I have my Newsletter up and available online.
Many photos of Riga, Latvia
http://www.hobotraveler.com/newsletterhobo178insert.shtml
View from my Bauskas Latvia Window
Photos of me looking out the window of my nice second floor room for 14 dollars U.S. per night
I opened the window this morning to allow some fresh air to enter and to encourage a few flies to vacate the premises.
I gave my laundry to Sandra the owner or manager of this very small guesthouse and wonderful place in Bauskas, Latvia. She was to wash, however I have learned my lesson many times when there is the hang on the clothesline method of drying prevalent, which is the whole world except for the USA that I must make sure or check to see if they are drying. So I looked down to see if my clothes were on the line, yes they are great, clean shirts this afternoon.
I scanned over to the left and zoomed in on a couple of calves, hoping to get that great panoramic view of the yellow mustard and the calves in one photos.
I take on photo of the calves and the background, and then download from the camera onto the computer. I stand up and grab some coffee, and a glass full of my homemade granola or trail mix. Then looking out the window again, I see that Sandra is moving the calves grazing position and is now available for the paparazzi. Therefore, I took another photo and add a human, funny how a picture of a human makes us realize we are alive.
Great day to be alive in the countryside of Latvia, almost like being down home on the farm in Indiana.
Africa Expedition
Hmm… I am thinking out-loud, trying to figure out a future path to follow.
I try not to use the world Expedition because I consider it presumptuous or snobbish, like there is some place that needs a present day Expedition. I would call a trip to Mars and Expedition however hard to say where on the planet I would think there needs an Expedition.
Maybe to go search for them non-contracted tribes in South America would be an Expedition. I do know they would not allow me join some Explorers club because I need to do some for of Scientific study to join, and again seems snobbish, you need some men with braver to lead, not just brains.
The definition of Expedition:
EXPEDITION:
organized trip by a group: a trip made by a group of people for a specific purpose, for example, to explore unknown territory, to do scientific study, or to achieve a military objective (2 - Encarta)
I have no idea how this could apply to a group of Hoboes, unless you say we went in search of exotic women or cheaper lands to travel… hehehe
The new place of the next backpacker generations, the unclaimed backpacker tourist destination. The island where we must not tell anyone about and for sure not share the map, as Alex Garland would explain in the movie the Beach.
However… Expedition has the meaning of organized and I am lost to find a word for what I am thinking about, or maybe trying to plan… a.k.a. organize.
A reader by the name of Martyn wrote explaining a trip.
“What I would like is to travel down the western side of Africa to South Africa and then head up to Egypt. It would take a while but what a journey eh?”
He does call it a journey, hmm… is journey the correct word?
JOURNEY:
1. trip somewhere: a trip or expedition from one place to another
2. process of development: a gradual passing from one state to another regarded as more advanced, for example, from innocence to mature awareness (2 - Encarta)
I have a link where I try to slice and dice this topic or this question…
What type of traveler am I?
http://www.hobotraveler.com/typesoftravel.php
However an Expedition does beget the concept of organized, and I am a wanderer, not an organized person, however for sure I am extremely organized in a micro type way. I use the box theory or compartmentalized method of thinking.
Therefore, for lack of clarity yet in my use of a word for this a trip down Africa I will presently use the word Expedition, the maybe I will reach Nirvana and come up with the proper word.
I would like and Expedition of all women in love with me… Swedish, Eastern Europeans, and for sure Israelis.
OK, back to the idea.
I am thinking of a better HoboTraveler.com, I sorely miss the boat, I am not capable of really exploring all the aspects of any one place, I am just glossing over a lot of interesting issues of travel in each place, and for sure I avoid many of the issues I really cannot be bothered to learn about. I am especially weak on museums and religious type tourist attractions, I am bored to death with them, there is always too many.
GUIDEBOOK EXPEDITION
That is more correct, if I was doing a guidebook, I would need my specialist, and one person cannot really to me write a good guidebook. I suppose I could write a guide to all the Hotels in country, however then to write about Archeology, give me a break, outside the focus, not qualified. This is my gut reaction to most observations in the guidebook, the self-appointed expert on all issues, and really not qualified to talk on any, therefore I am often just wishing the guidebook to list the types of attractions available and keep their mouths shut.
