 Irish, Germans, Dutch, Hawaiians and a Dane. It was a good group and good craic. The scenery was nice. It was the dry season in Thailand and it wasn't lush and green like I had expected. The hilltribe experience was a little lacking. A lot of people complain about not getting an authentic experience with the hilltribes. I agree. It's hard to get an authentic experience with a hilltribe that hasn't already seen four groups that day and doesn't make their living selling drinks and snacks to tourists. Two days were mostly spent walking through the jungle and visiting waterfalls. The conditions were basic. Showering was done in the river near the waterfalls.<br /><br />Market on the way to the trekking site.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb6S_Ij5XRxrpBLg7UIz3Wh3g6Iw1k9lil_bLQ0g-T5CjNA_OxNhCJAyWqObjMBjpp2_qpoyDvuhfdFNioKPddE3vjDGJBAafc-lEeFmEPvx-6hl11zpwOcLcez8031VIE98vgn5n6jpK/s1600-h/P1020151.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHb6S_Ij5XRxrpBLg7UIz3Wh3g6Iw1k9lil_bLQ0g-T5CjNA_OxNhCJAyWqObjMBjpp2_qpoyDvuhfdFNioKPddE3vjDGJBAafc-lEeFmEPvx-6hl11zpwOcLcez8031VIE98vgn5n6jpK/s320/P1020151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317809814157428146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNav09NU2VV5ErCSFI-Gke8KGUzWEiQXkk2uFWLS10t7LKOSQ4Vjo4-HNdj87pN0FSzYMDyJjWA0IJPgsQFu23dc3Vn8GcVBrfFqfD2SuwzBNlfoPc8zoIo52QjHcs572nLsxSB9yHvHrN/s1600-h/P1020161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNav09NU2VV5ErCSFI-Gke8KGUzWEiQXkk2uFWLS10t7LKOSQ4Vjo4-HNdj87pN0FSzYMDyJjWA0IJPgsQFu23dc3Vn8GcVBrfFqfD2SuwzBNlfoPc8zoIo52QjHcs572nLsxSB9yHvHrN/s320/P1020161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317809817238023026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JUPidv-YxBYwDCsXYYr5Y8-7Pu1uScwRtLo1yM-oR8gOsdnPWbDBzUMRYpB4ROMY3pVqsdwOk5r1mDhTLvdad8EJFwmVQAT-fMZHVXI9LSxoRhNyPFuue85-NVzZugBo5ZaQn4biDyZD/s1600-h/P1020195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JUPidv-YxBYwDCsXYYr5Y8-7Pu1uScwRtLo1yM-oR8gOsdnPWbDBzUMRYpB4ROMY3pVqsdwOk5r1mDhTLvdad8EJFwmVQAT-fMZHVXI9LSxoRhNyPFuue85-NVzZugBo5ZaQn4biDyZD/s320/P1020195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317810616903125538" border="0" /></a>Accommodations in the village were pretty basic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9UeSV2a-QL6fTHYdTKzas7IHjNSaVXQ_UqIbm30ya002NNgAA_vmpZ_Sj_Zwi5XOTBSDVomTKyo5U32hkMyn8n-BBE5ORJvtZYl9Drxxcm5rd93qHm20l1CnNB-857xTwCnQ87d5BoT3/s1600-h/P1020184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9UeSV2a-QL6fTHYdTKzas7IHjNSaVXQ_UqIbm30ya002NNgAA_vmpZ_Sj_Zwi5XOTBSDVomTKyo5U32hkMyn8n-BBE5ORJvtZYl9Drxxcm5rd93qHm20l1CnNB-857xTwCnQ87d5BoT3/s320/P1020184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317809825519768466" border="0" /></a><br />By the third morning of the trek, I was to face my greatest fear of the trip. I had been putting it off long enough. It was time to face the Asian squat toilet. Hotels, airports, and restaurants, places of businesses that cater to tourists, have western style seated toilets. But out in non-tourist areas and smaller towns, the squat toilet with a barrel of water for flushing reigns supreme, and that was the only option with the hill tribe people. When you finish your business, you take a dipper and pour water in the toilet until everything goes down. You have to bring your own toilet paper. These toilets feature a hose instead of toilet paper. I'm not entirely sure how the hose option works without getting water all over everything. I survived.<br /><br />The third day of the trek included a ride on a bamboo raft (with a 10 year old doing the rowing) and an elephant ride.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBKnRf6Q1lT8Cs52KJhhKe4OPzqNgc_Fu4WFF6uGJ1QQiTSnB4yPNNgZxHCTwW8JLjzmBkJxFn2r5DIh489Te5_HIxDI6u7pzbQvsuhvQNIQk2TP-ijvZh8njSpbvjLLEnkGsMn1utVEW/s1600-h/P1020204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBKnRf6Q1lT8Cs52KJhhKe4OPzqNgc_Fu4WFF6uGJ1QQiTSnB4yPNNgZxHCTwW8JLjzmBkJxFn2r5DIh489Te5_HIxDI6u7pzbQvsuhvQNIQk2TP-ijvZh8njSpbvjLLEnkGsMn1utVEW/s320/P1020204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317809831169339202" border="0" /></a><br />There are much better pictures on other peoples' cameras, but none of the others on the trip have uploaded their pictures. I will post some additional pictures (some are quite good) when I get them.<br /><br />On March 25, I took an overnight train back to Bangkok. I would have preferred to go straight from Chang Mai to the Laotian border, but I had left my passport in Bangkok to get visas for India and Vietnam, which have to be obtained beforehand. As I was negotiating a ride from the train station to my hotel, it seemed like I was getting a good price. I was proud of myself. Then when I followed the dude, he handed me a helmet. I was negotiating a ride on a motorcycle. So I climbed up on the back with my big backpack and rode to my hotel. It got me there more quickly because the motorcycles weave in and out of traffic and between cars, but it was pretty damn scary.<br /><br />On March 28, I took a bus to Cambodia.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-47218698236695062512009-03-14T06:48:00.009-04:002009-03-17T03:47:29.163-04:00Australia Part TwoSydney to Cairns<br /><br />On Monday, March 2, I departed for a four day guided tour through the Australian countryside that would take me up the east coast and drop me off at Byron Bay. Rob was the tour guide and along on the tour was James and Sam (Brits), Donna and Cathy (Irish), Janell (Italian), and Billie (Israeli). The first stop was at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby. The name doesn't cover everything as there are plenty of non-reptile animals to see. Along with the extensive collection of snakes, crocs, and lizards, they also had Tasmanian devils, dingoes, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and koalas.<br /><br /><br />Up close and personal with a koala.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfHlDnR0Gs_XwSWTRMQE1XyOx9qCGUVVYsnWKDc6Yci7hJlj-UZPdtQ3jxqZIw6xwsF69TDzUkGBdL3TOREtFb5h2oJ42_-Y4cg1vlc36UpPQH3ObN1U3qV58cVAyPBxCb3Ll66oot8ab/s1600-h/P1010738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfHlDnR0Gs_XwSWTRMQE1XyOx9qCGUVVYsnWKDc6Yci7hJlj-UZPdtQ3jxqZIw6xwsF69TDzUkGBdL3TOREtFb5h2oJ42_-Y4cg1vlc36UpPQH3ObN1U3qV58cVAyPBxCb3Ll66oot8ab/s320/P1010738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995434358704514" border="0" /></a><br />Tasmanian devil<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROGpl2r0iWzDDOkEjwj2A-mWheK3whJkIasf3vV_61iKZtIHKElYPg0GaH50KDK4u1532JHy335xwldeMJtfqltrHPkwWK0hYgprjo6QA58cBr7I8W-BYJbHIFdLuVVSUrGhuJAb_EGPi/s1600-h/P1010786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROGpl2r0iWzDDOkEjwj2A-mWheK3whJkIasf3vV_61iKZtIHKElYPg0GaH50KDK4u1532JHy335xwldeMJtfqltrHPkwWK0hYgprjo6QA58cBr7I8W-BYJbHIFdLuVVSUrGhuJAb_EGPi/s320/P1010786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995437384615314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I finally got to see a platypus, but the room was dark and no flashes were allowed. It was smaller than I expected. He moved around too fast to get any quality pictures. However, if your curious, check out the Picasa site (photo link to the right).<br /><br />They also had a kangaroo petting zoo where people could feed and pet the kangaroos. I picked a medium sized kangaroo to feed and play with. I thought it was pretty safe since there were several kids there. But this dude started coming at me, scratching me with his claws. In about ten seconds he reached up and bit me on the side of my stomach. Little f%&cker was mean. A zoo worker took him away this happened. They said he was a young male and was trying to show dominance. I told my mother this story and she said, “I'm glad that happened to you rather than some kid.”<br /><br />Me and the juvenile delinquent.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw_JJzbijE9P1IOLUPBY0Wjws1YSKnH_zfe0pKvE2LvZscFs6G7TICPtlwHiSRpjnL7KKYzlL5CkNnudxHBjpelXW6TgYWOkXC1AMLJswyF9Cekgn9eIz0lCR1PbBpop00YEzjxC_1Pyy/s1600-h/P1010754.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw_JJzbijE9P1IOLUPBY0Wjws1YSKnH_zfe0pKvE2LvZscFs6G7TICPtlwHiSRpjnL7KKYzlL5CkNnudxHBjpelXW6TgYWOkXC1AMLJswyF9Cekgn9eIz0lCR1PbBpop00YEzjxC_1Pyy/s320/P1010754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995434186918178" border="0" /></a>It was just a flesh wound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighH9eNVNFIJ4-eR0AbEpjmLEEAbRu0cEXz6yufarJZFI_6nTac4-2wlZPTUHw2ul89NqNrbf7IwuceZ2W_LmNXuCrM-3NjIohOPlbe6fdm2YK2-eDjuw0uXNhSSPNO0mL7oJlbQ8PNVE4/s1600-h/P1010795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighH9eNVNFIJ4-eR0AbEpjmLEEAbRu0cEXz6yufarJZFI_6nTac4-2wlZPTUHw2ul89NqNrbf7IwuceZ2W_LmNXuCrM-3NjIohOPlbe6fdm2YK2-eDjuw0uXNhSSPNO0mL7oJlbQ8PNVE4/s320/P1010795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313331090551404610" border="0" /></a><br />The next stop was a wine tasting at the McGuigan winery in Hunter Valley before heading up to a ranch near Glocester.<br /><br />On Tuesday, for the first time in my adult life, I got on a horse. We did a one-day "City Slickers" type ride. It was an actual 3,000 acre working ranch with 600 head of cattle and we rounded them up and moved them old school style on horseback. My horse was named Monty. We separated a group of steers and drove them to a grain lot for finishing. We also tried to separate a bull and bring him back (I was never clear on where "back" was). We failed. There was some really gorgeous scenery. It was fun, but not something I'm dying to do again right away. All the cliches about horseback riding are true. My bum and legs were quite sore. The horses seemed very well trained and good tempered.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MHU_pWR89a2Za9kXla8Zq-3w_qCXIJAcS8uDaXZTODnJhUJxBRWBiLh7erwNq2lOZbo5YopBbO2lVuuqjbxN5O614eOzvpQc5S0Q35cIiurJqYawfvPJJCr6SwyJJACFYIeySZgsDeqY/s1600-h/P1010807.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MHU_pWR89a2Za9kXla8Zq-3w_qCXIJAcS8uDaXZTODnJhUJxBRWBiLh7erwNq2lOZbo5YopBbO2lVuuqjbxN5O614eOzvpQc5S0Q35cIiurJqYawfvPJJCr6SwyJJACFYIeySZgsDeqY/s320/P1010807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995933396800386" border="0" /></a><br />Australian road kill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3dC2NROPwL6yQnzpqSMyqoQYt3B897DU6S_Cz7qw7mP3Ah-Uy2VbvqsoJD75VoyyU6Hk64VZBOrDXgSZqYbvpUrFmrDV_gSwVwnUjCdjbxyqetPAAE3J17i-K3OpD7l4TimT9SUAOwGO/s1600-h/P1010818.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3dC2NROPwL6yQnzpqSMyqoQYt3B897DU6S_Cz7qw7mP3Ah-Uy2VbvqsoJD75VoyyU6Hk64VZBOrDXgSZqYbvpUrFmrDV_gSwVwnUjCdjbxyqetPAAE3J17i-K3OpD7l4TimT9SUAOwGO/s320/P1010818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995934715641890" border="0" /></a><br />We came across this. Someone had hit a kangaroo. Rob, the tour guide said whenever you come across roadkill, it should be checked for a joey and then moved off the road. This one had a joey in its pouch, but it was also dead.<br /><br />The third day was spent canoeing and the fourth ended in Byron Bay, a charming little beach town not overgrown with high rise condos. Most of the beaches in Australia allow topless sunbathing, although less than about 5% of women actually do it.<br /><br />Byron Bay lighthouse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m2qBKsC-eOMpm9Sgd3KdIxoE7EwZdYZPma5OikFoXbjpanjTDRSme33wWQRoljFJCiHHjAjo0YG_91FlyA8zni_yqzkqyugXdV1R6SVenja5V5l8tFh9QfhpF3aoo1kW9SCeD72UaPXM/s1600-h/P1010855.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9m2qBKsC-eOMpm9Sgd3KdIxoE7EwZdYZPma5OikFoXbjpanjTDRSme33wWQRoljFJCiHHjAjo0YG_91FlyA8zni_yqzkqyugXdV1R6SVenja5V5l8tFh9QfhpF3aoo1kW9SCeD72UaPXM/s320/P1010855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995933988910194" border="0" /></a><br />Eastern most point on Australia's mainland.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4aQ8tNB6Ysp_BKAa5M4tsurDdKZxklyB9vL4_l-ufhibF8Udtz96QFlL2IIsbYCEzqN1G00mdUcWfKM3fr7-J5hAGEwFrVO0pIv_SjphQRMuAglM8F4xEK_sFEKi2CYfhuTmtb1cbQaM/s1600-h/P1010858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4aQ8tNB6Ysp_BKAa5M4tsurDdKZxklyB9vL4_l-ufhibF8Udtz96QFlL2IIsbYCEzqN1G00mdUcWfKM3fr7-J5hAGEwFrVO0pIv_SjphQRMuAglM8F4xEK_sFEKi2CYfhuTmtb1cbQaM/s320/P1010858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995940235327762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtNkcSFRYKQIEv1TawDgKCdWTiqGp2qdXFJM7hgaC27QXfEeotOAZLL0FJ_1FA0DKxwaObVG40QSrh6n1TiGEupiTx4xM5Tke1w7qkfaWzGanLOrfO4zSIllVxmFmIqTf-Ky5BbKqXQXh/s1600-h/P1010859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtNkcSFRYKQIEv1TawDgKCdWTiqGp2qdXFJM7hgaC27QXfEeotOAZLL0FJ_1FA0DKxwaObVG40QSrh6n1TiGEupiTx4xM5Tke1w7qkfaWzGanLOrfO4zSIllVxmFmIqTf-Ky5BbKqXQXh/s320/P1010859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995940959325698" border="0" /></a><br />On Friday March 6 we spent most of the day on the beach and in the evening, I took a greyhound bus from Byron Bay to Brisbane.<br /><br />On Saturday morning, I took a train from Brisbane to Beerwah, home of the Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin zoo). Beerwah is about an hour train ride from Brisbane. About halfway there something just didn't feel right and I discovered it was because I didn't bring my camera. I bought a disposable camera at the zoo. That's why these pictures are kind of lousy. What did we do before digital cameras? Most of the animals there I had already seen. They had an extensive collection of crocodiles. Crocodiles are kind of boring unless they are feeding. They just lay there. Luckily, they had two shows in the "Crocoseum" where they fed the crocs. That was pretty cool. The zoo workers also got in the tiger den and played around with he tigers, getting them to jump into the water to chase them. No pics of the tigers as these didn't really come out good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKQrVGAUYdxuhKTwRWLWwA6Swj7W4yV-ksOTC7sWHnry7SExqoJrsy44tzlFgxNYKOf50vUndELA139FfYIrll-lJ0lPYaHS7riJZwA6TE_TtzSHdC2JpZ7EaKYiWpHUK9QWh6ymnd-TM/s1600-h/65430013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKQrVGAUYdxuhKTwRWLWwA6Swj7W4yV-ksOTC7sWHnry7SExqoJrsy44tzlFgxNYKOf50vUndELA139FfYIrll-lJ0lPYaHS7riJZwA6TE_TtzSHdC2JpZ7EaKYiWpHUK9QWh6ymnd-TM/s320/65430013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995426349404498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErb0tBVEvF7Ot7RikDd7ptysAZ3RycYbSd_uHn5lhdn0xGEUB_TwoQE7BtxjUQXm5G8D9_pRnZHbA9HmcFgaBE0Eu4doNe2Cvnx_m4oAtUnlH1vJDBzr5f0b6xqVI7grBK6C5ByPemWv5/s1600-h/65430004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErb0tBVEvF7Ot7RikDd7ptysAZ3RycYbSd_uHn5lhdn0xGEUB_TwoQE7BtxjUQXm5G8D9_pRnZHbA9HmcFgaBE0Eu4doNe2Cvnx_m4oAtUnlH1vJDBzr5f0b6xqVI7grBK6C5ByPemWv5/s320/65430004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312995410981513778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On Sunday, I flew from Brisbane to Cairns. Cairns is the most popular base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef. On Monday I went for a dive. It was a day package of two guided dives, snorkeling, and glass bottom boat ride. The reefs were amazing, but I thought they would have been more colorful.