Three Phase Birthday

I believe it is over, my birthday that is. Technically it was only one day last week, but the celebrating has lasted a little extra this year. It wasn't a Switzerland birthday, but not much could come close to that extraordinary birthday. The 2 surprise birthday cakes in 2 different countries on my birthday, the Swiss fondue dinner in Switzerland and the walk in the Alps, well, what can one say? It was heavenly last year and now life is definitely back to earth.

But it has had a touch of heaven, when all is looked at as a whole.

PHASE 1: At the end of the British Isles cruise I stayed an extra day and flew over to Portugal for a day. Crazy, maybe, but I was too close not to visit César, so we made it work. I arrived there the evening of July 7, exactly 2 weeks before my birthday. It didn't seem like a birthday celebration, but it was a wonderful 24 hours. We checked into the hotel and then César rushed me to change and get ready for my 'birthday' dinner. In Portugal it is bad luck to wish someone a happy birthday before their birthday so he tried hard to not wish me one, but still make the visit special. My dinner was a wonderful surprise, he had booked reservations at a Fado restaurant. Fado is the traditional Portuguese music I love and we had talked about visiting a club, but had never done it. Not only was the candlelight dinner excellent at the little Portuguese restaurant, but there was a variety of entertainment including folk music and dance along with fado. A wonderful evening, actually very exciting! After dinner we got ice cream and sat on our balcony enjoying it as we enjoyed the full moon reflecting off the Atlantic Ocean. A beautiful Portuguese night, and so comfortable to be back with my friend. We talked until early the next morning, slept a little, and then had a nice breakfast at the hotel before he walked across the street to his hotel for work. I relaxed in the morning then went into Cascais and walked around the beautiful little town, I had lunch alone overlooking the ocean once again, you can't really avoid the ocean in Cascais. I didn't feel alone, César and I talked often that day. I walked back to his hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon curled up on a canopy lounging bed overlooking the ocean in the pool area of his fancy hotel. Finally I was cool! And lying there looking at the deep blue ocean and feeling the breeze over my body, I hoped that I would never forget that feeling, the ultimate in peace and relaxation! And I felt so safe with my friend inside watching out for me. When work was finished, we drove to a little local sandwich shop in Lisbon and ate some delicious food, nothing like our sandwiches here, just perfect, another unique taste of Portugal. I have to give César credit, we have eaten all over Europe and he always orders for me and I always love whatever he chooses! We had 2 pieces of a pastry like cake that had whipped cream filling and a caramel top for my birthday cake and he did what he had never done before in his life. He wished me a happy birthday early. We decided that since it was our only chance and since I'm not Portuguese it would be okay. After our rushed meal in the hot little corner cafe, we rushed to the airport and before I knew it I was telling him goodbye and on my way back to London. My first phase of my birthday celebration was over. And as always, seeing César was incredibly wonderful.

PHASE 2: I flew to Winnipeg the afternoon before my birthday to enjoy the day with my friend there, the man I met when I flew through Winnipeg to go to Churchill to see the polar bears. It seemed like it would be an exciting visit...until immigration decided it was strange that I was visiting for just 3 days (what would there be to do for more time I wondered, but didn't ask) and I was in for quite an experience being interrogated for an hour. I arrived feeling like an excited teacher ready for another new experience, but finally left the airport feeling as though I'd been treated like a criminal. It took a while to get over it and start enjoying the time with Mr. Perlman. We had fun, it was a nice, relaxing time, and there is so much of Winnipeg I didn't get to see yet. Maybe I'll go back for 2 days and see what immigration can do to me next time! I was alone most of my birthday and when I stopped to buy a cake, they decorated it and brought it to me and it had real pansies on the top. It looked so pretty, actually it looked better than it tasted. The pansies made me think of my mom, they were her favorite flowers, a birthday wish from my mom, perhaps? The Fringe festival was in Winnipeg so I enjoyed seeing some of the sights during the day and even went to one play. There were many, many plays all over town and it would have been fun to see others too. The one I saw sounded familiar when the people were telling me about it as I bought my ticket and I realized that I had heard that story very recently, when I was in Edinburgh. And that is where it took place. Evidently the best plays of this Fringe will then go to Edinburgh for the big Fringe festival that is there in August, when the Tattoo is also there. Such a coincidence. I flew home the next day, and Canada had no problems with my leaving, although I was a little sad, I'd had such a nice time. I arrived home in the late afternoon, picked up Bram from the kennel and got ready to start work, again, the next day.

