The Nickel and Diming has begun

According to this article at CNN Money, Northwest Airlines will soon be charging $15.00 extra for an aisle seat. I think if passengers agree to pay extra for an aisle seat then a surcharge for an exit row or bulkhead seat will be soon to follow. Experts believe airlines will eventually charge extra to check luggage. Airlines like AirTran and Southwest may soon gain a larger market share if the big airlines try putting a squeeze on passengers. These smaller carriers are reporting a growing customer base and larger profits. I haven't flown Southwest often due to the fact they do not have a major presence at the Atlanta Airport. I am a fan of AirTran. Most of their planes are new and have XM Satellite Radio built in. They offer great prices on domestic airfare and affordable pricing for upgrades to business class.

Travel Tip #3 - Travelers Checks

Many people prefer to travel with travelers checks. I stopped using them several years ago due to their inconvenience. I rarely have enough free time to go into a bank to buy travelers check before I leave. I have also been in several situations where retailers at home and abroad won't accept travelers checks. Much like traditional checks they have seen their golden age. It is easier to carry cash or credit. American Express may not be taken by all U.S. retailers, but it is widely accepted in Europe and Asia. Amex is an essential tool when traveling aboard. They offer a wide selection of travel services not available to many of their competitors.

Travel Tip #2 - Currency Exchange

Instead of using currency exchange services at the airport use an ATM. ATM service fees are usually lower than currency exchange services. Before traveling aboard call your financial institution and make sure your credit card or debit card works abroad. Currency exchange at banks are common and have more competitive rates than exchange services, but be warned not all bank employees speak English. Many hotels will offer currency exchange services but the services fees will be higher than most other services. I advise using ATMs for currency exchange rather than any other service.

Below is a helpful site for currency exchange rates.

http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Travel Tip #1 - Window or Aisle

"But I can look out the window." Good answer if the flight is short. I define a short flight by the number of beers and bathroom breaks I take. If I can have two beers and avoid breaking the seal until I reach the next airport, then it's a short flight. Anything beyond that and I will opt for an aisle seat.

The aisle seat is mandatory for an international flight. It makes it a lot easier to get up and stretch. The last thing you want is to be pinned against the window by the 400 lb comatose, cologne drenched, grizzly snorer. I've been there. It's like flying aboard Hell Air. By the time that second beer, third cup of water, and two o.j's, one contemplates how much liquid that barf bag can hold.

It is important to move around and stretch every two hours. Cases of DVT or "Economy Class Syndrome" are on the rise. Blood clots in the legs are the last souvenir you want to take back from your vacation.

If you are stuck in economy class there are two other options for a few more inches of leg room: the bulk head and the exit row.

The bulk head will give you a few more inches, but it isn't the most comfortable section. The inflight video is too close for comfort in this row. The exit row has a few more inches of leg room, but comes with added responsibility in the event of a disaster.

The last time I flew to D.C. I was given a lecture about the importance of the exit row seat. The flight attendant lectured me and the other members of the spacious exit row on our legal duties in case of a flight emergency. Something tells me if I am in a crash situation and I have to wait for Grandma Moses to get off the plane before I do....well...all I got to say is, "You've lived a long life Grandma, it's time to give someone else a chance." Then I would push my way out the door.

To locate the best seat on the plane visit: http://www.seatguru.com/

From the Archives of 2005 - Beijing Day 1

As I shake off jet lag this morning, I am reminded of lyrics from Willie Nelson's "Me and Paul"..."It's been rough and rocky travel, but I'm finally standing upright on the ground. After taking several readings, I'm surprised to find my mind still fairly sound." I have made it to Beijing in one piece. I breezed through customs because I had nothing to declare. I somehow made it here before my luggage. My luggage is well...somewhere. That's right...one of the worst traveler's scenarios has happened. I am in a foreign land with nothing but the clothes on my back. All of my clothes, toiletries, extra shoes, etc have yet to arrive. I filled out the traditional multiform Chinese commie documents and hope that somehow my luggage finds me. Normally I wouldn't even care, but I am a big guy. I'm big in Asia. There are no stores that sell XL. I suppose if it comes down to it I can sew together three Chinese shirts to make one JJ shirt . Enough of that. If I don't have my luggage in a couple of days. I am calling my office to have them Fed Ex some clothes.

