So, we touched down in Gatwick uneventfully. After reclaiming my baggage and breezing through customs, I was at last free. There was no one in my house, so I left a message on the answering machine for them to leave the keys outside. Andrew said he might be able to pick me up. I already…

By the time I arose at five, there was already a long queue by the Continental check-in. Some Americans chatted, descrieing their “gun-slinging” president. There was no check on my baggage. It was just weighted, labelled, and send through. Then I had to join the back of an even longer queue. I wasn’t able to…

The final CDs of original photos were programmed first thing in the morning. In all, I have taken about 8500 photos in three months exactly. With four hundred to a CD, that means 21 CDs just for Canada. Still, I haven’t managed to sell the CD of selected photos. One of the guys in the…

Although the hostel was fully-booked for that evening, I was able to stay in the dining-room area for most of the day, scribbling away the usual nonsense that I fill this diary with. I showed a few of the photos to some Irish folks. Everyone, including the manager, left by late morning, though a few…

There were still a few emails to send, which I typed before breakfast – pancakes, bacon and maple syrup! When I left, I gave the gentleman 20$ to cover my phone bills. As usual, I also gave them one of my postcard-sized photos – my last one. I started walking along the lake, but was…

The youth hostel was fully booked for tonight, but the gentleman said I could stay another night. I booked the hostel for Sunday. It was an absolutely perfect day. I sat by the south-facing window, soaking in the sunshine, and typing replies to the emails. Some of my American friends have written expressing their shock.…

I woke myself up at 4.15, and was downstairs before the receptionist set off too wake me up. I cancelled my booking for tonight. Breakfast was a hot mug of chocolate with marshmallows. I left the remaining powder in the free area. The taxi-driver was on time. At this time in the morning, the only…

Today, also, I alternated between the TV room and the kitchen, where I can plug in my computer. By the afternoon, I was tired, so walked to Granville island. It has lots of large indoor markets, and a nearby harbour to photograph. I didn’t take many photos inside. With low lighting, either one needs a…

The hostel rooms are too hot because the windows are too small, and the rooms long, with no other ventillation. I took my computer down to the kitchen area to do some typing. A German couple wanted me to take a photo of them to send to someone. I took a quick snap outside, and…

I was up early. Downstairs, I met the Honolulu lady, ready for her bus to the Rockies. The radio was on, but I wasn’t listening. Just as I was about to leave, someone overheard that I was flying to New York. “There’s been a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon –…