December 2009
6 posts
I needn't have packed food for my train to...
My cabin-mates were a group of four Grandmothers and one surly looking young man. I sat in the line of fire of a social interaction that transcends cultures: a gossip circle. But, as my position became more awkward, I “relented” and offered to swap spots with adjacent lady in the window seat.
I’m so gracious.
Of course, now I was a legitimate conversation topic and target. My...
November 2009
10 posts
Hello Bulgaria
Why is border control at 3am? Why?!
This train runs nightly. Everyone has patiently lined up. None of us are wearing anything more than the barest pajamas.
Except her. What the hell, damn lady?! Oh man, I hate Bulgaria. Why are you fully made-up and dressed in lingerie? Every guy in here just got whiplash tracking your tits, ass and legs cross the room.
Seriously, though. Train. Runs....
Doy-Doy Restaurant
Recommended by a host of people “in the know.” And confirmed by yours truly.
It’s hidden in the warren of streets behind the Blue Mosque. Traverse the perimeter going clockwise, and keep going straight when you hit the one-way street. It’s on the right.
The food is excellent. The price is unbeatable. And, their terrace has a terrific view over all of Sultanahmet.
A...
Istanbul Hostel →
One of— if not the— cheapest hostels in Sultanahmet. It’s hard to argue the frugality of a 18-bed dorm. (We later learned you could pay half as much, for an evening on the rooftop of any bar.)
With summer holidays coming to their end, it was full of backpacking students— many commiserating their concerns of the upcoming academic year over alcohol.
Faulkner encamped, resting off the...
September 2009
23 posts
Cordial House Hotel →
It’s weird being back in first world hostels. Big clean rooms, hot showers, and beautiful women of all ethnicities. Free wireless to boot!
The Cordial House Hotel was the least expensive place we could find in a very expensive world.
I guess we’re not having a full dinner for $1 USD anymore…
The Cairo Airport
Boring. No wifi. At least, no wifi that you don’t have to hack.
And, all the APs were for things like the IP telephone system or the HVAC systems.
Yeah guys. You probably don’t want to protect that with WEP.
Dahab Hostel →
Somewhere in Africa, I started having reoccuring dreams about Cairo.
In one of them, I was standing on the top ledge of a building, watching the sun set into the glowing lights of downtown.
The Dahab Hostel was the top listing on HostelWorld when sorted by price. And, it’s located on the rooftop of a building a few metres off from Midan Tahrir.
I don’t believe in fate.
Keylany Hotel →
Really nice, and not overpriced for the incredibly touristy area that it’s located in.
We appreciated the free breakfast when leaving for the train at 5:30 the next morning.
The Blue Nile Sailing Club →
The cheapest and, easily, the best place to stay in Khartoum is the Blue Nile Sailing Club. It’s a private club that allows camping on its grassy grounds. I suppose the supplementary income of hard dollars is persuasive.
While staying there, you’re given full run of the place. Breakfast, lunch, dinner for reasonable prices. And, cool refreshments available throughout the day make the...
Our lodgings in Gondor
We rented an apartment for a couple nights. It was dirty but cheap.
Sorry, there’s no name to recommend.
August 2009
27 posts
Ghion Hotel →
In Bahir Dar, we camped at the really nice Ghion Hotel. If you aren’t about resting your head under the stars, then I promise that the rooms are clean and nice. And, more importantly, they have hot water!
I shared a couple cool evenings on the shore of Lake Tana with both locals and fellow travelers.
Park Hotel, Addis Ababa
We made a new companion on the way back to Moyale. A young Kenyan woman named Noreen also traveling Addis Ababa.
She had been escorted, as far as the border, by a nice South Sudanese fellow. But, all of us got along so well, that it naturally happened for Faulker and I to escort her the remainder of the way!
Upon arrival to Addis Ababa, we followed to the hotel where she was to wait for her...
