Split & Hvar, Croatia

Bryan has survived a visit to Croatia, barely, as you'll read below. Really, its amazing anyone makes it to old age, especially boys/young men. Here's the latest (all written from iPhone):

"These beaches are nice but I think the sandy beaches of Florida are better. The rocks just make it fairly uncomfortable and there are sea urchins everywhere. But the water is extremely blue and the views aren't bad, plus you can go nude. (Huh?)

After an entertaining day on the party island, I had with two friends from Krakow I'm back in Split at a hostel for 4 days. Yesterday I got into Hvar around 2pm and was picked up in the harbor by my friends who rented a boat. Not before they did donuts in the middle of the crowded harbor banging on a tambourine. But the interesting thing that happened was later on in the day. I was on a different boat at the time and they were following us in theirs. One of the guys decided to do donuts when the other wasn't hanging on. He flys out of be boat and his foot got all cut up on the propeller. It was the most blood I've ever seen, 2 deep cuts along the outside of his foot. After a trip to the hospital filled with tourists who have drunkenly injured themselves, he had six stitches, he got pretty lucky I guess.


They flew back home this morning, as was their plan not because of injury. This hostel in Split is fairly quiet so far which is nice it's been an exhausting couple weeks."

... to say the least. Glad to hear the guy is going to be okay. Egads. Good times.

Meanwhile, Don and I are in Florida where it is absolutely perfect. Hurricane Debbie is gone, surf's up, and weather is beautiful. We both worked today so didn't get to the beach till late afternoon, but the long days make it possible to still enjoy it into the early evening. Carolyn joins us tomorrow night - Yay!

Vienna

Had a nice, long talk with Bryan tonight. He is in Vienna after recently leaving Krakow. Said you could spend a week in Vienna, there's so much to see and do. On Wednesday, he went to Auschwitz, which he said was difficult to describe. He explained what he saw and how  he walked the route of others from the train depot to the gas chambers - a direct route. Horrifying and stunning. And hard to believe it all occurred so recently, when so much of what you see in Europe is hundreds if not thousands of years old, and this was just two generations before him.

He is not finished with eastern Europe but may take a western jaunt to Luxembourg to meet up with his college roommate, Nick, for a few days. Then he plans to rail back across the continent to see parts of Hungary, and the former Yugoslavia countries. But no set plan.

Bryan sent Carolyn a text today: 

"At a bar in Vienna I thought this was your name at first look."

Kind of freaky because is does look like Carolyn's handwriting!

It was so good to hear Bryan's voice. He sounds content. He is enjoying his gadabout. Two & a half weeks into it he has figured out the best way to do things - from meeting people to doing laundry.

Team England in Krakow

"The England team is staying in Krakow in a hotel just across the square from my hostel. I saw them going on the bus yesterday to fly to their game today. Here's a pic of Gerrard."

Steven Gerrard - Captain

Krakow

"I'm enjoying my first night in Poland. Hanging out with a couple of English guys at the fan park tomorrow."

Hey, we're happy for every little tidbit we get but I won't be combining his notes into a novel.

Prague - "Still kickin"

"One more night in Prague then the next night I'm  taking the night train to Krakow. Here's a picture of the big screen in the main square with the England-Sweden game on."

Prague

Bryan is loving Prague. He said he booked 4 nights at a hostel for less than the cost of 1 night in Amsterdam. Damn!

Others might send a photo of the castle, but we get the trash can with Toilet fees. 

"Found this outside of the castle in Prague" 

Looks like it costs about 67 cents to go to the bathroom outside the castle. Let's assume we're not looking at the toilet. If so, I'd hold it.

Hamburg

More from Bryan. He said wifi service was poor so couldn't send photos. I'm just happy to hear from him! 

"Got into hamburg yesterday afternoon not much for wifi access here but I found a tiny bit of service. I think I'm only staying for one more night then I'm taking a train to Prague to meet a friend from school who emailed me yesterday saying he was there."