,*APT] #b 
,TO ,GET TO ! ,O!R ,SIDE 7P>T #a7 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PET] ,GELD]LOOS 

,TEXT 3 

,TO ,GET TO ! ,O!R ,SIDE 7P>T #a7 

,ON ,D9SDAG1 #e ,SEPTEMB]1 ,I PACK$ MY BAGS ONCE AGA91 SADDL$ UP MY TRU/Y BICYCLE1 & LEFT ! LITTLE HOME ,I'D F\ND 9 ,GRON+54  ,SAY+ GOODBYE WAS DIFFICULT4  ,JOOP HAD BECOME A GOOD FRI5D1 & !N !RE WAS ,L4  ,I HAD ONLY JU/ MET H] A C\PLE WEEKS E>LI]1 AS WE COOK$ TOGE!R = ,GRATIS ,ET51 & ,I WAS PRETTY SURE ,I WAS FALL+ 9 LOVE4  ,BUT %E HAD H] [N LIFE1 & ,I HAD TO LEAVE T[N4  ,MY PA? L$ S\!A/1 ?R\< ,/ADSKANAL1 & TO ! BORD] AT ,T] ,APEL4  ,!RE WASN'T EV5 A CONTROL PO9T1 JU/ A SIGN -- ,E,U D]EGULATION AT ITS BE/4  ,PASS+ OV] ! UNF5C$ FRONTI]1 ,I WAS FLOOD$ ) A FEEL+ ( NO/ALGIA1 & AN IRRATIONAL & SUDD5 FE> ( ,G]MANS4 ,I SLEPT 9 A BUS %ELT] 9 ! OP5 C\NTRYSIDE SOME:]E BETWE5 ,HASELUNNE & ,FUR/5AU1 #a#dKM AWAY4  ,! NEXT DAY ,I SKIRT$ NOR? ( ,OSNABRUCK1 ON ! WAY TO ,M9D5 ON ! ,WES]4  ,) EA* CYCLE ( ! P$ALS1 ! LOOM ( MY ?\<TS GAVE ANO!R TURN1 PULL+ TI<T] ON ! ?READS ?AT L$ BACK TO ALL ! PEOPLE REC$+ BEH9D ME1 & RIPP+ AP>T ! FABRIC ( MY FUTURE4  ,AT ! DAY'S 5D ,I WAS JU/ #bKM FROM ,R9TELN1 :]E ,I WASN'T DUE TO >RIVE UNTIL ! NEXT AFT]NOON1 TO /AY ) ! ,OMA ( MY DAD'S ,G]MAN FAMILY4 

,! PA? TO ,R9TELN TOOK ME OV] ! ,WES] M\NTA9S4 ,! SI<T ( M\NTA9S WAS 9VIGORAT+2 ,I HAD BE5 9 ! FLATL&S = MON?S1 & :]E ! ,AUTOBAHN TOOK ! SAME EV5 PA? ?R\< ! HILLS AS DID ! ,WES] RIV]1 MY LITTLE C\NTRY ROAD REW>D$ ME ) A CLIMB /RAI<T OV] ! TOP1 & A SWIFT DESC5T 9TO ! VALLEY1 :]E ,I WAS SOON KNOCK+ ON ,OMA'S DOOR4 ,:AT A /RANGE IDEA ?AT ) NO?+ BUT AN ADDRESS WE CAN COME FROM ANO!R C\NTRY & >RIVE AT SOMEONE'S DOOR/EP1 ?AT 9 ?IS EXPANSE ?AT SPREADS BEYOND ! HORIZON1 ALL COMPRIS$ ( LITTLE PAT*ES ( E>? LIKE ! ONE B5EA? \R FEET1 LIVE ALL ! PEOPLE ON ! PLANET4  ,WE ALL[ ! DI/ANCES ( \R KN[N WORLD TO BE M$IAT$ BY TELEPHONES & AUTOMOBILES1 EA* C>RY+ ITS [N SORT ( MAGIC4  ,IT'S LIB]AT+ TO GO FROM ONE PO9T ON A GLOBE TO ANO!R ON Y\R [N SWEAT1 & HAVE A *ANCE TO SEE EV]Y BLADE ( GRASS 9 BETWE54 

,MY DAD HAD /AY$ CLOSE ) A FAMILY HE HAD LIV$ ) AS AN EX*ANGE /UD5T 9 HIS Y\?4  ,WE CALL$ !M \R ,G]MAN FAMILY1 & HAD VISIT$ !M A C\PLE TIMES :5 ,I WAS 9 HI< S*OOL4  ,I /AY$ 9 ,R9TELN A FEW DAYS1 ,OMA & ,I %OT SOME DICE & %E /UFF$ ME ) FOOD TILL ,I HAD A POTBELLY4  ,ON ! #a? ,I SET \T AGA9 & CROSS$ 9TO =M] ,EA/ ,G]MANY4  ,! ,H>Z M\NTA9S SPANN$ ! BORD] REGION4 ,ON !IR HI<E/ PEAK1 ! ,BROCK51 ! WIT*ES W]E SAID TO CONV]GE ON ,WALPURGISNA*T1 ! NI<T BE=E ,MAY ,DAY & A TIME = REBIR? & REBELLION1 BONFIRES OR BURN+ POLICE C>S1 S9CE ! TIMES ( RESI/ANCE TO ! ,*RI/IAN G5OCIDES & ! E>LY EXPANSION ( /ATE & CAPITALISM4 

