Ameripean Sojourn - 2005

"Afrika" in Danish & English

2010-03-20T08:04:00.005+01:00

My latest video project. A music video for the song "Afrika" by Danish pop stars from 1985. I've added cool bubble captions which automatically translate the Danish lyrics into English as the song plays ... so you can get the meaning of this beautiful song and hear how eerily similar so much of Danish is to... English! This song is sort of the Danish version of "We Are the World," and
raised money for the Danish Red Cross in support of African famine relief. It was popular the year I lived in Denmark as an exchange student, 1985-86.

VIDEO - Paris & the French Open

2005-07-09T07:21:00.001+02:00

Click above to view videoblog (8-minute video, WMV format, designed for Widows Media Player).

I'm happy to announce the first in a series of "Ameripean Sojourn" videos, each covering one of the European nations I visited on this trip. The videos feature special music (often popular music acts from and other music native to and/or specifically about the subject country); video footage; photo highlights; and text/voice-over commentary. Videos range in length from approximately 3 to 15 minutes each. (Note: In the video above, I must apologize to my Parisian host Marianne for spelling her name wrong in the video. Her name is Marianne, not Marrianne.)

Home at Last

2005-06-24T20:05:00.000+02:00

I returned home to San Diego from my Ameripean Sojourn on Wednesday night, June 22, three and a half weeks after beginning my journey to six fascinating European lands. When I showed up at work the following morning, my co-workers had a special treat waiting for me on my desk. They had followed the Ameripean Sojourn blog and were impressed by the pictures of various European foods I took. They decided to surprise me with this delectable assortment of AMERICAN deserts, appropriately adorned with a U.S. flag. It was a fitting and heartwarming welcome home.

2005-06-24T20:04:00.000+02:00

Returning to work after a long vacation isn't so bad when you have treats like these -- and awesome coworkers -- to welcome you back.

London Town

2005-06-24T16:41:00.000+02:00

Big Ben. London was the last stop on my "Ameripean Sojourn." I last visited London in 1986 as a mere teenager. Twenty years later, the city seemed spiffier and more exciting than ever to me. Enjoy.

2005-06-24T16:39:00.000+02:00

The simple act of crossing the street in London can be a confusing thing for foreigners. They try everything to remind people to look the right way for oncoming traffic.

2005-06-24T16:38:00.000+02:00

London park.

2005-06-24T16:37:00.000+02:00

Where the Queen of England lives, Buckingham Palace. Junior's mom requested photos of this palace. Edna, this is for you.

2005-06-24T16:36:00.000+02:00

In London, it's easy for Americans to get run over since traffic drives on the opposite side of the road. Signs like these try to remind us which way to look for oncoming traffic.

2005-06-24T16:35:00.000+02:00

Buckingham Palace.

2005-06-24T16:34:00.001+02:00

Buckingham Palace guard.

2005-06-24T16:34:00.000+02:00

Londons glitzy new ferris wheel.

2005-06-24T16:33:00.000+02:00

This is London's famous "Speaker's Corner" in Hyde Park, established by parliament in the 1800's as a place for public oratory. I guess no one had anything to say on this day. I recited a poem of mine ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell") aloud, but no one was there to hear it.

2005-06-24T16:31:00.000+02:00

London tube station.

2005-06-24T16:30:00.000+02:00

This poster for a new book was prominent in the London tube stations.

2005-06-24T16:29:00.000+02:00

"Gents Toilet"? -- okay, this ain't America.

2005-06-24T16:28:00.000+02:00

I found my home in London (just kidding).

Opening day of Wimbledon 2005

2005-06-24T07:12:00.000+02:00

The line to get in Wimbledon on the first day. It was quite long, with my British friend Jon Grayson and I getting through the gates in about 75-minutes.

2005-06-24T07:11:00.000+02:00

Here we're about 3/4 of the way to the front gates, after about an hour in line.

2005-06-24T07:10:00.000+02:00

Doing their duty.

2005-06-24T07:09:00.001+02:00

It was amazing how close one can get to the courts at Wimbledon.

2005-06-24T07:09:00.000+02:00

Thai hero Paradorn...I got his autograph (after he lost to Marat Safin)!

