Well, after last Tuesday internet access died... but the adventure of Costa Lived on. First we are all sorry to hear about all the tradegy in SouthEast Asia,,, we have been following the news about it as much as possible.

We have had the very good fortune of an extremely organized trip with an outstanding group leader "Mario" a local Costa Rican working for this tour group OATTRAVEL.com. And all 16 tour members coming from very diverse backgrounds and experiences have meshed so well. It's been really a postitive experience. Everyone is also well traveled and it has been great fun to share travel stories. Between all of us we have visited every continent and many of the 200+ cuntries in the world. Really amazing...

The last 6 days included more amazing adventures and lots of firsts for me. We did a Canopy tour where you go up in the tree tops and ride on harness and cables from tree to tree... About 8 different sections so it takes about an hour. I hadn't riden a horse since childhood and we did that twice. And "Mud Baths" wow ,,, that was great. We started in a steam cavern and then spread lava made mud all over our bodies and hair. After drying in the sun we took lots of great shots (which you will see later) and then showered and went into the pool and hot tubs.

Kayaking near the Pacific Ocean, more early morning bird, animal and fauna watching and discovery and a crocadile tour. It goes on and on!!!

All the experiences of the past 12 days could not have been possible without doing an organized tour such as this one... It was really incredible. If interested go to www.oattravel.com Will post pictures as soon as possible...

Hasta Luego!!! Adios,,, Gary

Rain, Rain, and more rain... ok,,, see it rains on my parade too!!! But no complaints cause it´s a warm rain!!! No snow here,,, It´s been raining buckets for two days... well, on and off,,, good for sleeping at night in the lodges we stay in with tin roofs,,, but it gets a little soggy trekking all day in the constant dizzle and occasionl bursts of downpours... But, Hey we are in a RAIN FOREST ,,, daaaaaa... The air is like perfume!!!

Ok,,, I´m having a great time... 65 to 80 degrees is perfect!!! Today the tour included a river boat tour of the Frio River in Middle Northern Costa Rica up by the Nicaraguan Border... And for a special treat we didn´t see any police so we crossed the border (on the pontoon boat we were in) and went up river a ways,,, into Nicaragura!!! It was definately a jungle cruise,,, it felt like being on an Amazon River Cruise... We came back and had a picnic lunch on the banks of the CR and NIC border... right by the border monument!!! We also met some local Nicaragurans walking by and invited them to join us for our rice and chicken and tortilla chip picnic lunch... WOW,,, they ate fast,,, and said, Muchas Gracias, adios and walked on...

We just returned to the lodge (Volcano Lodge) but rather than hang around there, I got a ride into the town of Fortuna and found internet access... It´s 5.30 PM and just getting dark... I have to find a taxi to get back to the hotel for dinner at 6.30...

Tomorrow we start heading to the Pacific Coast,,, so stay tuned!!! Thanks for checking in!!! Hasta Manana!!! Gary

Hello anyone checking in!!! This organized tour is REALLY organized,,, wow,,, we are doing so much,,, hour to hour,,, Walks start at 6 am and then there are lectures on Biodiversity, then we visit Volcanoes, jungles, small villages and farms. So far we have done the following...
1. Visited 2 active Volcanoes
2. White Water Rafting on the Sarapiqui River
3. Did jungle walks and explored the Canopy via a cable bridge in the tree tops.
4. We visited a village school where all the children took us hand in hand to there class rooms and we played games with them and then they put on a dance for us in appreciation for visiting them... They sang their national anthem for us and then sang OURS... That´s when I got tears in my eyes and couldn´t sing anymore...
5. We went to a local Costa Rican home hosted lunch,,, 4 or 5 of us to a home... The whole group is 16... (and everyone is fantastic)
6. We stay in lodges way back in no mans land,,,
7. We see Sloths, Toucans,,, tons of other creatures,,,
8. We toured a Coffee plantation
9. Also, toured a pineapple plantation
10. Etc, Etc,, Etc,,,
WOW,,, Unbelievable,,, I had no idea that a tour like this would be so great!!! Absolutly no wasted time!!!
We only had 45 minutes in this small town of Fortuna by the Arenal Volcano,,, Most people are shopping for water, and supplies and I am saying hi here to all my family and friends around the world from This little internet cafe!!!

Oppppppp,,, times up,,, gotta go!!! Hasta Luego!!! Gary

Hello everyone!!! Time is very short,,, we went white water rafting,,, WOW ,,, what an experience... I just have time to wish you a very Merry Christmas... Talk to you soon!!! Gary

WOW!!! Costa Rica is Awesome!!! We spent a full day touring and sight seeing Volcanos, rain forests, mountains, and villages. The sceanery is so lush,,, can only see a few meters into the jungle. Ferns, Orchids, Toucans, hummingbirds... wow,,,wild...
All the people on the tour are really nice. It is a good group!!! I am already established as "the picture taker"
of the group '-) We will stay in "lodges" 2 nights each for the trip... AND I am in the densestjungle ever,,, Internet access is by an old Gateway Laptop on the check in counter... 2 bucks for 10 minutes... AND IT'S DIALUP... GOTTA GO,,, GOT A MEETING!!! Gary

Wednesday night 10:00PM (22:00) Well, I made it... Mario, our tour guide met me and some others at the airport. So far it has been very welcoming and professional. Welcome drink, and the whole shoebang,,, They got us in a Marriott Hotel,,, Way upper class from what I'm use too... My room (I am sharing with another person - Roger from Arizona) is bigger than my house!!! So everyone went to bed or at least their rooms so I found internet access here in the lobby. (5 bucks for 30 minutes) Hardly enough time to even get started,,, but this journal thing works pretty fast.