,! WEA!R WAS P]FECT3 W>M 9 ! DAY & CRISP AT NI<T1 & ! E>? REJOIC$ 9 ! *ANGE ( SEASONS & CAME TO FRUIT4  ,ON A CURV+ ROAD UP A HILL NE> ,QU]FURT ,I ATE ! BE/ APPLE ,I'VE HAD 9 MY LIFE4 ,IT WAS A W9DFALL1 B5EA? ONE ( ! UBIQUIT\S ROADSIDE FRUIT TREES1 COLOR$ ) A PALE P9K ?AT SEEP$ B5EA? ! SK9 & 9TO ! FLE% ( ! FRUIT ITSELF1 :I* HAD A FLAVOR & CONSI/5CY LIKE A CID] SO CONFID5T IT HAD LEFT ITS LIQUID /ATE TO =M ITSELF 9TO A %APE ( ITS [N *OOS+4 

,DI5/AG1 #ab ,SEPTEMB] 

,ON ! M\NTA9 BEL[ ,EIS5B]G ,I SLEPT 9 A /ONE TUNNEL GO+ ?R\< ! HILL1 ACROSS ! BACK ( :I* RAN AN OLD RAILROAD4 ,I WAS LUCKY TO F9D IT3 ,I NE$$ SOME COV] OV] MY HEAD BECAUSE ! COLD ( ! PREVI\S NI<T HAD SOAK$ ME & MY SLEEP+ BAG ) DEW4 ,I HAD BE5 W>N$ BY OLD-FA%ION$ ,OMA AB\T ! DANG]S ( ! ,EA/ -- ! ,GYPSIES & ! ,POLES -- :ILE ! Y\NG] MEMB]S ( ! FAMILY %OOK !IR HEADS BUT PO9T$ \T1 ) A T\* MORE REALISM1 ?AT NAZI SK9HEADS W]E A BIG PROBLEM4  ,!Y ADVIS$ ME NOT TO SLEEP \TSIDE ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! OLD BORD]4  ,9 ACTUALITY ,I WAS ?REAT5$ ?R\<\T ! NI<T BY A MU* MORE OLD-FA%ION$ BOOGEYMAN3 :AT S\ND$ LIKE A BE> TRAMP+ >\ND ONE 5D ( ! TUNNEL4  ,?9K+ ( ,W]N] ,H]ZOG'S MOVIE1 ,GRIZZLY ,MAN1 ,I IMAG9$ IT W\LD BE COMICAL IF ,I W]E GOBBL$ UP BY ! WEE BLACK C\S9 ( ,NOR? ,AM]ICA'S TITANIC URS9E1 ACCOMPANI$ BY A HEAVILY ACC5T$ & CYNICAL VOICE-OV]4 ,( C\RSE1 ,I WAS SAFE FROM ALL MANN] ( BEA/S & VAGRANTS1 & 9 ! 5D ! PO9T ( SU* FE>S IS NOT TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE BUT TO KEEP US DIVID$4 ,:ITE ,AM]ICANS TOLD NEV] TO GO 9TO ! 9N] CITY AT NI<T %>E A COMMON EXP]I5CE ) ! *ILDR5 ( !SE HILLS HALF A MILL5NIUM AGO1 :O W]E FRI<T5$ ) BIG BAD WOLVES & WIT*ES1 EV5 AS #a11 PEOPLE ACCUS$ ( WIT*CRAFT W]E EXECUT$ 9 JU/ A C5TURY1 9 ! NAME ( ,PUBLIC ,SAFETY4  ,! RESULT ( ! 0,BURN+ ,TIMES0 WAS TO SEV] ANY LA/ CULTURAL REMNANTS ( G5D] EQUALITY1 H]BLORE1 SPIRITUAL USE ( ORGANIC HALLUC9OG5S1 NATURE WOR%IP1 TRANSG5D] ID5TITIES -- BASICALLY ANY?+ HEAL?Y ?AT W\LD /& 9 ! WAY ( ,*RI/IAN DUALISM1 SCI5TIFIC RATIONALISM1 & UNBRIDL$ CAPITALISM4 

,! NEXT DAY ,I MADE IT TO ,ZWICKAU AFT] A LONG DET\R >\ND AN IMPOS+ WALL ( HI<WAY CON/RUCTION4  ,9 ,ZWICKAU ,I RE/$ = A C\PLE DAYS & MET UP ) MY DAD1 :O WAS TAK+ A VACATION FROM HIS WELL PAY+ & HELLI% #g H\R A WEEK COMPUT] JOB TO BIKE ) ME = T5 DAYS ON MY WAY TO ,UKRA9E4  ,I HAD DECID$ TO /AY 9 ,UKRA9E = ! W9T] BECAUSE ,I HAD A FREE PLACE TO LIVE & W\LD NOT HAVE TO WORRY AB\T SLEEP+ ON ! /REETS4  ,MY SLAVOPHILE MO!R WAS WORK+ !RE AT ! TIME1 & HAD ROOM = ME4  ,SO1 ,I ABRUPTLY LO/ MY RUGG$ 9DEP5D5CE4 ,H[ MU* COOL] W\LD ,I BE IF ,I BIK$ ! :OLE WAY TO ,UKRA9E BY MYSELF1 & F\ND SOME SQUAT ) PIRAT$ ELECTRICITY TO KEEP ME ?R\< ! ,RUSSIAN W9T]1 NO M5TION ( EMB>RASS+ ?+S LIKE P>5TS8  ,& HAVE Y\ NOTIC$ H[ ! H]OES 9 BILDUNGSROMAN FANTASY /ORIES >E ALWAYS ORPHANS8 