If any of you have the chance to fly over 13 hours in coach...don't. And if you have to....kill yourself. It's is a miserably long flight. They should move China closer. What I found fascinating was the flight path. We departed Newark and flew directly north. Following the in-air flight monitor I notice we flew directly over the north pole and down through Russia. BTW kids....Santa doesn't live at the north pole. He probably moved because it's too damn cold there.

Ipods

It's impossible to get on a plane, train, subway or any other mode of public transportation without seeing white ear buds crammed into the heads of passengers. Ipods seem to be almost as common as cell phones these days. I have carried my Ipod with me to 20+ states and five countries. When I leave for work each morning I make sure I have two things: my cell phone and my Ipod. Last week I was on a train from Birmingham to London. I stared out my window at the passing countryside while Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" blasted in my ears. By the time The Boss got to "Together Wendy we'll live with the sadness, I'll love you with all the madness in my soul," I caught my reflection in the window. And then it hit me. When did we decide we needed a soundtrack to our lives?

Thanks to my Ipod I now associate The Great Wall of China with Willie Nelson's "Me and Paul." I associate the London tube with Pink Floyd's "Nobody Home." I associate New York City's Park Avenue with James Blunt's "You're Beautiful." These songs are now memories.

Maybe I am being too philosophical or perhaps it is my Ipod induced brain tumor. Either way let me crank of my Ipod and continue what I was doing.

From the Archives of 2005 - Technology in Japan

Being in IT and a gadget guru I am always amazed by cutting-edge technology. Below are some of my observations of technological advancements in Japan. But to quote my friend Josh, "Tokyo is what all the Science Fiction movies warned us about."

Cell Phones

The cell phones here are 2-3 years ahead of ours. I have a small Motorola Cell phone back home. I have seen a cell here that is less than half the size of mine. It is about 2" long. I picked one up and could barely push the tiny keys with my mammoth American hands. Their normal phones are loaded with features. I used a cell phone today that had a bright LED flash light built into it. It also works as a flash for the camera. It screen is made out of a reflective material. It has a feature to blank the screen so it can work as a mirror. The screens on the cameras are much higher resolution than anything I have seen in the States. All are equipped with powerful calendars, organizers, world time clocks, speaker phone, e-mail, fast internet access, megapixel camera, etc. Cell phone contracts are almost non-existent. My host tells me you only have to agree to have service for a couple of months. Cell Phones are only a couple of Yen. So around $5. American phones do not work in Japan due to their cell network technology, but their phones can "dumb down" to work in America and Europe.

Taxis

The Japanese are extremely clean. They try to avoid touching things that can spread germs. Many workers wear gloves and change them throughout the day. This is the only city I have been to where if I dropped food on the ground I would pick it up and eat it. The 5 second rule applies to the streets of Tokyo. Anyway....the taxis are equipped to open and close doors via the Taxi driver. The passenger never has to touch the door to open or close it. All taxis are equipped with high resolution gps and touch screens. Again driving in Tokyo is insane since roads are not on a grid and many streets have no name. The gps systems is touch screen enabled and it allows them to pan around a given area to see what is around the destination.

Toilets

Japan has two toilets. A Turkish Toilet and a modern toilet. I will send pics of both. Just know this....anything with the word "Turkish" in front of it translates to "the worst imaginable." The modern Japanese toilet has a heated seat aka "Bun Warmer." It is very small compared to an American toilet. The toilets are equipped with a built in bidet and something called "spray." The bidet works like a normal bidet. I accidentally hit the "spray" button. Dear lord! I think I now owe the toilet flowers and a phone call two days later. I have never felt so clean and yet so dirty at the same time.

