Overcoming Dysfunctions
This blog entry about the events of Tuesday, July 20, 2004 was originally posted on July 25, 2004.
DAY 276: Germany, like most countries, is not without its historical dysfunctions. However, Germany’s dysfunctions of the past may be just a tad more obvious, you know with that whole Hitler/Nazi/Holocaust thing. That’s not to say Germany doesn’t have its good things in history — the classical music of Bach and Beethoven, the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, beer — but upon my approach via overnight train into Munich, the German Bavarian city in the south, there was a bit of a snag.
“Are we running late?” a passenger asked the conductor in his little room at the end of the hall of the sleeper car.
“Someone killed themselves,” the man said with a tone of melancholy and a look of seriousness. An attempted suicide had succeeded just half an hour before (when most of us where still sleeping) when someone jumped off the platform at a station in front of the train.
The passenger and conductor had a look of grief, but I had other concerns. “So,” I said to the conductor in a manner like George Costanza on Seinfeld, “I’m not going to be able to make the 7:45 to Berlin, am I?”
“No.”
“Okay then.”
Perhaps it was me who was a bit socially dysfunctional.
MY PLAN WAS TO SKIP THE BIERGARTENS OF MUNICH, a city I had been before, and head straight on up to Berlin, Germany’s unified capital in the north since the reunification of Germany in 1990. After a quick, traditional Bavarian breakfast of weisswurst (veal sausage) and a pretzel, I hopped on the InterCity train bound for Berlin. It didn’t really matter that my train from Florence was late; a train to Berlin left every hour. Better yet, the train had an awesome first class car — Thomas Cook Travel Services in Egypt had issued me an adult first class Eurail Pass — with electrical power outlets, individual TV monitors, tables, coffee and beer service. The roughly seven hour ride flew by as I recharged by batteries at one seat’s outlet, and attended to Blog duties at another.
By mid-afternoon the high-speed train pulled into Berlin’s Zoo Bahnhof (“Zoo Station,” near the Berlin Zoo), namesake of music group U2’s “Zoo TV” tour — the U2 Metro line runs through it. I grabbed a quick currywurst there (curry sausage, a popular Berliner snack) before taking the Metro to the Mitte’s Backpacker Hostel in the Mitte neighborhood, the former bleak East Berlin part of town-turned-hippest neighborhood in unified Berlin.
BERLIN IS DEFINITELY NOT A TOWN without its own dysfunctions. It was a center point for the Prussian empire in the 18th and 19th centuries, the capital of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s and the main playing field of the Cold War between the Russians and Americans until the 1980s. Nowadays, the walls have come down (literally) and “new Berlin” is the country’s most progressive city — one of the most progressive in Europe — with a general attitude so liberal that other Germans don’t quite see how Berliners fit the traditional German mold. (In fact, I’m told it is the third largest gay city in the world.) With its blend of sleek, post-modern architecture juxtaposed to remnants of history, it is a city of the future with a turbulent past.
Mitte’s Backpackers Hostel was in tune with Berlin’s new hipness, a chilled out place with a lounge bar with bean bag chairs that played electronic lounge and drum and bass music, another component in modern Berliner culture. It was in the lounge that I met two American girls (not traveling together): Sara, an industrial design major from Vermont, and Cindy, a German studies major from Seattle. Sara, who had been in Berlin a couple of days already, gave Cindy and I tips on what to see amongst the overwhelming amount of sites to see in the German metropolis, over liter glasses of German weissbier (wheat beer, literally “white beer”).
“Do you feel guys feel like going out tonight?” Sara asked.
“Sure,” I answered, loving the fact that in hip backpacker hostels it’s fairly easy to meet people.
The three of us went out for dinner at Dada’s Falafel, home of what I’ve got to say has the best falafel outside the Middle East — it’s no surprise; Berlin has a huge Turkish immigrant population. From there we took the Metro to Delicious Doughnuts, a popular lounge bar of Berlin’s renowned DJ scene, where breakbeat DJs spun for a late-night crowd.
“I’m pretty much fluent in German,” Cindy told us in conversation.
“Quick, say something in German!” I said with a rude excitement.
“I hate it when people ask me that.”
