Central Europe in Trouble?

by Iva Skoch on

If you missed 1989, now is a good opportunity to sample the “revolutionary, yet peaceful” spirit of Central Europe once again. Head over to Budapest.

Hungarian students have been protesting the new socialist government of the Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány for a week now. Last weekend, he admitted to the nation, that his party lied about the real state of the Hungarian economy in order to win the election. Apparently, everyone lies, so he didn’t see anything wrong with admitting to it. Since then, students have been demonstrating in the streets of Budapest, demanding his resignation. Sure, you have some radical nuts and soccer hooligans joining the crowds, but that is the way things in Central Europe have been — ranging from the extreme left to the extreme right.

Some say this is the first indication that Central Europe is in trouble: Hungary is wrapped up in protest, Poland is on the verge of a government crises and Czech Republic has a “puppet” government in place before preliminary elections are called. I think being in the good old revolutionary days is pretty cool. It’s good to see students in the streets again, rather than only in their bedrooms playing computer games. You know people care. The spirit is contagious.

Maybe Neil was right in his post, suggesting that Budapest is stealing some of Prague’s spotlight.

New Bryson Book

by Erik Olsen on

Bill Bryson fans have a treat in store for them. Bryson’s newest book, a memoir called The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid goes on sale October 17. Some folks who relish his travel stories might be disappointed, but let me tell you, I was skeptical about his recent book on the history of science. But I got it read it savored it loved it. It is now one of the books I recommend to friends and family alike. So I can hardly imagine anything Bryson writes, especially about his own life, being bad.

The conceit here is that he tells us about his middle America upbringing with the help of a superhero persona. According to Tom Brocaw, his eminence of the anchor chair, the book is “a laugh-out-loud pilgrimage through his Fifties childhood.” You can take a look at an excerpt here. And if you want to catch Bryson in person, he is doing a book tour and will be in New York, Washington DC, Des Moines, Pittsburg, San Francisco, and Seattle throughout October.

Barefoot and Fancy Free

by Iva Skoch on

Interested in cutting down on your luggage size and weight to adapt to those pesky airline baggage restrictions? Want to free yourself from the constrictions and conventions of clothing? Maybe you should take up barefoot hiking. On the heels of articles about Ron Zaleski, a retired health-club owner from Long Island, that he was walking the Appalachian Trail barefoot, the New York Times just ran a story yesterday about barefoot hiking clubs.

And both of these stories followed in the footsteps of a story from the Times last Saturday about barefoot water skiing championships. Is this a trend? Apparently, it’s no longer challenging enough to just walk or run around with shod feet. More punishment is necessary.

While these hikers say this puts them more in touch with the earth, literally and figuratively, experts are skeptical about the practice. The Times quoted Dr. David Samuel, a podiatric surgeon as saying, “I’m sure a lot of Neanderthals died from foot infections.” And a quick search turns up a host of nasty bugs such as hookworm (present in Appalachia), roundworm, and various parasites that one can pick up through the feet, not to mention injuries. The threats are downplayed by some barefoot walking societies.

Mr. Zaleski intends to finish his 2174-mile trek before Christmas, probably hoping to minimize his chances of frostbite. This would make him the first man to have accomplished this feet, er, feat.

Motoring the Deep South

by Iva Skoch on

Sticking with my recent motorcycling theme, I wanted to plug another ride-of-a-lifetime. You’re not limited to exotic, foreign locales for motorcycling adventures. Fantastic times can be had right in the ole U.S.of A., by renting a bike from Eaglerider.

Obviously, I don’t recommend this for those with no motorcycling experience (especially not a 88+ cubic inch H-D), but Eaglerider is a franchise of Harley-Davidson rental shops around the U.S. (and two locations in Europe and one in Mexico too) with one central reservation facility online. You can rent for as little as one day, for approximately $130/day.

One of my all-time favorite trips was a 4-day excursion, starting out in New Orleans. Covering most of southern Louisiana, and tooling all the way up to beautiful, antebellum Natchez, MS, (stay at the Dunleith!) was awesome on a beautiful, black, H-D Heritage Softail Classic that was a mere month old. (Unfortunately, Al Gomez’s Eaglerider shop in N.O. was wiped out by the hurricane, but we’re hoping he reopens soon!)

Interestingly, Al told us that people came from all around the world to rent motorcycles and tour the South. Even folks from Germany booked months in advance. Their bike of choice? Not a Beemer, but the dream bike for the big, straight, flat American road: the Harley-Davidson.

Gadling Podcast: Joshua Berman

by Erik Olsen on

The whole guidebook writing thing has long intrigued me with its double-sided nature. On the one hand, being in a foreign locale, and having your job consist of reporting on the food, lodging and fun in that place seems like a dream job. On the other hand, spending an entire day peeking under mattresses and checking the cleanliness of bathrooms, well, I don’t care WHERE you are, that can kind of get old.

Well in today’s podcast, we talk about the job of writing guidebooks and a whole lot more. Out guest for today’s podcast is guidebook writer Joshua Berman, the author of several guidebooks in Central America as well as a brand-new book called Living Abroad in Nicaragua, released by Avalon Publishing this month. I’ve blogged about the Living Abroad series before, and I have to say it is a very handy guide for those who are considering making a move to any of the various countries for which there are books. But Joshua is also the writer, or co-writer, as the case may be, in two other guidebooks from Moon Guides (also under Avalon Publishing) Moon Guides Nicaragua and Moon Guides Belize. he also runs the wonderful Web site stonegrooves.net which chronicles his recent travels with his wife as a volunteer worker in places like India and Pakistan.

So turn up the speakers or put this thing on your ipod and take a listen.

Listen to Gadling podcast