Reply #32: Thanks

[Dzimbowicz]

My average speed is 25 kph on a mountain bike ad I currently reside in a hilly region. When I'm in the low country of SC (flat as a pancake), my average speed can reach 28-29 kph. I usually ride at least 30-35 kph per outing.

My favorite country? That's a hard one to answer. In Europe it has to be Poland. Why? It has many similarities to my home state of SC. Also, Americans are quite popular there. While doing research on my doctorate, I had to travel to many small towns and villages to meet the actual participants of my research topic whom I wanted to interview. Children always ran out to greet me; and, I did not know why. I found out that it was because I looked American (blue jeans, hiking boots and such) and they wanted to meet me; plus many had never met a foreigner up close. Many of these small towns to which I had to go had erratic bus service, so I hiked in or hitch-hiked. The children wanted me to come to their homes and meet their families, many of which had relatives in the USA.
I would also had to include Norway. Being from the deep south, I have always been interested in the extreme north. So I took a jaunt to Hammerfest, the northernmost town in continental Europe (about 400km north of the Arctic Circle) and then to Tromso (about 200km north of the AC).

In the Caribbean my favorite was Barbados. It was relaxing, the remnants of colonial architecture combined with friendly people made me feel welcome.

In Asia, my favorite was Hong Kong, prior to 1998 (I was there in 1980). It was full of activity and there was always something happening.

And, in closing, I absolutely loved the maritime provinces of Canada.