Blog

2012-01-27 : Mallorca, Spain - January 9 - 14, 2012 My friend Misha, from the Russian band Romislokus sent me a message on Facebook that he'd be vacation in Palma with his wife Tatiana and their nine-month year-old son Matvi. He invited me to join them for a few days in their hotel/apartment Fontanella on the beach. I looked up the air fares to Palma. Wow, I could fly their for 207 Euros round trip. I booked it immediately. I flew there via Barcelona. I was amazed at the very wide open, luxurious terminal they had there. The floors were so shiny, you could see yourself. Another short flight to Palma and I would soon be meeting my old friend Misha. He was there waiting for me at the airport. The sun was shining, as usual in this part of the World. We drove to the beautiful hotel. The next day, Misha and I drove to the northern tip of the Island and photographed the high sea cliffs there. The next day, we went swimming in the sea. What a sensation to swimm in 13C degree water. It sure made me feel alive and well. This week, I also took many jogs on the beach to counter the calories from the "all you can eat" buffets in the hotel. On the last day, I took Misha and Matvi to the Aquarium at Palma. I really liked the whole atmoshere of the Island, and of course the City of Palma was even more beautiful than I had imagined. I flew home on Friday morning over the snow-covered peaks of northern Spain. As we entered the Netherlands, I looked down on the Delta Works along the coast, sometimes described as the eigth wonder of the World. I ate well on this trip, as usual.

2011-09-26 : Greece - September 14 to September 22, 2011. Having seen The Great Pyramids and the Taj Mahal, it made perfect sense to me to go and see The Acropolis. I booked a roundtrip KLM flight to Athens. I arrived there on a Wednesday afternoon and boarded the bus to the port city of Pareus. The bus ride took about one hour and cost five euros. I checked into my hotel, had a wonderful Greek dinner, then headed to the port to book a ferry to Santorini. The next morning, I enjoyed a free breakfast then boarded the fast boat. The trip took about six hours. I arrived there and saw a man holding a camping sign. Luckily, I had brought my tent and sleeping bad. I camped on the island for four days. It was perfect. The next island was Paros. I also found a good campground there. I was driven there on a scooter, back pack and all. I made friends with some other campers and had a great time. After two days there, I sailed back to Athens. I took the train to Monastrika and found a hotel with a view of the Acropolis for 35 euros per night. The next day, I bought a ticket on the tourist bus and made a couple of rounds. A highlight was a visit to the two-year old Acropolis Museum. I ate at great restaurants the entire week. My KLM flight left early on Friday morning. Despite the 24 strike in Athens, I managed to get a ride to the airport at 2:00 AM. I already want to go back !!!

2011-06-21 : Austria, Croatia, Bosnia, and Hungary - "Balkan Road Trip" - June 7 to June 22, 2011 It was time to visit my old friend and ex-colleague from Florida, John Rogers, in Austria. I flew KLM to Vienna and met my old buddy at the airport. We drove out to his country home in Haselbach, where I met his wife Doris, daughter Meagan and newborn child Josephine. They cooked me a marvelous dinner of Deer meat, rice and gravy. The next day, John took me to Vienna. We ate at a moving Sushi Bar. It was comical how much we ate in the two-hours we sat there. The next morning, I boarded a train to Split via Zagreb. The train creeked slowly through the mountains of Slovenia. I arrived late in Zagreb, where I boarded an overnight train to Split. I beautiful blonde Croatian women sat next to me. She gave me a bottle of water, as none was for sale on this old train. "Croatian won't be caught up to the west for another 50 years. I'll be two-meters under by then," she said. When I arrived in Split in the morning, I quickly saw that this part of the country had already caught up. It was beautiful and modern. A woman greeted me at the train and offered me accomodation. She took me to the "Old Town" and hooked me up with a very nice hotel room for a mear 25 euros. The next morning, I met up with my group from "The Balkan Road Trip." We assembled at the train station and were given instructions by our new guide Mustafa from Sarajevo. We boarded our luxurious Mercedes mini-bus and headed to Bosnia. We stopped for a swim at the beautiful waterfalls called Kravica. We then continued on to Mostar where we checked into a youth Hostel near the old bridge. We dined very expensively at a restaurant there. The bill, including drinks, came to only 100euros. The next day we traveled onward through beautiful mountain scenery to Sarajevo for a two night stay. On the way, we stopped and went Whitewater rafting on the Neretvi River. After three hours in the water, we enjoyed a delicious riverside buffet. Sarajevo was interesting. It's a place where church bells ring simultaneously with Moslim prayer chants. Mustafa told us all about the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 t0 1995. He had witnessed the onslaught. We also visited the spot where Austro-Hungarian Archduke Frans Ferdinand was assisinated on June 24, 1914. This triggered WW1, which caused the death of some 37.5 million people. On the first evening, we went to an old movie theater that was converted into a bar. There were people singing folk songs and drinking beer. The air was blue with smoke. Saving the best for last, we then drove across country to Dubrovnik. We stopped at an ancient town called Ston, near the coast. By this time, I had befriended one of the other guests on the trip. It was none other than James Ulmer, a journalist, film critic and producer from Hollywood. We had many laughs. In Dubrovnik, we went sea kayaking. Our boat took on water and swamped in the middle of the Dubrovnik Channel. We had to swim for at least an hour to get back to shore! On the homestretch, we got rescued by a passing motor boat. It was something to laugh about later. The next morning I caught the train back to Vienna. It was slow going through the mountains of Croatia, but extremely gorgeous. At 4:00 PM, I arrived in Zagreb. I had an hour to explore the area near the train station and have a quick dinner. The next train went a different route, this time through Hungary. I stuck my head out the train window and looked out over the farmlands of northern Croatia and southern Hungary. It was some kind of travel high!! As we entered Austria, it began to rain. I friendly Viennese man helped me find the correct train to the Vienna Airport. He even paid for my ticket and rode along with me! I arrived at the airport at midnight. I sat in the all-night cafe for about four hours, then checked-in for my return flight to Amsterdam at around 4:55 AM. I had a pleasant 90 minute flight back to Amsterdam. It was another perfect trip, which I am thankful for.

