Well, we got another 12 inches last night into this morning and probably another 4 inches late today.
Greg plowed...again.
Idaho. On MSN:
Officials in Kootenai County in northern Idaho declared a state of emergency as roofs collapsed, roads became impassable and senior citizens were stranded because of the repeated snowstorms.
"You can only stack the snow so high, and we're running out of places to put it," said Rick Carrie, county commissioner.
Yep. The Idaho governor declared a State of Emergency in our county & several others.
The Washington governor declared a State Disaster in Spokane county & several others. They have closed most roads & highways around here.
It's bad.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
White Fluffy Cold Stuff
Yeah. I'm talkin' about snow. Lots of snow. Tons of snow. More snow than you could possibly imagine.
About 12 more inches fell on our heads today. With the added bonus of the electricity going out at noon. Oh joy (loud sarcastic sigh). I shoveled the deck off 4 times. Then the hubby-bubby came home at 2:30pm. The electricity came back on briefly for 5 minutes, but it went off again. So I called to reserve a room at the local Holiday Inn Express- ($106USD) Damned highway robbery. We could cancel by 6pm if we did not want it.
Hubby plowed the driveway. Pulled the truck up with the generator on it; but the generator didn't want to work. More curse words. So we decided to pack it in and go to the hotel. As the sun had already started to wane, I had to pack everything by flashlight. Once the flashlights died, I was out the door. It was by now 6:15...as we were driving out the driveway, hubby noticed that the yard light was on. Damn, Damn, Damn. Now it was too late to cancel the room and we were going to be charged even tho we didn’t need to go. That stupid electric co-op told Greg that they wouldn’t possibly have it back on until tomorrow Wednesday morning.
In addition, the news reported there are 3-4 more storm systems beginning Wednesday afternoon we are to get another 8-10 inches.
There's just no more room for any more snow.
About 12 more inches fell on our heads today. With the added bonus of the electricity going out at noon. Oh joy (loud sarcastic sigh). I shoveled the deck off 4 times. Then the hubby-bubby came home at 2:30pm. The electricity came back on briefly for 5 minutes, but it went off again. So I called to reserve a room at the local Holiday Inn Express- ($106USD) Damned highway robbery. We could cancel by 6pm if we did not want it.
Hubby plowed the driveway. Pulled the truck up with the generator on it; but the generator didn't want to work. More curse words. So we decided to pack it in and go to the hotel. As the sun had already started to wane, I had to pack everything by flashlight. Once the flashlights died, I was out the door. It was by now 6:15...as we were driving out the driveway, hubby noticed that the yard light was on. Damn, Damn, Damn. Now it was too late to cancel the room and we were going to be charged even tho we didn’t need to go. That stupid electric co-op told Greg that they wouldn’t possibly have it back on until tomorrow Wednesday morning.
In addition, the news reported there are 3-4 more storm systems beginning Wednesday afternoon we are to get another 8-10 inches.
There's just no more room for any more snow.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
No. It Can't Be SNOWING!
YES. It's snowin'. We got about 6 inches yesterday. Then about another 24 inches after that.There is a heavy snow warning issued for this area by the National Weather Service.
The extended weather forecast is indicating another 10 days of snow.
Looks like I'll be helping to shovel.Then afterwards, sitting by the fire with my favorite fix - hot java.
< - - - -
That's DEEP.
Can you see the bumper of his VZ truck is buried in the snow? That's NOT a snowdrift. That is the TOTAL accumulation in the driveway.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Busy Bee
So now I have been feeling better, I got to do all the fun things that I hadn't felt like doing.
Laundry, Vacuuming, Cleaning House, Wash Dog, Taxes, Mopping, Shoveling Snow. Yippee.
Laundry, Vacuuming, Cleaning House, Wash Dog, Taxes, Mopping, Shoveling Snow. Yippee.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Feelin' Better!
I am happy to report that I have finally awoken. When I fell out of bed this morning, I felt like I had gotten enough sleep; that I was aware of things and no longer living in a fog!
Yippee!
So, more vacation narrative.
Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25, 2007
When I woke up, I found a cute little present underneath the tree for me- - a set of 3 Swarovski crystal penguins standing on crystal ice. Very cute. Greg & I had watched The March of the Penguins on TV just before we left on vacation so the gift was very apt. (it just broke my heart when those two penguins get upset after they have destroyed their egg upon passing it from mother to father!)
Kelsey bounded into our room after a brief knock; it reminded me of when she was a child and could hardly wait to share her presents with us – Greg was still undressed, but under the covers; I just threw on a shirt to cover myself. Duh. We both sleep nekid!
Showing us that she received an IPOD from Matt; we expressed interest over it even though we had bought the thing from Costco and taken it with us for this express purpose!
Walking to the Termini, we got gelati and then stopped at a store for medicine – Greg thought he was coming down with a cold. Kelsey got the 1st class reservation tickets for our train the following day. The young gentleman behind the counter seemed surprised that we were so knowledgeable about the train & polite to him! We then walked through the UPIM department store on the way out.
Kelsey and I had played a little trick on the guys when we had been walking behind them, talking. The guys were further up ahead and totally engrossed in whatever they were discussing. K&I quickly hid behind a ceiling support that must have been about 4 feet wide-we tried to be quiet-suppressing our giggles. The guys immediately turned around and found us. Matt was quite upset as he thought we might have gotten kidnapped – Greg knew immediately what we had done as he had not heard my boots clicking behind him!
So needless to say, while we were walking thru the UPIM store, the guys made sure they kept us in sight the whole time…
We walked back to our hotel as nothing much was open and snacked with drinks & wine at the top of the hotel. The sun was shining down on us and I could not have imagined a better way to spend Christmas at that approximate moment.
Both Greg & I have missed the kids dearly while they have been away. It was great to share this time with them. I am so lucky to have a great baby. She will always be my baby.
Once the sun went behind the buildings, it got breezily cold. Greg wanted to take a nap and Matt had gotten sloshed on too much alcohol. Kelsey noticed that the tickets we had gotten were for the incorrect time; so instead of running to the terminal in a taxi with Kelesy as we suggested, Matt decided to RUN down to the terminal by himself. It was getting late & dark by now, and I was concerned about him going down there.
He was determined to go no matter what, so off he took! I took a shower & Greg napped. My shower was only about 15-20 minutes and I had just laid down beside Greg when there was a loud rap on the door. Matt had already returned. Seems that the train reservation desk had just been closing as he got there, so it was fortunate that he went right then.
After our nap, we started getting ready for dinner. Kelsey had a slight distress as the skirt she had brought along was tighter than she had thought. So I loaned her my puffy sweater to wear over her outfit. Everything was ok.
Dinner was at the hotel about 500 feet away. It was very elegant and had a sum total of 4 people dancing attendance on about 40 tables! The different courses were all delicious. Wine; Ham Omelette; Tortellini Soup; Veal surrounded by Bread, Potatoes & Broccoli; Fruit Salad; Christmas Cake Pudding. We were supposed to have veal as indicated on the menu, but we all believed it tasted & looked like pork.
After dinner, we took brief pictures in front of the decorated tree in the lobby and returned to our own hotel to pack & sleep.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Or as later known, the beginning of our descent into Hell-
The day started off with Greg having a coughing spell at 2AM. I fell out of bed to rummage around for his medicine. Kelsey then called us at 6AM to make sure we were ready to go. We packed the last of our things, and checked out. I was not going to go down the stairs with our bags, so I went down in the elevator that barely fit 2 people!
It was raining & cold outside. I was thoroughly glad that I had worn my long wool coat. The concierage was kind enough to go out in the rain with an umbrella to hail us a taxi. It costs only 13 Euro this time, instead of 30. Which we had to point out to Greg!
Stop at the Chef Express and sat down to sip warm coffees while we waited to board our train. We asked for white Americano coffees (coffee with cream) but what we got was pure liquid coffee beans. The coffee (or espresso) in other countries tastes very bitter, but has no caffeine kick in it at all. It was very difficult for me to wake up during the day without my caffeine fix. Next time I will have to remember to take caffeine pills!
We got on the train track #7 for Bari at 7:30AM. It was a grey, depressing day and there was fog everywhere. The passing countryside was very distressed. Lots of abandoned homes, buildings. Homes & towns seemed to be built on top of each other on the hills – lots of dirty graffiti and garbage everywhere.
The seats were nice, facing each other and we were even at a table. Greg & Matt wander off in the direction of the food car – they bring chocolate cake back for me and a glazed croissant for Kelsey. The milk Greg got for me tastes strong – like it came right from the cow only a few seconds before.
Kelsey wrote in her journal for a while, Greg napped, Matt played hangman on the translator, we all played a trivia game with Kelsey which was on her new IPOD. Greg fell asleep and so did Matt later on…We find out that the bathrooms do not flush on the train;
The train sits for quite a while at Foggia before we resume our journey. Finally arriving in Bari, we take a quick taxi ride to the Ferry. The check-in is closed and we go upstairs to wait. The escalator is shut off, so we take the elevator. The gift shop upstairs that looked pretty interesting is closed. Kelsey & I lament about this because we would have bought a couple things in it; some earrings for me & maybe a cute dress for Kelsey. We find the bathrooms and all feel better. Beginning our wait, we find loud talking, dirty men who stare at us upstairs. When I go to the bathroom again, one of them even goes into the women’s bathroom with me. I didn’t realize it until I left, but I warn the guys that we need to be escorted to the bathrooms from now on! (however, I do have to note that these bathrooms are FREE)
Kelsey sleeps for a while, then plays with her IPOD again. I take a short nap.
Greg & I take a walk outside to get out of smoke and heavy, uncirculated air in the building. Matt & Kelsey are distressed by the loud talkers who are still staring – so we move downstairs.
We wait from 1PM until 4PM for the reception window to open. The notice indicates they open at 4PM, but after they don’t open until 4:15PM we all start joking that their times are more of a “target” and not a hard & fast rule!
Getting on the boat after check-in; it is pouring down rain outside. We find that the boat has been there the whole time, but they have not allowed anyone to board. Loading the passengers on at the same time as the vehicles, we have to step lively to avoid being run over!
There is absolutely no security checks as we board, and ascend 2 escalators. But the Greek stewards stare at each one of us as we continue up to the main deck. It was very disconcerting. Our room is 105; directly off the main deck. We have 4 beds, 2 fold-downs. The fold-downs only have mattresses that are 1” thick which I will discover to my distress later that night.
Getting drinks in the bar is our only viable option as the restaurants & gift shop will not open until the ferry is underway. We all try Ouzo which is the native drink of Greece. According to Wikipedia “it is an anise-flavored liqueur that is widely consumed in Greece. It is similar to French pastis, or Italian Sambuca and Turkish rakı, but a little sweeter and smoother.” It looks like water, goes down like water, but it is great!
Once we feel the vessel moving, we immediately go to the buffet to eat as we are all starving. There had been no vending machines in the building while we were waiting and the meager food that we had packed had all been eaten. The dinner is OK, but not great.
Got internet access for Kelsey from reception. Go back to the bar for more drinks. Afterwards, Kelsey wants to get on the i
nternet, so I accompany her back to the room. Her computer has problems signing in because of her AOL download, so she has to use my computer. Matt came to the room to get us so we could dance. There is a gentleman in the bar who is teasing Greg & Matt that they can’t dance. It was fun to dance. Very hot, dark. Lots of ’80 tunes! Greg & I dance as Kelsey films us. Matt & I dance as Kelsey takes pictures. The great dancer we dub “Guido” as he speaks no English & we are very bad at Greek (or Italian we couldn't tell which language they were speaking) continues to dance and show others out to do his intricate moves. Guido is about 55, short & balding with a great enthusiastic personality! With him are a group of about 8 – 4 men & 4 women. After much dancing & drinking, Kelsey went back to the room while we continued to party. Kelsey later told Matt that she had never seen her parents have so much fun.
Guido’s group finally did a twisting “snake” dance out of the room which we all participated with, then left. Greg, Matt & I hung around for a bit, then decided we all needed fresh air. We went up on deck and found a bunch of American girls that were hanging out with an American guy who looked to be about 25. The girls were students who were traveling Europe & staying in hostels. Talking with them about travel & sites, we finally went back in to the room. I tried going to the bathroom (which was very small & cramped) and fell over into the shower when the boat hit a wave. I bruised my left arm and leg.
Greg & Matt left the room again to go have more beer in the bar. Greg finally arrived in the room later – Matt was about an hour after that. He took a shower, then fell into bed. Kelsey was yelling at Matt to turn off his bed reading light, but Matt couldn’t wake up to do it. It was hilarious to hear Kelsey yelling at Matt, then throwing a book at him to get his attention!
About 3AM, we docked at the first stop wherein all the truckers left. The room soon filled with noxious diesel fumes. Kelsey, Greg & I were woken by the noise and I had Greg get up to open the door for fresh air. When he opened the door, the room filled with cigarette smoke. I pointed out that the ship was not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors! Kelsey stated that the guys would probably die first as they were on the lower bunks – I told her that we needed a parakeet to sniff out the fumes. Greg then started chirping, forcing Kelsey and I to have the giggles for another few hours. We would almost be asleep when he would go “chirp, chirp” very quietly. Hilarious! This truly felt like we were a family again as we would do these outrageously dumb things when Kelsey lived with us.
At 4AM, something started banging against the side of the boat like a huge chain. The mattress was killing me as I was lying on my bruised left side. It was a relief to finally get up the next morning.
At 5AM, I started yelling as loudly as I could because the woman in the next room was loudly screeching in Italian, then vomiting, then screeching again. It went on for hours! Kelsey & Greg woke up to hear all the commotion.
By 7AM, it was time to get up.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
or...Truly, a day in hell!
Greg, Kelsey & I eat a truly disgusting breakfast at the buffet. We let Matt sleep a little longer. Returning to the room, Matt is awake & dressed.
Unable to wait in our room for the ferry to dock, we are shooed from our rooms by 3 various stewards. We finally move ourselves & our luggage as does everyone on the boat & procced to wait in the long hallway at the exit. The vessel seems to tip starboard as there are so many people on this side of the boat.
We leave the ferry at Patras. Which is touted in the brochures as "the shipping capital of Italy"! Huh. More like the edge of Hades!
