This book chronicles a one-year, twenty country Road Trip when I explored Europe. In my book, I transport my reader into another world they may or may not ever occupy themselves, a road trip they may only dream about. I try to keep my book positive, adventuresome, humorous, and fun to read. This journey described in this book might be considered a classic example of the heroic journey, the myth that lends an essential structure to so much narrative literature. In the traditional myth, a hero—whoever he or she might be—abandons their safe haven and pushes forward into the wilderness in order to test himself against the odds. In the course of this testing, they discover their own rich resources and strengths. The story inevitably involves a returning that completes the cycle: the point being that, upon returning, the hero has been immeasurably strengthened and enlightened by the knowledge gained during the course of his or her difficult journey. I have been an explorer and a wanderer all of my life. I have always wanted to live every day to its fullest. The harsh reality of life is that we do not make it out alive. Mentors assured me I would grow out of this state; maturity would turn me into a stable asset to society. When I felt the same at middle age, I was confidently told that old age would take care of this problem. When I reached old age (I am now seventy-four), nothing changed. In fact, I recently went on a two-week California road trip and had an awesome time. My conclusion: this disease is happily incurable. Travels, even if along the same path, are all different and they all have their own personalities. What you have to accept in order to enjoy traveling to the max is that you do not take a trip, a trip takes you. I have always been very good at understanding and doing this. This was one of the best road trips of the many I have taken in my life. I was a different and a much better person at the conclusion of the trip and I learned a lot about myself, Europeans, and Europe. I hope you enjoy reading about my road trip as much as I enjoyed living it. Richard Castagner author