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Cairo | London |
Gryon | Rome
| Venice | Florence/Sienna |
Pisa | Milan |
Salzburg | Bilbao
Düsseldorf | Cologne |
Rotterdam | Amsterdam |
Prague | Berlin |
Vienna | Munich |
Frankfurt
London | Barcelona |
Ibiza | Madrid |
Moving Trips | Miami |
Cross Country |
Provincetown
Entries here are
presented more or less in the order in which I visited, with the MOST
RECENT FIRST. I went to some places more than once, but they are
usually here only once. Whatever, you'll get the idea. |
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Cairo, Egypt |
January 2003 |
Back to Top |
| Cairo Photos |
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| What and
amazing place! Aside from all of the things you would expect,
such as pyramids, the sphinx, the artifacts at the huge Egyptian Museum (a
must see), I also found a culture that is perhaps the most amazing and
different that I have encountered thus far on my journey. The people are warm
and friendly and just sincerely fantastic. The food was, well, there
aren't words. My favorite was Koshory and Kafta! I was lucky enough to
meet some locals guys who showed me more of Cairo and taught me more
about Egypt than I
could have ever expected. Special thanks to Mahmoud and Hussein, and
the whole group in our little Sheesha cafe in Doqqi. Smoke a Sheesha
for me guys! I love you and miss you! Thanks for making those 4 days
the most amazing of my whole trip! I'll be back! I also must thank the
guys at the New Palace Hotel without whom I would have been LOST! You
guys are the best! |
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London, England |
December 2002 (New Year's 2003) |
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| London Photos |
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| Wow! My friend
Yvonne gave me the idea to come back to London for New Year's. And
what a great idea it was. We had such fun on New Year's Eve and
everyday. (yeeeaahh, thanks for comin') My friend Andrea came from
Milan, and that gave me the excuse to do all the tourist stuff again.
It was really great. Thanks Yvonne. I love you so much! See you in the
US! And, thanks for Duncan, Amanda, Claire and of course Richard! (who
can forget Richard) You guys were great and really made me feel like
part of the family. Hope to see you all in Miami someday! It was also
really great to see my friends Bello and Yury! (didn't see Bello 'til
after the new year, though, 'casue he was in Tokyo! Guess two
can play at this world traveling game. Keep in touch and come
see me soon. |
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Italy
(and Gryon, Switzerland) |
December 2002 |
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| Italy Photos |
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| So much
happened in Italy. First, I arrived in Milan to visit my friends Aldo
and Valerio. They live about an hour north of Milan in Verbania(Intra),
an absolutely GORGEOUS town nestled alongside a huge lake called Lago
Maggiore. It is 90km long, and the top actually extends into
Switzerland. The town of Verbania itself is only about a 20 minute
drive from Switzerland. It was so good to finally see Aldo and Valerio
again. I met them in Ibiza, and we had been planning my visit since
August! They have a beautiful home, and they treated me like a KING!
Shortly after my arrival, I met Andrea in Milan. Andrea and I had a
wonderful romantic adventure in the weeks that would follow, including
our time in London. He is a very special person. I miss you and love
you Andrea. Then, my mother and sister came, and we enjoyed more than
a two week adventure driving and training all over Italy. We hit
Milan, Pisa, Sienna, Florence, Venice, Rome and Verbania. We even
managed to make our way into Switzerland for a couple of days. What an
amazing time we had. I love to travel with them. We laugh and make the
most enduring memories together. It has always been that way, and I am
sure it always will be! Thanks you two, for making my Christmas and
Birthday so special this year. I love you and miss you! |
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Cologne, Germany |
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Back to Top |
| none really |
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| I was literally
in Cologne for less than 18 hours. But, I managed to have GREAT
time there. It was from Cologne that I took a plane to Madrid to meet
Inaki, Jaime and Doris one last time. Then, on to Milan for December.
Cologne is the Gay capital of Germany, and so, it was not hard to make
friends. I made one friend, Marco, who is a flight attendant for Luftansa and
we are still in touch. He is coming to visit me soon. Such friendly people in Cologne. Who knew? :)
Miss you Marco! I am waiting for you in Australia! |
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Amsterdam,
Holland |
October and November 2002 |
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Amsterdam Photos |
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| I spent a lot
of time here. A friend gave me his apartment for 3 weeks. I even had a
visit from my buddy John Hanks. We had a blast. Didn't take too many
photos though. Just needed a break! But, man, what a beautiful place.
|
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Rotterdam,
Holland |
October 2002 |
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| Rotterdam Photos |
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| My friends
Laura and Maarten invited me to their town in Holland. Rotterdam is
the largest port city in it's region of Europe. The city is largely
industrial and quite new. I stayed at the Neef house, Laura's parents.
