Germany Adventures

Ahh, the time in Germany has flown by and before we know it we will be on a TAP Portugal flight back to Lisbon tomorrow. And as usual, time with Cesar has flown by and weºve been busy with little time to share my adventures in my blog. It is late but Iºm awake so I decided to take time to record some of our highlights. I think it would take more than 3 days to write about the happenings of our trip, it would take so long to try to describe our experiences. How in words could I relate all that we have said and done and the senses it has touched.

I could write about the incredibly beautiful walk we took today among the beautiful fall colors in the Bavarian countryside as we walked to the famous Neuschwanstein castle. Looking up at the castle rising out of the autumn colors on a mountain top was a sight to behold. One which neither of us will ever forget! Hopefully we will forget the incredible hassle it took to get there, another story in itself. But the walk, an autumn experience to be written about and savored for years. The reds and oranges and yellows, with leaves floating down all around us as we walked to the castle in the overcast, cool afternoon, proved that fall is in the air. But it would be impossible to share the sounds and smells that were part of that other worldly experience. How lucky I feel to have shared this experience with a friend. The castle was beautiful inside too, but the stunning view from outside far exceeded what was inside in my opinion. And, oh my poor legs and feet! Even though we took a shuttle to a spot above the castle, part of the walk to arrive was uphill which was only made worse when we started the tour and climbed many stairs up a winding staircase to begin our tour on the 5th floor. I made it with quite a bit of effort, no way was I going to miss that sight! I am sure that the pain will remind of this accomplishment for days! Ahhh, but how worth it that was!

Yesterday was just as delightful as we explored the streets and sights of Salzburg, Austria. Neither of us had anticipated the quaint beauty of the city! Unfortunately we went later in the day than we should have and with all of the stores and sights closing at 6, we did miss a lot. A great destination for another trip! We saw Mozartºs birthplace but didnºt have time to go in, but we bought a darling musical note umbrella to use in our travels. Seems we always end up in places in the winter that are cold and rainy and now we will be prepared, with a memento of our trip to Austria. We had a true Bavarian lunch, I enjoyed it but Cesar isnºt fond of Bavarian cuisine we discovered. there was an incredible dessert that is named after Salzburg and that was a fun thing to try. Exploring in Europe is somewhat determined by the train schedule, Iºm actually becoming quite good at managing the train trips in a language I canºt read! Although being with Cesar is quite a security even though he knows no German and this is our first time to be where he is as clueless as I am about what is going on. But together we have managed. If you know me you know I donºt have a problem asking questions and the people here are so nice and helpful. We had a quite peculiar happening waiting to board our train. We were waiting on the platform where the train was supposed to arrive. We waited and waited and we were the only ones on the platform, and there was no sign of the train arriving. The info wasnºt posted on the sign, not a person was anywhere around. It was dark, cold and rather spooky being there all alone so we decided to leave and look for someone to ask about the train. We only found 3 workers who didnºt speak English and we tried to communicate to them the dilemma. One kind man tried to help us and pointed out the info on the schedule and we told him there was no sign of anything happening. We turned around and there were many, many people on the platform, and the sign was up and it was as though we had been in the twilight zone! Suddenly, without a sound, all the people had appeared and we were both in total shock. No idea how it all happened but at least being together, we both knew the total oddity of the moment. So on top of all the amazing events weºve had in Germany, we even spent a few minutes in the twilight zone together! On the train back to Munich from Salzburg we met a delightful girl who is a kindergarten teacher in a small town in Austria near the Italian border. She was so friendly and informative and we enjoyed being in her company on the long ride home.

Home, what memories we will have of this home away from home. Finding it was quite a nightmare when we arrived after midnight and wandered around the gigantic train station for at least an hour. We arrived at the airport and it was so empty and there were not many choices for transportation into town to our hotel, the Sofitel. It was just behind the train station we were told, but the journey to reach it after the midnight train ride to town was another story that wonºt make it to the blog. We did finally arrive a little before 2AM and the man who checked us in felt so sorry for us and gave us a room upgrade to a junior suite. WOW!! We were totally amazed when we walked in and saw our home for the next few days. The living room is quite modern, done in lime greens, and plums and black and white. there is a giant flat screen tv with speaker all around. There are stairs that lead up to a bedroom in a loft that is gorgeous and oh, so comfortable!! And the bathroom is incredible! We havenºt been able to spend nearly enough time in the room to enjoy the luxurious setting. Weºve decided to hang out here in the morning before going to the airport. The breakfast that comes with the room is delicious, many wonderful choices to make of foods from Germany and the US. A delight just to eat breakfast! The first morning I was ordering our eggs and mentioned that I was with my Portuguese friend. The sweet young girl cooking said that her colleague was from Portugal and I asked if she would have her come over and just start talking to Cesar in Portuguese. When I got to the table, Cesar knowing I always chat with everyone, asked if Iºd made any new friends and I told him I had. No more information. When the lady came up to our table and started talking in Portuguese, the look of surprise on his face was priceless! What fun that was for all of us.

