Circumspencing the Globe

Sad news from home prompts me to use this blog again for a purpose unrelated to travel…

My only remaining grandparent, Leah Cowdroy, died Thursday morning on her birthday, November 1. She was 95 to the day. Read the rest of this entry »

Im writing from a hostel in Sarajevo (in the countrz of Bosnia and Hercegovina). This computer kezboard doesnt seem to have an apostrophe kez and has the letter “z” where the letter “y” should be (and vice versa). [Later: some parts edited with a proper keyboard.] So enjoz the reading challenge! Read the rest of this entry »

I couldn’t help but smile as I trekked through the ancient walls and onto the shiny marble streets of Dubrovnik.  I’d never seen anything quite like it.  Old Jerusalem is also surrounded by walls but it’s not on the sea and has no harbor.  Venice has a harbor and a maze of narrow streets, but it’s not built on steep hills or wall-enclosed.  They say Lord Byron dubbed Dubrovnik ˝the pearl of the Adriatic˝and I think he had it right. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a while since I’ve added an entry, but here’s what’s been going on. FYI, I embellished the last entry. Material I’d meant to include was omitted due to technical difficulties. Read the rest of this entry »

After reuniting with Sarah in Krakow, we traveled together to the Czech Republic. On October 15, we took the overnight train from Krakow to Prague in a sleeper cabin adjacent to a cabin occupied by some American college students–“Derek,” “Brandon” and “Courtney”–who spent a dramatic night playing drinking games, breaking glass and bleeding. In the morning, the train hallway looked like a crime scene.

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First an update on my sister, Andrea. Thanks again to all of you who have inquired. She did not need to have the surgery after all, which was a great relief and an answer to prayer. However, it turns out that her problems themselves originated from a stroke. Fortunately, she’s in good spirits and is progressing well. She still suffers from vertigo and double vision and is working on becoming ambulatory. With effort, she’s able to move around with the use of a cane. For those of you who know Andrea, the thought of her requirinig even a cane seems incomprehensible. She’s otherwise so fit and active you’d expect her to be on the cover of an aerobics DVD. Anyway, she should be out of the hospital later this week and will be in rehab for some months. She and her husband Paul very much appreciate the outpouring of concern and support and the continued prayers for her complete recovery. Read the rest of this entry »

On Wednesday, I flew from Vilnius to Warsaw.  And boy are my arms tired.  Rimshot.   

      Here’s a shot of a Lithuanian girl in the airport who was happy to meet a Canadian. Read the rest of this entry »

Sarah and I arrived in Vilnius on Monday.  We narrowly caught the 8:00 a.m. bus out of Riga.  I had set my watch alarm for 7:00 and, as a back-up, asked one of the very friendly hostel employees to prod us awake at 7:00.  Both safeguards failed.  I don’t know if my alarm didn’t go off or if it did and I didn’t hear it, but my eyelids didn’t open until 7:35.  I woke up Sarah, who was in the bunk below me, and we both threw on our clothes and packs without a moment for ablutions and hurried downstairs to turn in our keys in exchange for our passports.  The “reception” area is actually a popular pub, and no one was there, or so it seemed.  I peaked behind the bar and, lo and behold, our back-up wake-up person was asleep behind it in a sleeping bag.  She leaped into action, apologetic, gave us our passports and sent us on our way.  We barely made the bus, and in the process poor Sarah left behind souvenirs from Russia. Read the rest of this entry »

After arriving in Latvia, I explored the capitol city, Riga, with Sarah.  At any other point in my life, being in a city like this–with its architecture, cobblestone streets, etc.–would have been stupendous.  But having just come from Tallinn, I wasn’t as excited.  Riga’s Old Town is bigger and flatter than Tallinn’s and consequently less charming.  Also, I think I’d reached a point of mental oversaturation. Read the rest of this entry »

Preliminarily, let me thank the many of you who have expressed concern for my sister.  I can’t tell you how much the prayer is appreciated by everyone involved, especially Andrea and her husband Paul.  Paul has spent countless hours speaking with doctors, ascertaining the best course of action.  Andrea is still in the hospital and on blood thinners and has not had surgery.  Since one possible side effect of the surgery is suffering a stroke, our prayer is that surgery can be avoided.  Please join us in this specific prayer.  Thanks very much. Read the rest of this entry »