Technology Terror

11/2/00: Paris, France

Having traveled and worked internationally before, we did all we could to prepare for the inevitable connectivity challenges. No matter. So much went wrong that our week in Paris turned into a week of technology terror (between meals, of course).

Just one example: When we were ready to download the first batch of photos from our new digital camera, we realized we forgot the necessary USB cable. So we checked a French megatechstore’s website. And talked to them on the phone (thanks to our French-speaking hosts). They claimed to have what we needed. So we drove across Paris to one of their stores. There, two “experts” disagreed on which cable would work. In the end, neither did. So we ended up FedExing the original cable from the states—which took days and barely arrived before our exit because of a French holiday. Meanwhile, our memory card was full so we could take no more pictures.

LATER IN ITALY, things went from bad to worse. Although we had a local access number that allowed us to get plugged in and turned on, the erratic 28,800 bps connection made completing this website a frustrating exercise in futility. Then the storms that blew out electricity and phone (intermittently and for our final week) made it completely impossible. We did have nearby friends with web access available, but they were fighting storm outages of their own—plus a rash of viruses, hackers, and nightmares too numerous to mention.

At home, we take 24/7 DSL, voicemail, c-phones, and more for granted. So far on our journey, we take what we can get—when we can get anything at all.

11/01/00: Richebourg, France

Travelling is most always meaningful. But it often gets profound when you go beyond the museums and restaurants and get a glimpse inside others’ lives.

Here, three generations of Parisians invite us to break bread with them at their country home—which served as stables for hundreds of years before renovation about 55 years ago.

10/31/00: Chatou, France

Food is omnipresent in Paris, and everywhere near there, including this fruit stand in the stately suburb of Chatou.

One bonus of taking pictures around Paris is that bystanders rarely bother to notice, including the vendor and customer in this scene. As the most touristed city in the world, Paris nonchalantly accepts her role as a photographer’s paradise.

10/30/00: Paris, France

More time zone changes (seven) than flight hours (five) separate D.C. from Paris.

When we walked like zombies off the plane, it was morning—and we whooshed through the translucent tubes of Charles De Gaulle Airport feeling as if we had landed on another planet. Later, we enjoyed a friend’s night tour of “the city of lights,” punctuated by dramatic vantages and views of the inimitable Eiffel Tower. The Tower sports a temporary “2000” to celebrate the new millennium. And every hour on the hour, strobes and sparkles swarm the structure like fireflies in July.

10/29/00: Washington, D.C.

The fact that we have left our life, home, and business behind befuddles many people.

“I just can’t imagine doing that!?!” has been the response from most folks. A few express envy. Some yawn and change the subject. Others enthusiastically cheer us on.

But we’re not all that concerned about garnering approval or applause. We’re taking this trip to accomplish a few things we believe in, such as…

• Spending more uninterrupted time together as a family.
• Stopping the treadmill for a while (even if to board another).
• Taking some temporary retirement while we’re “young” and able (rather than waiting until we’re 60-something).
• Pursuing personal projects. (For example, Kirk will be completing his book, entitled “Retire Now and Then,” about this very subject.
• Testing (again) the viability of 2 Heads in other locations. (We already have a few projects lined up, and expect some more.)
• Visiting old friends and making new ones.
• Seeing the world—literally—or at least a few fine corners of it.
• Seeking wisdom and perspective while investing in memories.

To be blunt, the planning and preparation was hell. We’ll spare you the details, and trust that we’ll soon forget them ourselves. But we’ve learned (and who hasn’t?) that most worthwhile endeavors require relentless, fearless effort. So away we go—leaping with faith and hope in our hearts. Are we crazy? Maybe. But to us, to not dream or try is the craziest of all.

10/29/00: Washington, D.C.

Art is everywhere, it seems, if you look hard enough.

This amazing jack-o-lantern sits in a neighborhood bar in D.C.’s theatre district—daring customers to grab a shot of the nearby gins and vodkas it protects. During the scary season, dozens of pumpkin-goblins carved by the same artist can be found in watering holes throughout this colorful city.

10/29/00: Washington, D.C.

Monuments and majesty abound in D.C.—enough to make even the most cynical citizen proud.

And the Mall features free diversions of all kinds. Here, the new National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden boasts an homage to cubism lorded over by a recently restored Washington Monument.

10/28/00: Washington, D.C.

After months of planning, angst, and sleep deprivation, we finally left home for a four-month sabbatical around the world.

First stop: Washington, D.C. While the East Coast can feel far away, the flight took less than two hours. We wanted some quintessential American cuisine before heading to Paris. So we headed to Ben’s Chili Bowl, a Washington, D.C. landmark that throbs with character and a soulful jukebox. We relished Ben’s chilidogs, fries with cheese and chili sauce, milk shakes, and Pepsi. Bon appetit!