2011-04-11 : Rome and the Adriatic Coast, Italy - March 15 to March 22, 2011 "Maybe, I'll go to Amsterdam, Maybe, I'll go to Rome..." - Joni Mitchell. I caught a sunny Tuesday afternoon flight to Rome. Arrived on-time and picked up a brand new Fiat Panda at Avis. My backpack fit neatly in the trunk. I hooked up my TomTom and set off for a three hour ride to Naples. I arrived there tired, after only one Pizza stop. I felt like I had entered a road rally. I sped over very old cobblestone roads lacking lane lines. There were cars threatening me from every direction. Parking seemed impossible, so I set my TomTom for my final destination of Martina Franca and fled the city. After another couple of hours driving, I reached a roadside hotel called Mirabella. I was so relieved. I had a glass ot Twany Port at Schiphol Airport and fell asleep promptly. I awoke refreshed. Nothing like a good night's sleep and a hot shower! I drove onward past Bari, to Martina Franca. I couldn't find my toll ticket for the highway. I had stuffed in my bag by accident. I got fined 57 euros, then found the ticket later in my bag. Lesson learned. Duh! The countryside became very interesting. The houses were something out of "The Land of Grey and Pink." Richard Sinclair, the former singer from Caravan and Camel, greeted me at driveway. It was great seeing his wife Heather and him again. We talked the whole afternoon. I interviewed him for my radio show. They took me to a nice bed and breakfast where I could stay in a safe distance from their seven cats and three dogs. We then drove in Richard's Mercedes to a restaurant in a neighboring town. Richard brought his guitar and played some songs with the local musicians. We ate delicious foods and enjoyed good music. The next day he and Heather brought some breakfast. Again, Richard played songs outside in the warm Italian sunshine. We were happy and content. Another couple joined us and we headed out to the Adriatic Coast for a seafood lunch. At about 3:00 PM, I started my six hour journey back to Rome. I hit some heavy rains about two hours south of the city. For the next four days, I explored Rome. I also took a two-and-a-half hour drive to the beautiful city of Amatrice in the mountains. I rode a total of 1,800 + Kilometers in seven days.

