Howard Johnson Southfield

Phew... Going through US Customs was a bit trying... No searching but a lot of questions meant - I supposed - to catch us with something bad... Who knows. We did not loose any meal. We're in the middle of a fairground, with a weak WiFi but OK. The only analog TV channels are from Detroit but the Detroit area offers 22 digital channels, many

Longer day than expected but we grinded the flying condo to a halt. No problem other than a sticking lock on the propane door.

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... diversion into Great Smoky Mountain National Park to see the fall colors. A week from tomorrow, we'll be back at our friend Pat's Place, in Webster, Florida, where warm weather awaits!

The colors have started to change up here - will upload a couple of pics taken today as we're traveing.

... I have for a while unless they can make them out of kimchi in Korea. My flight in wasn't bad, but I didn't get much sleep. Time to work on the TEFL though, so I will end my entry here unless something interesting happens between now and my flight, which isn't for 3 more hours! Sweet layover!

... of the market, only $7.70 a share, and it's now up to $24. 300% profit--Why didn't I buy more?!! For frequent cruisers this is a no-brainer. I also bought Carnival, so now I have an excuse to cruise with them too.
Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We'll be on planes from 8:30 am until about midnight! Oh well, guess we'll suffer through it! Bye for now.

The morning leaving the island was quite surreal for me.  For the first time that I can remember I was properly prepared for a trip with a surplus of time to leisurely pack my belongings.  Suprisingly, I did not mentally prepare myself for the fact that I would be living in a foreign country for the better half of a year.  On this particular day, I solely was thinking about finally escaping my tiny hometown.  I have to admit that at some points this summer I speculated whether or not my ...

... A CAN!! What kind of self respecting restaurant does that? Anyway, I sent it back and asked for water. Little voice seemed confused but I wasn't about to tell him how to run a bar. Mainly because I don't know. What I do know, however, is that I like my Guinness from a pump.
At another place, again, full of promise I was given the usual lengthy booze brief. One German sounding brew caught my ear. Upon asking for more information, I was told it was a very strong beer from ...

... home).

About 10 k's up the road we join the queue to enter America. 1 hour later we are at the booth with a similar stern guy at first asking questions and then 2 minutes later wanting to know all about our trip. He asks us for our rego papers and passports for ID. We head off and about 500 yards (sorry Metres) Cath asks me if I've got the rego papers I say no and pull over. What else to do but to walk back to the checkpoint. I get ...

... s hope I am able to do laundry in the places I stay.  It's hard to find light clothes during Winter months in Michigan!Current Plan:Dec 18 - Leave DetroitDec 19 - Arrive in CairoDec 20 - Leave Cairo and fly to Aswan.  Take cruise down the NileDec 23 - Arrive in Luxor, stay a night in LuxorDec 24 - Fly to Cairo and stay in Cairo 1 nightDec 25 - Fly to Beirut

... feet a lot so probably will have to do without the 3 inch heels. I will also be packing boots. Although the temperatures are more temperate than in Michigan, it will get a little cold and damp by December. Beige and black layers should take care of any temperature fluctuations. I have been been told I will be living in a hotel across from my worksite. How about those apples (I will probably be substituting truffles after a few weeks in Italy)? I get to walk to work ...

... Cobras and this writer. He's developing a big following in Italy, where a translation of Guitar Army will be released later this year. He performs his poetry at gigs large and small. He seems unconcerned when plans go awry, as long as he has a couple of newspapers, some coffee and cigarettes, and a place to lay his head. People frequently hand him joints, offering tribute to someone who sacrificed himself for the cause. "Here's my basic preachment of today ...