European Vacation 2006

A Short Vacation

If you're reading this, it must be that time of year again. Yep - As I write this I'm on a British Airways flight to Europe - for a month. Normally I manage to escape from my vacation lifestyle in Santa Monica for 6 or more weeks, but this year I had to cut my trip tragically short. Short??? I know. I'm a bit spoiled, but for some reason a month doesn't seem long enough. As Mark (a good friend and also one of my best customers) so readily pointed out, I can't really expect to expand my business if I keep leaving town for these extended periods of time. So everyone should keep their fingers crossed; we don't want any major work emergencies while I'm away.

Needless to say, I don't exactly plan my trips in a conventional way. As always it started with my intention to just go...somewhere. And of course I never travel to just one city, but a trip has to start some place, doesn't it? So I chose my first destination and my dates - an adventure requires just that and a willingness to follow your nose. This year my journey will begin on May 28 and end on June 29 in Budapest, Hungary.



If you're wondering why you should waste your time reading this stuff - I mean how much crap mail can anyone possibly sift through? Here's the deal. I make no promises, but every year has produced some drama. I've been stuck in Russia with no visa or passport, bribed my way through Belarus, and got stitches in Romania(don't forget the photos). Oh - and don't forget the Fins. They are always good for some laughs. Anyway, I promise to throw in some good photos along the way.

Why Budapest? Long story. This will be my third year there. I made a commitment to my father and cousin that I would go again this year, but I'm hoping to drag them to Bratislava or someplace else for a few days. Nevertheless, I can't see myself spending more than a week there.

As soon as I knew I was going to the continent, I got the word out. I can't go to Europe without trying to round up the Fins. Who or what are the Fins you ask? As it turns out some of my best friends are Finnish. I met Anders & Joen in St. Petersburg in 2002, and I've seen them every year since. And now I call a dozen or more Fins my friends. I didn't know how or where, but I knew I would be seeing them again this year. More on that later.

When I talk about my trips, invariably someone asks why I don't go to more conventional destinations. Why haven't I been to France? Why not Spain? My canned answer is that I don't want to go to the more romantic destinations by myself. I would prefer to go with someone I care about. And yet this time I'm going to Barcelona, Spain.

This year I met an amazing woman, and at some point I invited her to meet me in Europe. At the time she didn't believe I meant it; I guess it sounded like a line. Well, the line didn't get me anywhere, but three months later, a weekend in Toronto, a weekend in LA, and she's meeting me in Spain. I told her I'd meet her anywhere she chose. So from June 5th to the 13th I'll be sunning and dancing on the beaches and clubs of Barcelona.

About the time my plans with Kristin (the romantic interest) solidified, I heard from Anders. He wrote in an email that I had a choice. I could meet them the weekend of June 16 in Estonia, where Joen's family has a vacation home, or I could return to Helsinki for Midsummers about a week later. Midsummers is an important Finnish holiday that revolves around the time when the the sun doesn't set. Anders assured me that he could round up the crew for a weekend-long party in Estonia. If I had to choose between the two, I obviously would choose the party in Estonia. Luckily, in an email about a week later, Anders clarified the invitation - I could come to both. There's only one catch - I need to entertain myself in between. Like that will be a problem. ;)

As soon as I heard I was going to be in Estonia, I looked into a getting a visa to Russia (surprised?), but the Russian Document Center in Hollywood quoted me nearly $500 to get the proper documentation on short notice. I'm under the impression that I can get a better deal at the border - this could be trouble. If for some reason I can't get into St. Pete, I figure I can train my way around the Baltics for a bit and take a ferry from Talinn to Helsinki just in time for Midsummers. It should at least be as fun as last years Vaapu.

Well there's my plan. I can't say it will go as simply as I've spelled out here, but that's the nature of my travel. Keep an eye out for my newsletters - you never know what you'll be reading.

posted by Adam Stern @ 4:04 PM