,AN 9T]E/+ DI/9CTION ,I WAS SOON TO NOTICE3 9 ,WE/]N ,EUROPE ,I H>DLY EV] MET ! P>5TS ( AN>*I/S ,I O!RWISE GOT TO KN[ QUITE WELL4  ,JU/ LIKE 9 ! ,U,S1 AN>*I/S MADE !IR FAMILIES DISAPPE> 9 FAVOR ( AN 9DEP5D5T LIFE/YLE1 & P>5TS W]E DECID$LY UNCOOL4  ,BUT 9 ! ,EA/1 PEOPLE F\ND WAYS TO BALANCE !IR LIVES ( REBELLION ) !IR FAMILY LIVES4  ,SOMETIMES IT SEEM$ !Y HAD TO2 ECONOMICALLY SPEAK+ IT WAS (T5 IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE 9TO AP>TM5TS ( !IR [N1 SO MANY /ILL LIV$ ) !IR P>5TS4  ,P]HAPS ?IS EV5 HAD SOME B5EFITS1 GIV+ !M PRACTICE AT EXPLA9+ & PRES5T+ !IR BELIEFS TO PEOPLE :O DID NOT %>E !M4 

,SO !RE ,I WAS1 TRAVEL+ ) MY DAD = A BIT1 TRY+ MY BE/ TO GET OV] MY SILLY EMB>RASSM5T1 & ALSO MISS+ ! FRE$OM ( SCRAP+ BY = FREE & ! ABILITY TO DECIDE H[ ,I TRAVEL$4  ,BUT !RE W]E PL5TY ( BONUSES = MY EPICUREAN SIDE3 S9CE MY DAD WAS PA/ HIS YE>S ( SLEEP+ ON ! GR\ND & ,I C\LDN'T AF=D TO TRAVEL ! WAY HE DID1 HE PAY$ MY F>E4  ,WEI<+ ALL ! FACTORS1 ,I PREF] MY WAY ( TRAVEL+1 & ,I W\LD PREF] IT EV5 IF MONEY GREW ON TREES & IT W]5'T NECESS>Y TO WORK #g H\RS A WEEK TO TRAVEL 9 LUXURY4  ,H[EV]1 ,I'D BE LY+ IF ,I PRET5D$ ?AT ,I DIDN'T 5JOY LIV+ IT UP A LITTLE :ILE TRAVEL+ ?R\< ! REGION ) ! BE/ BE] 9 ! WORLD1 & DAMN GOOD FOOD TO GO ) IT4  ,9 ,ZWICKAU MY DAD 9SI/$ ON TAK+ US TO ! CITY'S BREW]Y1 :I* ,I DO HOPE BECOMES COLLECTIVIZ$ RA!R ?AN BURNT D[N :5 ! REVOLUTION COMES1 BECAUSE IT W\LD BE A %AME IF ONLY PEOPLE ) MONEY EV] GOT TO 5JOY ?OSE BE]S4 

,MY FAVORITE P>T ( ! CITY WAS EA/ ( ! C5T]1 AT ! CONV]G5CE ( F\R WALLS4 ,! FIR/ & OLDE/ ( !SE WALLS WAS ! ,MULDE1 ,ZWICKAU'S RIV]4 ,C5TRAL ,EUROPEAN CITIES ID5TIFY /RONGLY ) !IR RIV]S1 A WELCOME RELIEF FROM ! ,SIM,CITY L&SCAPE ( ! ,U,S4  ,RIV]S CAN BE NATURAL B>RI]S1 SEP>AT+ SOCIETIES & EV5TUALLY CAUS+ 5\< DIV]G5CE TO CREATE NEW LANGUAGES & CULTURES4  ,BUT !Y CAN ALSO FACILITATE TRANSPORTATION OR SPREAD A COMMON ID5TITY4  ,AS B>RI]S !Y >E NATURAL1 ORGANIC1 & FLUID4  ,! PEOPLE ON EI!R SIDE >E ALL[$ TO NEGOTIATE !IR [N RELATION%IP ) ! RIV]4 

,! NEXT ( !SE WALLS1 DAT$ TO #a#d#h1 W]E ! ,PULV]TURM & ,/ADTMAU]3 /ILL /&+ SEGM5TS ( ! MASSIVE BATTLEM5TS ?AT ONCE SURR\ND$ ! 5TIRE CITY1 TE/AM5T TO ! CON/ANT W>F>E ( ! TIME AS M9OR POLITIES CONQU]$ ONE ANO!R & GREW1 SCRAMBL+ T[>DS ! ,/ATE'S VISION ( PEACE 9 :I* ALL P[] IS C5TRALIZ$ UND] ONE ,AU?ORITY & EV]YONE IS SUBJECT$ TO A S+LE SY/EM4  ,! ?IRD WALL COMES FROM A TIME :5 ! ONLY ?+ /&+ 9 ! WAY ( PEACE WAS ! COMPETITION BETWE5 ! TWO REMA9+ /ATE P[]S 9 ! WORLD4 ,IT IS JU/ 9SIDE ! OLD ,/ADTMAU]3 A SOLID L9E ( HOMOG5E\S AP>TM5T BLOCKS1 SYMBOLIZ+ ! OLD ,SOVIET SATELLITES1 MORE = !IR HUMORLESS & AU?ORIT>IAN ES!TIC ?AN = !IR RELATIVELY UNIV]SAL H\S+ RI<TS4  ,& ! F9AL WALL IS ! UNASSUM+ F5CE SEAL+ (F ! >EA >\ND ! RIV]1 :]E CON/RUCTION CREWS WORK CEASELESSLY TO UPGRADE A HI<WAY4 ,= ME ?IS HAS COME TO SYMBOLIZE ! ADVANCE ( ! ,EUROPEAN ,UNION 9TO ! ,EA/1 & REALLY NEOLIB]ALISM 9 G5]AL3 RAIS+ A DE/RUCTIVE IDEAL ( ! 0/&>D ( LIV+02 SPE$+ ! TRANSPORTATION ( RES\RCES & MANUFACTURES FROM ! NEW 9T]NAL COLONIES TO WEAL?Y CONSUM]S 9 ! ,WE/2 & SL[LY EXP&+ ! HEAVILY =TIFI$ BORD]S TO ABSORB MORE 0UND]DEVELOP$0 C\NTRIES 9TO ?IS SUICIDAL MA*9E4 