<br /><br /><br />On Wednesday I flew back to Brisbane and on Thursday, March 12, I flew from Brisbane to Singapore. I flew on Etihad Airlines. Etihad is a fairly new airline based out of the United Arab Emirates. It was by far the cheapest trip from Australia to Asia. It was actually a connecting flight from Brisbane to Abu Dabhi. Most of the people on the flight didn't look like they were from either Singapore or Abu Dabhi. I believe a lot of people were connecting to Europe. Great service and good food. I would recommend them. It's a seven hour flight from Brisbane to Singapore. On a map it doesn't really look very far.<br /><br />A few more observations about Oz.<br /><br />Australia has really good coffee. Almost all coffee sold is espresso based and really good. There are very few Starbucks, so it happened independently of Starbucks. That's something that wasn't on my radar.<br /><br />They love their pies. Meat pies are the traditional foods of Australia. It's basically a pot pie, but better than the one's that cost 30 cents at the grocery.<br /><br />Sales tax is included in prices of items in stores and restaurants. So the price shown is the price you pay. It's good as it helps keep ones pockets from filling up. Also, they round to the nearest 5 cents. So they don't have to deal with pennies. Brilliant! If you order something in a restaurant that is listed at $15, you pay exactly $15. Tax and service are included in the prices.<br /><br />Most of Australia is wide open spaces. It is about the size of the continental United States, with a population of only 21 million. And most Aussies live in cities. The look out a plane window is pretty barren.<br /><br />Aussies are crazy about traveling. Both Lonely Planet and Frommer's are headquartered in Australia. Travel books are featured prominently in bookstores at the entrance. One guy I talked to summed it up pretty well. He said that Australia is really far from anywhere else. So if they travel, it is usually a long trip and they make it count.<br /><br />I would like to spend a lot more time here. I think one could easily spend 4-5 months here. There's a lot to see. But it is time for me to move on to southeast Asia.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-87145860276789656112009-03-01T01:41:00.001-05:002009-03-09T06:55:48.883-04:00Sydney & Melbourne<div style="display: block;" id="previewbody">Wow that was a long flight to Australia. I left Rio de Janeiro at 3:00pm on February 15 and made it in to Sydney at 9:30am February 17. It was one hour to Sao Paulo, three hours to Santiago, three hours in Santiago, 13.5 hours to Auckland, and 3.5 hours to Sydney. When I got to Auckland I though I was just about there, but I had another 3.5 hours to go. The personal entertainment centers on the plane were nice though. I watched about 8 movies and several TV show episodes. I was really hungry for an abundance of English language entertainment. <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I was in Auckland for about an hour. We had to get off the plane, go through security, and then get back on the same plane. I wasn't really sure what the purpose of that was. The three guys working the LAN gate in Auckland all looked like and sounded like Murray from Flight of the Conchords. I think I can tell the difference between an Australian accent and a New Zealand accent. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sydney is a great city. It reminds me a lot of Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle, Washington. The first few days I was crazy jet-lagged. I was doing my best to stay up during the day, going to be early and exhausted, and waking up at 3:00am unable to go back to sleep - kind of like Bill Murray in Lost in Translation. I have not done well with jet lag on previous trips to Europe (7 time zones). I faired even worse with this trip (11 time zones). </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Australia is a lot like America and England. It is a modern country, people speak English, and watch a lot of the same TV programs we do. They drive on the left side of the road. Cars are built with the driver's seat on the right. It seems like everything is oriented to that pattern. Escalators are backwards. When walking down a crowded street, I tend to go to the right to move around people and move through the crowd. They tend to move to the left. This causes many awkward moments. I really enjoyed the abundance of English language bookstores.<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I spent my first few days in Sydney seeing the sights and shopping. I visited the Opera House, the Sydney Aquarium, the Sydney Tower, and Bondi Beach. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rbrvGBpcer1bJiCMpB1Z1dpyex-Ou3EWBRwxEv7CqXU7eqtSHYD_od_Lmg9MDMJQEVLXpqYi0_F5bZHHGDB-P56MYX2fbHKi_u2n4h4RfQijke04H3r0596VHP4dmfhtDTJiyPBGg3EG/s1600-h/P1010610.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rbrvGBpcer1bJiCMpB1Z1dpyex-Ou3EWBRwxEv7CqXU7eqtSHYD_od_Lmg9MDMJQEVLXpqYi0_F5bZHHGDB-P56MYX2fbHKi_u2n4h4RfQijke04H3r0596VHP4dmfhtDTJiyPBGg3EG/s320/P1010610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308075560404790434" border="0" /></a> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb4dOgI6nSwQmxZbqPaU6cB9pbvm3R5OLnXyV9wdjs8C0HOf5VlKiOa26qg1k0JHep5WjE2yvR_6jyAuHXP3vhhchLz1_Q8HGQjtGKm1cvUw8VtVj2mqNMNoDBUn3FfdQKkgOLDuEOmyL/s1600-h/P1010559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb4dOgI6nSwQmxZbqPaU6cB9pbvm3R5OLnXyV9wdjs8C0HOf5VlKiOa26qg1k0JHep5WjE2yvR_6jyAuHXP3vhhchLz1_Q8HGQjtGKm1cvUw8VtVj2mqNMNoDBUn3FfdQKkgOLDuEOmyL/s320/P1010559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308074089605004402" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7_wY_LBZfRitSW1smZfRKXYc95z-OdKpIhoE6ljdcvtL6UejroG3gcSs6SMfHGXBvpUN7gUGuwTdpB1OdmcuBTrZu33jcmI0ObO2GhHmdxJUceWVksgGDYYU5ENPfT3MPD4Ud_svicci/s1600-h/P1010497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7_wY_LBZfRitSW1smZfRKXYc95z-OdKpIhoE6ljdcvtL6UejroG3gcSs6SMfHGXBvpUN7gUGuwTdpB1OdmcuBTrZu33jcmI0ObO2GhHmdxJUceWVksgGDYYU5ENPfT3MPD4Ud_svicci/s320/P1010497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308074079648520210" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The inside of the Opera House was less impressive than the outside. It was opened in 1973 and definitely had a 70's motif.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vVoXuzzAHeQvujttOTHJaaNTZs1Y_Woap3_QmXczf5fEmX6ZNApXLLmiseYKorItNCNQtHEYmPfo1lhB4WSiY2mR5JqZdyFmqqqAnJW4lONZ0WWhw80k2gO6qP1g87n8f7eHAfg13Vu6/s1600-h/P1010552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vVoXuzzAHeQvujttOTHJaaNTZs1Y_Woap3_QmXczf5fEmX6ZNApXLLmiseYKorItNCNQtHEYmPfo1lhB4WSiY2mR5JqZdyFmqqqAnJW4lONZ0WWhw80k2gO6qP1g87n8f7eHAfg13Vu6/s320/P1010552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308074090830562930" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Cauldron from the 2000 Olympics.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ar7CjFqfaLM1mv9r2Fn2e5WaBIOG6JLMPf9iqjhMJl6VLKXdhvlYdWeB5LZdurE2NsA_FB7ccoCTH_LJKj-GtcUpjJm63EgSa72svZtFKly5wsX3sKkl0Uj5iyAbscnykSoE1gDFwpL-/s1600-h/P1010621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ar7CjFqfaLM1mv9r2Fn2e5WaBIOG6JLMPf9iqjhMJl6VLKXdhvlYdWeB5LZdurE2NsA_FB7ccoCTH_LJKj-GtcUpjJm63EgSa72svZtFKly5wsX3sKkl0Uj5iyAbscnykSoE1gDFwpL-/s320/P1010621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308075560766038274" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dugong at the Sydney Aquarium.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUR5WJc3gzSzzl7qtDepkOp3XM5lcKix10vH6BYUg1JDsgGZs_VxX3-qmbqnDZ4AaoP3dLPM5nvF_QR6RYPjWVEoqHG-Ww4yYMRpvgF1OLG4HZ3cIhEbH-3aALt1oo_kJsiJzh0QN4uby/s1600-h/P1010580.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUR5WJc3gzSzzl7qtDepkOp3XM5lcKix10vH6BYUg1JDsgGZs_VxX3-qmbqnDZ4AaoP3dLPM5nvF_QR6RYPjWVEoqHG-Ww4yYMRpvgF1OLG4HZ3cIhEbH-3aALt1oo_kJsiJzh0QN4uby/s320/P1010580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308074097817199474" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Australia Museum. Had an impressive dinosaur bone collection.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD1uUNQc-QeUA_iafKGVrk5FC58k5a7qQEzLgHtmmSizf3bHLpVt7vm0g4FIbTvGaCbvLcBozKG7Ypw-KqwOZPy33Kod03qnaObhRz5JqYQp3jX0uIlvbzjWSJlAmAh4frJfkMlTbY2sG/s1600-h/P1010517.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD1uUNQc-QeUA_iafKGVrk5FC58k5a7qQEzLgHtmmSizf3bHLpVt7vm0g4FIbTvGaCbvLcBozKG7Ypw-KqwOZPy33Kod03qnaObhRz5JqYQp3jX0uIlvbzjWSJlAmAh4frJfkMlTbY2sG/s320/P1010517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308074085207697954" border="0" /></a></p> I went to Tropfest on February 22. Tropfest is billed as “The World's Largest Short Film Festival”. It was in a park and about 70,000 attended. Sydney is the kind of town where 70,000 people will show up on a Sunday night to see short films. The films were amateur and were made specifically for the competition. The quality was uneven. The winner was Be My Brother about a man with down's syndrome (who sounded a lot like Ozzy Osbourne) talking to a woman at a bus stop. It was really good. <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Fosters Beer is not very common down here. I didn't see it in any bars or stores for a while. I was beginning to think the Australia theme was a marketing ploy. But I found out that Fosters is considered a low grade beer and not many people drink it. Anyone who orders it at a bar is assumed to be a foreigner. The two beer brands down here that seem to be the most popular are Toohey's, Carlton's, and Victoria Bitter (VB). </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Australians are crazy about Asian food. I think it's safe to say that in Sydney, two out three restaurants are Asian. I hope I don't get burned out on Thai food before I get to Thailand. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I know I said I was ready for a first world, English speaking country. But I wasn't really ready for first world prices. Australia is expensive. Not by U.S. or European standards, but expensive compared to what I was used to. It's prices are comparable to those in major cities in the U.S. But I got a bit spoiled in South America. Here, lunch costs more than $3-4 and a beer in a bar costs more than $1.50-$2. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The Kings of Leon are incredibly huge down here. Everybody loves the and I hear them constantly on the radio and in bars. I would say they are as big here as Guns & Roses circa Appetite for Destruction or Nirvana circa Nevermind. It's funny because in the U.S., they are still kind of considered to be an indy band. They are based in Nashville. Which is also funny because I don't know of anyone in Nashville who has seen them play. They have an interesting back story. Three sons of a traveling rural pentecostal preacher and their cousin. The lead singer has a drinking problem. That and infighting are threatening the future of the band. Europeans eat that stuff up. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On Monday, February 23, I took an overnight bus to Melbourne. I hadn't planned on going to Melbourne, but everybody I talked to said I had to go, so I went. Melbourne seemed a bit smaller than Sydney. The grass was brown and it was very dry. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Most Aussies seem to be of British descent. Take the whitest people on the planet and park them in a place under the thinnest spot in the ozone layer, and you have a country with one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. I have been good about using SPF30. In South America, I saw a lot of older people on the beaches with terrible-looking, sun damaged skin. This keeps me motivated.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Australia has been dealing with drought conditions for several years. Most of the grass surrounding Melbourne is brown. There are money raising events too numerous to mention raising money to help the victims of the Victoria Bush fires. I haven't seen any fires first hand. </p><br />I went for a drive down the Great Ocean Road with Laura from England and Jennifer from Ireland. They had rented a car and I tagged along. Normally I would rather drive than ride. But in this case, I let the girls drive for several reasons. 1. I hadn't driven in 6 months and kind of wanted to keep the record going. 2. They drive on the left side of the road. 3. The driver is on the right side of the car. 4. The stick shift was on the left side. All of these factors combined made me very happy to sit back and navigate. The drive was really pretty. It reminded of me Pacific Coast Highway 1 in Northern California. We went through several smaller towns. It is crazy how much Australia looks like America. The houses, neighborhoods, and downtown areas were very reminiscent of American towns. The main sight along the Great Ocean Road was the 12 Apostles National Park. 12 Apostles is a series of islands formed by wave erosion. We took a helicopter ride to get a better view. The ride was short, but awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm34nEafjPatqziG7WE_xvJ7Qo6BQqplFYrRhmSr8cmtenUbTY7gJsDGGp-yV9I5CaDz08OAxjxGszvP23Jq8efVtN6ZmHSTdJSkAu5exCbi0fBAC-nTuYQt1jJ0_x7lRBSpJYsh5QjuMD/s1600-h/P1010679.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm34nEafjPatqziG7WE_xvJ7Qo6BQqplFYrRhmSr8cmtenUbTY7gJsDGGp-yV9I5CaDz08OAxjxGszvP23Jq8efVtN6ZmHSTdJSkAu5exCbi0fBAC-nTuYQt1jJ0_x7lRBSpJYsh5QjuMD/s320/P1010679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308075566713150578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JHouf3RI11AMiUy7esOQX6Dh_u7q8rR0ZWfNFWA6tF61OK1MBDCrc1xIxLS1cFF8FiYGuLW9kpJKYFOCF27zU87uvhEjYBzJBoDJsUpmVoNUgRDCkeNQEIpEHiDMVWY5XSFRRDIhQD16/s1600-h/P1010684.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JHouf3RI11AMiUy7esOQX6Dh_u7q8rR0ZWfNFWA6tF61OK1MBDCrc1xIxLS1cFF8FiYGuLW9kpJKYFOCF27zU87uvhEjYBzJBoDJsUpmVoNUgRDCkeNQEIpEHiDMVWY5XSFRRDIhQD16/s320/P1010684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308075568288573842" border="0" /></a><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEqZfhwwMY7ezRDYY8Zg5ng-SvMpebv1M2pfdLlfi8Z0hI-twnMMGpp7FHBw3QvYK_8uKNGgv8t-SaBhD_vJiJ2vLNXb8c674ZyzBpW5CltPJ1hEZIRrfGSGe_1wZoTVW4imMtc406YZn/s1600-h/P1010717.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEqZfhwwMY7ezRDYY8Zg5ng-SvMpebv1M2pfdLlfi8Z0hI-twnMMGpp7FHBw3QvYK_8uKNGgv8t-SaBhD_vJiJ2vLNXb8c674ZyzBpW5CltPJ1hEZIRrfGSGe_1wZoTVW4imMtc406YZn/s320/P1010717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308077938930441378" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpsZ1fMxfABoxQhUHwR5fUDcjBZdlXqd0f9S3rFeApMGwF0rTogYj1OrniENdzGDp2c1NiaWARlAVCD2Rx8ZfY7YqlIyPheKbU2riLHRnwGdEwS0J8AMXwH78xCjwUmhrVtS0NO6ByV_H/s1600-h/P1010690.