Episodes
-
Two Inch Heels Episode 53 - Home
Chapter 53 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. In my final chapter, I complete that last day of my odyssey, returning home with my mom and brother, but already facing at least one change and the challenge to address it.
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 52 - Enter the Coopster
Chapter 52 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I spend my final couple days in Europe amidst the warm hospitality of the Clay family in Oxford. Finally on the plane flight back to Detroit in the States, I have one last chance to overthink everything,...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 51 - Kate & Company
Chapter 51 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Still staying with the Clay’s, their daughter Kate invites me to join her and her two best friends seeing the new movie “Godspell”, and I get a glimpse of the world and worldview of three young women,...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 50 - The Clays
Chapter 50 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I return to the Clays in Horspath, who hosted Angie and I at the beginning of our (now my) journey, where I will now spend the final days of my odyssey in their friendly hospitality and good energy....
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 49 - London
Chapter 49 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. After a brief stop at the American Express office in London, I board a bus to Oxford and find myself amongst three drunken young women, returning from an office holiday party, who turn me into the...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 48 - Great Bentley
Chapter 48 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I stay for a couple nights with the couple my mom traded houses with three years back when we spent the summer in England in 1970, whom I had never before met. Troubled by the dynamics of that family and...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 47 - Lance
Chapter 47 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. On the big ferry across the stormy North Sea returning to England, I have a close encounter with what seems like a bonafide hippie, a rock musician from Los Angeles, who draws me and then a young woman...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 46 - North Sea
Chapter 46 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I make my sad departure from my comrades, the Christian Youth Hostel, and Lady Amsterdam herself, and on my own again board the big ship to take me to England, and leave the Continent, and all its...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 45 - Intimate
Chapter 45 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Buzzing on Butch's "killer" giggly hash, I have a close encounter with Gwendolyn at the Van Gogh Museum and a more discomforting encounter with the BOAC ticketing agent. Contains adult language, drug use...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 44 - High
Chapter 44 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I awake the next morning at the youth hostel to a brazen offer to smoke hash even before I’m out of bed, which accepted, sends me on a day’s adventure thru Amsterdam with my three backpacker comrades,...
-
Two Inch HeelsChapter 43 - Otto and Anne
Chapter 43 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Deliciously buzzed from the free beer at the Heineken Brewery, I wander through the streets of Amsterdam on my own taking care of business, and happen to encounter the Anne Frank house museum. I take the...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 42 - Heineken Brewery
Chapter 42 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. On a cold and rainy morning in Amsterdam, I accompany my three new comrades to the morning tour of the Heineken brewery, a must see for my ilk, if for no reason other than lots of free beer at the end of...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 41 - Amsterdam
Chapter 41 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I arrive in this cold, rainy, but beautiful and friendly city and find sanctuary at the Christian Youth Hostel, which is a haven for hash and hippies and gives me some needed solace from my loneliness....
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 40 - Hugo
Chapter 40 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Tired, sad and homesick, on an overnight train from Munich to Amsterdam on a frigid night, I encounter a man who looks into my soul, sees my loneliness, and then reaches out to give me a little taste of...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 39 - Angelica
Chapter 39 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I return to Munich to stay with my young adult family friends Angelica & Helmut, and wrestle with my attraction to Angelica and the boundaries between friends and lovers. Contains adult language and a…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 38 - Direction Home
Chapter 38 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Having left Grindelwald behind, I finally face the realization that I am heading home, with all the positive and negative feelings that engenders, including comparing where I was back at the beginning of...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 37 - Beth
Chapter 37 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I sadly part with most of my backpacker comrades in wonderful little Grindelwald and take the train down to Interlaken to begin my journey back to London and then back to the States. But lucky for me, I…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 36 - Triumvirate
Chapter 36 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Monika, Ragna and Beth return from the Sphinx Observatory with tales of their journey, and with an apparent new connection between Monika and Beth, and I regret not going along. And then Monika and Ragna...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 35 - Snow Day
Chapter 35 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. While the young women in our circle pay the fare to take the Cog Railway up to the Sphinx Observatory near the summit of the Jungfrau, the guys and I play in the snow with the local kids and I have a…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 34 - Virgin
Chapter 34 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I finally have my encounter with the awesome mountains, plus a second encounter with Ragna, and one even with the Goddess herself. Contains adult language and sexual discussion.
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 33 - Down the Hill
Chapter 33 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Most of us hostel residents go down the hill to the local tavern for their daily happy hour, which gives me the opportunity for an initial close encounter with Ragna, and an opportunity for me to partner...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 32 - Grindelwald
Chapter 32 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I finally make it to my little paradise in the mountains and engage with the hostel's cast of fellow travelers, some new and some, surprisingly, that I have met before. It’s paradise doubly so, because...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 31 - Under the Alps
Chapter 31 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Frayed and homesick after eight weeks of travel, mostly on my own, I take a long train ride from Venice through a long tunnel under the southern Alps headed to the anticipated winter wonderland of...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 30 - Venice
Chapter 30 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. The “lagoon city” lives up to its reputation as an unusual place. I have a brief acquaintance with an older guy, and also witness a unique moment between Jen and Sarah. Contains adult language and sexual...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 29 - Sophia
Chapter 29 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. One of my many memorable train encounters, I share a compartment with a forty-something Italian businesswoman on the train from Florence to Venice interested in hearing the stories of my travels to pass...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 28 - Corridors
Chapter 28 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. My final full day in Florence, I escape the company of the ‘boys’ to walk the Vasari Corridor, a Florentine must see recommended by my comrade Morgan back in Rome. On my return to the hostel I…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 27 - Firenze
Chapter 27 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I get to Florence, whose real name is the much more suave “Firenze”, to find Trix and her crew and Jen and her partner Sarah. I meet three guys from Cleveland, who I dub ‘the boys’. It all culminates in…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 26 - Trix
Chapter 26 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. On the crowded train from Rome to Florence Italy, I encounter a very diminutive and charismatic young woman with the wildest hair yet, and find sanctuary and connection in a compartment with her and five...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 25 - Morgan
Chapter 25 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. My last couple days in Rome are spent with nerdy academic Morgan, who I have a real thing for, more crush than bromance, and I ponder the nature of attractions. We check out some of the ancient places in...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 24 - Inner Sanctums
Chapter 24 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Acting on Morgan’s suggestion, I end up spending some 20 minutes nearly alone in the Sistine chapel, pondering this sanctuary to a religion and god I have chosen not to believe in. But then looking down…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 23 - Roma
Chapter 23 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. My second day in Rome, I have an unexpected offer from Jen’s partner Sarah, plus a long conversation with Morgan, solidifying both friendships. Contains adult language.
