T Diddy :: Your Friendly Black Dentist

I have been moving very fast the past week. Starting last Friday, which was Sept 26th, I was in Basel, Switzerland to see a friend that I met in Salamanca. It was good to get a nice home to stay in after Canyoning in the Swiss Alps and living in the country side. Saturday morning, I woke up at 530 to catch a train down to Venice, Italy. I was really looking forward to Italy. The food, the culture, etc. I have heard so much about the country, that I wanted to get there quickly. After 10 or so hours of train riding, I get off the train to be greeted by a zillion of turists with there bug eyes as they are wandering the streets. I was not expecting this many people. I was shocked and little saddened. Now is supposed to be down season. However, I guess not for Venice. I had to find a place to stay. I battled the crowds and strained my eyes on the map to find the hostel. No luck. Booked. I took a water boat taxi, battling the crowds again. Booked. I tried some small hotels in the streets. Booked! My much anticipated desire to see Italy instantly turned into lets get the hell out of here now desire. However, since I was in the city, I wanted to take some photos, eat some dinner, than I was going to catch the night train to Nice. There was too many tourists, it was crowded, I did not feel like paying 100 euros for a room or sleep in the streets. I found my way into what seemed to be a gem of a restaurant. I was tired from carrying my bag around, I was lost in the city, and I was not happy because my first experience with Italy had been, well Shitty! It was just me, 2 women, and the waiter who could not speak English. Because I am such a friendly guy and very talkative, I asked the ladies if they knew where we were. And because of my sexy, handsome look with my 1 month beard, they told be to come over and eat dinner with them. After talking for a while, they informed me that they were at a campsite and that there were bungalows. They even said that if there were no bungalows that they would put me up in there camper for that night. Amazing. They told me to come and hangout with them and that they wanted me to go on a Gandola ride with them without paying. They would pay for all. I said what the hell and took the adventure within my adventure. This is when my experience of Venice turned for the better. At dark, I noticed that the city is quieter and the people are back in the hotels doing the do. It was a beautiful quiet city at night. The Gandola ride was everything and more than you hear of. I see why it is now considered a romantic city. The slow cruising down the dark purple canals relaxing to the gentle rip of the ores stroking the water. I could of used some Smokey Robinson, but the water was just fine. After the gandola, we headed to the camp site, I got my bungalow, and I went to sleep a happy man. I now am a fan of Venice, but at night. When I return to Venice, it will be with a women that I love, we will sleep all day, and we will hit the streets and canals at night.
Sunday, I spent the day seeing the sites and battling the crowds again. I found a Irish pub that was showing NFL and then I caught the night train to Nice. It was the worst night of sleep I have ever had. How can anybody sleep when the train man continuously comes into the cabin every 90 minutes and asks for your ticket. Chill dawg!!! Damn! I was supposed to meet a friend from the States on Monday night, but she did not make it. We were supposed to travel to a few cities together. It would have been cool to see her, but the boat rocks according to the tide. Nice was a nice little French Riveria town, but really nothing special. I also went to Cannes and Monte Carlo/Monanco. Cannes is a city of old money, white dudes sporting tupees and speedos, and big as yachts. It was cool for 3 hours and nothing more. Monte Carlo was way too much. Seeing these rich fools flossing in the Ferraris and Bentlys. Even the gold digging women were presence. These type of women suck by the way. They are fake! Period! I put in 1 euro in the slot machines just to say that I Gambled in Monte Carlo. That was the first time I gambled in 4 years. I quit on the weekend of my Birthday after blowing some serious cash. To enter the main casion costs 10 euros, so I decided to pass on that ass. To rich for my blood. The South of France was cool, but I could have done without it.
Wednesday morning, I went back to Italy. This time, I must say that I was in real Italy. Cinque Terre. A beautiful coast composed of 5 villiages on the Med. I cannot explain how beautiful this place was. To chill on cliffs and look down on the clear blue water while a post cardish backdrop surrounds you, is amazing. The food, the people, the town, the water is all good and I mean that more than my man Hammer proclaimed back in the day. There is a trail that connects the towns, which you can hike. Of course, Hikemaster Haynes took on the adventure. This one trail between two of the 5 cities was no joke. Of course, I did not know this because I usually refuse to get info before setting off into the journey. This hike was straight up the mountain, a short little break as you round to a town the sits quietly there, than straight down as you navigate crooked stoned stairs and cliffs. One hour up and one hour down. It was brutal. I lost 5 pounds in the 2 hours. However, the views were so worth it. If Bart and Monkey thought my calves could cut them 4 years ago, they would have sliced them up after this trek. The only thing I did not like about the city was the mosquitos. However, that will not stop me from returning to the Spot.
Friday, the plan was to go to Sienna. The plan was shot down. Of course, there was a art exhibition and all the cheap accommodations were taking. After 3 hours of taking free bus rides and saying WOW This is a nice city, I left. I took off for Florence. During this crap, dont bet that I was happy. I woke up with a slight headache because I drank too much wine at dinner the night before, I started to develop an ear ache, and I was tired. I was on the train all day and I just wanted to sleep. I got to Florence around 8 pm, this after leaving Cinque Terre at 8 am, ate, and then went to bed. Oh, I forgot, I also went to Pisa on my way to Siena. I had to see the leaning Tower. It was sweet and is a must see. Siena, I need to go back, but I got a great vibe. Florence is unbelievable. I love it. I want to come back for sure. The thing about Italy is that there is food everywhere. It all looks so good and I can never decide what to eat. I usually have a bit of everything, which is not good. For example, as I write this, I am overly stuffed and I could not bear to walk anymore. I had a big pasta dish, which containg tortalleni and penne, a piece of pizza, and to top it off, I probably had the best damn ice cream that I have ever tasted in my life. It was amazing. Hence, I am stuffed, satisfied, sexy, and about to catch another train. This time to Roma. Time to the some history.