IT'S WARM!!! It's like a beautifull summer night... Tomorrow (Thursday) we head out early and see an active Volcano near San Jose. The trip is for 13 days and we move about each day for a new adventure. So stay tuned!!! Gary

Well, I'm packed and ready for Costa Rica. With Gary Jr's help, I fly out from Philadelphia airport at around noon on Wednesday Dec. 22nd. It's a 2.5 hour flight to Miami where I must wait to catch a 7:30PM (19:30) flight to San Jose, Costa Rica. This 3 hour flight arrives Costa Rica 9:13PM (21:13) The time is -1 hour Eastern Time, or -6 hours GMT. !!! (I wonder if there are internet cafe's in the Jungle??? '-) hasta luego :) Gary ... PS ,,, (The girl is a link to the photo album!!!)
[photo id=sdbgdsqqqqbwfr link=custom href=http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/travel_albums/costa_rica_dec_2004/costa_rica_2004/]

Eastern Europe Travel Journal Aug 2004
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Sunday, September 19, 200416:12 Posting Pictures of Eastern Europe!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Here are the first albums!!! They are tribute albums to all the great people that I met in Eastern Europe...Click Here

Thanks for checking in!!! Cheers!!! Gary



Posted on 09/19/04 16:15 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Sunday, September 12, 200413:47 Home Sweet Home!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Hello anyone who is still checking in!!! What a FANTASTIC trip!!! A living history channel!!! Everything was GREAT!!! No Problems... This is my first full weekend home!!! The wash is done, work is sort of caught up and 84 gallons of Napa Valley, California grape juice was delivered the other day for this years wine-making . It's been a busy week.

Thanks to everyone who had a part in making this adventure a real success... So many nice and great people. I can now start working on posting some great pictures of Eastern Europe August 2004. Thanks for being patient... I will start with adding pictures to Berlin, Germany and Dresden and work my way down the list ending with Vienna, Austria from where I flew home...

Cheers!!! Gary

YO ERIN!!! Thanks for making this all possible!!! Gary

Posted on 09/12/04 13:53 [ Comments (2) ] [ Post a comment ]
Friday, September 03, 20047:44 Almost Home!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Hi!!! It's Friday night!!! Sept 4th... I am home!!! Well, at my sisters house on the way to my home maybe tomorrow (Sunday)... Thanks everyone for checking in and for the great comments and concerns... Now this coming week,,, I will be busy sorting out the 3000 pictures that I took and only post the really good ones so as not to bore everyone!!! Cheers!!! Gary...


Posted on 09/05/04 7:44 [ Comments (1) ] [ Post a comment ]
Thursday, September 02, 20040:10 Vienna, Austria... [ Edit | Delete ]
Well, here I am at another internet access point at this new hostel in Vienna, Austria... It is called WESTEND Hostel and is sort of like a hotel. About 4 beds to a dorm room. (2 bunk beds) and about 17 euros... = about 20 bucks and includes breakfast.

It is about midnight and it has been a long day of traveling to get here... Started at 11 AM by bus to Ljubljana, Slovenia and then transfered to Train with one connection half way thru. It is my last destination for this journey.

It is about midnight and I just got in from my night walk. I got into Vienna about 8:30 tonight (Wed Sept 1st) and got my sheets on the bed and so forth. I took the metro to the center and figured out what I am doing tomorrow... My last day... Thanks to the Rick Steves Guidebook... It is pretty much a no brainer... But Vienna is big!!! Acutally sprawling... But like most cities all the things of importance to see are in the center. So you concentrate your efforts there. I already bought a transit pass for about 6 bucks and it covers all forms of public transit for 24 hours... bus, trams... metro,,,

So tomorrow I will explore Vienna and then tomorrow night I will head to the airport to find a place to sleep and wait for my 7 AM flight on Friday!!!

Cheers!!! Gary

Posted on 09/01/04 18:09 [ Comments (3) ] [ Post a comment ]
Wednesday, September 01, 20043:45 Ljubljana, Slovenia... [ Edit | Delete ]
Hello!!! Gary here!!!,,, Well, second to last country on my list and perhaps the most scenic one so far!!! Slovenia is so GREEN!!! wow!!!,,, The population of this small country is only 2 million!!! Compare that with the 300 million of the United States!!! Slovenia feels like a village to me and the people are so nice!!! Practically everyone speaks English as a second language knowing that the world is probably not going to learn Slovenian!!!

Ljubljana is the capitol... with 400,000 of the 2 million inhabitants... For the last 10 years it has been its own country breaking away from former YugoSlavia...

