Tuesday, just after noon. I arrived in Copenhagen after a quick-ish flight from Vienna.
I spent much of the early part of day wandering Vienna via the transit system. For only 5 Euro, you can get an all day pass... which worked well. Although I was never asked to show it!
I finished the day taking lunch at the Indian Rest. across the street from my hotel. And then grabbed my stuff and headed for the airport. It was sunny and hot, but I was glad to be on the road again. Hotels aren't cheap.
Jesper picked me up at Copenhagen International, and we went straight to his place where his wife, Nicolette, had a traditional South African meal waiting for us. After a few glasses of wine, it was time for bed.
This morning, I was on my own. I've been trying to arrange some 2000 digital photos (no easy task as the software I use sucks)... and generally lazing about.
I have little planned for the next few days, other than the odd excursion around the city. But having been here twice before, I don't feel obligated to play tourist.
Friday it's London. Saturday, the long journey home. Which, believe it or not, I am looking forward too.
Cheers!
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Albanian Ferris Wheel
A great view of Tirana can be had by taking a ride on the cheap (50 LEK) ferris wheel.
Skenderbeg Square, Tirana, Albania
In Enver Hoxa's day, people weren't even allowed to own cars. Now a little kid drives a mini-car in front of a monument to the greatness of socialism.
Border Marker! Wooooo!
A rare photo: the former Socialist Albania - Yugoslavia boundary stone. The Albania side was obscured by bramble (it had the split eagle, though). The now-Macendonian side featured the old, old, old Socialist Yugoslavia... Never seen one like this before.
The Border Freaks enter Albania
This photo was taken by a nice Albanian quasi-offical at the Albania-Macedonia border near Sveti Naum, MK.
We had no idea what to expect in Albania. We were surprised by new roads, many Mercedes (like 95% of cars!), and a huge building boom.
We had no idea what to expect in Albania. We were surprised by new roads, many Mercedes (like 95% of cars!), and a huge building boom.
The Home of Hockey Hair
Welcome to Mullet, Albania: where it's all business in the front and a party in the back.
from the "technology blows" dept.
Sunday May 22, Vienna, Austria.
Maybe the title is a little unfair. Technology doesn’t really blow, but access to it during the border expedition was a challenge.
I had hoped to post daily missives of my experiences in a Turkish prison and sneaking into Albania. But, alas, without a GMRS do-hickey, and a crazy itinerary, it was impossible.
I am now back in Vienna -- the fourth (!) border expedition is over.
We arrived last night after driving something like 500km from the divided town of Gorica-Nova Gorica on the Italian-Slovenian border. We were received early in the morning by the mayor of Nova Goricia, Slovenia.
Through an interpreter, he told us about the history of the area that used to be on the Italian-Yugoslav border. It was quite interesting, though we did not receive soaps (Turkey) wine (Hungary) or tours of divided islands (Greece-Bulgaria-Turkey). No matter, there is little room for any more stuff. I am struggling with trinkets ranging from a Turkish military cap to an Albanian scarf. And a few Cuban cigars.
The rest of Saturday consisted of entering Italy and driving like maniacs on the wonderful Autostradas to a place we visited in 2001: the tri-point of Slovenia-Italy-Austria. First we had to cross back into Slovenia.
The TP is nestled in the Alps, and the view is stunning. The area is actually a ski area. There is an Austrian lift up to a point near the tri-point (which we took in 2001). On the Slovene side there is a winter bar and “road” access which we used. On the Italian side there is a hiking trail and a transmitter for RAI.
The view is beyond belief… and I was very happy that this place was our last major visit of the trip. The skies were clear and the air was hot. Perfect! On the way down we toasted our success with a pint at a small restaurant hidden in the Slovene woods.
Then we headed into Austria and onto the motorway to Vienna. Several hours on, we were detoured off the motorway and trough a number of quaint Austrian villages. We made Vienna around 8:30pm.
There was mass confusion as we exited our rental van that had been home for the last 14 days. We pulled our luggage and collected booty and pamphlets out and created piles on the sidewalk.
After some problems with our small hotel, we got settled and prepared for dinner. I went with Rolf the Finn to an Indian joint. We wanted to talk business. The rest of the gang went to a Greek place a few doors away.
We joined them about an hour later and chatted about what had been. It was a happy/sad affair. We’re all spent. But we’d like the journey to continue. And this may be the last trip of this kind, with this group. We’ve run out of Europe, and it is increasingly hard for everyone to get the time off. I am the only single on of the bunch, so I don’t have to deal with trying to convince kids and spouses why it’s important that I leave them behind for 2 weeks.
