I Did Dallas - Day Dos

(okay, okay, I can't help it, I've always liked alliterations, perhaps it is the teacher in me?)

And so day dos in Dallas dawns...and I was not awake to catch the dawn!  I slept well and had time to visit with my cousin before she left for a business trip.  Then her husband helped me plan my routes for a day in Dallas.  All had been planned from the hotel in Fort Worth but now I was in Plano, so everything was different.  And a friend of my aunt and uncle had told me about a wonderful Chinese Lantern Festival that was currently in town.  Sounded like something I would like so I'd researched it and decided I would see that too.  Turns out that wasn't in a very 'safe' area of town, but once I decide I want to do something it is hard to talk me out of it, so the evening's activities took shape.  And soon I was headed out to bravely tackle the highways and byways of Dallas on my own.

First stop...Snuffers.  I'd seen the restaurant featured on Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins on the Food Network one day when I had it on while I was working.  The cheese fries were featured and looked delicious.  It said it was in downtown Dallas, but when I started researching it, there were places around town.  Took some time to find the closest on the routes I'd planned, but since my base had changed, that didn't work.  Luckily, there is one close to my cousins house so it worked out and I started my day headed there.  I arrived just after opening and met the manager as I was walking in.  Turns out the show was actually filmed at that location.  the fries were delicious, a couple of layers of cheese.  I got the toppings on the side, but decided they only took away from the savory taste so I didn't use them after all.  

After lunch I headed to the arboretum to see the Pumpkin Village.  I'd received two emails from different parts of the country with pics of it and when I saw it was in Dallas and it was the right time of year, how could I pass that up?  So I found my way there, a long trip because of major road construction, but my trusty gps kept recalculating and eventually we got there!  Pumpkins here I come...camera in hand.  When I had called I was told there were many flowers blooming so I was hoping for a repeat of Giverny, but that was not to be.  Most of the flowers were mums, not my favorite flowers.  But the walk was nice as the main walkways were lined with pumpkins.  I was there on trick or treating day so children were everywhere in costumes.  Lots of little princesses, but I have to say my favorite was the little boy marshmallow, adorable!  He was in a white costume filled with air and he started begging his mom to let the air out.  She convinced him he could NOT walk around as a FLAT  marshmallow so as far as I know, he proceeded in full costume.  The other kid highlight was the mom who was giving Addison, Keeson, and Mason a lecture that they were not to continue crying.  Sobbing kids said they were NOT crying.  Hilarious, I really wanted to ask them what that was, but decided to stay out of that drama.  They were instructed that they were NOT to cry when their parents told them anything, they were to say, okay I understand, even when they had their candy taken away, which was apparently what started the melt down.  So they had to practice saying that.  Then they were told that their father probably wasn't going to let them stay any longer anyway.  That was a shame, they were doing so well with okay, I understand.  Maybe their father let them stay.  After these two dramas I wondered if halloween really is worth all that.  Yep, guess it always was for me too.

Finally I arrived at the pumpkin filled area and yes, it was easy to believe there were over 50,000 pumpkins and gourds there!  What a creation, a sight to behold in person!  So many people were there.  There was a house or hut like structure out of orange pumpkins, one out of white pumpkins, and the most interesting to me, the one made out of gourds.  Many displays everywhere, really something to see.  there were well designed piles of pumpkins, pumpkins in the middle of flower displays, pumpkin flowers, and many designs made from pumpkins...all colors and shapes and sizes!  There was a white pumpkin shaped carriage?  Oh yes, Cinderella's coach to the ball, and all the little princesses were having their picture taken in it.  

Finally I had enough of pumpkin time and decided it was time to face my next event, finding the airport hotel where I would spend the very short night before heading to the airport at 4:30 AM the next morning for my flight.  Crazy timing, but it saved hundreds of dollars, so worth it, or at least it seemed so when I made the reservations.

More freeways and again 'we' found our destination.  I checked in and took a nice little nap.  I set the alarm so that I would wake up in time to head to the Lantern Festival if it wasn't raining like the night before.  I woke up very refreshed and although the skies were cloudy, I decided I couldn't miss the final Dallas event.  