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 22 - Comrade Jen
Chapter 22 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. On the train to Rome and finally checked into its youth hostel, on my own again, I encounter a number of young fellow travelers with various agendas, including a bigger than life young woman and her more...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 21 - Bar-sur-Aube
Chapter 21 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. In the swan song of my travels with Steve, we hitchhike east from Paris to Basel, and end up sleeping outside again, but unlike in Spain, under much more difficult conditions. But even that is not the...
-
Two Inch HeelsChapter 20 - Rue Titon
Chapter 20 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Back in Paris, Steve and I leave Walter behind and luckily find room back at the nice Rue Titon hostel we had stayed at before in Paris. He and I confirm that our paths forward are in different…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 19 - Walter
Chapter 19 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Now crossing the border back into France, and returning to hitchhiking, Steve and I get a ride from an older German businessman who ends up buying us dinner, driving us all the way to Paris, and putting…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 18 - Madrid
Chapter 18 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Steve and I spend a couple days in Spain’s capital and visit to the Prado museum, and I'm enthralled by the stunningly bizarre “Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch and also the more gripping...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 17 - Torremolinos
Chapter 17 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. After rebuffing Steve’s proposition in Granada, he and I continue our travels together to this tickytack resort town and enjoy the sun and sea. I actually swim in the Mediterranean in November, just to…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 16 - Granada
Chapter 16 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. After a delicious dinner of Paella with Calamari on top and lots of cheap wine, Steve presents me with a sexual proposition that I wrestle with but ultimately decline. The next morning, undaunted, we...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 15 - Aldea
Chapter 15 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Steve and I leave Barcelona and try to hitchhike south to Granada with little success, spending a night sleeping under the stars outside a little Spanish town, including a middle of the night surprise.…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 14 - Barcelona
Chapter 14 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Steve and I spend our first three days in semi-fascist Spain, enjoying the significantly lower prices on food and lodging, and have encounters with near nudity, wild new sea creatures, some we actually...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 13 - Magic Bus
Chapter 13 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. My new travel partner Steve and I leave Paris and hitchhike to Spain, including an overnight ride on an iconic hippie chariot, the VW microbus, with a pair of Canadians, Randall and Zo. I take a turn...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 12 - Steve
Chapter 12 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I finally find a reprieve for the lonely traveler, a companion to continue my adventures with, at least for the next couple weeks, and we agree to head south from Paris to Spain. Contains some adult...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 11 - Paris
Chapter 11 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Still feeling the loneliness of traveling by myself, and the resulting urge to cut short my trip and head back home, I finally get to Paris to visit my mom’s friend Giselle and her family. But after an...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 10 - Low
Chapter 10 of my autobiographical novel of my 11 week odyssey backpacking through Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I debark the boat down the Moselle, and spend a couple nights in the city of Trier, and then from there by train into the forests and hills of the duchy of Luxembourg, seeking a…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 9 - Rivers
Chapter 9 of my autobiographical novel of my 11 week odyssey backpacking through Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I leave Munich and the warm hospitality of Angelica and Helmut, strike out on my own again, and try to navigate, metaphorically at least, the tourist boats down the Rhine and Moselle...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 8 - Angelica and Helmut
Chapter 8 of my autobiographical novel of my 11 week odyssey backpacking through Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I return to Munich and finally get a chance to spend time with Angelica and Helmut, who my mom and I met in England three summers ago. This while a crisis comes to a head in the…
more -
Two inch Heels Chapter 7 - Rail Pass
Chapter 7 of my autobiographical novel of my 11 week odyssey backpacking through Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. My travel partner Jack decides to stay in Chur and I continue on my own, planning to hitchhike across the Alps to Geneva where I can catch a train back to Munich, finally using my…
more -
Two Inch Heels Chapter 6 - Chur
Chapter 6 of my autobiographical novel of my 11 week odyssey backpacking through Western Europe in 1973 at age 18, written and read by me, Cooper Zale. My new travel partner Jack and I cast our fate to the travel goddess and hitchhike from Munich south to Switzerland, where I meet two intriguing...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 5 - Munich
Chapter 5 of my autobiographical novel of my 11 week odyssey backpacking through Western Europe in 1973 at age 18, written and read by me, Cooper Zale. After my long journey by train and boat from London, I arrive in Munich ready to be greeted by familiar faces, but instead find a different...
-
Two Inch Heels Chapter 4 - Solo
Chapter 4 of my autobiographical novel of my 11 week odyssey backpacking through Western Europe in 1973 at age 18, written and read by me, Cooper Zale. I leave Angie at our little hotel in London and head off alone to start the rest of the journey, still with great ambivalence and trepidation....