GregWeckenbrock-Europe

October 2010 Pumphouse, Colorado River

2011-03-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

The Netherlands

2007-12-13T02:44:00.000-08:00

Spain

2007-12-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

So, After a month in Prague, with the semester underway, Julie and I decided to take a long weekend trip to Madrid. We wanted to take in some of the sweet Spanish culture, as much as we could from the big city, as well as some sweet Spanish sunshine. The Prague skies had started becoming dreary and gray. We were desperate for some some blue skies and warm air. Spain did not disappoint. After Julie left on our last day, I still had a few hours left to kill before getting to the airport, so I laid in a park with green green grass, trees, blue skies, ans sunshine for 3 hours. I slept and read. It was heaven.
The biggest reason for our trip however, was that my parents got us two tickets to the Van Morrison, (in Madrid) concert for my birthday. Floor seats, pretty cool. He's got an amazing voice as well as an amazing sense of/ presence in the music he creates. He's a genius. That being said, he's not much for stage presence. He never addressed the fans or said thanks for coming and all that. He yelled at his band for not playing one of the refrains in his second to last song right. He made them replay/ resing it 4 times in front of us all and they still couldn't get it right. He sang one more song then simply walked off stage. No goodnight, not even a wave, just turned, one hand at his side, one hand on the harp he was still playing, and walked off. Oh well, I guess when you're 60-70 however many yrs old, and so musically talented, you can do whatever you want. In the end, we still had a great time, dancing on the floor, right in front of the stage, singing to the sound and beat of that silky-smooth jazz voice.
We also rendezvoused with my former flatmate Sarah and her boyfriend Rob. They were kind enough to take us in on our first night, even though my flight didn't get in until midnight and I didn't show up at their door until around 1am... thanks Sarah and Rob.

A Central Square in Madrid. Very entertaining, very clean, open and friendly. People performing, not necessarily hawking for money... great light too.

A Central Square in Madrid.

Sunset at the ancient Roman ruins upon which the city is said to have been founded.

Sunset at the ancient Roman ruins

Cathedral, again beautiful light. Old, yet unlike the churches in Prague, still very regularly used and thus well-kept and modern inside. Great light anyway... did I already mention that?

Cathedral

View of the Palace, from the closest vantage point we could reach (without paying...). So wide and panoramic, very picturesque once you sqeeze your head through.

Tall trees I was facinated with in a giant park just outside of the city center.

Man walking in Segovia, a town 60km(apx) north of Madrid.

Plaza del Sol. That saxman is good.

Central plaza with street perfomers and hunderds of colorful people.

Central plaza with street perfomers and hunderds of colorful people... worst/best spider man mime anyone's ever seen. His donation bucket was the fullest on the square.

Sweet gondola ride leaving the park, heading back into the center. Julie, Phil Collins, and I. Very memorable trip.

Back To the Czech Republic, New School Year

2007-11-30T04:43:00.000-08:00

Svaty Jan- Kakofon weekend rehersal. This is the monastery where we practice- early-October.

Svaty Jan- Kakofon weekend rehersal- early-October.

Czech Switzerland, Julie and I- mid-October.

Czech Switzerland, Joel and I- mid-October.

Czech Switzerland, Joel and I spelling "J" in honor of Jack Fitzpatrick- mid-October.

Czech Switzerland, boat ride throughly and eerily quite, amazing, secret canyon- mid-October.

Czech Switzerland, Julie in the light, walking though a tunnel- mid-October.

Julie and Joel walking out of a winding tunnel, approaching the arch- mid-October- Czech Switzerland.

The arch, from the old stone building underneath it- Czech Switzerland.

Joel and Julie talking, the arch in the background -Czech Switzerland.

Boat ride in quiet canyon- Czech Switzerland.

Scotland- Kristen, Mom, Dad, and friends

2007-11-23T04:40:00.000-08:00

With our Ireland adventures nearly concluded, Kris and I spent our last night in Ireland, sleeping in the rental car. We awoke the early the next morning to fly to Scotland to meet our parents and their friends, Katie + Dick, Bob + Camille, and our Aunt Gail and Uncle Max. We spent the next four days in Edinburgh with them, sleeping on the floor of mom and dad's luxurious hotel room. -Room for two more? We brought sleeping bags???

Kris and mom walking above Edinburgh. Awesome afternoon hike, good compliment to the awesome 2hr long all you can eat Scottish breakfast.

Her mother's daughter.

Mom and daughter, Edinburgh castle in the background.

Stop number 8 on the audio-walking tour...

Edinburgh Castle, audio-walking tour.

Old church behind Mary's royal palace. One of the first buildings built in what is now Edinburgh.

Black and White Panoramic of Edinburgh.

After 4 days in Edinburgh, Kris flew back to Cincinnati, and mom, dad, and friends joined the Royal Scotch Railway tour, to see the country for the next week by train. They would later travel a bit more by bus, but I in fact, found myself alone in my travels for the first real time, with four more days in the country to do whatever I pleased. So, I packed my bag and headed north, into the highlands for some much needed quiet time. It was absolutely great, just what I needed. I found a nice little bed and breakfast in a seaside town on the west coast, named Ullapool. I wrote, read, slept, hiked, ate, drank good Scottish beer, watched football games in pubs and hung out at the library. What more could I have wanted? I took a few picts too, check them out:

"Scottish Light" -Bus

"Scottish Light"- The start of the hike where I got my feet soaked because its "a wee bit boggy" if you get off the trail. I got off the trail. It was windy, full of moving light and clouds, and nothing short of breath-taking.
There was one casualty however, I lost my constant companion of the last 3 months, Travis's Hat. I was sad about it, as it had absorbed so much energy from the trip. The memories it held would last a life time. But on a windy, cold day in the boggy Scottish highlands, after a 2hr hike up to the highest point around, I arrived at the top, felt the strong wind and took it off, the wind getting meaner, my head getting colder by the second. I fastened it to my man-purse, as I had so many times before, and began to climb down. After about 45min, I stumbled in the waist high brush, fell, and noticed for the first time, as I rolled down hill and my man-purse went flying, that in fact, Travis' hat was no where to be found. I raced back up as high as I could before the weather socked me in and I had to turn back because of darkness and fatigue. It was gone. "It was a good death".
In the end, my "trip hat" met the same fate as Fitzy's "trip flips"... Check out the pictures Travis's Hat died to take:

