Happy Birthday to My Cousin!

 

Boston

One doesn't need to go across the ocean to have an adventure or learn something new. This visit to Boston is a great reminder of that! What a delightful day I had at my cousins graduation yesterday. Actually she is my 2nd cousin and I was so proud watching her give the student speech at the ceremony. She and some friends arranged a lovely lunch after the morning graduation and when I was meeting her boyfriend's family and was introduced as the cousin from Colorado, we found out that even though they now live in Minnesota, they are all from Denver. Small world, to be sure! Relatives still live in Denver and they are a family of doctors and we even go to some of the same doctors, I've chosen well apparently. So nice to meet the family. My cousin now goes on to work for the federal government and her boyfriend is going to be part of a special program and will be teaching middle school in Harlem, a very dedicated young man. ~~~ Dinner last night was at a Cuban seafood restaurant and my paella was served looking like a masterpiece. However, I have a favorite Cuban food, it is the mojo sauce, and that was to die for! Very different than the one I love in Denver at Cuba, Cuba, but outstanding just the same! I'm sure it wasn't nearly as healthy, they used butter rather than olive oil, but for a one time pleasure, it was wonderful. I'm quite sure I won't find myself in Watham, Mass. again. ~~~ Today is a birthday lunch for my cousin, on a yacht in Boston harbor. That should be nice too, even though the skies are clouding up and it may be a bit wet. After the birthday celebration I will be dropped off at a hotel near the airport and will have the afternoon and evening to explore Boston. What I decide to do might depend on the weather, but I'm thinking of visiting Paul Revere's home. ~~~ Oh, about the something new, the holiday inn express has a pancake machine...so I learned how to use it. I've never seen a pancake machine before! You put your plate under it and then push a button, in a matter of minutes two pancakes drop onto your plate! They were hot, smelled delicious and tasted great! I thought I was pretty good pouring the batter into waffle machines and making my own waffles, and now I can do the pancakes too. I'm turning into quite the cook! ~~~ And that is the latest from Boston!

Reality...

I'm at the airport again, this time is different. I'm staying in the US, and it is a good thing because my passport disappeared on my last flight, from Newark to Denver. Disappeared...into thin air! I'm so upset about it. That was my timeline of travel, proof that I've been from Antarctica to the Arctic, my history neatly together in one little book. Damn! ~~~. Not only am I staying in the US, but there is no first or business class seat this time and it is a long flight. Oh well, the visit will be nice. When I get home this time, I'll be here to stay! And then will start working on getting a new passport, one never knows when some great deal to leave the country, or my reality, will come along. I have to be ready. ~~~ up, up, and away I go!

Life

Newark, New Jersey

Hmmmm...Springhill Suites in Newark, New Jersey...a long way from the Grand in Mykonos...'nuf said!

Leaving London

The weather fits my mood. I have been to London many times and it is always hot when I'm here. I was a bit surprised to see it so cold and rainy when I arrived last night. It fits my mood, leaving all the beauty of Mykonos, the views and the people! No Theodore to greet me at breakfast...~~~ It was nice to arrive at my usual airport hotel last night and be greeted by a concierge who remembered me. They always take care of me, much nicer than the reception people. The hotel actually charges to print a boarding pass! But the concierge always let me use their computer for whatever I need. And they gave me two bottles of water too, which got me through the night. So I was taken care of, but it isn't the Grand! My flight hasn't been delayed yet due to weather so I should be fine getting to Newark. I'm in a different terminal and it looks like the one I usually go to, so no surprises there. Had fish and chips for dinner...getting close to that healthy eating again so I'm getting ready for that. Seatbelts still fit with some room to spare so that is great news, did okay is trip. I did walk a lot so I'm sure that helped.~~~ That is the news from London, home of the soon to be here Olympics and some other world sporting event? Ciao from London...next stop- USA!

Goodbye Greece!

Here I sit, in the lounge in Athens with some time ahead of me, so I am glad they let me in. There are actually two lounges that I could use, so me being me, wanting to experience all there is, went to one, and now am in the other. I'm so glad I did that. Went to the Aegean one first but it was hot in there and they didn't have any Greek food, imagine that. So after a few minutes there I wandered next door for the star alliance lounge and am so glad I did. It is cool in here and there are several choices of Greek food, a perfect place to be for my last few hours in Greece. After all, I changed hotels twice, why not airport lounges? I ate healthy first, they have all the ingredients for a Greek salad so I started with that. Next I tried the Greek breads and yogurt dips and next I will try the pastry, and then it will be on to the world of fish and chips for a few hours on the journey home.~~~last night I took the shuttle into town and wandered once again. On the shuttle ride into town I talked to a lovely couple who were on their honeymoon, it's quite the theme here, and they were from Brazil. So of course I had to ask if they knew my Brazilian American friend. It turns out that the man works with a company that works with my friends, but he didn't know him personally. I didn't walk far and no sunset view, but it was okay. I decided to stop for more of my favorite shrimp saganaki. Delicious, I hope anyone who visits Mykonos tries it. I had a very nice and informative discussion about the crisis in Greece, and it was very eye opening for me. And then I was tired and decided to return to the Grand for dessert, in hopes the plane seatbelts would still fit today...and so far, so good! The decision wasn't as hard as I thought, I ordered a pastry that is a kind of cream, (mastic perhaps?)and the layers and layers of FILO dough was like toffee and then there was caramel on top. Delicious, what a treat it was! When I was ready to pay the bill, I was told it was already taken care of, another touching gesture from my new friends! I am going to miss the Greek food and attention from this point on, of that I'm sure! Hopefully the memories will be with me for a long time!  this morning I had a memorable event...I drank coffee!  I hate coffee, always have actually.  but one of the sweet servers said she wanted to make me a cup of greek coffee to try.  I said I would try it, but wouldnt like it.  I watched her mke it, a fascinating process.  I was intrigued.  she took the small container with a spout and long handle and put in water, coffee and sugar.  then she put it in a container and moved it around.  On inquiring what that was, i was told by her and the chef that it was hot sand and that is the way to heat it up.  Not sure how she knew, but said it was done and poured it into a small cup and said to wait  bit to try it.  I liked it!  I can't belive that I did, but since I was headed to a day of traveling, I decided not to introduce too much into my body today...next time I will enjoy a cup, but of course I need Fioni to make it for me! ~~~ When I got to the Mykonos airport today I had quite a surprise, my luggage was way overweight and I was told I would have to pay an extra 180 euros! I really bought very little there and was appalled. I was sent to the Aegean office and the lady said that since I'm a star alliance member, of the lowest level, she would split it with me and only charge me 100 euros. There was not a thing I could do, and as you might imagine, I was furious! When I sat down a nice couple started talking to me because they wanted to know if I really had to pay. Turns out they were from Portugal and both work in hotels there! So much for Cesar saying in his culture they don't talk to people they don't know! They were so kind and we had a great talk. When we went into the secure area I at down and there was the Brazilian couple I'd met last night so I introduced them all to each other. They said I must have be/have a magnet for portuguese speaking people. Both of the people from Lisbon gave me their cards, another fun thing since Cesar always teased me about giving others my email address. Now if I ever return to Portugal, I have two more friends to visit with! ~~~ guess I better find a job soon so I can continue to travel! And so this is goodbye to Greece for me and goodbye from Greece too. Start planning your trip to the islands, you won't be disappointed!

