A Night Off

Ventured out into the windy, rainy night for open mic/salon at Bai Pai. Enjoyed music, poetry, friendship, food, drink, warmth and atmosphere.

At the end of the night, I gave my email address to someone. She said, "usually it's me pressing my information into someone else's hand. It's nice to have a night off."

I know what she means.

Approximate Itinerary

Here is my rough itinerary:

Mon Mar 5 - arrive Prague . Sleep in Prague.
Tues Mar 6 - Prague. Sleep in Prague.
Wed Mar 7 - Prague. Sleep in Prague.
Thurs Mar 8 - Prague. Night train to Krakow.
Fri Mar 9 - Krakow. Sleep in Krakow.
Sat Mar 10 - Oswiecim. Night train to Budapest.
Sun Mar 11 - Budapest. Sleep in Budapest.
Mon Mar 12 - Budapest. Sleep in Budapest.
Tues Mar 13 - Budapest/Vienna. Sleep in Vienna.
Wed Mar 14 - Vienna. Sleep in Vienna.
Thurs Mar 15 - Vienna/Prague. Sleep in Prague.
Fri Mar 16 - leave Prague.

Travel Philosophy

Over Sunday dinner I was mocked by another diner for my desire to plan my trips. She claimed that this kind of planning does not allow for spontaneity. I disagree. It is precisely the planning that allows me to be comfortable, informed, and open to serendipity.

Here is an excerpt from Rick Steves' website:

Traveler 'A' takes off to Europe as a free spirit, without much planning, no real itinerary...and returns home with a backpack full of complaints about how expensive and stressful it all was. Traveler 'B' prepares for weeks as though her trip were some kind of final exam, mapping out a detailed day-to-day plan...and returns home with rich stories of spontaneous European adventures. It's the classic paradox of good travel: structure rewards a traveler with freedom, and "winging it" becomes a ball-and-chain of too many decisions, too
little information...and precious little time to relax.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/experience.htm

Gas Station conversation, 1 AM

-How are you doing?
-Fine. Tired. How are you?
-Tired. Did you just get off work?
-No. But I have to work early in the morning.
-Couldn't let go of your boyfriend, huh? ...Sometimes it be like that...

How are you, my friends in Columbus, Ohio?

Cat walking in the snow in Columbus, Ohio
http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/sweetvalley/307/photogallery/17/P1010061.JPG

Currently in Seattle/Redmond it is 46 degrees and rainy.