Power Strips

They are similar to ours, but when you twist the plug it locks the connection in place so it can't come unplugged accidentally. Brilliant!

Elevator Buttons

I live in a high rise and I know what a pain it is when you hit the wrong floor. Most elevators in Japan are designed that when you hit the button twice it cancels out the call to that floor. Why don't we have that in ever elevator.

Lights

Most offices and hotel corridors are equipped with motion sensors. The lights are always dimmed until you get closer. Once with motion sensors have been tripped the lights brighten up. I can't imagine how much power this must save.

Display Embedded Glass

If any of you have seen "Lost in Translation" then you have seen some of the display embedded glass. The scene I am referring to is with the dinosaur. New Roopangi and other areas are buildings where the entire outside turns into full motion video. I saw a 10 story building turn into a cartoon character. It was fully embedded video, but people in the buildings can still see out the windows. This makes Times Square in NYC look outdated. Downtown Tokyo looks like Time Square 10 years from now.

Call Buttons

Some restaurants are equipped with call buttons on the table. Anytime you need a waiter you press a button and a waiter comes over to serve you.

Menu PDAs

Many waiters have a small touch screen PDA for taking orders. Once the order has been entered into the tablet it sends a wireless message to the kitchen for them to prepare the order as specified.

Back Home

Could Americans be more rude? I am an American so I can say that. Leave the country for a couple of weeks, come back and you will realize what a bunch of A-holes we are. No wonder the rest of the world hates us. I am waiting in line to get through customs and become frustrated with how slowly they take to process each person. I would complain, but decide that this brown boy would do better to not say anything. I don't want a full body cavity search. The line is taking forever. I think the prerequisite for working for U.S. Customs is to have worked for some states DMV. The amount of questioning and rudeness by U.S. Customs is unbelievable. I was f#$%ing born here for God's sake. Shouldn't that count for something? I have voted in every election since I was 18. Maybe they know I voted for the other guy in the last election. That might explain why they treat me like crap when I come back into the country.

When I left Amsterdam yesterday is was about 18 degrees and snowing. When I landed in Atlanta is was 70 degrees and sunny. Finally I am warm.

I am now reviewing some of my older postings. They are a grammatical train wreck. I would correct them, but that is beside the point of the postings. They serve as a stream of consciousness during my travels. If you have enjoyed them, hate them, have questions, comments or recommendations please e-mail me.

Why it's called AmsterDAMN

After awaking from my nap I felt refresh and ready to seek out some nocturnal entertainment. The most interesting animals come out after the sun goes down. I grab a taxi and ask him to take be back to the Grasshopper. I think it is slightly less tacky than asking him to take me to the red light district. I doubt he is by unaware of my ruse. He tells me this elaborate story of how one of his poor passenger has won 84,000 euros the night before at a local casino. The lucky winner is shy but wants to have "the time of his life." The driver feeling sorry for the poor passenger offers to show him the time of his life. He goes into detail of how he has arranged a jacuzzi with two of the finest polish women to entertain the man. As if this wasn't enough of a good time he has arranged for two more women and a bucket of chocolate for dessert. He goes into detail of what the women intend to do with the chocolate. I can see he wants me to jump in and say, "So can you arrange the same thing for me?" As much as I like chocolate I decline. I pay the fare and tip him. He gives me his card in case I decide I need more entertainment than the red light district can provide. I am sure this is not the first cabbie pimp I have employed for transport, but this one was the most blatant. I pay the fare and exit the taxi.

I walk down the narrow alley stopping to look in some of the shop windows. The sweet smell of pot perfumes the alleys. The first shop is an adult toy store. The window is full of videos, toys, oils, and other interesting items. A t-shirt hangs in the window. "Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go to Amsterdam." That would turn out later in the evening to be very accurate. Some of the items are typical sex toys, but some are more like torture devices. The vibrating arm makes a classy window display. What's the difference between erotic and kinky? Erotic is using a feather. Kinky is using the whole chicken.