Arrived in Roma to the friendly smile of my friends, who I met in Sevilla, Cecilla and Giulia. They picked me up at the airport and instantly showed me around the city at night. There is something to be said for seeing major sites like the Colosium and St. Peters Cathedral at night. I guess if you ever seen the WTC at night while driving down the NJ Turnpike, then you would understand. I will even throw in the SF skyline as you turn into the city on 80 as you merge off the 101. Even the old pad of the Marks as it sat over the SF skyline (I still cannot believe that when I return to Cali, I will not be able to chill in that pad overlooking SF. The breakup was a sad day for me.). We met up with another woman I met in Sevilla, Alexandra, and their friend for dinner. This Italian meal was the real deal. How can anybody go wrong with Bruchetta with fresh tomates and real-fresh-Motzarella. You take a bite and it melts in your mouth. After, they took me to the buena vista of Roma. The high point where you can see Rome. Amazing.
The following day, they dropped me off in the middle of town. I spent most of my time at St. Peters Cathedral. The entry was free, but this may be the one church that I would pay to go into. It was beautiful. I actually had to slap myself and ask for forgiveness because I was talking to myself how beautiful the place was dropping f-bombs as adjectives. The other highlights of the city were the Colosium, which was cool, but not worth 10 euros to see the inside, and the Forum. The Forum was cool because it was free. I am just amazed that people could carve marble and other stones to create such gigante builings. These fools were some serious slave masters to make them fools do such work. I thought picking cotton was bad. These fools had to carry 100 million tons of stone and carve it. Hell nah, Kill me! After walking billions of miles, I was picked up by the friends and went to the house of Giulia because she was having a party for her birthday. The party was fun and I was amused by her friends and brothers tripping about how big I was. They wanted to arm wrestle and bump into to me to feel the force. I also had to demonstrate the Pro Evolution Futbol (soccer) skills on PS2. The first game I won. Homeboy was not happy because I was from the States and I we do not know how to play soccer. This fool did not know my nick name was Pele. I lose the next 2 before I called it a night. I do not know how we communicated, her friends that is, because they dont speak english and I do not speak Italian, but there is something about PS2 and a beer that works. It is a universal man thing.
Sunday was basically more siteseeing. Nothing special, but I did meet a woman a the Colomsium from Slavania (I did not go inside the day before because it closed before I got there). She took my picture and from there we chatted away. We even had lunch and a Gelati together. After we said goodbye. The great thing about traveling is that you meet some great people. Es verdad.
Now I am in Naples. It sucks. It is dirty and loud. The only reason I came here is because that Pizza was born here. Let me tell you, it is damn good. This is no Round Table or Dominos action destroying a good thing. I am going to find a place to stay probably outside the city to rest. I need a day of rest because my body is getting tired and the Machine is trying to get sick. I refuse to breakdown. After a nice quiet evening, I will head to Bari to catch a 15 hour ferry to Greece. From there it will be Athens and then the Islands.
i have noticed that I am going crazy. I am talking to myself more and more. As thoughts run through my head, I think that I am actually vocalizing them. I suspect this because people look at me like I am crazy. Nah dawg, I just have many thoughts up there. However, that is why I talk my butt off when I meet people. I think my roommate will not be able to study when I return, because I will need to talk to get this craziness from my body.
Also, I think I have my next occupation when I return. I want to be "That" Darkie selling the purses, watches, or sunglasses in the street. You know the ones that come up to you while you eating dinner on a terrace and stick the roses up in your face. The ones with the guns that shoot bubbles in your face as you rest in a plaza. I wanted to slap these fools in Rome. Every 2 seconds one of the African or Arab brothas would come up and wave crap in my face. Instead of losing my cool, I played like Oran Juice Jones and I chilled. Why do they all have to be African or Arab. Where are the white shadys at?