I arrived but had to drive a lot to find the entrance.  The sun was going down so at least I wasn't searching and then walking in the total darkness.  But they were lanterns so the viewing had to be in the dark.  As I walked up, I was stunned by the spectacular beauty!  Thousands of lanterns lighting up the night with amazing creative scenes!  A total delight!  I wasn't sure I knew how to use my camera at night, so I used different settings and did get some wonderful photos.  The bright colors and intricate designs were really enthralling!  I walked around the whole exhibit and would have gone again, but I still had to find my way to the car rental return.  Im pretty sure i got photos of everything from every angle.  Something I'd not even known about until 24 hours earlier turned out to be the highlight of the day!  So with great reluctance I forced myself to leave that beauty, hoping to see it again next year!

One of the things that I do love about traveling with me, is that I am open to new ideas of what to do.  No one else wanted to accompany me, but since I'm fine alone, I didn't have to depend on anyone to do what I wanted to do.  I just did it, loved it and was proud of me for once again doing what I wanted.

Now it was time to return the car.  Off to the airport I headed.  I was wishing that I had seen a whataburger for dinner, but didn't.  Then at the rental car exit there it was!  Yes, when I travel things do work out for me!  I had a nice surprise when I pulled up, they had green chili as an option to go on it.  Now long ago, I used to drive to visit friends in Albuquerque a couple times a year and a s soon as I got to Las Vegas, NM, I knew the way to the same place for their green chili burgers, and here, in TX I was greeted with the surprise of getting to have that again!  After having a small one I returned the car, took the shuttle to the airport and then got the hotel van to the hotel where I played with my pictures for a while before taking the nap that would have to serve me well before my flight home.

I was downstairs early for the shuttle, a very good thing.  They don't have their own, they use a company that goes to several hotels and they sure packed us in!  He was there early so I was lucky, there were 67 people signed up for that time so at least I got on one of the first trips.  Always go down early to catch a shuttle to the airport!  The lines were long to get through security, but moved quickly and soon I was at the gate, ready to leave Dallas after two full days of delights!

Flying into Denver, we were greeted by the most beautiful pink fluffy clouds outside the window!  Absolutely amazing, looked like we were flying through cotton candy!  A lovely welcome home!

And now I'm back with my 4 legged buddies, memories and photos to add to my collections.  Back to my paint peeling, dog parkish backyard and best little friends.  

The End!

I Did Dallas - Day One

Boy, oh boy...did I do Dallas!  I didn't do the main touristy things, but filled my two days with delightful experiences!  It is really no surprise to me that when I got home today, I went straight to bed and slept most of the day.  Much needed sleep and since our weather is dark and cold. It wasn't a bad way to spend the day at all.  Now I'm snuggled up, in my thick flannel gown and having dinner of pizza and Pepsi, not healthy, but perfect today.

Has it really just been two days since my trip began?  I arrived at the dallas airport without any problems.  The place I arrived was under construction so it wasn't quite as convenient as it should have been.  Eventually the rental car van arrived to take everyone to the rental car center.  Luckily the line wasn't too long at the place I was using.  I still had hope I would make the first play of the day.  the young man who helped me was very kind and patient.  I was quite nervous about my rental car adventure, felt much safer when others drive.  

I was prepared, I had my new GPS with me, and had programmed in all the addresses.  AND since I've not used it before, I also had backup plans, each destination had been mapped on mapquest and I'd printed out all the directions too.  the man working with me saw my discomfort over driving in a new city in a different car.  He disappeared for a bit and returned with a key to an SUV for me, a very nice upgrade!  

I always purchase the loss damage waiver.  Most people do not, in fact I know of no one who does.  It's expensive, $29 a day for a car that was $17 a day.  Why would I do that? Well, there are things I think people don't know about.  I know it because of my serious accident long ago.  Usually your auto insurance covers you in a rental car.  In the past that might have been fine, but now that you can be dropped for making a claim or having an accident, or rates can go sky high.  I think that is ridiculous, but it is the way it is.  So do you really want to make a claim on your personal insurance if something happens to the rental car?  The other fine print fact that is little known, your private insurance doesn't cover the cost you will be charged for the days the car is out of service while any repairs are being made.  Now you might be thinking, "well I've never been in an accident" and hopefully you never will be...but that is what I said before I'd had mine too!  If anything happens to the rental car, you walk away with no additional expense.  Small price to pay in the long run, really, believe me.  

