CAV
05-04-2005, 10:59 PM
After 32 hours in coach, a half-dozen passport stamps, some fantastic cuisine and herping in some ancient ruins dating from the 7th century B.C., I have returned home to the comfort of my own bed!
For those of you that have never visited Central or Eastern Europe, I highly recommend it. (Especially if you get to go free-o-charge as a guest of the American taxpayers.....Thanks you guys! ;) )
I was in Romania preparing for a humanitarian assistance mission that we will be involved with this summer. We will be working to improve local schools and complete several major community improvement projects along the Black Sea coast. The people in this particular area are very poor. It was like stepping back in time to the beginning of the 20th century. They still have no sewage systems, fresh water and horse-drawn carts are still quite common. Needless to say, I was humbled by the experience and I am really looking forward to returning in July. Back to the story at hand.......
Some of the trip's biggest highlights:
1. We stayed on the Black Sea coast. The hotel was right on the beach and the sunrises were simply spectacular.
2. I got to stand at the mouth of the Danube River and watch water flow by that had originated deep within the Black Forest and traversed nine countries and nearly 1800 miles of Europe.
3. We were forced to return through Zurich, Switzerland and had to end up staying overnight. (BTW the Swiss make some darn good chocolate!)
4. Oh yeah, I almost forgot finding the snake; certainly the highlight of my week.
For those of you that have never visited Central or Eastern Europe, I highly recommend it. (Especially if you get to go free-o-charge as a guest of the American taxpayers.....Thanks you guys! ;) )
I was in Romania preparing for a humanitarian assistance mission that we will be involved with this summer. We will be working to improve local schools and complete several major community improvement projects along the Black Sea coast. The people in this particular area are very poor. It was like stepping back in time to the beginning of the 20th century. They still have no sewage systems, fresh water and horse-drawn carts are still quite common. Needless to say, I was humbled by the experience and I am really looking forward to returning in July. Back to the story at hand.......
Some of the trip's biggest highlights:
1. We stayed on the Black Sea coast. The hotel was right on the beach and the sunrises were simply spectacular.
2. I got to stand at the mouth of the Danube River and watch water flow by that had originated deep within the Black Forest and traversed nine countries and nearly 1800 miles of Europe.
3. We were forced to return through Zurich, Switzerland and had to end up staying overnight. (BTW the Swiss make some darn good chocolate!)
4. Oh yeah, I almost forgot finding the snake; certainly the highlight of my week.