My time in Budapest was bittersweet, mostly sweet, but also bitter. It was my last stop on a trip through Bratislava and Vienna. Everyone bragged to me about Budapest’s beauty and fun vibe. I had to enjoy it because I knew it was my last hoorah…and oh, I would. My friends and I arrived later in the … More Budapest
After a lovely morning in Bratislava, my friends and I took a bus to Vienna, Austria and planned our day over a picnic in the park. First on our list was the Schonbrunn Palace. Originally built in 1548, the palace was purchased by the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II in 1569. Since emperors seem to have a … More Vienna the Wunderbar
I sit under the eyes Of striped birch trees Whose roots raise the earth Around me like a mossy bed. The grass prickles The bristles along my skin, And the ants march Over me as though Right there, In the damp, musty soil, I belong. Yet, the sun drips down The cloudy blue walls And … More I Belong
So I obviously didn’t come to Bratislava for just breakfast. In fact, I arrived in the late afternoon and headed straight to the Hostel Blues where the friendly staff told us all the sites to see. Although I knew of Bratislava, I knew nothing of its sites. Turns out Bratislava is a small, cute city … More Breakfast in Bratislava
Two weeks ago I took a trip with the other Americans in my study abroad program to Moscow, the capital of Russia, and the home of my buddy Putin. I would have written sooner about my travels, but I was busy preparing for a trip the next week to Bratislava, Vienna, and Budapest. Stay tuned … More A Taste of Moscow
All the bards before me Wove words into phrases Embroidered gold With wit and romance. Their brazen basses And tenors tuned To tingle and quiver All the fibers Of the hearts Of their lovers. “Mine is the fairest.” So say they all. “Her eyes are down. Her lips are liquor And I’m drunk, And I’ll … More Mine is the Fairest
The calloused tips Of my fingers Have collapsed into a numb Sleep after years crumpled Into a fist. Cold As the bones beneath, They fumble Like a child blind In the dark, Reaching for a familiar touch. They find Nothing. Senseless, Even to each other, They shiver In a row In the sun. The pen … More My Fingers Sleep Alone
Thieves lurk in the dawn Plucking stars From the faded blackness. Grins bloom Along their wormy lips And their nails glow With the dust Of the heavens. Pockets full of crystal light, They slink back to their burrows Before day can catch Them in the act. And they rest Without sleep Too eager To see … More Thieves in the Dawn
When I say Saint Petersburg, you think…amusement park! No? Why not? You should. Okay. I won’t say that Divo Ostrov is top on the list of places to visit in Saint Petersburg, but if you feel the need for an adrenaline rush, you should check it out. It hits all the theme park cliches that remind you … More Divo Ostrov
The Great New City. What a fantastic title! Well, Novgorod isn’t new and if you’re considering great to mean big and busy, you’re wrong again. In fact, Novgorod is an old city established in the 9th century AD. Today it survives as a little city with a calm lifestyle and a whole host of history … More Veliky Novgorod (The Great New City)
He Who Wanders 