So back to my big 'mini' adventure...

Settled into my new SUV, I headed out to tackle the Ft. Worth freeways.  The gps worked great and so along with the typed directions next to me, 'we' made it to the hotel my cousin had reserved for me that was a few minutes from the theaters.  All the hotels had been booked near town due to a big football game and a couple of conferences, so when my cousin found rooms it was a lucky thing.  At the time I didn't stop to wonder why there were rooms available.  As I got closer and closer, I got a little worried, I wasn't in the best area, in fact it didn't feel safe at all.  When I drove up I was quite sure I did not want to spend the night there.  The staff was so nice but when I was hauling my things in, up the stairs and tripping on the uneven floors that seemed to bend as I walked on them, I was even more sure.  Many other things played into my decision too.  I was late and my cousins play started in a few minutes.  I quickly changed, stuffed my clothes into my suitcase, not even getting it to close all the way and called my cousin who lives outside of Dallas.  I told her I didn't feel safe at all and asked if I could stay with her.  I was going to do that to begin with, but my other cousin wanted me at the hotel close to her whole family, so I'd said I would stay with them.  I decided I needed to be comfortable that night and that wasn't going to happen there.  Not in a room alone.  so I rushed down, hauling my things and packed the car and headed out to the first theaters.

 More freeways but with only one wrong turn I found the theater and there was not one parking place!  I was already 15 minutes late.  I parked in a staff place and went in and the man at the box office told me I could park along the drive in the front.  I rushed out, reparked and rushed in and was taken to my seat.  And there I was, the only single person in the theater.  Of course everyone had children, it was Dora, the Explorer.  The little ones were glued to the stage and I saw a look or two from parents wondering what this lady was doing all alone.  Right when I sat down Dora called out Diego and out came my cousin, I hadn't missed a minute of his performance...perfect timing!  He is adorable, and not just because he is my cousin.  The role was quite different than the last one, he had been in a lead role in 'Fiddler on the Roof' in Woodstock.  But now all the little ones were calling out to him and I have to admit that smile on my face was because watching him was so much fun, but it was also fun watching all the little faces glued to the stage.  He was a hit!  There was an intermission and I started talking to some of the adults around me, thought it was best to share that I was there only because my cousin was in the play.  It was so funny how many people were so impressed.  Cute.  Act 2 started and it was action packed, if you were about 3 or 4, oh, how the kids loved the show!  The show ended a bit late and I didn't have much time, my other cousin's show started in 45 minutes at a theater a few miles away and of course, i had no idea if and when i would get there.  I waited in the lobby until the actors came out and as my cousin was posing for pictures with the little ones I approached from behind to give him a hug before I left.  Yes, I guess I did cut in line, but I had a good reason, not much time!  I'm so proud of him, what an entertainer he is! 

Then I was off to play #2!  There were a lot of turns but it did only take about 10 minutes and I arrived and very luckily found a parking place right across the street.  Whew!  Tired yet?  I sure was by this point!  

I walked in just before the doors opened to be seated.  I didn't know what to expect but at least I knew it was an adult show.  My aunt and uncle arrived and we all had seats together.  That was so lucky!  I love when I get to be with my daddy's family, it makes me feel close to him.  The play was hilarious!  My cousin was incredible as one of the main characters and I laughed for over two hours!  What a delightful, energizing experience!  Too bad I don't live there, I would go once a week for the laughter!  And to watch my cousin was a real treat, he is very good.  The role was quite different than the pirate he played in the last play I saw him in, so that was fun too.

