Seattle, 10/20/10

Faust,

I take it In Transit is probably gone and done now. Flying is for dumbtards. I find the best adventure is the one you have on the way to your destination.

Let's take Mexico for example. I have driven through Mexico and although had you asked I would have recommended flying, it is an "experience." The little "Devil" sand-tornados, the fact that they serve chopped lettuce, chopped ham/cheese, chopped tomatoes and no dressing in a row on a plate and call it a salad, the various men parading as women, the lack of any functioning Animal Control Department, the lack of multiple utensils for every topping at a hot dog/hamburger stand so that whatever you get, you will always end up getting hot sauce, the various military patrols, the visitors with bodyguards, the outrageous amount of leather shoe vendors, the utter lack of ANY TECHNOLOGY, oh and the ruins.

I'm forgetting what my point was. Ah yes, if you focus on where you're going too much then you risk missing out on the awkward moments and hysterical outbursts that tend to happen on these types of adventures.

It did not take your letter 21 days to reach me. It was probably more like two weeks, but I was a little busy dealing with things back in the states. I'm working on some new flavors. I know, right?

Tell me what you think of this. Mango Cream Cheese Buttercream and Strawberry/Raspberry with a hint of Mint Buttercream.

Odd. I'm sensing a bit of role reversal going on. I need to get to a bar.

Grieves

In Transit , 9/29/2010

Grieves,

If you could witness the amount of postmarks on this letter, you would be astounded. I'm surprised there's even room! It was returned to my friend about three times, it seems, but it finally caught up to me. I must admit myself happy to hear from you again, despite your almost-insults in regard to my sense of direction.

Not all species determine their location based on drink. Certainly not most human beings at least, myself included, but I did enjoy a nice swim amid that particular lager.

I am currently on a bus somewhere around Oaxaca, Mexico. I do not know why I do this to myself, I should just fly next time, but there would be so many fewer opportunities to mail a letter.

Faust

Seattle, 9/10/10

Faust,

You have a terrible sense of direction. I, on the other hand, always know what city or town I am in. Well I guess relative to a drink.

Maps are special but only if you make them yourself. I could make you a map. It, of course, would be special because I made it.

In response to your response to my query: Them! And also, US!

So then you clearly went all Landfill and tried to drink your way to salvation??


Grieves

In Transit, 08/30/10

Grieves,

I hope this reaches you, as I am not particularly sure what city or town I am currently in. Blame train station signs that are in desperate need of a paint job. Off the beaten path may have have its merits in terms of culture, but the maps are somehow ...lacking. The air is much better, at least.

In response to your query: Maybe. Who else carries on fan mail conversations this long?

Wait, what does that say about my sanity? Nevermind: truce agreed to!

Ah, yes, the giant beer. Bubbles in my nose, you ask? Try everywhere; it might as well have been a swimming pool.

Faust

Seattle 8/18/10

Faust

Fan mail that is replied to is also a seldom occurrence. Gosh. Do I really come off as some nutter-conspiracy theorist living in their parents basement searching for clues to Area 51 or evidence showing that the space landing was faked? I hope not. I try to keep that hidden at least until after the third date.

Let's just call it a draw and move on. Prague you say? Whats this I hear about a Giant Beer? How giant was it and did you get bubbles up your nose after taking a dip?

Grieves

Prague, 8/9/10

Grieves,

A reply! I am quite shocked, responses to fan mail usually do not garner, well, more responses. You almost sound like a conspiracy theorist. I'm sure there are reasons that crowds flock to Saint Patrick's Cathedral that are much less nefarious than you have made it seem.

That being said, maybe I judged Dublin a little too harshly. I will have to take your suggestions to heart the next time I pass through. O'Connell Street is not all that it likes to pretend it is, it seems.

Is the Jameson Russian free? I may have to switch.

Faust

Seattle, 7/26/10

Faust

While I don't disagree that "there is merit in something that can draw millions," I wonder if these "millions" actually have a reason that they let themselves get drawn in.

Don't knock all top-ten lists! Some are very useful.

I'll admit that maybe I was a bit harsh. Maybe you are right about Dublin. And maybe because I spent most of my time in the backs of pubs, my memories about Dublin are a little skewed.

I'd take Jameson over Russians in my Guinness any day.

Grieves

Prague, 7/13/10

Grieves,

I must admit, I'm still relatively unaccustomed to receiving ..."fan mail," though what you have written is hardly a glowing review, and yet, I find myself compelled to respond. My opinions are my own, as I have always stressed, and do not quite see the reason for the insult I seem to have caused. While, as you put it, Dublin has not been the worst city I have ever visited, I felt as if I hardly followed some two-bit, top-ten list, and it had still been severely ...lacking in culture.

Mind you, most big cities do seem to have a culture of their own, almost devoid of their surroundings, but this was almost too much. Dublin was one of those that I found to even lack hints of the illustrious earthiness and spirit of the rest of the country.

I travel where the winds take me, and my inspirations are my own. I will not apologize for what I have seen or found in those places. In that same vein, I write when inspiration hits; be it in my hotel, or amid groups of people, as you put it, "wearing tall white socks." Sometimes those crowds are clear signs to avoid a place, which seems to be what you are touching on, but sometimes there is merit in something that can draw millions.

Though I defend it, I am usually not much for tourist-y and I would have appreciated fewer Russians in my Guinness.

Faust

Seattle, 7/3/10

Faust,

You can't really tell us you hated it. Dublin by far is not the worst city you've been to. I think you need to fire your tour guide or stop reading those "10 Things to Do In (City)" books. Because had you really tried, I'm sure you would have found Dublin to be an amazing city. I'll admit it, the tourist sections of the city are very tourist-y, but there are plenty of places to go that don't involved Bulgarian or Russian waitresses serving you Colcannon!

Maybe the next time you go, you can steer clear of the main streets and take a stroll off the beaten path.

Sometimes I wonder where you get your inspirations from when you write your reviews or plans and what not. For example, for this Dublin piece, where were you when you wrote it? Were you in your hotel room? Were you sitting outside in a crowd of hundreds of people wearing tall white socks, their fanny packs off to the side, taking picture after picture of random crap?

Obviously, I can't know if you are still in Dublin or have abandoned it for far greener pastures, but I do hope you give it another try. There is definitely something to that place. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about it.

Grieves