Yes, Munich has been a delightful experience and now we will head back to Portugal for more adventures. We had a glich in our castle night plan, poor Cesar was given a double shift that day and he tried to get me to cancel our plans, but who knows if and when I will ever be back and even if I am, it isnºt easy to get the royal suite. So being we adjusted the plan and I will not get the part I pictured of us having a dinner outside in the beautiful walled village at sunset. Now we will be going at midnight when he gets off work and staying late the next day. It was the only way it could work out so it was better than nothing. I just couldnºt leave without this exciting part of the plan! Not what Iºd hoped for, but better than nothing!

Well,once again I am off to bed. Ciao from Germany

Greetings from Portugal

Yes, it is true, I am back in Portugal. Itºs been 3 months since I was here. I am in my hotel room with a balcony that overlooks Cesarºs hotel and behind that the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. As you can tell I am on a computer with a Portuguese keyboard so the apostrophe appears as the small circle that I can never find on the American keyboard when I want to use it for degrees of temps. Anyway, back to my reality, Portugal.

The trip here was exhausting, as always, although it does seem harder each time, but only until I see Cesar at the airport and then all is forgotten, except how worth it, it was to be back in beautiful Portugal with my friend!

The trip, while tiring, was quite nice! I used my air miles to purchase a first class ticket and the trip was luxurious to say the least! A seat that reclined totally and quite personal service. At 2AM, when all of my American friends were snug in their beds, I was gently awakened by a flight attendent telling me it was time for breakfast. We were just an hour out of Frankfurt and it was 10AM there. Then a 3 course breakfast was served. Something one could get quite used to, traveling first class! (not the getting up at 2am)

Arriving in Frankfurt was a bit exciting, I no longer panic at new experiences, well at least the safe ones. I knew I would find my way eventually to the next flight. Going through passport control was okay, I told the man it was my first time in Germany and he actually smiled at me. I had been told that my connection would be close to my arrival gate. That was a lie and when I stopped to ask directions I was told it was a very long walk, that was not a lie! Now that I am a more seasoned traveler, I spend more time observing than panicking. I saw two things at the airport that are unique to Germany, at least as far as my experience goes. In the bathroom, I found that the soap is released, not when you push down on the soap dispenser, but when you let go. Strange phenomenon to me. Yes, possibly I am easily intrigued. I pushed down and nothing came out so I pushed and pushed without totally releasing the handle, gave up, released it and all this soap came spewing out! Yes, easily intrigued! Just love those new experiences!! And then as I am strolling through the airport I notice someone go by on a bicycle! Yes a bicycle! The man appeared to be one of the maintenance men. A little later, a man in a suit went past me on a bicycle! Yes, apparently many of the airport workers have bikes! I passed a parking area for the bikes and they had little license plates on them too. very interesting concept, more places should do this for easy transportation inside the airport I think. No one seemed to mind and there wasnºt a problem for them to get around the people. Iºm interested to see if there are people on bikes in the Munich airport too. I purchased a couple of things on my walk through the airport and was amazed at how expensive it is! I did find a childrenºs book about a polar bear with polar bear finger puppet on it, in German!! What a wonderful addition to my polar bear collection that is! Who would have dreamed Iºd find anything polar bear in Germany!

The plane left on time and 3 hours later I was arriving at my old familiar hangout, the Lisbon airport! I waited a bit for Cesar and before I knew it we were off on our adventure. It was a quiet evening. we walked in the rain to an an Italian restaurant and then walked back to the hotel. I slept while he worked on his business and this morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then he walked across the street to work and I will take a nap after finishing this entry. Iºll shop this afternoon for souvenirs in the village of Cascais and then when he is off at 4 we head to the airport to fly to Munich, a fun 3 days ahead of us.

and so, ciao from Portugal! the bed is calling my name!