,HAV+ CROSS$ ! ,]Z M\NTA9S AT ,HORNI ,BLATNA1 WE W]E N[ 9 ,CE*Y -- ,CZE*IA1 OR ! ,CZE* ,REPUBLIC IF WE 9SI/ ON FOLL[+ TRADITION & CONFLAT+ ! C\NTRY ) ITS GOV]NM5T4  ,:ISP]+ RIV]S TRAC$ G5TLE CONT\RS LIKE ! F+]S ( A LOV] OV] ! BROAD %\LD]S ( =E/$ M\NTA9S ?AT /RET*$ TO =EV]4  ,WE 5D$ ! SECOND DAY S9CE LEAV+ ,ZWICKAU 9 ,HORSOVSKY ,TYN1 :]E ,I WA%$ MY PANTS = ! FIR/ TIME 9 ?REE MON?S4  ,I %\LD HAVE KN[N BETT]4  ,IT WAS ! GREASE HOLD+ !M TOGE!R4  ,NO SOON] HAD ! SC\RGE ( CLEANL9ESS BE5 VISIT$ UPON !M ?AN A WORN SPOT ON ! RE> ,I HADN'T ! TIME TO PAT* UP 9 ,GRON+5 BUR/ =? ) SEV]AL PROMIS+ HOLES4  ,ALAS6 MY ONLY PAIR4 

,9 ,CE*Y1 WE FREQU5TLY PASS$ GRAVE/ONES ALONG ! ROAD PUT UP = PEOPLE :O DI$ 9 TRAFFIC ACCID5TS4  ,WELL1 JU/ AFT] ,KASP]SKE ,HORY1 ,I BELIEVE ?AT TRANSLATES TO ,KASP]'S ,M\NTA9S1 ,I HAD TO PEE REAL BAD4  ,BUT ,I HAD A GOOD RHY?M GO+ & DIDN'T WANT TO /OP BIK+4  ,SO ,I'M 9 ! WOODS1 QUIET M\NTA9 ROAD1 NOBODY COM+1 COA/+ D[N A G5TLE SLOPE1 PEE+ (F ! SIDE ( MY BIKE4  ,ULTIMATELY1 & Y\ CAN SEE COM+ DUE TO MY OBVI\S N>RATIVE /RUCTURE :AT ,I C\LD NOT DUE TO ! DAY'S DOZ5 DI/RACT+ CONC]NS1 ,I ACCID5TALLY PISS$ ON SOMEBODY'S GRAVE4  ,! GRAVE ( A SMALL *ILD1 ,I ?9K4  ,I'M A BAD1 BAD ,AM]ICAN4 

,PONDELI1 ! #a#h? 

,MY DAD HAD ALREADY LEFT ,VIMP]K4 ,HE PREF]R$ TO BIKE 9 ! COLD MORN+S1 :]EAS ,I LIK$ TO BIKE ?R\< )\T BREAKS1 SO ,I W\LD CAT* UP TO HIM BE=E LUN*4 ,SO ,I SP5T ! E>LY MORN+ EXPLOR+ ,VIMP]K'S CA/LE4 ,H]E AS ELSE:]E1 ! OLDE/ & TALLE/ /RUCTURES ?AT T[] OV] ! RE/ ( ! T[N W]E ! *UR*ES & ! CA/LE1 ! SYMBOLS ( MORAL & POLITICAL AU?ORITY1 ! >*ITECTURE ( EA* /ILL HOLD+ HI< SOME ( ! T]ROR !Y W]E MEANT TO 9SPIRE4  ,!RE W]E NO MUSEUMS = ! RE/ ( ! BYGONE SOCIETY -- ! OBJECTS ( ?AT AU?ORITY -- BUT !IR DESC5DANTS /ILL LIV$ H]E1 MIX+ CONCRETE ON ! HI< ROAD1 T5D+ A G>D5 UND] ! CA/LE WALL1 SELL+ PO/C>DS 9 ! GIFT%OP4  ,! LITTLE H\SES ?AT HUDDL$ UND] ! TW9 T[]S ( ,GOD & ,/ATE W]E /ILL 9HABIT$1 BUT TODAY'S =MS ( CONTROL W]E DIFF]5T3 ! *UR* & CA/LE W]E EMPTY4  ,:OEV] 9H]IT$ ?OSE 9/ITUTIONS WAS \T ( SI<T1 REMOV$ FROM ! RAGE ( ! MOB ?AT ANY DAY MI<T F9ALLY COALESCE & /ORM UP ! HILL1 TOR*ES & PIT*=KS 9 H&4 

,& ! ?REAT ( ?IS TW9 AU?ORITY IS 9TANGIBLE -- IT />ES \T ! EYES ( %OP-W9D[ MANNEQU9S & COMES 9 ) ! RADIO WAVES4  ,SOME ?+S HAVE GOTT5 H>D]4  ,O!RS HAVE H>DLY *ANG$4  ,UND] FEUDALISM ! PEASANTS (T5 HAD TO WORK F\R OR FIVE DAYS ON ! L&S ( ! LORD1 & ONLY HAD A DAY OR TWO = !MSELVES4  ,TODAY IT'S NOT UNCOMMON = PEOPLE TO LOSE #h.0 OR MORE ( !IR 9COME TO ! MORTGAGE OR R5T1 C> LOANS1 HEAL? 9SURANCE IF !Y HAVE IT1 & TAXES4  ,VOILA3 PROGRESS4 