At 4:30 this morning (Sunday) I waved good-bye to the group as they headed to the airport in their taxi. I am here in Vienna for an extra night, due to the scheduling of my ticket purchased with points.
I spent the mid-part of the day wandering around the city and caught the finish of the Vienna Marathon. Then I came back to the room to snooze and flake out. It’s now 4:17 and I feel the urge to get outside and shoot some pictures at during magic hour.
Speaking of which, I believe I shot something like 2000 images on this trip. More than a few are nothing more that reminders: signs to help me remember places that we were at. But there are many, many more. Of people and places that will surprise you.
I also have stories. And I will start posting them in reverse order beginning Wednesday. I head to Copenhagen Monday night… but will probably relax.
I return to Canada on Saturday and work the following Monday. Look there: on the horizon! Real life!
Cheers!
Maybe the title is a little unfair. Technology doesn’t really blow, but access to it during the border expedition was a challenge.
I had hoped to post daily missives of my experiences in a Turkish prison and sneaking into Albania. But, alas, without a GMRS do-hickey, and a crazy itinerary, it was impossible.
I am now back in Vienna -- the fourth (!) border expedition is over.
We arrived last night after driving something like 500km from the divided town of Gorica-Nova Gorica on the Italian-Slovenian border. We were received early in the morning by the mayor of Nova Goricia, Slovenia.
Through an interpreter, he told us about the history of the area that used to be on the Italian-Yugoslav border. It was quite interesting, though we did not receive soaps (Turkey) wine (Hungary) or tours of divided islands (Greece-Bulgaria-Turkey). No matter, there is little room for any more stuff. I am struggling with trinkets ranging from a Turkish military cap to an Albanian scarf. And a few Cuban cigars.
The rest of Saturday consisted of entering Italy and driving like maniacs on the wonderful Autostradas to a place we visited in 2001: the tri-point of Slovenia-Italy-Austria. First we had to cross back into Slovenia.
The TP is nestled in the Alps, and the view is stunning. The area is actually a ski area. There is an Austrian lift up to a point near the tri-point (which we took in 2001). On the Slovene side there is a winter bar and “road” access which we used. On the Italian side there is a hiking trail and a transmitter for RAI.
The view is beyond belief… and I was very happy that this place was our last major visit of the trip. The skies were clear and the air was hot. Perfect! On the way down we toasted our success with a pint at a small restaurant hidden in the Slovene woods.
Then we headed into Austria and onto the motorway to Vienna. Several hours on, we were detoured off the motorway and trough a number of quaint Austrian villages. We made Vienna around 8:30pm.
There was mass confusion as we exited our rental van that had been home for the last 14 days. We pulled our luggage and collected booty and pamphlets out and created piles on the sidewalk.
After some problems with our small hotel, we got settled and prepared for dinner. I went with Rolf the Finn to an Indian joint. We wanted to talk business. The rest of the gang went to a Greek place a few doors away.
We joined them about an hour later and chatted about what had been. It was a happy/sad affair. We’re all spent. But we’d like the journey to continue. And this may be the last trip of this kind, with this group. We’ve run out of Europe, and it is increasingly hard for everyone to get the time off. I am the only single on of the bunch, so I don’t have to deal with trying to convince kids and spouses why it’s important that I leave them behind for 2 weeks.
At 4:30 this morning (Sunday) I waved good-bye to the group as they headed to the airport in their taxi. I am here in Vienna for an extra night, due to the scheduling of my ticket purchased with points.
I spent the mid-part of the day wandering around the city and caught the finish of the Vienna Marathon. Then I came back to the room to snooze and flake out. It’s now 4:17 and I feel the urge to get outside and shoot some pictures at during magic hour.
Speaking of which, I believe I shot something like 2000 images on this trip. More than a few are nothing more that reminders: signs to help me remember places that we were at. But there are many, many more. Of people and places that will surprise you.
I also have stories. And I will start posting them in reverse order beginning Wednesday. I head to Copenhagen Monday night… but will probably relax.
I return to Canada on Saturday and work the following Monday. Look there: on the horizon! Real life!
Cheers!
Thursday, May 19, 2005
from the one second in Dubrovnik dept.
Only a few seconds to say Dubrovnik is amazing and I am alive and well.
Heading north to.. ? Tonight!
Cheers!
Heading north to.. ? Tonight!
Cheers!
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