Time

Time, such a concete concept, isn't it?  What time is your appointment?  What time does your flight leave?  What time is it right now?

But there is so much more to time...timelessness, in the nick of time, timely, well timed, it's about time, etc.  And how many times has a day flown by, or a day dragged?  Probably all of this about time is the result of this being the last day of my vacation before the jouney home begins.  Was it really just 2 weeks ago that I was going to the airport with my usual mix of fear and excitement?  Was it really 34 years ago on the day I flew to Amsterdam that I got married?  Was it really 14 years ago that my daddy died, on the day I spent flying from Amsterdam to Mykonos?  And Mother's day, has it really been 23 years since I have had my mother for Mother's day?  Yes, all of that seems like eons ago, and like last week.  And yet, the last two weeks of pure pleasure, has seemed like months!  What an interesting feeling about my world right now.  Mother's Day is hard for me, I never became a mother and don't have one, but I know that I am so lucky to be in Mykonos living a dream, even if it is a different dream.  We don't always get what we want...how many times does one hear that in a lifetime!  However, I was fortunate to get what I never even knew I wanted, the opportunity to travel and see the world.  I guess everyone has dreams that haven't come true, and blessings they never could have imagined.  That is life.  Being open to what is coming...and this trip has been such a blessing for me, such a time to explore and enjoy so much about the world.  And now the time is almost here to begin the long journey back to reality.  I'd like to think it will be different, but over time, I've learned that not much will be different, good or bad.  An escape like this isn't meant too last forever, then one might not appreciate it enough.  And so as the time comes to a close, I am thankful for so many things, all the wonderful, interesting beautiful people, places and food that has filled the last 2 weeks. 

My last night is almost here and there are some options of what to do, no idea which I will choose.  The water outside my hotel room is a beautiful silver right now, with sunbeams shining down...the pre-sunset beauty. 

I was going into town to watch the sunset from that hotel and with the help of the excellent photographer/bartender get some awesome photos.  But I've got 2 nights of that scenery and since I am in a new room at my first hotel, I'm thinking I will stay here for the new view, and then go into town for dinner, maybe my favorite, shrimp saganaki.  After all it is the last dinner, for now at least. 

Last night after the sunset photo shoot I stayed at the hotel for dinner.  I ordered the shrimp saganaki and a bread basket.  The bread there is delicious!  While I was waiting they brought out some delicious breaded shrimp, a gift, no charge.  I was so impressed, how kind!  The main dish was good, but very different from the other place.  No shrimp head chewing there either.  While I was eating on the beautiful terrace, the bartender came up with some of his photos.  The ower had introduced us because of my taking so many photos and my camera, and his interest.  When he got off work, he sat with me and showed me incredible photos he had taken.  He LOVED my camera and got some great night shots with it.  We sat and talked for quite a while, another fascinating person, but from Bulgaria originally.  He worked in Santorini for years but said after the earthquake, he moved to Mykonos.  We had a great conversation, and when you are alone, it is always nice to connect with people and have some social interactions.  He loved my photos and even asked for the original of one so he could enlarge it to cover a wall.  He said he only has his own photos in his home, mine would be the only one that wasn't his.  When I get back I will happily share the original with him and hope that he is able to enlarge it that much.  It was an evening of mutual respect for each other's photography.  I hope to see many more that he takes.  After finishing my dinner the waitress walked out with hot vanilla and chocolate souffle and ice cream, another gift from the hotel!  It was delicious and one of the only times I've seen it served the way Cesar told me it was to be eaten.  In Greece they know how to do it right!  It was amazing!  Dimitris didn't join me in that but after that he said something in Greek and we both had small shot glasses of what he said was exotic fruit ouzo.  I said I didn't care for ouzo and he said to try it.  I loved it!  He said of course he knew that, he is the bartender.  By the time we said goodnight, I barely made it to the room and put in the memory card to download photos and I was fast asleep.  What a great evening that was!

This morning was wonderful, after the delicious breakfast buffet at the hotel, I wandered through the town and made sure I did get to the cemetery, Jon.  Thanks for that suggestion.  And yes, it is true that the Greek people bury their loved ones for only 4 years in the cemetery and then put the remains in their family chapels that are all over the island.  Not enough room to keep people there.  The cemetery was quite interesting, each gravesite is filled with flowers, fake and real, and there are photos of the family member that is there and there are little altar like glass boxes by many of them that contain items that must have been important to that person.  There might be fresh flowers in them too, and candles lit.  Very touching scene actually.  There was a groundskeeper sweeping up leaves and two different people there putting fresh flowers into the glass boxes, and cleaning up around the graves too.  Such concern and honoring of their loved ones.  It was a very meaningful visit, a way to feel a bit more of Greek culture.    And a very fitting day to be there.