Finding out later that the unemployment rate in Bari is the highest in the whole country does nothing to endear it to us.
We disembark from the Ferry and find that there are no signs to indicate anything. There is no building for information. So we start walking. First in the wrong direction. Then we find a policeman and Greg asks. We go in the opposite direction after Greg finds a bakery. He is hungry & has to have sustenance again. We continue walking.
Walking into hell. Gangs of young men about 13-18 start to follow us. It is truy scary. This area is the most disgusting, dirty, horrible area we have been in yet. Garbage in the streets, and slime under our feet. It is hot, humid, and I am in fear of my life. Hiding my camera & purse, the guys gather closer to us. It was only supposed to be a short 5 minute walk to the train station but it turns into 20 minutes of absolute horror. We keep trekking, but everybody we run into for directions is rude, nasty, and unhelpful.
We pass young men (more gangs) hanging out on the sidewalks. Some of them are kissing, some are reaching for each others' genitals. We walk so close to them that I can smell the stink of their rotted breath. Greg later indicates he didn't notice any of this, but I can't believe he was 1 inch away from them and didn't see anything! Greg had put his shorts on this morning, and the young gang members eye him up like candy! This is so disgusting. As we finally near the train station that truly was built back in the 1920s, a group of five older men are blocking the doors. Matt forces them to move so we may enter.
Kelsey & Matt approach the window to get 1st class tickets for the journey. They are told there are none available. We will have to travel 2nd class. Ugh. A man staggers through the depot several times & dumps over the garbage bin. Nobody moves to pick it up. There are no-smoking signs everywhere, yet even the workers are smoking-smoke filtering through their nostrils in a plume of blue! Ugh. We wait for about 20 minutes for the train and finally exit to the only track outside. It is even worse. A crowd of people in the area, no fresh air anyplace - more garbage litters the area. There are dead rats between the train rails. Ugh.
Boarding the train as it powers into the station is scary. It is the oldest train I have ever seen. At a top speed of about 20mph, it teeters & totters on the track and gives us the shakiest ride we have been on yet. After an undetermined length of too much time, we finally come to a stop. Only to be told we have to change trains yet again. We are to get on an underground train which will take us into Athens. At first we find seats by the doors, Greg, Kelsey & Matt on one side, I on the other. The train gets more crowded as we get closer to the city. One couple is making out beside me for quite a while. The smell of body odor is more than I can stand. After losing sight of the others, I finally get out of my seat to ask them when we should disembark for the airport. The young couple that were beside me quit making out and tell me in broken english that it does not go to the airport. That we will have to get off at the next stop, change trains again and then continue. I thank them profusely and we all get off. Finding the next train,we board and sit on decent seats for about 10 minutes.
At the airport, it is a confusing mess. The airport seems to be a newer one but is probably just challenging to us as we are dead tired & stressed. We check our bags in to a temporary holding area, to wait in line at the Olympic Air desk to find out if we can take a sooner plane. Finding out that the earliest we can get out is the one we are booked on for tomorrow morning, we despair & resolve to spend the night in the airport. I had seen a hotel as we entered the airport & all of us gravitate to it. We cross to the Sofitel & find out that it is $325 Euro per room. $569. Plus, they don't have 2 double beds. Their rules are such that 2 adults to each room. So we will have to have 2 rooms. At this point, we are all tired, disgusted with Greece and hungry. Greg reserves the rooms and we get the keys.
Going to our rooms, we take showers, I find that I have a slight kidney infection from not drinking enough & not peeing enough.
Yippee!
So, more vacation narrative.
Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25, 2007
When I woke up, I found a cute little present underneath the tree for me- - a set of 3 Swarovski crystal penguins standing on crystal ice. Very cute. Greg & I had watched The March of the Penguins on TV just before we left on vacation so the gift was very apt. (it just broke my heart when those two penguins get upset after they have destroyed their egg upon passing it from mother to father!)
Kelsey bounded into our room after a brief knock; it reminded me of when she was a child and could hardly wait to share her presents with us – Greg was still undressed, but under the covers; I just threw on a shirt to cover myself. Duh. We both sleep nekid!
Showing us that she received an IPOD from Matt; we expressed interest over it even though we had bought the thing from Costco and taken it with us for this express purpose!
Walking to the Termini, we got gelati and then stopped at a store for medicine – Greg thought he was coming down with a cold. Kelsey got the 1st class reservation tickets for our train the following day. The young gentleman behind the counter seemed surprised that we were so knowledgeable about the train & polite to him! We then walked through the UPIM department store on the way out.
Kelsey and I had played a little trick on the guys when we had been walking behind them, talking. The guys were further up ahead and totally engrossed in whatever they were discussing. K&I quickly hid behind a ceiling support that must have been about 4 feet wide-we tried to be quiet-suppressing our giggles. The guys immediately turned around and found us. Matt was quite upset as he thought we might have gotten kidnapped – Greg knew immediately what we had done as he had not heard my boots clicking behind him!
So needless to say, while we were walking thru the UPIM store, the guys made sure they kept us in sight the whole time…
We walked back to our hotel as nothing much was open and snacked with drinks & wine at the top of the hotel. The sun was shining down on us and I could not have imagined a better way to spend Christmas at that approximate moment.
Both Greg & I have missed the kids dearly while they have been away. It was great to share this time with them. I am so lucky to have a great baby. She will always be my baby.
Once the sun went behind the buildings, it got breezily cold. Greg wanted to take a nap and Matt had gotten sloshed on too much alcohol. Kelsey noticed that the tickets we had gotten were for the incorrect time; so instead of running to the terminal in a taxi with Kelesy as we suggested, Matt decided to RUN down to the terminal by himself. It was getting late & dark by now, and I was concerned about him going down there.
He was determined to go no matter what, so off he took! I took a shower & Greg napped. My shower was only about 15-20 minutes and I had just laid down beside Greg when there was a loud rap on the door. Matt had already returned. Seems that the train reservation desk had just been closing as he got there, so it was fortunate that he went right then.
After our nap, we started getting ready for dinner. Kelsey had a slight distress as the skirt she had brought along was tighter than she had thought. So I loaned her my puffy sweater to wear over her outfit. Everything was ok.
Dinner was at the hotel about 500 feet away. It was very elegant and had a sum total of 4 people dancing attendance on about 40 tables! The different courses were all delicious. Wine; Ham Omelette; Tortellini Soup; Veal surrounded by Bread, Potatoes & Broccoli; Fruit Salad; Christmas Cake Pudding. We were supposed to have veal as indicated on the menu, but we all believed it tasted & looked like pork.
After dinner, we took brief pictures in front of the decorated tree in the lobby and returned to our own hotel to pack & sleep.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Or as later known, the beginning of our descent into Hell-
The day started off with Greg having a coughing spell at 2AM. I fell out of bed to rummage around for his medicine. Kelsey then called us at 6AM to make sure we were ready to go. We packed the last of our things, and checked out. I was not going to go down the stairs with our bags, so I went down in the elevator that barely fit 2 people!
It was raining & cold outside. I was thoroughly glad that I had worn my long wool coat. The concierage was kind enough to go out in the rain with an umbrella to hail us a taxi. It costs only 13 Euro this time, instead of 30. Which we had to point out to Greg!
Stop at the Chef Express and sat down to sip warm coffees while we waited to board our train. We asked for white Americano coffees (coffee with cream) but what we got was pure liquid coffee beans. The coffee (or espresso) in other countries tastes very bitter, but has no caffeine kick in it at all. It was very difficult for me to wake up during the day without my caffeine fix. Next time I will have to remember to take caffeine pills!
We got on the train track #7 for Bari at 7:30AM. It was a grey, depressing day and there was fog everywhere. The passing countryside was very distressed. Lots of abandoned homes, buildings. Homes & towns seemed to be built on top of each other on the hills – lots of dirty graffiti and garbage everywhere.
The seats were nice, facing each other and we were even at a table. Greg & Matt wander off in the direction of the food car – they bring chocolate cake back for me and a glazed croissant for Kelsey. The milk Greg got for me tastes strong – like it came right from the cow only a few seconds before.
Kelsey wrote in her journal for a while, Greg napped, Matt played hangman on the translator, we all played a trivia game with Kelsey which was on her new IPOD. Greg fell asleep and so did Matt later on…We find out that the bathrooms do not flush on the train;
The train sits for quite a while at Foggia before we resume our journey. Finally arriving in Bari, we take a quick taxi ride to the Ferry. The check-in is closed and we go upstairs to wait. The escalator is shut off, so we take the elevator. The gift shop upstairs that looked pretty interesting is closed. Kelsey & I lament about this because we would have bought a couple things in it; some earrings for me & maybe a cute dress for Kelsey. We find the bathrooms and all feel better. Beginning our wait, we find loud talking, dirty men who stare at us upstairs. When I go to the bathroom again, one of them even goes into the women’s bathroom with me. I didn’t realize it until I left, but I warn the guys that we need to be escorted to the bathrooms from now on! (however, I do have to note that these bathrooms are FREE)
Kelsey sleeps for a while, then plays with her IPOD again. I take a short nap.
Greg & I take a walk outside to get out of smoke and heavy, uncirculated air in the building. Matt & Kelsey are distressed by the loud talkers who are still staring – so we move downstairs.
We wait from 1PM until 4PM for the reception window to open. The notice indicates they open at 4PM, but after they don’t open until 4:15PM we all start joking that their times are more of a “target” and not a hard & fast rule!
Getting on the boat after check-in; it is pouring down rain outside. We find that the boat has been there the whole time, but they have not allowed anyone to board. Loading the passengers on at the same time as the vehicles, we have to step lively to avoid being run over!
There is absolutely no security checks as we board, and ascend 2 escalators. But the Greek stewards stare at each one of us as we continue up to the main deck. It was very disconcerting. Our room is 105; directly off the main deck. We have 4 beds, 2 fold-downs. The fold-downs only have mattresses that are 1” thick which I will discover to my distress later that night.
Getting drinks in the bar is our only viable option as the restaurants & gift shop will not open until the ferry is underway. We all try Ouzo which is the native drink of Greece. According to Wikipedia “it is an anise-flavored liqueur that is widely consumed in Greece. It is similar to French pastis, or Italian Sambuca and Turkish rakı, but a little sweeter and smoother.” It looks like water, goes down like water, but it is great!
Once we feel the vessel moving, we immediately go to the buffet to eat as we are all starving. There had been no vending machines in the building while we were waiting and the meager food that we had packed had all been eaten. The dinner is OK, but not great.
Got internet access for Kelsey from reception. Go back to the bar for more drinks. Afterwards, Kelsey wants to get on the i
nternet, so I accompany her back to the room. Her computer has problems signing in because of her AOL download, so she has to use my computer. Matt came to the room to get us so we could dance. There is a gentleman in the bar who is teasing Greg & Matt that they can’t dance. It was fun to dance. Very hot, dark. Lots of ’80 tunes! Greg & I dance as Kelsey films us. Matt & I dance as Kelsey takes pictures. The great dancer we dub “Guido” as he speaks no English & we are very bad at Greek (or Italian we couldn't tell which language they were speaking) continues to dance and show others out to do his intricate moves. Guido is about 55, short & balding with a great enthusiastic personality! With him are a group of about 8 – 4 men & 4 women. After much dancing & drinking, Kelsey went back to the room while we continued to party. Kelsey later told Matt that she had never seen her parents have so much fun.Guido’s group finally did a twisting “snake” dance out of the room which we all participated with, then left. Greg, Matt & I hung around for a bit, then decided we all needed fresh air. We went up on deck and found a bunch of American girls that were hanging out with an American guy who looked to be about 25. The girls were students who were traveling Europe & staying in hostels. Talking with them about travel & sites, we finally went back in to the room. I tried going to the bathroom (which was very small & cramped) and fell over into the shower when the boat hit a wave. I bruised my left arm and leg.
Greg & Matt left the room again to go have more beer in the bar. Greg finally arrived in the room later – Matt was about an hour after that. He took a shower, then fell into bed. Kelsey was yelling at Matt to turn off his bed reading light, but Matt couldn’t wake up to do it. It was hilarious to hear Kelsey yelling at Matt, then throwing a book at him to get his attention!
About 3AM, we docked at the first stop wherein all the truckers left. The room soon filled with noxious diesel fumes. Kelsey, Greg & I were woken by the noise and I had Greg get up to open the door for fresh air. When he opened the door, the room filled with cigarette smoke. I pointed out that the ship was not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors! Kelsey stated that the guys would probably die first as they were on the lower bunks – I told her that we needed a parakeet to sniff out the fumes. Greg then started chirping, forcing Kelsey and I to have the giggles for another few hours. We would almost be asleep when he would go “chirp, chirp” very quietly. Hilarious! This truly felt like we were a family again as we would do these outrageously dumb things when Kelsey lived with us.
At 4AM, something started banging against the side of the boat like a huge chain. The mattress was killing me as I was lying on my bruised left side. It was a relief to finally get up the next morning.
At 5AM, I started yelling as loudly as I could because the woman in the next room was loudly screeching in Italian, then vomiting, then screeching again. It went on for hours! Kelsey & Greg woke up to hear all the commotion.
By 7AM, it was time to get up.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
or...Truly, a day in hell!
Greg, Kelsey & I eat a truly disgusting breakfast at the buffet. We let Matt sleep a little longer. Returning to the room, Matt is awake & dressed.
Unable to wait in our room for the ferry to dock, we are shooed from our rooms by 3 various stewards. We finally move ourselves & our luggage as does everyone on the boat & procced to wait in the long hallway at the exit. The vessel seems to tip starboard as there are so many people on this side of the boat.
We leave the ferry at Patras. Which is touted in the brochures as "the shipping capital of Italy"! Huh. More like the edge of Hades!
Finding out later that the unemployment rate in Bari is the highest in the whole country does nothing to endear it to us.
We disembark from the Ferry and find that there are no signs to indicate anything. There is no building for information. So we start walking. First in the wrong direction. Then we find a policeman and Greg asks. We go in the opposite direction after Greg finds a bakery. He is hungry & has to have sustenance again. We continue walking.
