11/11/09
11/3/09
Big questions in science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science's magazine, Science, has published a list of 125 big questions in science. If you have an extra 20 hours to read up on this, here's the link.
9/5/09
Some photos from my Europe trip
Treacherous staircase in the Austrian Alps leading to the ice cave.
That is a row of 40 trampolines on a floating dock in the River Danube. Highlight of Vienna.
Anti-war graffiti on a wall in Munich.
This is a view from inside the coliseum with the new floor, what they think it looked like in the original design.
8/24/09
Re: Split, Croatia
I spent two glorious days in Mostar, Bosnia. If you are ever at a loss for where to travel to get away from it all and spend time with some lovely, hospitable, charming people, Bosnia is your place. I hope to write more about Mostar later, as it was perhaps my favorite place in Eastern Europe.
After 26 hours of traveling and waiting in train/bus stations I am finally in Florence. I left Bosnia early yesterday to get to Split to catch the fast ferry. It was like a space shuttle, flying across the water. It was incredible. There was a casino and an extraordinary array of movies that were dubbed in Croatian and subtitled in Italian. I read my book the entire time, with frequent breaks to the top of the boat to observe and get blown around by the 60 mph winds.
I arrived in Ancona at midnight to find that everything in town was closed. There was a very loud concert in the town square, so there were plenty of people awake. I didn't have any Euros yet (Croatia isn't in the EU yet, so they use Kunas) so I could not take the bus to the train station where all the hotels were. I also did not have a guide book for Italy yet so I had to rely on the English speaking Anconans for assistance. I asked a police woman how to walk to the train station and she stopped the next bus and put me on for free! Instead of spending the night there I decided to go on to Florence, but there weren't any schedules listed for it. As it turns out I had to make a connecting train in Bologna at 5 AM. I bought a ticket, waited half an hour and, to my dismay, had to sit in the joint between trains with 5 smoking Italian men for the entire 3 hour journey. One of them spoke a bit of English and I still had my book, and there was a reasonably clean restroom close by, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
Upon arrival in Bologna I tried to buy a ticket for the 5 AM train only to find it was totally booked. I don't really know what that means, since the train prior had standing room only, but I couldn't even purchase a ticket and had to wait until 6:45 for the next train. Surprisingly, I wasn't feeling tired or impatient. I am glad to be moving westward, although incrementally, toward home. I am splurging on a hotel tonight and tomorrow night for 40 Euros each. The hostels I have stayed in have been averaging 24 Euros, so the hotel is still fairly reasonable and I will have my own big bed, shower and space.
I just went on a mini-shopping spree and can't wait for a shower so I can wear some clean, new clothes. Laundry is difficult and expensive, so it will be refreshing to wear something hot off the presses.
I hope all is well on the homefront. I bought a USA Today this morning so I can see what's happening there, at least on a surface level.
Ciao!
After 26 hours of traveling and waiting in train/bus stations I am finally in Florence. I left Bosnia early yesterday to get to Split to catch the fast ferry. It was like a space shuttle, flying across the water. It was incredible. There was a casino and an extraordinary array of movies that were dubbed in Croatian and subtitled in Italian. I read my book the entire time, with frequent breaks to the top of the boat to observe and get blown around by the 60 mph winds.
I arrived in Ancona at midnight to find that everything in town was closed. There was a very loud concert in the town square, so there were plenty of people awake. I didn't have any Euros yet (Croatia isn't in the EU yet, so they use Kunas) so I could not take the bus to the train station where all the hotels were. I also did not have a guide book for Italy yet so I had to rely on the English speaking Anconans for assistance. I asked a police woman how to walk to the train station and she stopped the next bus and put me on for free! Instead of spending the night there I decided to go on to Florence, but there weren't any schedules listed for it. As it turns out I had to make a connecting train in Bologna at 5 AM. I bought a ticket, waited half an hour and, to my dismay, had to sit in the joint between trains with 5 smoking Italian men for the entire 3 hour journey. One of them spoke a bit of English and I still had my book, and there was a reasonably clean restroom close by, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
Upon arrival in Bologna I tried to buy a ticket for the 5 AM train only to find it was totally booked. I don't really know what that means, since the train prior had standing room only, but I couldn't even purchase a ticket and had to wait until 6:45 for the next train. Surprisingly, I wasn't feeling tired or impatient. I am glad to be moving westward, although incrementally, toward home. I am splurging on a hotel tonight and tomorrow night for 40 Euros each. The hostels I have stayed in have been averaging 24 Euros, so the hotel is still fairly reasonable and I will have my own big bed, shower and space.
I just went on a mini-shopping spree and can't wait for a shower so I can wear some clean, new clothes. Laundry is difficult and expensive, so it will be refreshing to wear something hot off the presses.
I hope all is well on the homefront. I bought a USA Today this morning so I can see what's happening there, at least on a surface level.
Ciao!
8/22/09
Re: Split, Croatia
Hi all,
I wanted to give a quick update. I am off the cruise through the Croatian Islands and sun weary, tired and ready for some quiet time. Split is in the middle of a festival and is more packed than DC during Cherry Blossom Festival. I am leaving on the FAST ferry to Ancona, Italy, tomorrow at 5 PM and did not want to stay in Split another night, so I am doing a one night excursion to Mostar, Bosnia. I have inquired as to safety and friendliness and people who have been there (one U.S. citizen included) said it is perfectly lovely and much quieter than here. I leave on the bus in one hour, so I will go find coffee and breakfast and then head out.
Hugs to all,
Casey
I wanted to give a quick update. I am off the cruise through the Croatian Islands and sun weary, tired and ready for some quiet time. Split is in the middle of a festival and is more packed than DC during Cherry Blossom Festival. I am leaving on the FAST ferry to Ancona, Italy, tomorrow at 5 PM and did not want to stay in Split another night, so I am doing a one night excursion to Mostar, Bosnia. I have inquired as to safety and friendliness and people who have been there (one U.S. citizen included) said it is perfectly lovely and much quieter than here. I leave on the bus in one hour, so I will go find coffee and breakfast and then head out.
Hugs to all,
Casey
8/14/09
Re: Split, Croatia
7-day sail?!?!?! JEALOUSSSSSSS!!!!!
On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 1:04 PM, Casey Moore <moore826@gmail.com> wrote:
I have to be brief because I have dinner waiting and internet is a bit more expensive in Croatia. This place is incredible. It's heaven on earth. I've joined a tour group for two days just to have transportation to Split (it was a 21 hour train/bus combo and we drove here in about 9). One person in a group of 7 couldn't make it here for the sailing trip that follows so I'm taking her spot for about $100. We'll sail for 7 days from Split and then returning here. This keeps getting better.
Love to all!
Casey
Split, Croatia
I have to be brief because I have dinner waiting and internet is a bit more expensive in Croatia. This place is incredible. It's heaven on earth. I've joined a tour group for two days just to have transportation to Split (it was a 21 hour train/bus combo and we drove here in about 9). One person in a group of 7 couldn't make it here for the sailing trip that follows so I'm taking her spot for about $100. We'll sail for 7 days from Split and then returning here. This keeps getting better.
Love to all!
Casey
Love to all!
Casey
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CDA: complete!
15:42, sporting my finisher hat
My shiny new tattoo!