After the play we went to dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant near that theater.  Lovely evening.  After dinner he headed back for his night performance and I headed to the Mexican restaurant where all my other cousins were meeting.  That was a lively group and as always, it is fun to see the cousins I was raised with, and their kids.  After that dinner it was time to go home, and even though my cousin at the hotel really wanted me there, I picked my other cousins house where I knew I would get a good nights sleep.  But  there was a big thunderstorm by that time...big!  So my cousins husband drove my rental car to his house and it was a good thing.  The torrential rains were frightening, lightening that lit up the sky.  The drive was very long, on many freeways and I was so relieved to pull up at their house over an hour after leaving the restaurant.  

Lexi, their absolutely adorable golden doodle greeted me at the door.  Now she greets everyone, but I'm quite sure she remembers me because the first toy she brought to me was the remains of one I'd taken her when I was there a couple of months ago.  So cute!  And I do mean remains.  As my cousins husband sai, the octopus is no longer an octopus, but a tritopus...yes there are only three tentacles left and they are barely hanging on.  

What a day!  Finally day one was over and I got a great nights sleep in the nice, quiet, cool bedroom!  Sweet dreams!

Travel Short

And so here I sit, once again on a plane.  This time I'm in the 'cheap seats' and boy does frontier pack them in!  This is the airline that charges for every drink, wondering if the cup of ice is still free.  (yes, just found out it is)

I wonder if others have the same ambiguous feelings when leaving home.  I know it would be hard to believe knowing how much I travel. But truly I just want to hang out at home almost as much as I like to leave.  Each time I convince myself that I need a balance in life.  And I do love traveling!  But I also love the security of home, peeling paint, doggie parkish backyard and all.  Not to mention my wonderful 4 legged companions who keep me company there.  But that mysterious pull to venture from home is strong, and wins out most of the time. 

This trip is a bit different.  I have two cousins who are actors.  They are from the different sides of my family.  Perhaps I have a bit of drama in my blood?  That would explain a lot! They happen to be in plays in the same town just a couple of miles apart.  How could I not head there to see them both?  At this point I'm hoping I stay awake for the whole day.  Arrived at the airport at 6 AM and got to go through the precheck line.  I always go through it with united but I'm on Frontier so I was chosen to randomly go through today.  It's nice, nothing has to come out of the bag and your shoes stay on...but that is what led to the explosives check on my last flight.  This time they swabbed my hands, thank goodness, this time no explosives detected!  

My day will be long and busy.  When I arrive I have less than two hours to pick up my rental car and head for destinations unknown.  Well I know where I'm headed, but in a new city, I'm quite concerned about driving.  And it's far on lots of highways.  Then I will have to change and head to the first play.  I'll have an hour between plays and then will be at the second play of the day.  Two matinees!  After that I'm looking forward to going to dinner with my uncle, my daddy's brother, and his family.  Then dessert with the other side of the family, but I'm thinking I will pass on that even though it will be the only chance to see one of my cousins.  

Tomorrow I've planned a big day too.  I'll have breakfast with my cousins and then head off on my own to the arboretum to see the amazing pumpkin display, houses and gardens built with thousands of pumpkins and gourds.  Looks lovely and the man I talked to there said there are many flowers in bloom, so my good camera is packed and ready.  After the tour of the gardens I'm going to sample chili cheese fries, and a burger, that I saw on one of the food network shows.  I think it was diners, drive ins and dives?  Then back with the rental car, a night at an airport area hotel, and I'll be on a 6:30 AM flight home the next morning.  Short, but action packed!  Just the way I like my short excursions to be!

Reflections

I'm home, almost a week now and the trip seems so long ago and far away!  I have to stop in the middle of my reality to try to recapture the thrill of it all.  

Reality comes back in full force most times and this was no exception...a broken tooth meaning extensive and expensive dental work, a pre cancer removal that had some complications...yes, the reality of life is far from the blissful escapes I manage to create at times.  

Reflecting back...I thought that when I'd completed the 10 1/2 hour flight to Houston from Amsterdam, all would be fine, the major part was over and I was safely back in the US.  How silly of me!

Customs went well, when I was asked what food I was bringing back and I started listing the items...Dutch cookies, cheese, Swiss chocolates, cheese, bread from France...I was told to just go on...guess they didn't care about my foods after all!

