the former yugoslavia... sarajevo... 1984, 1994note -all z = y on this keyboard... apologize for typing too fast to correct

after interning with the ICTY (the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) and reading all about the conflict/dirty war that occurred there, i decided that i just had to visit and meet the survivors of this conflict (for many, it was a modern day genocide). i needed to see the country as it is today, not as the wartorn country it was in 1994 when Sarajevo was under seige from Serbian forces for 44 months.
i have listen to their stories and felt some of their pain. hopefully the work of the ICTY will help heal their wounds, but really only time and forgiveness (i believe) will bring them healing.

...

as for travels, yesterday i went to Mostar while on my way to Dubrovnik... however, i did not make it to Dubrovnik... (a story for another time). while enroute, i met a wonderful woman from Sarajevo my moms age named Dorthy. We talked about many things, including the war though she (and others i have met) really did not want to talk about the past, though once they start they talk quite freely.

as for Mostar, very quant. it was cold and rainy, but the old bridge was nice. google Mostar bridge and you will see what i mean.

then on the train back from Mostar, i met a Bosnian poet and two Canadian girls. We had a wonderful 3 hour conversation.

then, today (friday) just explored Sarajevo with two Aussies from the hostel. nice time.

vienna & sarajevo

i made it safe and sound to sarajevo after a wonderful visit to linz and vienna in austria. saw my friend jana there. we visited the christmas market; had steaming hot drinks while it was also lightly snowing.

in sarajevo, it is beginning to look a lot like christmas... it snowed all day here. the city still bears many scars from the war even 10 years later. but the people are wonderful.



today looked at the old holiday inn where the international journalist stayed during the conflict and walked down snipers alley a bit where the bosnian serbs beseiging the city would take shots at anyone in the open. visited the Tunnel museam where food, medicine and arms were smuggled into the city literally under the airport. it was .8km long. i will have to write more later.

I also wanted to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! please pass my greetings along

where to next...?

well... it seems that this friday (18 Nov) will be my last day at the ICTY. i'll really miss that place, mainly the superfantastic people that i've met and worked with...
as for the next adventure, on saturday (19 Nov) i'll fly to Vienna, Austria, then immediately travel to Linz for a day or so with my friend Jana, then back to Vienna to sight see, then fly to the Former Yugoslavia to visit several cities: Sarajevo, Mostar, and Dubrovnik... then fly back to Amsterdam... rest 36 hours, then meet my good buddy Tavis flying in from the good ole US of A... we'll spend time in A'dam (seeing Museams like the Van Gogh) and then to Prague for a few days... returning to A'dam briefly to drop off Tavis... then boarding a flight to Budapest for a couple days... then back again... and then back HOME to the US of A on 8 Dec...
well, that's the plan for the moment. it could change tomorrow (oops, actually later today).
i'd welcome any thoughts or comments....
cheers

Paris France

A few pictures from my weekend trip to Paris and Normandy. This obviously was the Normandy leg of the journey. But, I have one thing to mention, I had quite the adventure returning from Paris late that Sunday night. Apparently my "direct train" from Paris to Den Haag, when it stopped in Brussels, "divided into two." You guessed it... I was on the wrong half. By the time I was able to back-track to Brussels, all the trains were finished running for the night. I met a Belgium guy on the way back who graciously stayed up all night (1am to 5am) talking with me at the hotel across from the train station and translating for me when necessary.
Thanks Cederic - I owe you one buddy. Wish you the best with your new movie venture. Cheers.
That's it... hope you enjoy the picts from Paris.
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A skyline view of Paris from Place de la Concorde




The Obelisk of Luxor at Place de la Concorde



Towards The Louvre




The glass enterance to The Louvre





Sellers beside the Seine





A Parisian Street




Rodin "The Thinker"




No caption necessary...









Arc de Triomphe from the center of the Champs-Élysées






Views of Notre Dame Cathedral - Inside and Out












Place de Saint Michel - my favorite place in Paris. This was where I started my first walking tour of Paris eight years ago. The coffee you see was bought at the same little cafe I visited on that trip with its view of Notre Dame on Ile de la Cité across the Seine River.












On the steps leading up to the Sacré-Cur Basilica

Normandy trip

These are photos from my day trip to Caen and the Normandy Beaches. Caen is a sizable city with an old fortress (now museam), many fine old churches, a cathedral, and abby (where I listened to an Organ and Trumpet Concert). The first three pictures are from the center of Caen and it's fortress. The flower reminded me that this was a trip of remembrance for me as much as it was an adventure. I wanted to see the place where the Allies invaded Europe 61 years ago in order to free it from the grasp of Hitler. The Normandy Invasion has loomed large in my mind for many years - I just had to see it. It was fantastic.



A flower of remembrance, in the garden near the fortress. Below a view from the fortress of Caen and of the fortress itself.





Flags standing outside the "Caen Memorial-A Museum for Peace" - It is an excellent source for information on World War II, D-Day, the battle for Normandy, and the Cold War period. It's located in Caen, Normandy, and offers package deals, including Normandy Beach tours (like the one I booked through them).


