Scott's Trip around the World

Friends....hello from Zakopane, Poland....high up in the Tatras Mountains. I never would have thought of Poland as a ski destination, and after my first day on the slopes, I now know why....Pollocks dont do ski resorts.... they do wierd fuzzy hats, two chairlifts for one run, and why the hell is that man's skis between my legs waiting for the lift??? So I can't say this is Boarding Bliss, although the Tatras are some of the most scenic mountains I've seen, and I'm sure their potential is completely untapped (anyone have a helicopter)??

So enough about what the polish don't do well, lets switch over to what they definitely know best, which is how to create one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Krakow, including the best pubs and clubs all fueled by the best vodka on earth....zubrowka (you have to try this stuff).

So I've had an incredible 5 days in Krakow, but in stark contrast to the benevolent culture I've experienced here, I must say that the most life-changing experience of the trip thus far was my trip to Aushwitz and Birkenau... Even though it was a dark grey day, with bone-chilling temps and snow laden streets, and the only movement was from the black ravens hopping on the ground, this place would be this cold in the middle of summer. The atrocities that occurred here not more than one generation ago are sickening, and I felt it there that day... But adding to the sadness of the experience, one of the guys I traveled with, a Ukrainian-Swedish Jew--in what must have been a complete laps of judgement (or timing)-- brought up his disgust in how Americans have invaded Iraq, and how we should have just let the Iraqis be... I nearly lost it, but was composed enough to simply say to him and the other people who were listening, 'Im sure the surviving Jews, your ancesters, that were able to escape from this place in no small part due to the involvement of the Americans might relate to it differently.' Not much else was needed to be said that day.

But back to the good stuff, and I know I'm working in reverse chronological order here, but I couldn't have asked for a better beginning to the trip bringing in Sylvester (New Years) in Budapest! The big night took place at Heroes Square, where surrounded by hundreds of Communist Statues and an ancient Cathedral, I went to a party of about 10,000 people that was built up in a tent above an ice rink....I've never seen so many european mo-mullets in one place (it s a cross between the feauxhawk and the mullet---like a punk Nascar racer....be prepared for the trend to make it to cali.....oh no!). Besides Sylvester, another highlight from Budapest was when I went trekking in the hills outside buda with a family that happens to translate hungarian to english for National Geographic films (talk about an amazing tour-guide- Thanks Jonesy for setting it up).

So I miss you all and hope that 2008 is an incredible year full of good memories for all of you. I look forward to hearing about what's happening in your lives as well, so please keep the emails coming from time to time, I'd love to hear what you've been up to.

Next stop, Prague. Hope you enjoy the pics: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=17fw25jt.946l2h1p&x=0&y=-vhb90e

Scott