The ferry ride from Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece was horrible. After spending all of Wednesday trekking across Italy on trains and waiting for connections I arrived in Bari only to almost be blow over by the hurricane like winds as I left the Ferry Office. I almost lost the "Truth: Soul Power" traveling fisherman hat too. I had to chase down the hat flying in the air with my 50 lbs of crap on my back. Thanks to my McGahee type speed and my Bettis type power to cut my way through the wind, I saved the Truth. The ferry took 16 hours from port to port. I almost did not survive. I was set to go to sleep after wiggling my big butt inbetween the crack of the 2 airplane type seats when the man sitting behind me returned to his seat. About 1 minute later, I smelled the worst smell I have ever smelled before. It was worse than a direct hole to nose fart that you receive from your brother on sister after they eat Mexican food or cold brochili. It was worse than the stinch of a windowess room that has 10 dudes snoring and farting after playing hoops all day, sleeping into the next morning. It was the type of smell where you cant even say "Damn!" because the air that you take into to breathe to say the word, will only bring more pain. Backhand to nose and my face wrinkled, I looked back only to see homey removed his shoes. This was wrong. How can feet smell like this? I did not care to answer as I grabbed the backpack and headed to the other side of the ship. My dawgs smell like roses after smelling that. Finally, after about 5 hours of tossing and turning, I fell asleep.
During the trip, I met Tim and 2 Australian girls. We decided to get a place together excluding Time because we already had a place. After finding a place in Athens, I met up with Angelika, who I met in Salamanca, for dinner. We talked and ate Greek food in a Taverna, where the only tourist was me. The food was good.
Friday, I saw the Acropolis and The Temple of the Olympian Zeus with Tim and the girls. To tell you the truth, the only good thing about these sites is that I can now say that I was there. I am sick of ruins. All they are, are decaying buildings and old stubs of coloumns that they have been restoring for ages. I am sick of ruins and museos. They are all the same and the only reason you go is to say that you have been and to take photos as proof. No more of this stuff for me on this trip.
After having enough of Greece on Friday, I decided to head to the Islands. I arrived in Paros for the first stop. After hearing all about the Isles, I must say that this did not disappoint. One, the water is an intense deep blue. It is amazing. Two, the nights and moon are that much more intense. I have not seen a moon as bright as the moon I saw on Friday night before. This is the stuff that Casanova and currently, Los, be writing about. Saturday on Paros was chill. I just went to beach and chilled. This beach, named Punda, was a resort in the summer. However, because it is off season, there are not many people here. Hence, the girls and I had the beach to ourselves. I could imagine the drunk people here tearing off their shirts, dancing, and jumping in the water during July and August. I am glad that I am here in October, although it seems that I may have missed the hot weather by one week, because I am in a chill mode after hustling across all of Western Europe for the past 6 or so weeks. This temple is tired.
Sunday, I hop on the ferry to Santorini. People say that this is the best Island. After renting a scooter and displaying the skills that only a few prestigous members possess that allow them to be in the Scoot Club, Nealy y Hecy Hec, I toured the island. Simply beautiful. When you have a 2 mile beach with black sand, deep blue intense water, and beach bars, my friends this is when you know you are in the right place. The town is so relaxing and cheap. I rented a scooter for 2 days for only 20 euros and a room for only 8 euros each night. Cheap, beautiful, and wonderful. Sort of reminds me of myself. Tonight, I am headed to a bar that sits on the cliffs to watch the sunset. During this time, I will be thinking of the love that I could have. Yeah right! I will be celebrating my 5th victory in Fantasy football. Yes, I am 5-1 and tied for the best record in the league. This is the best start that I have had in my career. I am pumped, and becoming more wonderful as the weeks go on.
Wednesday, I have a long day. I have to catch the 8 hour ferry to Athens to catch my flight that leaves for London at 10:45 at night. I land at 1:30 London time. There I will see my boy Ben Mead and my girl Ruth. Dublin, Scottland, then Praga complete the trip. Half of me wants to stay on the road and other side wants to go back to Harlem to talk mess to my roommate and dawg Mike T. The little things are the things that you miss the most.

