Juliana and the Pigeons

It's not much, but it is something. This took place this morning in Rome.

I was in the park when I met her. Juliana.
She was old and becoming frail but that wasn't revealed in her passion: Pigeons.
She worked for them everyday hauling cans of dog food from the supermarket to her secret hiding place behind the newspaper stand.
We transported twelve that morning.
The proprietor knows, speaks to her with the gentleness of a mother her child.
She told me it makes God smile.
She's Italian, gestured with her hands the rising corners of an Almighty mouth.
The tide is coming and this is her blessing to those winged rats. She would probably scold me for calling them that.
But in turn they're a blessing to her. Before we spoke I saw he mimic Mother Mary, look up to the sky. I saw only thankfulness in her eyes.
I asked her if she would like to get a cup of coffee with me. She said no, but asked if I would go with her, so she bought two cappuccinos and I've never seen anyone put so much sugar into a cup so small. It almost overflowed.
She smiled up at me with a hart so warm I could feel heat escaping her body.
That's when I started to fall in love with Humanity again.
When she said goodbye she did so in Italian; kissed both my cheeks and when her bus came, waved at me like she was bringing in an airplane from overseas.

Fran's Snort Count

I can't give you a complete update, but I will update you from New York up until a few days ago.

I left New York with no troubles at all. It is actually a lot easier than I thought; the flight being only about 6 hours and 45 minutes from "the states" to Germany. I wrote this on the plane:

Let it be known that this is coming from a 21 year old punk kid that jumped at an opportunity. For my own reputation I would also like to add that my longest flight prior to this one was 4 hours. This one is closer to 7. 

Next to me sits a man in his polo shirt and pinstriped suit. He's got at least 3 papers; two in German, one in English.

There is a six hour time difference between New York and Germany. Dinner on this flight was served at about 7pm in New York. Breakfast 5:30 in Dusseldorf - 11:30 to my body. That is something I, unfortunately, am not accustomed to, dinner and breakfast a mere nap away.

Right before breakfast came I was handed a wet cloth with a pair of tongs. Now, this is a hard thing to judge, so I can't be certain, but I think that the skin on my hands cannot tolerate heat as well as the skin on others hands. Polo/suit handled his just fine. I briefly participated in my own private game of hot potato. I won. And lost.

I then proceded to look around to see what to do with me new, hot gift. Promptly I put my socks back on my feet.

(In my defense I was tired, caffeinated, and highly excited.)

I will just add the highlights of the places I've been so far.

Dusseldorf - Salsa dancing, where my host for the duration of my stay let me step on her feet.

Amsterdam - The fact that the building are falling into each other or out of line with the others.

Utrecht - no comment.

Berlin - the people in the hostel and the art collective I visited.

That is it for now, until later...

From Amtrak to Letterman

Internet at this Hostel is $0.10 per minute, so this will be brief. I wouldn't have done it at all except that I had to purchase a ticket to Gdansk, Poland for later this month. Oh yea, I am going to Poland. I'll be teaching English classes out of a families home for an undetermined amount of time.
Everything is going great - better than expected, even.
Within' twenty minutes of staying in the hostel I met a handful of really genuine people. Today I wandered around a large portion of New York city with two of my new friends, Marcus and Matt. I even ended the evening by sitting in on a recording of David Letterman, which I have wanted to do for some time. It airs Friday, and though I don't think you'd be able to spot me I would like to draw your attention to the ridiculous dance moves that Brett Denen has when he performs.
Only 3 minutes left. I fly out to Germany tomorrow, so I will update you again at a time that is convenient. Take care; Godspeed.