Video goodness

I just got flashplayer working on my computer. I don't like windows, never have, so I run an alternative OS called Linux. It's free, it's fun and it supports my technology addiction. Sometimes it's a pain in the ass. Not only do I run Linux, but I run the 64-bit version of it. There is no 64 bit flashplayer for Linux, so I had to find a workaround...and I did! So, now that I can watch YouTube videos...I found one that those of you who haven't been to the ice can get a glimpse of what it can be like (video credit to Antz and Christine Powell):

Oh, by the way, I have decided to return for another season on The Ice. I called KBR the other day and told them I was putting off going to Iraq for at least six months. They didn't seem to mind too much.

Tipping: Just some unorganized thoughts (rant)

Service workers don't deserve 20% just by virtue of being service workers. In fact, they don't deserve anything just because they have taken a job that pays less than minimum wage, this isn't my problem. In fact, I don't think they deserve 20% even if they do their job. I'm only tipping 20% if I leave happy, you've gotta really earn it to get 20%. Mediocre service deserves, at best, 10%. Less than mediocre service deserves squat. Furthermore, if your job is pulling a tap handle, you aren't entitled to $1 each time you pull it. That's not service. Want a tip? Get to know what kind of beer I'm drinking...see, I'm not a pain-in-the-ass type who asserts my individuality by ordering some stupid drink trying to see if I can stump you, I'm there to enjoy a cold beer, I'm not going to cause you any trouble and I don't expect much, but I do expect you to take a second, acknowledge my presence and get what I've asked for. If you do this, and do it consistently and well, I will reward it generously but I won't tip by the drink.....ever.

Mr. Pink approves.

Brasov (my worst post ever)

The most famous building in Transylvania - the Bran castle A.K.A. Dracula's castle

After two nights in Budapest, we boarded another overnight train. This time to Brasov, Romania. Brasov had been on my radar for quite some time since it has Eastern Europe's best known ski resort nearby. I had considered going skiing there but due to a lack of snow this season, I didn't. One of my goals on this trip was to hang out someplace for long enough to really get in to the culture so we decided we would give Brasov a chance and stay here for a greater length of time than any of the other places we had been to or were going. We had booked a home stay with a man named Eugene. Eugene rents out his mother's bedroom for extra income. His mother is still alive and when he has guests, she sleeps in his room. It feels a bit odd, but the price was right and what a better way to get into the culture of a place than to stay with a local, besides if Eugene's mother didn't stay with him in his room, she may have to resort to eating alpo or something. Another generator of income for Eugene is that he offers his services as a guide/driver to tour the world famous Dracula's castle, two other lesser-known castles, and the surrounding countryside. In the interest of Eugeni Mama (that's what she called herself) we took him up on the offer of an 8+ hour tour of the aforementioned sights.



Brasov is a pretty Transylvanian town situated at the foot of the Carpathian mountains.








WTF?

Most Romanians under the age of 50 can speak English very well. Most of them over 50 can't. Eugene's mother was no exception, but the conviction with which she spoke to us in Romanian caused me to be scared to let on that I had no idea what she was saying, so I politely nodded and smiled as she spoke to me.

Eugene himself is quite the character. I am a big fan of conspiracy theories, but they have to sound at least somewhat plausible. Eugene thinks that governments have machines that can control the weather. Of course, you usually don't find out someone is whacko until you spend 8 hours in a car with them.


One day we took a pleasant hike to the seven stairs falls. There is a series of waterfalls that come down a canyon and a series of ladders and walkways up the canyon.















It's obvious that the safety inspectors haven't been around in quite a while, or maybe such things are of no concern to the Romanians. Marsha was braver than me and ascended one more ladder than I did - but she does weigh quite a bit less than me. The whole thing reminded me of something out of Indiana Jones.







I also got a haircut while in Brasov. I've never needed a translator for a haircut before. I was very pleased with the results.

More castles:

Budapest

From Prague, we took an overnight train to Budapest. We had our own private sleeper car for the 9ish hour trip. Going to sleep in one country and waking up in another is a pretty neat experience.

There were far fewer tourists in Budapest than there were in Prague. Budapest is the combination of two cities. The city of Buda and the city of Pest. The two are separated by the Danube river. The Pest side, where we stayed, has a reputation for being a bit rough i.e. muggings etc. Granted we didn't go out drinking in the wee hours of the morning, but we saw nothing that even remotely resembled 'rough characters' and felt as safe as we would in Mayberry, USA. Another preconception proven unfounded.

I haven't got too much more to say about Budapest. Here are some pics:

Bridge over the Danube with a Freedom monument in the Background

Danube cruise

Parliament