What a time.
Incredible people - In chronological order
Christine in Dusseldorf who was my 1st couch surfing host. Even though it was for less than a day I believe I made a friend who I will see again and who shares a love of great music. My only regret, really of the entire trip, is that I was unable to get her into the show in Dusseldorf. Next time for sure. It was heartbreaking to hear of her treatment by our security people in Atlanta. It just didn't seem real.
The fellow in Stuttgart, Malcom, I bought my ticket from. He said he had been reading and rereading a book about a guy who goes back in time and lives or visits the Cahokia Mounds. I'm reading everything I can about European history and travel and he's checking out our neighborhood 1000 years ago (guessing at the date).
Patrick, Julia, Hannah and the whole family in Whyl. The most enjoyable and happy time of my trip. The entire family put their collective arms around me and gave a huge hug. I am still enjoying the wonderful feelings and emotions that came from meeting family, even if it is a bit distant. They welcomed me into their home and their lives and I am the richer for it. My heart is full of the love their family has for each other and I am so grateful they let me enjoy my too brief time with them. Thanks for the wondeful bar-b-que, great tour of the Kaisersaal and the bottle of wine. It was delicious.
Evelyne, Paul & Ludmilla. It was so great to see them again. The election to pick the final 2 for President of France was being decided and it was very exciting. I really enjoy the walks we take around Vittel. It is a beautiful town and it gives us a chance to talk. We had a wonderful but again too brief visit and then it was on the train again.
Antoine in Paris. He has now hosted over 100 couch surfers. He is into it, in a major way. It is such an interesting concept. Changing the world, one couch at a time. Here is there web site. Check it out. http://www.couchsurfing.com/
Antoine made me feel welcome in his home and I really enjoyed our time together. Benjamin & Sasha were great concert mates. It was wonderful meeting such interesting and intelligent young people who had made the effort to see a wonderful show
The Argentinian doctor, Mathias, I met on the night train from Paris to Milan. What a nice guy, ready to discuss anything and always with a smile and a good outlook. He was also visiting family all over Europe. It is really a great idea. I should have gotten his email, I would love talk with him again.
Tim in Turin, Milan, Paris, Brussels, Mannheim, & Leipzig. We bumped into each other on the tram platform heading for the show. It was so good to see him again. It is so hard to categorize Tim. Passionate about Dylan, a great businessman (although I'm sure this is making him cringe), the most knowledgeable person I've ever met on ancient Rome & Greece, a true road warrior, flexible, fair, honest and generous. He is a great friend and it was such a treat to bump into him in 2005 and then again this trip in Torino. He is a great road partner. And a really great person. Thanks Tim.
The Chinese fellow - Julio - was his westernized name, who does basic research on volcanoes using satellite imagery. The value, to me, of speaking with Germans, French, Italians, Argentinians, Chinese, etc. was a great education and fun to boot.
The scouts in Brussels, so excited, so numerous. I bet they had a great time. Marching in front of the building that could have been a set for Saving Private Ryan. The contrast was stunning.
Lis. She is exciting, interesting, full of life and energy, wonderful to be around and a person who tries to help people get along better. She got me into a front row ticket, showed me the mountain on witches day and then was a great tour guide. Our time seemed like it was both too short - it was - but also like we have known each other for sometime. Like we had spent many days together when we just met.
Freddy from Torino, Rene Bill from Zurich, Lutz from Berlin, Hans from Amsterdam, Benjamin from Bordeaux, Sasha from Berlin, all Bob fans to varying degrees that I met and enjoyed.
Bob Dylan is the most interesting and vital performer going today (ok that's a bit subjective). The shows in Milan, Leipzig and Mannheim were great. Paris, Turin and Stuttgart were very good. He is such an inspiration. Still going strong at 65. Releasing new albums that rival his best work, while keeping up a grueling road schedule. Add in the radio show, movies, etc. and I just want to emulate his creativity, drive and passion.
It was all a pleasure - rolling through the beautiful countriside, the vibrant and busy cities, the museums and music, the efficient and cost-effective train and mass transit systems, the friendly, helpful people, the food, the weather - it's just so much fun.
I learned that Europe is a diverse, engaging and rockin' continent. Some of the things I'll miss besides the people:
- jumping a train to some new destination in the morning
- croissants
- walking around and exploring new and interesting places
- solid transit - between and within cities
- the Herald Tribune
- Internet cafes
- coffee
- sidewalk cafes
Anyone reading this should go to Europe, whenever you can. Read and watch Rick Steves and then jump in. The water is great!
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