In a short time, we became fast friends, and I was treated as family.
Mama Neef even did my laundry, and mom and dad took me on a tour! We
had wonderful food and traditional drink, first at Maarten's house,
and then at the Neef house. What special people. Thanksto you all for
welcoming me into your homes, and into your families. You are missed!
I sure wish I had a bottle of Geneva. I just can't find it here! Maybe
you can bring me one when you come to Miami! See you there soon! |
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Düsseldorf, Germany |
November 2002 |
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| Düsseldorf Photos |
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| My friend
Pascal, whom I met in Ibiza invited me to his birthday celebration at
one of his favorite clubs in town. I made a special trip from
Frankfurt to attend. It was so worth it, even though I was caught in
the worst wind storm of the year on the way home, and my train was hit
by a tree. (a less than 3 hours ride took me about 20 hours, and I had
to sleep in the airport. What a good time! Miss you guys!! |
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Salzburg, Austria |
November 2002 |
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| Salzburg Photos |
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| I finally made
it to see Arno, Rafa and Robert, 3 buddies from Ibiza. I arrived in
Salzburg on a rainy Saturday evening after a 36 hour transportation
mission which started in Bilbao at 6am the day before, and included
stops in Barcelona and Munich. Arno picked me up and shuttled me
to their home in a suburb of Salzburg. What a beautiful place. I got
my first real view of the alps from their balcony, and the days that
followed were magical, including a couple of nights out in Salzburg
and Munich (a short one hour drive away - that is if you drive like a
crazy person on the autobahn - thanks Robert) as well as a day of site
seeing in the main city. Thanks guys for being such GREAT hosts! Can't
wait to see you in Barcelona. (or Miami!) |
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Bilbao, Spain |
November 2002 |
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| Bilbao Photos |
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| After a long
whirlwind of a trip all the way up to Amsterdam, I finally made my way
back to Spain to see my special friend Iñaki. We also met in Ibiza,
but he was one of my first friends. He and his family received me as
one of their own. In just 5 short days, he took me to see so much of
the area, and I had such wonderful encounters with friends and family,
most notably mom, dad, Eguzquiñe and la Abuela (or grandmother) who is
a direct descendant of the explorer Ponce de Leon. Her name in fact is
Angela Ponce de Leon. Photos of her are included in the gallery. The
food and drink were fantastic. I would expect nothing less from Spain,
but Iñaki's mother did a credible job of exceeding my expectations on a
daily basis. This part of Spain is one of the most beautiful
that I saw, and my time there with the Raposo family was truly
special. Gracias mi amor. Y gracias a tu familia muy especial. Nunca
vos olvido! |
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Prague, Czech Republic |
October 2002 |
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| Prague Photos |
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| Prague was as
far east as I went on this trip. And, upon arrival, one truly felt one
had gone somewhere. Europe is very different for an American, but
venture a little towards the east, and it feels like a whole new
world. I loved Prague. There is so much history and music and food
that is unique to the area. I met an Italian friend, Mauro, who
explored it with me at first. And, then when he left, Yvonne met me
AGAIN! She came from the beaches of Croatia to meet me, and we had a
BLAST! Here, I took pictures. All I can say is that I recommend it
highly. |
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Berlin, Germany |
September 2002 |
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Berlin Photo |
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| I met Gerhard
and Falk at the Oktoberfest in Munich. They live in Berlin, and so
when I arrived, Gerhard took me on a really wonderful tour of the city
and the surrounding areas. He is also quite connected in the night
life, and as such, showed me a fantastic night on the town, complete
with free entry and free drinks at the hottest Sunday night venue in
Berlin. I really love the city. Strangely enough, some parts of it
reminded me of some parts of Manhattan. I was very comfortable there,
and I will definitely return for a longer visit someday. My time there
ended with a dinner party at Falk's building where I met a host of
interesting people. It was a very short, but very sweet visit, thanks
to Gerhard and Falk. Danke Schön
meine freunden! Ich wolle sie en Miami sehen. |
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Vienna, Austria |
September 2002 |
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| Vienna Photos |
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| What a mess! I
met some girls in Munich that were on the way to Vienna (Katie and
Becky from Canada and Yvonne from New Zealand), so we decided to meet
there. After all was said and done, we had a wonderful time together,
but it was so rainy and cold the whole time that we often found
ourselves on busses or in cafes trying to escape the weather. Our
highlight as a big group was all of our first official Weiner
Schnitzel in Wein (Vienna)! It was HUGE and amazing, and we had
the rest for dinner the next night in the hostel, along with 2 bottles
of wine and god knows what else. (Yes, it was that big) But, the most
important development in Vienna was my friendship with Yvonne Defaria.