PHASE 3: After 2 days of work and meetings, I flew to Oklahoma on Saturday to see my cousin's son, Jamie, in a big production of 'Jacob and the Technicolor Dreamcoat'. I've never gotten to see him perform and this was his biggest show and part ever, so it was a good one to see. Reba and Chuck picked me up at the airport and when I walked up to my hotel room door I was delightfully surprised! The door was decorated with a 'happy birthday' banner, balloons and streamers. I walked inside and the whole room was decorated! It looked beautiful! Finally someone had really planned a celebration for me! Now it felt like a real birthday. Reba knows how to do decorating! We laughed and enjoyed the afternoon as I opened the gifts they brought me. Later Jillian, Reba's daughter arrived from Dallas with a birthday cake she had made for me. They had planned a party after the show with some other cousins who live in the area. The funny thing is I have always loved the 'funfetti' cake mix and that is the one Jill made for me so it was even my favorite kind! We all went out for a big dinner and then to the show. Jamie was a star! I was so excited to see how incredible he was! And he's my cousin! He is at OU now in the music program, he acts, sings and dances! I am sure someday I will be flying to Broadway to see him! And he is a sweetheart too. I did some reiki while I was there, the first in a long time. We went back to the hotel, ate cake, I drank my first Cosmopolitan, and then the party and the final celebration of my birthday was over. Today I flew home.

Tomorrow I start working full time for a while and then it will be part time. My job is seeming like it will be wonderful! The philosophy of this school is a perfect match for me so it should be a great fit. I have a lot of responsibility and independence, and already appreciation! And so my new year begins with settling down to reality. My 2 year fairy tale ended when I left Winnipeg I think. I know I can't complain, that was quite the 'grand finale'. Although César wants me to visit in the fall and spend time at the castle that you can stay in, I'm not sure I'll make the trip. It's a long way to go. And I feel like the polar bears of Churchill are calling my name, so I might head back up to Hudson Bay in the fall. I'm afraid that reality might take over and all my traveling will cease. Only time will tell. I'm going to try to hold on to bits of the fantasy life I created.

And so now, I do feel a year older...and a little wiser too!

Winnipeg Ponderings

If someone gives you a gift and there is a $25,000 fine to have it, is it still considered a gift? :-)

If Winnie the Pooh was really named after Winnipeg, then where is Pooh Corner?
Might it be in the corner of Canadian immigration where interrogations go on hour after hour and innocent, teacher type people are pulled into it?
Or might it be in the corner executive suite of a high rise hotel where wonderful, memorable birthday events go on?
Might it be on the corner where the liquor mart is that has a variety of liquor bottles with polar bears on them?
Or perhaps on the corner where the sandwich shop is that gives you donuts with your sandwiches rather than chips and pickles?
Hmmmm...where might Pooh corner be?

If you meet someone with the same name are you really cousins?

If you 'write a novel' at various times of the night, will it sell?

If you eat a pansy, are you a flower child?

What did she really do to 'wash that man right out of her hair' in "South Pacific"?

If you fly away for an unknown adventure, will it always be a nice experience?

Can you find a new friend and then walk away for good?

And exactly what things are newsworthy on a blog of a birthday trip?

I wonder......

Independence Day - Edinburgh, Scotland

July 4th, and the first time I wasn't in Colorado to celebrate. A strange feeling to be across the world on our independence day. The ship had a grand display in the atrium, but unfortunately it was taken down by late that night when I went to take a picture. There was a very tall statue of liberty surrounded by red, white and blue balloons. There was a table laid out with red, white and blue decorations and a cake or two. I don't think they cut and served the cakes, but I wasn't around at all, so they might have in the evening. It was a massive and quite impressive display and the only reminder that it was our independence day.