Anyway, Today I am in the North West Corner of Slovenia staying at a great hostel at Lake Bled... There is a castle just behind the hostel and up (well, lots of steps) but so great,,, the walk around the lake took me 2,5 hours the other night (From 10 PM till 12,30AM) It was great...

Everywhere I go in Europe it feels safe... I cant explain it... There is virtually NO violence like there is in the States. So peacefull and full of not only thousands of years of history but great beauty and natural wonders as well...

Thankyou VID for a great tour of the Julian Alps and the region of North Western Slovenia (near the corner of Italy and Austria) ( Vid and his company gave us a 11 hour tour by mini van) Wow,,, great shots...

Today (Wed Sept 1st) I take a bus then a train to Vienna, Austria to wind up my journey thru Eastern Europe. My plane leaves at 7 AM Friday morning for Frankfurt and on to Phila. So I will probably sleep in the airport Thursday night...

Bye for now!!! Cheers!!! Gary

Posted on 09/01/04 3:55 [ Comments (7) ] [ Post a comment ]
Friday, August 27, 200414:26 Dubrovnik, Croatia,,, [ Edit | Delete ]
Ok,,, Just when I leave a sur-real place like Split, Croatia and say it does not get any better than this,,, I arrive in Dubrovnik... I am in awe,,, It is definately tourist central, but then I am a tourist too,,, sorry about that,,, So much history here old and new... Do you remember that there was a war here 10 years ago,,, with bullets and bombs,,, The Medeviel wall was used once again to protect the citizens of Dubrovnik from its enemies. This time the Serbs who wanted the region for Serbia (YugoSlavia)... Anyway,,, its awesome here,,, cant stop taking pictures,,, too bad it takes too much time to post them on the road... :-(

Tomorrow (Saturday the 28th of August) I catch a 1PM Bus from here to Ljubljana, Slovenia. It is 15 hours by bus and $60,00. I will get there Sunday at 5 AM... Just before the good light of the day... Cant wait!!! I hear such great things about Slovenia,,, So beautifull,,,Julian Alps, Lake Bled, etc,,, but then every place has exceeded my expectations... Next Friday I fly home from Vienna, Austria... Then I can post some pics and REMINISE!!!

Cheers from the Blue-Turquiose Adriatic across from Italy...
Gary in Bliss...

Posted on 08/27/04 14:38 [ Comments (5) ] [ Post a comment ]
Tuesday, August 24, 20043:31 Split, Croatia... [ Edit | Delete ]
Hello!!! Me,,, or anyone who reads this??? Now I am into my fourth of five weeks in Eastern Europe. It has been an unbelievable adventure. My route so far has been to start in Germany, then Czech Republic, then Poland, then Hungary, then something unplanned,,, Romania,,, wow... back to Budapest to catch a train to Croatia... It gets better and better,,, Croatia is amazing. I have been to the Capitol, Zagreb and then to Plitvice National Park for some amazing natural sites. I get around by train, bus, hitching, ride shares or however I can. Everything I need to live on the road is in my pack. I get dorm rooms at hostels (usually about $12-$15 per night with some small breakfast///coffee-bread, jam, etc.) or if they are full there is usually grannys at the train or bus stations with a room for the night, cheap. (Last night here in Split, Coatia there were about 6 to 8 of them fighting for me and the other packers getting off the bus... The people that I meet are amazing. There is definately an adrenelin rush. I only need about 4 or 5 hours sleep a night. Usually up at 7 or so and am on the go until 1 or 2 in the morning. Probably walk about 5 to 20 miles every day. So much to do and see. It's a big world out here!!! I love it... So many great pictures,,, sorry no time to post now... Sept for that... easier at home... Now is the time to take them...

Oh!!! The room I had last night with one of the Croatian grannys was situated in Diocletian's former Palace... Emperor of Rome 284-305 AD... After his death the Palace went to ruins and the city dwellers moved in... and the city of Split sprang up inside the Palace which is gargansious... Well, the grannys apt was down one of the catacomb streets... in the palace... Price for the night,,,$20.00 which included eating watermelon with her in her kitchen...

Today,,, explore Split then Dubrovnik in the South and up to Slovenia for more natural wonders...

Cheers!!! Gary

Posted on 08/24/04 3:31 [ Comments (8) ] [ Post a comment ]
Wednesday, August 18, 20045:54 Brasov, Romania. [ Edit | Delete ]
Hello everyone,,, Hungary was really great,,, however for some real adventure I decided to travel to Romania. (13 hours by night train and about $80.00 for the ticket.) It is to the East of Hungary, above Bulgaria, under the Ukraine and West of Moldova ... the landscape is very picturesque... People come here for hiking and nature. It is beautifull. (and cheap)

Practically no one speaks English (nor are there any English signs like there where in Poland and Hungary) here and the money is 1,000,000 lei equals about $31.25 US dollars... The hostel was 441,000 for one night about $13.78. This includes free laundry service, breakfast and free internet. 1 hour for each day. I am staying 2 nights here. On Friday I will take a tour of the castle of Bran and Rasnov... (sponsered by the hostel... About 12 euro or $14.00 USD... The Bran one is famous for being the Castle Dracula one, but it is unlikely that the real Viad Tepes ever slept here...??? (According to Lonely Planet Guide Book.)