On the way in I had an interesting experience too.  I was ready to walk up the stairs to the cemetery and I heard a noise, like a clicking sound and all around little kitties were appearing.  I followed their path and there was a lady all dressed in purple, with 2 large bags, and she started feeding the cats.  It was so touching and I had to ask her about that.  She went on and on about how the Myconian people don't care about the cats and would leave them to die, so every 7 hours she makes the rounds and feeds them.  How happy those darling little kitties were!  I was so touched and could see myself doing something like that so I handed her all the money I'd just gotten back from change from the taxi.  It wasn't a lot, but it might help her a bit.  She said I didn't have to do that, but I said I wanted to.  She said she had been an actress in Athens and just loved them all so much.  She told me about a couple and then showed me one who was  blind and didn't have many teeth like her, and she opened a can of moist food and put it in front of that cat so it could eat too.  Such a touching scene.  She invited to meet her at her next stop, but somehow I missed it.  That is okay, I'd seen and met her and was thankful that all of those little creatures had her in their lives.  And the day went on!

I wandered more, that makes 2 times this trip I've been officially lost Jon, just so you know!  Now I don't worry about it, and before I knew it I was at the windmills again and then took a walk by Little Venice too.  I got to a point and no one was moving, it is a narrow walkway, and there was Pietros, the resident pelican!  He is huge!  I did get some photos, but not any great ones.  He was totally at ease just watching all the people snap photos and go stand beside him for some.  Not my first time to see him, but his size is still astounding!  After a few photos I moved out of the way so the others could get their photos and then I continued on my walk.  I saw homes and buildings with other color shutters and doors so that was fun, and before I knew it I was back at the old port.  And there in front of one of the restaurants was a donkey.  It happened to be in front of the one I stopped at yesterday for some saganaki, fried cheese, and the man working there called over the Greek man, who got on his donkey to put on a singing show for me.  The man is quite old and seemed not doing too well, but had fun it seemed.  After a few photos of that local experience, I took a taxi back to pack up at the hotel and the very nice son who owns the hotel gave me a ride back to my first hotel. 

I'm quite sure no one does what I have done, but it is okay, I really appreciated Theodore giving me the same price for the room so I could spend my last night immersed in this 5 star luxury!  I sat by the pool and read for a couple of hours and have been packing since.  Haven't seen Theodore which is strange, he is usually everywhere and we were going to go to the chapel here.  He wanted to light a candle for me for my upcoming surgery and I was going to light one for a friend's mother.  Oh well, I guess it wasn't meant to happen this trip.  I do hope I see him to thank him for everything  before I leave.

What an amazing time I've had with so many wonderful people in so many wonderful places!  Yes, this was a great trip, thank you to Jon for your help, and I have to say the planning was superb...if I must say so myself!  Glad I chose two places my personal tour guide knew about because so much of the success was due to that!

Now to prepare for the sunset and my last trip into town.  Tomorrow I leave, with hope that one day I will return to enjoy all my new friends and make more.  Kalinicta (no idea how to spell it...good night in Greek)  from Mykonos!

Mykonos Musings...

So much time to think here.  I am lucky to have the gift of free time in my life now, but there is something about being in a beautiful place relaxing, that sets up the opportunity to let my mind wander.  Why do I love travel so much?  I now hate the journey part most of the time, but ahhh, arriving at the destinations I've chosen is still a thrill! I know I'm not alone in this wanderlust of mine, and yet, after a calm, rather 'normal' life, what is this drive I experience to do and see more and more and more?  Life is so much more interesting to me when I'm planning or experiencing travel.  And why now?  I think I am longing for adventure after a long, routine-ish life.  Thank goodness at least I don't need to do daring things like climbing mountains for my thrills.  I do feel like a child at Disneyland when I am in some far away place.  Why do I love it so much? 

Sitting by the infinity pool today, one that looks as though it is flowing into the sea, my mind meandered through many thoughts of the contentment I feel so far from home.  My musings provided me with a simple explanation of my burning desire to travel.  I enjoy interesting and beautiful...places, people and foods!  And although I know interesting and beautiful people at home, and can search out interesting and beautiful foods and sights, but when traveling there is no searching, it just happens.  So many beautiful people with interesting stories, maybe it is the stories I enjoy  Meeting people who have lived lives different than mine, and hearing their stories makes the world seem smaller.  Everyone has a story, whether it is the shopkeeper who still mourns the loss of her mother or the taxi driver who grew up raisning then slaughtering his goats, everyone has a story.  And I hope that as long as I can, I will travel the world and listen.

Such history everywhere too, whether it is the ancient Greek stories of the ruins or the story of how tulips ended up in Holland.  And then there is the food...oh my, the food!  I am not a gourmet, I'm not an expert on cuisine, but I just may be a foodie, if there really is such a thing...Oh how I love to try the foods in different places!  Now I'm not really brave about it, I didn't chew the shrimp heads like gum to enjoy the flavor of the brains, but I thought about it.  I decided that I was quite content enjoying the shrimp saganaki, sans heads!  The breakfast at my hotel was lovely this morning.  A full array of Greek delicacies and how hard to pass up anything.  I watched others have a healthy breakfast of yogurt and fruit and maybe some cereal, probably what I should do  But for me, why be in Greece if you can't sample all the foods available?  I can have yogurt and fruit at home!  And so I took a bit of each new and different thing and when I found something I LOVED, I got more of it.  For me, that is an important part of the culltural experience.  There were breads and cakes and cookies and pastries, along with sausages, bacon and eggs two ways.  There were meats and cheeses.   There was a feast laid out, meant to be enjoyed.  And that I did.  There were some koularakia, like the cookies my Greek mom used to make and although they weren't like hers exactly, enjoying them brought her back into my life for a moment in time.  I'm quite sure that if I lived here, my healthy eating would be nonexistent, so for this short time I am here to enjoy the entire experience, food and all! 