As I walk down the alley several doormen try to coerce me into the live stage shows. The banana/candle/vibrator show is starting in 15 minutes. Hmm...Tempting, but I think I will keep looking around. A small crowd of men gather in front of a window along the canal. I decide to investigate. It must be gross or great. Either way it's worth getting a peak just for the story. I see what the crowd was staring at. Behind the glass stood a 5'11" blonde wearing nothing but the tiniest white bra and tanga panties. The lingerie is fluorescent pink under the red light. She is absolutely stunning. She rivals any magazine cover model. I overhear her give pricing and answer questions from a potential patron. He sounds Australian. He asks her name. In a sultry voice she replies, "Nikki." Perfect. The Aussie agrees to the price and she pulls him behind the door and closes the curtain. "The lights went out and Nikki started to grind."

I walk over to the next window. The window is empty. Maybe they get a union break. I walk down the canal staring at the "world's oldest profession" in action. I am amazed at the quality of product. My astonishment turns into disgust as I continue down the canal. I must have gotten into the low rent district. Quality is replaced by experience. These women look like they must be grandmothers. Men continue to ask the price. Is there any tread left on the tires? Come on. Does your work do anything for ya honey or is it like throwing a hot dog down a hallway? I decide to walk back to top shelf section before I have to stab out my mind's eye.

As I walk by the windows the girls smile and knock on the glass. They want my money. After all, I look like someone who would pay for sex. I smile and continue on. The district goes for several blocks. I somehow end up in a dead end alley. I inquire from them door man the price of entry. 5 euros. Not bad. I walk up the bar where a stunning topless bartender asks me what I want to drink. I order a Heineken. "11 Euros please." The price is outrageous, but I have never been able to say no to woman with her shirt off. She is the high point of the place. I look up on stage to an unenthusiastic strip tease. A remixed version of Barry Manilow's "Mandy" plays in the background. How strange. I finish my beer, take another long look at the bartender, and push my way to the door.

I notice the later the night gets the more people are offering me X and blow. I ignore them and keep exploring the district. I stop at a series of windows down from Sexyland. Yes, Sexyland. I have looked my whole life for Sexyland. Who knew it was in Amsterdam? I am sandwiched in an alley. One either side are some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I have had this dream before. This time it was real. All I had to do was put the money down and have any fantasy I have fulfilled. It begins to snow heavily. I take it as a sign to leave. Granted, I would not have given in but temptation is a very powerful emotion in men. The better angels of my nature have once again saved me. I leave the district.

For those purdes out there, don't let the sexual liberity of Amsterdam keep you from visiting. For most of you reading this it will probably make you want to visit. Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. The history, the culture, and the food are reasons enough to visit. Everyone speaks english and seems geninuenly friendly. This was my first visit to Amsterdam, but not my last.

A day in the city

I feel it all too appropriate to visit museums and other locations of cultural significance when traveling. I never seem to have that much cultural ambition at home, yet some inner voice tells me that I can't leave the city without seeing a museum or two. Another inner voice tells me to visit the infamous the red light district. The latter voice is much more enthusiastic. Before I can better myself, I need an ample dose of caffeine to focus my mind and kick-start my legs. I ask the hotel concierge for the nearest Starbucks. He seems somewhat offended and replies, "There is no Starbucks in all of Holland." I am taken back by this. After all, a Starbucks exists in the center of the Forbidden City in Beijing. I would not be surprised if some Sherpa in Tibet is ordering Frappuccino at this very moment. The communist have given a business license to Starbucks, but not the liberal Dutch. I know I should seek out a local cafe, but I just want a little bit of familiarity this morning. I don't want to think about ordering my coffee. I simply want to walk in to the Barista and state emphatically " Grande Lattee Please." People often criticize the American Globalization of coffee by the evil empire of Starbucks, but a consistent cup of coffee is rare. With certainty I know that I can go into any Starbucks on the planet and order the same cup of coffee. There is nothing wrong with consistency.

