I ___ ROMA

Salve, pueli! [Greetings, folks]

Being in Rome has brought back a number of my Latin lessons from high school, but before I go further about what I have been doing in Rome, there is plenty of catching up to do.

Last time, I was in Portugal on way to Spain, writing about some things that didn't go quite right. Please don't be sympathetic to our few plights here in Europe, as it is a joy just to be on vacation in a different continent. But of course, it is not all cloud 9 when you are traveling for a month. The bumps in the road have definitely kept the trip exciting.

Barcelona went off without a hitch, once we got tickets out of Spain. You see, the first thing we do when we arrive in another counrty is to book reservations for our next destination. It is one of the many querks of the EuroRail Global Pass. Anyways, we came upon a holiday and were not able to get any reservations to Innsbruck, Austria. Our solution is in more detail later.

There were many great happenings in Barcelona. The hostel where we stayed was the first place that was actually homely. When we arrived we were offered free dinner and a private room for our extra night in the city, which we needed because we hadn't yet aquired a way out of Spain. The paella they served us was deicious especiially when washed down with sangria. I was also amazed in Barcelona by the bohemian atmosphere and the architecture by Gaudi.

So because we couldn't get directly to Austria we thought we would drop in on some of my friends in Basel, Switzerland. On the way, 20 hours of slow trains, we missed a connection and got stuck in this little town in Switzerland. Luckily we picked up a hitch to Geneva where we spent the night. When arriving our driver pointed the fountain in Geneva saying that was all we had to see. So we got to see Geneva!

Finally arriving in Innsbruck, the hut-hopping we were planning on doing wasn't available until tomorrow. Apparently there was too much snow. So instead, we went to this camperland, which is this vamped up comglomeration of camping and a Nantucket vacation resort. We enjoyed the restaurant and the trails that we could take to enjoy the Austrian contryside. As the pictures will show you, it was magnificent.

It is okay that I don't have very long to talk about Rome. It is definitely my least favorite place of the trip. I don't feel safe, welcome, or respected. But seeing the Ancient ruins of the Roman empire was sweet. Anyone who has known me through my childhood knows I love living history. I got to stand on the Circus Maximus where the best chariot races used to be staged. Sneding a postcard from the Vatican City was also an experience. (Check the mail Mom!)

Anyways, Maria and I are getting a little travel weary but are nonetheless safe and happy.

Ciao!

First Frustrations

(16 May 2009)

The first major disappointment of the trip came our way during yesterday's day trip to Tours, France. But as the resiliant individuals we are, we of course made the best of it. Although some of you would tend to agree with Europe on this, I have become frustrated with the time table wih which cities in Europe run business. Merchants don't open until 10a and close between 6-7p. Food is hard to find after 10p. Eerything seems to close just before I am ready for it.

For instance, Maria and I were looking to taste some wines of the Loire Valley during our over night stay in Tours. Restricted by the train schedule, we finally arrived in Tours at 3:30p. It wasn't until about 6p that we found the bus out of town to the vineyards, having also had to find and check into the hostel. Even though signs for tasting indicated opennings until 7p, at 6p we were being told wine tasting was over. But we continued to wander by the chateaus and community vegetable gardens to find a peaceful retreat overlooking the valley. Surrounded by grape vines, it was quiet except the wind for the first time in a while. O knew the days disappointment would not linger and I could be happy not to rush even if we don't get to experience some things we inteded to on this trip.

We didn't miss out on the wine tasting, either! Shops were keen to make good deals for their local wine. Maria and I enjoyed two different wines over a delicious take away meal at the hostel.

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(19 May 2009)

It has happened to us again. The bus to Sagres from Lagos, Portugal left 15 min before we got to the station. It is okay, though. I have finally gotten an opportunity to get to some internet and write to you. At this point in our trip we are on the Algarve Coast of Portugal. The water here is the bluest I have seen this far north in the Atlantic. We are off to Sagres in about an hour now to get to what used to be considered the end of the world. It is now just the southwest corner of Europe. I look forward to spending the next two days just relaxing on the beach. It is about time to slow down and enjoy the opportunity not to have an responsibilities but to myself and my fiance.

Love you all,
Zack

Update in brief.