Yesterday I had a Greek salad for lunch, how healthy it was.  But I also had some fried potatoes that were excellent!  Complete with oregano on them, at least I think that is what they were telling me they were covered with, whatever it was, they were delicious!  Last night I had pita and tzatziki and when it came it was so fancy I hated to eat it!  But I did!  I also had Myconian cheese pies, the cheese from here wrapped in filo dough and fried, and served with a sauce that was delicious!  Such wonderful food experiences to enjoy here!  They have already gotten what they need to make me shrimp saganaki for my dinner tonight.  That is one of the more healthy foods I've enjoyed and absolutely delicious!

So I continue to enjoy the interesting and beautiful in the world!  And now I am heading to Mykonos Town to visit the church that Jon recommended, it is wonderful to have a personal tour guide, even if he is so far away!  Then I will wander the streets enjoying the interesting and beautiful of Mykonos for now!

Perfect Magical Mykonos

Thank you Jon! I just arrived at my 2nd hotel in Mykonos and am completely charmed once again! The  boutique hotel is highly recommended for a reason! I had another lovely breakfast at the Grand and then spent a bit of time by the lovely pool. Then my new best Greek friend drove me himself to this hotel, such wonderful personal service,and to this point unequalled by any place I've ever stayed in the US. Theodore knows the owner of this hotel so when he walked me in, once again I was treated like a VIP once again! Theodore worked out a nice price for me to return to the Grand so I will be spending two nights here and then will spend the last night back there. Such wonderful people! When I arrived my room wasn't quite ready so the owner bought me an iced tea and here I sit on a terrace overlooking the white and blue of mykonos town and the sea.~~~I am typing on my iPad again which means no paragraphs so I will use the squiggly lines to represent paragraph breaks. The teacher in me still cringes when I look at all my thoughts together, so at least this will help.~~~. Wildlife sightings are already part of this experience, as I sat down a lizard scurried across the walkway from one side to the other. There is a large yellow lab in the hotel office, who belongs to the owner. A small yellow 3 legged tabby came wandering by while the owner was talking to me and she said that she had an accident and her leg needed to be amputated but she will be fine. Very gentle little kitty. The pets add a bit of home, well not the lizard!~~~ today is cloudy, but that is okay, it is still much warmer than the Netherlands! The breeze makes it perfect for me. This afternoon I have a car and driver who is going to take me around the island. This is my fourth visit and I've not seen more than the town and the area around the Grand so I am looking forward to that and am hoping to get some lovely photos. If I like the young man who is supposed to speak excellent English I will then have the name of someone to recommend when friends come here, Barbara, so I'll let you know how it is.~~~ last night I decided to have dinner in town at a restaurant I loved last time. It was one of the most expensive items on the menu, and well worth the splurge! Shrimp saganaki is my new favorite Greek food! Luckily this hotel serves it too so I will have it one more time before leaving. That was good news for me. After my tour of the island I will stay in town and see the sunset from there.~~~well, my sea view room is ready now so I will wander up and settle down until my driver arrives. I hope it doesn't rain, I left my rain jacket at the other hotel, so hoping for a dry trip around the island. I told the owner that if I didn't have my dogs back home I might just stay a bit longer...she said next time bring them and they could stay at her house, sweet offer, like I said, the people are wonderful. How lucky I am to have this time with such kind delightful people...oh the joys of travel! Happy day from a hillside balcony in Mykonos!

Mykonos day 1

I don't know who wrote the quote "It's a wonderful thing to do nothing and then to rest afterwards" but quite possibly they were spending time in the Greek isles,or at least on some other beautiful island where time slips by quietly. After the busy pace of my first week, and the very long journey to reach Mykonos, it all seems like long ago after just one day of doing nothing and then resting afterwards! I now think I know what a celebrity feels like, just make a return visit to the  Grand hotel to experience it yourself! What an incredibly warm welcome I received when I walked into the hotel. So many people recognized me and the warmest welcome was from Theodore, the manager. He whisked me away to my room and I asked about paperwork and he asked if I really thought I had to do that when everyone knew me so well? Well, I signed my name and was checked in. He was so kind and welcoming that it was like seeing an old friend. My friend Jon said the Greek people have long memories, and that was proven true. I settled in and then went to dinner. When I walked in I was greeted by some more people who remembered me and made such a big deal over me. People kept saying I was just here...and it was months ago. But I realized I was here at the end of their season and this is the start of the new one, so it is like I was just here. One sweet girl even remembered that I'm a teacher and what table I sat at for breakfast...I didn't even remember the table.  Luckily I do remember being a teacher! Dinner was excellent but very expensive. I had grouper ravioli that were delicious but since it was an appetizer there were only two. Then I had a salad that was 3 kinds of tomatoes in the most delicious dressing with the most incredible goat cheese on lightly toasted bread, that I would highly recommend and may have to have it again, but am not sure I want to pay another 15.50 euros for it. Tonight I'll be dining in town. This morning the breakfast was still the delight I remembered. Laid out so lovely in an open air area with many delicious choices to enjoy. The breads and dessert like foods were my favorites. Yes, my taste buds are enjoying this break from our routine healthy eating too! During breakfast Theodore asked me what time I would like a ride down to the beach so we set the time for after his afternoon meeting and I spent the rest of the morning under one of the canopies by the pool. When I was handed a frozen wash cloth I remembered the spoiling I enjoy so much here! At the exact time, he appeared to move me from one lovely place of doing nothing to another! We had a nice conversation on the way and sat and talked a bit before I got out for an hour on the beach. I chatted with some nice people on the beach, it is a private one for the hotel guests. One of the pool personnel came around with a delicious ice cream bar and yes, I accepted that too. What a nice treat that was. As I was talking to Theodore he offered to let me still come to the breakfast here and enjoy the days by the pool and on the beach even when I am staying at the hotel in town. A very nice offer, but I think I'll be fine there too. After that busy day I am now in my room getting my much needed rest! :-). After sunset tonight I will go into town for dinner and a stroll...and now for my nap in beautiful Mykonos!