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpsZ1fMxfABoxQhUHwR5fUDcjBZdlXqd0f9S3rFeApMGwF0rTogYj1OrniENdzGDp2c1NiaWARlAVCD2Rx8ZfY7YqlIyPheKbU2riLHRnwGdEwS0J8AMXwH78xCjwUmhrVtS0NO6ByV_H/s320/P1010690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308075569258705266" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We saw a koala bear on the side of the road. I still haven't seen a kangaroo.<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mtILQPpJy8y1vm7BA1-0vuvXWACkKCzd-LTH9TQ0mXzjIVVIxHgdjdbUfI0nhUJCs_MV2tFKkTcxsWtitkTwNrCfoP-6ikJUv1rHBZjD35tPW-DDYP7Jv6NzMK1yDEeEoiStduRQFelY/s1600-h/P1010723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mtILQPpJy8y1vm7BA1-0vuvXWACkKCzd-LTH9TQ0mXzjIVVIxHgdjdbUfI0nhUJCs_MV2tFKkTcxsWtitkTwNrCfoP-6ikJUv1rHBZjD35tPW-DDYP7Jv6NzMK1yDEeEoiStduRQFelY/s320/P1010723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308077936630791778" border="0" /></a> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On February 28, I flew back to Sydney on Virgin Blue, Australia's discount carrier. On Monday, I will go on a four day tour that will take me up to Byron Bay on the East Coast. </p> </div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-40868588509967371292009-02-17T09:26:00.001-05:002009-02-17T09:28:46.681-05:00BrazilOn January 26, I took an overnight<span style=""> </span>bus from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu.<span style=""> </span>Iguazu Falls is an incredible waterfall on the border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.<span style=""> </span>There are parks on the Argentina side and the Brazil side.<span style=""> </span>On January 28 I went to see the Argentina side of the falls.<span style=""> </span>I’ve seen Niagara Falls before and really enjoyed them.<span style=""> </span>It was October (off season) and I spent a lot of time looking at the falls and being reflective.<span style=""> </span>I was kind of hoping that I would get some time to see the falls and be reflective about<span style=""> </span>life, how old the world is, how small we are, etc.<span style=""> </span>But it was way too hot and way too crowded at the park to have any kind of thoughts like that.<span style=""> </span>On January 29, I went to the Brazil side.<span style=""> </span>I didn’t get up in time to see the Brazil side for very long.<span style=""> </span>I only had about 30 minutes at the park before I had to leave and catch a flight to Rio de Janeiro. <span style=""> </span><div style="display: block;" id="previewbody"> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWG2mciK4AOdUUmY5c7j3VMkn3-ZT_QYzAN2J8oBwfcq84iJcfyWPE7VFYVvCP7Wd6Tq5mc1087aHn_aXEe0PU0JMzWv5ESMnri7VGv8Dab9bVnxZRHd95cakQaYnXbPCtYGhw8az9eLb/s1600-h/P1010238.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWG2mciK4AOdUUmY5c7j3VMkn3-ZT_QYzAN2J8oBwfcq84iJcfyWPE7VFYVvCP7Wd6Tq5mc1087aHn_aXEe0PU0JMzWv5ESMnri7VGv8Dab9bVnxZRHd95cakQaYnXbPCtYGhw8az9eLb/s320/P1010238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302688019458166802" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09H9pUC74kdzkI9_YpljvY4dTvLVhd85f9BbPoTh3vjlvhg8WZCLHCJKvIQUjRB-qZhH4sk3rLQJsexuqXFLK1oSAMrxInPFtSs1jxsdA7MWloPiFhE-KXc77iCMB5_-V2LOfC-wKY8EK/s1600-h/P1010195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09H9pUC74kdzkI9_YpljvY4dTvLVhd85f9BbPoTh3vjlvhg8WZCLHCJKvIQUjRB-qZhH4sk3rLQJsexuqXFLK1oSAMrxInPFtSs1jxsdA7MWloPiFhE-KXc77iCMB5_-V2LOfC-wKY8EK/s320/P1010195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302688002021923538" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAF1dxkrZCYZIWNjBCFjOR0TV98Drv1ywAZVLJML54_bXC5DKWy__fewBaKOBjnlnMeZSl0bodB6cKNFG2_WCLGTU3jvbHRL_N-Q7ie8hUeEINgmxS5YUCbwjcgEGddFuRN9Lm_zcdHmu/s1600-h/P1010203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAF1dxkrZCYZIWNjBCFjOR0TV98Drv1ywAZVLJML54_bXC5DKWy__fewBaKOBjnlnMeZSl0bodB6cKNFG2_WCLGTU3jvbHRL_N-Q7ie8hUeEINgmxS5YUCbwjcgEGddFuRN9Lm_zcdHmu/s320/P1010203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302688004737589714" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW98wj3mM0fF53Kc7iYwlxj8fZQ4-4aRpX4XvZ4y3jZ3b03JlJ2znFpHdLvwXAzRobAk4EX5kg3jRNWttuA8D_hXhlk2Vdm7msEdaWKRMOcRmrRiEwKjyLXL3jFWtZGaul2nFY6lccmHxu/s1600-h/P1010207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW98wj3mM0fF53Kc7iYwlxj8fZQ4-4aRpX4XvZ4y3jZ3b03JlJ2znFpHdLvwXAzRobAk4EX5kg3jRNWttuA8D_hXhlk2Vdm7msEdaWKRMOcRmrRiEwKjyLXL3jFWtZGaul2nFY6lccmHxu/s320/P1010207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302688012061616850" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">I made it into Rio on January 29. The plane was approaching the runway and was just about to land when the pilot changed his mind, fired up the engines and lifted back up. I've been on one other flight where this happened. He said the winds were too strong and he wanted to make another approach.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Brazil is my first non-Spanish speaking country to visit. I found that Engish was not widely spoken. I guess it's that way all over South America, I just didn't notice it as much in other countries because I (sort of) speak Spanish. Portuguese is similar in writing to Spanish, but speaking sounds quite different. When speaking to locals, I usually spoke in Spanish. I know it's not their language, but since I don't speak it anyway, I figured Spanish would be closer than English.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rio is a beautiful city crammed between mountains and beaches. Beaches in Brazil are exactly what you would expect.<span style=""> </span>Amazing and filled with beautiful people.<span style=""> </span>The bikinis are skimpier than those in Argentina. Lots of volleyball and soccer.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Although about half of the men wear Speedos, which I could have done without.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Most visitors stay in either Copacabana or Ipanema.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Copacabana Beach.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ROmR8xlHE_1hvlKNfuBbAK2yYUN-XACySmdniG-XDSyJN-kSn-YiO2zfDslEEwSePyBVaqmVMl5q2fQw6xf7ypGvRLP_CATzIbtJm2TmqtIghj-tN875e9qMDpUi_LfLLosM0hjeTXgp/s1600-h/P1010244.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ROmR8xlHE_1hvlKNfuBbAK2yYUN-XACySmdniG-XDSyJN-kSn-YiO2zfDslEEwSePyBVaqmVMl5q2fQw6xf7ypGvRLP_CATzIbtJm2TmqtIghj-tN875e9qMDpUi_LfLLosM0hjeTXgp/s320/P1010244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303201315010117522" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I went to the Lapa district one night. Lapa is an entertainment district in an older area near downtown Rio by the aqueduct. Nightlife in Rio is similar to Buenos Aires.<br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEkb3szoR6dBrjyysqsucvYFfbybmQ_BER9wWZSRUCy0GsatMj-MdKewgZS273xK8YCz4olgs5WO0tdg9OPDh51mbeRHcPg0b-6MkamEufOKBDhSdefORttSTHzHNWTNtN-bf5OIwzWji/s1600-h/P1010404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEkb3szoR6dBrjyysqsucvYFfbybmQ_BER9wWZSRUCy0GsatMj-MdKewgZS273xK8YCz4olgs5WO0tdg9OPDh51mbeRHcPg0b-6MkamEufOKBDhSdefORttSTHzHNWTNtN-bf5OIwzWji/s320/P1010404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302837781766173538" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday, February 1, I watched the Super Bowl at the hostel.<span style=""> </span>As the only American, it took some convincing to get the TV changed over to the Super Bowl.<span style=""> </span>A blonde from Sweden wanted to watch a movie and the guys were wavering.<span style=""> </span>But finally McGregor, a Scot and Ricardo, a Brazilian turned my way and then a couple of Israelis joined in and voted for the game.<span style=""> </span>She left. In the battle between sports and women, sports won this round.<span style=""> </span>The Swede left, but that was OK.<span style=""> </span>Blondes from Sweden are a dime a dozen on the backpacker trail.<span style=""> </span>The Super Bowl only happens once a year.<span style=""> </span>I really didn’t care who won.<span style=""> </span>I was marginally for Pittsburgh.<span style=""> </span>Once I said I was for Pittsburgh, everyone else started cheering for Arizona.<span style=""> Great game! </span>I thought the halftime show was great as well. I liked seeing that the Boss was not above getting cheesy. I really enjoyed the game, although the commentary was in Portuguese and the commercials were Brazilian. There was one Volkswagen commercial featuring a man and his dogfish pet (top half fish, bottom half dog) that kept playing over and over.<br /></p>Corcovado.<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnXoksom7QvdmkjgouEZPAa4bjJQ9Z7L0toVU7HMe5_EZV_MpqiRVWU3psHb0cIcgGpFQg11X8a9-2FndzVzlF0zT0JUJWKQc4py5_TT1ES-1Vk5-1nlS84NpmbOIPgwLW6ocn-aklDxQ/s1600-h/P1010366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnXoksom7QvdmkjgouEZPAa4bjJQ9Z7L0toVU7HMe5_EZV_MpqiRVWU3psHb0cIcgGpFQg11X8a9-2FndzVzlF0zT0JUJWKQc4py5_TT1ES-1Vk5-1nlS84NpmbOIPgwLW6ocn-aklDxQ/s320/P1010366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302833733668911378" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKypL1rJfz8IPMG2NyM8bre9ujJqoevQM61lmPLxdqd0AO7diwsmrAHlwr5IOI4JYJlY1vKX-l0rhzEO8HOThmkbyyNaQ46xFDjJDiH-Al1wCmwJywb0LpKMccBHTq_Z2JidDY8EeX2ZK/s1600-h/P1010249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKypL1rJfz8IPMG2NyM8bre9ujJqoevQM61lmPLxdqd0AO7diwsmrAHlwr5IOI4JYJlY1vKX-l0rhzEO8HOThmkbyyNaQ46xFDjJDiH-Al1wCmwJywb0LpKMccBHTq_Z2JidDY8EeX2ZK/s320/P1010249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302829550562171122" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Corcovado & Cristo Redentor.<br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6Jf_DsYoE3mExnXNNq0P3V4DHsPEIkoGGHWpARwgd7G8pE5Ab7gMXxswoFGRcCnJ6GmtitU3Vde2jZ90yu0S880c2MZ1U_CbzkfOOUovOJaGRol9dF9XKpLS_mRm3Fs8x4jh7ey0pmSo/s1600-h/P1010268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6Jf_DsYoE3mExnXNNq0P3V4DHsPEIkoGGHWpARwgd7G8pE5Ab7gMXxswoFGRcCnJ6GmtitU3Vde2jZ90yu0S880c2MZ1U_CbzkfOOUovOJaGRol9dF9XKpLS_mRm3Fs8x4jh7ey0pmSo/s320/P1010268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302829554307106834" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Sugarloaf.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvw6r-bVlRjN6__dLb6t5_kdCL550fV1b3lMOSnf0PWpNRTshGXB8zoX5a199GZ0UvCDB2BXsQa8wF4QW6-u8AJoc35Uf3EMjmVr5NmmlVFlj8pPVhPvUaYSUlT-ycn3Sut1ifzZRyZmi/s1600-h/P1010358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvw6r-bVlRjN6__dLb6t5_kdCL550fV1b3lMOSnf0PWpNRTshGXB8zoX5a199GZ0UvCDB2BXsQa8wF4QW6-u8AJoc35Uf3EMjmVr5NmmlVFlj8pPVhPvUaYSUlT-ycn3Sut1ifzZRyZmi/s320/P1010358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302829569623464258" border="0" /></a><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_khXSiuEZqbFdsw-RP0WO7RXfEE7Qcbhzgnnb4CFE02nZcgjjYyCcArpbDTtP1C8df8iIJE7Z5dZq3ZfX8pjTQrMakUC1Iu_SRFjnS0jpVCfVQkAFnJjcF2ZThZTJ-GZG0DM7OdVOB_M/s1600-h/P1010363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_khXSiuEZqbFdsw-RP0WO7RXfEE7Qcbhzgnnb4CFE02nZcgjjYyCcArpbDTtP1C8df8iIJE7Z5dZq3ZfX8pjTQrMakUC1Iu_SRFjnS0jpVCfVQkAFnJjcF2ZThZTJ-GZG0DM7OdVOB_M/s320/P1010363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302833733269515186" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>In addition to beaches, Corcovado, and Sugar Loaf, another tourist thing to go on an organized favela tour. Favelas are slums in Rio, usually located on a hill. They are located quite close to the wealthy parts of town. The rich and the poor live in close proximity to each other, but the delineation between the rich and poor areas are fairly well defined. The borders to the favelas are well marked and it would be very difficult to just wander into a favela. The order is kept by the drug dealers. The police rarely enter the favelas and if they do, it can be a potentially violent situation because it disrupts the drug trade. I went on a tour of the Rocina favela, one of the largest in RIo.<br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRv1E1fYwGIsPmzpn22-fZumU9yl_RoYS87wCpmEXpF61UvfKLXO06i16G_veGtg2bK4C6_UctO0oHQGi9ei7NlBa-suFe3H8v5nL3FGt8c_ivLS3_QuknMyzfqlKB-HOKYe85voSq_-U/s1600-h/P1010395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRv1E1fYwGIsPmzpn22-fZumU9yl_RoYS87wCpmEXpF61UvfKLXO06i16G_veGtg2bK4C6_UctO0oHQGi9ei7NlBa-suFe3H8v5nL3FGt8c_ivLS3_QuknMyzfqlKB-HOKYe85voSq_-U/s320/P1010395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302833742804161522" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj37b0-SjY8Thch_B3xqCBHCZ3f5Aa4Akic69V4HU0s-W9O8FBVPixLab6HKHfVNWNyDq3wHEsEWKpNYOxTkoggBgUG4UX8r_saSzXZ1kYYKrxbdpSyYB70-fpBKMV44J_qAfyU9pzDKZ/s1600-h/P1010374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj37b0-SjY8Thch_B3xqCBHCZ3f5Aa4Akic69V4HU0s-W9O8FBVPixLab6HKHfVNWNyDq3wHEsEWKpNYOxTkoggBgUG4UX8r_saSzXZ1kYYKrxbdpSyYB70-fpBKMV44J_qAfyU9pzDKZ/s320/P1010374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302833737756062082" border="0" /></a>On February 4, I took an overnight bus to Porto Seguro.<span style=""> </span>A small beach town between Rio and Salvador. Not much was going on in Porto Seguro. Which was fine with me after six days in RIo.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On February 7, I took an overnight bus from Porto Seguro to Salvador. Salvador has an old town that is reminiscent of a brightly colored New Orleans.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX8R5X9W8dsxBa0aFfRZj89TcDMx7ASGmkIQOs64d2dtS0-mavBqgzJZLTF3i38WrS_Vog9h9UpeOPKF5OkUgC2D9CHFY10l6Htu2yJfCB_TGQuEBZfhY1V_KFDc2dLe37oeEyBsKMoEq/s1600-h/P1010413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX8R5X9W8dsxBa0aFfRZj89TcDMx7ASGmkIQOs64d2dtS0-mavBqgzJZLTF3i38WrS_Vog9h9UpeOPKF5OkUgC2D9CHFY10l6Htu2yJfCB_TGQuEBZfhY1V_KFDc2dLe37oeEyBsKMoEq/s320/P1010413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302838369280173218" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sao Francisco Church. The inside is totally decked out in gold from top to bottom. It was quite the sight. No pictures as cameras were not allowed inside.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDw_5Gk4p0EDI0uzbIkWn6i8sagEb59waaq-3LlYAQXtGakjMH6b5QvXnz7P1DyhRJX-lIJUeUCvIrZFYbqMvxThqvv4d1K-3C6ZhDhxNRRqr8vVV8mKUvxx6iUyl8_RG-1WyIsYXjK9l/s1600-h/P1010440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDw_5Gk4p0EDI0uzbIkWn6i8sagEb59waaq-3LlYAQXtGakjMH6b5QvXnz7P1DyhRJX-lIJUeUCvIrZFYbqMvxThqvv4d1K-3C6ZhDhxNRRqr8vVV8mKUvxx6iUyl8_RG-1WyIsYXjK9l/s320/P1010440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302837786279933138" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVfN5HB9AJBdnItL4WUvvVQk7voE_TmYuDqtn3DpJD31wbB9C82nNugsedeoLxFeoX2uFjjykdA_SKdAzjMHspYE8e64fPgRAAz3HNC91ldXngMol8gj81crgOIhU_KEuir1IrlVnNNxc/s1600-h/P1010463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVfN5HB9AJBdnItL4WUvvVQk7voE_TmYuDqtn3DpJD31wbB9C82nNugsedeoLxFeoX2uFjjykdA_SKdAzjMHspYE8e64fPgRAAz3HNC91ldXngMol8gj81crgOIhU_KEuir1IrlVnNNxc/s320/P1010463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302837775103688898" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Elevator linking upper town and lower town. Originally built in 1873. Cost 5 Real cents to ride (about 2 US cents).