I was staying at a hotel near the airport, not a great area, but I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived, it was actually quite a nice hotel.  I was exhausted but there was one more highlight to come, my nephew who I'd not seen in almost five years was going there to visit.  He arrived and although I was so thoroughly exhausted, it was wonderful to see him and catch up.  We went out for a seafood dinner and I was in bed before 7:30, (2:30 AM in amsterdam, quite late) having repacked and printed out my boarding pass so I'd be ready for the final flight home early the next morning.

Got to the airport on the shuttle and went to check in and was told the flight was leaving from another terminal!  Not just a different gate, but terminal!  I always go to the airport very early to have time to deal with whatever surprises come up, so I was only a little worried at that point.  There was a cart that would take me to the other terminal.  I went through security and they did a random swab of my carry on suitcase.  All of a sudden the monitor started flashing a big red box and in it were large capital letters saying, "EXPLOSIVES  DETECTED!". Oh, my!  The fun began.  I said surely that is a joke, nope no joke, guards were walking up from two different directions.  Things were being taken out of my carry on and I was asked if I wanted the hand search there or to go somewhere private.  I said I didn't have a lot of time so there would be fine.  Ridiculous!  Of course I was trying to imagine when my bag could have come in contact with explosives and I'd checked it on the way to Europe so maybe along the way?  

After everything passed inspection the guard asked if I would like to repack my bag and I said no, I'd already done it once, he could do it and try to get it all back in.  He couldn't, what a mess so I left carrying a bag of the things he couldn't get back in.  Still wondering what in the world had caused that.  I'd asked after it was over and was told, oh it could be a lotion!  Really??

I got a ride to the right terminal and even had a bit of time to visit the lounge.  I asked why my flight was boarding an hour early rather than the usual 30 minutes.  I was told I was traveling on the Dreamliner...hmm, wasn't that the new plane that was grounded not so long ago?  Well, yes it was, but it is fine now...oh how I was hoping the drama was over for the day!  

I got ready to leave the lounge and I couldn't find my coat, oh no! That dear old black coat has been around the world with me!  It is old and tattered but perfect for me.  Its an all weather coat with a rather warm zip in/out lining.  Perfect for me everywhere I go.  I went to the desk and the calls began...to the hotel, security, cart office, lost and found...no black coat.  I was so sad but believed it would show up so I was finally leaving, with all the numbers I could call when I got home to continue the search.  As I was sadly turning to leave, the lady who cleans the lounge walked up with my coat!!  It apparently had fallen between two chairs!!  Oh my, I was so happy, relieved and realized I was indeed, back to reality!

My Dreamliner flight was nice, supposedly the soft blue lighting makes things better and the cabin pressure is set at an altitude of 6000 feet rather than the usual 8000 ft, making jet lag less severe.  The plane was continuing on to Tokyo, oh how I wanted to just stay on!  The lady next to me was from Hong Kong.  She was playing Candy Crush Saga.  We talked about it, she said in Hong Kong groups of people gather and play it, from 3 year old children to the elderly who have on their glasses and shaky hands.  She was on level 395!  I'd seen a business man playing it on a train in Paris, standing with his arm wrapped around a pole for support and playing it on the iPad on his way to work.  Apparently it is a worldwide phenomenon!  I had no idea...

And so the trip on the Dreamliner came to an end, another successful holiday came to an end...and I walked right back into reality!

Wonderful sights, food and adventures!  From meeting the wonderful young man who is a software developer on the flight from Denver to DC, who let me try on the prototype glasses that are a computer screen, that was a 'trip' in itself, to the explosives detected happening, another trip was over, and hopefully the memories will remain forever!

Now, where to next?  

Ciao Europe, Once Again

And so, once again I say goodbye to a European adventure as I head home to reality.  I'm on a 10 1/2 hour flight from Amsterdam to Houston, where I'll spend the night before continuing home.  

My trip was short, but the adventure seemed to have lasted weeks.  As always, so many thoughts crowd into my head, people I've met, foods I've eaten, places I've seen, how brave I've been...and perhaps most of all, what I've felt.

