Balkans

Prologue: Balkan Itinerary

Jan — Fri, 08 Jun 2001 00:00:00 +0700

Miami, Florida
June 7, 2001

Dear Family and Friends,

On Tuesday, June 12, I leave for a one-month adventure to The Balkans.

I fly on Swissair non-stop to Zurich and then on to Bucharest, Romania. I hope to see my friend Corina who I met in Budapest last summer.

Transylvania: Welcome to Romania

Jan — Tue, 26 Jun 2001 07:56:44 +0700

Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Tuesday, June 26, 2001

My Dear Family and Friends,

I am sitting in the delightful Hubertus Restaurant, listening to a sweet trio (keyboard, violin and clarinet) while I wait for my main course of roasted quail with potatoes and tomato salad.

Sofia, Bulgaria: I Can't Read a Sign

Jan — Tue, 03 Jul 2001 00:00:00 +0700

July 3, 2001

Dear Family and Friends,

Please click the photo for more
images of Bulgaria.

After two weeks in Romania I crossed the Danube into БЬЛГаРИЯ at РУСЕ.

I can’t read a sign.

The Bulgarians invented the Cyrillic alphabet, and like the Greeks, their neighbors to the south, they insist on maintaining their ancient culture.

I had lunch at the Happy Bar and Grill where all the attractive waitresses wore short, I mean short mini-skirts. So much for ancient culture.

Welcome to Greece

Jan — Fri, 06 Jul 2001 00:00:00 +0700

Litohoro

Greece

July 6, 2001

Please click on the photo for more images of Greece.

I took the bus south. It took one hour to cross the border out of Bulgaria and another hour to cross into Greece. After all the passport checking and rechecking - standing around in the hot sun for two hours - the driver drove about thirty seconds, pulled off the road and we stopped for a coffee! As Manuela might say, “Welcome to Greece.”

Greece: Mountains, Beaches, Mountains

Jan — Sun, 15 Jul 2001 00:00:00 +0700

Thessaloniki, Macedonia
Sunday, July 15, 2001

My Dear Family and Friends,

Please click the photo for more
images of Greece.

This evening is my next to last day in Macedonia, my next to last day in Greece, and the next to last day of my journey in The Balkans. And what a journey it has been. Almost five weeks by airplane, train, subway, bus, car, taxi, hydrofoil, ferry, and foot. Lots of foot.

Epilogue: Home Safe

Jan — Thu, 19 Jul 2001 00:00:00 +0700

Miami, Florida
July 19, 2001

Dear Family and Friends,

Just to let you know that I arrived home safely on Tuesday afternoon as scheduled. The Swissair flights were uneventful.

Sofia, Bulgaria: Letter to Lily and Annie

Jan — Thu, 19 Jul 2001 00:00:00 +0700

Letter to Sofia

Miami, Florida
July 19, 2001

Dear Lily and Annie,

I got home about ten days ago and I think I am finally over my depression. I was so sad. Yesterday I put my pictures in an album and I almost started to cry. Today I went to the beach with some friends so now I am finally back among the living.

Brasov, Romania: Thank you, Teodora

Jan — Sun, 26 Aug 2001 00:00:00 +0700

Miami, Florida
August 26, 2001

Dear Dora,

Thank you for your letter from Brasov.

My summer travels have come to an end. I am home, sorting through weeks of mail and bills. I am filling my refrigerator with food. Don't feel sad for me. The weather here is quite hot so I am off to the beach this afternoon.

Romania: Letter to the Editor, Miami Herald

Jan — Fri, 21 Sep 2001 00:00:00 +0700

Miami, Florida
September 29, 2001

To the Editor, Miami Herald, Focus Section - Sunday, August 26, 2001

Dear Sir,

I read your article “A Romanian Journey” with great interest and disappointment.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Hello from Luminita

Jan — Sun, 30 Sep 2001 05:00:00 +0700

Miami
Florida, USA

September 30, 2001

Hello!

How are you “Mr. Crazy American"?

Of course I remember you, and I'm happy you remember us.