I’m in Rome now!

It turns out that it costs about 10 euro per hour to surf the web in Switzerland. Here in Rome, it costs 7 euro to have a load of clothes washed and dried – and there’s free web access while you wait! Hence, this post.

I’ve never seen a laundromat such as this. Two Mexicans run the place, which happens to have Canadian flags posted throughout the room. Washers and driers are against the walls, and six computers are in the middle. I think everyone in here is an American or Canadian college student (and it’s packed).

Webb and I walked to the Coliseum today after checking into our hostel. There’s something stirring about turning a corner and being face-to-face with a 2000-year-old sports arena. And to think that the Twins are complaining about the Metrodome being old…

Soccer (or should I say football?) is incredibly popular here. Last night, in Venice, we spent several hours at an open-air pub watching the European Cup semi-finals. The game was Portugal versus the Netherlands. With the TV outside on the street, there was a sizable crowd gathered to watch the game. “What’s the score?” passersby would ask. “Who is Portugal playing?” “Is this the semi-finals?” Each goal (or close attempt, or actually just about anything) drew roars from our numbers. These Europeans sure like their soccer!

Hello from Venice!

(shortest post ever)

We arrived in Interlaken, Switzerland today. The beauty of the land here is nearly beyond description!

Webb and I made it to Germany. Frankfurt, to be specific. We were fretting that the Air India trip would be horrifically memorable. Well, it was memorable, but in a suprisingly good way. I’ll say more about that in the future because…

Internet access is not free over here. Besides, I’m in Europe and I should take advantage of the time I have here. I am writing a paper journal that I plan to eventually post in electronic format — but not within the next month. Nonetheless, I will post periodic summary updates to this web site.

Tomorrow, we leave for Munich (by way of Stuttgart).

I wish I could communicate in German…

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
          ~Mark Twain

The next time I post, I’ll be on German time.