,P]HAPS LESS HAS *ANG$ ?AN WE ?9K4  ,! SIMPLE PLEASURES ( LIFE ALSO SEEM TIMELESS4  ,BY A M\NTA9TOP VILLAGE BE=E ,PRA*ATICE1 A %AWL-WRAPP$ OLD WOMAN SITS 9 H] Y>D READ+ A BOOK1 ) H] GOATS & H] *ICK5S4  ,NO?+ ELSE MATT]S BUT ! /ORY %E IS READ+ & ! CONT5T$ CLUCK+ ( ! BIRDS >\ND H] FEET4  ,:5 ,I SEE H] ,I ?9K %E HAS BE5 !RE =EV]4 

,ON ! #b? ! RA9 CL\DS ?AT HAD GA!R$ OV] ,CESKY ,KRUMLOV DISSIPAT$ & WE HAD ANO!R DAY ( GORGE\S WEA!R = BIK+1 :I* WE DID ALL ! WAY TO ,SLAVONICE1 JU/ NOR? ( ! ,AU/RIAN BORD]4  ,>\ND ?IS TIME WE CROSS$ ! CONT95TAL DIVIDE1 & :]E BE=E ALL ! LITTLE /REAMS HAD FL[$ 9TO ! RIV] KN[N H]E AS ! ,VLATAVA & F>!R D[N AS ! ,ELBE1 ?R\< ,HAMBURG 9TO ! ,NOR? ,SEA1 N[ !Y W]E FL[+ ?R\< ! ,DANUBE 9TO ! ,BLACK ,SEA1 ?\S&S ( KILOMET]S 9 ! O!R DIRECTION4  ,IT'S NOT ! ONLY CROSS+ ?AT OCCURR$ ?AT DAY4  ,GO+ UP ! SECOND TO LA/ HILL ( ! DAY1 RI<T 9 FRONT ( ME1 ,I SAW A *ICK5 CROSS ! ROAD4  ,& %E REALLY DID ACT LIKE %E NE$$ TO GET TO ! O!R SIDE4  ,N[ MY LIFE IS COMPLETE4 

,PATEK1 #bb ,Z>I 

,SPE$+ D[N HI<WAY #dc FROM ,BRNO TO ,VYSKOV4  ,ON MY RI<T1 PO?OLES1 GRAVEL1 & W>PS 9 ! ASPHALT ?REAT5 TO ?R[ ME D[N 9TO ! DIT*4  ,ON MY LEFT1 FREI<T TRUCKS :IZ BY AN 9* PA/ MY E>4  ,:AT'S ?AT 9 C5TIMET]S8  ,DI>RHEA IS AN AWFUL MIX ) BIK+4  ,?REE DAYS RUNN+ & ASIDE FROM DAMN$ UNCOM=TABLE ,I'M DEHYDRAT$ & DRA9$4  ,FURI\S ?\<TS >E MY FUEL D[N ?IS HELLI% ROAD4  ,MY DAD'S SOME HALF AN H\R BEH9D ME4  ,\R COMMUNICATION HAS BE5 /RA9$1 & ! WOR/ ( IT IS ?AT ,I CAN NOTICE 9 MYSELF ALL ! ?+S ,I DON'T LIKE AB\T HIM4 ,BIK+ ACROSS A CONT95T GIVES Y\ PL5TY ( TIME = REGRET1 IF ?AT'S :]E Y\R M9D'S AT4 ,I'M FUM+ AT ! WEAKNESSES ( BAD FRI5DS BACK HOME1 & PISS$ AT MYSELF = NOT BE+ MORE LIKE ! FEW TRUE FRI5DS ,I'VE HELD ONTO4  ,EMB>RASS$ BY SURFAC+ MEMORIES ( ! DUMB ?+S ,I'VE DONE OV] ! YE>S1 DISGU/$ ) SOCIETY = /UPIDLY BUY+ ! TRANSP>5T LIES ?AT >E POISON+ ! :OLE WORLD4  ,I'M P$AL+ AS FA/ AS MY SP9DLY LEGS CAN ON ?IS N>R[ /RIP ( ROAD BETWE5 FAILURE & OBLIVION4 

,IS IT TOO LATE = US8  ,>E WE CURS$ TO REBUILD ! PRISONS WE W]E BORN 9TO8  ,IT'S H>D TO BELIEVE 9 SOME?+ BETT] & H>D TO HOLD \RSELVES TO ! IDEALS WE BELIEVE 9 :5 FUCK+ UP IS SO DAMN EASY4  ,!RE'S SO MU* UGL9ESS 9 ?IS WORLD1 LIKE TRUCKS RAC+ D[N HI<WAYS1 BEL*+ \T T>RY SMOKE TO DELIV] CRATES ?AT MI<T AS WELL BE FILL$ ) OLD NEWS = ALL IT W\LD MATT] TO ! DRIV]1 ! ROAD-BUILD]S1 OR ME4  ,=GETT+ ! MAGIC ( M\NTA9S ,I HAD RIDD5 ?R\< 9 ! PREVI\S DAYS1 OR ! PROMISE ( NEW DISCOV]IES = :I* ,I WAS B\ND1 ,I MI<T AS WELL BE COMMUT+ D[N ?IS UGLY HI<WAY4  ,IF WE >E TO BE JUDG$ = ALL ! POT5TIALS WE DO NOT LIVE UP TO1 WE >E DOOM$1 & WE DES]VE IT4 

