Sabaka´s Sabbatical: It´s a tough life, but somebody´s gotta do it

Travelogue

6/15 Forest bike adventure
6/13 Zelezna Studienka, Kamzik
6/11 Mirbachov Palac-flute recital
6/10 Hike to Austria
6/9 Arrive Bratislava
6/8 Legoland
6/7 Reichstag
6/6 Flohmarkt am Mauerpark
6/5 Bike tour-Alexanderplatz, East Side Gallery, Rock, Paper, Scissors Bridge, Tiergarten
6/4 Arrive Berlin: Walking tour-Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Hitler's Bunker, Checkpoint Charliie
5/29 Devin by boat
5/28 Nove Mesto nad Vahom, Cachtice Castle, Beckov Castle
5/25 Arrive Bratislava
5/24 Levoca, Spisske Podhradie, Spiss Castle
5/23 Dobsinska Ice Cave, Arrive Poprad-AquaCity
5/22 Slovensky Raj National Park
5/21 Arrive Dedinky
5/14 Pancakes at Internat
5/2 Devin Castle
5/1 Majales Festival
4/30 Majales Festival
4/23 Kosice, Slovakia; Arrive Bratislava
4/22 Arrive Slatina, Ukraine to Uzhhorod
4/21 Sapanta: Merry Cemetery, Peri Monastery
4/20 Arrive Sighetu Marmatiei: Elie Wiesel House, Museum of Arrested Thought
4/19 Sinaia: Peles Castle, Bran: Dracula's Castle
4/18 Arrive Brasov, Romania: Tampa Mountain, White Tower, Black Tower
4/17 Transdniester: Bender fortress, Tiraspol
4/15 Milestii Mici Wine Cellar, Orheiul Vechi Cave Monastery
4/14 Arrive Chisinau, Moldova: Arc de Triomphe, Public Garden
4/13 Simferapol
4/12 Nikitsky Botanical Gardens, Great Livadia Palace
4/11 Mt. Ai-Petri
4/10 Alupinsky Palace Park, Swallow's Nest
4/9 Polyana Skazok, Prymorsky Park
4/8 Arrive Yalta
4/7 Balaklava: Genoese fortress
4/6 Panorama, Harbor Cruise
4/5 Arrive Sevastopol
4/4 Khan's Palace, Upspensky Monastery, Chufut-Kale
4/3 Arrive Bakhchysaray
4/2 Arkadia Beach
4/1 Humourina festival
3/31 Odessa catacombs
3/30 Arrive Odessa:Potemkin Steps, Port, Mother-in-law's Bridge
3/28 Uzhgorod castle
3/27 Vysne Nemecke border crossing, Arrive Uzhgorod, Ukraine
3/23 Poprad, Arrive Bratislava
3/22 Tatranska Lomnica, Stary Smokovec, Poprad: Aqua City
3/19 Arrive Zdiar
3/16 Arrive Bratislava
3/15 Strecno Castle, Hike to Stary Hrad
3/13 Arrive Zilina: Trekking/Travel Festival
3/9 Arrive Bratislava
3/8 Auschwitz-Birkenau
3/7 Wawel Hill, Rynek Glowny, Florian Gate, Kazimierz
3/6 Arrive Krakow: Wieliczka Salt Mine
3/3 Presidential Palace Gardens
3/1 Trencin: Trencin Castle, Mathias Tower
2/25 Kuchajda Lake
2/23 Slavin Hill
2/22 Strkovecke Lake
2/21 Nitra: Nitra Castle, St. Emeram Cathedral, Calvary
2/16 Arrive Bratislava
2/15 Arrive Sofia
2/14 Tsarevets Fortress, Asenevs Monumnet
2/13 Arrive Veliko Tarnovo: Gurko Street
2/12 Rila Monastery and Museum, Church of the Nativity
2/11 Arrive Sofia, Bulgaria: Aleksander Nevski Church, St. Nikolai Russian Church
2/7 Hammer and Sickle Tour: Memento Park, Arrive Bratislava
2/6 Walking Tour- Heroes' Square, Szechenyi Baths, Fishermen's Bastion, St. Stephen's Basilica
2/5 Central Kavehaz, Terror House, City Park, Vajdahunyad Castle (pig festival)
2/4 Arrive Budapest-Castle Hill
2/1 Blue Church
1/29 AuPark
1/20 Danube River Walk
1/16 Vienna-St. Stephan's Cathedral, Haus der Musik
1/13 Bratislava castle
1/8 Luggage arrives Bratislava
1/6 Bratislava's Old Town
1/5 Arrive Bratislava
12/17 Arrive Chicago
12/16 Arrive San Cristobal
12/15 Lancondon Jungle, Arrive Palenque
12/14 Yaxchilan, Bonampak
12/13 Arrive Palenque
12/12 Oventic
12/10 Sumidero Canyon
12/9 Iglesia de Guadalupe, Na Bolom Museum
12/8 Museum of Mayan Medicine
12/7 Arrive San Cristobal de las Casas
12/6 Palenque Archaeological Site, Misol-Ha waterfall, Agua Azul waterfall
12/4 Arrive Palenque
12/2 San Juan Chamula on horseback
11/30 Arrive San Cristobal de las Casas
11/27 Arrive Nayarit, Julie arrives!