"Scottish Light" 1

"Scottish Light" 2

"Scottish Light" 3

"Scottish Light" 4

"Scottish Light" 5

"Scottish Light" 6

Ireland, Julie, then Kristen

2007-11-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

After Germany, I hopped a plane to Dublin, Ireland to meet Julie for a five day trip together. It was great from the start. Green and actually sunny, and sharp contrast to both the oft-dreary climate of central Europe, and the hot dessert-mountain regions of the Balkans. Good beer, friendly people, strange accents, something called an "Irish" breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, butter, jam, friend tomatoes, cereal, yogurt, coffee, and tea... a welcomed sight compared to the usual "full breakfast" included in most of the hostel/apartments we stayed in all summer...toast, nescafe, butter if you're lucky), and peaceful countrysides made Ireland particularly agreeable to me. The best part however was seeing Julie after two and a half months apart. It was strange to see her, but stranger still that it wasn't awkward or pressurized. It felt natural. We'd missed each other, but it wasn't desperately or extremely, rather it was simply. And here in Ireland, we were simply back together again. The overall feeling I had during the five days we spent together, was just that I was happy to be with her. That's it. Such a simple feeling and yet so meaningful. Plus we were doing one of the things we do best together, traveling. Check it out:

My first Guinness.

Near the foundation we explored on our misty hike.

A Castle in Co. Tipperary

Cliffs outside of Dublin, Julie looking on, Travis' old straw hat looking a bit more worn
.

Phantom limb! Phantom Limb!

Exploring old ruins on a misty hike through the Irish mountains. Fences, ha! They're crap!

After five days, Julie had to leave. I however stayed. An hour after Julie left, my little sis Kristen arrived. Kristen and I spend the next four days together taking Ireland by storm, Weckenbrock style! Watch out, here we come!! Rental car adventures, Weckenbrocks, go Weckenbrocks! Check it out:

Kristen's first morning in Dublin, after an overnight flight. Her first Bulmer's.

Kris outside of the Guinness factory, notice the closed gates... it was closed.

Guinness factory, outer walls.

Kris, on a bridge, in an Irish town we drove through... we actually got out at this one...

Same town.

Same town, public library, old sign, English printed above Gaelic.

Sandy beach, west coast of Ireland, North of Galway.

Kris and I on the Sky Road, North of Galway, so began our auto tour!!

Whose that giant in that tiny car?

Our tiny car was awesome, so awesome that it would later be our dinner spot our last night, in a golf course parking lot with a distant view of the Cliffs of Moher. It would also be our accommodation that night as well. It can fit anywhere... in people's driveways and they would never know it.

An Abby we tried to enter, it closed a minute before we arrived. Tried to sneak in the exit, got busted.

The road next to the Abby, not closed, good thing. This was the largest road we drove on during our 8hr auto tour that day. Two lanes, totally sweet.

A mirror on the auto tour.

Inishmore, without a doubt one of the coolest places in the world. It's an island off the coast western Ireland, facing the open Atlantic, and where Gaelic is still the first tongue. It's also one of the most nickle-and-dimey, tourist trap, a small (sometimes large) fee for everything you do getting to and from and while on the island, places I've ever been. If you go, and at the end of the day, I'd still recommend it, just expect to pay a lot in numerous small amounts throughout your entire trip. Everything but the air costs something.

Our ferry ride to Inishmore... just a training mission, and nice to know it's there, but is this really what you want to see on your ferry ride? Like all the other clueless passengers, we were confused and rushed to the back to see what was happening... don't think this is the right "procedure"... but hey, gotta check it out right? There's action, gotta check it out.

That's actually Kristen in the basket... kidding. ha ha ha.

The west coast of Inishmore.

Kissy-loo-loo pushing through a tough hill-climb on our totally sickbird rental bikes. It's the altitude...

Don't show this to mom, Inishmore.

Kissy loo loo taking the road less traveled, Inishmore.

6 minutes to catch the ferry, Kissy almost gets nailed by a speeding, crazy, out of control, wild horse and buggy.

Germany, reunite, feast on life's riches... in other words, spoil ourselves after a trip well done

2007-11-12T13:02:00.001-08:00

After I left to meet Kakofon in Slovenia, Fitzy and Joel continued on for another week of riding in Romania. Later we all met back in Prague, spent one night in my old flat before leaving for Germany the next day. After an overnight bus, we arrived at the house and winery of Fitzy's friend and former coworker from New Zealand, Christian. He was a great host, and from the second we arrived, he opened up his home, which was warm, relaxing, and comforting, and made us feel welcome. He gave us a private "tasting" of all his family's wines, which were fantastic, especially a Riesling he handcrafted from a very dry year, to create a taste I've never experienced before. It was a good bottle. Over the next three days he took us to various friends and former schoolmates of his, whose families also own wineries in the region. Each one was a unique experience. Here are some highlights from the days I actually had my camera:

White wine grapes, Rhine River valley

Rose in Vineyard

Joel, Fitzy, Christian's Girlfriend, Christian's friend Jacob (who's family owns the vineyard we're currently in), and Christian.

A video from Jacob's Vineyard, a truly remarkable place, and where the best sweet wines I've ever tasted are made.

Going for a nice view, Jacob's vineyard

Fitzy, walking, tasting. Jacob's vineyard.

Another Vineyard- Bottles

The last night we were all together, Christian, Me, Fitzy, and Joel.

Germany was a brilliant way to finish our travels together. We reunited, reflected, told and retold stories. We kicked our feet up and looked back over how far we'd come, all we'd done. We shared some laughed, talked of the future, and in the end, simply counted all we'd collected and let it go. Thanks to Fitzy, and especially Christian for putting it together. It was one fine way to end the trip.

