Monday, September 11, 2006

Here and Now, There and Then.

Like a stray cat in an alley trashcan, I am moonlighting it illegally in my office right now. I have some time sensitive deliverables I need to churn out and my current state of non-residency here is forcing me to work from home during the day like a red headed bastard stepchild, which is proving to be more difficult than expected. Costa Rica is still on the witch-hunt for non-residential workers, even though its people like us who are helping jump start the non-existent economy here. The irony is, it’s the government that makes obtaining residency so convoluted. So not only do they fuck it up on the front end, they punish you on the backend for not understanding the process easily enough to get it done in a timely manner. Perfecto! Our company has provided us with an immigration attorney who has helped grease the cogs on this antiquated train, now if he would only answer his phone and return emails, we’d be in business.

I am still trying to condense my thoughts and experiences from my recent European vacation into readable format. So much to say, such little space to say it in. 6 Cities, 19 days, airports, train stations, champagne lounges, fumatoriums, beers, bars, dark rooms, darker bathrooms..so much to say. The trip, while successfully executed, was long…almost too long. I know I’ve become older when I start to feel over-vacationed and I definitely felt that way towards the end of it all. I am proud to report that JH, CH and I endured through it all without a major coming to Jesus, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. CH kept us in first class all the way at half the price, JH made sure schedules were kept even if they started at 12 noon and I tried to provide the right amount of comic relief, especially when inappropriate, to keep things interesting. A well oiled, traveling machine we steamrolled through Europe and attracted every inch of fun to be had along the way.

To the many friends we made, Pippin (the Gibraltaran), Mr. not-so-veilied insulter (the Londoner), Bathroom boy, (the prince of Genovia), Big Scary Italian Drag Princess and her protégés, God-in-waiting Mr. Strip Italia and of course Mr. Pan-y-agua, who made countless appearances, we thank you for your European hospitality. We know you’ll understand our refusal to wear denim fishermans pants, exposed man-g-strings or sport hastily chopped sporty mullets. We did however adopt your manbag acceptance policy and joined the MorningWood fan club. That’s just enough to make us feel edgy and euro-snobby.

More to come.. For now…here are some fotos….


Barcelona- Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia


Beers at the Hofbrauhaus in Munchen


Vaticans Oppulance


JH Sleepy in Magnifica Class

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It seems like you had a great time. I love the photos especially Hofbrauhaus as I look at one of my steins. I visited that place everytime I headed out east and became friends with the four German guys that did not speak a lick of English and I did not speak a German, however, we shared on thing buying beer for the group. Did you notice the swastikas on the ceiling.

You can think the great Oscar Arias Sanchez the former president and Nobel Peace Prize Winner for some of those laws. Once, I got in an argument with his land reforms he was not to pleased that others were agreeing with me.

Anonymous said...

P.S. When in Barcelona did you head to the gay resort town. I was just talking to a guy that was there. He said he had a blast.

Anonymous said...

P.S. When in Barcelona did you head to the gay resort town. I was just talking to a guy that was there. He said he had a blast.

Anonymous said...

P.S. When in Barcelona did you head to the gay resort town. I was just talking to a guy that was there. He said he had a blast.

StratoCade said...

Paging Mr. Panyagua. Mr. Panyagua to the fumatorium please...

Kelicious said...

I love it, can't wait to hear the real stories!