There went my social dysfunctions again.
Sara, Cindy and I sat in a booth over rounds of weissbiers and left just as the place was getting crowded passed midnight. Our early departure didn’t really matter because our hostel lounge was pretty happening anyway (picture above), with dim lights and music to make any night a party.
In a modern city with a turbulent past, it was heartening to see that for the most part, it had overcome its dysfunctions. Perhaps it was me that should follow its example before opening my mouth sometimes.
Next entry: History On Wheels
Previous entry: Mr. Big Head
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Comments for “Overcoming Dysfunctions”
GREETINGS FROM FILDERSTADT! (Where?) I’ll explain soon… catching up is almost there!
PEPE: No, never made it… maybe another time!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 02:40 AM
Great blog, keep it up. Out of interrest, I wonder what your budget for the whole round the world trip is? I plan to do a similar route soon, so if you care to share it would be great.
Steve
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 02:46 AM
That’s everyone’s concern here too when someone jumps in front of the train (which happens regularly - 90 ppl a day commit suicide in Japan) - when can we get going again??? (Gorey comment to follow - skip if you are squeamish) Everyone gets right annoyed when the train employees can’t find a missing body part. Sometimes a hand or whatever gets lost - and the train doesn’t move until they have the whole body. Which always makes me wonder, what would happen if an amputee decided to commit suicide. At what point would they just give up looking?
To me, that “will I miss my connection?” comment is completely normal. You kinda get desensitized to it after a while - not to mention that suicide doesn’t have the religious sin implications here. At least you didn’t see it - I live in fear of the day when that happens. I’ve been on a train that hit someone, and was lucky that I was near the back so I didn’t feel nor see anything. Despite my comments above, I feel for the train workers who have to run around cleaning things up afterwards. What a horrible, horrible job.
To give you an idea of how many suicides there are in Japan, here are some comparison stats - Japan has about 10% more suicides per year (33,000) than the US, but the population of the US is 2.3 times larger than Japan’s.
Posted by Liz on 07/25 at 05:10 AM
BLOG READERS - Group question! Ok, to move on from the depressing comment above (sorry about that!), I’ll post a question to the group in light of the fact that many of us have travelled alot - and to help Steve out. If you were going on a 16 month trip, how much money do you think you’d need? Please state accommodation preferences etc (e.g. are you bare boning it, or living in the lap of luxury?)
My answer: for two people, in low mid-range accommodation (private rooms, no dorm beds), my budget would be US$45,000. So, for one person, I guess that would be about US$30,000. That would hopefully be enough to do some fun things, have nice dinners occassionally, and splurge on a high-range hotel room every once and a while. This budget is based on spending the majority of the time outside industrialized nations.
Posted by Liz on 07/25 at 05:22 AM
How very sad, Liz…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 05:27 AM
One of these days I’ll go on my RTW. Unfortunatly I’ll have to wait a few years, because I’m currently planning a move to Taiwan.
But when I finally embark on my trip I hope to have at least USD$18,000. I’m a cheap and low traveler.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 06:32 AM
On second thought…. $21,000 sounds slightly more plausable.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 06:34 AM
Dude, I’m staying at Mitte’s and eating Dada falafel….funny. Cool place eh? If i was just here a day sooner. Off to Copenhagen tommorow.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 12:43 PM
No worries Erik, have fun on the rest of your trip and keep on bloggin’.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 04:09 PM
What’s the country with the lowest suicide rate, if anyone knows - or can direct me where to find that piece of depressing info. I’ve heard that suicide in Japan is horribly high. Ugh.
I really have no clue on the RTW costs - I haven’t looked in on costs, b/c everything right is living vicariously. Nice question, though.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 05:21 PM
Noelle - if you google ‘suicide rates by country’ there are a ton of sites - but I couldn’t find one with the lowest. It is likely somewhere in the third world, and probably a muslim country. By the way, Japan doesn’t make the top 10. The highest rates are in the former Soviet republics and Finland.
