August 31 I had the next four days to recuperate and get the basics accomplished. Things that I couldn’t do on the road like taking a shower, washing my clothes, […]

August 26. Morning came too early.  I jumped out of bed, stressed, and packed everything into as few bags as possible.  I had to fit my things into the back […]

August 22. I still had 4 days before picking up a replacement for the Citroen C3 in Munich on August 26, and decided to spend 3 days exploring the southern […]

August 16. I woke up late after a very long night and was barely functional responding to Citroen Europass’ requests for information about the accident yesterday. I had wrecked my […]

August 14. I was dismayed at the fog that had settled in.  It was damp and cold and I couldn’t see more than a few feet in any direction,.  I […]

August 11. I had planned to drive to the Danube Delta in Tulcea but abhorred the thought of driving on any more roads in Romania, which were either riddled with […]

August 6. Once I awoke (I never really slept) I moved into the room with A/C. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck and ended up spending most […]

August 5. After visiting Bran Castle, I headed southwest toward Bran pass which had been strategically important in controlling trade between Wallachia and Transylvania.  What incredible terrain!  I passed Moieciu […]

August 5. I had my camping place mostly to myself, and awoke and made my way toward Bran Castle. On the way, I stopped in Râșnov to admire an old […]

August 4. I spent the day in Brasov.  I had a hankering for a latte, and spent too long looking for a good cafe.  Most had beans from Spain or […]

August 3. I hadn’t made the tour of Peleș and Pelișor Castle yesterday, and decided to try again. It was worth it, even though I had to sit through a […]

August 2.  I awoke to the gurgle of a stream and a cool breeze, a refreshing way to start the day as the next few were supposed to get over […]

August 1.  I spent the night worrying about my lost tent poles, and didn’t sleep a wink. I hoped against hope that they might still be where I thought I […]

July 31.  It was Monday, and a good day to head out of town.  All the museums were closed.  I headed into town and had a latte at my favorite […]

July 30.  After losing my car key and the search that followed, I headed to the ASTRA Museum of Folkloric Traditional Civilization in the Dumbrava Forest. I’d hoped to hit […]

July 30. It had been a damp night and I woke up soaked.  I hung my tent, pillows, and blanket out to dry using the outside of the car as […]

July 28. I awoke to a German-speaker delivering something to a wealthy gated house in the hills across from Sighișoara.  It was early, and I decided to hit the road.  […]

July 21.  I drove to Sovata on the way to Odorheiu Secuiesc.  Sovata had been recommended to me, though I didn’t know why.  I drove through really pretty mountains on […]

July 19. I awoke and headed to Mănăstirea Neamț.  It was early, 8:30am, but there was already a mass underway in the fortified church.  I donned long pants, long sleeves, […]

July 17. I awoke in a corn field, a cold wind blowing, and drove to Carei, the county seat of Satu Mare.  It looked like a dingy conglomeration of crumbling […]

July 16.  I awoke early and packed, then spent half an hour talking with Katalin and storing 4 bags that I didn’t want to shlep with me on my travels.  […]

July 10.  I slept in, awoken by fierce thunder.  A powerful storm ensued, complete with tumultuous rain and thunder and lightning, only to clear in the afternoon.  It was a […]

July 7. I bolted out of bed at 7:30am, suddenly aware that I had parked in someone’s driveway and that they needed to go to work.  The hazards of trying […]

July 4. I had forgotten that it was the 4th of July.  A call from my very close friend Tom reminded me, and hearing his message made me feel like […]

July 1.  I awoke in the small room in Zuberec that I was sharing with Beata, Monika’s daughter who is very gifted in languages and working as a Swedish translator […]

June 27.  All my life I have dreamt of hiking in the Vysoké Tatry (the High Tatras), which are the highest mountain range in Slovakia and Poland with an area […]

June 23. I packed and left Kismaros for Gödöllő, about 20 miles northeast from the outskirts of Budapest. The town is home to the Szent István University, the main education institute […]

June 21.  I awoke excited to join my friends in Zebegeny for an evening solstice trip to the island.  This was organized by Maruska and Endre, who seemed to be […]

It was the eve of June 20, summer solstice, and I was in fairy land.  I had started to climb to the lookout above Zebegeny and had decided to continue […]

June 14.  I woke to find Luis scraping paint off his window frames. He has big plans to repaint his house, winterize the windows, clear furniture to expose the chimney, […]

June 8. The day after my first surgery of the trip, I slept fairly well, given that I was in a hostel with a drunk girl in my room who […]

June 4. I awoke in Bad Bellingen and wrote for a few hours.  I probably should have waited till reaching my friend’s the next day, but felt that my memories […]

I left Bordeaux heading in the direction of Geneva, driving for hours for an adequate camp site.  The corridor between Lyon and Paris is quite industrial (especially relative to the […]

June 1. Thanks to the few trees on the outskirts of the Château near a few miles from the center of Bordeaux, I was able to actually sleep through the […]

May 26. After writing for a few hours I crossed the Eiffel style bridge and decided to go for a walk along the Dordogne between Floriac and Carennac. I found […]

May 5.  I arrived in London on a layover to Toulouse.  I had less than a day to explore high Kensington Street, which was near the Barmy Backpackers Hostel where […]