Greetings from Blighty. What ever that means. However, I believe that it is a nick name for London. I dont understand it, but it does not matter because I love the Indian food here. It is the best in the world and tonight I had some after waiting for 3 years for it. I was very satisfied until I had to split the 75 GBP bill. That means I paid 25 or about 38 US dollars for the meal. Blighty is bloody expensive and puts holes in this chap's pants. However, I have a nice friend who picked up my portion. What a great guy!
Before updating the fam and the friends on my advertures, I have to do a New York Times correction straight from the heart of Harlem about the status of my fantasy football season. I mistakenly stated that I was tied for the best record in the league. This, in fact, is untrue, as pointed out by the beloved owner of this record, Workmonkies. The fact is that the Workmonkies have been putting in their work this year and made a comeback Monday Night as my team the Rams and Mr. Holt annilated the helpless Falcoms. This amazing performance of this Superbowl caliber team propelled the Monkies to gaining another W in the column. I admint the mistake and congratulate the Monkies on a impressive W. However, at the same time I salute my wonderful Rams who have once again silenced the crapy fans in the 49 camp. I would call them out, but they know who they are. Suckas!
Yes, I am in London, but only after 25 1/2 hours of traveling from door to door on Wednesday and Thursday morning. This was the worst trip of my life that included nearly all forms of Transportations. It started at 6 am with the alarm clock, get dressed, wait 20 minutes for the bus in Santorini to the port to catch the boat at 7 am, avoid my but from going numb on the 5 hour ferry ride, catching the public bus in Athens to the airport at 4:30 and arriving at the airport at 4:45, waiting 5 hours to check in, boarding my plane at 11:30 PM, flying to Gatwich for 3 1/2 hours, arriving at 1:35 am London time or 3:35 Greek time, catching the train, which I did not pay for because it is a wise traveling technique, at 2:45 am after being drilled by the bastards in customs, arriving in central london at 3:30 to blistering cold (this after turning from yellow to black in greece was hard), getting lost finding the bus stop to my friend Ben's house, catching the bus at 4:12 am London time, riding for 25 minutes only to get lost again, calling Ben to pick me up at 4:45, and finally tranversing myself to his house by car to arrive at 5 AM. I did not sleep until 5:30 am because we had to have the guy talk. I know this. I will never moan about a 3 or 4 hour wait or road trip again. This trip has pushed the limits of wait times, travel times, connections, and delays. I was patient before, but now I am even more patient. Maybe it is not good, but I do not care.
Before I talk about London, which is not much because I traveled one whole day, I must reiterate the wonderful islands of greece. There are only a few places you can be in fall, I think it is fall now. I am so messed up on time and dates, I do not know which way is up or down and I have missed many of my friends wedding anniversarys and birthday phone calls. I have to recover when I return. However, it was in the 70s with some wind, but the waters were amazing. The second day of Scooting, I found Kamari beach. My time of beach and reminds me of Krabi in Thailand. After this finding I think that all good beaches begin with B. So when in doubt of where to go, find the beach with the B. I sat on the sand taking in the sun, killing a Tuesday crossword puzzle, while doing my everyother day of pushups and situps. Yes, I am now maintaining my tetas. However, I may soon need a bra, but that may not work because my cuts my fray the material. The abs are looking nice and I think that I will avoid the laundrymat from now on. I can save money by doing laundry on the abs. After sweating in the SUN and HEAT in October, I plunged in the crystal clear blue water. The water is like the Carribean where you just float. You dont do any work, you just float coughing out the sea water that gets into your mouth by the swells. I was chilling like a villian that even DJ Quick would have been proud. He might have brought me a 40 oz so we can get bent all becuase that is how we are living (right now my mom is reading this and trying to make sense of all the references. I am not even sure that my white friends who have ties to the world of hip hop even understand, but if they use imagination they will know what I mean). Basically, all that is to say is that I had such a wonderful day relaxing and taking in the sun. I would not have traded that for anything in the world. I ended the day by finding a $1.80 chicken euro and watching the sunset from Fira. The one thing you have to do in Santorini is watch the sunset. If I had a woman here, she would have been talking about marriage because i would have scored huge points with the setting of the sun. I would of responded with, hey did you know that Ahman green ran for 149 and had 2 touches. Yep, escaped like my Kurt Russell.