Frankfurter in Frankfurt

Greetings from Frankfurt. I've got a bit of time before I head to the long part of my journey, Frankfurt to Athens. I'd hoped for a pretzel, but there are none in the lounge, where I was allowed to enter this time. But there are plenty of frankfurters so that is what I decided to enjoy instead. They are served with spicy mustard and sauerkraut, a kind of fried onions, like the ones we get in a can, and pickles. There are small packets of ketchup available, probably for the Americans. It was good, but then I haven't had one of those for months either. I tried a pretzel from a stand in the concourse and it was very hard and flavorless...waste of 2 euros! But I had to try it. The lounge had containers of some hot snack mix, some nuts and some gummy treats, after all haribo, I think it is, is German. And this will be it for my stay in Frankfurt it appears. All shops other than duty free and one newsstand are outside security, a long way to walk so no shopping here for me. A bit more about Amsterdam, I had an experience I've never had before. I was walking back to my hotel and had a couple of blocks to go and an old, well at least older than me, man looked over and started talking to me. It was a language i didnt know. I ignored him and went slower but he kept stopping and waiting for me. Finally I passed him and turned the corner to my hotel. I looked back and he was still following me. This had gone on for one very long block. I turned into my hotel and looked back and he watching me and followed me in. I went directly to the concierge desk and showed him the man, who had stopped inside the first door and who then turned his back to me. The concierge was awesome and he said he would ask him to leave and I said I would just go to my room. He walked me to the elevator and said he would wait there to be sure I wasn't followed. I waited about an hour, repacking, and went down. Evidently the man hung around thinking I would show up. My new friend, the concierge, said he went and stood by him to chat and the man seemed very uncomfortable and eventually left. He told me next time not to worry about getting back to my hotel, to just go into any hotel and restaurant and tell them what was happening. He told me that man was very strange and he was glad I made it back and was safe. In all of my travels I've never been in that situation, and hope never to be again! I really can't say enough about the awesome men who work at the concierge desk! It's almost time for my ride to the gate...I hope this time there isn't a bus out to the plane, such a hassle for this spoiled American. Next entry should be from magical Mykonos!

Ciao Amsterdam

Well, what a surprise I had when I got to the airport in Amsterdam. For the few years I've been traveling I have either earned or purchased the admission to the lounges. Worth it for me. I won't even say how much it now costs since I don't fly 50,000 miles a year. Today I arrive at the lounge and find out that regardless of what I paid, I am no longer allowed into the international lounges because I do NOT have the gold rating, which is 50,000 miles! I am livid and I will be in touch with united as soon as I get home, but unfortunately they won't care. The merger is such a bad deal for the middle of the road traveler like me. They joined two airlines who both had many premium members, twice as many people with flight benefits, more than they can handle so they cut the benefits for the lower level, which would be me. So glad I enjoyed travel when I did, now it is much less pleasant in so many ways. I have two connections and it looks like my first flit will be delayed because it should leave in less than an hour, and the plane hasn't even arrived yet. Might be a miserable day of travel... Dinner last night was lovely. The manager of the restaurant kept thanking me for such a lovely picture, so nice of her. After my dinner of stampot with bacon, sausage and a meatball, I decided to take a walk. I've never seen the red light district so after being assured I would be safe I headed out. A very interesting experience, and not nearly as shocking as I had anticipated. So now I have seen it, and it is just the way it was described! They say the plane is on time so time to sign off and get ready for the first part of my all day journey...first stop...Frankfurt...

Amsterdam Expert...

...that would be me!  Not really, but compared to what I knew when I arrived, I do feel like an expert.  It's been a busy time, but I did see and do a lot.  I realized that my ipad just doesn't work well with blogspot since the blog has changed, so it isn't quite as convenient to write now, but at least I won't have anymore long posts disappear before my very eyes!  AND they are now posted with the paragraphs so that is nice.  No more work for Murray to put them in after the posts. 

Yesterday morning I woke up in Bergen op Zoom and wonderful Tanja and Jaap took me to the train station in Breda, which saved me having to chage trains with all of my luggage, a very kind thing for them to do, savng me a lot of trouble with my very heavy two suitcases.  So much for coming home lighter after dropping off their gifts.  I was able to get on the FYRA, I think it was, the high speed train so it only took an hour rather than almost 2 hours.  I arrived at Central Station in Amsterdam about 9:30 and made the walk across the square and bridge and street to get to my hotel.  It isn't really so easy rolling suitcases across the cobblestone streets and walks, but it was fine.  I was very pleased to be able to check in that early.  I am at the NH Barbizon Palace, and although not a palace, it is a nice hotel.  I am not sure about the 5 star rating, but all of the people are very kind so that is a pleasure.  It is the first hotel I booked with priceline and I did get a really good deal, less than 1/2 what the goinng rates were when I booked, so I feel very lucky.  It is in a great location as my friend assured me it was. 

I immediately talked to the conierge with my list of things I wanted to see.  I think so much of the conierge people in Europe.  They are so helpful and kind and always a pleasure to work with.  I found a tour to Zaans Schwans (?) and it had two other stops on it so I just couldn't resist the opportunity to see all those places!  The first stop was the 'windmill' village of Zaans.... and I was very disappointed we only had 45 minutes.  It is a step back in time to a Holland of long ago.  There were several windmills so I hope that I got at least a couple of good photos, along with photos of the clog making building and others.  After that short stop we proceeded to the fishing village of Volendam and had time there for lunch.  Another lovely destination.

