Exploring

There were almost 30 of us on the tour, including housewives and lawyers, horse trainers and country music roadies.

I felt like a character in Rendezvous with Rama, exploring the hulking remains of a long-dead civilization, surrounded by technology whose purpose I could not fathom.

Intelligence from highly-placed sources indicated that there would be a human-sized break in the wrought-iron fence…

Our cover blown and our plate number (no doubt) recorded in a log book somewhere, we decided to abort the mission. What’s that expression? Cowardice is the better part of valor? That doesn’t sound right.

If you’re trying to get over a mild flu/cold, you almost certainly should not spend eight hours climbing around an ancient stone building breathing frigid air visibly laden with asbestos, mold and mycobacteria.

We came in before dawn, crawling through miles of thorny underbrush, navigating by the stars, our clothing torn by barbed wire.

“You come with me,” he said, pointing to one of my friends. “You look strong.” Then he pointed at me. “You also come with me. You are the brains of the operation.”

This is the first location which I discovered and explored solo, without the usual hand-holding from my UE mentors. For that reason, I have a special fondness for this place. Plus, it’s beautiful.