Walking into hell. Gangs of young men about 13-18 start to follow us. It is truy scary. This area is the most disgusting, dirty, horrible area we have been in yet. Garbage in the streets, and slime under our feet. It is hot, humid, and I am in fear of my life. Hiding my camera & purse, the guys gather closer to us. It was only supposed to be a short 5 minute walk to the train station but it turns into 20 minutes of absolute horror. We keep trekking, but everybody we run into for directions is rude, nasty, and unhelpful.
We pass young men (more gangs) hanging out on the sidewalks. Some of them are kissing, some are reaching for each others' genitals. We walk so close to them that I can smell the stink of their rotted breath. Greg later indicates he didn't notice any of this, but I can't believe he was 1 inch away from them and didn't see anything! Greg had put his shorts on this morning, and the young gang members eye him up like candy! This is so disgusting. As we finally near the train station that truly was built back in the 1920s, a group of five older men are blocking the doors. Matt forces them to move so we may enter.
Kelsey & Matt approach the window to get 1st class tickets for the journey. They are told there are none available. We will have to travel 2nd class. Ugh. A man staggers through the depot several times & dumps over the garbage bin. Nobody moves to pick it up. There are no-smoking signs everywhere, yet even the workers are smoking-smoke filtering through their nostrils in a plume of blue! Ugh. We wait for about 20 minutes for the train and finally exit to the only track outside. It is even worse. A crowd of people in the area, no fresh air anyplace - more garbage litters the area. There are dead rats between the train rails. Ugh.
Boarding the train as it powers into the station is scary. It is the oldest train I have ever seen. At a top speed of about 20mph, it teeters & totters on the track and gives us the shakiest ride we have been on yet. After an undetermined length of too much time, we finally come to a stop. Only to be told we have to change trains yet again. We are to get on an underground train which will take us into Athens. At first we find seats by the doors, Greg, Kelsey & Matt on one side, I on the other. The train gets more crowded as we get closer to the city. One couple is making out beside me for quite a while. The smell of body odor is more than I can stand. After losing sight of the others, I finally get out of my seat to ask them when we should disembark for the airport. The young couple that were beside me quit making out and tell me in broken english that it does not go to the airport. That we will have to get off at the next stop, change trains again and then continue. I thank them profusely and we all get off. Finding the next train,we board and sit on decent seats for about 10 minutes.
At the airport, it is a confusing mess. The airport seems to be a newer one but is probably just challenging to us as we are dead tired & stressed. We check our bags in to a temporary holding area, to wait in line at the Olympic Air desk to find out if we can take a sooner plane. Finding out that the earliest we can get out is the one we are booked on for tomorrow morning, we despair & resolve to spend the night in the airport. I had seen a hotel as we entered the airport & all of us gravitate to it. We cross to the Sofitel & find out that it is $325 Euro per room. $569. Plus, they don't have 2 double beds. Their rules are such that 2 adults to each room. So we will have to have 2 rooms. At this point, we are all tired, disgusted with Greece and hungry. Greg reserves the rooms and we get the keys.
Going to our rooms, we take showers, I find that I have a slight kidney infection from not drinking enough & not peeing enough.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
More Euro-Trip
Friday, December 21, 2007
Kelsey related that Matt had remained out late last night after Greg had left him at Zuggys. Going out to the town of Garmisch to a bar after Zuggy’s had closed for the night, he lost his companions and had “run” back to the resort only to find out that his buddies had gone to the bathroom at the bar! Upon coming out of the bathrooms, they could not find Matt, so they came by taxi back to the resort. We asked Matt later why he had not had a taxi called by the bartender or just waited for a while.
As Kelsey was upset with Matt and I had been upset with Greg the night before, we told the guys to stay home so that we could have some “alone time” for going on the Swarovski Crystal Tour.
It was fun to get on the bus and our little Italian accented/German tour guide we nicknamed “Helga” indicated to us that Schwa-rouv-ski would be a ways off. The company runs a crystal-themed indoor theme park, Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds) at its original Wattens site (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria).
Our bus traveled through mountainous passes for 54 miles until we finally reached our destination about 1 hour later.
We piled out of the bus, with people lighting cigarettes all around us. Finally getting far enough away to catch a breathe of fresh air, we waited for the rest of the group. Looking around & taking pictures, we were eagerly looking forward to the tour. Helga passed out the tickets after she received them and we were OFF! But in the wrong direction. I had started to walk where the sign indicated Entrance 1; but obviously Helga wanted to go a different way. She yelled at us, and as we didn’t want her to yell at a us again, we stayed directly behind her for the rest of the tour!
Entering a dark room was disconcerting, but only until we saw the half dressed Indian dancing along with his back-up band. The tour reminded me of entering somebody’s brain that was on an acid trip. Lots of bizarre things made out of Swarovski crystals. After observing the rooms, we finally made our way to the showroom- Jackpot! I probably should have gotten more. I regret not spending more than the $250 that I did spend there. It just sounded like more because of the monetary exchange. Note to self-always buy more.
Kelsey and I both bought pearl necklaces. I bought earrings & writing pens to give away. While I wandered off to look at more things, a sales associate went over to Kelsey and whipped out a velvet covered drawer. Polishing and looking at all the pieces to ensure that they were not scratched, she put them in special little bags! What service. After we paid for our purchases, we went to the lunch room and indulged in the tiramisu that was calling our names!
Hopefully we will be back in Garmisch next winter as Kelsey has already reserved rooms for us. We can go to the Swarovski factory again and buy more!
After piling back into the bus, we continued on to a truck stop – which had to be the CLEANEST truck stop I have ever seen; we didn’t want to eat at the wonderful, delicious smelling buffet for lunch as we were going to eat again at Pullman Place in the Resort; we wandered through the truck stop & also made use of the clean WCs.
When we were crossing the parking lot, Helga the tour guide, warned us about the Hot&Heavies – cars that would come racing through the lot – which made Kelsey & I laugh. Helga also shouted out “Garmisch Group” in her sweet little Italian grandma German-accented voice. What a nice lady.
Our final tour stop was the town of Rattenberg, Austria which is a town on the Inn River, near Rattenberg mountain and Innsbruck. With a population of 440, it is the smallest town in the country. The buildings were literally built into the mountains; with the shops backing up to the mountains; complete with water dripping through them! We observed glass blowing in one of the shops; then were free to shop in the other 30 businesses whose main income seems to be crystal glass. My baby bought me a beautiful blue crystal angel. I will always treasure it.
When we first got off the bus in Rattenberg, a bad little boy named Peter almost jumped into the river as his mother was taking his picture. This led Kelsey & I to tease about this naughty little boy for the rest of the trip! Also, the parents of Lauren (the sick baby) were with us again on this trip. The father, seemingly to get in my way everytime I turned around. I was just about at the end of my rope and almost smacked him in the face once, but Kelsey held me back.
Returning to the resort, our bus managed to pass several cars which were all behind a large semi-truck going slowly up the narrow, mountainous road. Our bus driver exhibited balls-of-steel as he passed on a blind curve with oncoming traffic!
We got off the bus, but the boys were nowhere to be found. They were finally found in Kelsey’s room hanging out and watching sports on TV. Ooohing and Aaahing over our purchases that day, we related the events.
Dinner that night was a major disappointment as we did not have our usual waitress. The waiter seemed to fumble over everything; not even realizing what day it was. I received a raw filet and almost lost it at the amount of blood that was dripping out of the thing (I like my meat well-done!) Kelsey & I returned our meals, Matt left because he was sick at whatever he had ordered; the crème brulee was runny & watery! The manager comp’d our meals, so it was just a big waste of time.
Greg and I washed more clothes; resulting in the newest tease…a woman cut in front of us being quite huffy about having “opened” the dryer doors and they were hers. We had already loaded the money and our clothes! So when we returned to see if our clothes were dry, I teased Greg (in front of this woman…) that ‘the General is going to be very irritated that his clothes are not done on time’. This woman then nearly fell all over herself to offer us her dryers which still had time left on them!
We told this story to Matt & Kelsey the next morning. Matt, from then on…was referred to as ‘the General’!Saturday,
ITALY
Saturday, December 22, 2007
We got up early and packed what little we had out. Settled the bill, and rode a taxi to the train station. I happened to lose my little black headband in the taxicab (Matt wasn’t looking out after mom-but he did happen to pick up my sunglasses). We got the train to Munich where we had a slight layover.
In Munich we put our luggage in the storage lockers, with everything fitting but Matt & Kelsey’s huge bag! Having a 2 hour wait, we found coffee & snacks. Matt surprised Kelsey by purchasing her beautiful red flowers. Sitting down to wait on a bench, I noticed Matt was tilting his coffee cup and did the same thing. As he was sitting down on the far end, I hadn’t seen him resting his elbow on the suitcase. So that was another thing we could tease ‘the general’ about.
We failed to reserve seats at the Munich train station; so we were booted out of our seats at the first stop in Italy.
This is the way it goes. Euro-Rail sells you a multi-country train pass. However, even if you PURCHASE a first-class train ticket, you still have to RESERVE the first-class train seats. Then…you have to reserve them in the COUNTRY that you are traveling within. So as we had no other stops after we left Germany until Italy, there was NO WAY we could reserve seats for Italy. When the Italian conductor came by, he was rude & would not explain the seating. Finally dragging us back to an “overage” car, we finally got seats after having to wait for others to leave the train. It was a 12+ hour journey to Rome. We also encountered an overtly friendly young Italian woman that tried to converse with us. She was friendly, but had to touch and put her hands on the guys TOO MANY TIMES! Dressed in expensive designer eyewear, designer handbag, and designer clothes, we came to learn that almost all Italians dress this way.
The train left the northern part of Italy which was somewhat pretty with the grapevines everywhere and beautiful hills; to come to the dirty, ugly, ghetto area of Italy. Garbage was spread everywhere-buildings were falling apart, homes were horrible. This went on for miles. We feared that we were stepping back into another century. The sun went down and the ride seemed to last too long. The train started going through endless tunnels as it picked up speed growing closer to our destination. We finally arrived in Rome late at night; about 9PM-the train came into the station and continued going about 3mph for about 20 minutes before we finally came to a halt. Exiting the train, we looked about us for an exit. And endless mall seemed to loom around us. Matt viewed an exit. Greg was the first one out and instead of going over to the taxi queue, he allowed a strange man to talk him into taking us to the hotel for 30Euro. Trying to catch up with the odd man, we all started running, Kelsey was shouting at Matt to catch up with him as the man had taken their bag!
Finally arriving across the road from the train station, we piled into the black illegal taxi which was just a car. Thoughts of the movie Hostel raged through my mind as I wondered what was going to happen. Our driver seemed to be lost as he hailed another cab about where to find the hotel. Trying to call on his cell phone, he finally got us there.
The hotel had a private entrance with a locked gate, and it actually didn’t look like a hotel. But once we had gotten up to the desk, we checked in and went to our rooms which were quite decent. The shower looked great and Greg marveled over the dual toilets.
We were all hungry, and found a very yummy pizza shop a few feet away. The pizza had no sauce on it; but with it was warm, and anything probably would have tasted like heaven then! We had our fill, then returned to the rooms for bed after warm showers.
Kelsey related that Matt had remained out late last night after Greg had left him at Zuggys. Going out to the town of Garmisch to a bar after Zuggy’s had closed for the night, he lost his companions and had “run” back to the resort only to find out that his buddies had gone to the bathroom at the bar! Upon coming out of the bathrooms, they could not find Matt, so they came by taxi back to the resort. We asked Matt later why he had not had a taxi called by the bartender or just waited for a while.
As Kelsey was upset with Matt and I had been upset with Greg the night before, we told the guys to stay home so that we could have some “alone time” for going on the Swarovski Crystal Tour.
It was fun to get on the bus and our little Italian accented/German tour guide we nicknamed “Helga” indicated to us that Schwa-rouv-ski would be a ways off. The company runs a crystal-themed indoor theme park, Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds) at its original Wattens site (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria).
Our bus traveled through mountainous passes for 54 miles until we finally reached our destination about 1 hour later.
We piled out of the bus, with people lighting cigarettes all around us. Finally getting far enough away to catch a breathe of fresh air, we waited for the rest of the group. Looking around & taking pictures, we were eagerly looking forward to the tour. Helga passed out the tickets after she received them and we were OFF! But in the wrong direction. I had started to walk where the sign indicated Entrance 1; but obviously Helga wanted to go a different way. She yelled at us, and as we didn’t want her to yell at a us again, we stayed directly behind her for the rest of the tour!
Entering a dark room was disconcerting, but only until we saw the half dressed Indian dancing along with his back-up band. The tour reminded me of entering somebody’s brain that was on an acid trip. Lots of bizarre things made out of Swarovski crystals. After observing the rooms, we finally made our way to the showroom- Jackpot! I probably should have gotten more. I regret not spending more than the $250 that I did spend there. It just sounded like more because of the monetary exchange. Note to self-always buy more.
Kelsey and I both bought pearl necklaces. I bought earrings & writing pens to give away. While I wandered off to look at more things, a sales associate went over to Kelsey and whipped out a velvet covered drawer. Polishing and looking at all the pieces to ensure that they were not scratched, she put them in special little bags! What service. After we paid for our purchases, we went to the lunch room and indulged in the tiramisu that was calling our names!
Hopefully we will be back in Garmisch next winter as Kelsey has already reserved rooms for us. We can go to the Swarovski factory again and buy more!
After piling back into the bus, we continued on to a truck stop – which had to be the CLEANEST truck stop I have ever seen; we didn’t want to eat at the wonderful, delicious smelling buffet for lunch as we were going to eat again at Pullman Place in the Resort; we wandered through the truck stop & also made use of the clean WCs.
When we were crossing the parking lot, Helga the tour guide, warned us about the Hot&Heavies – cars that would come racing through the lot – which made Kelsey & I laugh. Helga also shouted out “Garmisch Group” in her sweet little Italian grandma German-accented voice. What a nice lady.
Our final tour stop was the town of Rattenberg, Austria which is a town on the Inn River, near Rattenberg mountain and Innsbruck. With a population of 440, it is the smallest town in the country. The buildings were literally built into the mountains; with the shops backing up to the mountains; complete with water dripping through them! We observed glass blowing in one of the shops; then were free to shop in the other 30 businesses whose main income seems to be crystal glass. My baby bought me a beautiful blue crystal angel. I will always treasure it.