11/25 Isla Rio Cuale, Playa de los Muertos
11/24 Malecon
11/23 Arrive Puerto Vallarta
11/22 Contemporary Art Museum, San Jose neighborhood festival
11/21 Xalapa City Museum, Cathedral
11/19 Parque Ecológico Macuitépetl
11/18 Arrive Xalapa
11/17 Ashram Coatepec
11/15 Arrive Coatepec: Cerro de las Culebras
11/14 Parroquia de Santa María Magdalena
11/13 Arrive Xico: Cascadas Texolo and de la Monja
11/12 Xalapa Anthropology Museum, Pinacoteca Diego Rivera
11/11 Architectural visit: Perote, Altotonga
11/9 Parque Paseo de los Tecajetes
11/8 Parque de los Tecajetes
11/7 Mom and Dad depart, Arrive Xalapa, Parque Juàrez
11/6 Tlatelolco, Teotihuacàn, Basìlica de Guadalupe
11/5 Anthropology Museum, Xochimilco, University City
11/4 Arrive Mexico City, Palacio Nacional, Templo Mayor, Catedral, Parque Alameda
11/3 Arrive Morelia, walking tour
11/2 Santa Clara del Cobre
11/1 Isla Janitzio, Cemeteries in Cucuchucho and Ihuatzio
10/31 Tzintzuntzan ruins, Santa Fe de la Laguna, Mezcalería Las Palomas Mensajeras, Erongarícuaro
10/30 Arrive Pátzcuaro, Cempasúchil fields in San Pedro
10/29 Morelia walking tour
10/28 Mom and Dad arrive!
10/27 Arrive Morelia
10/16 Arrive Guanajuato: Festival Cervantino
10/14 Morelia walking tour: Templo de San Francisco, Catedral, Jardín de las Rosas, Universidad San Nicolás
10/11 Arrive Morelia
10/10 Thanksgiving picnic
10/4 El Salto del Nopal waterfall
10/3 Las Piedrotas
10/1 Begin volunteering at CITAC
9/30 Arrive Tapalpa
9/27 Chapala and Ajijic-Malecon
9/26 Guadalajara
9/25 Arrive Ajijic
9/24 Colegio Valenciana
9/22 Callejoneada
9/21 Funicular to El Pipila Monument
9/20 Museo del pueblo, Casa Museo Diego Rivera, Mummy Museum
9/17 Museo Iconografico del Quijote
9/15 Dolores Hidalgo, Fiesta de la independencia
9/13 Hike from Santa Rosa to Guanajuato, Fiesta de San Nicolas
9/12 Archaeological Zones Peralta and Las Plazuelas, Tequileria Corralejo
9/11 Alhondiga de las Granaditas Museum
9/8 Orphanage Ciudad de los niños
9/6 San Miguel de Allende
9/5 Lucha libre
9/4 Ex-hacienda, Guanajuato
9/3 Cristo Rey, geographic center of Mexico, Minas de San Ramón
9/2 Arrive Guanajuato

Song lyrics that may or may not best sum up my mood today

Fallout shelter all the love in the world that keeps us in-The Feelers
DJ got us falling in love again so dance like it's the last night of your life-Usher
When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad-Sound of Music
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really use a wish right now-B.O.B.
