We made it today to Napoli. The train ride lasted seven hours, including the crossing from Sicily to the mainland of Italia. Getting around is difficult with only English, some Spanish and very little Italian. We have learned more but still it is tricky. The hostel owner Luka in Catania was really helpful and helped us get around Catania. We explored Catania with our new adventurous friend Ann from Texas/India. The local people that we have met, and there have been a lot, are friendly especially when you ask their name. We still however are unclear on exactly how to say 'what is your name?' it is funny that they all know Arizona and the phoenix suns and many have been to flagstaff to see the canyon. Anyways we have not found Internet very easily, but then we haven't really been looking for it.

This is Maxie's best friend, Santo. We met him on the bus from Palermo to Catania. 

We are in Palermo. We know about five words in Italian. si, no, come se dicca (how do you say), and vini. We managed to get food and it was super tasty, and bought some hazelnuts for a snack. i wish they sold them in the US on every street corner. I think my camera is still in London. Do no think we will ever meet again unfortunately. It is beautiful here, and the language is super awesome and mostly ununderstandable, and there are dead animals in the street occasionally.
bye!

It took a long long time to get in London, where we A) aren't supposed to be and B) are surrounded by the trickiness of finding a place to sleep while Wimbledon is going on. We have found a place to sleep, but it is not ideal.
The trip here was a mess. Our first plane landed in Cincinatti not Detroit, which caused us to miss our flight to London. when we finally did make it to Detroit, it was too late to go anywhere so they put us up in a hotel. The next day we were sent to Boston where we hung out for a while before finally trying to leave for London. Our plane here was delayed systematically by the different problems before we could finally go anywhere.
Now in London we intend to drink tea, ride trains and buses, and poach this Killers concert going on somewhere, we just have to find it.
Maybe one day, if we are lucky, we will find our way to Sicilia.

These pictures, and all other pictures from the trip, come from Maxie's (and some of mine from her camera) lovely photography because my camera didn't make it.

I spent the last week helping dad around the house, painting this, fixing that, along with resting my own body, eating lots of good food, not spending money, and taking pictures.
Here are some pictures from around the house.

Srg is my car, partner in crime, and for the last six weeks also my home. I have found that a combination of camping, couches, and the back seat of Srg provide a good base for getting out and exploring.

Since i've called Srg home, he has been pumped full of gas in Flagstaff, Scottsdale, and Selligman, AZ; Vegas, Reno, and Gardenerville, NV; Mammoth Lakes, CA; Brooks, Klamath Falls, Portland, and Pendleton, OR; Boise, ID; SLC, and Panguitch, UT. In order to hear about that adventure, I recommend heading over to the trip blog that i write regarding all adventures ski related.
Steez Gear Goes Hood
I've learned to live without perishables, and generally without cooking utensils, although friends have proven Emily Dickinson right: "My friends are my estate." Showers, ovens, couches, ice, and kettles are amongst the various really handy things the awesome people I call friends have helped me out with.

Pip represents the spirit of adventure. This can be easily redefined case-by-case and person-by-person. For me, Pip represents saying yes, going places, leaving "home," learning, trying new things, meeting new people. In a decision making situation, one can ask oneself: what would Pip say? I try to follow Pip even though I don't know where it will lead me or what or who Pip really is. The idea is that I will be able to collect all the things I learn and make the best from them, because at age 19, I don't know much.

In other news, I just got a new camera and am at my dad's house preparing for departure to Europe in a week.
About this blog: I never blogged much before, and I never read any really either, so I'm just going to write here regarding the trouble I find.