<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCWaLhVtBEiTnvS6fkEA_FIhBd49zs95k-w03QG5feEpTIIMukCfsvZ0-wwr5baaEmaf6MoDOixM0BuYOig7xsukkmvAWEU50LxgT6xD9_6kY-_T0q1aLIjY6uTrEKNr9xWjPMQDA9ZRB/s1600-h/P1010418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCWaLhVtBEiTnvS6fkEA_FIhBd49zs95k-w03QG5feEpTIIMukCfsvZ0-wwr5baaEmaf6MoDOixM0BuYOig7xsukkmvAWEU50LxgT6xD9_6kY-_T0q1aLIjY6uTrEKNr9xWjPMQDA9ZRB/s320/P1010418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302833746746605842" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">I got about 90% of my taxes knocked out while I was in Salvador.As perverse as it sounds, I really enjoyed doing my taxes.<span style=""> </span>Not because I’m getting a pretty fat refund back this year, but I just enjoyed diving into a project.<span style=""> </span>Although I have to admit while I was working on them, I was on a patio overlooking the ocean and drinking a coconut.<span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The pre-celebrations for Carnaval are in full swing.<span style=""> </span>A bunch of us went to the Pelourinho (historic center) one night to a concert and then a couple of bars. <span style=""> </span>I’m really kind of digging Brazilian music.<span style=""> </span>The beats are pretty infectious.<span style=""> </span>It is heavily drum based.<span style=""> </span>I had a really good time dancing and drinking capirinas while in Salvador.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had 6 days before catching a flight from Salvador back to Rio.<span style=""> </span>When I got to Salvador, it became pretty apparent that it was not worth spending 6 days.<span style=""> </span>But it seems to get to anywhere in Brazil it is a 20+ hour bus ride or an expensive plane ticket.<span style=""> It's a rerally big country. </span>My second day in Salvador I got a tip about an island about a two hour boat ride away from Salvador.<span style=""> </span>It sounded perfect.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On February 11 I took a two hour boat ride to Morro de Sao Paulo.<span style=""> </span>It is a small island off the coast of Brazil.<span style=""> </span>There are no cars.<span style=""> </span>The taxis are men with wheelbarrows to carry luggage.<span style=""> </span>I’ve seen a lot of good beaches and as a jaded traveler, it takes a lot to impress me. But I though this place was pretty close to paradise.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTknPEQKKFAyRfuW-sfgqBTp4hHeVfEwnkePp82gQ5mq_6RrAh7P0fST-wZPUul8itslMUkXh7JygYI62nc0omhFit7WJ4myfx4qZ75kRggw2GK28uAB7YRNXd3HPqGgToEhk8CZ6Xrmab/s1600-h/P1010452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTknPEQKKFAyRfuW-sfgqBTp4hHeVfEwnkePp82gQ5mq_6RrAh7P0fST-wZPUul8itslMUkXh7JygYI62nc0omhFit7WJ4myfx4qZ75kRggw2GK28uAB7YRNXd3HPqGgToEhk8CZ6Xrmab/s320/P1010452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302837771466548258" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mqE6AOFbuYJ7uU-4Shi6i-gnQShPKwu8LAhC4S_cFFHdzOGWP1PIsaaO4SJZ1VV4nXcyKVPQYw4-NNT3IGqQwOZrvS6lSOK85A8kVnj7ItaGpAP13RNZ2jv_n1nuKeSiUULvBc1pZn8D/s1600-h/P1010451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mqE6AOFbuYJ7uU-4Shi6i-gnQShPKwu8LAhC4S_cFFHdzOGWP1PIsaaO4SJZ1VV4nXcyKVPQYw4-NNT3IGqQwOZrvS6lSOK85A8kVnj7ItaGpAP13RNZ2jv_n1nuKeSiUULvBc1pZn8D/s320/P1010451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302837770746479458" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">A few random thoughts on Latin America.<span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m struck by how we are much more similar than different.<span style=""> </span>The differences are quite small.<span style=""> But below are some that struck me:<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the kiss on the cheek greeting.<span style=""> </span>I never know when it is appropriate to go in.<span style=""> </span><span style=""></span>When I got to Brazil they mixed it up with the double kiss. <span style=""> </span>We never really do it in my culture.<span style=""> </span>It’s kind of awkward and honestly, I’d prefer to not even do it. In Argentina the men often kiss each other on the cheek to say goodbye.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mothers are much more likely to breast feed their babies in public.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Latin Americans, especially Brazilians, are much more open with public displays of affection. You'll be on a bus, an elevator, in a mall, or any other public place, and people right next to you will be making out. And I'm talking loud, smacking kisses. I don't think I'll ever get used to that.<br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Coca-cola has insane worldwide market coverage.<span style=""> </span>I don’t think there is anywhere in the world you can go and not be able to get a Coke.<span style=""> </span>McDonald's is pretty ubiquitous as well, but not in remote places.<span style=""> </span>McDonald's and Burger King tend to cost a bit more than they do in the states.<span style=""> </span>They are usually found in the more affluent areas of town and are considered a fairly expensive treat rather than a staple.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cities and towns are built around the concept of people living close to one another and walking or taking public transportation.<span style=""> </span>In the US, cities are built around people living far apart and driving everywhere.<span style=""> </span>I haven’t driven a car in six months.<span style=""> </span>I haven't missed it.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Midway point.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m getting a little reflective about the trip.<span style=""> </span>I’m probably a little more than halfway through it.<span style=""> </span>When I’m at home, I don’t often meet new friends.<span style=""> </span>Here, that’s about all I do.<span style=""> </span>I meet people daily.<span style=""> </span>I've maid some some really great friends and had some good times, but I find myself missing the kind of friendships that takes more than a few days (or even a few hours) to cultivate. Similarly, when I’m at home, I usually seek out the unusual.<span style=""> </span>Now that I’ve been out of the country for six months, I find myself at times yearning for the familiar.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I had a physical in August 2008 before I left and I weighed 283 pounds. I saw a free scale in a drugstore in Porto Seguro so I weighed myself. The scale at the drugstore read 110 kilograms, which converts to 243 pounds. So, assuming accuracy of both scales, I have lost exactly 40 pounds since I left the states without really trying.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">On February 15 at 3:00pm I am flying from Rio to Sydney, Australia, with stops in Sao Paulo, Santiago (Chile), and Auckland (New Zealand). When I get there it will be 7:00am on February 16. I'm skipping a day since I'm crossing the international dateline. If I was still working and planning a two-week vacation, Australia would probably be one of the last places I would go. 25 hours is a long time to travel to go to a place that looks like and is culturally very similar to my own country. But, I have to admit, I'm really looking forward to spending a few weeks in a first world, English speaking country.</p></div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-41285920869369652452009-01-30T11:14:00.001-05:002009-01-30T13:17:22.659-05:00Chile & ArgentinaOn January 6, I took a bus from the Bolivian border to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. The bus ride was mostly all downhill and it seemed to be about 20 degrees warmer when I got there, which I was happy about. I got a room and a bus ticket out of town for the next day.<br /><br />San Pedro is an adobe style town in the Chilean desert. With it's trendy restaurants and shops, it reminded me of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Due to having a cold and due to lack of sleep, I went to bed early and slept late. So late that a guy was knocking on my door the next day. OK, so I didn't know that checkout was at 10:00. I also didn't know that Chile was an hour ahead of Bolivia.<br /><br />I bought a first class bus ticket to Santiago that left at 4:00pm on January 7. The first class seats recline to 180 degrees so even I can sleep. This was nice because it was a 23 hour bus ride. When I got to Santiago, I really didn't want to get off the bus. The bus was really comfortable and the movie (Ratatouille) wasn't over yet.<br /><br />I got into Santiago on January 8 and spent about four days there.<br /><br />Chile seemed to be a well-organized country. The streets are named, addresses are numbered, they have an efficient, clean subway, and pretty sweet malls. It has been called the Germany of South America.<br /><br />Not much out of the ordinary happened in Chile, but I had a good time. I went to another club with some people I met at the hostel. We got there about 1:00am and it closed at 5:00am. They played good music and not just techno crap. It was pretty decent. I watched my first Titans game of the season (with commentary in Spanish). It was the Ravens playoff game. Wow, what a crappy game! I took a day trip to Valopraiso on the coast. There didn't seem to be much going on in Valpraiso. It was a sunday and the central market was open. I bought some fresh tomatoes, strawberries, and peaches. It's summer in Chile.<br /><br />On January 13, I took a six hour bus ride to Mendoza, Argentina. Mendoza is a wine growing region noted for it's malbecs. I saw a lot of vineyards in Chile and in Mendoza. I'm not sure what it is about grapes, but they only seem to grow in beautiful locations. I went on a tour of some wineries and had one of the best lunches ever.<br /><br />44,000 liters of cabernet sauvignon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMuk56qfUCT8Rb7kvhd0oG9komYh43cXfObw1P4iQxoEp9YOo0bGE_t0ZEQZw2MVCMKBwL_LHEDBY52MEgN0MFm7QOU6aX01_2uZOz25E2GmH_Niy2SZlqFEKKLb6A4AxF1fvAiM3PvNF/s1600-h/P1010018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297105290971108642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMuk56qfUCT8Rb7kvhd0oG9komYh43cXfObw1P4iQxoEp9YOo0bGE_t0ZEQZw2MVCMKBwL_LHEDBY52MEgN0MFm7QOU6aX01_2uZOz25E2GmH_Niy2SZlqFEKKLb6A4AxF1fvAiM3PvNF/s320/P1010018.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLHKhUSd0C5gocdBbHxv85YHJulaKekXIrzYBFMAScoEoPWgsdl_CHFCMZpxPqZFjOQzXPMxiYGmH_u-K_lRAlRoWMydukW_KVpJtLWFhF0FZY-F0Ubv6zm73K35gULd5lHJx6vmQUA9R/s1600-h/P1010043.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297105292346283730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLHKhUSd0C5gocdBbHxv85YHJulaKekXIrzYBFMAScoEoPWgsdl_CHFCMZpxPqZFjOQzXPMxiYGmH_u-K_lRAlRoWMydukW_KVpJtLWFhF0FZY-F0Ubv6zm73K35gULd5lHJx6vmQUA9R/s320/P1010043.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On January 16 I took an overnight bus to Buenos Aires. I actually had a few things I needed to do once I got to BA. First of all, I had to see a dentist. I was flossing a little too hard and chipped a tooth. The same tooth I seemed to have trouble with flossing earlier and that the Panamanian dentist said was fine. I don't know what it is, but more than once I've been to the dentist when I thought something funny was going on with a tooth, they would say it was fine, only to have it chip or break a few months down the road. I went the Dental Argentina Clinic (http://www.dental-argentina.com/). It's a clinic that specializes in tourists from the US and Canada. It was a good experience. I thought I would need a crown, but got an overlay, which is a less sever form of tooth repair that keeps more of the actual tooth. It cost about $340 US for the exam, x-ray, and the overlay. I went for the prep work and impression on January 20 and went back on January 26 to have the inlay put in and completed. I've been reading a lot about medical tourism. I didn't think I would be experiencing it myself. I'm pretty pleased with the results.<br /><br />The other thing I had to do in BA was go to the Brazilian Consulate and get my visa. Brazil requires Americans and Canadians to get a visa ahead of time. It cost 520 pesos (about $150 US). I wasn't really sure what to expect. I've heard very differing stories on what documents one needs to get a Brazilian visa. The consulate's website stated I needed to bring a passport sized photo and copies of my passport, yellow fever certificate, two months of bank statements, and round trip ticket to and from Brazil. I had all those things except the round trip ticket. I only had a ticket leaving Brazil, so I was a but worried that I would have to get it and come back. I didn't really know what to expect in a Consulate's office. I was picturing a really nice office with mahogany desks and maybe animal skins on the floor. It actually looked a lot like the DMV. It was kind of dark and dingy and had three windows. I greeted the lady and spoke to her in Spanish. She didn't ask for any of that stuff other than the photo. She just asked if I had a credit card. She didn't want to see it, she just asked for it. Three days later I had my visa to enter Brazil.<br /><br />If Chile is the Germany of South America, then Argintina is the Italy. Buenos Aires has a distinct European look and feel. If you took Rome, set Paris on top, and added a crazy amount of beef, you would have Buenos Aires. I stayed at the Milhouse Hostel. You gotta love a place named after a character on the Simpsons (and thus, named after our 37th president).<br /><br />I have a love-hate relationship with Argentina. On one hand, it's a very cosmopolitan place with great food. I had some really, really, really, really good steaks. The people are really friendly. The women are ridiculously gorgeous. On the other hand, there are some thing that really drove me crazy. There are not enough coins in circulation. Every time you buy something you normally have this back and forth so you can pay with money that they can make change for. Twice I was refused because we couldn't make the change work. Two times store owners lost sales because of lack of change. This would be frustrating enough, but add to that the fact that you need 1 peso coins to ride the buses. I think in America we'd be taking to the streets if something like that happened. It seemed like something that can be corrected fairly easily. Just open the mint and make some more coins! Also, going out is weird. In the states, going out until 2:00 or 3:00am is considered a pretty late night. In Buenos Aires, going out means going to clubs. The clubs don't get started until 2:30. They go until about 8:00 in the morning. Often, people will leave a club at 8:00 am and go to another club until about 10:00 am. I don't get this. How did these hours come to be?