Diana, Alec and I went to shore together, it was a tender port. It was always nice to be with them, having friends on a cruise was so much more fun! I am afraid I am spoiled now, having friends to see, talk to and have dinner with. And I already miss hearing their British accents, but I am sure I have picked up some of their sayings, even if it isn't the same coming out of my mouth. When something is good, it is brilliant, and a young man is a chap or bloke and I like those terms. We were surprised that there weren't more British on the ship, it was mainly Americans, with a large group of Asians too.

And so the three of us decided to take a shuttle into Edinburgh from S. Queensferry, where we docked. That was a good choice. I decided to take a tour that afternoon rather than spending the whole day in Edinburgh. By that time my feet were so painful I knew I couldn't walk to all the places I would want to see in that beautiful city so I would have to go back someday anyway to see more. Maybe it will be a destination for César and I, he loves the city too. When we arrived in Edinburgh, Diana and Alec were off on their walk to explore the city and I was off to find the hop on/off bus. It was just a few blocks away from where the shuttle dropped us off, but with the road construction there was a little walking detour. The bus driver assured me the ride around the city was only an hour and that would give me time to get back to the shuttle, to get back to the ship for my afternoon tour, so I boarded the bus for an overview of the city. I'd been before and took the half day tour and the traffic was so terrible I wasn't looking forward to that again, but loved seeing the city! I love Edinburgh! With the beautiful castle up on the hill, it is a gorgeous sight for a city. On my last trip to Edinburgh two years ago in August I also went to the castle for the Scottish Tattoo so the memory of that was fresh in my mind. That was an absolutely incredible night. The kind of experience that is a once in a lifetime event. As one of the other passengers and I said as we left, there really were not words to describe the intense emotions that night evoked. No words at all to describe the deep way we were touched from everything from the castle, the sunset, the music and the lone bagpiper on the castle walls playing a tune for all the soldiers in battle. Moving beyond description. An interesting thing about that night was that it was the night the BBC filmed it for the video. I have since ordered the video and it shows all that we saw, but it does not have the deep effect being there in person had.

Anyway, this trip to Edinburgh was still enjoyable, even if not followed by the Tattoo. The bus went to the most historic places and we were back in time for me to walk the few blocks to the shuttle. Other people were there who were going back to the ship for the afternoon tour to Braveheart country and the Stirling Castle. Braveheart, now I know so much more about that part of Scottish history. I don't like watching violence or torture, but I might have to watch the movie again now that I am familiar with the people and places in it. William Wallace fought and was killed, I won't go into what being 'drawn and quartered' means since as I remember it the movie is quite explicit. Robert the Bruce was also a famous historic figure in that time and he was fighting for the independence of Scotland after William Wallace and did become king of the people. I was a little confused by the difference, he was not king of Scotland, but king of the people. We actually walked on the battlefield of the 14th century war and saw a huge monument to Robert the Bruce. I believe it was my first battlefield I've walked on, but it wasn't to be my last this trip. We then went to Stirling Castle and again it was a bit of a walk up, but nothing like I'd already done, so I knew I would make it. This castle was quite famous too, however I don't remember the details. By that time I'd seen so many castles and heard so many stories and my feet hurt so badly, I was doing good just to get around to see everything. I sat for a while on one of the walls at the top of the castle, not a bad way to spend my independence day, in the lands where another revolt had ended in another country's independence. I liked the connection with that.

The tour took us through beautiful countryside and little villages and I look forward to returning to Scotland someday to enjoy that beauty again! There was a long line to get back on the tenders and I didn't mind, it was a time to chat with people and I was in no hurry to leave Scotland. But once we got to the ship, I was happy to know that a sea day followed and I could rest and pack. On the sea day I ate lunch at the grill, decided the hot dog would be as close to a 4th barbeque as I would get this year, and that was fine with me!

