I will make both parts one and two brief. The previous five "catch up" posts focused upon cabs, which has been the blog's primary narrative these past 12 years, so it is unfair to you my readers to concentrate on irrelevant subjects. What I will do is outline some highlights as an enticement to perhaps encourage interest, incentivizing your own urge to get out and explore.
As many might have guessed, my one addiction is travel, making me feel alive and more aware of life around me. By my father's yearly moves across our great nation, and Canada too, I was introduced to the wonder of new surroundings, learning a kind of stability in constant motion. No doubt that was one of the sustaining attractions of driving taxi, moving quickly from place to place, me in my taxicab spaceship exploring known and new universes, and should I say it, alien life forms? No, I didn't make it to Uranus this time around but countries like Georgia and Armenia were new to me, making for proper consolation prizes. Travel is like opening a door and entering to whatever surprise awaits you, you a modern Alice walking through a mirror.
London, England
London is immense, a city with many faces like Paris, New York, Chicago, Mexico City, taking many visits to completely appreciate its unique personality. This most recent visit, first three days, then five upon my return, had me staying in Walthamstow, a wonderfully multicultural neighbor bubbling with an exuberance created by the ten of thousands of people actively celebrating the happy opportunity that living in the UK offers them. Walthamstow is an ongoing carnival. Entry is free. And walking the streets a quick adventure. I highly recommend it. Don't miss the William Morris Museum. Once there, you will understand.
The Gare Nord, Paris---"Lahore, Lahore"
If I were to live in London, it would be in Walthamstow. In Paris, where I once lived in the autumn of 1984, and provided the opportunity, I would return for a much longer stay, and my first neighborhood of choice would be that crammed area of East Indian, African, Pakistani and native French surrounding the Gare Nord or North train station. It is a wild place in constant motion---people, taxis, scooters all milling around. I find it delightful, life at breakneck speed. And its where my favorite restaurant in all of Paris resides, the dive eatery named after the Pakistani city of Lahore, for double emphasis, the "Lahore, Lahore."
The place is cheap, one of the few places in Paris where you can get a complete meal for 8 Euro. Upon entering, what you see behind the plate-glass counter are steam trays filled with many kinds of chicken and vegetable dishes along with rice and potatoes. It's all very tasty, and you can mop up the sauces with their freshly made flat bread. Don't be alarmed by the mostly male, slightly rough-looking diners trooping in for lunch and supper. Just like you, they're hungry, only interested in a good meal. Service is usually very fast. Most often my food is in front of me in 5-10 minutes. If I have a complaint, its that they don't have hot tea to wash it all down. The place is completely unpretentious. Be real and enjoy a few minutes in Pakistan. Makes me want to go to Lahore and see the city for myself. And knowing myself, there is a good chance I will make it there.
The address is 158 rue du Fraubourg Denis, 10th arrondissement. I also found the address listed as 7 rue Jarry but there is only one "Lahore, Lahore." How could there be more than one?
Berlin: Checkpoint Charlie
If you only have a few minutes to look around the city of Berlin, get off at the Metro stop for "Check Point Charlie," an US Army Guard Shack on the once boundary of East/ West Berlin. The former border crossing is now a historical site.
When walking in Berlin, the "ghosts" of the Cold War are everywhere. Look and you shall see that what has changed but not, especially in what was formally communist East Berlin. A book I highly recommend is "Beyond the Wall: East Germany---1949-1990," by Katja Hoyer. I visited the Deutsches Historisches Museum and found their special exhibit very interesting, "Roads Not Taken (Oder: Es hatte auch anders kommen konnen)", featuring much information about that era. Having just finished reading Hoyer's book, it provided insights not included in the exhibit.
Sofia: Take the Free City Tour
I regret not staying longer than thee days in that great city and country. I plan on returning. My best decision during my stay was taking the free tour conducted by city natives. I took the English language tour but they offer a number of languages for all interested tourists. By doing that tour, in about 1 1/2 hours, you will gain very real insight into a city and culture. Their website: info@freesofiatour.com. I was hoping beyond hope to somehow bump into Anton, a Bulgarian Yellow Cab driver who sold his home in West Seattle and moved back home. Alas, no Anton. Too bad, I really liked the guy.
An Unexpected Day in Athens
The quick version of a sad story is that Aegean Airlines did not provide enough time for me to make my connecting flight to Tbilisi, leaving me stranded for 24 hours. Maybe because I was in a bad mood but I did not enjoy my brief stay in that most interesting of cities, Athens. Previous visits were back in 1991 and 1999. This day was hot and crowded with tourists. I ate some organic olives. I had a good lunch. I met a scammer who promised me freshly squeezed orange juice. I was bored. I walked back to a main city square and took an express bus back to the airport. But I did mail some postcards so hopefully someone enjoyed the Greek postage stamps.
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