It was funny, I was walking up to a table for 2 when a man arrived at the same time so we shared the table.  He was on my tour and is from Mexico.  He was alone, he'd been to a printer's conference in Germany and had a few extra days so he is exploring here too.  He was very nice, only spoke spanish so my 'extensive' knowledge of the language came in handy.  It was good for a lot of laughs but we communicated just fine really.  At one point the man at the table next to us started laughing so at that point he and his wife joined in our conversation.  They were from Jakarta, Indonesia and as we talked it was amazing that the man had attended the University of Colorado in Boulder for his law degree...small world...the concept proven once again!  That is where I went for my undergrad degree.  The 4 of us had a nice lunch and then I wandered until it was time to take the boat across the lake to Markin, another small village.  There we were suupposed to have a cheese and clog demo but there were so many people I didn't see a thing.  There were many cheeses to taste and I believe I had each at least once.  There are so many cheeses here, and they are from cows, sheep and goats.  I do like the goat cheese the best.  There is even a pesto cheese which is green, delicious!  Unfortunately you have to buy pretty large blocks so I can't get one of each, but at least it was fun to taste them..

After the tour I rested a bit and then headed out for a walk from my hotel along Damrak to the Dam square.  A nice evening stoll and many people were on the street as I returned to my hotel about 9:30.  I had fries for dinner, and just don't think I'll get tired of them.  They are larger in The Netherlands, than in Belgium,, but also delicious too, ahhh and the wonderful toppings!

After a good night's sleep and a very leisurely morning, I finally headed out.  My first stop was a few blocks away at a camera store.  A lady yesterday pointed out my lens was scratched.  Luckily it was a UV lens over my actual one so I was able to replace that today.  Then it was on to Madame Troussauds's Wax Museum.  Edward was in the window so no photo with him.  Waiting in line I started talking to some girls behind me and they were from Venlo, where I'd been at the Floriade and we enjoyed visiting while waiting in line and they had an extra 1/2 price coupon they offered me, so kind.  When we finally got to the ticket desk they were talking to the young man there in Dutch.  All I understood was something about Johnny Depp so I asked him to repeat that in English please.  He was adorable, so very funny and said he loved American accents and loved listening to me talk.  SO FUNNY!  Usually it is me that likes hearing other's accents.  He said he liked me so much he was going to give me one of the 6 euro guides for free and give one to my friends in Dutch too.  How very kind!  The Dutch people really are wonderful!  Well, the wax Johnny had been moved and today was the last day that Obama was going to be there for photos, so yes, I posed with Obama in Amsterdam!  The photo came out blurry but is still fun so maybe I'll post it.  Had photos taken with a few other celebrities and then headed out to the van Gogh museum.  Here it is pronounced van Goff.  The museum was wonderful but unfortunately my feet were already killing me from the long wait earlier, so I didn't spend long there, but did see it all.  Wonderful museum. 

On my way out I stopped at the gift store, of course, with the intent to add to my bookmark and magnet collections.  There were some lovely ones that were quite a bit more expensive than the typical ones.  There was a sweet older (than me) lady from Enland, who was looking at them and said she had a collection of bookmarks...guess I'm not the only one!  She said she wanted one but it was just too expensive.  I said if she loved it she should get it, when would she be back.  She looked at me and said I was right, she would really enjoy it and was going to get it.  I'm so glad, too many times in life we don't do or get what we want and later regret it.  A bookmark, a simple thing to do!  She was just beaming when she told me thanks to me should would have the bookmark she really wanted!  Wonderful!

I left and walked a bit to get on the tram that would take me back to my hotel, and was talking to the driver about a cheese museum.  He was great..of course....and called in but no one had ever heard of it, so he came to a stop and said if I got off there I could find a cheese shop where I could sample the different cheeses, so I decided that would do.  He told me where to go to get the tram back to the hotel so off I went, walkng by some flower stalls and finally got to the cheese store where I basically had a small lunch.  Then I headed back to the hotel.  After a short nap, I will be going to Moeder's for dinner, my mother's photo in hand for them to hang on the wall and then I will know a part of her is with the tulips in Holland.

Tomorrow morning I've reserved a taxi to take me to the airport.  I will enjoy some time at the lounge and then head to Frankfurt, where I will be for a couple of hours, and then on to Athens and finally Mykonos...a few days of leisure in the magical setting!  Ciao from Amsterdam! 

Looking Back - Keukenhof Gardens

What is there to say about being in one of the most beautiful places in the world?  Okay, there are many 'most beautiful' places and so much depends on what you love.  Keukenhof gardens is one of those 'most beautiful' places for me.  Of course it is rivaled, or joined,  by the Swiss Alps, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada and Monet's Garden.  And there is Mykonos, sunset in Cascais, Portugal and Antarctica...and more I'm sure I have forgotten right now.

Keukenhof is just outside of Amsterdam and is open a few weeks in the spring.  Predicting the blooming time is hard, depends on mother nature.  So when planning a trip there, it's important to take that into consideration.  I went when I could get a ticket, hoping and praying that the tulips would wait for me...and boy did they!  My day in the garden was spectacular as you can see from the photos!

I'd heard that the best times are early when they open before the throngs of crowds arrive, both from cruise ships and from buses people can get at the Amsterdam airport.  And the other good time is in the late afternoon when most of the tourists are gone.  So I planned an early breakfast and had a taxi scheduled so that I would be there before it opened.  I was there alone with the cleaning crew for a bit and then a man came with a big backpack and informed me he was a professional who has a season pass and sells his photos for a lot of money...funny.  I told him I sold my photos too, but only as greeting cards.  He made some comments about my camera and when the gates opened they let him in furst because they knew him.  I already had my ticket that I purchased online so I followed him in.  I thought it was pretty cool to be the 2nd one in the gardens!  What stunning beauty I saw as I passed by the fountains at the entrance!  The morning had been foggy so I was worried about the day, but a man I met at breakfast explained why it would be a great day and that the fog would clear off and it did.  The gardens are huge, I read that they are almost as large as Disneyland...but all flowers!  I never knew how many kinds of tulips there were!  Every color and shape! 