Back in Time - Invergordon, July 3, 2009

Before going on this British Isles cruise I read some books to learn about the places I was going. They were realistic fiction, the kind I enjoy learning history from. I began the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon. It is a 'back in time' novel series which became interesting to me when I saw that in Inverness, Scotland, there was a Diana Gabaldon Outlander tour. The heroine, Claire, walks into a stone circle in the Scottish highlands and is taken back 200 years in time to the revolution of Culloden. So I read 3 of the series before leaving. I didn't take the tour, it was only offered at certain times or certain days, but I signed up for tours that would show me the area. When the ship arrived in Inverness I was thrilled to be in that part of Scotland. Both because it was the setting for the first 2 of the series, and because I was going to see Loch Ness!

I wasn't able to be on the tour I'd requested that visited Culloden, but I saw incredible sights! When you are on the tours, ship's or otherwise, you never know what kind of tour guide you will get. This day I had the two extremes. The morning started with the outstanding guide, he appeared in full highland dress and was fascinating to look at! I talked to his friend who was another tour guide, also dressed in tradional costume and he told me he had taken Diana Gabaldon around Scotland to see the places where her novel was set and he was sure that the handsome, brave Jamie Fraser was based on him! Ahh, but the hair color was different! Everything is so exciting to me when I travel and I thought this was a great coincidence, meeting the man who spent time with the author. Well Ian, who has also been in local films made of the great battles of Scotland and has been the model for greeting cards, was an outstanding guide! We learned so much about that area and although I missed getting to see the great battlefield at Culloden he made everything so interesting. We arrived at Uraquat. not spelled correctly, and I was a bit alarmed at the long walk downhill to see the castle ruins. This castle was very important in the Scottish history, it began as a stone age fort and was turned into a castle sometime in the following centuries. Many different families in history lived there and it was finally burned out to keep it from enemy hands. It sits on a beautiful cliff overlooking the ocean. I did make it down to the castle and back up again, thankfully! It was a bit of a climb for me, actually much more than a 'bit', and I felt proud that they didn't have to send the motorized wheel chair down to get me, which was the solution Ian had when I asked what would happen if I couldn't make it back up. It wasn't like the Giant's Causeway that had a shuttle up and down. The castle overlooked the large Loch Ness and it is said in legend that Nessie, the Loch Ness monster lives far beneath the castle. I didn't have the chance to see her, I guess you don't get everything. It was interesting that a scientist from America is now living there and owns the little museum and store, which we didn't get to go into, and his equipment has determined that there is an area of a different energy, perhaps the real Nessie. I would have liked more information about that.

Ian told us about the Rowan tree, which had also been discussed on the previous tour. The Rowan tree is planted in each yard because it keeps the witches away. This is a very strong superstitious belief in Scotland. He said he knows his mother in law isn't a witch because she passes it every time she visits, but his wife is starting to enter the house from the back so he is wondering about her, a cute story I thought. I was sad to see this tour end, it was so informative and entertaining as Ian is an entertainer too. He gave me his website so I could be in touch with him if I have any more questions.