Bucharest- Slovenia (2nd time) Choir Tour

2007-11-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

So, after reaching Bucharest, I only had one night before I left Joel and Fitzy to explore the city themselves. The the time had come for me to get off the bike, and travel the road in a bit different way. Kakofon, the choir I sing with in Prague was making a small concert tour for a week in Slovenia. So I boarded a train in Bucharest, and made the 30hr trip, first to Budapest, then back to Lljubljana, Slovenia. It was a long ride, bribing two train conductors along the way, and having a 6hr layover in Budapest, which was actually a nice chance to ride back up to the castle for a nap and some lunch, and to recount the special visit my parents and I made there just 5 months before.

I finally made it to Ljubljana at 11pm, and made the final 5k ride from the train station to where the choir was staying. Finally, the bike rolled to a stop, and I was in the arms of my friends once again. From the first night I spent on the tour, I began a process of reflection that could last for years to come. Already, I began having the life-changing realizations that would later come to mark this trip, more than anything else... The two months on the bikes, changed my life... This concert tour gave me the perfect opportunity to stop moving, breath, and begin to let it all catch up with me... what a ride.
The concert tour itself was amazing in its own right, however. I sang more than I ever have in a week period. We sang on beaches, in caves, churches, restaurants, cars, on islands, and in mountains. I spent more time with a new-born baby, than in all my life. I grew closer to many of the people in Kakofon, and for this I will always be grateful. They are truly my friends, and in many ways my family here in Europe. It was wholesome, with lots of hiking, swimming, strolling, eating, singing, and walking. It was exactly what I needed, and more than I ever expected. Check out the highlights:

Adverts. around town.

Driving in the rain/sun.

Singing on the shores of Bohinjsko Jezero. "Rehersal"

Miki and Pavlinka, Bohinjsko Jezero.

Hiking in the rain, Triglav National Park, Jana, Lucka, Karol, Marketa.

Market, Papir, I and others, taking shelter in a downpour...

Triglav National Park

A magical church on a magical night. (Our last night in Slovenia)

Entering the same magical church, where I would soon hear/experience the most memorable singing of my life... perfect acoustics, 8 singers, (none but one much of a Christian, and thus not humbled by a church in the conventional sense... in my opinion however, they're very attuned to God, and with a keen gift to recognize special moments in life, as they're actually happening... or at least simply, what is special...) 1:00 in the morning on a misty mountain top, in a golden-lit room where words got lost along with time, in those lofty places where our voices rose and met, like souls to whisper and touch all those listening with life... I was moved to tears and listened more than I sang. I will never forget this night. I was simply so touched.

Belgrade- Sofia- Bucharest

2007-11-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

So we made it out of Bosnia, finally, after staying longer than we'd intended, and going "farther out there" than we had before, and indeed than we would the rest of the trip. We hopped another overnight train to Belgrade. I picked up some kind of stomach sickness, though I actually escaped from having to go number twosy on the train. Lucky... lucky.
Anyhow, we made it to the house of my friend Jack's parents, John and Nancy Sasser, who work for the Peace Corps in Sofia. As soon as we arrived, we took immediate showers, shaved, and began to relax. It's only in clean surroundings that I begin to realize just how dirty I am after a few days on the road... how dirty we are... how smelly we are. In fact, that's what John and Nancy affectionately took to calling us; the Stinky Boys. Well, stinky boys or not, they really made us feel at home. Literally, their house was our house, and it was probably the most relaxing, most recharging part of our trip. They treated us like family and we were grateful. I even was touched enough to be a bit homesick. John and Nancy have a lot in common with my own parents. And in an unexpected way, I'll admit, it did feel good to have a taste of America for a short while. A taste of home. Check it out:

Vitosha, Sofia, our awesome pursuit of the summit.

Vitosha, Sofia, still pushing for summit...

Fitzy risking it all for a photo in Sofia, no small feat.

After our stay with the Sassers, we pushed still east, where we were to meet with peace corps volunteers who put us up along the way. Each was a unique experience that exceeded our expectations in many ways, especially, their generosity. Each PCV, Matt, Lindsey and Casey, and Melanie, were as open as we could ever ask; taking in three dirty, smelly strangers, just passing through town, sharing their time and homes for the chance to what? Swap stories with some fellow passerbies also out there? I guess so... or perhaps simply kindness. Either way, their openness matched any we'd seen the entire trip. Again, we were grateful.

We crossed the Danube for the third, and this perhaps the most dramatic. We were about 100k from it's mouth, so it was quite large. And the bridge we crossed is the only bridge between Bulgaria and Romania... and it's only two lanes... lots of trucks... just pedal, just keep on pedallin!!! go go go... oh shit!

Fitzy and Joel tired on a train out of Sofia, into the mountains

Joel ambitiously predicts he can eat an 800g calzone.

Joel realizes too late, he can't finish it it all. Foolish foolish Joel, smallest stomach in the world. He later did the right thing, and gave the 500g he couldn't finish to a homeless man.

Veliko Tarnovo- Ancient Bulgarian capitol.

Veliko Tarnovo

Crossing the Danube for the 3rd time, into Romania!

Fitzy, sick pass.

Banja Luka- Belgrade

2007-08-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

Bikes tightly packed on the overnight train from Banja Luka to Belgrade. The conductors didn't think we could do it, and nearly wouldn't let us on until we could prove it... and sweet talk them a little bit, with our awesome sweet talking abilities... see below:

Visions of the band playing for Nikola's birthday, while Nikola and Marija danced the night away. Belgrade, Skardarska St.

Visions of the band playing for Nikola's birthday, while Nikola and Marija danced the night away. Belgrade, Skardarska St.