From the cliff high above Sword Beach in the British Sector. This was where the Allies build one of two artifical harbors. Sixty-one years later, you can still see the concrete breakwaters that were towed into place and sunk to form the artifical harbor. It was an amazing technological achievement to float these across the Channel and sink them in place. This artificial harbor allowed the Allies to bring fresh men and war material into the ever expanding Normandy Pocket. Eventually, the Allies broke out of Normandy, leading the Allies to think they would be marching into Berlin by Christmas.... For more information on the D-Day Invasion, click here.



One of three German Naval Gun emplacements overlooking the English Channel just west of Sword Beach in the English invasion sector. Most gun emplacements were destroyed after the war, in order to erase the memory of the German occupation. Also, the guns were scrapped for the several tons of iron they contained.


Pointe du Hoc is located strategically between Omaha and Utah Beaches in the American Sector. This small peninsula commanded views of both beaches where the Americans were going to land on D-Day. Thus, it had to be taken through a verticle assault up the bare cliff face. On D-Day, a U.S. Ranger Battalion of 225 troops climbed atop this rugged outcrop under enemy fire and defeated the Germans manning this position. Many soldiers died in the attempt and subsequent German counter attack. It took the U.S. Army several days to reach Pointe du Hoc after D-Day, then only 90 battle weary men were able to bear arms.


Standing in a bomb crater and (below) the remains of the ammunition magazine which the Rangers blew up.



A view from the windswept top towards Utah beach.

Reagon's speach on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, click here.

Omaha Beach in the American Sector - one of the bloodiest beaches on 6 June 1944 D-Day Invasion. One in ten American Soldiers were cut down by Germans that day.




Above Omaha Beach in the American Sector



American War Cemetary above Omaha Beach




British War Cemetary at Bayeux

My Roman Holiday

In late October, I travelled to Rome with a few friends - Allison, Terrence, and Meagan. In three days, I saw quite a bit of Rome. The Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, many famous piazzas, the Coliseum, Pantheon, many fountains, and even the Catecombs. It was a wonderful trip. Will have to go there again. Enjoy the photos - they enlarge when you double click them.



The Vatican early in the morning on our first morning in Rome.



A hazy view from the Copula on top of St. Peter's Basilica.




Terrence, Allison and I taking a funny snap shot while on Copula.




The Trevi Fountain by day... according to legend, those who toss one coin into the fountain will one day return to Rome, those who toss two coins will find love in Rome, and those who toss three coins.... well, they are suckers! Just kidding about the third. I was captured on film just before tossing in my first coin.



The Trevi Fountain by night... very beautiful and romantic! too bad it didn't have a "special someone" to share it with! laugh out loud LOL! perhaps next time.




The Coliseum where the gladiators fought each other, killed fierce animals, and according to Church tradition, martyred Christians - all for the sake of entertainment. According to our guide, you couldn't buy tickets because they were freely given by politicians to the people in exchange for their popular support. Don't know if that's true, but interesting none the less.



An inside look at the Coliseum - at the seats and the missing floor. The ancient wooden floor of the arena long ago collapsed... from under trapdoors in the floor, gladiators and lions could unexpectedly spring.




Holding up Constantine's Arch by the Coliseum





One of the smaller fountains in Piazza Navona. It's famous, no doubt, for reasons other than being mentioned in Dan Brown's book - Angels and Demons. Quite spectacular by day... wonder what it looks like at night?


The Pantheon - the largest free standing dome remaining from the Roman times. It has survied numerous earthquakes that have toppled other structures. Formerly a temple but not a Church. It's amazing to behold from inside and out. To this day, modern construction engineers are not quite sure how the Romans built it.



A firebreathing performer on the street by the Piazza Venezia during some Roman cultural festival I was lucky enough to see.




The Appian Way - you can see the original larger blocks of Roman roadway surrounded by the "modern" Roman roadway.





Piazza Venezia at night.

Tremore - a band with a great "live" sound

This weekend I went to Caen, in the Normandy region of France. I wanted to see the Normandy beaches where the Allies landed in WWII. I'll post some photos about that soon.

While in Caen, I just happened upon this band called "Tremore" (French for Earthquake). I was walking down the avenue looking for something to do Friday night, and saw that the Irish Pub had "Live Music." I walked in and was immediately impressed with the band. I first I thought they might be playing covers, because they were so creative, sounded polished, and sang in English! To my surprize, their band promoter said all their original music - WOW! That impressed the heck out me!

If you're interested, click the picture above or below. It should take you to their website (www.tremore.com.fr)and directly to their "demo tracks." Click on a song, then press "Le titre en entier" on the pop up window to play it. These tracks sound good, but a bit rough, and don't nearly do justice to how well the band sounds live! With a good producer, these guys could go far!

When their albums comes out, I'm gonna be one of the first to own a copy! Check 'em out.