The afternoon was a tour to a different part of the highlands. I went southeast on the first tour into the highlands and the afternoon one was to the northwest. Such beautiful countryside! It reminded me of Antarctica which is said to have a million different shades of blue, because Scotland had a million different shades of green. I would have to say the highlight of the tour was seeing the highland cattle. They have long shaggy fur and are beautiful! One guide said they aren't as popular as the other cattle, they are for meat and take a long time to grow, so they become more like pets. A later tour guide said that wasn't true, they are raised for the meat and the taste is surpassed by no other animal. I don't plan to ever taste one to decide for myself! The beautiful cow stopped eating and looked at us and I hope that my picture does turn out well, but if not I bought a postcard or two. We went to Shin Falls, a beautiful waterfall where the salmon were jumping out of the water on their uphill swim. I was looking forward to this view and when the tour guide told us it was 50 steps down to see the falls, I thought it would be impossible to make it the 50 steps back up, especially after the long trek I'd had that morning. But the part of me that still surprises me, was determined not to miss a sight and I knew I had to make it down to see that, which meant I had to make it back up. So off I headed down the 50 steps. What the guide did not tell us was that between each 10 or so steps was a long downhill path! What a walk! I was so thankful that the path led through the trees and there was a cool breeze, not sure I would have made it back up in the oppressive heat that met us at each port. British Isles, cool and cloudy? I didn't see that at all! I believe it must be a lie to keep outsiders from moving to the beautiful countries! So down I went and unfortunately the people were in mass at the rail and I just got a quick peek and didn't see any salmon at all, a sad fact, but I did see the falls and did make it back up, so it was a good trip. Unfortunately we had a tour guide who was on her first tour, with us and the bus driver knew and shared more than she did. Quite a disappointment after the wonderful morning guide. Thank goodness the bus driver was such a delight though, I enjoyed him and his stories. The people in Ireland and Scotland are so friendly! He explained that the Atlantic salmon are different than the Pacific, much, much larger and they don't die after their first spawning. I liked that news, I was so sad seeing the dead salmon along the river banks in Alaska.

On the tours we drove through Inverness which looked like a lovely city, and this became one of the ports that I would like to return to, although I would love to return to all the ports, this trip was amazing. And as we walked to the ship when we arrived back in Invergordon, a bagpipe band was performing for the ship, and it appeared to be a high school band! They were incredible and such a joy to hear as we boarded the ship to sail away from Scotland. I was happy that it was not our last stop in Scotland, we had Edinburgh to look forward to!

Thoughts from Home

I'm home. As I've said before, that statement has so many aspects to it. I am grateful as always to return home safely. But my homecoming has been dampened by an unavoidable reality. My last entry was before I got the bad news from home that my 16 year old kitty was going downhill quickly and it was a day to day drama about what to do. I was very clear about my instructions to euthanize her immediately when she began to suffer. However everything started happening on the 4th of July weekend, when everyone but the emergency clinics are closed, and her caretakers were changing from the girl who she comes out for to a very sweet girl that she hides from. Unfortunately she hid and no one had any idea how badly she had gotten and when I arrived home she looked like a different cat, so my first responsibility when I arrived was to have her euthanized. A very difficult homecoming. I found out a very dear friend, my "2nd mother" in Houston also died yesterday. And so, now, as well as the end of my trip, other thoughts and decisions took my time and focus.

But the trip never wavered from being extraordinary! And with the desire to focus on that right now rather than my deep sadness, I'm going to write about the final days of my incredible journey. They are well worth noting in print. And so I will go back in time...

North Sea

Rocky cliffs coming out of a misty ocean...the scene for most of the day from my balcony on the ship. We spent the day at sea, going around the top of Scotland in the North Sea. Beautiful! So serene, looked like a movie from some exotic place, although the weather went from being sunny this morning to cool and cloudy this afternoon. A perfect day for catching up. A perfect day for sitting on the balcony reading and thinking. It is almost 10:30 PM and the moon is now almost full and sitting in the blue sky over the island we are passing, with the only other sight, the light from the lighthouse on top of the cliffs. Other worldly feeling. Dusk but far from dark. The mist is barely visible at the foot of the cliffs now and tomorrow will probably dawn a beautiful day. We have had wonderful weather and I am sure it will continue, regardless of the fact that we are so far north.

