The Adventure Begins in England

           London was my first stop on my way to Prague.  I always enjoy visiting      this city, and even though my time was short, I still was able to take in quite a bit. 

I visited a few places that I've been to before like Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, and then a few new sites for me like the National Gallery       and the Winston Churchill War Rooms.  The National Gallery is free to visit and it houses some amazing pieces of artwork from the likes of Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Renoir, etc...  The Churchill War Rooms are a site that I've wanted to visit for quite some time now.  Essentially, the underground war rooms that I visited are the same ones that Churchill and his war staff used to conduct battle plans, and war operations from during the Second World War.  Most of the rooms have been left as is, and many of the actual maps are still hanging from the walls in this underground bunker/facility.  Many of Churchill's belongings are still at the site.  More information on the legendary British leader is available at the Churchill museum, which is now housed in the same facility as the War rooms.  I spent about two hours in the museum itself, and it was certainly worthwhile. The war rooms are located less than a mile away from Trafalgar Square.      The weather was absolutely grand during my visit to London, probably the warmest, clearest day I've ever encountered in the city.                                                                                                                                                                        

Bustling Trafalgar Square on a pleasant spring day

This blue rooster is watching over Trafalgar Square for the next 18 months.

                                                                     The entrance to the Churchill War Rooms

                                        One of the underground meeting rooms in Churchill's bunker

                                                                                               Buckingham Palace

 
                                            A British Guard on duty





                                                  

                                                                                                                Lights out.

Back to the Blog

     After a loooong Blog hiatus, I am back to record and blog about some more of my experiences and misadventures while overseas.  I like to write about things like sports, history, travel, unique aspects of different cultures, etc… but I also enjoy writing about everyday life.  Human interest stories really drive a lot of my content.  I like the quirky side of life, the unusual, the “Road less traveled” if you will.  After this initial post, I plan on posting lots of pictures, so look forward to those coming very soon.

      I have neglected to blog over the past two years or so mostly due to time constraints from coaching, teaching full-time, family life.  Maybe one day, I will find the time to chronicle some of the other trips I’ve taken over the past few years.  My backpacking trip with my son Kodie to Iceland, Finland, France, and Germany last summer would certainly be high up on my list.  I might also include the journey to the Turks and Caicos Islands last May with my wife, probably one of my favorite trips of all time.  In any case, a few things have changed since the last time I was blogging.  

      I am now living in West Virginia with my family and teaching physical education full-time at Potomac State College.  I coach youth and high school football, and do a little writing on the side for a sports website, and a regular travel writing column for a regional community magazine in Maryland. 

 The reasons that I write are still the same.  It is a way for me to record what I see, and capture the moment in much the same way as a photographer does.  As I get older, I am getting more forgetful, so writing is a good way to keep track of fleeting thoughts and foggy memories.  I find writing to be cathartic in many ways too.  It gives me a way to examine and understand myself and others around me.  When I put pen to paper or fingers to keys, I hope to somehow inspire others to laugh, cry, and be more curious about the world around them.  I want to educate and entertain, and also share my experiences that have emanated from meeting so many interesting people.  Traveling the world has been the best textbook that I’ve ever opened.  What I’ve learned about people from various cultures can be summed up in a few sentences.  Even though many people speak different languages, eat different foods, have different traditions, etc… most of us seem to be searching for similar things.  I would define these things as someone or something to love, something meaningful to do, and something to look forward to.  Along with my faith, these 3 core beliefs motivate me on a daily basis. 

 Now it’s time to get started!!  My blogs over the next month will cover my recent time in England, Greece, and the Czech Republic.  I am currently coaching football in Prague, and tomorrow I will start my TEFL class.  Hope you will join me for a new adventure!!