Nikola and Marija dancing the night away... see below:

See Fitzy's Blog

See Joel's Blog

Check Our Progress

Sarajevo-Banja Luka

2007-08-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

A bit of riding on the way to Banja Luka. This was shortly before we got off the bikes and started walking uphill. Spirits were none too high... abundant cursing soon followed. See below for example:

Making friends along the way to Banja Luka, Bosnia. Joel and Fitzy with the family that befriended us later that evening, after the long, misguided, convoluted ride (see above), finally came to an end. The ride involved walking the bikes up a mountain to get to a road we'd already been on twice before and turned off of twice, in search of a better route. Not good, but the family went above and beyond to welcome us and find us a good campsite. They made a fire for us, cooked all of their extra food, and gave it to us. It rained later that night, unrelated.

Making more friends, once into Banja Luka, Nikola and his son, Nikica, bike racing, rally racing, fast car building duo.

Fitzy (or is that Phil "satchmo-bono-sergio-satchmo-the-satchmo-edge-chi chi-satchmo-larry mullins jr.- soriano-satchmo-greg weckenbrock-satchmo-my good buddy cal-satchmo-bono-bono-satchmo" Michelson...? inside joke, as you would have guessed...too many hours on the bikes...) lines up for a difficult, technical approach shot on number 14. The hole is in the top of the Pyramid. Marija, the owner of the Hotel Dragana/ golf course stands and watches. Very hospitable, open, and genuine people. and a good place to stay, or have a wedding... A good way to pass a Sunday in Banja Luka at any rate.

See Fitzy's Blog

See Joel's Blog

Check Our Progress

Sarajevo

2007-08-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Chasing Pigeons: Baščaršija, Old Town, Muslim Quarter, Sarajevo.

Chasing Pigeons: Baščaršija, Old Town, Muslim Quarter, Sarajevo.

Cultural Events... and i be a pirate and my ship be a car... yar... (yes, many lame jokes, a lot of time on the bikes...)

See Fitzy's Blog

See Joel's Blog

Check Our Progress

Dubrovnik-Montenegro (This post starts from the bottom up... by the way... got confused on my directions, apologies.

2007-08-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

National Park Durmitor, Montenegro. Beautiful, very Colorado-esque. Just before we rode up into a cloud that shrouded our highest pass yet. We were stuck in it the next 45 minutes as we rode up and over. Very cold and wet, though a nice change to the heat of the Croatian coast.

Descending from the highest summit, out of the rain, fog, wind, and misery:

Still stuck in the fog:

Stuck in the fog- "scud" flying:

Heading up, into the heart of Durmitor National Park, via, the highest road/highest summit we will have climbed by the end of the trip:

After 3 days of riding up, we finally approach Durmitor National Park:

Arrival into Montenegro. Fitzy and Joel hanging out with local kids. We liked Montenegro very much, as the land is amazing and the people are as well. Very friendly, open, curious, and genuine.

Laundry hanging out to dry over Dubrovnik. Seen from the high city wall, sunset.

Porporela Peir, Dubrovnik. Fitzy and Joel telling stories... just kidding. -not actually Fitzy and Joel.

Spitfire-Poderosa, rides above Dubrovnik. It had been my personal goal to reach Dubrovnik and follow the footsteps of my Dad and Aunt Gail. Spitfire-poderosa, the name of my bike is a tribute to the car they drove to Dubrovnik in 1970. Poderosa is a tribute to El Che, whose motorcycle ride across South America was the other source of my dream.

Crowded, narrow street Dubrovnik, dusk. View from atop city wall. Sideways... sorry about that. Dubrovnik's an absolutely amazing city though. Ancient and magical.

See Fitzy's blog: imfromcanada.blogspot.com

See Joel's blog: justczechinin.blogspot.com

Check Our Progress

Mostar-Dubrovnik

2007-07-29T03:35:00.000-07:00

View from our sick balcony at sunset... not pictured: old town, it's a little ways down the road, but it's cool. Our apartment's still sweet.

Sweet reward on our sick balcony at sunset.

Joel grinding it out on the toughest hill climb yet.

See Fitzy's Blog: imfromcanada.blogspot.com

Check Our Progress

Rovinj- Mostar

2007-07-29T03:34:00.000-07:00

Fitzy, Vjeko and his Family.

See Fitzy's Blog

Check Our Progress

Ljubliana to Rovinj (Croatia)

2007-07-17T04:53:00.000-07:00

Fitzy's blog: imfromcanada.blogspot.com

Check Our Progress

Vienna-Ljubljana

2007-07-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

see Fitzy's blog: imfromcanada.blogspot.com

check our progress

Prague-Vienna

2007-07-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

sweet video link:

see Fitzy's blog for more info: imfromcanada.blogspot.com

check our progress

Leaving Prague, Heading south by bike... it begins..

2007-06-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hello there. This is Greg Weckenbrock, and I'm headin out. Goin south for as far as Istanbul, for as little as however far we get. Over the next two months, my friend Fitzy and I (later to be joined by Joel- can't wait buddy, get over here as quick as you can...) are biking south, from Prague, through the former Yugoslavia, into Bulgaria, perhaps down to Istanbul, then up through Romania, and back to Prague. -roughly a circle. I've enjoyed my time in this wonderful city, but the city life's not for me and I've been jonesin' for some open space. So Tomorrow we take to the road and see where it goes. I'm extremely excited and ready. We've been planning this (evolution of a) trip for the better part of 3 years. It's finally happening. And we stand now on the cusp: watching a dream coming true before our very eyes... and it feels... I can't quite explain... but how could we be anywhere else? I'll keep you updated as we progress. Until then, take care of yourselves; and each other, we all could use it. All the best and with laughter, and love,
-Greg

For more detailed (and practical) information see Jon Fitzpatrick's blog.

also, check our progress:

Italy- Julie and I, May

2007-06-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

Mom+Dad+Greg, Southern Bohemia, Prague, Budapest. (April-May)

2007-06-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

"Native American" hawking cds at performance of a "Native American" band playing in a park.

Reflection of Hungarian flag on glass table with beer on it.

Hungarian Parliment Building, on the Danube River. View from Buda Castle.