Posted by Liz on 07/25 at 05:53 PM
delicious doughnuts ain’t like no krispy kremes yo…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 07:04 PM
for a more cheerful note, more on Berlin and doughnuts. this wonderful urban legend that most people probably heard already about JFK.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/jfk_berliner.htm
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 09:39 PM
The budget was in the $25k range… Europe is really killing it! I hope to balance it all out in Asia…
For those planning RTWs, figure $1k month on average, minus flights. Then again, I only spent about $300 US in my month in Bolivia—choose your countries wisely…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 10:45 PM
BILL: Funny, Mitte’s AND Dada? Both places great, huh? DO THE FAT TIRE BIKE TOUR… the pub crawl they run is great too…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 10:47 PM
ALICE: Aw, you beat me to it; I was gonna mention that JFK faux pas!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 10:49 PM
BEAR WITH ME GUYS… Still behind… Everytime I’m almost caught up, another day’s entry goes by… Don’t worry, I’ve been in the NIZ longer and have always bounced back… be patient!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 10:51 PM
that’s the worst type of train delay. otherwise sounds like germany is treating you well. This weekend neeraj, mark and i climbed our first 14-er! starting at 11,000 ft. it was pretty amazing… took us 6 hours
so what’s your tentative plan for your birthday, you’ll be somewhere near everest? N Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 10:51 PM
NIKKIJ: I aim to be at Everest Base Camp on my b-day, Oct. 18th…
ALL BLOGREADERS are invited! RSVP in a comment… You should try and be in Kathmandu by the 10th of October I guess…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 10:54 PM
Yeah, I’ll come to NYC for your return party instead, how’s that? Everest isn’t my thang… I’d meet you to go scuba diving in Thailand, if that’s on the schedule…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 11:04 PM
Yeah, I’ll come to NYC for your return party instead, how’s that? Everest isn’t my thang… I’d meet you to go scuba diving in Thailand, if that’s on the schedule…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 11:04 PM
(Didn’t mean to hit post twice - excuse me, per favore!)
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 11:05 PM
30th bday climbing everest…sweet..
i’ll just drink your 30 shots with wheat over here…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 11:10 PM
Arrrrr. Drunk at Mitte’s….
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/25 at 11:23 PM
Beat on the “I’m a Donut” comment by jfk (ALICE). But still funny. Fuzzy, you’re always out with cute chicks. Makes me wonder… you smoothie.
Anyhow, I can’t contribute to the $ conversation, I’m trapped in 2 week vacation hell. Compared to what you guys are talking about we go thru cash like we’re loaded—and we SO are not! Eek.
VERY COOL b-day destination. Please acclamate to the altitude for a good long while! That *puny* Kilomangaro trip has nothing on Everest. As for the home coming party—I’m in! We’re gonna need a bigger place than your bon voyage party!
Keep on Blogging pal, you’re doing a great job!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 12:24 AM
So what’s the big deal about Krispy Kreme donuts? I mean, it’s just a donut, isn’t it?
Posted by Liz on 07/26 at 03:41 AM
nothing really is a big deal with krispy kreme donuts…UNLESS…
you get a freshly baked batch of regular glazed donuts…oooo soo good…
and you can watch them make them late nite after you’ve been drinking all nite…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 04:03 AM
NOTHING is the big deal about Krispy Kreme - even if they’re fresh. I don’t like them regardless. And I KNOW I’m in the minority… if I’ve been drinking all night, I want greasy Mexican food, or something along those lines - not fluffy donuts!!
How far are you planning on getting up Everrest?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 09:26 AM
NOTHING is the big deal about Krispy Kreme - even if they’re fresh. I don’t like them regardless. And I KNOW I’m in the minority… if I’ve been drinking all night, I want greasy Mexican food, or something along those lines - not fluffy donuts!!
How far are you planning on getting up Everest?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 09:26 AM
I think someone has a problem with hitting “post” twice…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 02:58 PM
ACK! How’d THAT happen?!? I am sorry…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 05:02 PM
Noelle….I am in agreement, nothing special about those donuts, sure does not make the whopping calories worth it!
Hoping for a new update soon Erik!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 05:17 PM
sorry about that erik =) krispy kremes are ok. they taste better than dunkin donuts, though i don’t care for donuts in general. however, after watching “supersize me” and having a krispy kreme after the movie was an odd combination of guilt and satisfaction. =P mmmmm.