I liked Greece so much, I want to plan a trip where I spend about 1 month just hopping the islands, and another 1 or 2 hitting up Egypt, and then Turkey. This part of the world is so beautiful despite what my roommate's brotha, good oh W, says. I want to explore the Middle East and soon. I guess this passion outlines a requiremend for a lady of mine. They are going to have to possess the desire to travel without the 5 star accommodations and fine dining. They have to enjoy the boat rides, hostals, and multiple underwear days to be with this baldy. Seriously, there are times when you have to sniff the draws to see which ones smell the least funky. But hey, you have to do it and nobody cares. It is all apart of the experience and it puts you in touch with other things, naturally speaking, besides stupid crap like money and materialism. I must admit that I was there when I first graduated college, but I can say now that I do not aspire to do something just for the dough. It is the wrong approach and it will take your soul. Yes, money is cool and you need it to live. But, I know longer have to have it just to have it. I can survive by going to the corner store, putting the Micks or Cob up in the paperbag, posting up on the corner for 2 or 3 jiving with the bros before hitting the club or bar. This saves the dough and the obligation to buy $13 Martinis. I do not need the Jeep or Lexus. I do not want to struggle to make the payments each month just to have the status. Yes, they are nice and the Lexus GS 400 is the car that I love, but that will not be bought unless I am cooling making the dough by something I love. However, I will not work just to have the car. If it comes it comes, if not, then I am cool with no job, living off fumes, and being happy kicking it with my dawg T talking poilitics and beating his but in FIFA. I suppose what it comes down to is that working just for the money is not pure and it can make you a very vicious and ugly person. If the money comes by doing something where I can be myself and something I love, then it is gravy. I admit I sold out to the man and my soul was lost for a while. I would make some stupid decisions and say stupid selfish things which made no sense. However, I needed that experience to become a better person learn that I will work to live and not live to work. But only with something that I enjoy and can be myself. So if that means that I wait tables for the rest of my life to spend time with my family then that is what it means. I may not get a girl by doing that, but that is exactly what I would want because I would not want her ass if she did not want me because I was not a manager at Accenture. No, I have not made my million yet, but if and when I do, I will not tell you because you obviously you want to do me like my boy Joe (Joe Millionaire). What am I talking about. Right there my readers, you just experienced the power of writing. When you write, things just come out. Back to London.
Today, which is Friday, I will meet up with Ruth, a woman I met from Salamanca. We will just kick it as she sacrafices her entire day for me. What a classy lady. Since I have seen all of London before, I do not need to see much. I do want to go see stupid David Blaine in the box. He has been there for 41 days now and gets out on Sunday night. Why not? After that, I will see the London Tower and the Tower Bridge. That will be the end of my sightseeing in London. That night, she has a dinner with friends as a goodbye because she returns to Spain to work. It is amazing the people you meet. They have wonderful stories that confirms that I was not crazy by quiting my job and relying on faith to get me through and survive. Amazing stories! We do dinner, talk a little bit and as she told me today, drink. Oh dear, I have no more tolerance. I have not really drank since Salamanca and really I have cut back since last Summer when Sleep and Eat left NYC to go back to Advertising school. He would be shocked by my lack of staying power and I know my boy Car Bomb will be dissappointed when I return in 2 weeks. However, the truth is that it is hard on the body and I have not much desire anymore waking up and sleeping the next day away. Plus, I have to have all senses to see my new boys GP and Mailman deliver a championship in LA this year. Speaking of the Lakers, it may look like there will not be a Kobe Trial after all. We will know on Monday, but they are finding out that the little 'Ho', not my description, but a fact, had sex with at least 2, but maybe three homeys that night and that she was cool as a summer breeze after the atack as she went back to work after the bump and grind session. She gets no love from me. Period!
This is entirely to long, but I wanted to get my thoughts out to my fam and those friends that have been loyal readers since the begining. If you have gotten this far, then I love you, and wish you much love. Because this is long as I do not know. All because I am at Ben's house and I do not have to pay 7 euros for 1 hour. Mantan or 'Lil Nigga T, you have had a great impact on my road to economic excellence. Much love and see you in 2 weeks.
Free Kobe, Bart GP is now a Laker, and God Bless Shaq!
-W

