On our last trip, I stopped blogging before signing off. A few of my followers felt abandoned so I thought I had better "sign off" this time.
This was a new and interesting experience for us. It's been a while since we have explored new countries and moved around as much as we did. It was a learning experience also. We have learned some lessons on "long" traveling - some things we enjoyed and some things we would do differently if we were to travel for an extended period of time again. We have also learned about different cultures and delved into the history of several different countries and cultures. All in all, people are people! Most are nice and friendly and helpful; some are less inviting. But we all are shaped by our past.
This trip, without specifically meaning to, we concentrated on the effects of socialism and communism. From the tours we took, it was hard to determine the difference, because the idealism of socialism (equality for all) still had to be balanced with who controls the money, and no matter what system you set up, man is corrupt, and those who control will always prey on those they control. Without enforcement, it will never work and that enforcement is usually cruel.
Some of the horrors we saw in Bunker Art 2 in Albania was inexplicable. Friends turning in friends, parents spying and children, children spying on parents: all for a piece of bread and a better life. But then there were the people who unselfishly hid the Jews during the Nazi persecution, and shared their last piece of bread.
I have enjoyed writing this blog: it helped me express my thoughts and recapture some of my experiences to keep them fresh in my mind. I hope you enjoyed it too.
I am hoping to keep writing periodically, and if I do, I will notify those who are interested, so let me know if you want to be notified.