I had been to the gardens before as a tour on a cruise ship and the traffic to get there had been so bad that we only had one hour to see the gardens.  That is when I made up my mind that one day I would go back and spend as long as I wanted to!  And I did!  I'd wandered quite a ways before the gardens started to fill up.  I passed the PROFESSIONAl photographer once and he waved and chatted like we were best friends, funny I thought.  I didn't even ask his name though.  It was nice that I'd gotten so many photos before there were people everywhere and in the way of so many photos.  I had heard there was a windmilll there and missed it the first time so I was determined to find it, and it took me quite  while but with persistence and a lot of inqiries, I did find it. 

I'd read there was sometbing called a whisper boat that quietly went through the flower fields and was lucky when I got to the ticket counter.  The first boats were sold out but when I told the lady I was alone she was able to get me on the next boat.  I had 30 minutes to wait and bought a hot stoopwaffle and sat on a bench to enjoy it and rest to enjoy it.  I was next to a young man who was eating his own lunch, putting peanut butter on bread.  I commented that that was a great thing to travel with.  I never leave home without it!  I have the individual containers though.  We started talking and he was such an interesting man.  He was traveling around Europe before he starts an art history program in Rome!  A young lady walked up who was with him for the day.  They had met at a hostel and she was from Australia.  She is taking 6 months to follow all the festivals of Europe!  She'd just started and they had met and been togther for the big Queen's day celebration.  Her next stop is Pamplona, Spain and yes, she told me she was going to participate in the running of the bulls!  We had such a nice visit, the 3 of us.  Isaiah said that we had so much in common.  I said I wasn't nearly as brave as either of them and he said I was there alone, and we all were traveling alone and knew the advantages of it.  We had such a nice time and it meant a lot when Amanda gave me a  big hug and wished me a wonderful trip.  We alll exchanged email addresses with the promise to share photos of our journeys...wherever they take us.  I'll look forward to seeing her photos of Spain especially.  That chance encounter was so special, and I felt a surge of gratitude for meeting such kind young people who shared my desire to see and do it all!  Ahh if I were younger, what things I might do.  But now...no running with the bulls!  A gentle meandering in beautiful gardens is enough of a thrill for this 'senior citizen'!  In most places here, 60 is that step into seniorhood.

Walking away to the whisper boat was a mix of feelings.  I do like traveling alone and all the opportunities it opens, and the chance meeting of like minds, although such different ages and interests, travel was our common interest and it was like a validation of sorts.  As Canadian Isiah pointed out, we did all choose to go alone and seek out adventures in the world.  I liked that.  So (safe) adventure seeking Mitzi walked away to expereince a whisper boat ride through the flower field canals.  Most fields were gone, but there were enough to get a real feel for the beauty of Holland.  There was an excellent audio tour and it was fascinating, but many times I realized I'd quit listening and was just staring at my surroundings...I was on a boat in The Netherlands, floating past tulip fields!  You know, the Mitzi who was NEVER going to leave the United States.  That Mitzi had faced the challenge of international travel once again to make another dream come true...both my dream and my mother's dream.  Many times she said she would love to see the tulips in Holland so this trip is for her too.

A bit of tulip info I did get from the boat ride..tulips originally came from Mongolia and then were in Turkey before making it to Holland.  At one time there was something called tulipmania and tulip bulbs were sold for over 2000 euros EACH! The gardens started with 15 groups doing the planting and now there are 91 and they still have a waiting list for people who want to participate.  Each year about 5 million bulbs are planted!  The grass is redone each year also,for gardens that will open for about 6 weeks.

After the boat ride I wandered a bit more before returning to the hotel.  I was exhausted and decided to take a nap and then head back.  After 5 hours at the gardens I could barely stand, but after a nap for a couple of hours, I was great again and ready to go back. But there was a problem, there were no taxis available, it was a busy time.  The young man at the reception desk didn't know anyone who could help so I went around the corner and asked the bartender if he knew anyone who could give me a ride there  It was only about a ten minute trip. He started talking to the two people at the bar and they were speaking in Dutch and then told me that the man sitting at the bar was the manager and he had told the kid at the front desk to take me and he would cover for him.  How nice was that!!  We went out and the car was blocked in so he went inside and came out with a big smile on his face, the manager had given him the keys to HIS own car and the boy was delighted and joked that he could take me anywhere I wanted to go now!  What an amazinng experience to have all of those people help me get back for a couple of hours before they closed.  I made the time well worth it, more great photos and since I'd taken over 1200 photos I was offering to take people's photos for them.  When you travel alone, there is no one to take your photo so you/I have to rely on the kindness of stranger to take a photo here and there of you.  I realized it is the same for couples, families and groups, one is always out of the photo taking it..  So I offered to everyone who was taking a photo and there were a lot of appreciative people that day, having photos together that they wouldn't have had otherwise.  It felt so good to be able to do that.  The gardens close at 7:30 and about 6:30 it started thundering so by 7:15 I decided I'd pushed my luck as far as I should and it was time to call it a day,but what a day it was!  I got a taxi back to the hotel and as I walked in the door of the hotel it started pouring!  Yes my luck wiith weather had held out one more time!
d takled
I just couldn't resist the lure of the Dutch pancakes so off I went in the rain to try one for dinner.  I had one that was bacon, which is more like our ham or canadian bacon, onions, mushrooms and cheese.  Delicious!  A lady wtih a family at the next table came over with a coupon like thing in her hand and talked to the server and then she told me the lady was buying me a beer.  How kind!  How could I turn down thaat offer?  So I had a glass of Holland beer to go with my dinner pancake.  The perfect end to the perfect day!

Keukenhof Gardens 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floriade 2012 Venlo, Netherlands

 

 

 

Lisse, The Netherlands

I think it may have been a good thing that my first post from this trip was deleted. Possibly a sign that it should be forgotten! I will go with that! It was a tough start, but once I checked into the hotel in Chicago, all got better, and I'm sure it wasn't just the 1/2 of margarita I was given as my complimentary check in drink! A relaxing night and day in Chicago seemed to be what I needed to get off on a different start. The rest was good for my knee and it is much better now, thank goodness!