<br /><br />Also, my backpack got stolen again in an internet cafe in Mendoza. It was my fault. I didn't loop it around my foot. Mendoza was really nice and I just got too comfortable and didn't watch myself. It was found in the bathroom minus my Ipod before I knew what had happened. Damn it!!!!!!<br /><br />Recoleta Cemetary - a city within a city. The most expensive real estate in town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweHMPd5CXe2QyPFrFTBG638T8ju9-waHta-K0J3aXfg7yvD4K5caXg0Y8eKhLFlYLZ5cUn5BA253eUNP19irlAqagkwJzMk2ygUWRwv_gHhu1N44RDSAntu3vIlA9d37SWhJBDNtf5HzG/s1600-h/P1010113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297112378992386850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweHMPd5CXe2QyPFrFTBG638T8ju9-waHta-K0J3aXfg7yvD4K5caXg0Y8eKhLFlYLZ5cUn5BA253eUNP19irlAqagkwJzMk2ygUWRwv_gHhu1N44RDSAntu3vIlA9d37SWhJBDNtf5HzG/s320/P1010113.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Grave of Juan and Eva Peron<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTr36ogwaIuS8va8Axn5OMgZznc2i3RK3J_dLDW5IAf0KyVm4XMWlz07h5VSMZ8cr-4GhtbC4drDy5sIY8PsoAt1AYXZTKMEzsXUJWSucEtGolPNG5Z2AQ4-rxyriQYipxJzqqePXkpsQ/s1600-h/P1010134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297112376989323874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTr36ogwaIuS8va8Axn5OMgZznc2i3RK3J_dLDW5IAf0KyVm4XMWlz07h5VSMZ8cr-4GhtbC4drDy5sIY8PsoAt1AYXZTKMEzsXUJWSucEtGolPNG5Z2AQ4-rxyriQYipxJzqqePXkpsQ/s320/P1010134.JPG" border="0" /></a>Casa Rosada - The presidential palace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmIpWX5Ghmkn2KdDedU1mqDaYqvWS2YK99uaVdDKswJF6fZ7CYORyuGOfdX6iVyiN3Pk5dbMnzwKtl0OsrkmoxTETDqMCyGt0Ovv3XnipD4jcdqDLKuBbSxxcDkWpY-FGpDAKeruzAAFK/s1600-h/P1010160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297112391579940690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmIpWX5Ghmkn2KdDedU1mqDaYqvWS2YK99uaVdDKswJF6fZ7CYORyuGOfdX6iVyiN3Pk5dbMnzwKtl0OsrkmoxTETDqMCyGt0Ovv3XnipD4jcdqDLKuBbSxxcDkWpY-FGpDAKeruzAAFK/s320/P1010160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9c5dO4hRhRWcDRTJtrT42QzGjicAO5xzR8Fiocntu1dwknu9r9WDgCtjY05pE5XLEa5wExR0yV4fIdqIw1ntuBMufNGaK52R-1AyhvB4xC5ByanUVyiRkPysGPWhQv0xlpbFMOK9H_2v/s1600-h/P1010092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297108138214578498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9c5dO4hRhRWcDRTJtrT42QzGjicAO5xzR8Fiocntu1dwknu9r9WDgCtjY05pE5XLEa5wExR0yV4fIdqIw1ntuBMufNGaK52R-1AyhvB4xC5ByanUVyiRkPysGPWhQv0xlpbFMOK9H_2v/s320/P1010092.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxohOGdhMTbq0OM_zXQQ1w-MgTuOBGqsIB9gyOwnsabm7NP6fQwE-LSNMYuCj-eZ4RdWZYOADjBCEr4b6iS_oDm4ADExES_BK3_5i1biRWnCp0Mt1HNfS239e83EdsVNEpVt1_BwHcoaR/s1600-h/P1010138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297112383045719042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxohOGdhMTbq0OM_zXQQ1w-MgTuOBGqsIB9gyOwnsabm7NP6fQwE-LSNMYuCj-eZ4RdWZYOADjBCEr4b6iS_oDm4ADExES_BK3_5i1biRWnCp0Mt1HNfS239e83EdsVNEpVt1_BwHcoaR/s320/P1010138.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdbIUPP-ItjGnOawVPPPrFELsgSAjrmxULdNicesVBxhWx4huWXZRcF-6GmAihd2ESLvUqHG-o30-NlEwDSqJlbP0-NkHDq_7aNTT4rESnMmQ3BplnaljPEb_Ti_SrXu_5kdCs1PKD62b/s1600-h/P1010072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297108134762462834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdbIUPP-ItjGnOawVPPPrFELsgSAjrmxULdNicesVBxhWx4huWXZRcF-6GmAihd2ESLvUqHG-o30-NlEwDSqJlbP0-NkHDq_7aNTT4rESnMmQ3BplnaljPEb_Ti_SrXu_5kdCs1PKD62b/s320/P1010072.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKyYtiG7WBydFcd-X-Nzdq752dF477Pz8TaOz2xHmZdif7twchd4SnR_Wl4bviixFEUHnW_ZyqE4-us3IapPUgJOh9cqsW9YhtWZ6iCxBEKubY-lTEfTGap1WvOaSU2x8d3jIBIOyACvB/s1600-h/P1010046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297108132601295474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKyYtiG7WBydFcd-X-Nzdq752dF477Pz8TaOz2xHmZdif7twchd4SnR_Wl4bviixFEUHnW_ZyqE4-us3IapPUgJOh9cqsW9YhtWZ6iCxBEKubY-lTEfTGap1WvOaSU2x8d3jIBIOyACvB/s320/P1010046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Tango is the national dance of Argentina, but no one actually does it. Tango was started by pimps and prostitutes in the immigrant neighborhood of La Boca. It's popularity spread and it became the national dance. However, it faded in the 50's and 60's. People quit learning how to tango. In the last 10 or so years there have been efforts to revive the tango. But today, tango exists mostly as performances for tourists. People don't go to tango clubs and dance the way people in other countries dance salsa and meringue.<br /><br />Me trying to tango dance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8oQJbQPgjWkcqH33-L_WJuvgHBMIE1h0pRrzfyNpOQYOfZgayJngceNT7nD7_UXaT_CGFCQVgqCBso9TSEk99RnsaQhl9TSYT83IflglBNPaXqoCuivzpoBoVbx6v_S0qGg9gL9tuADc/s1600-h/P1010095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297108136901048226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8oQJbQPgjWkcqH33-L_WJuvgHBMIE1h0pRrzfyNpOQYOfZgayJngceNT7nD7_UXaT_CGFCQVgqCBso9TSEk99RnsaQhl9TSYT83IflglBNPaXqoCuivzpoBoVbx6v_S0qGg9gL9tuADc/s320/P1010095.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Real tango dancers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFLPX_N_rtRBDYZJ25IRgMr-Go2AkwOHfBaGZTyMPE3sJ8aV8k4fp5IZiFg7bYLjP_w0DWYoTSYJeM3vRRvocKxNiEJZl7CdduMdQij1S7rE0HcBof4pH1Lk5CTYH2HVLqRCcBv-iWhLB/s1600-h/P1010051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297115580815028354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFLPX_N_rtRBDYZJ25IRgMr-Go2AkwOHfBaGZTyMPE3sJ8aV8k4fp5IZiFg7bYLjP_w0DWYoTSYJeM3vRRvocKxNiEJZl7CdduMdQij1S7rE0HcBof4pH1Lk5CTYH2HVLqRCcBv-iWhLB/s320/P1010051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Pro-Palestinian rally on the street outside my hostel in Buenos Aires.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6SDwNbQlAsqgE8iBylp3nJVUzj5Sq-KwXOTt8A6cwV86P2_CgoATbM6mNFGzgolqpeyRBZ-A7mvxdUeb8xeGOlrM-kUwnISsyBtqp5omqadxkhuNZMi2XI0GSJZSD6ftb4VTfz8xhsP_/s1600-h/P1010168.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297113634336211218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6SDwNbQlAsqgE8iBylp3nJVUzj5Sq-KwXOTt8A6cwV86P2_CgoATbM6mNFGzgolqpeyRBZ-A7mvxdUeb8xeGOlrM-kUwnISsyBtqp5omqadxkhuNZMi2XI0GSJZSD6ftb4VTfz8xhsP_/s320/P1010168.JPG" border="0" /></a>Along with the obligatory burning of the American flag.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9n1Xq5aAAK4DMludMLaI323dEjubLsPb6ZnaprKS8xtCM4NcXLv7RkX5a6J-Mq5xbU-wIv-BHvryjSRwyUi3e26WwS6PyXogCw4svjy1ZqUcpBUUc_igRQEd8N1wp0WYV5tL27OjGRzo/s1600-h/P1010166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297112393255463730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9n1Xq5aAAK4DMludMLaI323dEjubLsPb6ZnaprKS8xtCM4NcXLv7RkX5a6J-Mq5xbU-wIv-BHvryjSRwyUi3e26WwS6PyXogCw4svjy1ZqUcpBUUc_igRQEd8N1wp0WYV5tL27OjGRzo/s320/P1010166.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On January 24, a bunch of us loaded up and went to Mar Del Plata (about five hours away) for a day on the beach and a soccer match. The Beach at Mar Del Plata was small, but very crowded. Most of the women wore thong bikinis. That is not necessarily a good thing. Women of all shapes and sizes and ages were wearing these things, so you had to take the good, the bad, and the ugly. Still, there was something kind of cool about Argentinian women letting it all hang out and not being too self conscious about not having perfect bodies.<br /><br />The soccer match was Boca Junior vs River Plate. They are supposedly the two best teams in Argentina and bitter rivals. The match was exactly what I expected. Argentinians are passionate people and they are extremely passionate about soccer, or futbol. The crowd, which was more entertaining than the game, chanted and jumped up and down during the whole match. I have some video of the crowd. I'll try to upload, but the internet connections have been too slow so far.<br /><br />There was a large police presence at the match. Apparently, it is perfectly acceptable to throw trash out onto the field. The cops made me throw away my camera batteries on the way in, so the pics I have are from other peoples cameras. The game started at about 10:20 and ended about 12:20. It's really a late-night country. Boca won 2-1.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3TmSq85vhyphenhyphenIEETQqgKswnpuYeFxBvMqiGcNVD0Dndfsn2lM8Zz-OCmsUl6OuXOiPYeUYBth1D28Yh5D5G_fIIObvlazGJtDSKgp_ZpuNpz2ZcbiwJ1SM7m0PuZlGD2fcEjfCOvxkf3RU/s1600-h/IMG_0152.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297105285146463890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3TmSq85vhyphenhyphenIEETQqgKswnpuYeFxBvMqiGcNVD0Dndfsn2lM8Zz-OCmsUl6OuXOiPYeUYBth1D28Yh5D5G_fIIObvlazGJtDSKgp_ZpuNpz2ZcbiwJ1SM7m0PuZlGD2fcEjfCOvxkf3RU/s320/IMG_0152.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMa-fOTSvFvYIjzpzvf1orZ2MN7jwkBKNE8F2Jobjt_1PD-PgpxWQGslL0JY5qYNgqR0WOlDpqIaVCs9iOaj_BsGhTuPenyuZYbjj-VpQE1HfVOf_BciucKLJ-Kl3zGvtg52lF8H3l12B/s1600-h/IMG_0176.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297118111393523458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMa-fOTSvFvYIjzpzvf1orZ2MN7jwkBKNE8F2Jobjt_1PD-PgpxWQGslL0JY5qYNgqR0WOlDpqIaVCs9iOaj_BsGhTuPenyuZYbjj-VpQE1HfVOf_BciucKLJ-Kl3zGvtg52lF8H3l12B/s320/IMG_0176.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://localhost:2309/37e05dab787fd97147dc65a5adbe4a08/image/42994f4a09b15267.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://localhost:2309/37e05dab787fd97147dc65a5adbe4a08/image/42994f4a09b15267.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />On January 26, I took a bus to Puerto Iguazu, on the Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay border to see Iguazu Falls, which I'll include in the next post covering Brazil.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-68638493864763634122009-01-10T15:16:00.039-05:002009-01-18T14:44:14.178-05:00BoliviaOn Sunday, December 28, I took a bus from Puno, Peru, to Copacabana, Bolivia. Everyone had to get off the bus, go through Peru exit and then Bolivian Entry. As an American, I had to apply for a visa and pay $135 to enter Bolivia. I think I was the only American on the bus because everyone else zipped though the line. Generally, people from about 25 countries, the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc., can get into most countries for 30-90 days with just a valid passport. Americans are most likely to get screwed with visa fees, as I was entering Bolivia. I had to fill out a 3 page application. It asked for all kinds of information, including employer information. I put down my old information from HCA. I didn't want to write down that I was unemployed, and possibly have my visa rejected for fear I would try to get a job in Bolivia making $2 per day, or whatever the wages are here (Bolivia is the poorest country in South America). So if anyone still at HCA gets a call from the Bolivian government, please do me a favor and lie to them. I had exactly $110 in USD to enter Bolivia. My 2009 guidebook indicated the Bolivian visa would cost $100. When I got there, I found out it was $135. There were no ATMs in this little no man’s land. I had to change most of my money to get $35 more. I also had to provide a copy of my passport and yellow fever certificate (which I could get next door) and a passport sized photo (which I couldn’t). Since I didn’t have a passport sized photo, I was charged another $10, which I’m sure went straight into the border guy´s pocket. I was the last one back on the bus. I entered Bolivia with only about $5 in various currencies.<br /><br />I got into Copacabana at about 11:45. I was informed by the hotel clerk that there were no ATMs and the town's only bank closed at 12:00 and would be closed the next day. So I made a beeline to the bank, where the only way I could get cash was to do a cash advance from my credit card (bad rates and fees). But alas, I had enough for a hotel, bus tickets and tour tickets. I purchased a tour of the Isla del Soul and a bus ticket to La Paz for the next day.<br /><br />Having taken care of the immediate business, I went to an Internet Cafe to book some plane tickets. I then had to deal with the idiots at Capital One, who denied my charge three times. That’s three times I had to call Capital One, then call the airline to put through the charge. I spent a good hour on the phone in three different skype sessions to do something that should have taken about five minutes online.<br /><br />I hate to start out the post being negative, but this day was an extreme example of some of the bureaucracy I have to deal with.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Lake Titicaca from my $13 hotel room. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289868899267131906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbvZrbsyIZbebUzIBNb8iYbKLRWI4_az0zS-lVAERXUfBeoItlWGI52-7pdq7n5SNn3zLl9RnNuOjEApHQnXdJ2H-vWZMFUNzC51kc2e3PgeCE0UlH4Mq5pho5mIoyr7w0IZAajg3k_H5/s320/bolivia+hotel+room.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>On Monday. December 29, I took a tour of Isla del Sol. It took about 1.5 hours by boat to get there. We were dropped off on the north side of the island. The north side includes several archeological sites from the Inka days. We then hiked three hours (seemingly all uphill), to the south side of the island, where the boat would pick us up to take us back to Copacabana. The scenery around the hike had the look and feel of the video ¨Shout¨ by Tears for Fears. I had that song stuck in my head the whole time. It was a nice hike though.<br /></div><div>Our non-English speaking tour guide. I was suprised at this since most people in the group did not speak Spanish.<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289869387804472610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh155qRCc_DT25JfpaAKNrRn4Hj8nVbPQiJtm7oyzjSW5DouUHLieUUP3a3W8sjQeE8Fdn1mKiyU7618IlXY8uYwQBJviUuRENdFZW3aOOI_ETzzLhO8clBRy7z2axO1dnhU1eC4IzQINV6/s320/Isla+Tour+guide.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br />Table where the Inka's sacrificed virgins (really).<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290053221190835634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRG-Pwt9lDvpcIM5Pk5LjeWZkszr3Atlv6fzWR_egAkf0NLbiiwtL2StEizX1JGxTivARyPlW4m5h6zdFVCxSoKUMJMABlffF62bYqNK6svxwIUV5mHWihQ4TiA3xofm47FIiCJtYNI0Lp/s320/table.