Behind Buda Castle, Budapest... me enjoying the spring time, after many long winter nights in Prague.

Buda Castle, Budapest.

Hungarian man, tram, Budapest.

Mom and Dad, by the Danube, Budapest.

Flowers by the Danube, Budapest.

Flowers by the Danube, Budapest.

Dad trying his first Hungarian Goulash... spicy. On the Banks of the Danube, Budapest.

Dad changing shoes after a long days walking in Cesky Krumlov. Our sweet Skoda, on the banks of the Vlatava.

Telg, shadows and facades.

Figure of Jesus to bless the field, look closely and see the wind turbines in the distant background.

Dad walking around church.

Church in S. Bohemia, reminded me of St. Wenceslas (Spelling?) in Michigan...

Dad and Cooler, Dad tired from a long flight and walk up the four flights of stairs to my apartment.

Photos February-April -Prague and surrounding areas. (start at bottom)

2007-05-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Weekend practice with Kakafon, rural Tabor, CR. Dominik in-charge. (April).

Weekend practice with Kakafon, rural Tabor, CR. Ostriches (April).

Weekend practice with Kakafon, rural Tabor, CR. Giving concert to ostrich farm neighbor family/workers. (April).

Hanging with Kakafon- Petr attempting to drink his dzus (hachek over z- Czech pronunciation/spelling of juice) (April).

Hanging with Kakafon- Mila, Marketa, Karel, Lufka, Honza, Petr, Me taking picture (April).

Prague half-marathon. I'm watching it... (later ran an 8k though... sweet) (April).

Exploring "catacombs" under Letna, Prague. Honza, he's-from-L.A.-and-he-don't-take-no-shit-MDJB (April).

Exploring "catacombs" under Letna, Prague. Radek, Honza, he's-a-cop-and-good-at-his-job-MDJB, umbrella of Brian Speer (April).

Exploring "catacombs" under Letna, Prague. Honza, Me, Radek, Mad-Dog-crime-stopping-take-a-bite-outa-crime John Bynum in front of what we thought was Stalin's head, left over from the 50m tall statue of Stalin, which hung over Prague for 10yrs roughly, but was blown up in the 50's. -Turned out to be an artist's rendition leftover from an art festival held underground back in the 90's. (April).

Exploring "catacombs" under Letna, Prague. Radek in foreground, our poise-wielding, fire-tossing guide, Honza MDJB's good-natured flatmate in background. (April).

Jazz Concert (3-piece) near Narodni Trida, Prague. Best jazz I've ever seen. Julie and Jule, me, none pictured. Jule's last week in Prague. Couldn't choose which picture was best (April).

Andrew, Greg, Jule, Walking through the vineyard, clear spring afternoon. Vinohrady ("wine-castle"), Prague (March). - All photos taken by Jule, rights reserved.

Andrew, Greg, Jule, Walking through the vineyard, clear spring afternoon. Vinohrady ("wine-castle"), Prague (March).- All photos taken by Jule, rights reserved.

Andrew, Greg, Jule, Walking through the vineyard, clear spring afternoon. Jule's, uncanny, increadile, ever-present creativity. Vinohrady ("wine-castle"), Prague (March).- All photos taken by Jule, rights reserved.

Andrew, Greg, Jule, Walking through the vineyard, clear spring afternoon. Vinohrady ("wine-castle"), Prague (March).- All photos taken by Jule, rights reserved.

Second Synergy team excursion, Franz Ferdinand's estate. My hat and a tribute to logs. Jessica, Karli, Me, Dennis, and Julie. None pictured, and no Tommy C. (March).

Second Synergy team excursion, Franz Ferdinand's estate. Jessica, Karli, Me, Dennis, and Julie. No Tommy C. though (March).

Kakafon at work. Weekend practice, Nusle, Prague (March).

Lady with a baby in a stroller at the beer garden in Letna. Beer is cultural, everyone goes to the beer gardens. It's simply a part of life. It's simple... an extreme juxtaposition to the beer-guzzling college parties, or even more insecurity-laden high school beer-drinking parties. I love beer and would have loved to grow up knowing it this way, simply, matter-of-factly, as a simple part of daily life. Instead I only ever knew it as a way to get drunk with people my own age. Prague tower in the back ground. I live almost under it. (March)

Honza, beer garden, Letna, Prague, after Sunday ultimate. (March)

Mad Dog John Bynum, beer garden, Letna, Prague, after Sunday ultimate. (March)

Karli filling nalgene with sweet-smelling/tasting mineral water... J.J. and I proudly finished the bottle, fyi (February).

Karlovi Vary, spa town heavily influenced by Russians... Karli, Sarah, J.J., Emily, and I in the rain.. made for cold swimming in the outdoor luke-warm pool. (February).

Namesti Miru, ful moon (February).

J.J., Emily, and I, Cafe Gallery (February).

Sleeping wet me and Dog metro line C (February).

J.J. and Emily (February)- On metro line C.

J.J. in Haje (February)- Greater Prague, taking in the panel buildings...

First Synergy Team meeting, Pruhonice... tree work. Dennis, Jessica, Me, Tommy C. none pictured... (February)

First Synergy Team meeting, Pruhonice... tree work. Dennis, Jessica, Me, Tommy C. taking picture. (February)

Trebenice- Weekend with Honza, Lucie, and Mikolas (January)
Honza and Mikolas watch a passing train as they dropped me off at the station.

Trebenice- Weekend with Honza, Lucie, and Mikolas (January)- Most in the background, panel buildings, chemical factories, and power plants dot the otherwise picturesque Northern Bohemia countryside.

Trebenice- Weekend with Honza, Lucie, and Mikolas (January)- Honza buying beer (for the road...)

Trebenice- Weekend with Honza, Lucie, and Mikolas (January)- Swollen Elbe River, couldn't take the ferry... I was secretly happy.

Trebenice- Weekend with Honza, Lucie, and Mikolas (January)- View outside Mikolas and I's bedroom window.