2005-06-24T07:08:00.000+02:00

Formality and order rule at Wimbledon.

2005-06-24T07:07:00.001+02:00

Meet the last Brit to win a Wimbledon title.

2005-06-24T07:07:00.000+02:00

Two women enjoy the traditional Wimbledon treat of strawberries & cream with "pims" fruit champagne.

2005-06-24T07:05:00.001+02:00

Enjoying the tradition Wimbledon treat of strawberries & cream and "pims," a fruity champagne.

2005-06-24T07:05:00.000+02:00

Service!

2005-06-24T07:04:00.000+02:00

Spanish heart-throb Feliciano Lopez takes a break.

2005-06-24T07:00:00.000+02:00

A Swedish fan bears his colors for countryman Joachim Johansson.

2005-06-24T06:59:00.000+02:00

That famous Dementieva serve.

2005-06-24T06:58:00.001+02:00

One of my favorites, Russia's beautiful Elena Dementieva.

2005-06-24T06:58:00.000+02:00

Players' Balcony, from where the players can watch some of the action on courts below.

2005-06-24T06:53:00.001+02:00

Ah, the green, green grass courts of Wimbledon.

2005-06-24T06:53:00.000+02:00

Ballgirls & ballboys cover a court for the night.

2005-06-24T06:52:00.000+02:00

Center Court at Wimbledon.

Goodbye Holland + Eurogames tennis results

2005-06-22T20:25:00.000+02:00

HIGH OVER HOLLAND...Flying over the Dutch countryside on my way to a final stop in London, I say goodbye to a place equal parts charming, libertine, liberating and hedonistic.

2005-06-22T20:24:00.000+02:00

AMSTERDAM'S SCHIPHOL AIRPORT...

2005-06-22T20:22:00.000+02:00

WINNERS...Eastern Europeans like these gold-medal winners from Bulgaria and the Czech Republic did well in the Eurogames.

2005-06-22T20:21:00.001+02:00

A WISH COMES TRUE...see the wishing well? Players could place any wish they wanted in it prior to the start of the tournament, and a lucky few were drawn at the closing ceremonies and granted -- keeping with the 2005 Eurogames theme of 'Where Your Fairytale Comes True.' Well guess what? MY wish was the last wish picked! Above, tournament coordinator Jan-Hein reads it aloud to the crowd. So what, you ask, was my Eurogames wish? That Junior could play in a big annual tennis tournament in Europe next year, since he was unable to make it for the Eurogames this year or to Sydney two years ago. And they granted it, giving Junior a free entry into the annual Amsterdam tennis tournament next June, or any European tournament of his choice! No medal for me in these games, but I have to say that this surprise was just about as nice.

2005-06-22T20:20:00.000+02:00

MEN'S OPEN WINNERS...the one in red (gold medalist) is from Russia; the one in white (silver medalist) is from Holland.

2005-06-22T20:19:00.000+02:00

TWO DUTCH WINNERS...

2005-06-22T20:18:00.000+02:00

BRONZE MEDAL...for my friend John Grayson from England for winning the A men's double consolation division with his Dutch doubles partner. Go John!

2005-06-22T20:17:00.000+02:00

VANQUISHED...This Dutch/South African team defeated me and Peter in the finals of the men's B doubles consolation division. Earlier in the day Peter and I had a dashing 8-2 victory in the semifinals against another (like us) Dutch/American team - but we were stopped just one match and a few games short of a finals victory by these fellows. Hats off to them. You'll note that one of them is the South African Dave who also defeated me in the B singles. I guess he's got the upper hand against me...for now.

2005-06-22T20:09:00.000+02:00

This is Dave, a crafty counterpunching Englishman from South Africa who knocked me out of the B singles consolation round with a pro-set score of 8-6. He was the number one seed in B's. The day before, I lost in the first round of the main B singles draw with a devastating 0-6, 1-6 loss to an Italian from Switzerland. Hey, at least I didn' get DOUBLE-bageled.

Amazing Amsterdam

2005-06-21T19:53:00.000+02:00

Here's Amsterdam!

2005-06-21T19:52:00.000+02:00

Eurogames tennis gets under way, canal-side. In all-white is a British friend John Grayson with his Dutch doubles partner.