,ON ! ROADSIDE A BUR/ ( T5D] BLUE CAT*ES MY EYE4  ,A WE$1 A WILDFL[]1 *ICORY1 DIGG+ ITS BITT] ROOT ?R\< ! SURLY GRAVEL TO SEEK \T & SUCK UP ! SLI<TE/ DROP ( ANY?+ ?AT C\LD BE TREASUR$1 & FROM ?IS TREASURE S5D+ =? A T\< SP9E ( GRE5 AT ! TOP ( :I*1 F9ALLY1 BLOSSOMS ! AZURE PETALS ?AT COM=T MY LONELY EYE4  ,I ?9K ( ALL ! WAYS MY FA!R HAS TRI$ TO ESCAPE ! LEGACY GIV5 TO HIM1 & WOND] IF ,I'LL F>E ANY BETT]4  ,9 ! 5D1 WE >E ALL RESPONSIBLE = REPRODUC+ ?IS WORLD ( SLAV]Y & ABUSE1 SUBMISSION & POISON4  ,EV]Y DAY WE PUT ON \R MANACLES & IF SOMEONE /EPS \T ( L9E WE H& ! OV]SE] ! :IP4  ,A FEW BE> A GREAT] %>E ( ! RESPONSIBILITY1 & WE WILL MAKE !M ANSW] = IT IF WE EV] GET ! *ANCE1 BUT 9 ! /RUGGLE TO PUT ONE FOOT 9 FRONT ( ! O!R AMID ALL ?IS UGL9ESS1 ! H>DE/ ?+ IS TO =GIVE ONE ANO!R1 LOVE \RSELVES1 & KN[ WE DES]VE SOME?+ BETT]4 

,ON ! #b#cRD1 ! SUN CROSS$ 9TO ! S\!RN HEMISPH]E4  ,FALL HAD BEGUN1 & AT ,HORNI ,LIDEC WE CROSS$ ! BORD] 9TO ,SLOVAKIA4  ,! ,BIELE ,K>PATY -- ,:ITE ,C>PA?IANS1 >E /EEP1 =E/$ D>K GRE51 CR[N$ ) B>E ROCKS4  ,H]E & !RE DECAY+ CA/LES >E P>T ( ! GEOLOGY4  ,FAMILIES ( F>M]S1 PEASANTS EV51 W]E \T 9 ! SUN H>VE/+ POTATOES & APPLES BY H&1 & PU%+ PL[S1 OR AT MO/ RID+ SMALL TRACTORS4  ,GONE W]E ! DES]T$1 MONOCROP FIELDS ( ! ,WE/1 )  METAL SIGNS BE>+ ! LOGO ( ! SE$-PAT5T+ CORPORATIONS /&+ 9 ! PLACE :]E ! SC>ECR[S US$ TO BE4  ,! H\SES ON ! HILLSIDE ACCOMPANI$ SMALL FIELDS SECTION$ 9TO OR*>DS1 PA/URES1 & R[S ( A DOZ5 DIFF]5T VEGETABLES4  ,9 SMALL T[NS PEOPLE W]E BUILD+ !IR [N H\SES OR WORK+ 9 SAWMILLS4  ,FROM ,PU*OV ! ROAD FOLL[$ ! ,VAH1 A DEEP BLUE RIV] WRE/+ A WIDE VALLEY ( S]5ITY FROM ! WILD M\NTA9S4 

,ANO!R TWO DAYS ( BIK+ GOT US ?R\< ,POPRAD & PA/ A VILLAGE CALL$ ,PODHRADIE1 0UND] ! CA/LE40  ,FROM A DI/ANCE1 ! VILLAGE SEEM$ TO /ILL EXI/ 9 ! #a#e? C5TURY4  ,ON A L>GE HILL ABOVE ! T[N1 BUILT 9TO ! ROCK1 /OOD AN IMM5SE CA/LE AT LEA/ #f YE>S OLD1 ) ITS T[]S & WALLS /ILL /&+4  ,BAILS ( HAY AWAIT$ COLLECTION 9 ! FIELDS >\ND ! BATTLEM5TS4  ,! LA/ T5 KILOMET]S 9TO ,PRESOV W]E LESS IDYLLIC4  ,! ROAD PASS$ ?R\< A WA/EL& ( SUP]HI<WAY CON/RUCTION1 AGA9 C\RTESY ( ! ,E,U4  ,IT WAS NO D\BT APPRECIAT$ BY ! DISPOSSESS$ & BESOOT$ LOCALS1 BECAUSE 9 A MOD]N ECONOMY SU* PROJECTS ( DESP]ATE C>NAGE ALWAYS BR+ ) !M ?AT MAGIC SNAKE OIL1 0JOBS10 :I* >E 9 %ORT SUPPLY H]E S9CE CONTROL ( EMPLOYM5T WAS GIV5 OV] TO ! ,FREE ,M>KET4 

,AFT] A DAY ( RE/ 9 ,PRESOV1 MY DAD UNEXPECT$LY HAD TO BIKE #cKM TO ,KOSICE TO CAT* ! TRA9 BACK TO ,G]MANY1 & HIS EV5TUAL FLI<T BACK TO ! ,/ATES4  ,!Y HAD CLOS$ ! TRA9 L9E H]E AFT] ! DISCOV]Y ( AN UNEXPLOD$ BOMB FROM ! ,W>4  ,BUT WE DIDN'T KN[ ?IS AT ! TIME4  ,! PEOPLE AT ! /ATION JU/ SEAL$ !IR FACES & %OOK !IR HEADS1 AS ?\< ,KOSICE WAS A RELATIVE :O HAD BE5 HU/L$ (F TO JAIL = SOME UNSPEAKABLE CRIME4  ,SO MY DAD JUMP$ BACK ON HIS BIKE1 WE SAID \R HURRI$ GOODBYES1 0SEE Y\ 9 A YE>10 & (F HE W5T4 

,ON ! #b#h?  ,I WAS ON MY [N AGA91 HEAD+ BACK NOR?1 ?R\< ,SV$NIK1 ACROSS ! BORD] 9TO ,POL&4  ,! LEAVES W]E FALL+ (F ! TREES1 & ,I WAS RU%+ T[>DS MY W9T] HOME4  ,9 ,MIESCJE ,PIA/[E A ONE-EY$ BUT*] %OOK MY H& :5 HE F\ND \T ,I WAS BIK+ ACROSS ,EUROPE4  ,! TE5AG]S ON ! CORN] LOOK$ ME OV] ) SUSPICION4 

