Patrick Okens

Jan. 16 – On board the “Maple Leaf” from New York City to Toronto, disembarking at Aldershot Station, Burlington, Ontario. The train’s too shaky to handwrite legible notes, but at least it’s quiet and spacious, as there are few of …

Jan. 14 – Watertown, Mass., U.S.A  Yesterday, I added the Republic of Ireland to the list of countries I have sort-of been to on this journey. South Korea: did not set foot on land, or get passport stamped, but I …

Jan. 12 – London, U.K. Today, I put places to names in the West End. The student-populated Bloomsbury, home to London’s universities. Narrow Soho, crammed with tourists and shops. Covent Garden’s theatres, including the Savoy on the Strand. Lunch at a …

Jan. 11 – London, U.K. On Monday, I rolled into St. Pancras Station after a weekend with family in Hamburg. Fog and drab buildings through a succession of cities in the Ruhr. Quadrilingual announcements on the way to Brussels. Ears …