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290052741828805858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KBn2O1apYQAVENf1hK6k00T_vFNANZmpcKW3xczDJPnsW-DsJ-TAcW1ovoFN2qXirlUpzZV6K3vJKeHbJqxny4n9pkWKjuIINw9g6u3tgab1g4jGF6PWoROUycwWGN1OLMlw0u8MOc_c/s320/P1000745.JPG" border="0" />At 6:30 that night, I took a bus from Copacabana to La Paz. About 30 minutes in, we were told to deboard the bus and take a water taxi across the lake. There were about 40 people (seemingly way too many) in this little boat. The bus boarded a ferry that was just slightly larger than the bus. I could see the bus (with my luggage strapped to the top) swaying right and left as it crossed the lake. I'm sure that saved some time.<br /><br /><br />The water taxi.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289874099176626066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZcOSgXmxn4WQFwcZ9aGbDF5UZ6tRQdOxyplh84xVKv6PhdqSeUZYGMTFRCW0Yw-ceEPOIRt3d_qpNkb70Q1baT6gahxi1OSRofbmO6O98FQX1jMuvquM_0IlVfOl9_i5d7GSlpo8JLjO/s320/Sketchy+boat.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />We arrived in La Paz about 10:00pm. I met three Brits on the bus. Since we were all going to the same place, we all shared a cab. I thought I would be hanging out with these guys while I was in La Paz, but I fell in with another group of Brits, Germans, Australians, and an Israeli. The dynamics of being on the road are interesting. There are a lot of people doing what I’m doing (long-term solo travel). Every new place is a little like the first day of school. Lots of opportunity and a little anxiety. Groups form, you have a good time, and in a few days, these groups disband when people go in different directions. It’s an interesting dynamic.<br /><br /><br />La Paz sits at over 13,000 feet. It is the highest world capital. It is usually cold year round and the air is very thin. I don't think I ever adjusted to the altitude, as I was winded most of the time. Central La Paz didn't seem to have any supermarkets, but had plenty of street vendors selling drinks, junk food, and llama fetuses. According to tradition in Bolivia, it is necessary to bury a llama fetus beneath all new homes to appease Pachamama. I didn't take any photos, but if you want to see, go to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/">www.flickr.com</a> and search on the keywords Bolivia, Llama, and Fetus. <br /><br /><br />Government palace. About as nice as La Paz gets.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289869385340176578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLf7oGNN7HapB59VvkxSerM2_7cDrlSrGFucvkgiu4IAT89kZNP0KOXkdDH3Bd6SjKav-59CHpyhECZfqkFfSR5sJXut9qCqvMdHj_ZDWjPpUgBxkdtcGvNRyi04gDhTR-CdP25KofF77/s320/Government+palace.jpg" border="0" />I spent new years in La Paz. It was a lot of fun. There was a gangster themed party in the hostel bar. No one really had costumes, so most were cheap little costumes bought locally. Mostly plastic hats and ties. I wore a bandana around my head. I was a 90's gangster, but most others were 1920's gangsters.<br /><br /><br />One of the tours many visitors take is to San Pedro prison in downtown La Paz. San Pedro prison houses about 1,500 inmates. It is unusual in that the prisoners have basically taken over, not by force, but by bribery. Prisoners sentenced to San Pedro have to buy their cells. The most expensive areas have pool tables and cable TV, as well as apartment like amenities. The cheap areas are small, cramped, and smelly. Wives and children of prisoners can live there, for a price, and can come and go as they please. Prisoners set up stands to sell food and suppolies just like on the outside. Each of the seven areas of the prison elects a governor to administer the area and represent it's members' interests.<br /><br /><br />I was a little hesitant about going, since many of the travel offices had signs saying not to ask about San Pedro tours, because they are illegal. But everyone I talked to went and said the same thing. You go to a park across the street from the prison and sit on a bench. Someone will approach you and ask if you you want a tour. The tour would cost 250B (about $35 US - a lot of money for Bolivia), use of a camera would be 15B, and an unspecified amount to tip the guide. Also you would need to bring cigarettes to give to the prisoners and candy to give to the children.<br /><br /><br /><br />On January 2, I went with Regina, a German, to tour the prison. We stopped at a street vendor and bought about 5B worth of candy (40-50 pieces) and a pack of cigarettes (5.5B). We went to the park and sat on a bench. About 20 minutes passed and no one came. We started eating the candy we'd bought. Finally after about 30 minutes, Kenny, a tall guy in a Manchester United football jersey approached us and asked if we wanted the tour. He explained the prices and the process and it was just like I'd heard. He said there was a group of Australiains he was waiting on and when they arrived, we could start the tour. There were a total of 11 of us on the tour.<br /><br /><br /><br />We entered the prison through a metal detector that was obviously not turned on. They escorted us into a little room where they took our money and introduced us to our guide Angel (a prisoner) and three body guards. He took us around the prison and explained how it operated. The whole tour took about 2.5 hours. About half of the prisoners there are awaiting trial and the other half are serving sentences. Apparantley if you have money, you can pay off the judges, jurys, and clerks and get a speedy trial. If you have no money, you could sit there for years awating trial. The Bolivian justice system is pretty corrupt even by Latin American standards.<br /><br /><br /><br />Our English speaking (sort of) guide.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289868892679237442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbGXH8YCqbZcaNZ6dZhWRMsH16VpLEU5V7BtdkHWnISrMl-Odqez8LYU_gImDkDHUF1ZfYGNYbQ_SFBYZk3OysUQfu3GQgZ-BKDGy-X9soh3wdws6FDgZHagQiIvLifpjTCHHe61Cb04D/s320/Angel.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Home made water heater for laundry. A brick wrapped in a coil with two wires coming out of the wall. Seemed a bit dangerous.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289874109278184242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHZjaFJfDPEU2lUr7rc7i1ukf2G9CYk_3_oTcyLndSNPLlXhXpTJlxhhyphenhyphenWZk2AMnC077hBIWXnFoPJxW1jv4oJOh3hzeLfDKSNmb-4Y9WbwxeSy-0r4TR72hbJiQPxmVyvmTxHhGnAXe3/s320/water+heater.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289870072559563186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD0UVn8PmXjnx_EW9PZgSQT7yfxJbbjmqLsKJmFPlNvsNAH5rn6RrGsyMtJqc8Ii20nlQcaNXL7grz3ajwdnIYR8zD4zbW_yJ_2HqKNH5PS6chYRGsZ61v1ItIMc3SUrt3G5ZstrmqG8M/s320/prison+with+town.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Rec room and courtyard in one of the expensive areas.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290063368956784498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iatl7vf3L4kvxKF2WvZtxjp25dA6ewAqHmq9rW81wrDIuHiPY1B-0RrUb2tm4xU74vfvLtgIZNaf5Vuggd06nzG9dBwEIzgb9K9gf24FsijTS0_Y_JibTpuPT9HXShrPDXFnDMoqONz9/s320/rec+room.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289870066888443602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG7FsR_ZVQeULXfdHNju410RiV4thyphenhyphenp72rM0aNyvc27RCsKGLPBK44mnQtxsvFfSFi58Hw7Fw3kssZP4IY7kJpep_oEr-S2qOpMo0AzloA6DPC7hoBnAeDQQs1_aygu7qRjnltEmUitXb/s320/prison+courtyard.jpg" border="0" /><br />Hallway in one of the cheaper areas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289870069144870322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWJIf-i1houLDmNYywkPsBJlwTYix1nYmEPtQbuWsfHw6xHpkJBv9HhNGwThyV88CfE2Lxpy5ETcjUH0tQZcuzDLFDenQOYid-VaOOQ_2Hy9IphSf1Fsx5cXYT-PmP_tAGKXErvWiVMcX/s320/prison+hall.jpg" border="0" /><br />Coca-Cola has an exclusive agreement with the prisoners to market and sell coke products inside the prison.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289868906463541842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfS_6hUq7ItNigfa8NN-n_OWylG74V4Yo80VJHVGV6NCPDwS3FGke3Yfss2molafTIAWjTW4FJhgE145ySBEV2aWQLhtytMTw1bhsUIS0q7pK10VqULBKimMKjRfIJYjR_3eeN76Yj8jk/s320/coke.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Kitchen<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289870064603172162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lES9vKE3xPGGcpuMJOLiidhQ7gIBrvOu_9VWvpuG50mWTPww1jhaMJzYocn0rG6-5_F4GTnfyWZTFO1co4weEfJHiliyEyEHBNMNrokVmV2oKpLFnZP2p62o41_X0WWOSgn79rjRKVWC/s320/kitchen.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />It was lunch time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289868901586513506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEi40MzH9CBhhzJ81Shx51NqKV57TQsKT-wFWJ3f7J1FoQfIi3hoEMJ3q9EB6LKBSiTs7p13L5xKT-WdribG14Qd1c524EnM-hCGVMmwzuIAa9prutfouRb1GiEnsR6nVfPvFQdORKO5ED/s320/chow+line.jpg" border="0" /><br />One of many kids running around the place. This one was wearing a Barney costume.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289869393609760898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2w9lBuSbOWogmldPz3v0AD5W2kLIPQwuO2s8GHcKpMM-rrwtRPPFfEmCkHbH14jiIWmy_BPUFtO-IvlLHZkPj3XW5nUYQwEo45-t1YgoupIiRO-t7QIv6A-MTU0S5kasqHb3HKZWuO8Ds/s320/kid+in+barney+costume.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />At the end of the tour, we all entered a small room and then they shut the door. With the same intonation as explaining other parts of the prison, Angel informed us that they had a cocaine processing plant in the prison and they would sell us 99% pure cocaine for 100B per gram. No one in our group bought any, but they said selling cocaine to tourists brings in significant revenue for the prisoners.<br /><br />I had mixed feelings about the tour afterwards. First, I was financially supporting the system by paying to get in. A lot of people on the outside had it a whole lot worse than many people on the inside. Second, I was giving candy to a bunch of kids with rotting teeth. For the kids, every day was like Halloween. Thirdly, it felt like I was at the zoo. It was an experience to say the least.<br /><br />On January 3, I took an 11 hour, overnight bus to Uyuni. Uyuni is a jumping off point for touring the salt flats and the southern Bolivian desert. The road was unpaved for the last five hours of the trip and man it was rough. My rear and back were getting pounded. I was never more glad to get off a bus than when I got to Uyuni. They really need to pave some of those roads. You would think with my $135 visa fee that they could pave a few miles. At Uyuni, we met up with Bernardo, our tour guide. There were eight of us packed into an old Toyota Land Cruiser. The hotels were very basic. The first hotel had no running water. The second had running water, but no shower. Neither had heat and it was prety cold at night. It was a lot of riding (off road) and stopping to take pictures, but I think I got some of my best pictures of the trip. The salt flat was amazing. The Bolivian desert looked like New Mexico (minus the paved roads).<br /><br /><br />Railroad graveyard.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289871677812231138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsu3dqyy5t1fpVWuxOTtPTmCTs0SVLusm8bsvV7mAnICurTqFwd21yEsDrADJa4FZhm1y4gOVzuiycsbQk8qZ0OzzTJ0k6MVMiDaIlZMwbypHtI8fhRvvPL0voVsXZaTJPq7mL9_4LGCl/s320/railroad+graveyard.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Salt Hotel.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289871694884683042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAmIq31fc0WMAf9RGb5dFqbWhzdjjQCw2Lw97efcp734PGdwL5UarhsAAkIZ-GjXJi6xWZvbNtPXX7x0g5Z1S2MzV77reBMCmYdjwPR5hsZF6PzZtqD4OGztcrKyP730ENDCeFzLIe-AA/s320/salt+hotel.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Licking the Salt Hotel.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289871696544096082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2CsSs7fDUlyZl5wu1u7-Vnesg9WA1TrpT6KZ76golSHC_w9_i3QwfP8T1oZBPqo3R_EWypGYaY9bx4WfuNYglwDk5lSKRA4SsUTOoRkJVTmKVJT0zUGsbyVvMCrCuNjYEpnHAC4pgJ6g/s320/salt+hotel+lick.jpg" border="0" /><br />The Salt Flats.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289871690723351362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6O_A2jypvufhFlXuz82W5G-ODtl851DYfBdP4OzEMlc2lX3zb7vjQ7vsJbt5tFNNJ6nHeCXzvQY7jqOIPr2cmprknnqnap4OtZem4TOyq4adRdPQR6lDf48DhOra9C8clM3UPp2bg1Jz/s320/salt+flat+mounds.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289871681595657378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-U98jPj12TLkHD1aHMf4sfOIQt6vukHIAA0PNh30Shrma-GyycC8RJvK34DD8aCnkceHhwnmC841UOG3h2SCT42HtQpLrXfQ5U4PMUiSIfVtJGCn5kIBeNff3VnzFpcYEqxA8ClesuO0/s320/salt+flat+me.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Bolivian desert. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289868902187674514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_C4ig-7cOihpLF788ekIRJ609qYOZu5iACfyQuV0parnqJe6fIdi-VsJYmoocqGgshwibzAFZrxZ_iNfCEeCw132GWdQ8cRcgi-RM7Op9DNe9YKBE9zIcNgfXARP2qW3hobqngA8SHfe/s320/bolivian+roads.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290073606932028178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzf-0qv5eq7zvMKHLiUJ-z4kxIA2ddBQU7BsLxOQIVtrfG2Lf0U61HB4yVHT6Av5ezAH-YJ7zg2lML5r8NXf3dsirSiWgb34ityyW2GuNtuUemMzLkUQzVzeIbySYtMy4cw-0PmC_bzzR/s320/tree+rock.JPG" border="0" /> <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289870067371723106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA5Qu0TpZQVE7FNkU5YQuk2YD2RpuV7lERzC8qqncnjmqz2k6QkXt_qocOOwkjbb6yQxFeKhyphenhyphenYjbMVI9wDlJwpb1dm4gSm3UKR0om8uJ9UPeXWU19BB-HUivkuemEP_rFi1vJypVD0s_F/s320/pink+flamingos.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289874104815175426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReMjjw3_zoJKX9_F0FrEEL5I5c3u_9Xtp2fZTtIrRwCJ5gPn7wcMfAJJYG_YgMjixunwpNwEbZ5xeR5yTWQ7Cz55ZQ2hzYrYLDurkvLZr-z0kVUA81SfbBbL44g60yUnb5WktrhByQbto/s320/volczan.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289869385908950210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAOBw2fTHxM97eImY-a0_6l6zKaGZXU2_5Cej4z3tp8vVQlEsl6X8Sih-Pm2308i2pQcPkU3yC6_ZUVRh6O1N1dCR4KM_HsBeiq062KEdWAWE1Iq0uZcu5xZM7jSqENPVuB6Kjxaqdn5C/s320/gysers.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289869378771398178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9Qc17uQBUkw3ReC_mWCNbjEmaLcNsllnruYD6gCcUSEiB20keUaq5oKeHQ_NnsIAsy54kWrMs8FBAv3wSJcKP_VHZR24Pcef4llje26qe9pFm5taeRRUDoLr0ZfWEO2ZE0ptUc7lriGQ/s320/desert.jpg" border="0" /><br />On the third day, January 6, three of us were dropped off at the Chilean border while the rest headed back to Uyuni. From the Chilean border, we took a bus into San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. The bus ride was about an hour and was seemingly all down hill. I welcomed the warmer weather of Chile being as I had caught a nasty cold in the Bolivian desert. </div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-91390389151466736142008-12-27T16:38:00.000-05:002008-12-27T16:39:46.209-05:00PeruOn Sunday, December 14, I arrived in Lima, Peru. For a city of 8 million people, there doesn't seem to be a lot going on. A lot of people skip Lima altogether on their way to Peru's better sights. There is a about one day's worth of stuff to see in Lima. I had two full days.