Hi all,

I have three minutes left on the internet meter in order to catch up on all of the places we have been this last week. In Belgium we ate some waffles and viisited the park adjacennt to a palace. In Paris, we saw the icons andhad a romantic dinner to celebrate our engagement on the good graces of my parents. THANKS! In Tours we drank some wine. more to come soon. bye.

XXX

The three crosses is a symbol to designate the city that persists in the canal system created on the third dam in the river Amster, known commonly as Amsterdam. That factoid comes from a a free walking tour that is the source of most of the historically relevant information I now know about Amsterdam. Most of what you will hear from usbout this wonderfully small city are those stories told to Maria and I about the continued tolerance of Amsterdamers and random anecdotes of wandering about the town that will invariably start, "When I was in Amsterdam..." If you're lucky one of those stories will continue on to describe an experience we had strolling through the red light district or lounging at any one of the myriad of coffee shops in the city. One of the more politically correct activities we I experienced was our visit to Keukenhof. Be assured we took a number of beautiful pictures with the tulips and windmill. They will be put up as soon as I have access to a USB drive. Well, people are waiting to use this free Wi-Fi. I better go. Next we are on to Paris through Belgium. Hopefully we can catch up there. Love lots, ~Z

Heidelberg, Germany

(7 May 2009)

Although it was a challenge to stay awake today through the jet lag, it was great to finally see where Maria spent the majority of her childhood. It was also wonderful to see Julie once again and be welcomed into her home. Highlights from today include getting my instalation access pass into the military base, touring Heidelberg Castle being rebuilt from WWII distruction and housing the largest wine barrel I could ever imagine,

the solar boat tour down the Rhine,

Hauptstrasse shopping,

and my first encounter with doner kebabs and snitzel (pork cutlets with any fixing you could imagine).

I am only in Europe a day and have already been awed by the sites, flavors, and opportunities of small town Europe. What will happen when we reach the big time?

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(8 May 2009)

It is a German / European tradition to relax in the thermal pools. In Baden-Baden, the Caracalla Therme is filled from natural mineral water and then heated to various degrees. Folks go to bath, get rid of the impurities in the saunas and take therapy lessons in the specialty pools. It was certainly relaxing, but also extremely dehydrating. I drank so much apple juice when we got home. Dinner was spent in St. Lucious, where Maria's house was during high school. The Akropolus was delicious. I have never had liver and onions that melted so readily in my mouth. We then went to the Lengends bar on base to participate in line dancing. It was fun, but that new country song "Lord of the Bible Belt" was a bit much for me, a little America to remind the troups of home.

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(9 May 2009)

Today was spent preparing for Maria and my graduation / engagement party. It should be a great time meeting all of the most distinguished families on base while enjoying fajitas, margaritas, and some drinking games Julie has contrived. Tomorrow we celebrate Mother's Day and then catch the 14:15 train to Amsterdam. I have no idea when I will get to a computer again, but in that time I am sure to come up with some more great stories.

Until next time,

Zack

P.S. German beer gets an A!!!

Airport Reflections

(6 May 2009)

Sitting in the airpirt, I am entirely exhausted from my excitement of traveling to Europe. The next month I will experience and learn things I could only previously imagine from afar. I am as excited to be bringing along my finace, even though I may be unprepared for what she has to offer as a travel companion, a guide, and as my soul mate. But I am confident, as I was before traveling in New Zealand, that I will have the opportunity to grow and reflect on my personality, of course with the additional benefit of the same treatment for my relationship with Maria. Follows is a list of destinations we intent to encounter. I hope you can share in my excitement so I can have some energy left to enjoy the journey.

Thanks for tuning in.

Love you all! ~Zack

Heidelberg, Germany
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Paris, France
Tours, France
The Algarve Coast, Portugal
Barcelona, Spain
Innsbruck, Austria
Florence, Italy,
Venice, Italy
Rome, Italy
Budapest, Hungary
(Somewhere), Poland
Berlin, Germany

Euro Trip

ATTENTION: Maria and I have arrived safely in Frankfurt, Germany and are now preparing to get out to see the town of Heidelberg with Maria's mom, Julie. It's starting. Yay!!! Details to follow. ~Zack