…I spent my first day in Europe. Yes… one year ago today was the start of EuroSix. Actually… I left on the 13th and kicked things off in London the morning of the 14th. That’s also where I spent Valentine’s Day with an Italian fellow by the name of Pier. Remember the guy who called me “Lan Don”?

The book is underway (though I appreciate all the “WHERE’S THE BOOK?!?!” messages and phone calls as of late) though there’s a good reason behind the delay. I love you all. I won’t let you down.

Ugh. You know that feeling when you think back to something you enjoyed so much… only to get that cramp in your stomach just wishing you could do it all over again, not knowing what would happen… the the ups… the downs… getting kicked off a train… meeting new friends on a bus in Italy… seeing the Pope… actually watching a good soccer game… standing for an hour in the rain just to stare at the Eiffel Tower… braving Budapest… riding in my very own sleeper car… waking-up to 8 inches of fresh snow in Austria… freezing my buns off for photos… rejecting hookers… almost getting in a fight over gummy bears… going to the Olympics… feeding bears with a kid who speaks gibberish… sleeping on the ground… and of course, watching Laguna Beach in Italian.It was worth every minute and every penny. I’m so happy I had all of you to follow along.

I leave you with my “oh my gosh, I can’t believe you actually sat there and made that video” video of my sleeper car to Vienna. It was a long day. I was wet. I’d been lugging my pack around Venice for 8 hours, and I got a room all to myself. I was happy. Here it is. Make fun, if you will.

In an effort to best secure all copyrights and tweak last minute issues, Eurosix won’t be release for 1 more week. I knew that when I set the November 7th date I was shooting for as a target that was almost unattainable… but I shot for it anyway, not understanding just how long the tweaks and twerks would take.

I’ve been unusually busy around here the past week (ie – going to bed at 4 AM as opposed to the usual 2 AM) and I want to do this to the best of my ability. Seeing as this snuck up on me as fast as it did to many of you… I don’t believe I’ll be receiving any death threats for the release of the book.

So, put your credit/debit cards back into your wallets/purses and camp out for one more week as Landon Howell Publishing presents the first product in its best possible form.

get ready for a blitz over the next few days… you’ll know when it’s next Tuesday.

I kidded in a serious tone after I attended this soccer game in Rome between AS Roma and SS Lazio during my Eurosix trip.

The first video is 45 minutes before the game – BEFORE THE GAME. At the end you can see my buddy Matthew from Belgium. He loves to smoke. He also cussed at the opposing side in Italian during the entire game. He’s classic.

In the second video it gets nuts just before the game starts:

This was one of the greatest sporting events I ever attended – and I hate soccer.

A little late… but all of my photographs from the weedville that is Amsterdam are now available for your viewing pleasure.

My favorite photos are here… here… here… and this group of old men looking through piles of old books.

Also… remember the bike pedal I broke? This was my lovely replacement.

Oh – don’t forget about the Prostitution Information Center or the red light district.

Photos from Amsterdam.

Since everybody’s got Da Vinci Code madness, I figured that I needed to dig back into my Eurosix stash and show a couple of videos I haven’t shown before.

NOTE: You’re not suposed to photograph and/or video the Mona Lisa. Oops! ;)

ROCK! If they’d only had this a couple months ago.

Take a peek at the Charles Bridge in Prague… or my Boat Hostel in Germany… or the Bear Pit in Bern, Switzerland.

Or… just take a peek at the line at the Eiffel Tower. (Lawd!)

Go at night time… the view is prettier.

I’m gonna go waster some time… Google Earth – Europe.

A question I do not mind answering, but one that can consume too much time once I begin explaining and others begin asking questions.

Look to this map.

London, England was my starting point, then I worked south, going somewhat-counterclockwise to Paris, France… Bern, Switzerland… Florence, Italy… Torino, Italy… Pisa, Italy… Rome, Italy… Cortona, Italy… Venice, Italy… Vienna, Austria… Budapest, Hungary… Prague, Czech Republic… Berlin, Germany… Amsterdam, The Netherlands… Bruges, Belgium… and back to London, England.

Miles : 3,500 [approximately, point-to-point]

Number of Cities : 15

Number of Countries : 10

Favorite Small City : Bruges, Belgium

Favorite Large City : Berlin, Germany

I snapped this with my Treo yesterday at the gym. I was without my camera, so the camera phone had to be witness to one of the best sunsets I’ve seen in a while. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

This time last week I was in London, standing on Waterloo Bridge in 30 degree temperature… in the wind. Just to get this picture… this picure… and this picture.

By the time I got the shots I wanted, my left hand was numb, and my right hand was frozen in a claw-like position.

Today… I’m wearing shorts, and I rolled-down the windows to admire the blooming trees and flowers while driving to lunch.

Cold weather can kiss my butt.

Remember me telling you that I saw something funny on the Tube in London?

Here’s the video:

The man tried to beat the closing doors. As the doors shut, they caught his left elbow and left knee. He couldn’t move.

This short clip was all I could really get before I had to run down the platform to tell the tube conductor what was happening. I got pretty tickled when I first came across the scene. I talk into the camera a couple of times as I attempt to film inconspicuously from my hip.

By-the-way, he was ok after the doors finally let him go.

Well… happy Tuesday!

I know, I know… a very odd selection to place on the front page of the blog on such a wonderful Tuesday mornin’. But I must say, this graffiti in Berlin caught me off guard, but didn’t really offend me.