I walk a few blocks to a coffee shop the concierge has recommended. Keep in mind I call it a coffee shop but a coffee shop in Amsterdam sells drinks and marijuana. This coffee shop contains the world's most widely used drug; caffine. What kind of abomination of acoffee shop is this? Ice cream, chocolate, and one four varieties of coffee, what the hell? I prder a mochachino. I am dismayed when a scoop of chocolate ice cream is added to my cup. It more coffee milkshake thaJoeup of joe. This is still better than the freeze dried coffee I have had endured for the past week in England. It will do. I am slightly more awake and decide to walk to the Ann Frank House. It's a nice twenty minute walk from my hotel.

I stroll along one of the city's canals. The "Brrring .Brrring" of a bicyclist's bell tell me to move my ass or be plowed over. This is city more favorable to bikes than cars. Bikes are everywhere. The bike of choice seems to be a type of black beach cruiser with a rear jump seat for the ladies. The style looks pre-WWII. Expensive bikes are nowhere to be seen. Practicality triumphs over status. It is practical to own a utilitarian transport because the likelihood of theft or it getting tossed into the canal by a drunken rabble-rouser is high. I finally make it to the Ann Frank house. The line stretches around the block. After a few minutes of waiting I become disappointed by the lack of moment in the line. I decide I will have to wait until my next visit to the Ann Frank house.

Well if I can't be cultured I can at least eat. I walk a few blocks away to Dam Square. Street performers dressed in elaborate costumes pose for pictures in exchange for pocket change. My attention becomes drawn to ethereal guitar rifts coming over my right should. This guitarist is amazing. He manages a to place all ten fingers on the neck at once. The cords produced sound as if they are coming from three guitars. I watch his fingers dance for a few minutes until a large sound catches my attention; my stomach.

I walk up the street for a couple of blocks. On the edge of one of the canals sits the famous Grasshopper. It is one of Amsterdam's most famous bar/coffee house/ restaurant. I walk up to the second floor bar. I perch myself on a high stool overlooking on the streets. In the distance I see signs of the red light district. I look around the inside of the bar. The walls are decorated with American sports teams. To my far left is an Atlanta Braves license plate. Directly above my head is a FSU license plate. I scan the room for an Auburn plate. I wonder if they will put one up if I bring it with me on my next visit. I make note add it to my to-do list. I go back to the bar to place my order. I order a Grasshopper Toast a Heineken. I had heard Heineken in Amsterdam was better than back home but dismissed the notion. It's true it is better. It seems slightly more smooth and crisp. I order a second large mug when my meal arrives. My lunch is an open faced sandwich consisting of three slices of toast covered in sauteed ham, leeks, red onions, peppers, and mushrooms. Herbs de Provence, salt, and black pepper flavor the mixture. "Damn! That is a tasty sandwich." I have been in search for the perfect sandwich for years. This had made my top ten list.

With my belly full I decide to go to the Van Gogh Museum. I was able to pre-purchase tickets from the hotel. It's only a five minute walk from my hotel. The museum is a contempory building across from a historic neighborhood. The museum security is more stringent than Gatwick Airport. I empty all my pockets, hand over my camera bag for inspection, and file through the x-ray machine. I wonder how many x-rays I have received in the past two years traveling.

The museum is filled with patrons. It's very difficult to get close to the masterpieces. I am not an art history major therefore I know very little about Van Gogh. It's very interesting to see his progression of color and style. Someone more qualified could go on about how and why, but I will leave it to the experts.

I walk back to my hotel and enjoy a nap before going out.

Pics - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Above are some pics I took from around the canals in Amsterdamn, The Netherlands. Pics were taken in March of 2006.