Being alone, even as busy as I've been, allows time for reflection, valuable time, an important part of the journey I've realized. I live alone, I've become accustomed to it because of lack of an alternative, and now I'm content.  All of my life I have done things for others, put them first.  How lucky I am to have done that, to have touched the world in many different ways with kindness and love.  And how lucky I am to have figured out it is fine to do things for myself and let my kindness, thoughtfulness and love extend to myself.  Yes, I have to admit I spoil me, just like I used to spoil others, and it's nice.  There is no one else to do it for me, so why not do the things you love?  So here I am returning from one more life enriching experience, another gift to myself.

I bring back things from my trips.  My collections are simple, I don't spend time shopping anymore.  I collect bookmarks and calendars, and usually try to find a magnet that fits the trip well.  My fridge is filled with memories, along with my calendar wall.  No more trinkets, out of room.  What I also bring back are pictures, some of which will become greeting cards; I bring back memories, and a new sense of me.  I impress myself in ways I couldn't have imagined, each trip is a personal accomplishment.  That may sound strange to many people, people who have never doubted themselves, never been controlled by fear, never lacked confidence.  For me, travel is so much more than seeing the world.

I may not have climbed Mt. Everest, but I climbed my personal Everest.  I accomplished and did things I never would have dreamed of a few years ago.  I am proud of what I do, a sense of satisfaction sometimes overwhelms me over where I've come from and who I am becoming...kinda brave actually.  :-)

Enough about me, back to the journey...

Amsterdam, by the time the train arrived, it was dark, cold and very rainy.  So much for heading into town to take photos.  The rest of the trip was perfect so I wasn't too concerned about the weather at that point.  Schlipol airport has some great stores so that was the extent of my evening's activities.  I ate fries and a dutch pancake, both far from the best I've had but the only choices so I decided it was better than nothing.

The biggest disappointment there was over the cheese.  When I was there in the spring, my driver had taken me to a cheese shop in central Amsterdam for a cheese tasting experience.  Delicious cheeses!  There was one that was my favorite by far, orange something.  Unfortunately my visa card wasn't working and since it was the beginning of the trip I had to be very careful with my cash, so I only purchased one small block of the delicious cheese and one of another I liked.  Did you know that as cheese ages it gets harder?  (apparently I'd forgotten to tell the charge card company I was traveling so once I called to inquire what the problem was, it was fixed, but that didn't help me at this point.). So at that moment I knew I would be back and stock up on the cheese I love.  And finally I was going to do that!

However due to the train delay of almost two hours, I got to my hotel close to 6 PM.  I had the lady at reception call the store for me, and yes, indeed it did close within minutes so I could never make it there.  The lady at the hotel assured me that the brand I wanted was at the airport so I'd be fine.  I decided to call the store back to be sure the orange something cheese would be there.  Well the person I spoke to said they had no 'orange something' cheese.  Yes they did, I insisted!  I had saved the wrapper at home all these months and told her the first word was orange, the second word started with an m but was in Dutch.  She thought and thought and then said the only thing she could think of was that they make an orange mustard cheese around Queens Day, could I have been in town around that time? Yes, that is exactly the time I was there...finally they realized I wasn't crazy...oh that cheese is only made at that time of year, there isn't any to be found now!!  All that planning and the cheese isn't even available!  I was so disappointed, no orange mustard cheese to be had.  At least I'd hadn't given up and now I know what it is, when they have it and she said that I can order it in May.  So in a way mission was accomplished. And yes, that brand was all over the airport past passport control so I did come back with cheeses, just not the ONE I wanted. So knowing that I relaxed and browsed the airport and then repacked and did get a good nights sleep before the long journey home.  

I have not flown internationally out of Amsterdam so I found an interesting difference there.  You go through  passport control and then have full access to the rest of the airport.  Security isn't until you reach your gate!  That felt a bit uncomfortable, knowing that everyone roaming past passport control still hadn't gone through a security check.  Not very comforting at all.  I mentioned that to a man working in the lounge and he very rudely answered that I was NOT in America and they do things differently there!  I have been in many airports around the world and have never been in one that did it that way but I decided that rude man was not interested  in that fact at all.  And honestly, I was quite relieved when it was time to check into my flight and go to a secure area.  Everyone had shown a passport and boarding pass at least.