,AN>*I/S & FASCI/S W]E FI<T+ AN 9T5SE GRAFFITI W> ON ! WALLS ( ,SANOK4  ,UN=TUNATELY1 ! FASCI/S W]E W9N+ BY A L&SLIDE4  ,S9CE ,EA/ ,G]MANY1 ,I HAD HAD TO READ ! WRIT+ ON ! WALLS1 KEEP+ AN EYE \T = FASCI/ GRAFFITI1 ESPECIALLY :5 LOOK+ = SAFE SPACES TO SLEEP4  ,>\ND ! 5D ( ! ,COLD ,W>1 NEONAZI & FASCI/ MOVEM5TS HAD EXPLOD$ 9 ,G]MANY & SPREAD EA/4  ,NAZIS KILL$ DOZ5S ( IMMIGRANTS & MANY ,ROMA1 EV5 C>RY+ \T FULL SCALE POGROMS 9 ,RO/OCK & ELSE:]E4  ,! ANTIFASCI/ MOVEM5T GREW \T ( ! NE$ = SELF-DEF5SE & A POPUL> DISGU/ ?AT ! FASCI/S W]E BACK4  ,! 0ANTIFAS0 W]E A DIV]SE GR\P4  ,!RE W]E ! ANTIFASCI/ SK9HEADS1 D]IV$ FROM ! SK9HEAD MOVEM5T 9 ! ,U,K1 :I* WAS ORIG9ALLY A PH5OM5ON ( WORK+-CLASS Y\? ( COLOR BE=E :ITES />T$ MIMICK+ ! /YLE & !N NAZIS />T$ CORRUPT+ ! SC5E4  ,N[ADAYS ! ANTIFA SK9HEAD SC5E IS L>GELY COMPRIS$ ( /REET GANGS :O FI<T BACK AGA9/ NAZI ATTEMPTS TO DOM9ATE A C]TA9 MUSIC SC5E4  ,SADLY1 !RE IS NO %ORTAGE ( !SE GR\PS ?AT LACK POLITICAL CONT5T & REVEL 9 MA*ISMO & HOMOPHOBIA1 ?\< !Y MAY BE ON ! FRONTL9E 9 ! FI<T AGA9/ FASCI/S4 

,!RE >E MANY TYPES ( ANTIFASCI/S BESIDES ! SK9HEADS1 ?AT UNIFY ALONG A SOCIALI/ OR AN>*I/ POLITICS 9/EAD ( UNIFY+ ALONG A MUSIC CULTURE ?AT MAY OR MAY NOT 9CLUDE A POLITICAL CONT5T4  ,BASICALLY1 ANTIFASCISM 9 ,G]MANY & SOME O!R C\NTRIES IS A MAJOR1 UNIFY+ MOVEM5T1 SO GR\PS ?AT >E 9VOLV$ 9 O!R POLITICAL PROJECTS1 BE !Y ( AN AN>*I/ OR ,M>XI/ NATURE1 ALSO P>TICIPATE4  ,ONE ( ! /RANGE/ /RA9S ( !SE >E ! ANTI-,DEUTS*51 :O BELIEVE ?AT ,G]MANY HAS A SPECIAL /ATUS AS ! MO/ DESPICABLE ( NATIONS = P]PETUAT+ :AT !Y SEE AS ! WOR/ ATROCITY 9 HI/ORY -- ! ,HOLOCAU/4  ,?US1 ,G]MANY NE$S TO BE DE/ROY$ AS A NATION1 ,ISRAEL NE$S TO BE SUPPORT$1 ! ,PALE/9IANS >E BAD BECAUSE SOME ( !M USE ANTI-,SEMITIC RHETORIC1 & ! ,U,S IS GREAT BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS ,ISRAEL4  ,Y\ CAN IMAG9E !RE'S SOME BAD BLOOD BETWE5 !M & ! O!R FACTIONS4 

,IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ALSO C>RY \T ANTIFASCI/ ACTIONS1 & W]E ONE ( ! FIR/ GR\PS TO FI<T BACK1 EV5 KILL+ A NUMB] ( NAZIS 9 E>LI] YE>S4  ,RAMOR ,RYAN'S ACC\NT ( ! MOVEM5T 9 ,B]L9 %[S ?AT 9 PA/ DECADES IMMIGRANT ANTIFASCI/S & E?NIC ,G]MAN ANTIFASCI/S MIX$ & F\<T SIDE BY SIDE 9 HOTSPOTS LIKE ,KREUZB]G2 BUT ALL ! ANTIFASCI/ GR\PS & PROTE/S ?AT ,I SAW FROM ,N$]L& TO ,RUSSIA W]E SEGREGAT$ & OV]:ELM+LY :ITE4 