When we first got off the bus in Rattenberg, a bad little boy named Peter almost jumped into the river as his mother was taking his picture. This led Kelsey & I to tease about this naughty little boy for the rest of the trip! Also, the parents of Lauren (the sick baby) were with us again on this trip. The father, seemingly to get in my way everytime I turned around. I was just about at the end of my rope and almost smacked him in the face once, but Kelsey held me back.
Returning to the resort, our bus managed to pass several cars which were all behind a large semi-truck going slowly up the narrow, mountainous road. Our bus driver exhibited balls-of-steel as he passed on a blind curve with oncoming traffic!
We got off the bus, but the boys were nowhere to be found. They were finally found in Kelsey’s room hanging out and watching sports on TV. Ooohing and Aaahing over our purchases that day, we related the events.
Dinner that night was a major disappointment as we did not have our usual waitress. The waiter seemed to fumble over everything; not even realizing what day it was. I received a raw filet and almost lost it at the amount of blood that was dripping out of the thing (I like my meat well-done!) Kelsey & I returned our meals, Matt left because he was sick at whatever he had ordered; the crème brulee was runny & watery! The manager comp’d our meals, so it was just a big waste of time.
Greg and I washed more clothes; resulting in the newest tease…a woman cut in front of us being quite huffy about having “opened” the dryer doors and they were hers. We had already loaded the money and our clothes! So when we returned to see if our clothes were dry, I teased Greg (in front of this woman…) that ‘the General is going to be very irritated that his clothes are not done on time’. This woman then nearly fell all over herself to offer us her dryers which still had time left on them!
We told this story to Matt & Kelsey the next morning. Matt, from then on…was referred to as ‘the General’!Saturday,
ITALY
Saturday, December 22, 2007
We got up early and packed what little we had out. Settled the bill, and rode a taxi to the train station. I happened to lose my little black headband in the taxicab (Matt wasn’t looking out after mom-but he did happen to pick up my sunglasses). We got the train to Munich where we had a slight layover.
In Munich we put our luggage in the storage lockers, with everything fitting but Matt & Kelsey’s huge bag! Having a 2 hour wait, we found coffee & snacks. Matt surprised Kelsey by purchasing her beautiful red flowers. Sitting down to wait on a bench, I noticed Matt was tilting his coffee cup and did the same thing. As he was sitting down on the far end, I hadn’t seen him resting his elbow on the suitcase. So that was another thing we could tease ‘the general’ about.
We failed to reserve seats at the Munich train station; so we were booted out of our seats at the first stop in Italy.
This is the way it goes. Euro-Rail sells you a multi-country train pass. However, even if you PURCHASE a first-class train ticket, you still have to RESERVE the first-class train seats. Then…you have to reserve them in the COUNTRY that you are traveling within. So as we had no other stops after we left Germany until Italy, there was NO WAY we could reserve seats for Italy. When the Italian conductor came by, he was rude & would not explain the seating. Finally dragging us back to an “overage” car, we finally got seats after having to wait for others to leave the train. It was a 12+ hour journey to Rome. We also encountered an overtly friendly young Italian woman that tried to converse with us. She was friendly, but had to touch and put her hands on the guys TOO MANY TIMES! Dressed in expensive designer eyewear, designer handbag, and designer clothes, we came to learn that almost all Italians dress this way.
The train left the northern part of Italy which was somewhat pretty with the grapevines everywhere and beautiful hills; to come to the dirty, ugly, ghetto area of Italy. Garbage was spread everywhere-buildings were falling apart, homes were horrible. This went on for miles. We feared that we were stepping back into another century. The sun went down and the ride seemed to last too long. The train started going through endless tunnels as it picked up speed growing closer to our destination. We finally arrived in Rome late at night; about 9PM-the train came into the station and continued going about 3mph for about 20 minutes before we finally came to a halt. Exiting the train, we looked about us for an exit. And endless mall seemed to loom around us. Matt viewed an exit. Greg was the first one out and instead of going over to the taxi queue, he allowed a strange man to talk him into taking us to the hotel for 30Euro. Trying to catch up with the odd man, we all started running, Kelsey was shouting at Matt to catch up with him as the man had taken their bag!
Finally arriving across the road from the train station, we piled into the black illegal taxi which was just a car. Thoughts of the movie Hostel raged through my mind as I wondered what was going to happen. Our driver seemed to be lost as he hailed another cab about where to find the hotel. Trying to call on his cell phone, he finally got us there.
The hotel had a private entrance with a locked gate, and it actually didn’t look like a hotel. But once we had gotten up to the desk, we checked in and went to our rooms which were quite decent. The shower looked great and Greg marveled over the dual toilets.
We were all hungry, and found a very yummy pizza shop a few feet away. The pizza had no sauce on it; but with it was warm, and anything probably would have tasted like heaven then! We had our fill, then returned to the rooms for bed after warm showers.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
There are only 12 rooms in the whole hotel, so it is very private. Noise is kept to a minimum. We get a great night’s rest!
We awake to the sounds of trains coming into the station 11 blocks away, the cable cars, trolley cars, tramcars, city buses, taxis & vehicles. The hotel is touted on Expedia as a “boutique hotel situated in Rome’s Piazza di Portamaggiore, overlooking city walls dating back to the first century. The piazza is a sight to behold, cars going here & there and crossing everywhere. No lines on the road, but everybody seems to be doing ok.
Outside our large picture window, we can see remnants of the aqueducts still standing. We start our morning with a complimentary breakfast in the lobby.
Our impression is that Rome is a very dirty, stinky city.
Dirty as in, graffiti everywhere. On buildings, on monuments, on vans! We observed absolutely no garbage trucks or clean up crews the entire time we were there. There is garbage in the streets & everywhere else. Overflowing garbage in refuse containers.
Ancient buildings are everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. Even if they are not identified, there are ancient ruins all over the city.
Stiny as in…it smells. The city has a horrible smell. Toxic vehicles, refuse, mold, mildew, and metallic.
Everybody smokes. Smoking is allowed everywhere and anywhere. In taxis, buses, restaurants, hotels, bathrooms- Everywhere! And the cigarettes are not filtered- smoke is pungent & malodorous. The Italians that we encountered did not seem to believe in taking baths, but did douse themselves in copious amounts of perfume. Women are very fashionable and about 98% of the women wear their pants tucked into their boots. Must be a new fashion trend. But the men that are with the women are not usually dressed fashionably. A lot of them look like slobs. But when you see a man that is dressed up – wow. Gold rings, Gold necklaces, silk ties, custom leather shoes & designer outfit! Whew.
It is not a rumor. Italian men STARE. Matt almost got into a couple fights because the guys would stare so much. After a while, Kelsey & I ignored it. But they seemed to like us better because of our hair coloring. Must not see very many true redheads!
I noticed the women here use henna. A lot. Note to Italian women. Not everybody with black hair looks good with henna in their hair. I was amazed.
Kelsey and I also noticed that the women walk “hard”. In other words, they have a very definitive, loud, hard walk. Even in boots, you can’t hear me walk. I walk softly. Kelsey & I would often laugh because we heard these women coming before we even saw them!
Most of the people are loud talkers, too. They throw their hands around expressively, talking loudly with everyone. One such woman at the mall was yelling so loudly to her companion a short distance away that it echoed throughout the mall! Amazing.
Italians seem to be very short. My husband is only 6’3” and he towered over everybody there. I got the impression that if they conquered so much of Europe, that they would be taller.
I'm not being prejudicial here, just relating our impressions. It was different from the norm to get out and meet other people. Even if the other people don't like Americans too much-
Our little group walked down to the Roma Termini which is the main train station of the city. The daily walk to and from our hotel will keep us all in good shape. The ‘general’ sets a fast pace. We hopped on a double-decker tour bus when we got to the terminal; The temperature is high 50F.
Lots of pigeons. Lots of pigeon poop.
Getting off the bus at the Spanish Steps, Greg has to purchase a horrible panini & pop for 13 Euros as he needs sustenance; Matt is confronted by a strange hawker trying to sell him a friendship bracelet that he is weaving on Matt’s finger. I tell Greg to go help him out as Kelsey & I walk along looking at the beautiful paintings. We go to the Hard Rock Café so that Greg can buy a pin for his hat. Matt & Kelsey have hyped him into getting the various pins to decorate his German chapeau. On the way, we find a wonderful bakery, but find out that they only sell the baked goods in large trays. Boo hoo. Those treats would have made nice Christmas day munchies. I am wistful about no cookies, candies or the delicious buffet we make annually for Christmas.
A slight misty rain starts as we dodge between buildings. Hawkers are pushing umbrellas in our faces, but we march on regardless.
Greg and I are amazed to see orange trees & palm trees. It had never occurred to us that it is balmy enough in this area.
We get back on the bus to Vatican City and get in line for the Vatican. It is a short line and we get right up to the security area. Security is relatively easy to get through. As we walk through, there are lots of interesting things to see, but Kelsey wants to find the Vatican Museum. After wandering around for quite a while, Greg finds out that the museum is closed for the holiday.
Disappointed, we hop on the bus again to head back to the Termini, and have dinner at Bobbio’s which was a recommendation from our hotel concierage. We dine on pasta & calzones with wine. Kelsey has become quite the wine connoisseur. I am shocked. But the meal is bland and does not have the spices that one would expect from Italian food.
Returning to our hotel which is just a few blocks away, we are exhausted. Falling into bed, we sleep deeply.
Monday, December 24, 2007 CHRISTMAS EVE
We eat a great breakfast at the hotel again. I find I like yogurt. Greg is shocked as I have sworn in the past never to let rotted milk products beyond my lips. Matt chooses a chocolate filled croissant and shares it with me. What a nice boy. Cheese & meat, bread & hot coffee. I am ready to go again.
After a quick walk to the Termini, following ‘the general’, we take the bus tour to the Colosseum- aka The Flavian Amphitheatre. This is an awesome structure. Immense, it looms out of the skyline and one can hardly believe that you are walking in the same area that of one of the greatest works of roman engineering & architecture. To imagine that this structure was started in 70A.D. is impossible to grasp! We walk along the side of the Colosseum on the cobblestones.
Several photo ops, and Matt even takes pics using Kelsey’s camera. We dash & dodge to avoid all the hawkers selling various & sundry gifts.
We then venture over to the Palatine hills to see the ruins there. Even though there are signs everywhere NOT to sit on anything, people sit down on the ruins. Finding a bookstore, I purchase a book that explains what can be seen of ancient Rome.
Discussing the various things in the book, we ride atop the bus with the wind blowing in our faces. Dinner is at a pizza restaurant directly across from the Termini; the meat is spicy and there is actual sauce on the pizza!
Kelsey & I get gelati on the way back to the hotel. Tiramisu for me and strawberry for Kelsey. Yum. I think I need to open a gelati stand back in the US.
When we get back to the hotel, the kids come into the room with us and we all listen to Christmas songs I downloaded on my computer. Greg & I had packed a tiny Christmas tree, so Kelsey does the decorating from the meager items we have in the room. There were decorative red & green candies in a Santa plate when we returned to the room that the housekeeping had set out. So she uses those and some pretty paper. The tree looks small and lonely, but the feeling is there!
The guys go over to the Hotel Portamaggiore to reserve Christmas dinner for us on the following day. This will be special as we did not expect anything on Christmas day.
Bedtime at 10PM and we are exhausted again. Watching the traffic out our window, Greg comes up behind me and hugs me. We are amazed that we are actually here. In Rome. For Christmas! I take a quick shower & barely make it to the bed because I am so tired!
Could I Care Any Less?
Is jet lag really this bad? Vacation let - down? Meltdown?
I have to force myself to do anything lately. It seems that nothing matters anymore. Am I sane? Will I ever pull out of these doldrums?
Anyway, I did manage to put some of our Paris pics together on Slide.
For your amusement.
I will work more on details of the trip. Gee. I am only half way through explaining the whole trip.
I have to force myself to do anything lately. It seems that nothing matters anymore. Am I sane? Will I ever pull out of these doldrums?
Anyway, I did manage to put some of our Paris pics together on Slide.
For your amusement.
I will work more on details of the trip. Gee. I am only half way through explaining the whole trip.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Feeling Worse
Ugh. I am so tired. Still.
I slept until 12:00 on Saturday. What a slug. Drug myself around the house and tried to do a little laundry. I got a few clothes put away.
It snowed. More.
Greg worked in the shop until late. He & Bruce went into Schuck's to pick up parts & got back around 5pm.
We watched tv for a while, then went to bed at 9pm.
On Sunday, we both slept late. Greg watched his car shows and I updated my pictures on Flickr & Slide. Sorting through all the vacation pics.
We went to see "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith. What a very sad movie. We took Isabelle along with us and she was the best dog ever. Sat beside my seat the whole time and didn't make a sound.
Stopping at Wendy's on the way home, we picked up a couple cheeseburgers for the dog. When we returned home, I made Snickerdoodle cookies for Izzy (she absolutely loves to eat the raw cookie dough!).
I slept until 12:00 on Saturday. What a slug. Drug myself around the house and tried to do a little laundry. I got a few clothes put away.
It snowed. More.
Greg worked in the shop until late. He & Bruce went into Schuck's to pick up parts & got back around 5pm.
We watched tv for a while, then went to bed at 9pm.
On Sunday, we both slept late. Greg watched his car shows and I updated my pictures on Flickr & Slide. Sorting through all the vacation pics.
We went to see "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith. What a very sad movie. We took Isabelle along with us and she was the best dog ever. Sat beside my seat the whole time and didn't make a sound.
Stopping at Wendy's on the way home, we picked up a couple cheeseburgers for the dog. When we returned home, I made Snickerdoodle cookies for Izzy (she absolutely loves to eat the raw cookie dough!).
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I Feel Awful
This jet lag is really getting me down. Never imagined that it could be this bad. I look around at all the things I haven't gotten done yet - and we have already been home almost a week. My clothes are still draped over a chair upstairs, waiting to be put away. There is laundry in the dryer waiting to be finished. I need to clean the house. But I am so depressed. No energy or desire to do anything.
