After a not so memorable stint back in Tallinn that lacks enough substance for a post, I headed to Jordan to meet my brother for a couple weeks of being a tourist. Famously home to Petra, Jordan frequents the bucket list of a lot of avid travelers. With my brother forced to take more traditional American vacations, we organized what resembles a pretty normal vacation. Well, the cheap version of a normal vacation.

I enjoyed my first trip to Georgia, but happening in late fall and early winter the conditions weren’t the best to see the mountains and nature it has to offer. I loved it regardless, so the wine, food, and the prices of everything were another good reason to come back. Visiting in July this time, tourist activity would be a bit higher and I’d have an opportunity to see some things I had missed on the first go.  Continue reading As sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines →

Ah, Macedonia, the second to last Eastern European country I haven’t been to. Had to visit before they changed their name to North Macedonia to appease Greece. They voted on it while I was staying there, and the vote failed. So Macedonia it is, and no NATO. Continue reading Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. →

After I got dad on a plane (actually he got himself there via tram super early so I didn’t even wake up), I decided to stay in Prague for another week since I liked it better this time. The apartment was really nice, and having a beer garden a 5 minute walk away is handy too. Continue reading Wanna thrive in the dust of the universe →

Since this is primarily for my family, I’ve been really bad about writing this one, because after all they were all there. So here I am, like 8 months later vividly and accurately recalling all the good times we had without aid from anything but my memory. And by that, I mean reconstructing what we did from these pictures (most pictures that I have stolen from the family). Continue reading You write, I tour, we make it work →

I’m writing this considerably after the fact, so my recounting will likely be a list of facts rather than interesting anecdotes about the trip. But it’s not like I can skip posting pictures of Machu Piccu, so here we go. I promise to be better in the future. Continue reading Reading is a protest against the insufficiencies of life →

We flew straight from Galapagos to Lima to jump over the not so noteworthy expanse that is northern Peru. We spent the first few days in Miraflores (the Gringo area), which is what you’d expect for a more affluent section of a large city. Walkable, neat outdoor mall on the coast that afforded a nice sunset or two, and a reasonable selection of coffee shops and vegetarian places in the main area. Continue reading It makes you wonder. All the brilliant things we might have done with our lives if only we suspected we knew how →

People complain about Bogota, saying it’s dangerous and there isn’t much to do, but I actually enjoyed it (maybe just because they had good WiFi and normal city things). I stayed the first few nights in a hostel in La Candelaria, the more touristy area. A couple girls tried to steal my bottom bunk the first night, and I had none of it, as I’m an old, seasoned traveler that doesn’t fall for those cute girl shenanigans anymore. I’ll die alone in my lovely bottom bunk, thank you very much. But anyways, overall very nice people, a couple vegetarian restaurants close by, and mostly walkable. Continue reading There is always something left to love →

This is post #100! Didn’t realize I’d even done 100 things. All this traveling apparently hasn’t made me any smarter, because this week in the hostel I made the brilliant move of dropping my glasses behind the shower wall. They dropped about eight feet to the inaccessible area behind the showers into the abyss of random clothing, shampoo bottles, and other items lost forever. I climbed up, and luckily could see them. So I Macgyvered a contraption with the towel hooks and some medical wrap and fished them out. I’m sad to admit it was the greatest sense of accomplishment I’ve had in a while.

Continue reading History shows that there are no invincible armies →

I flew into Portland for a little vacation on my way to Seattle this time to see if it lived up to the show’s hype, and it more or less did. Hipster, but not as comically so of course. But it’s the land of craft beers and not real jobs and tattoos, as far as I can tell. Continue reading I guess people are just cropping out all the sadness →

Worked most of the day in Kotor since there was only one bus that went, and it was at 3:15. So I took the nearly 4 hour ride in a small bus that seats about 20 with a group of locals through the Montenegrin countryside. Apparently Zabljak is not a popular destination this time of year. As I dozed in and out of conscience staring out into the dark, it occurred to me how comfortable I had become with a situation like this, which not long ago, and to most now, might seem rather concerning.  Only way to get around though, if you ask me. I mean, they’re on the Euro, how bad could it be? Continue reading Every Allied country gave me a medal, even Montenegro →