( 0 ) ( 0 ) ( 0 ) ( 0 ) ( 0 ) ( 0 )Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 05:48 PM
NOELLE - i wouldn’t eat them after drinking all nite…i’d go and watch them make it…...
and it’s white castles or grays papayas or a good ol jersey diner after drinking!....
any how…stop hitting POST twice…hehehe
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 07:17 PM
nah, after drinking it is the darkest greasy spoon restaurant you can find, with rot gut bottomless coffee, eggs in grease puddles, soggy toast and tasteless sausage and/or bacon. Ahhh, the hang over cure of champions.
Posted by Liz on 07/26 at 07:30 PM
All I want after is a 1L bottle of water and some pizza.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 07:35 PM
SBR coming out of the closet again…Erik - great posts and pics!!! We all get our dysfunctional days. Lovin all the history lessons / details - I feel edumacated again.
I also figured i’d get in w/the food comments. krispy kreme - eh…no biggie. after drinking all night: diner, gray’s or chinatown’s HOP KEE or WO HOP! wish i was still around the grease trucks, but i guess we all need to move on.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 08:05 PM
Tacos and refried beans from Dos Tacos - greeeeeeeeasy Mexican food… so good.
But, the key is - grease, obviously.
I’m TRYING to not post twice - the evil Blonde Noelle is being bad.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 08:06 PM
Krispy Kremes are kinda lame. Too much fluffy sugar, you can’t really even chew them. I’d much rather get a Dunkin’ Donut—Bavarian Creme or Toasted Coconut, please.
Late night Jersey Diner for me—greesy taylor ham on a roll and a side of french fries with gravy! Yum-E Yum.
BTW, anyone else disturbed by that “veal sausage and a pretzel” breakfast pic? I’m guessing that’s a pile of spicy mustard on the side. Doesn’t sound like early morning fare to me.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 08:47 PM
disturbed? no way….salivating!!
hahahah…
ok krispy kreme is not for everyone….i only like the glazed freshly made and it’s cool to watch…that’s all
STEPHANIE - HOP KEE and WO HOP - spicy squid…sooo good…
but really after a hangover…the best thing the next morning is just have another one….cuz it’ll stop the shakes… (or is that just for alkies?)...
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 08:54 PM
MARKYT: yuppers - salted squid and salted porkchops! YUMMY!!!!
i heard you should just have another, but I had a horrible hang over saturday and couldn’t even think of grabbing the last beer in my fridge - and some of my friends say I can hold the alkie status at times. not proud of that status, but i guess i can handle my own.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 09:05 PM
STEPHANIE - might wanna try a bloody mary instead of a beer…does some wonders…haha…
ok….E - you better post before i leave for vegas on thursday..
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 09:10 PM
MarkyT in Sin City?!? Watch out Navada, Toronto is still recovering!!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 09:26 PM
I like Dunkin Donuts donuts, not the coffee… flavah’d is not for me…
Vegas can handle just about ANYTHING, so I will wait to hear stories…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 09:31 PM
erik, too bad you’re traveling the world, i’ll be in NYC the first weekend of Oct. but will def. go back to NYC for the return bash! N
btw, i could leave Krispy Kremes as well… Dunkin Donuts are better Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 10:46 PM
my hangover cure: blue gatorade (flavor not important, just ANY of the blue varieties) and a burrito!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/26 at 11:25 PM
Where is ERIK, anyhow? I mean how can a guy be NIZ in Europe?
Going through BLOG withdrawls….
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 01:01 AM
Hi Erik, Someone posted the link to your blog on the Lonely Planet thorn tree, and I am now addicted! I am going back to the beginning, and just finished up with May, so I am almost caught up. I love your writing style, and even more so than before, want to do a RTW on my own. Can’t wait to see where you go next!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 01:12 AM
Erik was/is visiting fam in Germany… not too much time to Blog…
Then I think he’s off to Prague…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 04:23 AM
LIZ - DON’T READ - AR5 Comment
another good ar5, from argentina to st. petersburg russia…
block 5 shots or take 1 shot…nice…
old internet dating couple off the show doesn’t change much…
the race is still tight…can the christian models be any more annoying now? well not more annoying that charla and mirna!...