Poor Greg finally said he was getting back on schedule. He felt better after sleeping last night. He has to dig out of our enormous winter snow piles again today. And then he is working on the deck, which has a ton of frozen snow & ice on it. Hubby laughed & said that he should use a chainsaw to cut through it. However, I reminded him that this past summer when I begged him to purchase a new one, he was indecisive - finally deciding against it. His last one had been forgotten on the back of a truck when he drove out of our drive!
I am going to go to the doctor today at 4pm to have him look at my leg. So much pain. This is upsetting me, too.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Walked around Garmisch today. While we were walking along, showing the kids the shops that we had observed the other day, the melodious sound of polka Christmas music filtered down the street. Thinking that it was coming from the winter fair that was situated in the middle of town, we wandered along enjoying songs we recognized. Drawing closer, we observed it was a street musician sitting on the ground with a hat in front of him. My husband immediately stepped over to give him money and was immediately embroiled in a conversation of which neither understood the othe
r. Kelsey, Matt & I wandered away as Greg could not say “no” and drag himself away. We entered a shop that was selling scarves, hats, & misc. Kelsey got a pic of me when I tried on a weird hat.
Finally, Greg rejoined us in the shop explaining that the bum had begged for 40€ bus ride ticket so he could return to Romania. Ugh. My husband.
We walked all the way down to the end of the main street, finding the train station, & purchasing a box for sending things home at a shipping store. On the way back, we found a pharmacy so that Kelsey could purchase a hairdryer. Matt finally found a stein that he liked at the wonderful little stein store.
Waiting for a taxi at the line-up, it seemed as if they had all vacated the area for lunch. Desiring a place to warm up, we entered a coffee/pastry shop. Ordering Macchiatos, we were handed something that was literally liquid coffee beans in a 3 ounce cup. Gross. I believe the waitress thought we were ordering espressos even though we pointed to a picture of the Macchiatos.
Upon returning to the resort, Matt & Kelsey went to receive their scheduled massages. Greg and I encountered them in the Wellness Club an hour later when we walked in for our appointments; and they were completely relaxed, raving about their great rubdowns. My masseuse was Ammon, named from the bible, he was great. But I limped back to the room from having laid on my ribs on the hard table.
We ate again at Pullman Place that night. Jessie was again our server and the food was fabulous. Afterwards as we sat by the fire for a while, Kelsey caught Matt relaxing in the enormous Santa
chair.
Kelsey needed to print out some documents for the rest of our trip and we purchased time at the Internet cafe on the main level while the guys decided to do some laundry in the basement. Greg came up later to find us and he was eager to get on the internet so he could look at e-Bay. Gee. Come thousands of miles from home and he wants to sit around on the computer.
My daughter and I leave the internet cafe after a few minutes; I kiss my husband who says he will be up after he is finished with his 45 minutes he purchased. However, after 2 hours he still has not returned to the room. Concerned, I search the lodge and find that he is with Matt at the bar in Zuggy's. Indicating to him that he needed to get some sleep and shouldn't be worrying me on our vacation, we both return to the room.
Poor Greg finally said he was getting back on schedule. He felt better after sleeping last night. He has to dig out of our enormous winter snow piles again today. And then he is working on the deck, which has a ton of frozen snow & ice on it. Hubby laughed & said that he should use a chainsaw to cut through it. However, I reminded him that this past summer when I begged him to purchase a new one, he was indecisive - finally deciding against it. His last one had been forgotten on the back of a truck when he drove out of our drive!
I am going to go to the doctor today at 4pm to have him look at my leg. So much pain. This is upsetting me, too.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Walked around Garmisch today. While we were walking along, showing the kids the shops that we had observed the other day, the melodious sound of polka Christmas music filtered down the street. Thinking that it was coming from the winter fair that was situated in the middle of town, we wandered along enjoying songs we recognized. Drawing closer, we observed it was a street musician sitting on the ground with a hat in front of him. My husband immediately stepped over to give him money and was immediately embroiled in a conversation of which neither understood the othe
r. Kelsey, Matt & I wandered away as Greg could not say “no” and drag himself away. We entered a shop that was selling scarves, hats, & misc. Kelsey got a pic of me when I tried on a weird hat.Finally, Greg rejoined us in the shop explaining that the bum had begged for 40€ bus ride ticket so he could return to Romania. Ugh. My husband.
We walked all the way down to the end of the main street, finding the train station, & purchasing a box for sending things home at a shipping store. On the way back, we found a pharmacy so that Kelsey could purchase a hairdryer. Matt finally found a stein that he liked at the wonderful little stein store.
Waiting for a taxi at the line-up, it seemed as if they had all vacated the area for lunch. Desiring a place to warm up, we entered a coffee/pastry shop. Ordering Macchiatos, we were handed something that was literally liquid coffee beans in a 3 ounce cup. Gross. I believe the waitress thought we were ordering espressos even though we pointed to a picture of the Macchiatos.
Upon returning to the resort, Matt & Kelsey went to receive their scheduled massages. Greg and I encountered them in the Wellness Club an hour later when we walked in for our appointments; and they were completely relaxed, raving about their great rubdowns. My masseuse was Ammon, named from the bible, he was great. But I limped back to the room from having laid on my ribs on the hard table.
We ate again at Pullman Place that night. Jessie was again our server and the food was fabulous. Afterwards as we sat by the fire for a while, Kelsey caught Matt relaxing in the enormous Santa
chair. Kelsey needed to print out some documents for the rest of our trip and we purchased time at the Internet cafe on the main level while the guys decided to do some laundry in the basement. Greg came up later to find us and he was eager to get on the internet so he could look at e-Bay. Gee. Come thousands of miles from home and he wants to sit around on the computer.
My daughter and I leave the internet cafe after a few minutes; I kiss my husband who says he will be up after he is finished with his 45 minutes he purchased. However, after 2 hours he still has not returned to the room. Concerned, I search the lodge and find that he is with Matt at the bar in Zuggy's. Indicating to him that he needed to get some sleep and shouldn't be worrying me on our vacation, we both return to the room.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Jet Lagggggggggg
Since we returned, I have not written anything of what we have been doing here at home. That is because 1/we are totally jet lagged. 2/my leg hurts SO much.
1/ Jet Lag- We have been sleeping almost all the time since we returned home. The only time I have been awake & aware was when I blogged. I haven't been able to put away my clothes from the trip even; the slightest effort to do anything takes great will. Depression & lethargy abound between the two of us.
2/Leg Pain-I will explain that 99% of the French people that we encountered were rude. So, we did not get a very good impression of that country. The only nice ones were a black gentleman at a grocery store who explained that you have to weigh our fruit before proceeding to the check out. Our cab driver was a very nice, helpful Vietnamese who had moved to France in the early 70s. That is about it. Two people in a city of over 2 million.
But I digress. The reason that my leg hurts so much is that I pulled a calf muscle in the last desperate stint on our unfortunate race through the CDG airport. When we reached the last security check, we observed that nobody was removing their shoes. However, when hubby and I finally got to the front of the line, Ms. Control Freak looks at us an points at our feet "Boots OFF!" she commands in a loud french voice. With nowhere to sit down, we both struggle to release the lace-up ties on our boots. When I reached down to remove my boot, I screamed in exquisite agony as I felt the muscle pull & stretch in my right leg like a rubberband. By the time it popped, I dropped to the floor. Hubby immediately came to my assistance, but I was completely IGNORED by everyone else around. No offers of assistance, nothing. Not even Ms. Control Freak looked at me. With Greg's assistance, I painfully limped the rest of the way along the conveyor so that I could retrieve my boots, purse, coat, scarf, passport & boarding pass from 5 separate boxes at the other end.
Yesterday, we finally decided to leave the house as we needed to get a new thermocoupler for the Heatilator stove. Isabelle got to have Wendy's cheeseburgers; we stopped at the appliance store to get the thermocoupler, then I got my nails done while Greg went to the store to get a new cat litter box. At 4pm, we met Joanie & Chachi at the new Azteca restaurant to give them dinner for babysitting the dog. By 6pm, we were on our way home in a winter storm which pounded 12 inches down on us at our house, and 7 inches in Spoky-Jo.
Waking up this morning, we discovered that all of the local schools had been closed due to the storm & about 3000 were out of electricity. Fortunately, our electricity was still working (knock on wood).
After getting lattes this morning, saying hi to Curt, Bruce (who happened to be at the latte stand) and Earl as he was driving through the Texaco, we came home and Greg worked on clearning the driveway as I blogged.
On with the European Narrative...
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
When I left you last, we were on our way to the Dachau Concentration Camp. The least said about this the better. It was horribly cold as we hurried through the camp and we could have spent much more time in this area viewing the different things. The wind blew cold across the barren area and we finally were able to go into one of the main buildings which housed the pictures, film, & videos of the camp. My stomach started cramping up and since I had not eaten much that morning, I thought it was because I was hungry.
The kids purchased a book in the Bookstore so that we could all read more about what happened.
We stopped at a Burger King on the return trip, but the food was not appealing. Finally, we were on our way back to the Resort and arrived around 5pm. A long bus ride, but we did get to experience a somewhat vicarious thrill of being on the Autobahn! A twinkle in the hubby's eyes indicated to me that he would be phoning to find a car to rent when we returned to the hotel.
That night, I stayed in the room with severe menstral cramps and the kids went on our scheduled horse carriage ride. I went to bed early after downing multiple aspirins, and Greg kept waking me up to find out if I needed food. After ordering a pizza, he went in search of the kids and could not find them. Unbeknownst to us, Kelsey had forgotten her passport so Matt had "run" back to the couple blocks from the security check-point to the resort to fetch it for her. Greg had missed them when the horses returned because they had to walk the final way.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I desperately needed a new coat. One that was long, that would cover my legs, maybe even a nice wool. Talking hubby into going into Garmisch early the nex
t morning, we walked into town. It was refreshing and we got to experience the city up close.
1/ Jet Lag- We have been sleeping almost all the time since we returned home. The only time I have been awake & aware was when I blogged. I haven't been able to put away my clothes from the trip even; the slightest effort to do anything takes great will. Depression & lethargy abound between the two of us.
2/Leg Pain-I will explain that 99% of the French people that we encountered were rude. So, we did not get a very good impression of that country. The only nice ones were a black gentleman at a grocery store who explained that you have to weigh our fruit before proceeding to the check out. Our cab driver was a very nice, helpful Vietnamese who had moved to France in the early 70s. That is about it. Two people in a city of over 2 million.
But I digress. The reason that my leg hurts so much is that I pulled a calf muscle in the last desperate stint on our unfortunate race through the CDG airport. When we reached the last security check, we observed that nobody was removing their shoes. However, when hubby and I finally got to the front of the line, Ms. Control Freak looks at us an points at our feet "Boots OFF!" she commands in a loud french voice. With nowhere to sit down, we both struggle to release the lace-up ties on our boots. When I reached down to remove my boot, I screamed in exquisite agony as I felt the muscle pull & stretch in my right leg like a rubberband. By the time it popped, I dropped to the floor. Hubby immediately came to my assistance, but I was completely IGNORED by everyone else around. No offers of assistance, nothing. Not even Ms. Control Freak looked at me. With Greg's assistance, I painfully limped the rest of the way along the conveyor so that I could retrieve my boots, purse, coat, scarf, passport & boarding pass from 5 separate boxes at the other end.
Yesterday, we finally decided to leave the house as we needed to get a new thermocoupler for the Heatilator stove. Isabelle got to have Wendy's cheeseburgers; we stopped at the appliance store to get the thermocoupler, then I got my nails done while Greg went to the store to get a new cat litter box. At 4pm, we met Joanie & Chachi at the new Azteca restaurant to give them dinner for babysitting the dog. By 6pm, we were on our way home in a winter storm which pounded 12 inches down on us at our house, and 7 inches in Spoky-Jo.
Waking up this morning, we discovered that all of the local schools had been closed due to the storm & about 3000 were out of electricity. Fortunately, our electricity was still working (knock on wood).
After getting lattes this morning, saying hi to Curt, Bruce (who happened to be at the latte stand) and Earl as he was driving through the Texaco, we came home and Greg worked on clearning the driveway as I blogged.
On with the European Narrative...
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
When I left you last, we were on our way to the Dachau Concentration Camp. The least said about this the better. It was horribly cold as we hurried through the camp and we could have spent much more time in this area viewing the different things. The wind blew cold across the barren area and we finally were able to go into one of the main buildings which housed the pictures, film, & videos of the camp. My stomach started cramping up and since I had not eaten much that morning, I thought it was because I was hungry.
The kids purchased a book in the Bookstore so that we could all read more about what happened.
We stopped at a Burger King on the return trip, but the food was not appealing. Finally, we were on our way back to the Resort and arrived around 5pm. A long bus ride, but we did get to experience a somewhat vicarious thrill of being on the Autobahn! A twinkle in the hubby's eyes indicated to me that he would be phoning to find a car to rent when we returned to the hotel.
That night, I stayed in the room with severe menstral cramps and the kids went on our scheduled horse carriage ride. I went to bed early after downing multiple aspirins, and Greg kept waking me up to find out if I needed food. After ordering a pizza, he went in search of the kids and could not find them. Unbeknownst to us, Kelsey had forgotten her passport so Matt had "run" back to the couple blocks from the security check-point to the resort to fetch it for her. Greg had missed them when the horses returned because they had to walk the final way.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I desperately needed a new coat. One that was long, that would cover my legs, maybe even a nice wool. Talking hubby into going into Garmisch early the nex
t morning, we walked into town. It was refreshing and we got to experience the city up close. We watched as the various shops pulled most of their goods out onto the sidewalks. Finding a cute little shop offering pastries & candies, we "talked" to the delightful woman who waited upon us as we got truffles. Complimenting her on the various artistic designs of the displayed chocolates, the beautiful chandeliers that hung in her shop, and the delicious samples she plied us with, we communicated in a series of gestures and my hubby's handful of German.
Continuing our walk through town, we spied a used women's clothing store. But when I say "used" I actually mean upscale, expensive clothing. I walk down to the shop via a narrow alleyway to find a cornucopia of coats hanging outside the shop on a display stand. Trying several on, my husband find decides that I look very nice in a long, dark blue wool coat that only costs 15€ which translates roughly to $23-What a find! The proprietress in the small, itsy, bitsy shop quickly guides me over to a huge oval mirror. She preens as she helps me try on the coat and keeps telling us that it is "beautiful fit". Hubby pays as I transfer all my things into my new, warm coat. Gloves and scarf quickly find a new home in the bargain of the trip.