Yesterday was an interesting day in Scotland. The ship docked in Greenock and it was a beautiful day, so unlike the torrential rains that met me on my last trip there. That time I had a trip to Loch Lomond in the afternoon and the rains dampened, pun intended, the journey, but not my spirits! I remember going to the bus in the downpour and César told me I didn't have to go in that weather, I could cancel and get a refund and I asked him if he was crazy, a little rain was not keeping me from the Scottish countryside! I can still see his smile with the rain pouring down around him, saying he didn't think so but wanted to be sure. And the day was wonderful. This time I decided to take a tour that drove along the coast of Scotland to the castle of Culzean. Such a scenic drive, the ocean and the hillsides covered with sheep! The castle was wonderful, still furnished and there were various things to see on the grounds. I ate lunch in the visitor center, the only place, and passed up the Scottish staple, haggis, and opted for a mushroom strogonoff that was quite good. After the castle, I purchased 2 tartan scarfs, which are marked with the clan's name. Our driver was from the Campbell clan and he was actually able to tell me by the pattern of the scarfs which clan it was from! I was impressed! It is a big deal over here! After the lunch and shopping I was in for another real treat. I took the walk to the walled garden. My first experience in one and I felt like I had walked into the 'Secret Garden'. The view was spectacular and the roses growing up the wall were so beautiful! I talked to one of the gardeners and it was a pleasure to stroll through the gardens. After the garden experience, there was one more thrill for the day. The herd of red deer that live on the castle grounds were near the fence and I was able to pet 2 of them and I have pictures of their beautiful faces so close! What a thrill! A highlight for sure for me!

We went by Robert Burn's cottage and I learned more about him. He is the author of Auld Lang Syne, that I didn't know. As always, I was filled with interesting information that will motivate me to learn more when I get home. It was a beautiful day in the Scottish hills and I look forward to tomorrow, a day in the highlands and at Loch Ness.

The Giant's Causeway

Finn McCool, an Irish folk character, got in a war with a giant Scottish character and they had a challenge to make a path across the ocean between the two countries and the famous Giant's Causeway is the result of that challenge. What a sight to behold it was! Unfortunately we didn't have long to spend there, it is about a mile walk downhill to reach the site and then a shuttle is the best way back up. Everyone in the Belfast area must have been there that day and the wait to get back was so long that I only spent about 5 minutes exploring the rocks and the geological site. A beautiful place near the ocean, where you could climb to your heart's content on the large stones. Something to see and I only wish I hadn't had to spend 40 minutes in the line to get down to get the bus to leave. But I've seen it and the way things go, who knows when I might be there again, with more time to spend. For now, what an experience it was!

The drive through the countryside did not disappoint at all. Many shades of green on the rolling hills in the countryside, speckled with cows and sheep along the way. So peaceful and so like all the pictures you see of the Irish countryside. Rock walls and blue skies and castle ruins along the way. So many castles here, so many in ruins, however many are still lived in too.

I was a little nervous about being in Belfast, after all the years that the 'civil war' made the news, but in the 10 years since the Friday Agreement was made, the different sides have settled into a peace that feels safe. It is hard to imagine the city the way it was during the 30 years of the conflict. We drove past a wall painted with a mural representing the different factions of that time and the wall was quite unsettling to me, although our guide felt it was a sign of the peace they have reached. So although Belfast is in Ireland, it is a part of Britian.

And after one more very long day, we returned to the port of Belfast, so sail away to more adventures.

Back again...

Okay, I'll try this again, with my eyes rested! Finally we have a sea day, a time to catch up with rest and thoughts and emails!

After our cruise of the Lake, we ate a typical British lunch at a restaurant overlooking the lake. Not far away was the Beatrix Potter museum and we drove past it, a lovely building. That visit will have to wait for a future tour, but it was so special knowing that I was in the spot where Peter Rabbit and his friends were created! We continued our drive into the hills and arrived in Grassmere.

In Grassmere we visited the gravesite of William Wordsworth in a lovely little cemetary and had famous gingerbread, quite different than anything I've had before, quite gingery! The Lake district was beautiful, as I mentioned, but hot, did I mention that? Oh my, the weather in England, as well as Ireland and Scotland has been quite warm for me! I don't believe the stories people tell of all of the rain and clouds here at all! So in the heat, I rested in a little cafe as the others went walking and enjoyed their rare sunshine.

Time with Peter and Terry flew by and before we knew it, it was time to head home, back to the ship in it's new port in Liverpool. This ship seems to have made the news twice this trip, on it's docking in the new berth in Liverpool and in Belfast, the largest ship to ever dock there.

It was time to adjust to just being one of many in the rest of the ports after our personalized P&T tour of the Lake District of England!