Finally I boarded and began the long flight home...

Oh, My Aching Feet!

I haven't written about how much I've walked, truly miles and miles and miles!!  Arriving back in Paris from Geneva meant walking from the grande lignes, main trains, to the RER around Paris trains.  Oh I was exhausted!  Found the right RER, the D, but the train didn't come and didn't come.  Finally I asked two young ladies next to me what was going on and they explained that it is one that has much fewer trains on the weekend, but at least it wasn't RER A that wasn't running at all.  Yes, good thing!  One of the others I was on was packed and it didn't go and didn't go, and someone said that one of the lines was on strike so more people were packed on this one to get where they needed to go.  So I feel lucky the strikes and shut downs didn't effect me, I hadn't mapped out alternative routes not knowing what could happen.  After that I picked up a map in case I needed to make alternate plans in the future.

So as I was standing with hundreds of people, as much as I LOVE Paris, I was honestly thinking I would be happy to be home where I get in my car and get where I need to be...but alas, there were/will be miles more to walk before arriving home to my easy transportation.  The trains work great in Paris and I'm getting quite good at managing them, but my feet, my legs and many of my muscles are paying a price for my free spirit!

Eventually the train arrived and we climbed aboard, having to stand packed in and oh so hot, for the two stops to my hotel.  That is a huge station and it was a long way to walk to get out of the station and across the street to my hotel, but no choice, I had to make it.  When I arrived, there was a long line to check in...was there not going to be any break for my weary body?  Apparently not!  One man started talking to me in Portuguese, I spoke back in English and he apologized for thinking I was with the big tour group from brazil, no apology necessary.  Everywhere I go, I meet Portuguese speaking people, usually from brazil, but sometimes from Portugal...this trip was no exception.  Met a whole family from brazil on the train to Giverny and now the big tour group.

When I first arrived at the hotel days before, I was given a 'nice' room.  Really?  Do I look stupid? It was right in front of the busy train station and the noise was horrible!  Loud honking, sirens, shouting...not going to work for poor me who desperately needed sleep after about 36 sleepless hours.  So down I went to the desk and requested another room.  Went in to look at it before moving all my things and the toilet was constantly running, very loudly, nothing stopped it...so I went back down to the desk and requester another room, a QUIET one!  Next room I walked into, faced an indoor courtyard and seemed very delightfully quiet, thank goodness!  Well, or so I thought...moved all my things in, and a loud banging started...then scraping and screeching?  REALLY?  I went back to the front desk and the lady said that they were almost out of rooms and something would be wrong with any room I would get, it is an old hotel.  The room was so hot, I requested a fan, thinking I would be cold and it would cover the noise of the banging.  I fell asleep for a couple of hours and no fan ever came, so I slept very little with the noise coming from the wall, damn, horrible night!  And so hot!  I knew the hotel was full, imagine paying almost $300 for that, not to mention the room was so small I could barely get around the bed!  When I left the next morning I told the reception girl everything.  She wrote it all down on the computer and promised that she would make a note for me to get a quiet room when I returned.  Well, when I finally got to the desk this time, there was no note, no nothing and the first room they tried to give me was next to the one that had the banging pipes, I refused and the man just stared at me.  Do people really think they can abuse the guests like that?  Apparently!  I continued to refuse and he realized I meant NO, so he gave me a room on the top floor that he guaranteed was quiet, yep, I was really going to trust them!  I went up, and up, and walked into a room so small I would trip on the desk chair getting to the bathroom whose door couldn't open all the way because of the toilet, you had to close it before sitting down, crazy...but other than a constantly dripping tub faucet, it did seem quiet.  I requested a fan and left for my evening.  When I returned no fan, and they didn't know where to find one.  At least the concierge/bellman turned the switch down for me and the room ac went on, cooled me off and drowned the sound of the running faucet.  Finally a good night's sleep!

