Home Sweet Home - Atlanta, GA

Hi honey, I'm home! Wow, it's great to be back. Not that I couldn't have stayed for another month, or year, but because there is no place like home. It may sound odd, but I missed my couch! Just the fact that I can sit down, watch Tivo or a movie, listen to music, type on my computer while watching Cycling on Versus like I am now, or take a nap. It's simple, but that may be the creature comfort I missed the most after living out of a "suitcase" for 2 months.

It was nice to get back and immediately be surrounded by my friends. Starting with the Brunners, then seeing Rick, and Bry and I going to watch Doug play at the Front Page News. Then yesterday riding with quite a few teammates at the Beautiful Backroads Century and then at a birthday party for Sid at his house. So many people welcomed me home and had a lot of questions about the trip and what it was like. I think the most common question was, "What was the best part?". I have to say that is an easy answer, Switzerland. I love the mountains and the lakes, and it has plenty of both. It is also a sentimental favorite, but it is the country I will always keep as the #1 foreign country in my heart. I only wish I had stayed longer and cycled another week to see more of this great country. Hmmm, another trip????

But I do want to thank those that really helped make this trip what it was and possible. My family for their support to tell me to "just do it". For their continued support while I was abroad with comments on the blog, email or phone calls. My cousin Jeff for all of his help, you still need to send me a bill! Jody for taking care of my house and "kids", Piton and Nemo. Bryan for helping out with lawn maintenance and support for Jody. Jeff and Becky Grant for their fine southern hospitality in two "strange" nations! Adi and Susan Sommer for being the best parents abroad I could have. To Petra for being a great host and friend. And to ALL OF YOU that followed me along here and helping to keep me motivated. I said from the beginning that the two reasons for the blog were to update my folks that I was doing ok, and for myself when I am an old geezer wanting to relive some of my early years. What I didn't expect was the "life" it took when all of you sent me well wishes, gave me a hard time :), or just said hello. There were definitely some lonely days but knowing my faithful zealots were there to support me really helped out.

Recap: 7 countries (Denmark, Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic), 20 point to point Stages, 2596 total kilometers (1613 miles), 65 days abroad.

Thanks again to everyone, it's been a memorable experience and I thank you all for following along. I will "archive" this blog and not post to it anymore, but in the future you can check out http://lifeofbell.blogspot.com for my future travels and adventures. Happy and safe travels to all of you, keep in touch.

-Brian

My last Euro days in Copenhagen

The last few days in Copenhagen were very nice. I relaxed, Jeff and I talked about family and life, did a little sight seeing and just had a really good time to cap off this adventure.

The story is that as long as there is a baby's pacifier in the lion's mouth, then Denmark will not be at war with any other nations.

A bit of a tight fit under the bridge!

This IS the city of the Little Mermaid, I think this is a nice tribute.
But OH MY GOSH, this is a tribute.

1 ball, corner pocket.

Let me help you with that stick there, little lady! I think Team Mette and Jeff won more games than I, but had I not scratched on the 8 ball SO many times I don't think that would have been the case! But it was a great time, I won't forget it!

The hell with being a tourist!

I.m an addict, a cycling addict. I have been doing the "real" tourist thing the last two weeks, which means I haven.t been riding. So this addict got his fix, and a little sore. I found an Indian Village on TT about 50k away, so I headed there. I don.t know what the hell it was, but it looked like an old wild west town. Did they import the Indians when we kicked them off the reservation in the 1700.s? There wasn.t a casino here, so I guess they didn.t! Since it was Sunday they weren.t open, not like I would have paid to go anyway... So I just used their WC and headed back to Hamburg, into a headwind. There aren.t any hills in northern Germany, but the breeze from the North Sea can be felt this far inland. So I got a good workout and finished up with 110k. There is one lake almost in the center of Hamburg, and it.s really cool, but EVERYONE was out this morning, and even more this afternoon when I returned. They even had one lane of the road around the lake closed for roller bladers. I doubt they do that every sunny Sunday, but they must have had some reason today. It.s great seeing so many people out and about, but I.m glad Atlanta has more than one place for everyone to go. Tomorrow I head back to my Euro home in Copenhagen, then Thursday back to the good ole USA! I can.t wait to see my cats, I miss´em! I will upload photos that got dumped in the next day or so, then probably do a final blog when I get back to the States. Until then, tschuss!

I think we're in Kansas again Toto......

Quick tour of Hamburg

So, what do I think of Hamburg? Well, it.s very liberal, that.s for sure.... It.s an ok town, not bad, but not enough character for me. Or maybe that.s just the vibe I get. I don.t need to come back, but I wouldn.t pass it up if I had not been here before and was convenient to get to. I wouldn.t want someone to take my advice and not come, and really miss something that they would like. So do some homework before coming here and then do it! Ok, that.s the politically correct post. Make your own decision, basically! I am FINALLY at an internet cafe that allowed me to download some pictures. I didn.t go overboard, but have posted pictures from the last week or so. Check them out, hope you all enjoy. (3 hours later: for some FUSDIAFUIOING reason my pictures are deleted from 3-4 days below. I.m pissed, so I will just wait until I get to Copenhagen when I have time, and it won.t cost money. I am SO pissed....)