So today (Wednesday) I am touring by foot the town square of where the hostel is,,, Brasov... It's pretty old and run down but curiously interesting enough to spend some time here... Soon I will walk up to the lookout hill to get a view of the city... and to the Black Church... don't know why it's called that...

My adventure in the East is in its 3rd week of 5 and going very well...

Thanks for checking in... Gary
PS... posting pictures is REALLY time consuming... sorry some of that will have to wait... Bye, Bye for now...





Posted on 08/18/04 6:11 [ Comments (5) ] [ Post a comment ]
Monday, August 16, 200411:48 Eger Hungary [ Edit | Delete ]
Today is Monday,,, I took an
early morning train to the town of Eger,,, there is a really cool castle here and the second largest cathedral in Hungary,,, Tomorrow I will try out Egers thermal baths and swimming pools... open to public every day... oh,,,, I visited the wine region today here in Eger and bought a plastic 2 liter jug of excellant Merlot,,, I am jealous,,, its really good... 4.25 US dollars. I will have that tonite with some bread, cheese and accessories that I am gathering up.

I will finish up this town by tomorrow PM and catch a night train to Transylvania, Romania in the East... the train will leave at 430 PM tuesday and get to my destination at 542 ÁM on wed... about 13 hours,,, so I got a couchette to sleep in,,,, Will visit,,, Bran Stokes castle,,,, you know the Dracula thing...---and the beautifull Romanian countryside...
Thanks for checking in... Gary

Posted on 08/16/04 12:01 [ Comments (4) ] [ Post a comment ]
Sunday, August 15, 20049:56 Budapest, Hungary [ Edit | Delete ]
I arrived in Budapest on Thursday and will exit Monday August 16th for a Hungarian Village of Eger in the North. I intended to stay only 3 days here but there is so much to see, its really incredible...

I have been starting off each new city with a walking tour when available. They cost about 10 to 20 dollars, last for about 2 to 5 hours and usually have about 10 to 15 people in a tour. The guide usually speaks understandable English and is from the area of the tour. I usually do these in the morning before the heat of the day.

Pub Crawls ,,, usually by the same company that does the walking tours,,, are great fun too, Same info regarding stats listed above is true. It's a great way to meet people and see local pubs that one would otherwise never find on his or her own. Beers or wine are usually included in the price, so it turns out being very reasonable at about 20 bucks for the entire night of entertainment.

I usually end up having walked most all day and night, That's from 8 or so in the morning till my night walk ends the day about 1 or 2 in the morning. I never figured it out but it has to be atleast 10 miles a day if not 20 miles some days... I walk about 3 miles an hour at a regular pace, and walking for 8 hours is just getting started for me... So go figure...

Budapest is huge. Incredibly Sprawling, but like most big cities that I visit, most sites are in or near the center. The best so far have been the Thermal Baths. Thousands of visitors take advantage each day of BudaPests 20 or so hotsprings that feed the public Turkish Baths.

Lots of people here speak English. There has been no problem communicating. And changing money at ATMs is easy. 200 forints equal about a buck...

Tomorrow I leave here for the Hungarian town of Eger,,, there is a really cool castle there and I want to see it.

By midweek I should be in Croatia or Slovenia.


Posted on 08/15/04 10:05 [ Comments (1) ] [ Post a comment ]
Thursday, August 12, 200417:54 Krackow, Poland [ Edit | Delete ]
I stayed here for 3 day... Toured Auschwitz and Birchenow Concentration camps... It is unbelievable... Such horror... I can not explain it... pictures will show...

The second day I toured Krackow famous salt mines... way below the surface... needed a jacket... it supplied Poland with one third of its revenue... and is the second largest salt mine in the world... however now they make more money from toursim there than from salt production so the operation has been downsized to concentrate on us,,, the people that pay to visit...

Krackows main square is so vast,,, we have nothing like it in the states... it is surreal,,, I wonder around in total amazement... Cheers Gary

Posted on 08/13/04 18:00 [ Comments (3) ] [ Post a comment ]
Saturday, August 07, 200417:43 Prague to Krackow, Poland... [ Edit | Delete ]
Hi everyone,,, wow,,, finding internet service is not always very convienient or its full... So I missed some posts... From Dresden, Germany I went to Prague in Czech Republic,,, was there for 3 days and found it awesome... I will post some pics soon.

I wanted to see more of Czech Republic so I went to the Medeviel town of Cesky Krumlov... wow,, wait till you see there... it escaped all the bombs of WW2 and is intact as it was in the middle ages... Unbelievable... I stayed at a travelers hostel there for one night... toured the castle and all the sites there...

Then back to Prague for a night train to Krackow, Poland... 9 hour ride so I got a couchette so I could lay down horizontal and sleep. 6 to a couchette... Cheers Gary...

Posted on 08/13/04 17:50 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Friday, August 06, 200419:23 Dresden, Germany and on to Prague, Czech Republic... [ Edit | Delete ]
Left Berlin and arrived Dresden, Germany by train... After a 4 hour self guided tour of Dresden using my Rick Steves Guide book I was ready for the next 2.5 hour train ride to Prague...

