We're here in Scotland, spending our last days in Inverness and then Edinborough. Genie, Adam's distant relation, has been a tremendous host. She's an elderly woman, spoiling us rotten as any good grandmother would do.
The trip has been a great success. It would've taken me years to learn what I have on this trip if I'd stayed home.
So, with so little time left, I fear this may be the last journal entry for the trip. Thanks for reading everyone! Maybe I'll kick the blog back into gear the next time I go travelling.
Chow,
Fin Hyde
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
After the airport, where I last posted, we bussed to the capital of Northern Ireland: Belfast. I expected people to be asking me whether I was Protestant or Catholic at every streetcorner, half drunk and looking for a fight. Instead, everyone was friendly and helpful, if at times completely unintelligable.
On the second day in Belfast we went to watch the Super Special stage of Rally Ireland. What this means is we saw world-class racing drivers try to get the fastest time around a track centered at Stormont Castle. It was a pretty good evening, but not as exciting as the Rally stage we saw out in the country, next to the much smaller town of Eniskillen. We were hopping farmers' fences and running through their fields to get a better view of the track, and at times we were within arm's reach of the cars that were whizzing by at 100kmph.
The other worthwhile thing we did in Belfast was take a bus tour out to the Giant's Causeway. We drove along the Northeastern coast, some of it known as the 'Causeway Coast.' The scenery was picturesque, as were the towns.
So we've landed in our final home away from home, a sheep farm and wonderful house east of Eniscorthy. We're in perhaps the southeastern-most county of Ireland, save a couple between here and the coast. It is Lukas' aunt's home, and we'll be doing some sheepwork quite soon.
On the second day in Belfast we went to watch the Super Special stage of Rally Ireland. What this means is we saw world-class racing drivers try to get the fastest time around a track centered at Stormont Castle. It was a pretty good evening, but not as exciting as the Rally stage we saw out in the country, next to the much smaller town of Eniskillen. We were hopping farmers' fences and running through their fields to get a better view of the track, and at times we were within arm's reach of the cars that were whizzing by at 100kmph.
The other worthwhile thing we did in Belfast was take a bus tour out to the Giant's Causeway. We drove along the Northeastern coast, some of it known as the 'Causeway Coast.' The scenery was picturesque, as were the towns.
So we've landed in our final home away from home, a sheep farm and wonderful house east of Eniscorthy. We're in perhaps the southeastern-most county of Ireland, save a couple between here and the coast. It is Lukas' aunt's home, and we'll be doing some sheepwork quite soon.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
We've arrived successfully in Dublin; I'm writing this from the airport as we wait for the bus.
Paris was a definate success.
The bus will be taking us to Belfast, and there we'll bed down for the night. Then it's World Rally Championship Ireland! It'll be a good way to see the Irish countryside, as we'll be around remote towns in northern and southern Ireland.
Got to go!
-fin
Paris was a definate success.
The bus will be taking us to Belfast, and there we'll bed down for the night. Then it's World Rally Championship Ireland! It'll be a good way to see the Irish countryside, as we'll be around remote towns in northern and southern Ireland.
Got to go!
-fin
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Sharm El Sheik
So instead of Croatia, we ended up taking an all-inclusive six day trip to the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheik, located in the Sinai desert, technically part of Asia.
It was a fun experience, but totally bizarre. I was thoroughly molested by mosquitos, but we got to enjoy a week of 30+ degree weather.
We signed up for a 3 day SCUBA certification program called PADI, where we received our Open Water Diver 1 license. The scuba diving there was fantastic. We saw, among other things, a blue-spotted sting ray and a gigantic great morray eel. The eel had to have been at least 7 feet long, and its head was about two feet from top to bottom.
Now we've returned to Horni Valdorf, and we had one casualty on the trip home: the Trabant died about 3 towns away from Valdorf, and our neighbor Tomash, who found the Trabant for us, towed us home. The alternator is kaput, so we're handing the keys over to Tomash for good.
Tomorrow we'll be bussing to Paris, where we will stay for a couple of days. We'll catch our flight to Dublin on the 13th, and the final chapter of our journey shall begin.
Best regards to those back home!
It was a fun experience, but totally bizarre. I was thoroughly molested by mosquitos, but we got to enjoy a week of 30+ degree weather.
We signed up for a 3 day SCUBA certification program called PADI, where we received our Open Water Diver 1 license. The scuba diving there was fantastic. We saw, among other things, a blue-spotted sting ray and a gigantic great morray eel. The eel had to have been at least 7 feet long, and its head was about two feet from top to bottom.
Now we've returned to Horni Valdorf, and we had one casualty on the trip home: the Trabant died about 3 towns away from Valdorf, and our neighbor Tomash, who found the Trabant for us, towed us home. The alternator is kaput, so we're handing the keys over to Tomash for good.