I will love you Monday and you will hurt me Tuesday-Aura
La da da dee da da da da-La Bouche
If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate-Madonna
The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone-Traditional spiritual
I don't do windows, so honey don't ask. But I'm pretty good at drinking beer-Billy Currington
Round here we be ridin' topless-Jackie Boyz
It's my perogative. It's the way that I wanna live-Bobby Brown
Knock, knock, knocking on heaven's door-Bob Dylan
It's a party in the USA-Miley Cyrus
Vysokou horou obklopena, dedinka moja spi-Slovak folk song
When I get older, I will be stronger just like a wavin' flag-K'Naan
Waka, waka, eh, eh-Shakira
I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride my bike-Queen
I can't believe that I'm sharing a kebab with the most beautiful girl I've ever seen eating a kebab-Flight of the Conchords
If you're wondering if I want you to, I want you to-Weezer
And I thought, hello new shoes, bye-bye blues-Paolo Nutini
Sundown to sunrise, Dance all night, we gonna dance all night, dance all night to this DJ-Paul Oakenfold
All in all it's just another brick in the wall-Pink Floyd
I even painted my toe nails for you-Lena
I wish I was the souveneir you kept your housekey on-Pearl Jam
And you're singing the songs, thinking this is the life-Amy McDonald
Cause I'm a gypsy, are you coming with me? I might steal your clothes and wear them if they fit me-Shakira
"We've been looking for illegal immigrants. Can we check your car?" I say, "Funny, I think we were on the same boat back in 1694."-Indigo Girls
You're aging well-Dar Williams
I am so much older than I can take-Killers
Are you getting somewhere? Or did you get lost in Amsterdam?-Guster
All I ask of you is to turn him down. Confess the system at work here-Biffy Clyro
She drank beer with absinthe and that's the way I like it-Ben Lee
Whatever it is we are, we are-Sugar Ray
Muchacho vete ya a otro lugar, cabeza alta y lagrimas-Ella Baila Sola
They feed them little bribes and then they go-Death Cab for Cutie
Slow ride on a slow train-Shooter Jennings
The time is getting closer. The time to be a ghost-Tori Amos
Save the best part for last. Most stories have a hero who finds you make your past your past-Joshua Radin
I was your silver lining but now I"m gold-Rilo Kiley
She says I'm okay; I'm alright though you have gone from my life. You said that it would, now everything should be all right-Flogging Molly
I never thought, how was I to know that you would leave me now?-Nil Lara
We'll get to know each other for a second time and then you can tell me about your prison stay-Zombies
I'm once bitten twice shy baby-Great White
You know with love come strange currencies-REM
She's red, but I love her. Hammer and sickle on my mind-House of Heroes
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions-Kermit
You and me and the bottle make three tonight-Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Whip it good-Devo
I know politics bore you but I feel like a hypocrite talking to you and your racist friend-They Might Be Giants
Hey monkey what's life without an occasional surprise?-Counting Crows
Sky of blue and sea of green in our yellow submarine-Beatles
Only way that I know how to escape from this 8 mile road-Eminem
See thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly-Godspell
You're hot then you're cold, you're yes then you're no-Los Colorados
Keep him tied, it makes him well. He's getting better, can't you tell?-Metallica
Cause only a fool would do this again-Marit Larsen
Rockin' to the gentle beat and the rhythm of the rails is all they feel-Arlo Guthrie
It's just an observation I can't ignore that people should smile more-Newton Faulkner
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold-Dire Straits
I could use somebody-Kings of Leon
Que sera, sera-Doris Day
I try to laugh whatever life brings. Cuz when I look down, I just miss all the good stuff. When I look up, I just trip over things.-Ani DiFranco
Under the rocks and stones there is water underground. Letting the days go by, into the silent water-Talking Heads
Maps, Wait!-Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs
Play me some mountain music like grandma and grandpa used to play-Alabama
With nobody to keep him warm at night when he go to sleep, he sleep alone with his cold feet-Anthony B
Luck, if you´ve ever been a lady to begin with, luck be a lady tonight-Frank Sinatra
The mountains win again-Blues Traveler
Do you love me, do you surfer girl?-Beach Boys
A kiss is not a contract but it's very nice-Flight of the Conchords