Now in Amsterdam

I decided to take a small excursion into Amsterdam for the weekend before going back to the States. Returning from Amsterdam instead of London was much cheaper. This would be my first visit to Amsterdam so I didn't mind. I purchased a cheap ticket on British Airways to Amsterdam. Taxes and service fees were more than the actual ticket. This is the first time I have flown on BA, but it will not be the last. Service is top notch on BA. They do everything to make sure travelers are comfortable. Seats were wider and offer more leg room than coach seats on American carriers. The flight is little more than an hour from Gatwick, but a light lunch was included nonetheless. American carriers don't always offer beverage service on short hops. The lunch consisted of a sandwich, chocolate mouse, and beverage of choice. Wine, beer, or liquor were available at no additional charge. I opted for a Stella with my lunch. For airline food it wasn't too bad. The beer was top shelf so I was satisfied. Shortly after finishing lunch we arrived in Amsterdam. I highly recommend British Airways to anyone traveling to or within Europe. If American carriers focused more on customer service than so many might not be losing money.

I have been in dozens of airports in the U.S. and a few abroad. Security at most of the airports I have been through seem fairly innocuous. I was taken back by the strong show of force in the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Uniformed Guards carrying submachine guns roam the airport reassuring travelers that the Dutch are serious about airport security. The smell of cigarette smoke is another airport unfamiliar presence. People can be seen smoking at designated tables within the airport. While most of Europe smokes there is a move to limit smoking in public. This doesn't seem to be a top priority in Schiphol Airport.

There are multiple transportation options from the airport to my hotel. I am a fan of shuttle buses. They usually take longer than a taxi to get to your hotel, but they are often less than half the price. If you are not in a hurry they give you a chance to see the city. The Connexion Shuttle Bus at Schiphol is only 12 Euros (about $14.50) to downtown hotels in Amsterdam. That was almost one third the price of a taxi. I decide the shuttle bus would be my best choice.

It's comforting to see cars driving on the right hand side of the road. The highway system in The Netherlands seems doable. I have never driven overseas, but if I had here I don't think it would be too nerve racking.

The shuttle bus takes a little more than 30 minutes to get me to my hotel. My hotel is four star, but I am disappointed to find out that it is about $11.00 US a day for high speed internet access. With so much going on at work and home I have no other option.

I am now settled in and about to go out for the evening. My hotel across from one of the canals and is centrally located to shopping, restaurants, museums, and other attractions so it shouldn't be difficult for me to find something to do this evening. The current time is six hours ahead of Atlanta. It is only 8:00 PM here, but for me it feels later. My lack of sleep on this trip is starting to catch up with me. The cold weather should give me the jolt needed to keep going for a few more hours this evening.

Pics - Bishops Sutton, United Kingdom

Above are some pics I took from the village of Bishops Sutton, UK. Pics were taken in February of 2006.

Leaving London

"I gotta little black book with my poems in
I gotta bag
a toothbrush
and a comb
When I am good dog they sometimes throw me bone..."

My last day in in England have put me in a Pink Floyd kinda mood. I haven't been able to do as many posts as I would like due to the lack of Internet access at some of the hotels. I will upload more pics and observations when I return to the States. I have enjoyed my first trip to Britain. As usual I find things I love aboard and things I miss from home. I have seen much more of it than I expected. I have been in London, Bristol, and Birmingham along with numerous villages in between. I was in Shakespeare country yesterday up in the Stratford region before heading to Birmingham. The area looks like it has change little since the playwright lived there. Maybe if I lived in a boring area I would be able to write something more impactful than this mindless dribble. I just haven't been able to really find my voice lately. The lack of sleep may have something to do with it. I wasn't nearly as jet lagged on my trips to Asia. London is only 5 hours ahead of Atlanta, but for some reason I just can seem to adjust. I find my self not being able to sleep and then once asleep not being able to wake up. Feel free to stop reading this crap.

The weather was very strange yesterday. It would change between sunny and clear to gray and snowy. I never seen snow during a relatively clear and sunny day. I leave for Amsterdam in a few hours. According to The Weather Channel it is 30 degrees with freezing rain in Amsterdam right now. Joy! The Keys are calling my name. I need to go where the weather suits my clothes.