The old Parliament building.

St. Michel cathedral. The most distinguished building in Hamburg, and very large in stature. Much larger than it appears here. A view inside the cathedral. There was a children.s choir practicing when I got here. They were very good and the audience applauded!
A view from the top of St. Michel. The Parliament is on the left, and St. Peter.s cathedral in the middle.

"We.re in the red light district!"-Outkast

I DID NOT find this last night, but girls were here working, motioning me to just come and talk, I.m sure!

"Girls, girls, girls."-Mötley Crüe More establishments of ill repute! Bring your Euros, they.ll gladly swap you for their tickets!

Two for one? No thanks!

I HAD to post this, it was too much, and I needed to see if my reservation was confirmed. It was not. But as soon as I got off the train at "the strip", I was propositioned. By TWO prostitutes! Since it was early, I was offered a buy one get one free for €60. It was so funny, I had to listen to their proposal. That, and they were draped on both arms, with my hands in my pockets. At first I thought they were gypsies, or somebody to take my wallet, but they had a "better" offer. Needless to say, they mentioned me being very nervous and said they would help me "relax". I finally said I wasn.t interested, but they kept persisting. "Oh, it.s only 20 meters to the "club" where we can relax and have a beer, then go upstairs....". Yada, yada, yada. Or in this case, bada bing, bada bing, bada bing! I might have needs, but not with them..... But, they were at least cute. But no thanks! The whole strip was either a bar or a strip club with about everything else in between! I had a few beers at the bar and took the train home, now I have to find a new home for tomorrow. Maybe the Ibis I.m at now, but I doubt they have a room available.... Your friendly reporter signing off for the night. Bartender?

Hamburg-er in paradise!

Hello all from Hamburg! I couldn.t decide where to go last night when Joanna and I were discussing my options, so I just decided to come here. It was nice having some margaritas, burritos, chips and salsa and swap stories for another few too many hours, and drinks! But I did get up early enough this morning to make it to breakfast and head out the door and on the train. I went to the Information Booth here at the train station and they said there weren.t any rooms for the 30-40 Euros that I try and stick to, she said 190 was the cheapest..... Whatever! I was able to do it in Berlin, so I figured I could here as well. Low and behold there was an inexpensive Pension right next to the Ibis. But, I only have it for one night so will be surfing to find one for the next night or two. I.m in a great location and hate to move, but such is life! It looks like this will be my last stop before going to Copenhagen. I have made my way so far north, I am pretty close now and don.t really have an idea what else I could/want to see. I actually want to get back on the bike, but I think I.ll wait until I get back to Denmark and go without my bags, baby!

Sorry nothing interesting to report, although my guidebook does say something about peep shows and other interesting places to visit in the red light district. Are these places everywhere and is this shit legal??? I know it.s the old profession, but never knew it was so readily available, not that I have checked them out. And Becky can vouch! Ciao guys and gals!

Last day in Berlin

I think I have walked at least 10k today, but my hip flexors have finally gotten used to walking! The bad thing is that my cycling legs are going to shit, and I have a big ride waiting on me in Colorado when I get back! OUCH! Oh well, hopefully years of biking will get me through 50 miles on the mountain bike each day. That, and I will have my Assos chamois cream!! Bry, you guys need to take it easy on me.....

I wish I could post pictures, this is getting frustrating. But all of the internet cafes won.t let me.... Oh well, I know next week when I get back to Copenhagen I will be able to then, so stay tuned. Instead of talking about where I walked and what I saw today, I will just wait until I can post pics. But tonight I will be having dinner with Joanna again, and she says she can point me in the right direction to head next! I have 3 days to use on my Eurorail pass, and since they aren.t refundable if I don.t use them, I better do it. So that means I won.t be riding the rest of the way, and I really did want to roll over 3000 km before I left. I only came up with that idea recently, oh well, guess I.ll have to come back and accomplish that goal!

I have got to sign off, my vision is getting blurry for some reason. I think it.s just from staring at the screen for a while now. But to reveal the facts behind the myth........... You exchange Euros for tickets at the "adult entertainment" clubs. I will leave it at that, and your imagination. Also, what Chris Rock says about the Champagne Room is NOT true in Berlin. You figure it out..... ;) Or so I heard..... Signing off as your faithful, investigative reporter, Clark Kent.

P.S.- I added a Guestbook (on the right side of the screen) that everyone can sign, just so I know who is following along with me. Thanks!

Schloss Charlottenburg

It's the German version of Versailles, but on a much smaller scale.

The Memorial Church, with the roof still blown off from WWII.

Reichstag, the current Parliament building.

This was a two block long infomercial on past to current history about the Wall. Very interesting.