Bozeman Montana:
Population: 35,000
Truck Owners: 30,000
Gun Owners: 25,000
Hunters: 20,000
Skiiers: 15,000
Average Commute time: 10 min
Thats about all there is to do in Bozeman.
Some random experiences in Bozeman from the week I was there include meeting some of the nicest people in America. There were a lot of 'how are you?', 'nice to see you' and 'have a nice day!' from total strangers. It was very refreshing.
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Stats:
115 travel days, 40 take offs and landings, 22,324 miles flown, 2,600 miles driven, 15,200 feet peak reached, 110 feet underwater dive, 5 continents visited, 8 oceans snorkeled, 14 visa stamps, 40 cities walked, 47 different beds slept in, 33 addresses exchanged, 6 one time email exchanges, 3 multiple exchanges, 5 books read, 7 pounds lost, 8 pounds gained, 3 police traffic stops, 2 tickets, no arrests. One 45 liter (4 day) back pack, 3 pairs of shoes, 5 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of underware, three pairs of pants, two pairs walking shorts, one pair running shorts, one pair board shorts, 4 shirts, toilette kit, electronic kit, miscellaneous kit; 13 Kilos or about 22 pounds. One shoulder bag, travel Sony Vaio laptop, Canon Digital SLR Camera, Sony compact digital camera, passport and travel wallet, two books, iPod (until fatal drop from balcony in Malta!) and various DVDs; 4 Kilos or about 12 pounds. One note book lost with important info and numbers….lost on LAST day of trip… Random Observations and lessons learned: Travel light. Get SKYPE and keep in touch. You are never too old to surf. Vegemite tastes better with toothpaste. With 25,000KM of open road, the Aussies need to learn from the Germans about speed limits. If a 500 pound calf is running straight at you, wave your arms. Americans are loud, Israeli old ladies are louder and are horrible dressers. Japanese tourists can be spotted from 300 yards by their stupid hats, and GLOVES! There is no law in Mexico. The three toed sloth has only three toes. It’s OK for a man to cry at weddings. Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The Whale-shark is neither shark nor whale. Running out of air in more than 100 feet of water is a bad idea. Looking at boobies is more fun that you think. Land iguanas and marine iguanas can live together. Guinea pigs can judge a persons character. You are more buoyant in water with heavier salt content. Wealthy travelers don’t play soccer in the square with local children. Daewoo should think about making a sports car. The knights of Malta were bad ass mother F&#&%RS. I still don’t like Berlin. Shopping carts at Woolworths in suburban German cities have magnets in the wheels so they won’t roll away while on the up and down escalators. 2500 years ago nations were fighting religious wars with spears, today with rockets, when will we learn? The world record for long distance paragliding is over 400 KM at a top speed of 55 Kilometers per hour. You can rent a bicycle in Helsinki for a 5 Euro deposit at any one of 15 different locations in the city. I look good with a shaved head. I don’t look like Tom of Finland. Never sell your watch to a stranger. I will do this again, but, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!! Summer in the Baltics is incredible! The weather is amazing and the crowds can easily be avoided, in fact the majority of locals in Helsinki and Tallinn, leave the cities for the country side!
I spent two nights in Helsinki, with one full day to explore around the empty city. The marina and the main park that leads from it to the city center is where I spent most of the time. The market at the marina is great, very similar to the Pike Place market in Seattle meaning you can buy anything you want from food to pants. Locally caught salmon on Finnish rye bread was my main staple while walking around. I hope you will agree with me that the fermented herring that had been buried in a cabbage roll for a year did not sound that good. My hotel was right on top of THE place to go on Thursday nights, but the 90 minute wait in line was not on my top ten list, so I stayed quiet and jumped on a ferry the next day to Tallinn, Estonia. I called the NW Airlines elite line at 11 PM London time, 6 hours before my scheduled departure time to Delhi, and was AMAZED at the level of service I received. In just a 30 minute call, I was able to cancel one flight I had, putting the miles back in my account, and change the flight that was leaving in only a few hours.
To Russia with love! I booked a flight to Helsinki, and will visit St Petersburg, Russia and Tallinn, Estonia for my last two weeks of the trip. Monday after the game started what is easily the low point of my trip so far. Getting my visa for India. My planning so far has been, to be honest PERFECT! No hitches, no major issues. I planned on getting my visa in Berlin based on the information posted on the website for the Embassy of India in Berlin, which clearly states that American citizens can receive a tourist visa on the same day for an additional charge.
I show up with 4 days to spare before my trip to Delhi, and was SHOCKED to hear that the Berlin Embassy would need to request permission from the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, and that it would take 5 DAYS!!!! |