2005-06-21T19:49:00.000+02:00

I wonder if this movie poster will be seen on the streets of San Diego.

2005-06-21T19:48:00.000+02:00

Even Copenhagen didn't have bike lanes as nice as these in Holland.

2005-06-21T19:47:00.000+02:00

Amazing Amsterdam.

2005-06-21T19:46:00.000+02:00

Dutch grafiti.

2005-06-21T19:45:00.000+02:00

In Amsterdam, pornography is sold right on the street!

2005-06-21T19:43:00.000+02:00

MLK is honored in a Dutch city.

2005-06-21T19:42:00.000+02:00

In Holland they put mayo on their fries!

2005-06-21T19:41:00.001+02:00

Dutch canal living.

2005-06-21T19:41:00.000+02:00

This was a little odd to see on a car on the other side of the Atlantic, but it was spotted on the streets of Holland.

2005-06-21T19:39:00.000+02:00

Eurogames opening ceremonies.

2005-06-21T19:38:00.000+02:00

Wit my double's partner in the Eurogames tennis tournament before the opening ceremonies in the Dutch town Utrecht. His name is Peter and is a Dutchman living in Belgium who works for the European Union.

2005-06-21T19:34:00.000+02:00

Marcus, my host in Amsterdam, strolls along one of the city's numerous gorgeous canals.

2005-06-21T19:30:00.000+02:00

This pink triangle jutting out over an Amsterdam canal near Anne Franke's house is Holland's 'Homo Monument,' honoring homosexuals the world over. Amsterdam is one of the few cities in the world to have such a prominent tribute to this segment of the human family.

2005-06-21T19:26:00.000+02:00

Can't get enough of those charming Amsterdam canals.

2005-06-21T19:24:00.000+02:00

Dutch woman relishing some early summer sun in Amsterdam after a long European winter.

2005-06-21T19:22:00.000+02:00

Arriving at Amsterdam central train station from the airport.

Farewell to Hungary

2005-06-21T10:35:00.000+02:00

With the pictures below, let me bid a fond farewell to Hungary -- the newest European land for me to discover and certainly among the most compelling.

2005-06-21T10:12:00.000+02:00

Danube panorama -- double-click photo to see it better. Hungary is in the foreground; Slovakia is on the far side of the river.

2005-06-21T10:07:00.000+02:00

This picure was everywhere during my time in Budapest -- on billboards, posters, phone booths, bus stops, trolleys, etc. The young man's smile somehow let me know that there would be nothing to fear in this land that was so new to me.

2005-06-21T10:04:00.000+02:00

Ancient Roman ruins in Budapest.

2005-06-21T10:02:00.000+02:00

Budapest shopping mall.

2005-06-21T10:00:00.000+02:00

Csaba's girlfriend Sofie enjoys a slice of pizza -- Hungarian style -- with ketchup on top!

2005-06-21T09:58:00.000+02:00

With Csaba overlooking the Danube River, north of Budapest.

A Hungarian village & Budapest by Night

2005-06-13T18:16:00.000+02:00

Hungarian flag next to the European Union flag in St. Andrew, a charming vilage along the Danube River, just outside Hungary. I took trip there today to enjoy the sunshine, some more Hungarian food and a little shopping.

2005-06-13T18:11:00.001+02:00

More Hungarian for your reading pleasure.

2005-06-13T18:11:00.000+02:00

The Hungarian language has a lot of little symbols going on.

2005-06-13T18:10:00.000+02:00

Just a sunny day in Budapest.

2005-06-13T18:09:00.000+02:00

All European Union countries are changing their license plates to look like this. Where once individual national flags were used, now there is the EU flag symbol (a circle of gold stars) over a single letter representing the country.

2005-06-13T18:07:00.000+02:00

This poster shows what a Hun looked like. Pretty fierce if you ask me. The Huns founded Hungary under Attila the Hun.

2005-06-13T18:05:00.000+02:00

Hungarian grafiti.

2005-06-13T18:04:00.000+02:00

St. Andrew, a charming village just outside Budapest.

2005-06-13T18:03:00.000+02:00

The village of St. Andrew, just outside Budapest.