2010-10-10 : English Translation of Mark's Cover Story in the "Kennemerland op Zondag" newspaper on 10-10-10. Circulation: 52,500 Mark from Holland calls Heemskerk home “Swimming makes you cheerful and happy.” - Heemskerk - Mark C. Deren from Heemskerk has been in 50 countries, but feels at home in Heemskerk. The American has lived here since 1993, and after his trips, he likes coming home to the Ijmond. Heemskerk is a friendly place to live,” said Mark. Many know this friendly American from his radio program “Mark from Holland” on Radio Heemskerk and as an employee of the swimming pool “De Waterakkers” on the Kerkweg. “I’ve been swimming my whole life. I could already swim when I was two-and-a-half. I’m from a family of seven kids. My parents often took the whole family to the swimming pool. It gave me a better quality of life. That I am convinced of” said Mark. I recommend to everyone to go swimming. It makes you healthy, cheerful and happy. Diplomat Mark originates from the town of Holland in the State of Pennsylvania. “Through my frequent swimming, I also came in contact with diving boards.” As a teenager, I decided to become a springboard diver. That was one of the best decisions of my life. At age 17, one of the coaches gave me a scholarship. In this way, I could combine sport and study at Rider University in New Jersey. I started out as a Political Science major. I had a dream of becoming a diplomat. As a diplomat, I could travel the World and meet people. After a year, Mark traveled to Australia and New Zealand. While there, he got interested in journalism and photography. “Consequently, I ended up getting my university degree in journalism,” said Mark. “This comes in handy for my radio show on Radio Heemskerk. I interview musicians from all over the World. I really enjoy it. In this way, I keep my hand in journalism.” Traveling Mark came to Heemskerk via Florida and Pennsylvania. “In Florida, I worked as business manager for a well known portrait painter. I traveled in “first class” to deliver portraits and do business with “Heads of State.” In this time period, Mark met his now ex-wife. In 1993, they moved to Heemskerk. “That is now 17 ½ years ago. I started working at the pool almost immediately after I arrived. This was supposed to last for a couple of weeks, but I’m still working there, and with much pleasure. It’s a good atmosphere here and I’m happy that the Director Ruud de Koning gave me a chance back then. Radio Next to his passion for swimming and traveling, Mark also has a great appreciation for music. For the past 15 years, Mark has been presenting his show “Mark from Holland” on Radio Heemskerk. “Music is my big hobby,” he said. I only offered to make a jingle for the station, but was quickly offered a radio show.” Mark combines his radio work with foreign travel. He interviews musicians in many different countries. “In Europe, you can see fantastic bands that never reach the U.S.A. Furthermore, the Netherlands lies a bit more central in the World. From Schiphol, you can be in another country in a flash. Schiphol Airport is really nice to come home to. It’s really the “middle of the World.” In Heemskerk, Mark is able to combine his three big hobbies; swimming, travel and music.

2010-08-26 : Pennsylvania - August 11 to August 20, 2010 Had a wonderful visit to my family in Bucks County, PA. The weather and company were very fine. I jogged and swam between eating sessions with friends at various restaurants. I saw Megadeth and Slayer with my nephews in the Susquehana Center in Camden. That was loud, man! I went out with a couple of sets of high school friends, first to Isaac Newton's in Newtown, then to the Pineville Tavern in Pineville. The gentle rolling hills, farmlands and beautiful old homes make it one of the most scenic and historic areas in the U.S.A. It's actually where the decisive battles for independence from the British were fought.

2010-07-31 : London, England Last Friday, July 23, 2010, I jetted over to London on KLM to attend the High Voltage Festival. I wanted to see Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who had not played live together in 14 years. I was not dissappointed. Some parts of the concert made me overjoyed. It was worth the money. While there, I visited my sister who lives in Pimlico. It was perhaps my 25th visit to London. I flew back on Monday, July 26 with a new head full of good memories.

2010-06-28 : Bucharest, Romania and the Transylvanian Alps I purchased a round-trip ticket to Bucharest on my KLM Frequent Flyers miles. I was greeted at the airport by Daniel Ionati from the band Echo. We had a drink in the lounge, then I departed for points north in my new Mitubishi Colt rental car. I waited for a signal on my 42 country TomTom GPS, but it never came. I followed signs to Brasov. The road was strange. I passed by people riding in stage coaches! There were an unusual amount of dogs running across the road unleashed in front of me. There were also police in little white cars everywhere. I rode nervously. After about three hours, I was in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains in a beautiful Hotel called Silva. The next day I reached a campground and settled in for a couple of days. On the first day, I visited the famous Bram Castle; home of Dracula. On the second day, I took a long ride north to the ancient city of Sighisoara. Later in this day, I drove a couple of hours south, through the mountains to visit the Old Royal Castle at Sinaia. On the forth day of the trip, I left the mountains and headed for the Black Sea. I drove through breathtaking mountain scenery; en route to Ploiesti. I headed east for several hours, crossed the Danube River and finally arrived at the white, sandy beach in Mamaia at about 2:00 PM. On the second evening, there was a large biker festival. Loud music was blasting through my tent until 4:30 AM. On day five, I drove back to Bucharest to meet up with Echo. They treated me to dinner at a fine restaurant. On Sunday morning, they played for me live in their studio. I then flew back to Amsterdam. Total KM's driven: 1,220.