We had such an amazing time together just doing nothing. And, we also
enjoyed the "bargain of the year" together. Tickets to the Weiner
Stats Oper (Vienna State Opera House). It was Yvonne's first opera,
and we saw it for just two (2) Euros! (Standing room seats - but who
cares) It was amazing. She loved it, I loved it. And it was the
beginning of a long string of encounters all over Europe, and more
importantly, the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I love you
Yvonne! (don't worry - her name pops up quite a bit - you haven't seen
the last of her by a long shot - she just keep turning up - and she
won't have a booking - she never does) Oh, I had one last experience
there that was a nice surprise. On my last night, Yvonne was gone, and
I went out alone. I met a couple of nice guys who took me to a bar
where they play only classical music, but LOUD, like a Classical
Disco. We had stimulating conversation about politics and cultural
differences, but somehow it ended without exchange of information. I
have a pic of them here, but I have no way to keep in touch. I guess
it was bound to happen sometime. Anyway, it was a wonderful and
engaging surprise. I believe the place is called Spiritus Sanctus,
and it is in the city center hidden on a dark, winding street in
Vienna. |
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Munich, Germany |
September 2002 |
Back to Top |
| Munich Photos |
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| This felt like
the first real stop on my tour. I guess cause I was not meeting
friends. I was just totally on my own. And, it was the week before the
first weekend of Oktoberfest and I did not have a reservation. So it
was really a crazy backpacking experience. I arrived and put my stuff
in a locker at the train station. Then the searching began. I went to
all the hostels that I knew of from the Internet. All full. Then I
started walking around to see if I could others. I had heard that
there were many local hostels that did not take reservations. And such
enough, just near the train station, success. I was prepared to sleep
at the Tent hostel in the park, but my plan to arrive a couple of days
early helped me avoid that. The rest is history. I went to
Oktoberfest and had an amazing time. I think the pics speak for
themselves. It was there that I met Gerhard and Falk, as well as the
Vienna girls. (which included my friend Yvonne.) I won't tell the
story on Becky that was the ice breaker for the 4 of us, but let's
just say, there was some snoring involved - and it was coming from her
bed, and IT WASN'T HER! ... 'nough said! :) |
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Frankfurt, Germany |
September and October 2002 |
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| Frankfurt Photos |
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| Benon and
Melanie were my LIFE SAVERS! My friend Kevin Holland, whom I
have known for almost 20 years, (man that makes me sound old)
introduced me to Benon and Melanie in Boston years ago. Benon took a
job in Frankfurt. So when he and Melanie heard I was going to be
traveling around Europe for some months, they opened their home to me.
In doing so, they gave me a base to return to and recharge my
batteries, do laundry, check email and enjoy home cooked meals. (not
to mention sleep without being awakened by other backpackers foraging
around in the morning.) Clemens, Melanie's brother, became my
unofficial tour guide, and, well, the rest is history. A good time was
had by all at various times. And their daughter, Elena, stole the show
as often as possible. Incidentally, Frankfurt is the only
city in Europe with an actually skyline as we think of them. For
that reason, (and because the river Main runs through the heart of the
city) it is nicknamed, Mainhattan. |
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London, England |
September 2002 |
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London Photos |
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| Just after
Barcelona, I took a quick trip up to London to see my friend Bello. It
was a great place to finish recovering from Ibiza (and Spain in
general) and to get ready for the rest of the trip. I made plans,
bought tickets, and even managed to see an opera at Covent Garden,
which was about 2 blocks from Bello's house. It was a GREAT time, and
I really want to thanks Bello. He was a perfect host, and an even more
perfect friend. One day, we'll all meet up again Bello; you, me and
Jean! OK THISTER! (there is actually one photo of Bello in the photos
of London above) |
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Barcelona, Spain |
September and October 2002 |
Back to Top |
| not many photos |
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| My first trip
to Barcelona was just after Ibiza in September. I went there to visit
my friend Noel, who I met in the last two weeks of the Summer. Noel
showed me a side of Barcelona that I might not have seen. We did the
usual tourist things, but the real Barcelona is hidden behind the
beautiful and exotic architecture of Gaudi. It is a diverse and
beautiful place. I could imagine living here someday. Thanks to
Noel for his help with that damn blue suitcase. And thanks to all the
nice people he introduced me to in the Cuban community. My second
visit coincided with a trip my friend Alber was taking there with
his boyfriend James. We did many things together and again, I enjoyed
the many facets that Barcelona has to offer. (It's also close to Ibiza
- that's a nice plus) |
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Ibiza, Spain |
May 2002 - September 2002 |
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| IBIZA Photos |
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| As I write
this, I am still in Ibiza, but I am anxious to get moving onto the
rest of the trip. Having said that, my time here has been
marvelous. I have seen and done things that I am privileged to
have experienced. This place is sometimes called the "Magic Island",
and it has earned it's name for an number of reasons. Many would
credit the incredibly unparalleled nightlife. Ibiza is Europe's
"disco fever" escape and has been for some years. There is
nothing like it in the U.S., perhaps not anywhere else in the world.
