A rare sighting of the elusive Frank Romano was seen recently. This seldom seen character was last seen leaving the USA on his way to Germany for drupa next May. Now for most of us going to Germany is finding the nearest international airport, fighting our way through the queues for check in and then security before putting up with the delights of long distance flying in a small economy seat. Remember printers use economy as printing is a back of the plane industry. Well Frank does not like this way of traveling so he goes by sea.

This year his preferred frequent sailor company, Cunard, did not have any transatlantic cruises so Frank decides to go West instead of East. He departed for Germany in mid January from Los Angeles via various stops in the Pacific Ocean. On Friday February 15 his little boat (Queen Victoria) crept into Auckland, New Zealand. For those who don’t know New Zealand it is the land of Lord of the Rings. It also produces the finest sauvignon blanc wine in the world, and is well known for inventing stupid sports like bungee jumping.

Your intrepid reporter spotted the elusive Romano lounging on the sun deck of the Queen Victoria and managed to get on board to interview him. He is taking every opportunity to spread the word of print to the world and in New Zealand was speaking to printers in both Auckland and Wellington at events sponsored by Fuji Xerox. Yes his jokes work well “down under.”

He then travels onto Australia where he arrives in Sydney on Saturday February 23. On February 24 both the Cunard ships Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria will meet with the QEII on her final voyage before becoming a floating hotel in Dubai. Frank commented however on meeting your intrepid reporter in Auckland that while two Queens will meet in Sydney on February 15 two Kings of Print met in Auckland. That Mr Romano always had a smooth tongue!

While in Australia Frank will speak in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where these events are also sponsored by Fuji Xerox. His world cruise (sorry trip to drupa) then continues through the Far East with Frank spreading the word of print wherever he can. It proceeds to the Middle East via the Suez Canal before reaching Europe in April and leaving his little boat in Southampton, England. Frank then switches his mode of transport to the railroad before progressing through Europe looking for Düsseldorf.

On his way it is thought he will find Italy, Poland, Czech Republic and other parts of Germany. In the meanwhile your intrepid reporter will return from Australia, where he is also speaking in Sydney, via Singapore, where he is also speaking, before finding the UK in late February. With barely time to wash his smalls and get a cup of tea he will then traverse the globe again throughout March looking for items to include in his weekly column for WhatTheyThink. This travel will be to the USA (twice), Germany, Israel and Belgium before getting another fleeting glance of Mr Romano in Warsaw, Poland in May. Finally at Düsseldorf Mr Romano will get to drupa in time for Heidelberg’s press conference on May 28.

Can this be progress when in the 1800s Jules Verne went Around the World in 80 Days. I can’t wait for Frank’s next article Around the World in 160 Days. Now that’s progress!