Warsaw has some of the most practical manhole covers I've seen since Seattle's last November. There was no free wifi anywhere near this specimen, which means I had to establish/photograph/memorize a triangulation of landmarks to test how true its north was later. Very true, turns out.

Bialowieza Forest is only the second UNESCO World Heritage Site I've trespassed (after Fort St. Elmo in Malta) but I climbed back over the fence pretty quick once I realized I was being, ecologically, a total asshole. I went back the next day like you're supposed to--with an experienced local guide. Worth every zloty. My guide not only managed to spot a wolf print and every species of woodpecker on our list, she also knew where to find--and how to translate into English--stuff like "dog vomit slime mold."

Backstage and onstage at the Forum One Conference. That's me interviewing Scorpions guitarist Rudolf Schenker. If you look closely you can see the 13-year-old me freaking the eff out.