WOW,,, Prague is surreal,,, dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries with much of its architecture intact,,, its great... I will be here for the weekend and then on to Chesky Kromlov, Czech Republic. Then Krackow, Poland by night train,,, Bye for now... Gary

Posted on 08/06/04 19:25 [ Comments (3) ] [ Post a comment ]
Wednesday, August 04, 200411:24 Berlin, Germany [ Edit | Delete ]
Hello Everone who reads this!!! ???

Berlin for three days has been awesome,,, From the Berlin Wall, to Hitler´s Bunker, to Check Point Charlie, to the people and friends that I have met and made... Everything here is done on a monumentally GIGANTIC scale... People are enjoying the summer in all the hundreds of squares and meeting places. The city is extremely alive with history, culture and the enthusiam of humanity. $23.00 Euros (about $26.00 a nite) buys me a bed at one of the many hostels which includes breakfast... bread, meats and cheese, cerals, fruits and coffee... just right...

Tomorrow, I leave this Great City for Another,,, Prague in Czech Republic with a 6 hour stopover in Dresden, Germany for a look around a totally rebuilt city... Dresden was 85% destroyed in WW2...

So, thanks for stopping in!!! Gary............





Posted on 08/04/04 11:35 [ Comments (7) ] [ Post a comment ]
Sunday, August 01, 200413:31 Time to leave the Office... [ Edit | Delete ]
Well, it's that time... Gear Up and Go... Flight is 8:00 PM tonite, Sunday in Phila... Later, Gary

Posted on 08/01/04 13:32 [ Comments (4) ] [ Post a comment ]


All dates are GMT -05:00

Australia Travel Journal Feb 2004
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Tuesday, March 09, 20046:51 We Are Home!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
WoW!!! Did I drop the ball on Journalism, or what!!! Sorry!!! My last entry was before Fraser Island... That was great and I hope to post those pictures soon. In the last few hours of Fraser Island I screwed up my Leg/knee when I stumbled out of the 4 wheel drive vehicle and onto a prehistoric root. Did you ever see a leg hyper-entend (knee goes backwards) Not Pretty... Well after lots of rubbing and pampering I hobbled thru the remainder of our adventure (ace Bandage and ice)... It was great!!!

After Fraser Island, we worked our way back down south stopping at Noosa then overnighting at Nimbin. (Wait till you see the Nimbin pictures) -1973 Aquarious Central Festival, and still going strong- We traveled thru rain forest to and from Nimbin,,, so beautiful...

Sydney was where we spent our last 3 days. Manly beach was cool so was the Opera House and all the other Sydney Stuff that you will see in pictures.

The 30 hours journey home didn't do my leg any good. It looked like a tree stump by now. I checked myself into our local hospital (after a great shower) and things are going well!!!

Finally, I can sit at my computer!!! Thanks to everyone who followed me along in this adventure and for your interest and comments... Cheers Gary...

Thanks Erin for making it all possible!!!

Posted on 03/09/04 7:01 [ Comments (3) ] [ Post a comment ]
Wednesday, February 18, 20043:42 Frazier Island, Australia... Wednesday Feb 18, 2004 [ Edit | Delete ]
Hello to ALL!!!

Good Bye Byron Bay hello Fraser Island!!! On the Cape of Byron Bay (the most easterly part of all of Australia, (Juat below Brisbane - see atlas) we were the first people in all of OZ to see the sun rise!!! That was really cool.

Today we dropped Eddie off at The Brisbane Airport where he will fly to Adelaide to do his 4 / 5 day shark cage adventure... He is so excited about that!!! He will feed the sharks too from inside the cage!!! Then we will hook up back in Sydney (next Monday) and finish out our trip there.

Gary Jr. and I continued North to Fraser Island... Just a bit North of Brisbane... Fraser Island is the largest sand dune island in the entire world!!! We are taking a tour with 8 other people from the hostel for a 2 day 3 night adventure there... Included in the tour is a four wheel drive vehicle,,, camping gear, food, all the supplies we need for camping and living on the Island... which is not just dunes but, rain forests, waterfalls, Pacific ocean views, and oh... lots of wild Dingos (wild dog like animals that have been here forever). All for about $175.00 each... It is self guided so everyone takes turns with driving and other chores... and hopes to get along (think of the surviver show) Oh, yea,,, there is no shower or bathrooms. You swim for your bath in fresh water lakes and >>> yea,,, they give you a shovel and instruct you to dig a 2 foot hole for the other...

So no juice or Internet service, or phones, etc,,, for a few days... But look out this weekend!!! I gotta go charge my batteries!!!

Thanks for stopping in!!! Gary

Posted on 02/18/04 4:00 [ Comments (7) ] [ Post a comment ]
Sunday, February 15, 20044:49 Byron Bay, Australia!!! Sunday Evening 9:00 PM (2100) [ Edit | Delete ]
One week finished??? WOW!!! How time flys in OZZie land. The quick is that Bondi Beach was a real success!!! After two days we decided to head North hugging the coast... Some of the new pictures that I will post soon will show the great landscapes and beaches and people... We are all getting along just fine...and the hostels are unbelievable,,,lots of fun...