Today is National Doodle Day here. I have left atomically correct stick figures on a notepad for the cleaning crew to find later. I hope they enjoy it.

Off to Amsterdam.

Updates Coming

I am heads down in my project right now and have little free time for anything else. I was originally slated to be in Birmingham, England last night. A last minute change of plans forced me to stay at the bed and breakfast in the village. Having no internet access gave me an opportunity to find my own evening entertainment. I walked over to the pub next door for a drink. I had a couple of pints of Blackthorn Cider and chatted with the bartender for a while. It was early in the evening so there were few people in the pub. A Labrador retriever sat next to me and kept me company for a while. They don't offer dinner so she gave me directions to a fish and chips place nearby. I finished off my second pint and bundled up for the walk. It has been snowing on and off for the past couple of days. There is no real accumulation to speak of, but it has made it very cold and the sidewalks slippery.

The fish and chips place was one of the most popular places in the small area. I was told, "People come as far as Bristol for the fish and chips they do." I sat in the small dining room and asked the waiter what he recommended. I ended up with the fish and chips with a side of mushy peas. The closest thing we have in America to fish and chips is Captain D's or Long John Silvers. I say it is the closest thing, but far from the being as good. Chips aka fries tend to cut from fresh potatoes. I am not sure if the fish is fresh, but it is north Atlantic cod which has a richer flavor and less rubbery texture. The mushy peas taste better than then the name suggests. The only thing I can compare them to is mashed lima beans. I had another pint of Blackthorn with my dinner.

After dinner I walked back to the pub for an evening drink and to chat with the locals. I met retired gentleman that has just started his own business. The business makes high end jackets for dogs. He like everyone I have met here has been very friendly. We discuss politics of Britain and America for a while. We shared similar view regarding the state of politics both here and back home. The pub was nearly full now. Towards the entrance people were playing some kind of trivia game. Several guys in the back of the room were finishing a table game similar to pool. The table was smaller than a traditional American pool table. The balls were only red or yellow. There was also a black 8 ball, but I can't recall if I saw a white ball. I thought of asking the bartender what they were playing, but I decided to focus on my pint of Blackthorn instead.

Aside from the bartender, I was the only person not smoking. What I found interesting is that everyone was rolling their own cigarettes. I inquired from a man sitting next to me why they roll their own cigarettes instead of purchasing them pre-made. He said he liked the flavor of a freshly roll cigarette, but the main reason was the cost saving. Cigarettes are almost $10 a pack in Britain. If he rolls his own he can get about 50 cigarettes out of one pouch. From what I understood the pouch of tobacco with paper and filter inserts is about 30% less.

Several people in the village and pub have asked where I am from. I took it as a very big compliment when several people said I had a "very lovely accent." I was told my accent sounded less brash than most Americans they had met. Many people, including colleagues here were surprised that I grew up in the Alabama due to the fact my southern accent isn't heavy. When I am around my parents or visiting friends back home it tends to creep back. My southern drawl began dissipating when I moved to Atlanta six years ago. That's all well in good as I think most businesses wouldn't like someone managing their multi-million dollar networks that sounded like Jeff Foxworthy. "Hey bubba, I'm fixin to get this here server workin'. Gimme a hollar and let me know when it's finishing fetching your mail. "

I was working on my fifth or sixth pint of cider for the evening when the bartender started the stereo. It was a mixed CD he had made. The first song was Glen Campbell's "Witchita Lineman." The second song was Kenny Roger's "Lucille." Half the pub began to sing in unison "In a bar in toledo across from the depot, On a barstool she took off her ring, I thought I'd get closer, So I walked on over, I sat down and asked her name, When the drink finally hit her, She said I'm no quitter, But I finally quit living on dreams..." I am not sure how popular country music is in the rest of the country, but it was very popular in this village.

I rounded off my evening with a final pint of Blackthorn before heading back to my room. For those suffering from jet lag or lack of sleep when visiting England, I suggest six or seven pints of cider.

"Alcohol, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems - Homer Simpson