In Dublin now. This after spending Friday night with Ruth and her friends in London. I met up with her Friday afternoon after saying goodbye to him and his wife. Friday night, Ruth had a goodbye party because she goes back to Spain. The dinner was fantastic. It was a Thai Curry chicken. Ate dinner, sipped some wine and passed out only to wake up with pictures on the digital of them dressing up a homey with woman bras and makeup. Don't ask. I woke up early because I had not seen David Blaine in his box yet. I said goodbye, ran out the door because I was pressed for time. I saw Blaine. It was so exciting. He was chilling in his box under the covers to stay warm. By far the best thing I have seen so far. A rushed back to the underground only to get to the airport express to Gatwick airport by a few seconds. If I missed the train, I missed the plane to Dublin.
Dublin is cool and it took me by surprise. I was expecting a little more filth and less of a cosmo feel. Cosmo it is as well as expensive. I am staying at Joe Cullan's house. Immediately upon getting to the house, we went to the number one attraction of Dublin, also one which was high on my list before I left NYC, the Guiness Factory. I bought the ticket using Joe's school ID to get a reduction in price, quickly transversed my way through the muesum to the bar where I could recieve the complementary pint of Guiness. This was the best pint of the big G that I have ever had. It was smooth, cold, and refreshing. The G in the states is crap. I am forever tainted and will be abused as I drink the piss in the States.