Noticing that many people are taking early morning walks with their dogs make us miss Isabelle all that much more. The dogs here in this town, we observe, like to prance as they walk. Coming to the conclusion that even the dogs are happier in this place than anyplace else, we decide that it would be a nice town to retire within.
We stroll along, hail a taxi from the line-up, and get back to the resort in no time. Finding the kids in their room, we share the new coat and get ready for our next tour which leaves at 1pm-The Ettal Tour. Kelsey had originally scheduled us for the Lowenbrau tour so we could observe the making of beer & sample the delicious brew; however, when we first arrived they had notified us that it was canceled. This was a compromise for the guys so they could get their booze "fix".
Our new guide, a young woman that is very hyper & talks non-stop all day repeating "no worries" as her mantra. She explains yet again how Garmisch-Partenkirchen got their city name. Obviously, back in the day, the towns were separate. They hated each other like the Hatfields & McCoys. But in 1936, Hitler decided to join them together for the Olympics even though the towns had already voted this down. The two villages remain separate in some ways and still don't like each other much to this day. Go figure!
As the bus takes us along the winding roads, the Ammergauer Alps rise up around us, dazzling with their beauty.
The guide takes our orders for cheese & drinks, then passes around pictures of what we might be eating. Getting to the Schaukaserei (cheese factory) 45 minutes later, we are ushered into the main room and our nostrils are assailed with the stinkiest smell I have ever experienced. We can see the cheesemakers behind glass as they work on the level below.
We pass through to an eating area and an employee which is a member of the cheese co-op explains with a video how the cheese is made entirely of local resources. Each member that participates in the co-op bought shares and works at the factory.
After eating the cheese & sampling the coffee, beer, and pop we board the bus for the short drive across the town to the Ettal Monastery see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettal_Abbey
After eating the cheese & sampling the coffee, beer, and pop we board the bus for the short drive across the town to the Ettal Monastery see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettal_Abbey
Walking through the Basilica was another feast for our ey
es as the ceilings were covered with frescos under the dome. Also, the interior is magnificient with the pews, confessionals & pulpit all handcarved were an inspiration to view.
es as the ceilings were covered with frescos under the dome. Also, the interior is magnificient with the pews, confessionals & pulpit all handcarved were an inspiration to view.The monks maintain a brewery and distillery on-site and we were able to purchase the beers & liquers they create. We also get samples of Glühwein - red wine, which is heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves and sugar. Just a few sips and I can feel the warmth invade my insides as it slowly slides down...
At the gift store, I spy a big yellow dog lying on the floor. Everyone has to step over him as he does not even move so much as an eyelash. I bend over to pet him and miss my own dog even more! Matt & Kelsey pick up some of the sample liqueurs for later & Matt even finds a full-size German flag he wanted to purchase.
We return to the Lodge by 5pm after the bus ride through the mountains. That night the buffet at the Market Station is serving Ironworks, which is basically a cowboy b-b-q type meal. After eating, we head out to the Casino in the basement and manage to blow $20; I had once been up to almost $80 and was going to cash out. But at the urging of the others, kept going thinking I could push it up to $100. Gambling is not in my veins and I was back to 5¢ in no time at all.
Going to the kids' room, Kelsey and I get on the internet - she uses my computer as hers is having problems with the downloaded AOL. The guys go wash clothes.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
More Memories
Monday, December 17, 2007
A knock on our door reveals our baby who arrives with pastries & Starbucks coffee from The Point Snack Bar. We are dressed in warm clothing & ready to go for the Neuschwanstein Castle Tour. I have longed to visit this castle and have had many pictures & calendars featuring this beautiful structure. So it was a necessity to visit if we happened to find ourselves in Germany! 
Our bus driver is Heinz and he has no idea on earth how to drive a stick-shift through the twisty, windy mountainous roads. Having failed to bring the Dramamine, I am nauseated by the time we arrive in Hohenschwangau. We alite from the bus and everyone seems to be standing around with no idea where to go. Greg & I are hungry and thirsty, so we take off in search of refreshments. But the shops don't open until 10AM. We do find the horse carriage ride up to the castle which will save us the 30 minutes to hoof up the long incline. I run back down the block to find the kids standing by the bus with our tickets. We walk back to find Greg rushing us as the carriage is about to leave. It is near freezing and the warm wool blanket provides much warmth. We are sitting next to 4 oriental girls who are attending school in the UK. Exchanging a lively, if somewhat distorted conversation with them for they speak very little english...we finally arrive at the Schloss after 15 minutes.
Along the way up the mountain, we observe parents who have brought along their young daughter who appears to be about 6, along with a small baby in a push-cart. The father is pushing the baby up the steep mountain road while the poor baby is crying. However, her tears have frozen on her little face as it is so cold. My husband offers to take the baby up in the carriage, but the father just shrugs and keeps walking. We later discover that these insensitive parents have to lug this poor baby everywhere. While She Has A Cold. If I had been in the states, I would certainly have called the child care authorities. There was an active babysitting service at the Resort, but these stupid, selfish parents decided to subject their child to these needless trips for the rest of the week. While ruining the tours for the rest of the paying customers as their child screamed & cried the entire trip. While we were in the castle, these fussy children drowned out the voice of the guide.
It was difficult enough as an adult to endure the cold temperatures & the long trip. How much more challenging is it going to be for a small child that cannot generate as much body heat as an adult?
For more info, see http://www.neuschwanstein.de/english/castle/neuschwanstein.htm
The Tour is very quick and we don't see all the rooms of the castle. Views from the turrets are magnificient of the surrounding valley; waterfalls, trees, the towns. I can quite imagine why King Ludwig decided to build here. Besides being quite obsessed with swans, the castle itself inside is breathtaking. We discuss the amount of servants alone that it would have taken just to keep the castle functioning.
One is not allowed to photograph within the castle, but we got some really great pics of the outside.
We picked up the horse carriage at the base of the castle after our tour and had a nice ride down again. When we finally reached the bottom and back to the small town, we stopped in the Hotel Müller. The fireplace in one of the back non-smoking rooms drew us right away. Poor Matt was frozen as he had not dressed for this cold climate. He thawed out soon enough when we purchased Latte Macchiato, Cappuccino, Schwarzwälder, (black forest cherry cake)and Kartoffelsuppe (which is a DELICIOUS potato bacon soup-I desperately need this recipe). Throughout the rest of the trip *besides my daughter's home cooking* I don't think that anything else tasted so good!
Finally dragging ourselves from the gracious waitress and the lovely heat of the wood burning fireplace, we ventured out to the different shops which littered the town. Finally finding out way back to Heinz and the tour bus, we proceeded with the trip.
On the way to the Church In The Meadow, we drove down the Romantic (or Kissing) Road. Our guide instructed that we could begin kissing at this point, so hubby & I followed her instructions!
There is a pilgrimage church in Wies that we visit next on our tour. It can also be called WieBkirche, Wies Church, or The Church In The Meadow. See more info on this at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wies_church
I notice that there are ancient dates & names carved into the pews, so I questioned the tour guide-she indicates that in commemoration of outstanding donations, the individual bestowing the gift could carve their name.
The murals in this magnificient church are breathtaking and I feel a sense of awe standing within the quiet chapel. We are told by the tour guide that local artists created the beauitful works of art above our heads.
Our little group troops back to the bus, the hush is overwhelming as we have all been struck by the sense of spiritual intensity by our visit.
Next on our excursion is a woodcarving shop wherein no woodcarving takes place - as it is a souvenir shop that sells woodcarvings. Hubby finds a cute green hat and Kelsey snaps a picture. The proprietress reprimands him for using her wares as a photo opportunity. My husband advises her that he fully intends to purchase a hat, he just has to find the perfect one for his head. He ends up with a grey hat in the German style, with a rope brim. It looks very cute on him and brings out his Germanic appearance.
On our return to the Resort, we endure the crying, squealing baby behind our seat. WHY am I such a magnet for these children?
Upon our arrival at Edelweiss Lodge we visit our room briefly, only to find that the maid has AGAIN left open the window in the room, freezing the room. Our only desire is to come back to a warm room after our adventures in the out-of-doors, but find a frozen interior.
After a brief frigid walk over to the PX on base to scope out what was there, we buy some basic necessities including milk-which I am dying for. We have to take a taxi back and the security guards were more than happy to call one for us.
We eat at Zuggy's Base Camp which is the rustic mountain-style alehouse bistro in the basement of the complex. Hamburgers are good. I went to bed early as I was not feeling well. Greg stayed up with the kids for a while.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
We wake up and after dressing rush down for Starbuck's coffee & snacks. Then catch the tour bus to Dachau Concentration Camp which is located about 10 miles northwest of Munich, Germany. The area is ominous and the cold only serves to bring home the anguish & misery of this cursed location.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Do I Really Remember It All?
I tried to write in a little diary that I carried along with me all the wonderful, exciting, and unexpected things that happened to us along the way. But there were some things that I know I will have forgotten to add. Good thing that you can read a different aspect of the trip at my daughter's blog... http://hisredhead.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
We enjoy a leisurely continental breakfast at the hotel before we go back up to our room to ensure that we have packed everything.
The limo arrives directly on time and we are driven to the airport. Checking in at the Air France desk, we obtain our boarding passes and go through the security checkpoint. Removing our shoes is a major hassle as both of us have worn lace-up boots.
We board the plane at the gate and locate our seats for the next 12 hours. We are on the left side of the plane, directly next to the bathrooms and there are no seats behind us! Nobody to kick our seats for the duration...
Watching the plane take off via the back-of-the-seat monitors is exciting. They offer movies, music, cartoons, tv shows, & travelogues. Not a boring trip by far. We manage to get up and walk around for a while, visit the toilet a few times and enjoy the great meals (dinner & breakfast) that are served. Watching The Bourne Ultimatum and Stardust get us a few more hours into the flight.
The sunset as we fly is exquisite; the colors are beyond definition. One can see the curvature of the earth as we fly at night! When boarding, the seats were stocked with pillows, a wool blanket, and earphones. Making use of the pillow & blanket, we are able to snatch quick naps. But I believe that our anticipation of seeing the kids keeps us awake.
Our path of flight takes us over most of southern Canada and the Atlantic Ocean. As we pass over the United Kingdom, we are able to see the White Cliffs of Dover as the sun rises. What a sunrise sight-beautiful ribbons of red & blue extend as far as the eye can see.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
When purchasing the tickets originally, it had indicated that the flight was direct with no transfers. Seattle to London. HOWEVER, when I received the confirmation reservations after paying out of pocket, it indicated that our flight went to Paris, we changed planes, then returned back to London.
So we arrive in Paris, France and are able to see the Eiffel Tower from the airport. This majestic behemoth rises out of the otherwise flat skyline, exciting us for the continuation of our trip.
We deplane and walk down the exit ramp to the tarmac only to load onto a bus, which then makes a round trip of 6 miles through the airport terminals. With only 1 hour in which to make our next flight, we start to panic. Rushing through a labyrinth of tunnels, escalators, elevators & moving doors, we finally find the security checkpoint for our terminal. A massive amount of bodies are crammed into a hallway about 20x80 feet. All are awaiting their turn to go through the security. Hubby explains to an Air France employee that we are trying to get to our next flight. We are then faced with our first sample of French attitude. They don't care. They have no immediate urgency. One employee attempts to take us to the front of the line; but then disappears after another female employee denies her access. They seem to argue, then nothing. We are left to wait at the front of the line, while no progress is made. One mechanic is working on a broken security scanner, while the other scanner is manned by two people. A mere pittance when compared with the over estimated 350 bodies waiting in line!
A gentleman from the UK, very tall & blonde starts expressing his frustration as he indicates that they do this "all the time" in this "horrid excuse for an airport". I attempt to inch away from him as hubby continues a conversation with this person. Frightened that this angry, loud speaking person might be seen as a security risk, and jerked out of line, I try to disassociate from him. We finally get through the security, running to the gate - only to be told that it already left 10 minutes prior.
So we wander around attempting to find a service counter. After much frustration in attempts to communicate...(we later find out that other countries will put directions/signs in several languages. France seems to be one of them that only use the french language on anything-again with the attitude of they are not going to accommodate anybody or anything-even at the airport!)
We secure tickets for the next flight from a nice black man who works for Air France. When we ask his name to thank him personally, he immediately jumps at us..."Why do you want to know?" Gee. I'm not a potential stalker. I just wanted to say...Thank you, Jacque. But as we mutter whispers of "merci", we slink off to find the deli wherein our vouchers for a free pop & sandwich will be honored. After a while, we find it and the sandwiches are not defined. We figure out by visual & basic deciphering of words to find ham & cheese. Pop is Coke. Thank goodness Coke is universal.
Waiting 1 hour for the next flight, we are unable to call the kids. I later find out that I have an old phone number for Kelsey's cell phone. Oh. Well. We can call them at home when we get there. We are hoping that they will stay at the airport until we can arrive. There is NO possible way to get a message to the UK Air France desk as we plead with the AF employees there...(odd, I thought since they were the ones to inconvenience us, they would be gracious enough to advise our connection that we would be arriving at a later time)
The flight to the UK is much smaller and only half full. Probably because of the sucky airport terminals in Paris Charles de Gaulle. My advice is to not EVER fly into Paris, CDG.
My surprise that I referred to in a previous post that everybody noticed back in Seattle - Greg & I had purchased Reindeer Antler headbands we could wear so the kids would recognize us! Gosh. It HAS been 2 1/2 years since we saw them last. So once we had gone through security & customs (the UK is very serious about Customs...when we told them we were staying at Lakenheath...the customs agent didn't even know where it was!) we put on the antlers. The kids were waiting right at the departure gate & we screamed when we saw them. They laughed at the antlers. Hugs & kisses all around. We get on the "tube" and travel for HOURS....to Epping. I had originally thought they were just taking us on this underground train out to the car. Little did I know that it is difficult to drive into the airport, costs lots to enter & park, so it is much easier to take the tube. With 2 carry-ons, we are immediately smashed into the train with our faces in peoples armpits & bodies. Ugh. Not my favorite form of transportation. I am immediately sweating and ready to pass out from the long ride. We have to change a couple times for the final train to Epping. It finally filters out and we are able to sit and talk to the kids.