You see… graffiti is everywhere. Especially in major cities. And when you start to travel to enough, you start to admire it… kinda.

You don’t really want people to deface property that isn’t theirs… but that doesn’t stop some of it from being pretty good.

Is this particular piece good? Well… it’s pretty creative, and it definitely got my attention.

But I don’t know about calling it “good.”

Morbid? Uh… yeah.

Funny? A little.

Artistic? Only if you were the kid in high school who used to sit in the back of the class wearing all-black.

I’ve had a few of you ask about buying pictures I took in Europe.

Once I get all of the pics online, I’ll let you know how to go about ordering one.

Pictures probably won’t be more than $10 a print for an 8×10.

Pictures from Europe.

The following conversation took place between a United States Passport Stamper and myself at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Thursday.

No, he was not a customs agent. Customs agents check bags and ask you questions that make you feel as though you are not worthy enough to enter a country.

This guy, however, just stamped passports.

Passport Stamper: So you’re just travelling after finishing graduate school?
Landon: Yep.
Passport Stamper: Leave the Ivory Tower.
Landon: I’m sorry? [confused look]
Passport Stamper: The Ivory Tower…
Landon: Yeah. I actually have no idea what that means.
Passport Stamper: College is referred to as the ‘Ivory Tower.’
Landon: [Jokingly] Shows you how much I learned in college, eh?
Passport Stamper: [Gives me a "you're an idiot" look... turns his head to look in the opposite direction.]

Maybe I should have asked him what college taught him how to stamp passports for 40 hours a week.

I was home very little over the weekend, so I didn’t have much time to create any Eurosix posts.

On top of that, I’m having some problems with my laptop.

On top of that, I’ve got a friend in town today.

So… the photos/videos will be a couple of days.

Sorry.

1) I am sleeping for the first time in 24 hours.

2) My cricket bat is somewhere between Jasper and Chicago… or Jasper and London. Thanks, United Airlines! :-)

So, I’m on a plane right now, but I’m not live-blogging or anything. Just an automatic post created last night.

Expect a post from my Treo sometime today when I use my cellphone for the first time in 37 days.

Some thoughts…

Since tomorrow is nothing but in-flight movies (I had Walk The Line and Cat In The Hat 3 times on the way over), dinner in Chicago O’Hare, and getting back on Jasper time… today is technically the last day of Eurosix.

Folks, let me say… it’s been fun. I have absolutely loved having you all read along, send Facebook messages, and private emails along the way to keep me semi-updated on all the good gossip.

I’m so glad I could help to entertain, or simply help you waste the day away at work.

However, Santa’s still got some toys in his big fat sack (again… get your mind out of the gutter).

You didn’t think I would show and tell you everything that has happened since I’ve been gone? Surely you know me better than that.

I promise no to drag this out too much, but I gots to tell you all the stuff I haven’t told you yet!

When I get back (March 23), I’ll take a couple of days to travel-detox, eat Chick-fil-A ice cream (Ice Dream), and lounge with friends. But then, get ready for 2 weeks of the following:

Video Clips

I’ve a handful of clips taken with my digital camera. Some are inspiring, some are intersting, and some are an attempt to be funny.

Funny Stories

Stuff that will require it’s own article, and not a 12 word tid-bit.

Odd Stories

Just what this implies. A couple of moments and nights where things got interesting. Nothing crazy or stupid… just interesting. That’s all I’ll say.

More Photos

It takes a while to short through the photos… much less upload them. I’ve got about 100+ I haven’t released yet. I’ll release them, city-by-city.

Things You Should Know

I’ve made a list of things people didn’t tell me before I headed off to Europe. If my trip has inspired you to do so, maybe these will help.

Sometimes I feel like the only person on earth who hasn’t seen Les Miserables.

Ever since that Dawson’s Creek episode when Joey enters the beauty pageant and sings “On My Own” to Dawson… I’ve wanted to see Les Mis.

I know I’m gonna get some nice feedback for that last remark.

Anyhow, I’m headed to Queens Theatre tonight for the show, which will hopefully live up to the hype that many people (including some of my readers) have shared.

If it doesn’t… you all owe me £20.00.

PS – You can watch the video clip from ‘Beauty Contest.’ Click here and go to episode #111.

Oh, the relief of not being cold.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still pretty chilly here, but at least there’s not snow or ice on the ground. (I never thought I would hear myself say that).

And yes, just like Paige-poo stated, has it really been 6 weeks? Actually, I left 5 weeks ago today. Plus, my first trip was supposed to be a full 6 weeks, but when I rescheduled, the second trip measured only 5 weeks and 3 days.

But still, has it really been that long? Geez. I’ve got a nice analogy I’ll share with you later. But you guys have got to get me caught-up on all that is pop culture. Is Kristin from Laguna Beach really dating Nick Lachey?

These are the type of questions I need answered folks. Serious stuff.

Also, Ernest… you were right. I had Wagamama tonight. Ooooooh boy, was it good! Breaded ‘n baked chicken served over rice with curry sauce, and some edamame for a side dish.

Dang.

Anyways… for all those who know London’s layout, I’m over at the intersection of Tottenham Court and New Oxford at an easyInternetcafe. It’s about time to head-out and do some classic “Landon wandering.” And praise Jesus… I have no ice to worry about slipping on.

Talk to ya’ll tomorrow.