On The Road

Maybe I will finally read this book this summer...

Only because I was forced

I will end my boycott of this site in honor of higher learning and the quest for more fulfilling travels. My book suggestions are:

Letters to a Young Poet

Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and their Journey. And also, The Haiku Anthology

Homework,

1) Think of a book you feel is necessary to the Travel for Fun philosophy.
2) Post book on blog.
3) Read every other book suggested.


This assignment is mandatory.
(Boys, this means you.)

Within weeks the rough and littered shores of Brighton Beach will become the fine and ancient sand of the Sahara

Listen:
These are just the things Dr. Shea tells me. However, even under the careful eye of Dr. Shea, things are bound to go wrong and chaos is bound to ensue.


May 13th--Arrive in Casablanca
May 14th--Train leaves for Fes
May 15th--Tour of Medina
May 16th--Language Class, Lecture on Culture
May 17th--Lecture on Art, Lecture on History of Fes
May 18th--"group time" (getting lost with Dr. Shea, most likely)
May 19th--Lecture on Religion, Language Class
May 20th--Move to homestay
May 21st--Lecture: Women in Morocco
May 22nd--"free time"
May 23rd--Travel to Erfoud
May 24th--Travel to Merzouga, Camel trip (which I'm totally prepared for thanks to Horsemanship I)
May 25th--state of utter euphoria and exhaustion after a night of sleeping in the Sahara desert under the stars
May 26th--Travel to Ouarzazate. apparently there will be a picnic
May 27th--Travel to Marrakech
May 28th--Travel to Berber village
May 29th--livin' wit' my Berber homies
May 30th--Travel to Marrakech
May 31--Beginning of the end of what is bound to be the best 3 weeks of my life thus far

A rock feels no pain, and an island never cries

I stood in my doorway this morning, watching the rain and watching you walk to your car. I watched you get in, take a drink of water, and start down the street, away from my house. I watched until you disappeared around the bend and you were gone. Then, I went back upstairs and climbed back into bed, trying desperately to ignore the simple, sad truth that we are all apart.

As I listened to Simon and Garfunkel on Caitlin's record player this afternoon, I noted that sadly (yet thankfully) I am neither a rock nor an island.

Nashville...

Here I sit, swirling coffee like wine, and for the second time today subsisting on the melkosjokolade gagi gave me. I should have made the right decision--you know, that one I never make--that decision to sleep instead of throwing a few scoops into the filter. But alas. And, if I weren't already tired from sleep deprivation (which I was), a day of traipsing about town with the Cleland Clan had me simply begging to be left alone for a few short hours, if only to gather my thoughts. But, upon sitting, I realized that my thoughts were already gathered: Without you, travelling will just not be as fun.

A piece of our Wednesday,

"If Paris is France, then Coney Island, between June and September, is the world."

-George Tilyou, 1886

Chocltkiss1988 (2:05:27 AM): Me and Cate went to Coney Island today, it was a bunch of fun

Chocltkiss1988 (2:05:33 AM): And we hung out with Gagi and Gma

vultures eat you (2:05:47 AM): Do you understand how jealous I am?

vultures eat you (2:05:49 AM): Seriously.

Chocltkiss1988 (2:06:16 AM): But you're still at school.

Chocltkiss1988 (2:06:26 AM): I would actually probably come back if I could.

Chocltkiss1988 (2:06:37 AM): Because as soon as Caitlin leaves its going to start being boring

vultures eat you (2:06:41 AM): You were with Gagi AND gma!!

Chocltkiss1988 (2:06:46 AM): True.

Chocltkiss1988 (2:06:53 AM): And they did buy us dinner at Gino's.

Chocltkiss1988 (2:07:18 AM): But no matter how well fed I am, I will have to remember that I could be starving at school with all my friends.

vultures eat you (2:07:22 AM): beautiful

A Thought I’ve Had Since Honduras (May 2007)

The difference between the deaf and those of us in different cultures, unable to ask for directions or read the menu, is simply that while we have whole countries that can understand us they only have enclaves of others ostracized without choice.