They call me her. They call me Jane. That's not my name-Ting Tings
Stop with the violence. Down with the hate. One day we'll all be free and proud to be under the same sun singing songs of freedom-Matisyahu
Up in the backwoods, down in the holler, old boys feelin' like a dog on a collar-Brooks & Dunn
Made a lot of stops all over the world. And in every port I own the heart of at least one lovely girl-Ricky Nelson
Next the walls were closed on me and I discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand-Coldplay
What was once holy water tastes like bitter wine-Bon Jovi
It's not that I don't care at all. We lost touch so long ago.-Wilco
Nech boze da, nech boze da ten vitazny gol.-Hymna hokejistov
What if god was one of us, just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus-Joan Osborne
Four more seasons for all that's broken to mend. Four more reasons why I can't go back there again-Counting Crows
I saw an angel. Of that I'm sure. She smiled st me on the subway-James Blunt
No me pidas mas de un momento. No puedo, no quiero darte mas.-Ella Baila Sola
Nice to meet you anyway-Gavin DeGraw
Yo queria dormir contigo y tu no querias dormir sola. Y nos dieron las diez y las once, las doce y la una, y las dos y las tres-Joaquin Sabina
Where the weather goes I'll follow. Pack up my traveling things-Mark Knopfler
It's a lonely, lonely feelin' when your Valentine is wrong-Old 97s
I can blow a thousand deutschmarks to get drunk in a pub with some Australians-Bare Naked Ladies
Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?-James Taylor
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you-Nancy Sinatra
It was well conceived in theory but it doesn't work in life. Comrade has to wonder-Soltero
Says, "Would've cut it myself if I knew men could climb hair. I'll have to find another tower somewhere and keep away from the windows"-Sara Bareilles
Pinche migra, dejame en paz-Santana
I just want enough space to turn around and face the truth-Goldfinger
We under the rubble again; here we go rumbling-Jay-Z
Change your life forever too, if a song could get me you-Marit Larsen
Sin dudar ni esperar, solo hay tiempo para amar-Kudai
I did not go outside yesterday. Don't wake me cuz I'm dreaming and I might just stay inside again today-Counting Crows
But these stories dont mean anything if youve got no one to tell them to-Brandi Carlile
If you catch me at the border, I've got visas in my name-MIA
I wont ask much of nobody. Im just here to sing along. And make my mistakes look gracious and learn some lessons from my wrongs-Jason Mraz
The rest is still unwritten-Natasha Bedingfield
Here I go again on my own-Whitesnake
Bear witness to a journey thats been well traveled so far-Carrie Newcomer
Im blue, Da ba de da ba di-Eiffel 65
There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando-ABBA
Desde entonces para el mexicano ser Guadalupano es algo esencial
Cada vez que me miras, cada sensación, se proyecta la vida-Fito Paez
When my legs no longer carry and the warm wind chills my bones, I reach for Mother Mary, and I shall not walk alone-Ben Harper
We were hopping and bopping to the crocodile rock-Elton John
I wake up to the sound of music. Mother Mary comes to me-Beatles
And Mary was amazed that they would ever even meet. But God her help he sought, his trinity to complete-Sons of the Never Wrong
When I get healed I'm gonna be a healer, That´s just the nature of those things-Carrie Newcomer
Vida más simple la de ayer, vida más dulce la de ayer, con sabor a chocolate-Nil Lara
Are you still growing wild with everything tame around you?-U2
Con los ojos no te veo. Sé que me viene el mareo-Bajofondo Tango Club
Sigue lloviendo, sigue lloviendo al corazón. Dime qué diablos voy a hacer-Maná
I said, "In these shoes? I don't think so"-Kirsty MacColl
¿Qué hora son en Washington?-Manu Chao
How painful it must be to bruise so easily inside-Natalie Merchant
Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet-The National
Save a horse, ride a cowboy-Big & Rich
I´ll never be your beast of burden. My back is broad, but it`s a hurting-Rolling Stones
I´ll be there climbing up the walls-Radiohead
I read bad poetry into your machine-REM
Pablo Neruda, me, and little Buddha were sittin' on a stoop just wasting time-Sons of the Never Wrong
Theologians don't know nothin' about my soul-Wilco
You take your car to work. I`ll take my board. And when you`re out of fuel, I'm still afloat-Weezer
When the shark bites with his teeth, dear, Scarlet billows start to spread-Bobby Darin
Gobble, gobble, gobble!-Frank Hennessy
You're lucky to be drinking here for free cuz I'm a sucker for your lucky, pretty eyes-Liz Phair