2005-06-13T18:02:00.000+02:00

Csaba's girlfriend Sofie and I pose in St. Andrew, a charming village on the Danube just outside Budapest. We went there for lunch today.

2005-06-13T18:01:00.000+02:00

Two Hungarian cats watch over us as we enjoy lunch on a restaurant patio. The brindle cat reminded me a lot of my cat Diva back in San Diego (thanks for babysitting her Junior!).

2005-06-13T17:59:00.000+02:00

Csaba's cigarette box shows that Hungarians see health warnings far larger on their packs than do Americans.

2005-06-13T17:58:00.000+02:00

National spice of Hungary, paprika.

2005-06-13T17:57:00.000+02:00

This street sign was on display where we ate lunch. It says "May 1st Street" and is a relic of the Hungary's Communist days (May 1st being of course a sacred laborer's day in Communist ideology). When Communism fell in Hungary, street names like this were changed to help usher in the new era. But for a period of time, the new street names stood side-by-side the old street names until locals got used to the change. To signify the old, soon-to-be-erased names from the new, red x's would be spray-painted over the Communist street names.

2005-06-13T17:50:00.000+02:00

This was my desert after lunch today. It's called "turos gomboc" and features two cottage cheese dumplings smothered in a sweet yogurt sauce with powdered sugar sprinkled over the top. Thank goodness I'm competing in the Eurogames tennis tournament in Holland later this week. Maybe I'll be able to shed some of the calories represented so bountifully by treats like those above.

2005-06-13T17:37:00.000+02:00

Another insane (and weirdly delicious) Hungarian specialty I tried today in St. Andrew. OK, let's see, its pasta noodles covered with yogurt and sweet cottage cheese, with chunks of bacon fat sprinkled throughout. It's called "turos csusza." How do they come up with such concoctions, anyway? And for those not in the know, that's the Hungarian flag.

2005-06-13T17:30:00.000+02:00

Standing under gobs of Hungarian paprika, the national spice here.

Hungary - Day 3 - Sunday, June 12 (Happy Birthday lil' sis' Krista!)

2005-06-13T11:07:00.000+02:00

Hungarian desert. If it's impossibly rich and tasty with heavy cream or custard, it must be Hungarian.

2005-06-13T11:06:00.001+02:00

Csaba's family.

2005-06-13T11:06:00.000+02:00

Csaba's wonderful mother made this wonderful lunch for us. Potatos, pork with gravy, fried cauliflour and cucumber salad.

2005-06-13T11:04:00.000+02:00

Budapest detail.

2005-06-13T11:03:00.000+02:00

Since Janos said I dressed like an American and not a Hungarian, we traded jackets for this shot, and I even held his cigarette to try to get the full "Hungarian" look down. He tried mine on to look more American. Anyone convinced?

2005-06-13T11:02:00.000+02:00

Me and Csaba's friend Janos. Janos said I dressed like an American, not a Hungarian.

2005-06-13T11:00:00.000+02:00

Close-up of Csaba's Hungarian crepe.

2005-06-13T10:59:00.000+02:00

Csaba takes on an even more ridiculous Hungarian crepe creation -- it has bananas, chocolate pudding, "fruit punch-flavored" pudding, heavy cream, custard and more. He was only able to finish half of it.

2005-06-13T10:57:00.000+02:00

These aren't your ordinary crepes. They're Hungarian, after all, so they're smothered in luscious heavy cream, filled with rich custard and highlighted with Cherries and chocolate sprinkles. This was a meal unto itself.

2005-06-13T10:55:00.000+02:00

This is a menu for Hungarian crepes, a favorite late-night snack here.

2005-06-13T10:54:00.000+02:00

Budapest's "Chain Bridge" over the Danube. See the lions? Csaba says legend has it that the bridge's designer dared anyone to find something wrong with his "perfect" bridge. When an observant citizen pointed out that the lions had no tongues, the bridge designer was so devastated that he killed himself.

2005-06-13T10:50:00.000+02:00

Csaba's friend Janos strikes a pose at the Hungarian freedom monument.

2005-06-13T10:49:00.000+02:00

Csaba's friend Janos and I on a hill overlooking the lights of Budapest.

2005-06-13T10:48:00.000+02:00

Two nice Hungarian girls who agreed to have their picture taken with me.