My bus ride between cities was finally only two hours this time, after my string of 6-8 hour journeys. Just had to cross from Croatia into Montenegro basically. And as nice as Dubrovnik was, it was a little too nice, so when I arrived in Kotor I felt like I could breathe a bit more. Even though its old town area is also quite touristy, everything had a bit more of an authentic feel to it. Continue reading Enough to travel the world with you until one of us has to take an honest job →

I left Akureyri this morning, and the weather was a bit threatening so I didn’t end up doing my hike.  Plus I have work to do, so I picked out a 4 hour drive with a couple stops in it that will get me a bit more than halfway back to Reykjavik.  I’m a bit ahead of schedule, so I’ll sit back here and catch up on some work for the day. Continue reading Beautiful things don’t ask for attention. →

Got up early and decided to walk to the airport, taking a stroll through some neighborhoods of Reykjavik I hadn’t seen before. Flight was less than an hour long, so the puddle jumper dropped down in Egilsstaðir around 11:30, on the other side of the island.  My orange Kia Sportage was ready to go, and I was on my way. Continue reading Walk up to me and erase my memory →

Reykjavik is a small city with a townish feel, so it’s not as if there’s an absolute ton to do here. So I’ve predominately spent my time working, actually getting things done on time that is, and almost getting ahead a bit as I look to do more traveling over the next few weeks.  Don’t want to start that from behind.  So this is largely a story of working in Reykjavik. Continue reading I do not allow that a being gifted with thought and will can allow himself to despair →

After a couple weeks in Seattle, we decided we would rent a car and drive the Cascade Loop around Washington State. I remember trying quite successfully to miserably tire my sister out. Anyways, we started with a couple nights down at Mt Rainier (technically not on the loop), and then circled back up to drive through the mountains. Continue reading Now don’t you worry we’ll all float on alright →

Thursday did not involve anything special, as the weather was terrible and I wanted to get some work done.  I did walk over to Partenkirchen to see what that half of the town had to offer, and it was much in the same as Garmisch.  Some nice little shops.  With the cold weather and rain, more and more snow had accumulated on the mountains, making it a very pretty time to be there.

I checked out of the B&B fairly early on Friday and hopped on a train to Munich.  I’m staying at a hostel a few stops from the main area, so it was a bit of a walk.  Once I was checked in, I used the rest of the day to work, only straying a little ways from where I was and making plans for what to do in Munich. Continue reading I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. →

I’m staying at a small, family-run bed & breakfast in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.  My own room and my own bed and my own bathroom!  But it’s a nice little place in this small town (like 25,000 people). Continue reading There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings. →

On Thursday evening I was attacked by a nasty sinus headache and cold.  I don’t know what any of the words are here (which I feel is especially dangerous when dealing with drugs), so I opted to go without.  Bad idea.  My pounding headache kept me up for until like 3am when I realized I had a bottle of whiskey under my bed.  I took enough to reduce the feeling in my face and then actually slept for a few hours.  The wonders of not-so-modern medicine. Continue reading Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar →

It’s work week, which means some casual sightseeing in the morning followed by work in the evenings.  I decided to make Wednesday Mozart day, as there were a couple attractions around the city about him since he was born here and lived here for a while. Continue reading If it bleeds, we can kill it. →

Salzburg is a smaller city in Austria with a lot of good day trips from it, so I decided to stay here a bit longer.  Should allow me to relax a bit and catch up on work as well.  There’s an Aldi (Hoger) right across the street, plus the hostel/hotel is attached to a mall with a grocery store in it, so I’m able to eat a little more normally again. Continue reading Climb every mountain, ford every stream →

It’s the weekend, so now I have to do things.  After not being able to find a place in Belfast, I booked my rooms in advance this time, which unfortunately meant my touring options were limited.  There are a lot of 2-day to 5-day tours up to the Isle of Skye (a 2-day or 3-day would have been nice), but I had to settle for the 1-day intensive course for the Scottish highlands.

The day started at 8am and ended at 8pm and involved about 8 hours on the coach.  I took lots of naps. Continue reading I would walk five hundred miles And I would walk five hundred more →

I’m ending my 3-day tourism run with a tour to Connemara National Park.  Bought some nail clippers and finished my left hand before they broke.  So I went Dr. Jeckel & Mr Hyde all day. Continue reading The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. →