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>The central plaza is definitely worth a look. </div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283447015408730306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCy-oBQ48gPya0jVFJsDzRrrYXrcwIsd7cfB61W13jPLM-NRXpI3zZer1HL1yn_KuXFE3LWyuibfWK9pHJOPMmmPu4zT6aurLkvIbh7fofFdsSoNgl0pjsmspIohmmZ0B96caYBD7ko-bM/s320/Lima+Central+Plaza.jpg" border="0" />Slums on a hillside painted bright colors so they look pretty from a distance.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283447017827604210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYnbt9ceQEOfqUUQW0SpfWHMHxBMIQHeRRT8DGB5e_Qg4zm5D7fBfDh4cpKTkE0q_LeN52K4sC8m2RC18Vcugf1KG4KHOsM63MToUfx_vKR5rx51CwkWO_Hy5TKCDxdL6f-ybjVosIxdz/s320/Lima+Slums+on+mountainside.jpg" border="0" /> <div>I took a tour of the Cathedral San Francisco, including the library and catacombs. The cathedral was completed in 1674. For about 300 years, it was standard procedure to bury people underneath the church. They would throw the bodies in the catacombs along with some lime to control the smell. A lot of bodies accumulated over this time and they had arranged the bones into bins by type. It was really interesting. Unfortunately, photography was prohibited in the catacombs.</div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283447021901451010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj0KQj4IJs6pHcDog6lqOKjJtgZLY55aKMsycHDd9WfuH6yKXktQcN4uXe7gofq1_xGGxCu5crS5Dg4P1mw923EW6cI1pC5MWli2qT4ygYcRrbG16Jsqv2o88mzUrCn_G9_0Sz0KTEO7o/s320/San+Francisco.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>On Wednesday, December 17, I took a 5:40 am flight to Cuzco. I had intended to take a bus to cuzco, but heard horror stories about the 25 hour ride. I instead opted to take a one hour flight for a little over $100. Cuzco is kind of the starting point for Machu Picchu and the Peruvian Andes. It is a handsome Spanish-Colonial town that has many hotels, restaurants, and bars catering to foreigners, while still holding it's own as an actual Peruvian town.<br /><div></div><div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450128929229938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGcatX4MJ-44oE3YQ4Bvl4vVBSQ0SMlY5gJuuyc9pKQ5Eo0CsyJ71DTnFctnuvsrp2PlEaqOToBRRo7vlfnIP1R2b5czpZTJwg2j81m2kM338I-lrxoBLNT6MTLt0wiDhBBnB3JdOTcSF/s320/Cuzco+Street.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450100081080626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwBYD5cFBvoJ2f5XHmxZA4a1RWaRXwfElcDbTI2uaMc-g3czC9yxz-GeC0CcWKHNDNgQeWpBOjpSYo8L5ToJI7iqdChEYZkD60sV5pCvTHbtG7v-ZT0K6avVcaNbrJUca8YD8g3719puF/s320/Church+in+Cuzco.jpg" border="0" /> Central Market in Cuzco.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450104398047298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5_lPvTdDfcJ1zWrlr6nKd3E3Dy-dTJtfuqqIZbgjOy9M5Kk14skZ825tcDwfL_M50xJAamvqIHgPBbCgxjvKzxJkcEG0MbyQXI4GGqj_rRt9cnFk-Zrer7YpfraeJVqpqJXCsyIcq_LE/s320/Cuzco+Central+Market.jpg" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450107882475330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAt9Hf7W4IXwxvGkvjriNpeUjNsYaY-wstbiNFfSeI4Kzc4QVkCdPLFCBI7vP8Sp5o7uo-1mclwcuXCjr6g0S8fegrJlWIwNnUF36QMEVndqRWfc5qy73h2YiEhZiOVXlXvjvTk44WENHg/s320/Cuzco+from+Gate.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450113674252514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0bl_TwAhMngfc9d4ijFOqjWi8IoqIeX0F9brGmR5_M9tUw1GUiLLo9MT13qSRIYai_Vo5e7JhqgW8oyjYdtQHC0iDi7nHctL6lxQOpnTaQp9YIynmjw6zm8zSCVHiGsCcrzNUdYKweOv/s320/Cuzco+from+high.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p>Machu Picchu is an Inka site built in 1460 and abandoned about 100 years later. It was discovered by Hiram Bingham, an American historian in 1911. On Saturday, December 20, I took the Peru Rail train to Aguas Calientes. Aguas Clientes is a small, tourist town at the base of Machu Picchu Mountain. It is about four hours by train. The train and the town exist solely because of Machu Picchu. I sat next to an old British lady on the train who talked my ear off the whole time. The seats on the train faced each other, so half the train rode forward and half rode backward. The seat across from me was empty and I so wanted to put my feet in the seat. But I had flashbacks to a British lady scolding me at Heathrow airport for putting my feet on a seat. So I resisted.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450916467881330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV3jwgkO8SqQ3Kwn1IdlaWkeIquRLc4rbA6hTxrPEtXNK9zQlzhsOFwxgJqEvqmeRnQ_9ynhupMFiPUsjdM_gLFdxl3mz1aYXfZ4QOFzQEr2yiWmVhKatzbARhFMnTGfuseN3AUKEViSW/s320/Rail+Peru.jpg" border="0" /></p>Many people see Machu Picchu as a day trip from Cuzco. Doing this only leaves about three, possibly four hours to se Machu Picchu. For a sight like this, something I have wanted to see for a really long time, I wanted to spend more time than that. So I spent two nights in Aguas Calientes. I wanted to have enough time to see it and give a buffer in case of inclement weater. It rained quite a bit the day before and the day after I went. Also, Machu Picchu is an expensive trip by Peru standards. The train ride was $80 round trip, the admission was $40, and the bus ride was $14 round trip.<br /><br /><p>I got up at 5:00 am on Sunday, Decemebr 21 to catch the forst bus going to Machu Picchu. The first 400 people who sign up get to go up Waynupicchu (that forbidding looking mountain in the background). I climbed that bad boy. When you see how hig up Machu Picchu is and how steep the terrain is, it makes it even harder to imagine how it was ever built. On top of all that, the structures were mostly built without mortar. This building style has helped the site withstand eathquakes and is a major reason it is so well preserved. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450906150545522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8xLK9mPgAv4OmzwyzjIRvEDAoZiWtC5tr25lKqUGonACiYxB6V2pNIj-fWPE1rHJRGhBGgfOMZP1_t0t8IeojkP6KbBV4byA0hVnHz8bPk59oNmATX7TL5v-Kt7NrSorPuiwILbOiwEG/s320/Machu+Picchu+Money+Shot.jpg" border="0" />Top of Waynupicchu.<br /><br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283454640034132306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1GorglarKnjSGRQxOUojs9SDQj_hvvULoCgJ_3p2RcA44b6pWzydJroYEXFEzXSuc3FNt3fpiRTtR-pNnLtQ7WmGElRSQ8PU-9TH5s8cln20RIvnAUtela33ms892BQDZhzExpGexbfB/s320/Top+of+Waynupicchu.jpg" border="0" /></p>Top of Waynupicchu with road from Aguas Calientes on the left.<br /><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450902699949602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUg8g8r1K27W03ibMu5b4bG2D8QFLwnvXMBvXYzc1PrfvW-kSBDHK7q4N3FGQVXsuZFht-kXCsgjk2C3ZePLefnyZc9D6Oz0jUHVNRr5qkRNUE5bnMN_N6k3v9SmmCjE4WxWnaINbFLHt/s320/Machu+from+Waynu.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450912907109698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-qYpNXwZmIkqdkT_XvVx4vuKJio-pDMi-VYwepSlyp70CROA8BW7T6WxIYIaRGaHM8uO584W35r4aqkPM0AuNzUYkcfJIUECXBSzQ8LwedZ3ccD8POK3Rkm1VYKe_4dAxGSoJPzcl9ih/s320/MOuntains+in+the+diustance.jpg" border="0" />Tina, come get some ham. The Llamas keep the grass trimmed.</div><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283450899474311842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xjAHTKBkqD6mdRLiYQdHZEXteAxkOuykR5-Usvfx2AFsIHL5dvYp5wjvBso03xhsAjbjPmslYTGr4hnoX-0gOycPhLTWD3rv7sJIx-G5PTtLuyQmD7pUCOuzdDBe_JpIO0qJ8efhw0IT/s320/Llama.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283454642868480658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyIoRL2Cdzp6tbXZKL0Z0H3vUjbP8UU-Z77vC_abuvwEf7aDUfVTg8Dd1W01jU8YC-MRQPmXxW_GgLxCVMXf1uT_-uPPls5AyMklR48qPHpsRl5sMHZPIdehqrvnbXv5_UjrtO2wFCSTW/s320/Walls+in+mp.jpg" border="0" /><br />Agricultural terraces.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283454634096818434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScKdrpNpBidyfJZxgEA4tnNFLyHqLt52MN6L94OgALdlPsDT3RzWwmiWOD2nYLR2rshQvoRqp4pVhbrHbIzFf97S0saGcLRrguDSettpRqowxv_VipO7Scyknp3K0rrKPUDxRQDSyNC9k/s320/Terraces.jpg" border="0" /><br />On Tuesday, December 23, I took a bus to Puno, where I would stay thorugh Christmas. Puno is on Lake Titicaca and is a jumping off point for the Floating Islands. The owners of the hostel in Puno cooked a traditional Peruviuan dinner for all the guests on December 24. The 24th is more a celebratino day than the 25th. It started kind of late - about 9:30. They had a turkey, with a ground beef and bean stuffing, pig knuckles, a type of cabbage slaw with slivers of ham, a green bean and date casserole, and buttered potatoes. It was really good and I had a good time with the family and the other travelers. The neighborhood kids shot fireworks at midnight.<br /><br />On Saturday, December 27, I took a boat tour to the Uros Islands. The Uros are an indigenous people who live on floating islands in Lake Titicaca. The islands are made of reed. As the reeds on the bottom rot away, more are added to the top. It was a strange feeling walking on the islands, as the reeds would give a few inches as I walked. It was an interesting tour, but the whole thing felt like a tourist trap. I'm sure the islands and the people would not exist if not for the tourism revenue. So, I was a little conflicted.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284585337870357298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_u_KB2TVK6cnUrAHKjWAmGxqpMULov9WPhRtIDU3vzm9SRRME721znakvH2T8XbzKmg1pPzsvTZohiTN_JiLd4BdF-oZEwhUGjGGypQx2zExqWljBkRLqKWV6WwvWu3qP4QM_eM39ctt1/s320/P1000691.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284585364911456002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEenQAmFT95IaszMmmVMGT4ChnlVoj4XHOoEVNeuMXAPfszR5ZIeoGCgqnCkUFYSJ0iU1aF0UOmRYATFKlSB09ctYq4d9Tb57zh79nX8E2XBoMOnmg4TBJYqZJqFuqDpDcmjymnHS87dUW/s320/P1000722.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284585360622888594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3v5trxYSnGcDQW3herMyYuLVPd9o-GKfV8LxUaHU8wT_UobcXVjCqBIE7_SuAD1Fr57p1t71MwAh4dB7EaHKPlvf9JWhynaG0-uQKxn29o6NHhNg9SrIetULkwKYLtnn5Pz4pPgF0qBi/s320/P1000714.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284587402500725250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDWZkapUpQTkgd9UeB8LbA9PNqf7gp5I6o2rxEyGyBEk8UZ9FWLo3MVNKZzQt2i6iqMdBibyV857bd-yjNDOI2sNu69nY_rnsMGQGSkJMEp9UBkkTeeBfyjuIjrL-Hdj_4b4IXKJBDsM6/s320/P1000703.JPG" border="0" /><br />On Sunday, December 28, I'm taking a bus to Copacabana, Bolivia. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-11301957844409221682008-12-17T21:31:00.001-05:002008-12-19T18:01:13.038-05:00BogotaOn Thursday, December 11, I took a bus from Manizales to Bogota. I traveled with a group of five Irish guys I met at the hostel in Manizales. They were all on their last week of a 14 month around the world trip. So there was some drinking in Bogota. <div> </div><br /><div>The thing that struck me first about Bogota was the climate. The temperatures range from the 40's to low 60's year round. It was damp and rainy. The weather reminded me of winters back in Tennessee. I didn't get my camera out much at Bogota, and I generally don't take it with me at night. But I got it out one night to take some pictures of the Christmas lights. </div><div> </div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv4zrY4ioPwTEGNgsYlgOUopvJeneUwW11fIqF90f3awXmiJ7bmb1vGystJezxWlxcUsjxY42ss_jsRKt_ppouwBxRGbWGfjJ7q2ZteTSlB_FbHhYQcdf0HZHfXuMFsGNnXq1WHiBi7kb/s1600-h/P1000422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv4zrY4ioPwTEGNgsYlgOUopvJeneUwW11fIqF90f3awXmiJ7bmb1vGystJezxWlxcUsjxY42ss_jsRKt_ppouwBxRGbWGfjJ7q2ZteTSlB_FbHhYQcdf0HZHfXuMFsGNnXq1WHiBi7kb/s320/P1000422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280820647427011282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0cvh74S5P_AQhpcI3g9v3Q_PNeL6U9wBws8rOKFctzXx2khefltJ-Eb7I5-Sqogsl2VcoqCfNkKusJw-4_iqq4TPI80dki5w73FbDu7FoTg0kBj-K7xE94glteKi9puLCUbBBSnrPay8/s1600-h/P1000417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0cvh74S5P_AQhpcI3g9v3Q_PNeL6U9wBws8rOKFctzXx2khefltJ-Eb7I5-Sqogsl2VcoqCfNkKusJw-4_iqq4TPI80dki5w73FbDu7FoTg0kBj-K7xE94glteKi9puLCUbBBSnrPay8/s320/P1000417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280820642860657986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUIENxBFQ9-OuFS1qDRR6LzzaBd6hVXNo4wsAX-KxMlu6QtTIRidyhvld4jAtD41olhyphenhyphenC_VvphVp0q2W00ufEtatrSWVV7DP7JDDcpd389_nQiNsPWEEQERyysi4j6z0NIrPOJiFH0ywu/s1600-h/P1000396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUIENxBFQ9-OuFS1qDRR6LzzaBd6hVXNo4wsAX-KxMlu6QtTIRidyhvld4jAtD41olhyphenhyphenC_VvphVp0q2W00ufEtatrSWVV7DP7JDDcpd389_nQiNsPWEEQERyysi4j6z0NIrPOJiFH0ywu/s320/P1000396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280820640764256658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDP3Utd3gOLTGqMy5QB1DcUibjWW-vXp5oxJWkNRyI1aK0G8uM99bD4MEmWgeMRBGvINdrKviF0sZ_vxsE8O8UDVCd5HUNvxuMCszN8a1-hE1UWeLx6IyH_KXMJQSAuoLLlJP5jTAz2tU/s1600-h/P1000383.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDP3Utd3gOLTGqMy5QB1DcUibjWW-vXp5oxJWkNRyI1aK0G8uM99bD4MEmWgeMRBGvINdrKviF0sZ_vxsE8O8UDVCd5HUNvxuMCszN8a1-hE1UWeLx6IyH_KXMJQSAuoLLlJP5jTAz2tU/s320/P1000383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280820624521702130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I went to a club with with the Irish guys. It was on the 40th floor of a downtown building. It cost 35,000 pesos just to get in (about $15 US), which is an extraordinary amount of money in Colombia. I can't remember the last time I spent that much money to get into a bar or club in the States. It was the kind of place I usually hate, but I thought, "what the hell". The DJ played house and techno music. People were really geting into the music, which was basically just one continuous beat with no words and not much change in music. The crowd would start clapping at certain times. I wondered why everyone was clapping because it sounded like the same damn song they'd been playing for four hours. I had a pretty decent time, except when it started getting really crowded at about 2:00am and the music started getting on my nerves, (not to mention the crowd was about 70% guys). Most European guys genuinely enjoy going to clubs that play house and techno music. Most American guys don't really enjoy clubs, but will tolerate them because there are girls there. But European buys really seem to enjoy them.