Random Photos I Forgot to Post from Nov-Jan... thus screwing up the chronological order of my blog... crap... so go back a few months

2007-02-16T02:44:00.000-08:00

Trip With Ukrainian Dan to Cesky Krumlov- Our Pork Knees Slow-roasting
yum yum- Nov.

A Passing Wedding Party in Cesky Krumlov- Nov.

Narrow Street in Cesky Krumlov- Nov.

Shadow of a Monk-Priest-Saint-Person and a boy praying- Nov.

Cesky Krumlov -Nov.

Lost in forest with Ukrainian Dan, Cesky Krumlov- Nov.

Candle-lighting, 15th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. The street where the revolution began, near Wenceslas Square, Prague. -Nov.

See Above

Graduation Party with TEFL classmates. -Mid. Nov.

Stania, Me, Paul, and Sonia

Brian and I's intensely decorated room- Our sweet flat, Vinohrady

Prague Castle, last days of autumn, Sunday afternoon. -Nov.

See above, feeding birds.

See above- Pigeons waiting to be fed.Inside the cathedral at Prague Castle- the loftiest church I've ever been in... I think you can actually see clouds at the top.

St. Nicholas Day, Namnesti Miru- Dec.See Above

Sunny Day on Metro line B, rare stop above ground. -Dec.

Not so sunny and no more smiling children, but a man with a newspaper and a look.

Two men practicing fly fishing in a the park outside my flat on a Sunday afternoon. -Dec.
-Stepped in a lot of dog poopie-doodoo for this pic.

Olomouc- After Two Years of Planning/Dreaming, Finally Our First Trip Together

2007-02-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

Fitzy, Joel, Gambrinus in a Pilsner Urquell Box- Train Leaving Prague

Greg, Joel, Church in Olomouc- Inspecting Something mportant

Same Church

Pew-Is That How You Spell It? -Stained Glass Light

Light!

In a Park- Olomouc

Fountain- Clear Day-OlomoucAnother Church- Olomouc-Red Marble, Beautiful Light... PeaceNatural Light... ShadowJoel, Greg, Worst Bar in OlomoucJoel, Greg, yeah... good picture Fitz... how did we let you make us get up there?

Prague City Center in Snow January 25th, With Fitzy

2007-02-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Fitzy! It's a boy!

Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Malostrana

Charles Bridge, Vlatava River

Vlatava River

Looking Toward Mustek, Nove Mesto

Nove Mesto

Distant Tram Crossing- Sideways... sorry

Sundown, January 15th, Behind my Apartment

2007-02-04T05:34:00.000-08:00

Passing Clouds, Passing Birds
Clouds

Birds

Crescent Moon-Silhouette

Twilight

I'm Caught Up

2007-01-17T03:02:00.000-08:00

Hello friend,
I am writing from a (remote) branch of the CSOB bank, Novodvorska, Prague 4. I’m waiting for my student, a common occurrence (though admittedly I’ve made a few wait on me from time to time), he’s in a meeting that from the looks important. He’s the director of the this particular branch. A big man around here. As it relates to me, the young, innocent-looking/ out of place English teacher patiently waiting outside, he likes hockey, has one kid, a wife, works 10 hours a day, commutes an hour each way via public trasportation and often confuses the present perfect with past simple.
We’re a half hour into an hour lesson, and we haven’t even spoken a word yet. I will have to leave soon, my next lesson across town (no surprise there) is at a Montessori school, where I play football with 7yr-olds for 2 hours and have taught them really only how to say, “goalie”, “striker”, “defense”, and “the score is Barcelona 5 USA National team 1” Also not to hit eachother. Sometimes I don’t know what to make of this job…
To continue the summery of events thus up to now, I got job midway through November at the Caledonian School. They were the first people I interviewed with, offered me a job the same day, and I took it. It was easy, all things considered, though I think some sort of teacher shortage they were experiencing at that moment helped me to get ushered in so easily. I was working a day later.
It took a bit of time to get comfortable teaching in this environment. Most of my students are business people, and they don’t come to me, I go to them. I’m like an old-school doctor, making house calls. I show up at their place of business, teach them a lesson for an hour or two, then leave and move on to my next place of business. I teach between 3 and five lessons a day in this manor. It’s a drag in some ways, because I spend A LOT of time on public transportation, as my lessons are often a 30-60min commute from one another. Also, I leave very early in the morning and get home very late, as many of my students can only meet either before or after their working hours… so lessons starting at 7:30am and 6:30pm are quite normal. Except for a couple of weeks of long winter nights and short days at AYA, I’ve never seen so many collective sunrises in my whole life. I’m getting used to it actually, as much as someone who prefers a leisurely 10am “ease into the day” wake up, can. I find in the city, it’s one of the only peaceful, quiet times there is. In the city, I’ve grown to treasure those more than ever. Moments of reflection amid external stillness are rare. Internal stillness amid the chaos is bliss.
