Bristol Krasnaya Hotel Odessa

... Oh well, I didn't want to skip Moldova, Bulgaria, and Romania. So, after I return I'll have plenty of time to figure out the route. But I have heard nothing but good things about Turkey...so I am eager to get going.

I found this restaurant, Top Sandwich, in Odessa that I just love. All kinds of things on the menu, and not terribly expensive. Good sushi. Which I have ...

... room at the day surgery center at Baylor Medical Center. Very nice place. Dec. 11 "The Girls" (Joy, Tarena, Tiffany and I) went to see "Ice" at the fabulous Gaylord Resort this evening. "Ice" is a show of ice sculptures. We had to wear bulky artic gear coats to enter the huge tent where the sculptures are located. The temperature is kept very cold, below zero, in order to preserve the sculptures. I had seen this show a few years ago and was awed by the creativity and the ...

... helping to make a difference in the world and you may not even know it. With the launch of their Green Travel website, travelers can book with green hotels, hybrid rental cars, and participate in carbon offsetting programs... OR book the vacation of their dreams and still feel good (and green) about it. Even though you might be flying the friendly skies ...

... He saw animals running around and stuff. I don't think he saw all that much happening, since it was, after all, Mongolia... But I loved that book so much! I wish I could remember the author's name or its title. That book, combined with traveling to the Black Sea (very blue, BTW), began my lifelong desire to travel.

... bus seat" in eastern Europe is quite a joke and we were all happy to be sitting on the back bench together chatting each other up with travel stories etc. However this kid kept looking back at us with this nervous look...again and again and again. We were like...damn this kid really wanted this seat...maybe its his favorite or something hehe. But whatever we kept talking and what not. Well everything was going splendid (passport checks, etc) until a border ...

... lights, but no tail light. And several road guards pulled up beside me and told me the same thing. The day ended in Odessa - at Rays Equipment - what an experience! The Patriot Guard was out in force - flags everywhere - it was GREAT! Rays paid for our fuel stop, fed us a great meal of fried catfish with all the fixins, and they paid for the dogtags that we all got at registration. After we ate, I had to take time in the parking lot to ...

... through the natural entrance where the bats fly in and out. What an incredible place to see. We then drove towards Dallas TX and make it to Odessa TX to find our 2nd Letterbox at Comanche Park in Odessa. We drove to Midland had dinner and stayed in our first Walmart parking lot.

... other wares: clothes, hardware, produce, cleaners, toiletries, but I was most concerned with the boots. I wandered the stalls probably for an hour, and like any good market, once I decided to leave, it took me another ten minutes to find my way out. Of course, such opportunities to buy boots are few and far between in my world, and I found myself unable to leave without a pair of black, 2 inch heeled, mid-calf ones. They're so ...

... be now you understand why I prefer Black & White pictures. Life seems to have no real value here. People can be so nice to you, but the very same moment they make a cheap joke about someone who is deeply suffering. Let's see what will be next.

We took it easy today and caught our breath around the pool. Tonight we went to a Baseball game (the Midland Rockhounds - assisted by Rocky their mascot - beat the Wichita Wranglers) - it was great to see a game live and to soak up the atmosphere. We followed up this with a trip (in Jane's convertible) to a drive in movie where we saw Underdog. great movie - pity about the mosquitos !!!