News and Updates

PART 70

I head back to the States, and Charlotte stays in France. How does it all end?

Find out in Part 70. 

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Posted by jv on November 16, 2007

ENCOUNTERS WITH THE MIDDLE EAST

Before I post Part 70 -- the final installment -- I wanted to exploit everyone's captive eyeballs and plug a new book that I’m a part of: Encounters With the Middle East.

The book is published by the good folks at Travelers Tales, and features musings on the Middle East by prominent writers such as Rolf Potts, Jeff Greenwald, Bruce Feiler, Tim Mackintosh-Smith, and ... yours truly. My piece, "Kidnapped by Syrian" Hospitality, was not originally published as part of Pigs in the Toilet, so you’ll have to buy the book in order to read it (though you can find a slightly different version on the Web).

The book is available at Amazon and Powell’s, among others. Check it out, and feel free to spread the word.

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Posted by jv on November 14, 2007

PART 69

After six months, eleven countries, and a multitude of memories, Charlotte and I say goodbye for real. But it’s only temporary. We hope.

Take one last spin around Paris in Part 69.

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Posted by jv on November 13, 2007

PART 68

French girls might get what they want ... but what exactly is that? There’s not much time left for me to find out.

Explore the options in Part 68.

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Posted by jv on November 9, 2007  

PART 67 

After nearly six months on the road, battling everything from illness to conniving bus drivers, I confront my "real" worst fear: The French. Specifically, Charlotte’s friends and family.

Meet the (foreign) parents in Part 67.

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Posted by jv on November 6, 2007 

PART 66

Some time alone with my brother turns my thoughts toward home. And not necessarily in a good way.

Reality looms in Part 66.

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Posted by jv on November 2, 2007

PART 65

Charlotte’s trip comes to an end in Prague, as she heads home to help organize her friend’s wedding. I stay behind ... just for one more day with Curtis.

We rehearse "the end" in Part 65.

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Posted by jv on October 30, 2007 


PART 64

Curtis arrives in Budapest, and we start making plans for Ukraine. First stop: The Embassy, where we learn that the Ukrainians don’t want us quite as bad as we want them.

Bureaucracy foils a family reunion in Part 64.

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Posted by jv on October 23, 2007


PART 63

We plunge into Europe with five months of experience under our belts, and I can’t help but pity all the young, naive backpackers. But after one spectacular blunder, I’m sure they can’t stop laughing at me.

Pot meets kettle in Part 63.

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Posted by jv on October 19, 2007 

PART 62

Some people enjoy long train trips. Those people are crazy.

Take a slow ride from Istanbul to insanity (and bitch-slap Paul Theroux along the way) in Part 62.