I am not seeing many thing in Dublin. The main reason is because I do not want to. I basically want to chill, hang out, talk, watch TV and recover and rest. See, my body is tiring out. I have a head cold, I can't hear and running around from site to site is not sounding fun right now. It is a good thing that I only have 2 cities left to explore. Else, I would be in trouble, but I do suppose that if the backpack trip was longer, I would still be chilling in Santorini where it is warm. I have to knock out Edinburgh in Scottland in one day. I leave tomorrow and I have to hustle. I wish I had more time, but I dont because of the choices I have made. Then on Wednesday, I am going to Praga. I am really looking forward to going there because my boy Mark is there. I was actually going to go to Praga after Berlin, but Mark told me one day before, it is no lie, that he is going to Praga at the end of September. So, I bipassed Praga until this date. How could anybody pass up an opportunity to see a good friend when they will be in the area? Especially when you go as far back in as Mark and I do. Those people are considered punks and need to ask themselves some serious questions. To me friends and family is where it is at. Period.

Finally, I am in a serious juxtaposition about returning to the US. I want to and then I do not. People who have done the backpacking thing or lived in another country can attest to what I am about to say. When I return, I know that things will be the same. The people will be the same. Their jobs and negative sentiments toward it, are the same. The same, "I am trapped in my job or life" mentality will be there. The same problems, mentally and socially, will still be there. To be honest, I do not want to deal with it. I am not trying to be pious or overly philosiphical. I am just being real. When you are out of your element, seeing new things, living in hostels, communicating with hand gestures, and doing anything you can to survive during travels, you learn learn a lot and free yourself from many of the BS hangups in your life. You realize that these hangups are are on you and your change your outlook on life. I cannot explain it nor will I try to. This is why I am happy that many of my friends have done what I have done. I will be able to talk with them and go deep into the details about the trip without them thinking that I have some special light over my head. They have been there and they understand that. For example, I talked to my roommate last night, and I told him my position, I did not have to say another word. He understood because he has been there and done that. Unfortunately, I have to choose how I describe my trip with people because they will come to conclusions about me that I would not want to deal with. That is why to them, my trip was just "cool!" On the other hand, I do want to return. My friends and family are in the US. My bed and my home is in Harlem. I really miss just chilling on the couch talking to Mike T, watching football on Sundays, talking to my mom 2 times a week, talking mess with my sis, playing Madden on-line with Los, talking on IM to my friends, laughing at Bush because he is an ugly man, waking up in the morning in my shorts walking around the house sleepy-eyed and cooking breakfast burritos, salsa dancing, the NYC air, and Saturday night DVD watching. For the little things that I have not lived with for 7 months, is what makes me want to return. When I return in 12 days, it really will be great to be back, but at the same time I believe after a few days back in the Big City, I will realize that things are the same as I miss Europe and the lifestyle I lived in Spain. Regardless, I will make the most of it and enjoy every bit because that is what I choose to do.

After saying goodbye to Joe, I took an early morning flight to Edinburgh, Scottland. Edinburgh is enchanting and somewhat mystical. I really enjoyed the city the 1 day I was there even though it was 'pissing' on me. 'Pissing' is the term that the people in this region use for rain. So, this was the first time in my life that I was pissed on. I met these people from the States and Mejico in the hostal and during the night we visited the castle and cemetery. It was fun to run around and just hang out in the piss. Early Wednesday morning I flew to Prague. Prague was my last major stop or city during my 2 month backpacking voyage through Europe. However, this trip was a little different because not only was I going to spend my 28th birthday in the city, I was going to spend it with one of my closest dawgs, Mark. He is there studying, which I knew before because I put off Prague until this date.

I arrive in Prague late Wednesday night to the Mark waiting for me at the arrival section of the airport. I love the fact that when you see people that you connect with and have not seen for a long period of time, it is like you just saw them yesterday. We picked right up to not only get the updates about our lives and latested experierences, but also the latest of our gang of friends. Did I not mention fantasy football? I was reminded within 5 minutes that his team is 7-0.

During the day Marked work, but that did not stop me from seeing the city. Prague is a beautiful city. The food is cheap, the vibe is great, it is clean, women are beautiful, and the building are very impressive. I thought it was a big city, which is somewhat is, but I found it to be quite quiant in nature. Each night we enjoyed dinner and Friday for lunch, I met Mark as he took a break from work. He took a 2 hour lunch break while he also gulped down 2 beers. Why cannot our American work culture not complain about the 2 hour break or the 2 beers that were savoured during the break? Yep, Prague wins this culture mark. I cannot pick out one fantastic site, but just the atmosphere of the city is a must feel or see. I highly recommend Prague. Especially before they go to the EU. Then the prices will be sure to jump up.