Tomorrow we'll be bussing to Paris, where we will stay for a couple of days. We'll catch our flight to Dublin on the 13th, and the final chapter of our journey shall begin.
Best regards to those back home!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Fear and Loathing in Cesky Krumlov
Our troupe has been sick for about the last three days. I came down with the stomach flu first, then Adam and now Lukas is bedridden. Adam is well again, I'm still on the slow mend. It's been an ordeal.
Our present itinerary is as follows: Back to Valdorf tomorrow morning, then off to Prague within about a week. In mid-November we were planning to fly from Frankfurt to Dublin, but now we're considering flying from Paris, and returning to mainland Europe after we're had our fill of Ireland. We would fly from Paris so that when we flew back the Trabant would be ready and waiting for us there. We could then head to Spain if the mood takes us, having driven most of the way there. Barcelona, maybe.
Love to everyone back home and in New York
Our present itinerary is as follows: Back to Valdorf tomorrow morning, then off to Prague within about a week. In mid-November we were planning to fly from Frankfurt to Dublin, but now we're considering flying from Paris, and returning to mainland Europe after we're had our fill of Ireland. We would fly from Paris so that when we flew back the Trabant would be ready and waiting for us there. We could then head to Spain if the mood takes us, having driven most of the way there. Barcelona, maybe.
Love to everyone back home and in New York
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Cesky Krumlov!
We've headed out of Horni Valdorf. We drove Southeast to Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republics second-most interesting place. We're staying the night in Hostel Merlin, only CDN$12.50 a night! Hot damn! To top it off, we're in our own separate room with three beds, and upstairs there's free internet.
The city reminds me of Rome. Crowded architecture, peppered with old cathedrals, there ornate steeples towering above the residential appartment complexes. Food is more expensive here in the city, but that's relatively speaking. We just went to a Bohemian restaurant and dinner cost me 6.50 Canadian.
Pictures should be up tomorrow, I've run out of time and this computer is slow as all get-out.
The city reminds me of Rome. Crowded architecture, peppered with old cathedrals, there ornate steeples towering above the residential appartment complexes. Food is more expensive here in the city, but that's relatively speaking. We just went to a Bohemian restaurant and dinner cost me 6.50 Canadian.
Pictures should be up tomorrow, I've run out of time and this computer is slow as all get-out.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Yesterday was a good day. We headed to Domazlice, the closest decently-sized town, with our neighbor Johnny in the evening and played pool at a nice sportsbar. Then we headed to Jazz Rock, and from there we sprung to the local Discotheque. Czech dancing is different from Canadian dancing in that it is more individual and bizarre than the Canadian variety. The night ended pretty early.
But now we're getting pretty antsy here in Valdorf; things are slow. Its becoming too easy to sleep in until 12 and leave for Domazlice and returning without getting much accomplished. We're planning a road-trip within the next couple of days.
Pictures will appear sooner rather than later!
But now we're getting pretty antsy here in Valdorf; things are slow. Its becoming too easy to sleep in until 12 and leave for Domazlice and returning without getting much accomplished. We're planning a road-trip within the next couple of days.
Pictures will appear sooner rather than later!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Our shared travel blog is at alf69.livejournal.com
Not sure why I neglected to link until now. There are pictures there!
So we returned to Munchen for more oktoberfest. It was even better than the first day. I somehow got in to a club, Subtsanz, where our friends Andy and Jan were chilling, and it was great fun.
Got to go back to Czecho now, I'll update within a few days.
Not sure why I neglected to link until now. There are pictures there!
So we returned to Munchen for more oktoberfest. It was even better than the first day. I somehow got in to a club, Subtsanz, where our friends Andy and Jan were chilling, and it was great fun.
Got to go back to Czecho now, I'll update within a few days.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Update
Today we are going to try to get the trabant insured. Yes, it is in fact made out of 'fiber-rag' as Lukas has dubbed it; the car's body is made out of old rags somehow compressed together through East-German ingenuity. It doesn't get soggy in the rain, mind you.
The puppy's name is now Shaggy.
I've been designated chef for the trip. Somehow, my very limited experience with food surpasses that of my shipmates. It'll be a good learning experience, I suppose.
Mike is leaving tuesday morning (tomorrow). He's taking the computer with him, so I'll have to update in town from now on.
Love to everyone back home!
-Fin
The puppy's name is now Shaggy.
I've been designated chef for the trip. Somehow, my very limited experience with food surpasses that of my shipmates. It'll be a good learning experience, I suppose.
Mike is leaving tuesday morning (tomorrow). He's taking the computer with him, so I'll have to update in town from now on.
Love to everyone back home!
-Fin
Friday, September 28, 2007
Raceday
Our cabin is situated a few kilometers from the Czech town of Horsovsky Tyn, in a small isolated neighborhood known as Horni Valdorf. In this tiny village many people know the Hyrman family
(Lukas') quite well. Today one of our neighbors participated in an amateur Rally race in another nearby town and we came out to show our support, as Mike and Lukas are both big Rally fans.