I'm sitting at my little desk in my room in Lisse. You may wonder what in the world I'm doing here...by the time I reached my hotel this afternoon I was wondering the same thing! However, the purpose of my visit is clear; tomorrow I will be visiting the world famous Keukenhof Gardens, home of approximately 7 million tulips!

After a 2 hour nap my future looked brighter. And it seems I am here at a great time. I did miss the celebration of the Queen’s birthday yesterday, which was compared to Mardi Gras by one person today. Everyone celebrates and dresses in orange.

Of course it would have been pretty close to impossible to get a room in the Netherlands anyway for that. Today there were still many stores with a rainbow of orange balloons outside the doors. It was a very long journey to get here. Travel seems so glamorous, and all who know me, know the thrill I experience when I board a plane for a new adventure.

However, reality is something totally different, at least in my recent travels. Had all of these 'inconveniences' happened at the beginning of my travels, I'm quite sure they would have ended long before now! But here I am once again, far from home and starting a new 'big adventure'!

When waiting to board the plane in the business class line, I was alone with a long line of businessmen reading papers and ignoring the world around them. I resigned myself to the fact that it would be a long flight with little interaction with any other passenger. That is fine, there are movies and I am well prepared with my own entertainment. I was settled in my seat and the plane filled up.

Suddenly there was a young man putting his things away and taking the seat next to me. He had a great smile and we immediately started chatting and what a delight he was! He was heading to Amsterdam on a buddy pass that cost him less than $100 and although that made me a bit sick to know how much I spent for the flight, I was quite pleased to have such an animated seat mate! He is a techie and I had some pretty impressive iPad personal tutoring, with the promise to continue to help me with any questions I come up with. He is just in Amsterdam for a few days visiting a friend who is here for business.

Besides this delightful young man, there was one other significant joy of the trip...I no longer need a seatbelt extender now! A definite thrill to see such concrete results from my months of healthy eating! Now my big challenge will be to go home the same way!

And what a challenge that will be! Enjoying the food on my travels is a highlight for me and something not to be missed. Am already practicing moderation, and feel a bit successful, but it is only day 1! We had a wonderful meal for dinner and I did indulge in a bit if the raspberry ice cream encased in chocolate. I didn't eat it all, but did have enough to enjoy.

When we arrived at the airport my new friend was waiting to walk with me but I explained my torn meniscus and the fact that I needed to wait for a wheelchair to get to baggage. We said goodbye and another part of the journey that requires a great deal of patience began.

Eventually I got to my luggage and waited for the hotel shuttle. Finally some nice shuttle driver told me I was in the wrong place for the city center hotel shuttle, I'd been given the wrong directions...patience, Mitzi...so I gathered my things and walked to another area and found the right shuttle.

Of course, as it seems my luck always goes, I was the last to be dropped at my hotel...an hour ride! On the way, the driver convinced me that the best way to get to Lisse after dropping my large suitcase at the hotel I will end up at in a week, was to return with him to the airport and he would drop me off at the bus stop for the bus to the gardens where I could get a taxi to my hotel, about 10 minutes away. Sounded better than taking trains and buses with my two smaller cases and paraphernalia!

By that time about 20 hours had passed and I'd had only 2 hours sleep, so I was looking pretty pathetic! I took the bus to Lisse and as tired as I was, of course I started to chat with the young man who sat next to me! People are so interesting! He said he and his wife were here for 3 months as part of his business, but were also traveling all over. Of course I HAD to ask what he did...you never know what ideas I might get! (For example my new buddy from the plane and I discussed the possibility of getting a part time job with an airline, something I will look into).

But back to my current 'seat mate': he is an all-night poker player and there is a big tournament coming up! He graduated from Princeton...now that is a career I've never heard of, and it is providing them with a quite nice trip! However, I think I won't be pursuing that career!

Back to the bus ride to the gardens...we passed many tulip fields that were incredibly beautiful! They really are like the photos you see, tulips as far as your eyes can see! Amazing sight! I DIDN'T miss the tulips! When we arrived at the gardens people rushed to the entrance, I stood in exhausted dismay; there were NO taxis there, as I'd been told there would be. I entered the information building and it was almost another hour before one came that the lady had called. Finally I thought I would be at my destination, with a nice inviting bed to welcome me...but that was not yet to be! By that time it was afternoon and I was starving.

With no restaurant at my hotel, I headed out to find a place for a quick meal before bed...quick was not to be! But I did find a lovely little outdoor pancake restaurant and ordered the apple/banana pancake...it is fruit, right? :-). A Dutch pancake is very, very thin. The toppings are cooked into it. It was eventually served and it was the full size of the large dinner plate! Keep in mind it is VERY THIN, so it really wasn't that much food.

Of course in my total exhaustion, I had forgotten my camera...maybe I'll go back tomorrow, camera in hand, to feast on another pancake! Delicious!

After that meal I found a supermarket and purchased some bottled water, 6 bottles for.77 euros. What a deal. At least I think it is water! The line was quite long and I am sure that by that time I looked horrible and it was truly a fight to keep my eyes open. After I'd paid for the water and a couple of other snacky things I waited and didn't get a bag. I asked and she said it was .15 for one and by that time I wasn't sure I could get out a cent and a lovely couple I'd been chatting with insisted on buying it for me and finally I left with the need for sleep more evident than ever before I think!

After a two hour nap I tried in vain to find a way to get to the tulip fields for photos, but it was not to be, so I wandered through the town, took some local photos and then stopped for a nice dinner. Now it is back to bed for me I hopes of an early morning at Keukenhof before all the other tourists arrive! My taxi is already ordered so after breakfast at my hotel I will head out for the day I've been waiting and traveling for!

G’night to all from Lisse, The Netherlands!