*NOTE - When riding on the underground, 1. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT 2. DO NOT SPEAK TO ANYBODY ELSE 3. RUSH/RUN FROM TRANSFER TO TRANSFER. 4. MIND THE GAP 5. 'WAY OUT' IS THE EXIT
The above we learned in the first ride. It was eerie. Nobody talks to anybody else. Not to say hi, excuse me, pardon me, or anything else. Most everybody stares vacantly at nothing. Quite a few people read the gossip rags. The rush when you have to transfer is astounding. Everyone is in such a hurry. "Mind the Gap" is a statement made by the automated voice when the doors open & close indicating that there is space between the train and the station floor. Way Out is the sign indicator for all Exits; and not a hippie phrase!
A new Lexus was waiting for us at the car park in Epping. The kids had rented it as their vehicle was still at the shop. We have had little or no sleep for over 36 hours; we are tired; we want baths. I am falling asleep in the back seat and miss most of the 1-2 hour ride home. But I am thrilled to bits to be a passenger in a car driving on the left side of the road, while Matt is driving from the right side of the car!
Kelsey had planned a delicious ham dinner, but we are all so tired after the flight delay courtesy of Air France, that she whipped us up something quick & delicious (tho for the life of me, I can't remember what it was). Greg & I get showers and fall into bed after talking for quite a while. The kids are so gracious to give us their bed, while they sleep on an air-mattress in the livingroom.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Aroma of brewed coffee wakes me from my sleep and after dressing, stagger downstairs. Kelsey can hear me coming as my knees creak when I am going down stairs. This is the first of the many times that she gets to hear her "old" mother - like fingernails on a chalkboard. Sorry baby.
Kelsey has made biscuits & gravy for breakfast. Yum. The sausage is spicy and good. After breakfast, the kids show us around the area in the Lexus. We visit both bases & get signed up for military passes as visitors. Afterwards, Matt drives us to Epping again so we can take the Tube into London. We get out at Trafalgar Square, immediately hearing the carolers that were singing and observing the huge Christmas tree which took pride of place in the middle of the square. Bursting out of the concrete is Nelson's Column, which looms over 150 feet into the air-a statute of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the top. There are 4 lions which guard over the column. Absolutely breathtaking with the nearby fountains.
The Matt-Radar then went into high alert. He can sniff out a Starbucks anywhere within the vicinity-I begin my love of Starbucks with a Crème Brûlée Latte. Kelsey & I are drawn to a few souvenir shops, but fail to find anything to interest us.
We also walk around to Picadilly Circus. There are so many sights, sounds, and people. I am in a total culture shock. The lights are beautiful as they flash up the different areas. This is the major square where immense neon signs surround one building.
Kelsey has purchased tickets for us to see the "Phantom of the Opera". As we enter the lobby, a hostess is plying small 3 ounce bottles of champagne. Hubby gets overexcited and wants to purchase one so that we can "toast" our visit. The champagne only costs 10£ per
bottle and with the exchange rate, is equal to $20! I tried, attempted...to say NO~but the hubby was not listening. Kelsey and I were both making desperate signs, but he totally ignored us. Somehow, Matt was conned into paying for them because even tho Greg had said YES, they had no way to accept VISA. Matt was the only one of us who had british pounds in his pocket. In the meantime, the girl had assumed we wanted two bottles. As soon as we were seated, Kelsey & I proceeded to explain to Greg exactly HOW MUCH he had paid for two tiny bottles of champagne and 4 plastic glasses. He was totally confused and embarrassed. This would become a running joke throughout the whole trip!
We poured the alcohol and toasted to the beginning of a wonderful trip. Our seats were incredible. We could view the whole stage and were quite close. A friend of Kelsey's had obtained the seats for us and it could not have been better. The performance was outstanding as we were all riveted in our seats for the duration. All the songs that had been played for so long on CD proceeded to become alive. This was the best present that I could have received for Christmas.
Afterwards we returned home via the tube & Matt's exceptional driving due to a detour we continued around round-abouts...when I felt I would surely urp after going around the 42nd one...we finally arrived home and Kelsey made a wonderful dinner of linguini with shrimp. This kid has really turned into a great cook.
Friday, December 14, 2007
E
ggs & toast for breakfast. We are definitely well fed at The Nichols' Bed & Breakfast. What is even better is that free internet and laundry service are included!
Kelsey & I shop at the base store while Greg & Matt get their cash traded for Euros. They also got more fuel for the vehicle; Greg got additional money from the ATM at the gas station.
To Epping again, where we find that the nearest car park is full and Matt has to park in an "overflow" parking area which is located about 10 blocks away. We all walk in the frigid weather and catch the tube into London. I secretly wish that I had brought my heavy beaver coat to brave the weather instead of my tiny leather jacket! Our destination is again Trafalgar Square where we are to purchase tickets for The Original Tour London Sightseeing Bus. Our patience is tested after searching high & low, when we find it is only about 1 block away. After purchasing the tickets, we decided that we all needed to eat.
Walking back to Picadilly Circus to find the Chiquito Mexican restaurant that Greg had spied the night before, we enter into an upstairs booth. It is somewhat noisy, and we settle into delicious appetizers & drinks. The main dishes were somewhat lacking in flavor. Afterwards we head over to the bus ride and hop on.
The tour guide is awesomely knowledgeable as we throw questions at him left and right. We are in a prime spot upstairs on the double-decker bus. The Tower of London, Big Ben & Parliament, Downing Street, Covent Garden, St. James' Park, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, the Ritz Hotel, and London Bridge fly past. There are so many wonderful things to see that I still ask Greg to pinch me to make sure I am here. Actually here.
We disembark at the National Gallery as we all need to seek bathrooms...also called WC (water closet) in Europe. The WCs in most of Europe have 1 big button for bowel movements so that a LOT of water flushes, or 1 small button for urination so that a little amount of water is used to flush. Their toilets also seem to force the water down, instead of swirling water around the bowl as those in the states.
Strolling through the National Gallery is wonderful. Admission is TOTALLY FREE. We see so many beautiful paintings. I stood before one portrait completely entraced by imagery and pathos ''The Execution of Lady Jane Grey'' by Paul Delaroche is so realistic that one could reach out and touch the characters portrayed within.
We were forced to cut our visit short at the National Gallery as they were closing by 6pm or 1800 military time - which is something that I intensely dislike. Besides being totally discombobulated by the time difference & the cultural differences, there is also the challenge of attempting to tell time by this method. Having been math challenged my whole life, I have no clue what time it is wherever we go!
Hurrying over to the Tower of London to meet our guide for the "Jack The Ripper Tour", Greg finds a seller of Toffee Apples. These are very like our Caramel Apples, but the apples are crispier and the toffee surrounding the apples is a hard candy similar in taste to a Jolly Rancher. We all devour the apple and get ready for our tour.
The London Beefeater who meets us is big, burly, & scary. He looks to be the original Jack The Ripper himself. We commence a walking tour through the back streets of London as he takes us to each murder site, explaining the different aspects of each murder. It is amazing to note that some of the back alleys are every bit as scary as the might have been back in 1888. Coldness & weariness seeps into our very bones as the night gets later & the wind blows a frigid and eerie breeze past us.
We finally arrive back at an underground station, hop on to Epping, warming ourselves with the mass of human bodies within the tube. As we arrive at our destination of Epping, Matt decides that he will "run" to get the car - Kelsey's knee is bothering her from the extensive walking. We wait less than 10 minutes and he has already returned with the car. Matt is having some problems breathing as he has obviously frozen his lungs with his short run. He pulls the car over as he fights the pain ripping through him. We are all concerned that he has injured himself, but he recovers and we continue to their home. Picking up a pizza from the base, Kelsey pops it into the oven when we arrive and we talk about the day over fresh tomato sauce, cheese & meat. Yum. Bedtime is late.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Greg & Matt return the Lexus rental car. Matt drives the Lexus as Greg drives Kelsey's Ford Explorer SUV. This gives Greg a great chance to drive on the left hand side of the road. We both warn them to be CAREFUL.
The boys also stopped at the base to get a few basic necessities before our departure.
Kelsey & Matt are challenged to fit everything into one bag. They compromise and it is so cute to see them work out what to take and what to leave behind.
We gather together at their dinner table so that Kelsey can go over the Final Briefing. She is just so darned organized. Snack on pizza & snickerdoodle cookies before we leave. (Kelsey made cookies for our arrival) A taxi is called and when he arrives a brief consultation with the guys indicate that it would be cheaper to go the whole way by taxi instead of getting to a tube station and riding from there.
So we pile into the taxi and about 1 1/2 hours later, with the help of Matt & the Garmin the taxi driver provides, we arrive at the Premier Travel Inn near the airport.
After check-in and taking our bags to the rooms (we are on the first floor - M&K are on the 2nd floor) we convene again in the hotel restaurant. A brief dinner, then we retire to our rooms again. Comfortable beds & a warm comforter after a hot shower is most welcome. We briefly watch a few television shows before we drift into a satisfying sleep.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
A shuttle bus takes us to the airport after we have struggled to pay for the "Hotel Hoppa"; the nice English girl that is driving the shuttle bus attempts to help us as the machine takes 4-ever to dispense 1 ticket! I asked her name so that I could give her a commendation, but at this time my alzheimer's has failed to allow me to remember it. Darn. She was very kind helping us.
Our check-in at the airport through Lufthansa was relatively painless after we had finally located it. However, M&K's bag was slightly overweight. We hurriedly put some of their things into our bag and we were good to go!
We rested for a while in the upstairs coffee shop after clearing security. Coffee & croissants were welcome; then Kelsey & I perused the shops, made a pitstop at the restrooms, and scanned the monitors for our flight. The boys plopped themselves into seats to watch over the bags & the brand new luxury sports car that was part of a promotion only a few feet from them.
The flight was good, uneventful, and we had snacks. When we arrived in Munich, Matt led us thro
ugh the airport and outside into an open air Christmas fair that I dearly wanted to linger over. The kids seemed to want to check into getting our tickets for the train and continuing the journey. I commiserated that there might be other fairs where we were going. We also saw our first "foreign" Burger King! Here is a pic of Matt in the lead, Kelsey urging us onward and Greg looking very distressed. He needs a good haircut! Obviously a bad hair day for him.
The kids check us through the Euro-Rail & we dig out our passports & rail passes. The first train is good, but when we disembark to board the 2nd train our confidence fools us as we board the wrong train. I watch as the train takes us in the opposite direction, back exactly the way we had come. It was fortunate that we didn't go far and could hop the next train - which ended up being the correct one. We got a taxi from the Garmisch train station when Greg went directly out to the line of taxis which were waiting.
Our taxi is forced to go through the security check at the Resort; the Resort is officially on-base. So we all pile out, they peruse our passports & the confirmation of reservations at the Resort. The taxi is cleared & we all pile in again for the 1 block ride to the Resort.
We officially arrive at 5PM, and it is indeed a wonderful place; the pictures we take cannot do it justice. Kelsey is overjoyed that her reservations go well. Our rooms are both in the same wing & we all adjourn to our wondeful quarters. Matt & Kelsey have a King size bed, Greg & I have two Queen beds. For more amazing Resort pics, see http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/home.html
Meeting again in the hallway, we go downstairs on the main level to Pullman Place, which is a formal restaurant. Our waitress is Jessie and she proceeds to envelop our tastebuds with the most succulent servings of French Onion Soup, Filet Mignon, and Creme Brulee!
After dinner, we wander around and then retire to our wonderful beds.
My fingers are now tired. More tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
We enjoy a leisurely continental breakfast at the hotel before we go back up to our room to ensure that we have packed everything.
The limo arrives directly on time and we are driven to the airport. Checking in at the Air France desk, we obtain our boarding passes and go through the security checkpoint. Removing our shoes is a major hassle as both of us have worn lace-up boots.
We board the plane at the gate and locate our seats for the next 12 hours. We are on the left side of the plane, directly next to the bathrooms and there are no seats behind us! Nobody to kick our seats for the duration...
Watching the plane take off via the back-of-the-seat monitors is exciting. They offer movies, music, cartoons, tv shows, & travelogues. Not a boring trip by far. We manage to get up and walk around for a while, visit the toilet a few times and enjoy the great meals (dinner & breakfast) that are served. Watching The Bourne Ultimatum and Stardust get us a few more hours into the flight.
The sunset as we fly is exquisite; the colors are beyond definition. One can see the curvature of the earth as we fly at night! When boarding, the seats were stocked with pillows, a wool blanket, and earphones. Making use of the pillow & blanket, we are able to snatch quick naps. But I believe that our anticipation of seeing the kids keeps us awake.
Our path of flight takes us over most of southern Canada and the Atlantic Ocean. As we pass over the United Kingdom, we are able to see the White Cliffs of Dover as the sun rises. What a sunrise sight-beautiful ribbons of red & blue extend as far as the eye can see.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
When purchasing the tickets originally, it had indicated that the flight was direct with no transfers. Seattle to London. HOWEVER, when I received the confirmation reservations after paying out of pocket, it indicated that our flight went to Paris, we changed planes, then returned back to London.
So we arrive in Paris, France and are able to see the Eiffel Tower from the airport. This majestic behemoth rises out of the otherwise flat skyline, exciting us for the continuation of our trip.
We deplane and walk down the exit ramp to the tarmac only to load onto a bus, which then makes a round trip of 6 miles through the airport terminals. With only 1 hour in which to make our next flight, we start to panic. Rushing through a labyrinth of tunnels, escalators, elevators & moving doors, we finally find the security checkpoint for our terminal. A massive amount of bodies are crammed into a hallway about 20x80 feet. All are awaiting their turn to go through the security. Hubby explains to an Air France employee that we are trying to get to our next flight. We are then faced with our first sample of French attitude. They don't care. They have no immediate urgency. One employee attempts to take us to the front of the line; but then disappears after another female employee denies her access. They seem to argue, then nothing. We are left to wait at the front of the line, while no progress is made. One mechanic is working on a broken security scanner, while the other scanner is manned by two people. A mere pittance when compared with the over estimated 350 bodies waiting in line!