So, sunrise, my day begins. The days are long, but I like them that way. In my daily travels from class to class, I see a lot… most days… some days not, I see only packed metro cars approaching, me getting in the one that looks the least packed, concluding and it’s still packed once I’m packed in, and groaning all the way. There’s always the chance to take in something new however, that’s what I realize. And I know it’s true no matter where you live, or what you’re doing, as long as you keep your eyes, ears, etc… open. But sometimes when everything’s new around you, it’s more obvious. (duh)
I find myself in parts of Prague I would otherwise never go to; inside of buildings I would otherwise never go in; talking with people I would otherwise never talk to and because of this, the job’s alright. I’m finding I enjoy the actual time I spend in the “classrooms” as well as the journeys to and from. I’m becoming quite close to some of my students and it’s neat to sort of ‘dip’ into their lives for 60 or 90min at a time; it’s weird, I’m like a silent witness, getting to see what it’s like inside a world I’m not all together a part of. Perhaps this is the business world about which my dad always speaks. I sit and watch, listen and learn, as we’re interrupted in the middle of our lessons by my students’ coworkers needed them to turn their attention to their “real” jobs momentarily. It’s strange then, to hear about the situation through their eyes, once they return their focus back to class…. I was warned not become the students’ “psychologist”, many often just want to sit and talk about their problems. In many cases, I’ve found it’s true. For me though, listening to people’s problems and (perhaps, as a result) helping them find solutions is second nature. As long as they’re doing it in English, I don’t mind.
So that’s teaching. What else has gone on between mid-November and now? The second weekend in December I went to a place called Cesky Raj, or Czech paradise with Stania and Joel. It was a fantastic time of exploring old castles, ruins, natural arches, pillars, and caves, old forests and having a lot of laughs along the way. The third weekend, I left for the USA to spend Christmas and New Years at home. It was fantastic to be with my entire family again. We were all together, all at once, for the first time since last Christmas/new years. It made me thing long and hard about how important it is for us all to be together, and furthermore, how I’m going to help make that happen more often in the future. We have a great time together, and I’m so grateful. They are the closest people to me… but alas, I must leave. The restless spirit within hasn’t quite quieted down yet… it may actually be getting louder. We’ll see in a few months.
After a seeing some extended family in Michigan [Uncle Max, Aunt Gail, John (another find time with the cous. sand-four-wheeling), Kasey] I returned back to Prague. The first weekend back, I went to Pilzen with the roommates (Joel, Karly, Brian, Sarah) and a couple of Colorado friends, Jon Fitzy Fitzpatrick and Rob The Bomb Kriegbaum. We took a tour of the Pilzener Urquell brewey, drank some wooden-barrel-brewed, unpasturized, unfiltered Pilzener Urquell. It was chewy and heavenly.
Kriegbaum left Prague the next day, Fitzy stayed. He’ll be here, living in the closest for the next couple of weeks, and it’s great having him around. Last weekend we watched the Godfathers part one and two together in a bar down the road, drank fine beer for 6.5 hours, had a sweet make-your-own-pizza pizza party with the neighbors later that night. They’re cool folks, an American, a Pole, a couple of Germans, and some Slovaks. The next day, I went to my first opera in the national theater. It was beautiful, Carmen. Went to my first disco later that night… less beautiful, but still fun. Played an awesome game of ultimate frisbee with some coworkers and the roommates. About that whole snow thing from the first blog I wrote, well, that’s been the last snow I’ve seen all winter. It’s abnormally warm here, much like it is in many other places around the world. January I’m in a tee shirt and shorts in Prague, Czech Republic where it’s still getting dark around 4 every night and last year was -10C at this time. It’s nice initially, but unsettling after a while.
Finally, last night I had my first choir practice, about which I’m very excited. It’s a young group, 25 yr olds. They’re very good, and I’ve got a lot of work to do to catch up, as I’m a bit out of practice and my Czech is still lousy; but music’s music. It feels good to sing with other people again.
So that’s where I’ll leave you, content, a bit more centered than usual within myself, both grounded and comfortable within my freedom, and excited for the future. I wish you the best, un abrazo muy, muy fuerte,
-Greg