mirna’s gotta stop huggin phil like that…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 06:37 AM
GREETINGS FROM PRAGUE… more to come…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 11:50 AM
AR5 (Liz - close your eyes): Now I sooo want to go to Russia. The architecture - the ornate buildings - the snow! I am right in the middle of reading Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” (set in St. Petersburg)and I can just imagine her in the sleigh with the rugs over her lap, dancing in the ballrooms and Prince Vronsky running up that staircase to meet her. The book came to life! The vodka looked good but forget the caviar - disgusting! Erik, can’t wait to see your pics when you go there. You are going there?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 02:17 PM
man i am having some serious blog withdrawl! you dont know what it’s like to have to WORK while i am at work!
looking forward to more kick ass adventures!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 04:05 PM
I hate when non-annoying teams get eliminated due to bad flight times. And why didn’t Brandon and Colin eat instead of making their girlfriends do it?!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 04:16 PM
...can-not func-tion ... need blo-g ...(in robot voice) ...
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 04:20 PM
MARKYT: nothing like eating caviar. what a bunch of wimps. i’m still waiting for chip to do the ‘pop n lock’ or the ‘harlem shake’. if they finish first again, he better do the kid n play with kim.
ERIK: holler at petra nemcova for me.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 06:21 PM
Thanks guys for the “don’t look” warnings - you’re awesome! Ok, now done to business. Great episode! That caviar was totally disgusting. Partners were all very supportive… made it one of those tear jerking feel good things… or maybe that’s hormones. Charla and Mirna are still irriating. Colin was a total dickhead early on but redeemed himself by being kind to Christie during the caviar deal. Marshall and Lance ... don’t know if I want them, or Charla/Mirna to be eliminated faster. I’m still cheering on the moms!
Posted by Liz on 07/27 at 07:01 PM
i think i want the twins to go next!...
the brothers and charla/mirna are annoying, but it makes great TV time…without them it would be kinda boring….
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 07:35 PM
Liz….glad to see you are keeping up…must be that new laptop!
Erik…..going through serious withdrawls…..please come back!
Isn’t it nice to be missed!Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 07:48 PM
I’m undecided as to who I want to go next. The mom’s a funny… MarkyT is right about “Mirna and Shmirna” making great TV. The twins are ok… I’d have to say I could do without the brothers.
We know who Liz is pulling for… what about everyone else, who’s your favourite?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 08:21 PM
I don’t watch AR5 - sorry, I’m a non-TV-ified person… I watch DVDs and that’s about it… it’s fascinating to hear all about it, though. It would be my only reality show I would watch.
Where in Russia did AR5 go? I went to St Petersburg and it was WONDERFUL!!! You all should go.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 09:09 PM
Ok, I’ll be the antagonist and root for “Mirna & Schmirna” (Hate me if you want.) They are irritatingly “funny” and yes Td0t they do make for great TV. I usually go for the under-dogs but they are all gone already!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 10:18 PM
Erik’s a tease. Prague. Thanks for the scoop.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/27 at 11:14 PM
AR5- I’m also rooting for the moms. I don’t know what this “Mirna and Charla make great TV” is all about. Every time they’re on camera I get an urge to go make myself a sandwich. And I hate sandwiches.
E- looking forward to hearing about Prague. I spent a couple days there back in ‘98, but I hear that it’s changed a lot as tourism has taken off.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 12:13 AM
NEIL: Tourism has kicked off in a big big way… I think this place has more tourists than Paris/Rome combined…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 12:31 AM
Neil - make a sandwich? no way…as annoying and rude as they are, it’s pretty damn funny with the others commenting….
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 12:37 AM
BEAR WITH ME, Prague is a big NCHUZ (No Camera Hook Up Zone)... all the internet places here so far have special interfaces that only permit surfing and email, but no file transfers, etc.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 05:07 PM
CALLING ALL DIGITAL CAMERA NERDS! HELP! Another issue I’m having is that somehow the directory tree structure of my Memory Stick got corrupted. Now, whenever I mount my MemStick to my computer as a drive and open the Photo Folder, it loops back to the Parent Folder— meaning any attempts to get to my photos doesn’t work because I’m in a continual loop.
