Corfu Greece

With my able accomplice Ivan -
A Ipsos was ok perhaps too late in the season for much fun and frolics, weather was fine ok could have been better, Corfu town just a commercial port not mych to it.
The bus trip exposed us to the driving techniques of the greeks! and the commentary of "Panoramic view"over and over again....
We were denied a trip to Albania by political sensitivities due to the war in Yugoslavia.
Cycling was difficult but good fun in a masacistic kinda way - up to the celestialnamed Kassiopi
The boat trip was good as well got a chance to try a few knots when docking - the clove hitch!
When the US Aircraft carrier came to the bay it was full of yanks loud and broke the restfulness

California

Autumn 1998 I ended up in California,my first time in the US, went to San Francisco and LA with BT and Ronan. Landing in the US was interesting, especially since I was the first not to get "Incorrecto" shouted at me by the customs official, he made some quips about shamrocks but nervously i didn't know where to walk, since all i could see was the incorrecto queue, then folding doors opened Get Smart-like and I was in America. Strangley I enjoyed LA more than San Fran, contrary to my expectations.
San Franscisco was good for Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and Park, street chess players and the cable cars. Felt awkward when followed by beggars, which was annoying.
LA - There was lots to do, I liked the tacky tours, Universal was good disney not so much, Manhattan beach was nice and close to the sea - i enjoyed a dip each day we were there. Hired bikes and cycled round the airport and up to Venice Beach which is a freak show and worth a visit.
Drivin up the ventrura highway with Julio and Ronan in a pontiac was also memorable. I couldn't convince Ronan to visit the Ronald Reagan museum alas. On the Bus tour with the Persian driver who photographed any celebrity he gave a lift to was interesting, especially when there was a traffic jam due to a shooting! Still a good trip.