An old college journal found by accident led to an inspiration 34 years later. I had always told oral stories about my travels and encounters at parties and pubs to positive responses, and reactions. After a while, I thought I might actually have a book to write here?!

It’s like a “Let’s Go Europe” travel book for those who venture to go beyond their own comfort zones. Traveling isn’t just getting into long, endless lines at the airport during the holidays. Rail is the way to go if you want to see the actual country and not from 30,000 feet. That is, of course, if you don’t have thousands of miles to cover like one doesn’t have in Western Europe. In the Spring of 1989, the Iron Curtain was still standing, and the Soviet Empire still reigned over Eastern Europe. Therefore, we were limited on where we could go, however we did manage to go behind the Iron Curtain at one point and view the former Communist World.

It explores the trials and tribulations of college students going way out of their normal surroundings, not only just to continue their college educations, but also to learn a “metric butt-load” about the world and themselves most importantly. If you want to do something amazing, see something amazing, or even achieve your wildest dreams, you’re going to have to go beyond the horizon and venture into the unknown. While the pomp in that sounds glorious, fluffy, and boisterous, the reality is that it’s true. You’ll never see the world by staying in “Mayberry”.