However again…
IF
1. Writers or explainers
2. Photographers
3. Anthropologist
4. Culture types
5. Webmasters
6. Graphics
7. Map - Mapmaking or cartography
8. Language
9. Party Animals
10. Transportation Experts
The list goes on and on, however if you look at the index page of HoboTraveler.com you will see that I have 150 categories that could be covered in an Expedition to find what people look or ask about when they travel.
http://www.hobotraveler.com
This is really the nature of what I do, I go around and find information for me, about things I am curious about, and then I try to file them away or integrate them into the topics, this is an overwhelming and monumental task, trying to cover the planet, being curious about everything, and for sure I cannot fill in all the blanks. Therefore, HoboTraveler.com is a way of collecting information for me on all the 150 topics, and then in the future Hoboguide.com is the collector of the same 150 topics, however on every city on the planet. Hobohideout.com is the collector of all the Hotels on the planet because that is always priority number one for a traveler to learn where they will sleep tonight.
Therefore, an expedition would go off with a group of Hoboes and have fun; however, a full group may cover some or many of the topics.
I still like the idea of a full contingent of Swedish girls and sound more interesting to me; I suppose this is some Peter Pan syndrome at work.
As always has been the case, this is all about me making enough money to continue traveling and having fun.
A couple of hundred years ago a few men decided to try an experiment, now a couple of hundred years later this small idea is a proven success.
Jealousy of success is now the problem, envy and Henny Penneys, everyone want to tell success how to do better.
By some stroke of luck I was born to a successful experiment in living.
http://www.law.indiana.edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html
Bauska Latvia Bed and Breakfast
Photos of Latvia
I have entered some form of Latvian Country farm paradise, I am in a guesthouse as the owne calls it, on the city edge of Bauska, Latvia. I am not exactly clear where I am, however the quality of my living quarters just jumped five levels as now I have a single room, sunlight, quiet, no roommates, no bunks, and electricity in the room, with a coffee pot included.
The Nameji B & B or maybe a guesthouse, these words all run together for me, I have a private room with a shared shower. The place is a home with maybe the garage made into another home. I am surrounded by farmland, with what I think is mustard growing, however the young girl says oil, then there are potatoes next to the mustard… Maybe.
7 Lats per night, that is 5 less than the Argonauts Hostel in Riga, however I have learned that the Argonauts although ok is not a very good level of service for the price compared to the Riga Old Town Hostel. Hard for me to imagine however the Argonauts has a kitchen with no stove and almost no dishes. It is more of a place to make a cup of tea or coffee, it does have a microwave.
I am about ready to go explore the area or Bauska, there is suppose to be internet in the proper house, and I am crossing my finger, that I can use my thumb drive in their computer. If this is possible, then I will write my newsletter from here and stay a couple of days. Then move on to Lithuania and onward towards Poland.
Sandra mother and daughter Darta flagged me down at the bus stop in Bauska, Latvia. I was laughing, I have just written in newsletter number 177 about how to find a Hostel or Hotel when you do not have a reservation.
I was hanging around being obvious, I do not have a place to go, because I did not force the play, they found me, I am not in paradise for 7 Lats or about 14 Dollars U.S.
This is growing just outside my door in the Guesthouse or Bed and Breakfast in Bauska, Latvia. I believe it is Mustard however Darta the Daughter does not agree.
We agree, this is potatoes. I would guesstimate that the Baltic States fail to utilize about 25 percent of their tillable farmland; so many fields look like they failed to put to crops.
I am typing this blog from the second floor of this building, and ultra modern room and place to hang my hat.
Map of Latvia
This is Latvia, below Estonia and above Lithuania; it is part of what they call the Baltic States. I have now visited Riga the capital and Bauska on the border of Lithuania in the South. Riga is a party city and Bauska seem to be a typical farm village.
Latvian Dancers
Photo of Latvian Dancers
This is a tourist attraction or something; they were right in front of some church in Riga, Latvia
Interesting how the girls and boys dance and people walk around in some ancient type clothing.
Latvian Architecture in Riga
Photos of building in Riga Latvia
This is a TGIF Fridays in Riga Latvia. Thank God, It’s Friday, I believe this is an American Restaurant chain, however I have learned not to be sure.
This little statue was on the top of the building, I am fascinated with small statues, not the large one.
Very beautiful park in Riga, in the middle of the Moat or Old Town Area.