People here measure travel time in months and YEARS... The generous 3 weeks that we think we have (and we are so gratefull - thanks for your help Erin!!!) almost seem like "why bother" to Aussies here... You need a lifetime... but we are so gratefull to be able to do this in any time...

Tomorrow (Monday) we go Kyaking in the ocean with dolphins (side tour thing),,, On Tuesday, Eddie is doing a scuba diving class, getting certified and doing a dive... (All in one day???) On Wednesday, Gary Jr. and I drop Eddie off at the Brisbane Airport and we part for about 5 days. He flys to Adelaide where he will go on a boat tour into the ocean for his 4 day shark cage adventure... then he flys back to Sydney where we finish out our time together next week.

Gary Jr. and I will continue on to what everyone is saying is a must see, "Frazier Island". (Just North of Brisbane) We rent a 4 wheel drive with other people on the tour and do a two/three day adventure on the biggest sand dune island in the world. Complete with rain forests and other tropical pleasures. They supply all the food and supplies. $130.00 per person buys it... 3 days / 2 nights.

Then we will head back down (south) toward Sydney and visit the bush country and outback a little...

Thanks to all for checking in and making this really fun!!!

Life is short, like midgets, except we have a choice in how we live it... Gary,,, Cheerio-Mate!!! No worries!!! Love U ALL...

Posted on 02/15/04 4:53 [ Comments (2) ] [ Post a comment ]
Thursday, February 12, 20047:35 BONDI BEACH, Australia!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
It's Thursday night around midnight at Bondi Beach, Australia... This is our second day... The first was spent stumbling around in delerium in Bondi recovering from a way too long flight!!! 30 hours in transit is LONG...the LA to Sydney flight was 15 hours on top of the 5.5 other... ALL SEATS WERE SOLD OUT,,, WE WERE LIKE SARDINES!!! (However, I found a place in the back of the plane where where I could do situps and pushups and stretching too,,, people thought I was crazy... Well, we know they are right...

We upgraded our car to a,,, well bus!?! with rows of seats,,, figured we could sleep in it and pay for gas money if people needed rides... It's pretty cool... and new. The weather is 85-90 and the water is way blue. It is like watching Endless Summer only being a living part of the movie. Everyone is extremely friendly,,, cheereio--- and no worries mate and stuff like that...

Tomorrow, Friday we leave here already on our way North---remember we are down under so as you go North it is like going South in the States... It will get warmer and more tropical...

Oh!!! Gary Jr. and Eddie are having a great time too!!!
until next time!!! I miss you all... Glad we have this...

..........................................Gary

Posted on 02/12/04 7:49 [ Comments (8) ] [ Post a comment ]
Tuesday, February 10, 200421:26 Monday Feb. 9th, 2004 about 7:30 NJ time. [ Edit | Delete ]
Monday Feb. 9th, 2004 about 7:30 NJ time.

Bound on a US Airways Airbus 321 to LA!!! Monday Evening!!! Feb. 9th, 2004. 5.5 hour flight. Then 3 a hour layover in LA and on to Sydney (15 hour flight). Get to OZ Wed. Feb 11th at 8:00 AM (lose a day). Gary Jr. is fixing his Puerto Rico Pictures on his laptop being careful not to drain all of the battery, Eddie is watching Matrix 2 Reloaded on his portable DVD player (wow, is that thing clear and sharp) and I am, well, doing this, plugged into the airline power jack that is in the arm rest on this seat. Never knew it was there until I needed it. (Wonder how many other things are like that???)

This midsize US Airways plane is only 1/3 full so we have lots of room to spread out, (actually they had to reassign seating to balance out the people weight evenly and we got great exit door seating with 5 feet of leg room!!! Cool,,, You have to buy dinner :( /// $10.00 gets you a box with something called food in it. Drinks (non-alcoholic) are free!!! :)

Oh!!! And Peter Tork (actually his name is Torkinson) from the Monkees is two rows back.. And I just got his Autograph,,, He asked me my name /// "Gary,,,with one r or 2" and I nervously mumbled out "1 r".
Of course I gave him my autograph too on my GaryGS1.com Card,,, he laughed, smiled and took it!. I'm a Believer!!!

Take the laaaast train to Clarks Ville,,,,,,,,,, and I'll meet you at the Station.
Actually, we loose Pete in LA................But there is always Steve in OZ!!!.........................
I think I could wrestle a crock better than I could sing anyway...Cheers Mate /// GaryGS1


Posted on 02/10/04 21:28 [ Comments (5) ] [ Post a comment ]
Sunday, February 08, 200421:27 Twas the Night Before... [ Edit | Delete ]
Packed and Ready for OZZ... I posted a few more "getting ready to go" pictures for everyones amusement. Go to Australia album. Can't seem to make an active link here that works??? Having to cut and paste is annoying!!! Anyone know how???
http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/travel/australia_feb_2004/australia_the_beginning/

Later Gary...

Posted on 02/08/04 21:30 [ Comments (2) ] [ Post a comment ]
Friday, February 06, 200422:00 Last Weekend Before We Go Down Under!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
It's Friday night and all is well. Packed and ready to GO---Monday at 4:00PM We fly out of Phila / Arrive Sydney Wed 8:00AM!!!
I made rental car arrangements today for the 3 weeks and secured a hostel at Bondi Beach, Sydney for the first two nights. $23.00 (Australian Dollars) each per night each and near the beach. Free surfboards and bikes on site!!! 20 minutes from the airport. This is about $17.oo US dollars. Cheap!!!