Travis, Yvette you guys are my lifeline to that natural world out there, keep milkin the goat. Thinking of you.
Petrika, my connection to that great Western Slope, and that strange outpost of existence we call AYA. Always good to hear from you, and thanks for the advice.
Eric + Katrina, Kristen we need to set up a Skype date here, within the next month.
Cappy, I hope you got my totally sweet, awesome, super-cool, Christmas gift… I noticed you sent Fitzy a Christmas gift… was that your reciprication of my gift, mistakenly given to him? It’s cool if it is, I’ll just tell Fitzy that and take it from him. GO BENGALS!
Sarah, keep thinking long and hard about traveling this late spring/ summer.
Brett, thanks for the concert typically, and for consistently being the only one who reads my somewhat lackluster blog.
Cousin John, hope the new job goes well. I will be expecting some really cool nano-technology device for my upcoming birthday (in October).
Eleanor, remember to keep thinking about that European rendezvous.
Sarabeth, you out there? We need to get in touch… which means actually, I need to write you back. (damn-I suck) Where are you these days? Still thinking about coming out this way? I will talk to you soon.

I'm Catching Up

2007-01-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
Well, my blog sucks. I’m looking back over it right now, and only two posts in 3 months? That’s bad. I can’t promise to get better either, but I’ll try.
To give you a brief summery of life up to date, since the last post, I took a day trip to a town called Kutna Hora, to see a church full of skeletons. They ran out of room in the surrounding cemetery during a plague, I believe, so they started taking the bodies apart and storing all the bones inside the church in decorative fashion. There are thousands of full bodies collected and displayed inside, and it’s a bit eary in the day light, bright sunshine, happiness-inducing atmosphere in which I saw it (see pictures). I can only imagine at night… (see no pictures…).
After Kutna hora, the next weekend I traveled to another small town called Cesky Krumlov, and old, very well preserved castle town. I went with a Ukrainian friend of mine from class, named Dan. We went originally for a day trip, but got a bit distracted drinking beer, telling stories, eating 1 kilo pork knees, watching the pork knees cook, slowly, rotisserie, drippingly, over a small fire right there in the restaurant (ie someone’s kitchen…), exploring the castle, seeing a bear, getting lost in the back woods and farms, running from dogs down creeks, drinking more fine beer at a brewery and some more pubs along the way, telling more stories, worsening, and funnier as the time went and finally arriving at the bus station only to realize A. there was noone there, and would not be anyone the rest of the weekend. B. No schedules posted anywhere in the station made any sense to us, as they were all in Czech, and but made little sense in Czech as well, C. No bus drivers like talking to two random dudes freezing their asses off, don’t know why… I believe they regard their buses as ships, and themselves captains. You don’t ask questions, you only get told answers… you don’t do anything to disrespect the bus, or slow them down… even if they’re not moving and in fact just sitting and reading a newspaper, don’t slow them down! They’re READING… ooo…
so, we stayed the night, rocked out at a concert in a hotel near by, though we were not staying there, we were staying a crappy hostel-first-one-we-came-across, down the street. No concert, no people, but still open at 11 at night. At the concert down the way however, we rocked out, as I mentioned, and I got talked into buying a cd… talking with the band after the show (they sounded all right…), “hey, you guys sounded great” response: “oh really, well why don’t you buy a cd then”. Response “ugh… o…k… I guess I will…” thought passing in my head: I did just tell them they were great… why did I do that…? Stupid, stupid stupid. They all signed it for me, and were really excited when I asked them too… that was cool to see them so excited, so I got really excited. It may have freaked them out a little, as they autographed my cd: “You like our music, but we will not make gay love if you want it” signed, -their names. They were Dutch I think.
So, I left my friend still at the bar/ good hostel at 4 in the morning. I was piss drunk and tiried. He was interested in a German girl who told me how to say “I love you” in German, as well as “you are beautiful”, “you have beautiful eyes”, and “you are sexy”,… none of which sounded at all romantic and it made me give up on the german language before I even started it. it sounds like throw up… to this untrained ear… it made me wonder if they ever tell each other they’re beautiful or sexy, or if they just have some really awesome way of showing it rather than saying it… to avoid the throw-up… obviously.
Dan remained in pursuit of her, I ejected, stumbled to the hostel, crashed out for the night, woke Dan, who’d been sleeping a solid 1 hour, up the next morning at 8, so we could catch the “first bus out of Cesky Krumlov”, and headed out to the bus station to wait for the first bus… the first bus wasn’t until 12:45pm, but hey, now we know.
The next week, was the last of the class, during which I turned in my final projects, taught my final lessons, found some roommates, an apartment with them, and had a sweet end of class “graduation” party with all of my classmates as a sweet “Mexican” restaurant that gave some of my classmates food poisoning, but was worth it in my opinion because it was the spiciest food I’d tasted in a month… and I didn’t get sick… I appreciate their sacrifice though…
The following Monday, we had a Job Fair. A week went by, and by the following Tuesday I was hired as a full-time English teacher by The Caledonian School. I taught my first class 7:30 Wednesday morning...
And that's where we stop for now... my fingers are tired. I'll pick it up next post.
Take care of eachother, and us all. Until then,
-Greg

note the captions on the pictures of the previous post... I'm workin' here.

Cincinnati to Prague Castle

2006-12-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

Cathedral Kutna Hora

Jade and Dan, Kutna Hora

Skulls Kutna Hora Church

Jade Kutna Hora Church

Prague Castle

Prague Castle

Prague Castle

Prague Castle

Airport Madrid

New York- Cousin John, Rommate Kevin, Good Times

Philidelphia- Marcus at work

Union Terminal- Waiting for the Train, 4:30am, CIncinnati, OH

Meandering Across the Charles Bridge, a Travelling Companion

2006-12-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

Prague- Week 3- Let is snow

2006-10-31T04:54:00.000-08:00

Snow fell this morning, winter comes early in Praha, apparently it's quite cold here... those of you who told me so, well, you were right.
I obviously made it here, and am settling quite nicely. Flying into Paris, and navigating the subway to get from the airport to the train station in the middle of suburban paris, a two transfer journey, with two backpacks, one on the front and one on the back, was a bit dodgy, however thanks to the boys in New York, and cousin Danielle, it was no big thing. the train from Paris to Frankfurt was very nice, and very fast. The train from Frankfurt to Prague was neither nice or fast. I made it though and little could hide the smile on my face after such a long journey... save the combined tiredness of three days overnight/jet-lag plane, train and finally, automobile travel. I was in Prague, finally... why? Well, I still don´t know, i´ll let you know when I do.
I am becoming more of a city livin person by the day, though I still appreciate a good walk in the woods. Speaking of which, there are woods, an old russian looking chuch, cemetary, and burning red candles on top of a hill not five minute from my house. You can see the whole of Prague, as well as lots of woods and fileds and hills, and airport. I walked up there the other night, nov 1, day after holloween, a hoíliday that is not celebrated in the Czech Republic, though all saints day is and is slightly more creepy if you´re in the right place at the right time... like this cemetary by the russian looking church atop the hill.
Anyhow, things are good, though cold and I reckon getting colder. The class is intense, but good. I feel as though I am getting my money´s worth. We teach two to three lessons a week to real live Czech students... who´d have thought. I´m learning just how difficult english is, to teach and just to speak. It pales however in comparison to Czech, though Czech would appear to make more sense once you´ve mastered the pronunciation and insuing accents. It is not common to find entire words, 7 letter words, with no vowles in them. Seven conconents right in a row, holy shit, what are you thinking? Why not put some consonents in there? Oh, you just want me to pronounse each and every consonent itself... huh, are no silent letters, which we´ve gotten so used to in english. An entire word that sounds like a whisper...
The city is beautiful however, and a great experience for someone who has spent so little time in the heart of a big city, and in particular, and old city. Narrow cobblestone streets, impossibly confusing, gothic churches... strange... pubs older than the whitehouse, which have served beer to slavics, catholics, protestants, austro-hungarians, germans, communists, and capitalists alike ´round seemingly endless approaching corners, pubs that are now serving to me, their beer, buttery and heady, and their sausage, salty and fatty. An entire country whose diet is based around the idea that what you eat is not important for what you drink can wash it down. So make what you drink good, ´cause it´s that last thing you taste. And if you´re still hungry after that, eat a sausage, ´cause sausage always goes well with beer.
In a week I hope to have an apartment to call home, and hopefully a job. Within the next two weeks, I should know everything for sure...
I want to join a choir, and a real european futball team... I´l let you know on both.
Travis and Yvette, your straw hat has found a nice home atop my head here. I think of you both often as a result and otherwise. I stick out a bit, which I warmly like. To everyone, be well and love. Know that you´re in my thoughts, memories and heart.
-Greg
"eager for bread and love..."
sal paradise
when in rome...

2006-10-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

Leap of faith.

The Blog is Open

2006-10-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

It begins, life is good.
-Greg