A gentleman from the UK, very tall & blonde starts expressing his frustration as he indicates that they do this "all the time" in this "horrid excuse for an airport". I attempt to inch away from him as hubby continues a conversation with this person. Frightened that this angry, loud speaking person might be seen as a security risk, and jerked out of line, I try to disassociate from him. We finally get through the security, running to the gate - only to be told that it already left 10 minutes prior.
So we wander around attempting to find a service counter. After much frustration in attempts to communicate...(we later find out that other countries will put directions/signs in several languages. France seems to be one of them that only use the french language on anything-again with the attitude of they are not going to accommodate anybody or anything-even at the airport!)
We secure tickets for the next flight from a nice black man who works for Air France. When we ask his name to thank him personally, he immediately jumps at us..."Why do you want to know?" Gee. I'm not a potential stalker. I just wanted to say...Thank you, Jacque. But as we mutter whispers of "merci", we slink off to find the deli wherein our vouchers for a free pop & sandwich will be honored. After a while, we find it and the sandwiches are not defined. We figure out by visual & basic deciphering of words to find ham & cheese. Pop is Coke. Thank goodness Coke is universal.
Waiting 1 hour for the next flight, we are unable to call the kids. I later find out that I have an old phone number for Kelsey's cell phone. Oh. Well. We can call them at home when we get there. We are hoping that they will stay at the airport until we can arrive. There is NO possible way to get a message to the UK Air France desk as we plead with the AF employees there...(odd, I thought since they were the ones to inconvenience us, they would be gracious enough to advise our connection that we would be arriving at a later time)
The flight to the UK is much smaller and only half full. Probably because of the sucky airport terminals in Paris Charles de Gaulle. My advice is to not EVER fly into Paris, CDG.
My surprise that I referred to in a previous post that everybody noticed back in Seattle - Greg & I had purchased Reindeer Antler headbands we could wear so the kids would recognize us! Gosh. It HAS been 2 1/2 years since we saw them last. So once we had gone through security & customs (the UK is very serious about Customs...when we told them we were staying at Lakenheath...the customs agent didn't even know where it was!) we put on the antlers. The kids were waiting right at the departure gate & we screamed when we saw them. They laughed at the antlers. Hugs & kisses all around. We get on the "tube" and travel for HOURS....to Epping. I had originally thought they were just taking us on this underground train out to the car. Little did I know that it is difficult to drive into the airport, costs lots to enter & park, so it is much easier to take the tube. With 2 carry-ons, we are immediately smashed into the train with our faces in peoples armpits & bodies. Ugh. Not my favorite form of transportation. I am immediately sweating and ready to pass out from the long ride. We have to change a couple times for the final train to Epping. It finally filters out and we are able to sit and talk to the kids.
*NOTE - When riding on the underground, 1. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT 2. DO NOT SPEAK TO ANYBODY ELSE 3. RUSH/RUN FROM TRANSFER TO TRANSFER. 4. MIND THE GAP 5. 'WAY OUT' IS THE EXIT
The above we learned in the first ride. It was eerie. Nobody talks to anybody else. Not to say hi, excuse me, pardon me, or anything else. Most everybody stares vacantly at nothing. Quite a few people read the gossip rags. The rush when you have to transfer is astounding. Everyone is in such a hurry. "Mind the Gap" is a statement made by the automated voice when the doors open & close indicating that there is space between the train and the station floor. Way Out is the sign indicator for all Exits; and not a hippie phrase!
A new Lexus was waiting for us at the car park in Epping. The kids had rented it as their vehicle was still at the shop. We have had little or no sleep for over 36 hours; we are tired; we want baths. I am falling asleep in the back seat and miss most of the 1-2 hour ride home. But I am thrilled to bits to be a passenger in a car driving on the left side of the road, while Matt is driving from the right side of the car!
Kelsey had planned a delicious ham dinner, but we are all so tired after the flight delay courtesy of Air France, that she whipped us up something quick & delicious (tho for the life of me, I can't remember what it was). Greg & I get showers and fall into bed after talking for quite a while. The kids are so gracious to give us their bed, while they sleep on an air-mattress in the livingroom.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Aroma of brewed coffee wakes me from my sleep and after dressing, stagger downstairs. Kelsey can hear me coming as my knees creak when I am going down stairs. This is the first of the many times that she gets to hear her "old" mother - like fingernails on a chalkboard. Sorry baby.
Kelsey has made biscuits & gravy for breakfast. Yum. The sausage is spicy and good. After breakfast, the kids show us around the area in the Lexus. We visit both bases & get signed up for military passes as visitors. Afterwards, Matt drives us to Epping again so we can take the Tube into London. We get out at Trafalgar Square, immediately hearing the carolers that were singing and observing the huge Christmas tree which took pride of place in the middle of the square. Bursting out of the concrete is Nelson's Column, which looms over 150 feet into the air-a statute of Admiral Horatio Nelson at the top. There are 4 lions which guard over the column. Absolutely breathtaking with the nearby fountains.
The Matt-Radar then went into high alert. He can sniff out a Starbucks anywhere within the vicinity-I begin my love of Starbucks with a Crème Brûlée Latte. Kelsey & I are drawn to a few souvenir shops, but fail to find anything to interest us.
We also walk around to Picadilly Circus. There are so many sights, sounds, and people. I am in a total culture shock. The lights are beautiful as they flash up the different areas. This is the major square where immense neon signs surround one building.
Kelsey has purchased tickets for us to see the "Phantom of the Opera". As we enter the lobby, a hostess is plying small 3 ounce bottles of champagne. Hubby gets overexcited and wants to purchase one so that we can "toast" our visit. The champagne only costs 10£ per
bottle and with the exchange rate, is equal to $20! I tried, attempted...to say NO~but the hubby was not listening. Kelsey and I were both making desperate signs, but he totally ignored us. Somehow, Matt was conned into paying for them because even tho Greg had said YES, they had no way to accept VISA. Matt was the only one of us who had british pounds in his pocket. In the meantime, the girl had assumed we wanted two bottles. As soon as we were seated, Kelsey & I proceeded to explain to Greg exactly HOW MUCH he had paid for two tiny bottles of champagne and 4 plastic glasses. He was totally confused and embarrassed. This would become a running joke throughout the whole trip!We poured the alcohol and toasted to the beginning of a wonderful trip. Our seats were incredible. We could view the whole stage and were quite close. A friend of Kelsey's had obtained the seats for us and it could not have been better. The performance was outstanding as we were all riveted in our seats for the duration. All the songs that had been played for so long on CD proceeded to become alive. This was the best present that I could have received for Christmas.
Afterwards we returned home via the tube & Matt's exceptional driving due to a detour we continued around round-abouts...when I felt I would surely urp after going around the 42nd one...we finally arrived home and Kelsey made a wonderful dinner of linguini with shrimp. This kid has really turned into a great cook.
Friday, December 14, 2007
E
ggs & toast for breakfast. We are definitely well fed at The Nichols' Bed & Breakfast. What is even better is that free internet and laundry service are included!Kelsey & I shop at the base store while Greg & Matt get their cash traded for Euros. They also got more fuel for the vehicle; Greg got additional money from the ATM at the gas station.
To Epping again, where we find that the nearest car park is full and Matt has to park in an "overflow" parking area which is located about 10 blocks away. We all walk in the frigid weather and catch the tube into London. I secretly wish that I had brought my heavy beaver coat to brave the weather instead of my tiny leather jacket! Our destination is again Trafalgar Square where we are to purchase tickets for The Original Tour London Sightseeing Bus. Our patience is tested after searching high & low, when we find it is only about 1 block away. After purchasing the tickets, we decided that we all needed to eat.
Walking back to Picadilly Circus to find the Chiquito Mexican restaurant that Greg had spied the night before, we enter into an upstairs booth. It is somewhat noisy, and we settle into delicious appetizers & drinks. The main dishes were somewhat lacking in flavor. Afterwards we head over to the bus ride and hop on.
The tour guide is awesomely knowledgeable as we throw questions at him left and right. We are in a prime spot upstairs on the double-decker bus. The Tower of London, Big Ben & Parliament, Downing Street, Covent Garden, St. James' Park, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, the Ritz Hotel, and London Bridge fly past. There are so many wonderful things to see that I still ask Greg to pinch me to make sure I am here. Actually here.
We disembark at the National Gallery as we all need to seek bathrooms...also called WC (water closet) in Europe. The WCs in most of Europe have 1 big button for bowel movements so that a LOT of water flushes, or 1 small button for urination so that a little amount of water is used to flush. Their toilets also seem to force the water down, instead of swirling water around the bowl as those in the states.Strolling through the National Gallery is wonderful. Admission is TOTALLY FREE. We see so many beautiful paintings. I stood before one portrait completely entraced by imagery and pathos ''The Execution of Lady Jane Grey'' by Paul Delaroche is so realistic that one could reach out and touch the characters portrayed within.
We were forced to cut our visit short at the National Gallery as they were closing by 6pm or 1800 military time - which is something that I intensely dislike. Besides being totally discombobulated by the time difference & the cultural differences, there is also the challenge of attempting to tell time by this method. Having been math challenged my whole life, I have no clue what time it is wherever we go!
Hurrying over to the Tower of London to meet our guide for the "Jack The Ripper Tour", Greg finds a seller of Toffee Apples. These are very like our Caramel Apples, but the apples are crispier and the toffee surrounding the apples is a hard candy similar in taste to a Jolly Rancher. We all devour the apple and get ready for our tour.
The London Beefeater who meets us is big, burly, & scary. He looks to be the original Jack The Ripper himself. We commence a walking tour through the back streets of London as he takes us to each murder site, explaining the different aspects of each murder. It is amazing to note that some of the back alleys are every bit as scary as the might have been back in 1888. Coldness & weariness seeps into our very bones as the night gets later & the wind blows a frigid and eerie breeze past us.
We finally arrive back at an underground station, hop on to Epping, warming ourselves with the mass of human bodies within the tube. As we arrive at our destination of Epping, Matt decides that he will "run" to get the car - Kelsey's knee is bothering her from the extensive walking. We wait less than 10 minutes and he has already returned with the car. Matt is having some problems breathing as he has obviously frozen his lungs with his short run. He pulls the car over as he fights the pain ripping through him. We are all concerned that he has injured himself, but he recovers and we continue to their home. Picking up a pizza from the base, Kelsey pops it into the oven when we arrive and we talk about the day over fresh tomato sauce, cheese & meat. Yum. Bedtime is late.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Greg & Matt return the Lexus rental car. Matt drives the Lexus as Greg drives Kelsey's Ford Explorer SUV. This gives Greg a great chance to drive on the left hand side of the road. We both warn them to be CAREFUL.
The boys also stopped at the base to get a few basic necessities before our departure. Kelsey & Matt are challenged to fit everything into one bag. They compromise and it is so cute to see them work out what to take and what to leave behind.
We gather together at their dinner table so that Kelsey can go over the Final Briefing. She is just so darned organized. Snack on pizza & snickerdoodle cookies before we leave. (Kelsey made cookies for our arrival) A taxi is called and when he arrives a brief consultation with the guys indicate that it would be cheaper to go the whole way by taxi instead of getting to a tube station and riding from there.
So we pile into the taxi and about 1 1/2 hours later, with the help of Matt & the Garmin the taxi driver provides, we arrive at the Premier Travel Inn near the airport.
After check-in and taking our bags to the rooms (we are on the first floor - M&K are on the 2nd floor) we convene again in the hotel restaurant. A brief dinner, then we retire to our rooms again. Comfortable beds & a warm comforter after a hot shower is most welcome. We briefly watch a few television shows before we drift into a satisfying sleep.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
A shuttle bus takes us to the airport after we have struggled to pay for the "Hotel Hoppa"; the nice English girl that is driving the shuttle bus attempts to help us as the machine takes 4-ever to dispense 1 ticket! I asked her name so that I could give her a commendation, but at this time my alzheimer's has failed to allow me to remember it. Darn. She was very kind helping us.
Our check-in at the airport through Lufthansa was relatively painless after we had finally located it. However, M&K's bag was slightly overweight. We hurriedly put some of their things into our bag and we were good to go!
We rested for a while in the upstairs coffee shop after clearing security. Coffee & croissants were welcome; then Kelsey & I perused the shops, made a pitstop at the restrooms, and scanned the monitors for our flight. The boys plopped themselves into seats to watch over the bags & the brand new luxury sports car that was part of a promotion only a few feet from them.
The flight was good, uneventful, and we had snacks. When we arrived in Munich, Matt led us thro
ugh the airport and outside into an open air Christmas fair that I dearly wanted to linger over. The kids seemed to want to check into getting our tickets for the train and continuing the journey. I commiserated that there might be other fairs where we were going. We also saw our first "foreign" Burger King! Here is a pic of Matt in the lead, Kelsey urging us onward and Greg looking very distressed. He needs a good haircut! Obviously a bad hair day for him. The kids check us through the Euro-Rail & we dig out our passports & rail passes. The first train is good, but when we disembark to board the 2nd train our confidence fools us as we board the wrong train. I watch as the train takes us in the opposite direction, back exactly the way we had come. It was fortunate that we didn't go far and could hop the next train - which ended up being the correct one. We got a taxi from the Garmisch train station when Greg went directly out to the line of taxis which were waiting.
Our taxi is forced to go through the security check at the Resort; the Resort is officially on-base. So we all pile out, they peruse our passports & the confirmation of reservations at the Resort. The taxi is cleared & we all pile in again for the 1 block ride to the Resort.
We officially arrive at 5PM, and it is indeed a wonderful place; the pictures we take cannot do it justice. Kelsey is overjoyed that her reservations go well. Our rooms are both in the same wing & we all adjourn to our wondeful quarters. Matt & Kelsey have a King size bed, Greg & I have two Queen beds. For more amazing Resort pics, see http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/home.html
Meeting again in the hallway, we go downstairs on the main level to Pullman Place, which is a formal restaurant. Our waitress is Jessie and she proceeds to envelop our tastebuds with the most succulent servings of French Onion Soup, Filet Mignon, and Creme Brulee!
After dinner, we wander around and then retire to our wonderful beds.
My fingers are now tired. More tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)