,?IS P>ADOX HI<LI<T$ ONE ( ! GRAVE/ WEAKNESSES ,I NOTIC$ 9 ,EUROPEAN AN>*I/ MOVEM5TS3 A G5]ALIZ$ MISUND]/&+ & M9IMIZATION ( RACE4  ,NE>LY ! ONLY =MS ( RACISM ,I HE>D M5TION$ W]E X5OPHOBIA & :ITE PRIDE -- P]SONAL ATTITUDES HELD BY BACKW>DS 9DIVIDUALS4  ,RACE WASN'T SE5 AS A SOCIAL /RUCTURE OR AN OPPRESSIVE SY/EM ?AT SOMETIMES TRUMPS CLASS2 IT WAS JU/ A R&OM FABRICATION US$ TO MASK CAPITALISM4  ,MANY :ITE AN>*I/S 9 ! ,U,S ALSO HOLD ?IS VIEW1 BUT ?R\<\T ,EUROPE ! BL9DSPOT SEEM$ TO BE BROAD] & MORE G5]AL4  ,I H>DLY CAME ACROSS ANY DEEP] CRITIQUES OR ANALYZES ( RACE1 & ,I DON'T RECALL A S+LE AN>*I/ BOOK/ORE OR LIBR>Y1 \T ( ALL ! ONES ,I VISIT$1 ?AT HAD A SECTION ON RACE4  ,IF !RE HAD BE5 ONE1 IT W\LD HAVE BE5 FILL$ ) TRANSLATIONS FROM ! ,U,S4 ,?IS IS NOT SURPRIS+3 ,EUROPE WAS ABLE TO EXT]NALIZE ITS RACISM ?R\< COLONIALISM1 :ILE ! ,U,S HAD TO BRUTALLY HOLD TOGE!R CONFLICT+ POPULATIONS AS A SOCIETY ?AT WAS BUILT FROM ! V]Y BEG9N+ ON SLAV]Y & IMMIGRATION4 

,ON A MORE BIZ>RE NOTE1 IT /RUCK ME ?AT PEOPLE 9 ,EUROPE HAD NOT YET REALIZ$ IT'S NOT OKAY TO MAKE FUN ( ,ASIAN PEOPLE4  ,IT'S A HEFTY G5]ALIZATION TO MAKE1 BUT ALL ACROSS ! CONT95T1 & COM+ FROM POPUL> /&UP COMICS OR COMMITT$1 9TELLIG5T AN>*I/S1 ,I HE>D TIME & AGA9 ! SAME JOKES1 5JOY$ BY EV]YONE >\ND BUT ME1 MOCK+ ! S\ND ( ,*9ESE 7:I* !Y C\LD NOT DI/+UI% FROM ,JAPANESE OR ,KOREAN7 OR JOK+ AB\T DIFF]5TLY %AP$ EYES4  ,I QUE/ION$ A FEW PEOPLE AB\T ?IS & RECEIV$ ! E>NE/ EXPLANATION ?AT !SE JOKES W]E NOT RACI/1 !Y W]E FUNNY4  ,& IT ALMO/ WAS FUNNY1 H[ RIDICUL\S & NE>LY UNIV]SAL ?IS BL9DSPOT WAS4 ,ON ! PLUS SIDE1 :ITE ,EUROPEAN RADICALS >E G5]ALLY LACK+ 9 ! ,PURITAN GUILT & OBSESSION ) PRIVILEGE ?AT T5D TO SABOTAGE ,U,S ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS ( RACE4 

,COLOR BL9DNESS OR NO1 ! COMMITM5T ( ! ANTIFASCI/S TO FI<T+ ! MORE OBVI\S =MS ( RACISM WAS NOT TO BE M9IMIZ$4 ,9 ! =M] ,SOVIET BLOC1 NAZIS W]E MULTIPLY+ LIKE RABBITS1 & REGUL>LY KILL+ IMMIGRANTS & LEFTW+ ACTIVI/S4 ,ANTIFASCI/ COMBATANTS F\<T BACK AGA9/ ?IS DIRECTLY4 

,:5 ,I SAW ! WALLS ( ,SANOK1 ,I KNEW ,I HAD TO F9D A GOOD HID+ PLACE TO SLEEP = ! NI<T4 ,FASCI/ GRAFFITI WAS EV]Y:]E4 ,!Y ALSO HAD ! RES\RCES TO MAKE ?\S&S ( /ICK]S1 MANY ( !M 5C\RAG+ FE> & VIOL5CE T[>DS QUE] PEOPLE4 ,ONE COMMON /ICK] %[$ 0P$OPHILES0 *AS+ SMALL *ILDR5 ALONGSIDE A MESSAGE AB\T PROTECT+ ,POL&4  ,POLI% FASCISM IS WELL CONNECT$ TO ! POLITICAL MA9/REAM1 & BOL/]$ BY ! FUNDAM5TALI/ ,CA?OLIC RESURG5CE4  ,!SE 9C>NATIONS ( NATIONALISM HAVE RECEIV$ ,U,S GOV]NM5T SUPPORT BE=E & S9CE ! COLLAPSE ( ! ,W>SAW ,PACT1 & !RE HAS ALSO BE5 A GOOD WORK+ RELATION%IP BETWE5 ! ,C,I,A & ! ,VATICAN4  ,! ,C,I,A'S PR$ECESSOR WORK$ ) ! ,HOLY ,SEE TO SMUGGLE \T ,NAZIS :O W\LD BE USEFUL = ! ,U,S ,COLD ,W> MA*9E1 9CLUD+ F\ND+ FIGURES 9 ,N,A,S,A & ! ,C,I,A ITSELF4 ,& !RE >E ALLEGATIONS ( ,C,I,A 9VOLVEM5T 9 ! ,VATICAN'S ELECTION ( ! ,POLI% POPE :O PLAY$ AN UND]APPRECIAT$ ROLE 9 BR++ D[N ! ,IRON ,CURTA94 

,AS AN \TSID] :O DIDN'T KN[ ANY ( ! FEW AN>*I/S /&+ UP TO ! NAZIS 9 ,SANOK 7?\< ,I W\LD LAT] MEET ONE 9 ,B>CELONA71 !RE WAS LITTLE ,I C\LD DO4 ,BUT AS LONG AS NO ONE SAW ME1 IT C\LDN'T HURT TO SCRIBBLE OV] ! /ICK]S & LEAVE AN>*I/ & ANTIFASCI/ GRAFFITI ON SOME WALLS & P>K B5*ES4 ,I HADN'T BR\<T ALONG MY PA9T M>K]S = NO?+4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #b -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
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