Embark

A YOUNG MAN'S DIRECTION IN LIFE CHANGES WHILE JOURNALING A SIX-MONTH TRAVEL ADVENTURE THROUGHOUT THE MEDITERRANIAN. FROM A CAREFREE COLLEGIATE LIFE OF DRUG DEALING AND REMAINING TRUE TO OTHER'S MISSIONS IN LIFE TO LIVING FOR HIMSELF. HE MUST SHED SOME OLD FRIENDS AND HABITS ALONG THE WAY, BUT A WHOLE NEW WORLD OPENS TO HIM. FROM TEXTBOOKS TO RICH CLASSIC NOVELS. FROM PICTURES OF WORLD REKNOWNED ART-WORK TO ACTUALLY SEEING THIS ART-WORK FOR HIMSELF. DEPENDENCY TO INDEPENDENCE. THE PURPOSE WAS TO BROADEN HIS BASE OF EXPERIENCES TO HELP CREATE MORE MEANING IN HIS LIFE AHEAD. HIS FAMILY AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN ARE CRITICALLY EXAMINED THROUGH HIS LOG ENTRIES OF HIS TRAVELS AS HE REALIZED THE LIMITATIONS TO EACH. TRAVEL COMPANIONS REMAIN REFLECTIVE WITH HIM ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS.

1973 HITCHHIKING TOUR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AREA. JOURNALED DAILY FOR SIX MONTHS ON THE ROAD BY A 21-YEAR-OLD MIDWESTERN AMERICAN FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE. WRITING FRIEND ACCOMPANIES TRAVELER ALL THE WAY TO TURKEY. TRAVELS FROM NEW YORK TO ICELAND TO LUXEMBOURG. PARIS, LONDON, AMSTERDAM, MUNICH AND ATHENS. ROOFTOP ACCOMMODATIONS IN PARIS AND THESSALONIKI. VAN GOGH MUSEUM, LE LOUVRE, HOFBRAUHAUS, DACHAO CONCENTRATION CAMP, ORIENT EXPRESS FROM LJUBLJIANA TO THESSALONIKI. GREEK ISLANDS TO TURKEY WHERE TRAVELS WERE EXTENSIVE. ANKORA, ESKISEHIR, ISTANBUL, AKCAKOCA AND ANTALYA. ADVENTURES INCLUDE MEERSHAUM PIPE FACTORY, BLACK SEA HIGH TIDES AND JAIL TIME IN ANTALYA. COMPANION'S FAMILY BECOMES FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME WHILE STAYING WITH THEM IN ANKORA FOR SIX WEEKS. THE REST OF THE JOURNEY IS SOLO. A FLIGHT FROM ANKORA TO ROME. THE POPE AND DAVINCI. LEANING TOWER OF PISA. EL DUOMO AND THE UFIZI IN FLORENCE. TRAINRIDE TO VENICE BRINGS HIM TOGETHER WITH A TRAVELING AUSTRALIAN WOMAN. TO THE OKTOBERFEST. A COMMITMENT TO TRAVEL TOGETHER. LOVE IN THE SWISS ALPS, EVENTFUL ENCOUNTER WITH SWISS PILOT, MARSEILLES, COSTA DEL SOL. REALIZED LOVE LIMITATIONS IN BARCELONA. MADRID TRAIN RIDE BACK TOPARIS. SORBONNE STUDENTS ARRANGE SAINT DENIS ACCOMMODATIONS WITH FRENCHMAN. BROKEN PHONE CALL TO DEPARTED AUSTRALIAN WOMAN. A LONELY PARIS IN NOVEMBER. LAST EXCUSION TO MOROCCO VIA MALAGA. HASH MAILING BACK TO PARIS FROM MOROCCO. AND BACK HOME BY CHRISTMAS. A LIFETIME TO MEASURE THE VALUE OF THE JOURNEY TAKEN AND THE IMPACT ON HIS JOURNEY AHEAD.

Born 1952 in small midwestern town in Michigan. Michigan State University for BA degree in Psychology, Sociology and Political Science. MA from Western Michigan University in Educational Leadership. 41 year career working with underprivileged youth. Counselor & Alternative Educational High School administrator. Two children and a granddaughter. Active in community as coach of baseball, soccer and basketball. Writing for newspapers during educational career. Athletic events with local child advocacy focus. Several years with a film review column leading to covering the Cannes Film festival in 1986.