Hilton McLean Tysons Corner

Happy New Year everyone! I've been home in America for almost 5 months now and thought I would send an update using the good ol' travelpod! It's been a while, huh? Rewind to Japan, July/August 2008 I spent the last month in Japan soaking in the last of my small town, counting down the days until I would never have to teach English again ever in my life, taking drives through the beautiful countryside (alone, because Lily left a month early to start grad school :(, and ...

This is for everyone who thinks it costs a lot of money to travel for ...

... sit at large communal tables and carts come around and you do your best to point or communicate what you want. Some English is spoken but not much. We were able to communicate "no seafood" so all was good. The food we ate was extremely unique and a new taste experience to anything we have eaten before. We each had our favorite and had lots off food for only $16 total. We ...

... it is of a rather ambiguous dignity." -John Crowe Ransom, in I'll Take My Stand ITINERARY Saturday, March 3 Drive: Philadelphia to Charlotte (9 hours) Visit: Charlotte "New South"; gay ...

Dec 16-January My grandmother died. Obviously, I wasn't there. I didn't go home earlier, when she'd had pneumonia, because she had begun to recover and it seemed like an over reaction to fly all the way home. And now I really wish I had. I got on the next plane home and I think everyone must have thought I was crazy, or at least afraid of flying, as I sniffled my way through takeoff and landing, before bursting into tears at the sight of my ...

... of the prison the most interesting part. After a while we headed back to the shores of SF and took a walk up to pier 39 and fishermans wharf. Pier 39 is Known for there Seals that live of the Docks and Fishermans wharf has a lot of shops and cafes. On how 3rd we decided to take a day trip up to a place called Napa valley, it's one of the best wine region in California. We only got to one ...

... to bring our mountain bikes, snowboard and other toys on the road. After a quick switch of cars in New Jersey, we headed south with Big Red the Truck.



The original itinerary included:

Camping & hiking in the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
White-water rafting on the Gauley River, West Virginia
Visiting Kay's cousins in Dayton, Ohio
Toasting the former prezs Mount Rushmore, South ...

... many I enjoyed watching: Oh, barefoot bearded man smacking your white tennis shoe on the sidewalk with shouts and retorts to the building facade I hear ya. Couch surfed at friends apartments and got caught up with all. Nuzzled Anita and Norman. Neither pretended to like it. Both did immensely. Kristy passed through town on her way back to the states from Taiwan. Joanne fed me good meals and expensive wine. Steph had a great BBQ. Paul got me ugly drunk the ...