Friday, was my birthday. The big 28. In my heart I feel 20 still. Also, I believe that my stupid little jokes backup this sentiment. However, I know I am getting old when I wake up in the morning and my lower leg and its joints hurt. It takes about 5 minutes to warm up as I struggle to support myself walking as I slam into the doorframes. This was a great birthday. How many times will I and Mark be in Prague to celebrate a birthday. Only 1. After returing from lunch on Friday, my birthday, I took a nap only to be awoking to Mark returning with a vine bottle of Czech vodka to warm up ourselves in the sub-freezing weather as we set out to hit the town. Around 9 or so, we met up with Ben, Mark's friend from school and Srdjan, my friend from Sevilla, at a bar in the New Town. The culture here is to sit at tables, not stand around, as you enjoy the 80 cent pints. Let me say this, "The beer is damn good!" After the bar, we rolled to a club-like bar. I cannot explain it, but is was just like a Czech bar/club would be like. You walk in to this Medivial venue, walk down stairs to a room playing dance music, bars on each corner with TV monitors displaying the sites of the next. These sites were not like American fools dancing. This was the scene of women dancing in a thong and bikini top. It was like a gentlemen's club in the bar. Although, it is not hardcore, there was still the action of the tope coming off to the hoots of the men. I got my hoot in too. After all I am a man, a man's man at that, but I normally do not go to these venues. In Prague it is no big deal. Entonces, me lo encanto'. The wonderful night ended around 3 am to cheese sandwiches and gyros. Saturday was a day of rest until my dreaded train ride back to Paris began at 9:45.

I sit now at my boy's (Jeremiah) house after the 24 hours train voyage from Prague to the South of France. We sit talking aobut business oportunities and ways to support this broke man when I return to the states. All because I do not want to work for 'Then Man' again. I will if I have to, but I do not want to. Damn the slave master. I am here until Wednesday, when I actually make my last train ride to Madrid. I have 2 days there to properly explore the city, then I fly back to my home, NYC. I cannot not wait until I walk into my door and say, "Jim Crow, what up my N!$$@?"

As I finished the last blog, I thought about the trip and I decided to make my thoughts about the cities that I visited on my trip. This without getting sentimental.

Favorite Town/City overall
Interlaken - Switzerland

Best 5 Areas/Cities Overall (ignoring size and order)
Interlaken - Switzerland
Cinque Terre - Italy
Luzern - Switzerland
Santorini - Greece
Edinburgh - Scottland

Best small city
Interlaken - Switerland

Best Major City
Paris - France

Most Suprising City
Berlin - Germany

Most Overrated
Venice - Italy

Best Food - Country
Italy

Best Meal
Berlin - Germany (Shwarma)

Best Beer
Munich - Germany (Octoberfest with no preservatives)

Bestlooking Woman - Country
Switzerland and Chech Republic

Bestlooking Man- Country
Seriously. You think I took notice!

Most Expensive Country
Switzerland

Best Tourist Site
Sagrada Familia - Barcelona Spain

Most Overrated Tourist Site
Colusseum - Rome

Best Overall Event
Octoberfest - Munich, Germany

I am back in Madrid and I feel very weird about leaving now. I am back in a place where I can communicate with the gente. I went to a cafe today and it brought back the great feeing of ordering Potatas Bravas y una Caña. There is not many things that can beet it. However, it is all coming to an end and return to NYC to continue with life. I am not returning to the real world like many people will suggest. I am only returing to my home city to continue with life. Yes, life will be different, but life is the same because I have been breathing and enjoying myself in Europe. I have prepared myself for the people to say, "Welcome back from 'vacation'!". "About time you get back from 'vacation'!" I have not been on vacation. I have been living doing what I want to do. If I had a job and stressing, then I would classify this as a vacation. If I would return to Accenture, which there is no way in hell I would, then it would be a leave. I have been living in Spain and I have been living out of my backpack as I traveled around Europe. If I have not been living, then I guess I am dead. When I return, I simply return to my bed and continue. I am not sad or happy about it. It is what it is and I will live it up. It is that simple. I am choosing to live.

After living out of the backpack from hostal to hostal, I finaly decided to splurge and live in Luxury for the next 2 nights in Madrid. I am staying in the Westin Palace hotel, which is a 4 star gem. Well, I am not paying for it with cash. I am redeeming all the hotel points that I earned while traveling with Accenture and working like a black man in a cotton field. It was the same thing, but my labor was lawfully legal. Actually, I take that back. I have already paid for my hotel with my aged soul and all my hair on my head, as I have no more and I now must shave. I do, however, say that my head is sexy. I will live it up the next 2 days, return on Halloween to the reception of my roomy before we head out for a Halloween party, and then continue to live it up.

To conclude my Spanish Prisoner journals in one phrase or word, it must simply be: Jeah!!!!