You can never escape. You can only move south down the coast-Counting Crows
I'm gonna clear my head. I'm gonna drink that sun-Indigo Girls
If you think that our dance was all in the hips, oh well, then do the twist-White Stripes
I'll never hold what could've been on a cold and lonely night-Tiffany
When a thing is wick and someone cares about it and comes to work each day, like you and me, Will it grow? It will-Secret Garden
A hundred years of solitude give an otherwise happy woman an attitude-Sons of the Never Wrong
Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out of you and me
In a coffee shop in a city which is every coffee shop in every city on a day which is every day-Ani DiFranco
I wish it was a small world cuz I´m lonely for a big town-Counting Crows
¡Ay! Como rezumba y suena, rezumba y va rezumbando-Son jarocho
Where you are, never really far away. Good morning Aztlan-Los Lobos
I can't believe that we would lie in our graves wondering if we had spent our living days well-Dave Matthews Band
There ain´t no rest for the wicked until we close our eyes for good-Cage the Elephant
Y los muertos aquí lo pasamos muy bien entre flores de colores-Mecano
You belong among the wildflowers-Tom Petty
Save some sorrow in your hearts and minds for the things that die before their time-Counting Crows
Cuando el reloj marca la una, las calaveras salen de su tumba-Chumbalaca
And she´ll say Look what I had to overcome from my last life. I think I´ll write a book-Indigo Girls
Es cuestión de tiempo y fe-Shakira
Sad woman, take it slow. It will work itself out fine. All we need is just a little patience.-Guns N´ Roses
You´ve been looking at me just a little too long. Now I can never look the same-Ben Harper
Oh, happy day-Harlem Gospel Choir
Been caught stealing-Jane´s Addiction
We were certainly uncertain. At least I'm pretty sure I am.-Modest Mouse
He's gonna swing from the tree of life. He's gonna try to sell you on a great big lie.-Cake
What's so great about the Barrier Reef? What's so fine about art?-Old 97's
If I go there will be trouble. And if I stay there will be double.-The Clash
La vida es un carnaval. Es mas bello vivir cantando.-Celia Cruz
Have I got everything? Am I ready to go? Is it gonna be wild? Is it gonna be the best time?-Dar Williams
Tengo la esperanza de un cambio en mí-CITAC
Make a better place with my own two hands. Make a kinder place with my own two hands.-Ben Harper
God´s work isn´t done by God, it´s done by people.-Ani DiFranco
Eve took the fruit. Eve bit the fruit. Juice ran down her chin.-Joan Osborne
When you're ready and willing and of the right mind, the right teachers come along most of the time-Carrie Newcomer
But you sure better believe me when I tell you your mind´s what´s hot-Eric Hutchinson
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints-Billy Joel
Eat it, eat it, open up your mouth and feed it-Weird Al Yankovic
Y retiemble en sus centros la Tierra, al sonoro rugir del cañon-Himno nacional mexicano
I´m goin´on down the mountain on my two feet and I´m goin´ slow-Old 97s
I went to see the doctor of philosophy with a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee-Indigo Girls
It finds me through the mask I wear and I see it through my eyes closed-Brett Dennen
Hallelujah for the getaway-Sons of the Never Wrong

¡Qué rico! Most delicious morsels consumed

Books Finished

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Great! Sorry I missed the book club discussion about it)
How We Choose to Be Happy by Rick Foster and Greg Hicks (a bit self-helpy, but a good reminder of how our attitudes shape our world)
You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers (he's my hero-highly recommended)
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (highly recommended, especially if you're a Phillippe Petit fan)
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (Wow, she's so good. And perfect themes for my sabbatical-Mexico and communism)
Demasiados Heroes by Laura Restrepo (not as good as Delirio, but recommended, all the same)
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (only extremely recommended if you're willing to seriously consider vegetarianism)
Malinche by Laura Esquivel (I'd stick to non-fiction on this topic)
Cuentos de Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, another reread (love it!)
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, a reread (one of my fave books ever)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (recommended)
How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone by Sasa Stanisic (exuberently recommended)