The world's largest disco is here, and the world's most famous
after-hours disco is here as well. For those of you who don't
know about Ibiza, that should give you something of an idea. But,
there is so much more. Ibiza is a beautiful Mediterranean island
with beautiful beaches and coastal cliffs, rich with Spanish and
Catalan culture. It is a unique, and Yes, "Magical" place. The
pictures should speak for themselves. |
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Madrid, Spain |
September 2002 |
Back to Top |
| Madrid Photos |
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| Well, Spain was
the first stop. (and almost my last) Madrid became something of an
Anchor for me. I returned many times to visit friends and regroup
before moving on to the next thing. Mona, Jaime and Doris took me in
from the very beginning and made everything so easy. I never could
have done it without them. Mona is the mother of my friend Fabian
Tamayo in Miami. Gracias a todos por hacer mi empieza
en España tan fácil y tan especial. Vos quiero mucho! I also
returned to see Santiago, to visit with Amparo and her family, and to
see Iñaki one last time before leaving Europe. So, the pictures are
from various visits. I love Madrid. Christmas time was magical
there. It will always feel like my home away from him, again thanks
especially to Jaime and Doris. |
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Moving Trips |
April 2002 - May 2002 |
Back to Top |
| Moving Trips Photos |
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| Before I could
start the world tour, I had to make a series of mini-trips to get my
stuff settled and to say good bye to friends. This included stops at
my grandma's in north Florida, my aunt's in north Georgia and finally
my mom's in North Carolina. I did not make it to Boston or Oregon
which was a real shame. The last trip was to NY which was my final
jumping off point as well. These trips were important and fun. The
photos are a mixed bag, but hey, so were the trips. Enjoy! |
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Caracas, Venezuela |
February 2002 |
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| Caracas Photos |
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|
My friend
Carlos wrote, produced and starred in a a show in Caracas. I went down
to see the show, see old friends and make a few new friends, too. I love
this country. For those of you who don't know me, I lived here in
1992, 1993, and have visited many times since then, usually to spend
both Christmas and New Year's! It feels like my second home and I miss
it very much. I only hope there is something to go back to in the near
future.
CHAVEZ NO! Que se vaya! |
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Miami, South Beach |
October 2001 - May 2002 |
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Miami Photos |
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| Once we
finished the cross country trip, it was time for me to head to my new
home. I passed back through Jacksonville, Florida, and then headed to
Miami Beach; South Beach to be exact. The purchase of my condo had
fallen through, so the first business was to find a new home. In
the end, the stress was too much and I decided to rent for a while in
stead. I found a great place near Lincoln Road at 17th and
Washington Avenue. It took a while to make this decision,
though, so at first, I lived in the Clay Hotel, not a terrible, but
certainly not a glamorous experience. In the
end, Miami was the impetus for a lot of change. I decided not to buy
an apartment and I decided not to start a new business. Both of these
decisions proved to be important with regard to my ability to detach
and do this world tour. But, all in all, everything happened for a reason, and Miami was a
wonderful experience. It became my home, and one day, I hope to
return there to start my new life in the US. I miss you SOBE!
|
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Cross Country - USA |
September 2001 - Oct 2001 |
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| Cross Country Photos |
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|
So September
came, and with it, a trip from P-Town to Miami. But, first, I went with my
friend Juancho, my sister and her best friend Tara across the country.
We traveled through the following cities and locations:
- Boston
- New York
- Washington D.C.
- Jacksonville
- New Orleans
- Dallas
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- Flagstaff
- Grand Canyon - Painted Desert
- Las Vegas
- Palm Springs
- Los Angeles
- and more...
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Needless to say, we had a wonderful time, and I would
highly recommend it to anyone who has even a remote chance. Now, we
want to do the top half of the country. Kimberly and Tara actually
already did the top half, because they continued on without Juancho
and I after Las
Vegas. |
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Provincetown |
May 2001 - September 2001 |
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| P-Town Photos |
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| I went to
P-Town in late April and considered a move for the summer. I had a great time and decided
it would be worth spending the summer before my move to Miami.
Many of my friends had made similar decisions due to similarly
unexpected job changes. So I found myself among friends instantly,
and the party began. I got a job in a
restaurant where I worked at night. I spent days on the beach, late
nights on the "town". It was a wonderful time, filled with ups and
downs, and surprises, but in the end, it was a worthwhile experience
that I look back on fondly for the most part.
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