Rally racing is a cheifly European sport. It differs from other types of car racing in that the track is typically a winding, public country road that is closed off on the day of the event. Spectators can only see each car once each round because there is no way to spectate the whole track, so they gather at hairpin turns and other locations that let them see exciting drifts or crashes. It was good fun, and aside from waiting to see our neighbor fly by, in the last heat we got to see someone knock over a yield sign.
Mike's Australian Shepherd puppy that has stayed with us the last four or five days still has no name. He reminds me of parker.
Busses are quite cheap here so we may head to Croatia or another place for a few days. Valdorf is a great home base for exploring Europe, so there is a lot of potential in the way of places to go.
-Fin
(Lukas') quite well. Today one of our neighbors participated in an amateur Rally race in another nearby town and we came out to show our support, as Mike and Lukas are both big Rally fans.
Rally racing is a cheifly European sport. It differs from other types of car racing in that the track is typically a winding, public country road that is closed off on the day of the event. Spectators can only see each car once each round because there is no way to spectate the whole track, so they gather at hairpin turns and other locations that let them see exciting drifts or crashes. It was good fun, and aside from waiting to see our neighbor fly by, in the last heat we got to see someone knock over a yield sign.
Mike's Australian Shepherd puppy that has stayed with us the last four or five days still has no name. He reminds me of parker.
Busses are quite cheap here so we may head to Croatia or another place for a few days. Valdorf is a great home base for exploring Europe, so there is a lot of potential in the way of places to go.
-Fin
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Trabant
Today, Mike and Lukas went and bought a Trabant that we had checked out yesterday. What is a Trabant you might ask? It's a car that was designed and mass-produced during the Soviet reign over Eastern Europe; it's a Communist car.
It was 3500 Czech crowns, equivalent to $175.00 Canadian. Built in 1982, it is still in mint condition. It runs on a lawnmower engine. Top speed: 95kmph. We'll be touring around Europe in it. I'm excited.
It was 3500 Czech crowns, equivalent to $175.00 Canadian. Built in 1982, it is still in mint condition. It runs on a lawnmower engine. Top speed: 95kmph. We'll be touring around Europe in it. I'm excited.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The goings-on so far...
The first three days have been a great success. We landed safely in Sunny Munchen [Munich], where Lukas s brother Mike promptly picked us up. We ve been staying in a tiny room of Mike s friend Jan s. Jan shares the apartment with another German man named Andreas. They re both terrific people. In fact, everyone I ve met on this trip so far has been friendly.
We first got to the apartment in the late afternoon, where we cleaned up our room and went out to a local greek restaurant. Later that night we headed to a party, where I found everyone in Munich speaks English quite well. Most of the people were about ten years my senior, which made for interesting conversation. I slept only a few hours that night.
Day two was the start of Oktoberfest, a festival dedicated almost solely to drinking beer. We poked around the festival, an area with a respectably sized amusement park and about 15 enormous tents that serve as beergardens for about six thousand people each. Every single one was full, so we went back to the apartment for a while and explored the city until evening.
We made it into one of the tents at about 8:30 and stayed until it closed at 11. I slept well that night.
Today we re heading to the cabin in Valdorf. We ll be staying there for at least a month.
I m alive and happy, the trip so far has been a fantastic success. I cant post pictures right now unfortunately; I ll try when we get to the Czech Republic.
We first got to the apartment in the late afternoon, where we cleaned up our room and went out to a local greek restaurant. Later that night we headed to a party, where I found everyone in Munich speaks English quite well. Most of the people were about ten years my senior, which made for interesting conversation. I slept only a few hours that night.
Day two was the start of Oktoberfest, a festival dedicated almost solely to drinking beer. We poked around the festival, an area with a respectably sized amusement park and about 15 enormous tents that serve as beergardens for about six thousand people each. Every single one was full, so we went back to the apartment for a while and explored the city until evening.
We made it into one of the tents at about 8:30 and stayed until it closed at 11. I slept well that night.
Today we re heading to the cabin in Valdorf. We ll be staying there for at least a month.
I m alive and happy, the trip so far has been a fantastic success. I cant post pictures right now unfortunately; I ll try when we get to the Czech Republic.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The premiere!
This blog will serve to keep people up to date on my goings-on overseas, as well as to document the trip for myself.
It's T-minus 30 hours or so until I leave. We'll be flying direct to Munich, and will be staying...I'm not sure where. Lukas isn't very forthcoming with the information.
He, along with my other close friend Adam, will be my accomplices at large.
Time to get packing!
It's T-minus 30 hours or so until I leave. We'll be flying direct to Munich, and will be staying...I'm not sure where. Lukas isn't very forthcoming with the information.
He, along with my other close friend Adam, will be my accomplices at large.
Time to get packing!
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