Look out OZZZZZZZ,,, here we come... downunder... Gary
Comments welcome!!! Cheers Mate!!!

Posted on 02/06/04 22:09 [ Comments (2) ] [ Post a comment ]
Monday, February 02, 200422:58 Monday Feb. 2nd 2004 [ Edit | Delete ]
11:00!!! Bedtime!!! All packed for Australia...and 6 days to go... Question of the moment,,, to rent a car right off or spend a few days in Sydney getting situated and then hitting the road??? If you have visited Australia,,, tips would be most appreciated!!! Thanks,,,GaryGS1

Posted on 02/02/04 23:02 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Sunday, February 01, 200416:40 Packing and Getting Ready for Australia. [ Edit | Delete ]
Sunday,,, Feb. 1st, 2004... Wow!!! How time flies,,, Just got back from Germany and now I am preparing on an adventure in the land of OZ. Gary Jr. and my nephew, Eddie and I are planning a 3 week adventure to Australia. Leave Feb. 9th, 2004. Will take my new Fujitsu laptop again and try to post some news and pics on the fly... Summertime there!!! It's their JULY!!! Bye for now GaryGS1

Post for anyone is OPEN... let's give it a try...

Posted on 02/01/04 16:45 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]


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Germany Travel Journal Jan 2004
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Monday, January 26, 20046:08 Home at Last!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Gary here!!! Home at last!!! First,,, thanks to everyone that has checked in and or left nice messages... You are great!!! This week I will sift thru them and get back to you!!! For now I must SLEEP then work... Thanks and Bye for now!!! Gary...

It was GREAT!!!

Posted on 01/26/04 6:08 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Saturday, January 24, 200423:25 Practically Home!!! Saturday night...1-24-2004 [ Edit | Delete ]
Wow!!! How time flys!!! It is now 11:24 PM (23:34) Saturday night and we got back from the airport earlier this day. We have been up for about 30 some hours now and I am slightly (more than slightly) delerious... Sleeping at Ed and Anita's house in Marlton and will finish the last leg of this little adventure in the morning. (Sunday morning) and then be home sweet home at last!!! All is quiet now and I wanted to jump online (such a treat - actual internet without any hassle) and say thankyou to all my family and friends (the line between the two is becoming smaller) for all the great comments and support and fun that you have added in my life...

I hope to get back to answer some of the questions that were left in my guestbook, If I cannot, please understand. My journal here kinda fell apart as it was so difficult to rely on getting an internet connection that worked right or one at all. Some sort of global internet connection would be great... Looking... Anyway,,, Thanks so much for your friendships!!!

AHHHHH!!! back home soon!!! Gary / GaryGS1 / or Gary G. Schempp / that's me...........Tschuss!!!

Posted on 01/24/04 23:36 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Tuesday, January 20, 20046:58 Sunday to Tuesday!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Sunday January 18, 2004

Dear Diary!!! Saturday with Stein was Great!!! Thankyou Stein for all your accommodations and welcoming… You are very kind!!! I had a great time on this little side trip. Sunday morning I took a train from Frankfurt to Heidelberg… My friend Tamara and her parents (Krista and Klaus-thankyou for coming out to see me too!!!) met me at the train station!!! (Butch is still in Texas) After a nice breakfast in downtown Heidelberg we met up with Hansi, Sonja, Ed and Anita. A special treat was that Irina (Hansi’s girlfriend) and Julie (Eric’s friend from Moscow) were there also… So we all went to the castle in Heidelberg and had a great time. Later we went back to Hansi’s flat and said our hello to him and then our goodbyes. Sorry Brett!!! Timing didn’t work out!!! See you next time?


Monday January 19, 2004
Back in Ohringen with Sonja and Klaus!!! We visited a wine house where you taste wines and then buy some you like. Afternoon wine!!! Wow, that knocks me out… Naptime!!! Then a great traditional dinner at a local restaurant (pork and spatzle.) with great German beer followed by Schnap’s. More beers (dark) at the local pub (more Schnap’s too) and then back home for hours of talking in an English and German Mix – and more wine and Schnap’s… Klaus and I talked till 4 AM!!!


Tuesday January 20, 2004
Tuesday morning!!! Getting ready to say our goodbyes here in Ohringen!!! Daniel will drive us today to Aichelberg to Berthold’s house. It’s a 1.5 hour drive. They are waiting for us!!! Will be visiting the village where our father and grandfathers are from as well as all of our first cousins there and their families Gotta go!!! Everyone is waiting for me again!!! GaryGS1.


Posted on 01/20/04 11:59 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Sunday, January 18, 20042:31 At Steins!!! In Germany!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Having a geat time!!! Currently at Steins house in Germany!!! Things are great!!! Great people, great talk, great pictures!!! Things are moving so fast it's hard to keep up!!! Today I will see Tamara, Maybe her parents, maybe Brett, and Definately my cousin Hansi (All in Heidelberg)!!!