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>On Sunday, December 14, I took a flight from Bogota to Lima Peru. This will be country number four. Geez, I'm goin to need to pick up the pace if I want to get everything in.<br /></div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-23563807055954497602008-12-15T18:50:00.000-05:002008-12-15T18:50:00.237-05:00Manizales<div><div><div><div><div>On Sunday, December 7, I flew to Manizales, Colombia. Manizales is a town high in the mountains with streets on steep hills. It is somewhat reminiscent of San Francisco. The city has an interesting bull ring. I really want to go to a bull fight, but I'm missing the season in Colombia by about a month. Every country has a different bull fighting season. As much as I would like to stay here for another month, there's too many other places to see.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280158424498713186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLXylVyriM_3hPTZmOe6Cg6BVoBtJonO2W-Cjj7qeL44Dl77eeXXuvxUKmmE5cDVfQnWZ2V2iQE5dXEejU845NT8vPZW1Qt1K5CBDi5hjnNcSN_mF1PfWF0hudTxD4qklbWRSohxJnVVG/s320/P1000324.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280158389858298418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_zAQ4cDxMFcnrrE0PtIAk9JQG9NHD50jXA3WjjG1k6RnK1gJybJkOpLJ-gGHybBIHQPwravD_kk58ZRryNZkzTxjvFMzqqMm19gGy73HqMFlssT_0lU9alACjdUnb9Rv6lg_6lx36CIm/s320/P1000303.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280158402022318562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPs8VV3-nU1GAA8wUx8g5quycywYB6X-qbYpAT99BNzmiHUYpHQVCuzNa3EcVF_64W0ZUcXIcozmpFHZ8yhtUQ05-SmmESpJ_RIvFAUTj8NN_atYyMQyRMYRnDomMQSEoNLmrg3mgk9KB6/s320/P1000305.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280158376732765122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW6RBnoMkK0HUZq-qlCGRBToLRXkjCiz5a1Qad3uSgW223sdfSqgFIKBwYgKEgPZ-CX4f6QQYn-WtQTvBAVY2Z5Plh5Qa-ngtGlrCKwWJQfXupPCoagVxZjSqpkSXT6N_Cb13Wvbd0EbU/s320/P1000282.JPG" border="0" />I went on a guided trek to Parque Nacional Los Nevados. Colombia is one of those countries where one day you can be roasting on the beach and two days later, be freezing on a snow-capped mountain. The scenery on ther ride up to the park was as spectacular as the road was curvy and bumpy. We hiked up the mountain to an altitude of 16,076 feet (the summit of Pike's Peak is 14,110 feet) . The air was pretty thin. Ascending the mountain was slow going. People could only walk about 30 seconds or so without stopping for a breather. </div><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmje-Q6xHdkvdBwVJEeQIs3USdeRzKl_IcPX2UH0RFf80cCPTb9iiMtD3Ba0sf_FXPOpRDFTt4Qre0e7XyWaFR5rSnVpO_a78obpg3IQQueVzyeq8HyipFLSBO1PDtc6M9uliq6uN1qxv8/s1600-h/P1000350.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278299437973131794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmje-Q6xHdkvdBwVJEeQIs3USdeRzKl_IcPX2UH0RFf80cCPTb9iiMtD3Ba0sf_FXPOpRDFTt4Qre0e7XyWaFR5rSnVpO_a78obpg3IQQueVzyeq8HyipFLSBO1PDtc6M9uliq6uN1qxv8/s320/P1000350.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p>Not much else going on in Manizales. It was kind of quite. On Thursday, December 11, I took a bus to Bogota. It was a 10 hour bus that left at 9:00am. I took the day bus because I wanted to see the scenery on the way. </p></div></div></div></div>Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-91634474960426583052008-12-10T12:31:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:32:24.842-05:00CartagenaOn Monday, December 1, I took a night bus from Medellin to Cartagena. It was approximately a 12 hour trip on an obnoxiously cold bus. The guidebooks said the buses would be cold, but wow, this bus was freezing. I wore jeans and a t-shirt and a light jacket. It was a miserable trip, but it was warm at 8:00 in the morning when I arrived in Cartagena.<br /><br />I was going to skip Cartagena altogether, but I heard really good things in Medellin, so I went. It was a good choice. Cartagena is located on the Carribean Sea. It has a walled old town and a modern town with high rise condos stretching along the beaches. I stayed in the old town. The old town is completely encircled by a fortified wall that is very well maintained. The architecture is very well maintained and very colorful. The city has a cool "party vibe.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYwYAqFemB0PGYP4CJvpDlvOT95yuqsCy7lkGlRipBcQF6bemzpiNnSqrKbaQvqYzW5uw570mUIWeNFn3o9a6IIXLgwOlmg2Nut_FFwun5B3s0YCYrQMq2JJzV-EKmbWJwzK4k79wnnO-/s1600-h/P1000239.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYwYAqFemB0PGYP4CJvpDlvOT95yuqsCy7lkGlRipBcQF6bemzpiNnSqrKbaQvqYzW5uw570mUIWeNFn3o9a6IIXLgwOlmg2Nut_FFwun5B3s0YCYrQMq2JJzV-EKmbWJwzK4k79wnnO-/s320/P1000239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278211154507628434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTcMadnch9v4M1y1DJ4UE_FidRaCpQYqnN_WobaukMoVirgOdrmmRKwQ3XEZflyg17apAkg9YmlNxrI7PacOVYT35Q9ivovJMhBTljKPEB449iOfFQhh6wkombzMrHK46ujxG0nxw9iC_/s1600-h/P1000248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTcMadnch9v4M1y1DJ4UE_FidRaCpQYqnN_WobaukMoVirgOdrmmRKwQ3XEZflyg17apAkg9YmlNxrI7PacOVYT35Q9ivovJMhBTljKPEB449iOfFQhh6wkombzMrHK46ujxG0nxw9iC_/s320/P1000248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278211164605619170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcAf_BAJNDbWuhZuIQTRtMj2IVlsQ1-UQeFCVwgvX9JXl1S9FtC8FOw2JWYOqp161OkVGMd3pv4M3qQriKLw3u5hyLxW5qBp_Z5zaOsGaoLjPPfEjhO7w9aE62Ub93crc_4RvGib66oTv/s1600-h/P1000261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcAf_BAJNDbWuhZuIQTRtMj2IVlsQ1-UQeFCVwgvX9JXl1S9FtC8FOw2JWYOqp161OkVGMd3pv4M3qQriKLw3u5hyLxW5qBp_Z5zaOsGaoLjPPfEjhO7w9aE62Ub93crc_4RvGib66oTv/s320/P1000261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278213744760867874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXWSW0ZOLFlRVLgjnJGjKd2Nxljlsf8LPk4QaN98zrUbcF6fFv__WZZjqpU2UXQbBE-rJxG7X2qjkGnNzmqwCg3yA8_JvGtLqZm_E63qn9gO5jke31nb1n0ZOd2MZYWyHapK4LbQ2vWZI/s1600-h/P1000243.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXWSW0ZOLFlRVLgjnJGjKd2Nxljlsf8LPk4QaN98zrUbcF6fFv__WZZjqpU2UXQbBE-rJxG7X2qjkGnNzmqwCg3yA8_JvGtLqZm_E63qn9gO5jke31nb1n0ZOd2MZYWyHapK4LbQ2vWZI/s320/P1000243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278213717142640210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5Jl4u6f1tNjA4H83PorcVzlF46Lh06rcz82Kr4cKdohI9ctFpXzJefTbrycB738jX7qgTV_dsEKJcIJRH3R2PsXB-RcFAnf6B-SAVenw5dX3DamYxP_edDwn6W70ay9c-njEXtBy-sr6/s1600-h/P1000264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5Jl4u6f1tNjA4H83PorcVzlF46Lh06rcz82Kr4cKdohI9ctFpXzJefTbrycB738jX7qgTV_dsEKJcIJRH3R2PsXB-RcFAnf6B-SAVenw5dX3DamYxP_edDwn6W70ay9c-njEXtBy-sr6/s320/P1000264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278213711914394178" border="0" /></a><br />Several people I had met in Panama I saw again in Cartagena. It makes sense, since most people I met in Panama were heading to Colombia next. On Wednesday, December 3, I took a day trip to a mud volcano. It was an unusual feeling being suspended in mud. You could lay flat on your back or stomach and not sink. Standing straight up, I was suspended to about my navel. After the mud suspension, we went to a nearby lagoon that was a little bit cleaner than the mud volcano. Local women, using bowls and their hands, rinsed the mud off my body and my swimming trunks for $2,000 pesos (a little less than $1 US). After getting somewhat clean, we went to a nearby beach for lunch. When you get fish in a restaurant, it usually comes whole with the head attached.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAcRSDk8-5XnCPDjwBc-6u8OrJSeJkR6vp8o1i6eTHIz9IIv3phjmWQr21MVFrqs_C66WqfxeqX-2kgTAsx088OH31Jc2gjYSlyoW8rRE1X1l-hSuAa03WiFOL8_1R_51CSPVpqpJsMh_/s1600-h/P1000253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAcRSDk8-5XnCPDjwBc-6u8OrJSeJkR6vp8o1i6eTHIz9IIv3phjmWQr21MVFrqs_C66WqfxeqX-2kgTAsx088OH31Jc2gjYSlyoW8rRE1X1l-hSuAa03WiFOL8_1R_51CSPVpqpJsMh_/s320/P1000253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278211167177134082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPRnt0ZsdtEqhfYqdnOJJPMxHgjXc0kpKAk3iDdl08a6wQnp_LB9WjaOQknwryh07dlnbfhdG9ScqJ8Hftll6_UfURM3NQ8-SljcACIAmNBIIF2nVRBQBPrlctp8K_q0NEaWzvxuv_I3A/s1600-h/Mud+Volcano+Me+%26+Babak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPRnt0ZsdtEqhfYqdnOJJPMxHgjXc0kpKAk3iDdl08a6wQnp_LB9WjaOQknwryh07dlnbfhdG9ScqJ8Hftll6_UfURM3NQ8-SljcACIAmNBIIF2nVRBQBPrlctp8K_q0NEaWzvxuv_I3A/s320/Mud+Volcano+Me+%26+Babak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278211150576230738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUJcFJ_DqGr3PAvKsBiOUySZ3WCwhbRd2vrPmZxYnlEy0XPui6rRNLTa3vFpsfKCIdPL47LhGdYYi-6j-8KzOb6QNjl-hLgf3cAAK0YIUIyUgAY3Ie1yetXl6H2ricRa_f0mNQJxBWSi6/s1600-h/Mud+Volcano+-+ME+Close+Up.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUJcFJ_DqGr3PAvKsBiOUySZ3WCwhbRd2vrPmZxYnlEy0XPui6rRNLTa3vFpsfKCIdPL47LhGdYYi-6j-8KzOb6QNjl-hLgf3cAAK0YIUIyUgAY3Ie1yetXl6H2ricRa_f0mNQJxBWSi6/s320/Mud+Volcano+-+ME+Close+Up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278211144911410386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qub7a6uRpZ6N9RoZjeV-A-jHij5JC5MNBDwIny0JXILKowsser3AB8c5HyqRiWjbk6BSD1EWn3zZWRm-1f-Y-A8_-JHMD5LzrgUXB51gIRCu_-yrVlcmlFxTXMiE8JA4uZcmfb8eYNuR/s1600-h/P1000259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qub7a6uRpZ6N9RoZjeV-A-jHij5JC5MNBDwIny0JXILKowsser3AB8c5HyqRiWjbk6BSD1EWn3zZWRm-1f-Y-A8_-JHMD5LzrgUXB51gIRCu_-yrVlcmlFxTXMiE8JA4uZcmfb8eYNuR/s320/P1000259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278213703345234754" border="0" /></a><br />After getting back from the volcano, I started feeling sick. I had a weak stomach, fever, and slight dizziness. I guess I drank the water or ate ceviche bought from a guy selling it from a cooler one too many times. I was out for about two days and a little below average for one more.<br /><br />On Friday night, feeling better, I went on a party bus with some other travelers. The party bus drove through the old town and provided drinks and music. It had a band that played a type of music that sounded like cajun/zydeco. It made a stop on the waterfront and a stop at a disco. Most of the people on the bus were tourists from other Latin American countries. Cartagena is a popular tourist destination for other Latin Americans. Most of the hawkers use Spanish to try to sell stuff ranging from crappy jewelry to oysters or crabs (in a bucket without ice).<br /><br />I went to a beach on Saturday. It was a great beach and I had a good time, but I found myself growing a little tired of beaches and hot weather. I decided it was time to head for the mountains. On Sunday, December 7, I flew from Cartagena to Manizales.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312409194064221149.post-35516322339185910342008-12-03T12:05:00.003-05:002008-12-10T11:45:18.833-05:00MedellinColombia has really exceeded my expectations. And that was after I read in the guidebook that Colombia would exceed expectations. Tourists are just starting to discover Colombia. You don't see many Tourists here. There is not much English spoken nor is there much signage in English. Colombia is becoming a new destination for tourists as it has been shedding it's violent image over the last 10 years. The government has made big strides to improve safety and beat back (or at least push into the background) the drug cartels and guerrilla groups. Kelvin, a New Zealander who opened a hostel in Medellin three years ago said that he's had over 10,000 guests and only two robberies.<br /><br />Medellin is a long, narrow city sandwiched between two steep mountain ranges. Because of the altitude (about 4,900 feet), the weather is very spring-like. It gets down to about 60 degrees at night, which, being at sea level for several months, is really cold for me. The airport is about 30 kilometers from town. The scenery on the way in from the airport was gorgeous as well.<br /><br />Medellin is the home of artist Fernando Botero. He is an internationally famous artist who does paintings and sculptures of obese people and objects. I saw several of his sculptures a few years ago in Venice. His work adorns the Plaza Botero in downtown Medellin. One of his sculptures in the Parque San Antonio was destroyed by a guerilla bomb in 1995. The damaged sculpture remains in the park as a reminder. A new sculpture was placed beside it. It'<br />s hard to imagine the level of violence that existed here just a decade ago.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275680710302593826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7ntk6FnBoZL3653ThrdxYl8k9chrJ3Q7yG0ES7AA6O7BIPXHmV8FZU8Y__bLIp1rSHG7jdPGCGbl3AznueARKUqkH_fKoOVuAEu9LwSrGadi67lxQdukega2oCKvnyV5eEUs-M81eDvr/s320/P1000199.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275680487363768290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X-Ods-Je0YcI1i6nuz5mnKk3Sf3PPBgSL_ug_jEF9UZyKDn0Wts2vF3w63j6RGUD1WJQ5KeisdgGyA7OLREczb-hzWBnvr5cQcJVUM9pjlK_9jg4vtkQi9ZsdQkRBdWU7K-j7-9EBLJ6/s320/P1000192.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275681251017050978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIV1TLiSiGc3Oqz-t_trzNGFHzIpsotSnOoRY5pi0lfdmtIrMBDZV9ofglpS0QavBQBO-rSiNuLvjJTDafeW1gTnTKAYSj3OJQumpTet6GukFetQbxRe2XGxQuTomC-KD61eqYwLtNoAo/s320/P1000209.JPG" border="0" /><br />I went to a party on the outskirts of Medellin with three Finns, an Aussie, a Brit, a German, and two Colombians. That's how my life is now. 48 hours ago I didn't know any them. In two days we we were crashing a local party. Yesterday, two of them left Medellin and on Tuesday, I left for Cartagena.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275679502122701474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmhJH2vWdvDmGWGHURKZW1OspCEYZAWNGhp6Y2HLGwJQx3XDS9oio_OgoJb_0TaoufGSceInLy2PKEgdqTnzkAxUEx9a2OO_d3JwKMRa2YStQPxFVWgFXgYphXH0DoSrvbdKDuqhbh40m/s320/Statue.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275680474334776802" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16nQJEBIqPZo76CIiMIxcJ3Z5WW6o-KJEAsDPjqQqtYadUuGOJSb7Yv_m_vNIaJUpPXWnC8Y7qmszWDK9jcoIFFSbPq4nMPTe1QcRhk2d0uPE1OXA3lKj3zlCi-0lLyxSoddHHy3X_xb1/s320/P1000182.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275680495266844082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6llPB_GgyU7fqdZ9OZleU6zw59w8aDSVQlby1vjVEf7M3kY3_ln0zbNGsD0Pgs-4G4UKXY4eFZdsAolADO91sYeLWVTk-iqSU6bUtGnf1KcoyfW6MlEk4H_KIz-iN5Vfw-5daEVW3hwi/s320/P1000225.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275680493454725122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRuBLX7AhQ9YL-_MLtavUeWC0fXlpaeWo7d4Gtzh6w5ZiMezHfaZQ0gPvOukb415jZM7NbioeTW8vZ10-mxJHR1YJylvkFoebFjtxypWvrPJOLyZ-bVNd6lWAw0JU_2_aGKDFcF1pdwAx/s320/P1000217.JPG" border="0" />The metro has two cable lifts to take commuters to and from the houses that climb the mountain ranges. This is actually how people get back and forth to work.Jay Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10773557788990790462noreply@blogger.com4