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Dear Freinds and Family, I will have to make this brief, as internet time here in Switzerland is murderously expensive. I've come quite a long way since I last wrote in Wurzburg, however. I think I mentioned that I visited the Residenz in Wurzburg, which houses the worlds largest single-piece cieling frescoe. From Wurzburg I hitchhiked with an Australian girl (Joanna, who studies ant behaviour) to Rothenberg. It's more difficult hitching with someone else, and so at Rothenberg we parted. I went to the campground, where I was rained on. Again. Rothenburg is an intact walled medieval city, damaged only partially in the war. It really is something to see, and EVERYONE comes to do just that. So after a day of tourists, I walked through the beautiful countryside nearby. The best word for it is verdant. I also got to attend a 10th year graduation in Rothenberg. It was interesting, although I understood little of what was said, I got the feeling of the thing. It was in a Lutheran Church... I must note that the vending machine in the campground had beer in it... even more suprising than vending machines for cigarettes on every corner. I had a crazy time trying to hitch to Karlsruhe, where my friend Sara from San Diego lives as an Au Pair. After doing a couple circles on the autobahn, I made it. It was nice visiting her and her "family." A bit of a break. We took a trip to Strassbourg, France by train, accidentally going all the way to Basel and having to ride the train for a very long time to get back. We had flamkuchen (Im not too sure of the spelling) which was excellent (I recommend it) for dinner, and then missed our train while watching a light show on the awesome cathedral there. And so we got on another train about 4 am. I spent a while in Karlsruhe, kind of relaxing, repairing a strap that had broken on my pack (Im glad I brought fishing line), and going to Walmart, believe it or not. Next stop was Basel. I got a couple of excellent rides through the rain to Basel, meeting 4 Czechs and 4 Poles also hitching. In Basel I camped in the rain. The only highlight of Basel was making potato soup in a pot that I found by the side of the road. It rained so hard I thought my tent would come down. I was walking outside when there was actually thunder and lightning, soaking me and my things. Im getting a bit tired of rain, and wonder if I should entirely eliminate Africa as a possibility, due to the chance of a drought in London and flooding in the Sahara. I took a train, my first for getting somewhere, to Kreuzlingen, on Konstanz, where I stayed in a very enjoyable hostel. As they had no room for the night, I somehow managed to hitchhike across the Bodensee with a wonderful couple on their boat. I stayed that day with them... there's a Swiss experience. I then rode a bike from Arbon (where they live) to Schaffhausen, which is a very long way. My guess is about 60 miles. Had I known this, I would have done things a bit differently. As it was, I was a very hurting unit by the time I got to Schaffhausen, 10 minutes before my time was up. After a night in the hostel, a day at the Rheinfall (largest waterfall in Europe), and finishing CS Lewis "Suprised by Joy," I met up with my friend Saskia, who I met when she came to SD to study English. I had a good time, and really experienced Switzerland with her family, especially on their national day, Aug 1, with her friends. I must be quick. I went from there to Luzerne... a quick hitch. I'm waiting in this beautiful place for the weather to clear, which it should tomorrow. I thought I was doing all right on my budget, but after checking my bank account via internet, Im going to have to do some adjusting. The trip is going well, though. I hope that I have visited the most expensive countries already, and will be able to cut back as I continue. I may try to do a bit of work for a few days to save some money. Many of the hostels will allow one to work for their room. I have already met more people than I can count. Even made a few friends. It's amazing the variety that God created. Everywhere are different attitudes, ideas, and ways of life. The culture, even here, is obvious. I am really looking forward to the rest of the trip. Ive met many people recently at the hostels who are finishing their vacations. My learning is just beginning, and it will be better when tourists are rare. The countries I have yet to visit excite me the most, since they are more different than the few Ive been to. I look forward to waking up every day with thought "Anything can happen, and I could be anywhere tonight." Your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated. Sorry it's so condensed this time, but 45 minutes is about 8 dollars US. -Dustin |