I am typing this on my laptop thru Steins wireless router!!! We got it configured last night and got it working!!! This is great!!! Gotta Go!!! train to catch!!! Gary

Cloudy and rainy everyday but it's in the 40's so I know it's warmer than home, well in weather maybe,,, miss you all... Gary!!!

Posted on 01/18/04 7:36 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Friday, January 16, 2004Friday Jan 16th 2004 Everything OK!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Friday January 16, 2004
Our first day (yesterday – Thursday) was filled with catching up on old times, eating, drinking, and a really good nap!!! No Stress here… I am up early (it’s 5:30 AM Friday Morning) and I am getting organized for the day… Daniel and I couldn’t get the internet connection hooked up to my laptop. I see already that I have some refining to do… Today I will try to find a store comparable to a Radio Shack and buy the proper phone jack. Gotta find out about a better way to access the internet. This is the frustrating part. However, typing on my own keyboard is so much better than trying to re-figure things out all time depending on what country I am in. Here for example the y key and the z key are switched. And of course, other things are different… but that’s also the fun of it… Experiencing things differently than we ordinarily do when we are at home.

I am not sure of the details of the day here but,,, well,,, that’s the fun of it too!!! GaryGS1…

PS!!! I hope to upload some pictures soon… Look for Germany Jan. 2004 Folder/Album!!!

PS2!!! Thanks to everyone that is checking in… This is cool!!! And a good place to leave comments if you want too, is the guestbook here at Fotki!!! (This is working GREAT!!!) It’s easy to see comments there (makes a cool message board) and I will respond to all messages when I can. Thanks again, to all my Loved Ones and Friends!!!

GaryGS1!!!


Posted on 01/16/04 15:12 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Thursday, January 15, 200412:50 On the PLANE!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
It's Wednesday night on the airplane, typing this in MS Word that I loaded before I left. There is power in the seat of this US Airways plane and I have a cable for that!!! This is GREAT!!! It is also charging my battery!!! I could not get an internet connection at the airport:{ ,,, I tried configuring for a wireless connection but I think that you need your own service provider. I thought that airports were wireless hotspots??? Gotta figure that one out yet... Internet service on the plane would be thru a dail up connection via the phone in the seat. There is an RJ jack (regular phone jack) but it costs 1.99 per minute to use the phone, so that dosen' work for me...

So I will write in word, copy, paste and upload later into my Fotki Journal (which I will do from my cousin Sonja's house.) Thank you Stein for the idea!!!

We already are having a good time and have taken some funny pictures... The built in compact flash card slot in this Fujitsu LifeBook Laptop Computer is so convenient!!! I did't use the burner yet... later for that...let's get some pictures first.

It is 10:30 PM Wednesday night NJ time... However, I have already set my watch to Germany time which is 6 hours later, so it's 4:30 AM, actually. We just finished plane food / chicken dinner and now it's time to put this away and sleep for a few hours. We will arrive in Frankfurt, Germany 10:00 Thursday morning... (in 5.5 hours) 4:30AM NJ time

So, I will write again when I can... GaryGS1



Posted on 01/15/04 18:10 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Tuesday, January 13, 200423:31 Twas the Night Before... [ Edit | Delete ]
It's Tuesday night and I am all packed and ready for Germany!!! Anita, Ed and I leave Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM (20:00) Will arrive in Frankfurt, Germany 10:00 Thursday morning. My cousins husband, Klaus will pick us up at the airport. We will then begin our Deutchland Family adventure. It will be interesting to see where I can get internet access with my new Fujitsu LifeBook to post new info... We'll see... Gary

Hi Stein!!! See you soon!!! I have my homemade wine for you!!! Stein is my Fotki Web Friend from Germany. Tschuss.

Posted on 01/14/04 4:37 [ Comments (6) ] [ Post a comment ]
Saturday, January 10, 200418:14 Getting Ready to Go To Germany!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Well It's Saturday and I'm Packed... Now I am getting some things done and fine tuning others. Anita, Ed and I leave Wednesday night at 8:00PM or so... We get to Frankfurt, Germany 10:00 Thursday morning. Klaus will pick us up and Sonja will be waiting at home for us... I hope they have the warm pretzel bread and hot mustard ready!!! Is it too early for BEER??? Stay tuned... Thanks GaryGS1

PS1 $279.00 Round trip / Philadelphia to Frankfurt Germany / Non-stop / US Airways... / AWESOME!!! (ok, a little more with taxes)

PS2 JUST IN!!! I GOT MY FUJITSU 5020D NOTEBOOK... THIS WILL BE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GaryGS1


Posted on 01/10/04 18:19 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Wednesday, January 07, 200423:16 Fujitsu 5020D Laptop [ Edit | Delete ]
I opened my new Fijutsu 5020D laptop computer today that I ordered from Laptops Inc. in California. Now I am getting familiar with it so that I can use it on my Germany trip. GaryGS1

Posted on 01/07/04 23:16 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]
Tuesday, January 06, 200423:29 Be Patient!!! [ Edit | Delete ]
Not there yet, be patient!!! GaryGS1

Posted on 01/06/04 23:30 [ Comments (0) ] [ Post a comment ]


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