HELP! If I can’t fix this, there will be no more Blog!
I know the files are still there because I can view them in my camera; it’s just a corrupted directory structure block or something, easily fixable by Norton Utilities. However, Norton doesn’t seem to recognize my Memory Stick as a mounted drive…
What can be done? I know if I format the stick in camera it will work again, but how do I retrieve my photos to my hard drive before doing so?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 05:13 PM
Maybe try OnTrack Easy Recovery? http://www.ontrack.com/easyrecoveryprofessional/
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 05:56 PM
Oh, somebody help! I’m not sure what a memory stick is but I’m in serious blog withdrawl.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 06:06 PM
Fuzzy,
Please try to repair with built in utilities from apple. OS 9=Disk firstaid OSX=disk utility. Then report to me your findings.
Hint: norton may be too advanced or just fundamentally WRONG!!!
Posted by GILL on 07/28 at 09:00 PM
GILL: I think my MemoryStick got some sort of virus (of course, now that I’m on the outskirts of the former Russian empire and its new army of hackers). There are some weird files in the photo folder, some photos are corrupted, plus there are some bogus photo files too. I’ve managed to salvage the good files on a Win98 box in an internet cae that recognized it. I’ve reformatted the MemStick on camera and am transferring the files back from the internet cafe PC’s hard drive…
If this doesn’t work, I’ll try the DiskFirstAid way. Get this… I’m STILL on OS9!
Thanks for your help! I understand you’re not at PH anymore?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28 at 09:18 PM
Eric: i have fun reading your blog but your cold newyorker heart is sad (asking for your train late arrival in a city when somebody just died? U SUCK !) i guess americans are never going to change. so egocentric, so selfish. by the way, in the pic with the 2 girls u look so GAY !
Posted by alex on 07/30 at 04:04 PM
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This blog post is one of over 500 travel dispatches from the trip blog, "The Global Trip 2004: Sixteen Months Around The World (Or Until Money Runs Out, Whichever Comes First)," originally hosted by BootsnAll.com. It chronicled a trip around the world from October 2003 to March 2005, which encompassed travel through thirty-seven countries in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. It was this blog that "started it all," where Erik evolved and honed his style of travel blogging — it starts to come into focus around the time he arrives in Africa.
Praised and recommended by USA Today, RickSteves.com, and readers of BootsnAll and Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree, The Global Trip blog was selected by the editors of PC Magazine for the "Top 100 Sites You Didn't Know You Couldn't Live Without" (in the travel category) in 2005.
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History On Wheels
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Mr. Big Head
THE GLOBAL TRIP GLOSSARY
Confused at some of the jargon that's developed with this blog and its readers over the years? Here's what they mean:
BFFN: acronym for "Best Friend For Now"; a friend made on the road, who will share travel experiences for the time being, only to part ways and lose touch withThe Big Trip: the original sixteen month around-the-world trip that started it all, spanning 37 countries in 5 continents over 503 days (October 2003–March 2005)
NIZ: acronym for "No Internet Zone"; a place where there is little to no Internet access, thus preventing dispatches from being posted.
SBR: acronym for "Silent Blog Reader"; a person who has regularly followed The Global Trip blog for years without ever commenting or making his/her presence known to the rest of the reading community. (Breaking this silence by commenting is encouraged.)
Stupid o'clock: any time of the early morning that you have to wake up to catch a train, bus, plane, or tour. Usually any time before 6 a.m. is automatically “stupid o’clock.”
The Trinidad Show: a nickname of The Global Trip blog, used particularly by travelers that have been written about, who are self-aware that they have become "characters" in a long-running story — like characters in the Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show.
WHMMR: acronym for "Western Hemisphere Monday Morning Rush"; an unofficial deadline to get new content up by a Monday morning, in time for readers in the western hemisphere (i.e. the majority North American audience) heading back to their computers.
1981ers: people born after 1981. Originally, this was to designate groups of young backpackers fresh out of school, many of which were loud, boorish and/or annoying. However, time has passed and 1981ers have matured and have been quite pleasant to travel with. The term still refers to young annoying backpackers, regardless of year — I guess you could call them "1991ers" in 2013 — young, entitled millennials on the road these days, essentially.
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