(still on train to Amsterdam...we made it to Brussels.  I went back to be sure no one walked off with my luggage that is just in an open compartment by the doors, such a strange concept, to put your luggage in and walk away.  So funny, when I went back to check on my luggage two men were back there checking on theirs too...guess what, we had to laugh, we are all Americans, apparently the only ones who don't trust that our luggage will remain when people leave...one more stop, in Rotterdam, and then to Amsterdam central station.  There I will have to find the train to the airport and from there find my shuttle to the airport hotel where I'm spending the night before my early morning flight tomorrow.)

(wait, there is an announcement, free meals to everyone in 2nd class because of the delay.  Decided to walk up the 5 cars to the Bar car and see what the meal was.  Well, I was given two boxes.  I told him I was alone and he said to save the extra one.  I said I was going to the US tomorrow and he said take it, it was good for years!  That wasn't great news I decided.  It contains a cold tomato pasta which isn't bad, with veggies and tomatoes, some jarred tuna I didnt open, applesauce compote, a tiny plastic cup of water, some crackers, snacks and cookies.  I gave the second one to a lady who didn't go get hers.  One was quite enough!  But the tomato salad was good, especially with a slice of the delicious olive bread I bought at a boulangerie in Paris before leaving.)

So back to my night in Paris...after resigning myself to the tiny closet like room, I headed out for something I've really been looking forward to, my cup of the best hot chocolate in the world!  I had better directions this time so back to the station I went and boarded the first train, there would be a change, but what is that inconvenience and all that walking when the best hot chocolate in the world awaits?  I got to the station and only needed to ask directions once and there it was, the little old street that holds the secret of the divine hot chocolate.  The restaurant was packed, I'd read it had wonderful food too and watching it go by as I waited for a table, I realized I'd not eaten all day.  So when I was seated, I decided on the beef stew made with wine and olives, it was excellent!  After that nice hot meal and the 'to die for' hot chocolate, it was back out in the cold for two more metro changes to see the Eiffel tower, a must for me.  I did it, and after much walking to and between metros, I turned the corner, and there was the tower lit up in the dark.  Such an amazing sight, the sheer size alone is unbelievable.  I wished I could go closer, but it was late and I knew my feet wouldn't make it, so I stood for 20 minutes waiting for the sparkling that would start on the hour.  For five minutes that extraordinary monument sparkles in the dark, absolutely beautiful!  And finally, it was time to head back to the hotel, two more metros...more walking.  I made it safely and am quite sure I was asleep within minutes and finally, for the first night here, I slept the entire night!

This morning was short.  I ended up not having enough time to get to the Sacre Couer, I probably had time, but if the buses didn't run right, I would miss my train, so painfully I passed up that plan, next time!  I stopped at the boulangerie and bought a delicious tartelette (?) with cheese, tomatoes, bacon and olives, a small loaf of olive bread, and some macaroons, and my trip was complete, time to move on...to the current train I'm on now.  The sweet young lady at the boulangerie gave me the gift of a pastry, kind of a large donut hole, truly delicious, on the list of things to eat next trip too!

And now...next stop...Amsterdam!

French Alps Adventure

Well my research that led me to Chamonix led to excellent results.  As I've said many times, my luck in traveling is the best.  So when I was told it might be too cloudy to see the mountains I told each person that it would be beautiful sunny weather...and indeed it was.

 Arriving late afternoon I was exhausted but my desire to explore had me checking into the hotel and heading out immediately, camera in hand.

The train trip, 3 hours, seemed to pass quickly, it was foggy part of the way so I didn't see all the mountains on the way there.  I arrived at Geneve central station (as it is spelled locally), and easily found the train I was connecting to, taking me to the airport where I would get my transfer to Chamonix, a 90 minute drive.  

I sat in the front of the shuttle van, to avoid motion sickness and had a very nice chat with the driver, a Romanian who left a career in banking in romania to live in this beautiful resort town and snowboard every chance he gets.  The town reminded me of our mountain towns.  This man was very interesting to chat with, he told me some about Romania, and even more about energy work and crystals. I do love these chance meetings along my way.

I was a bit worried about the hotel, it was a Mercure, and I'd had a horrible experience at the Mercure in Paris.  I told the reception lady that when I checked in and she very kindly upgraded my room, and it was lovely!  And what a view!  And newly remodeled, perfect.  Worlds above the very terrible hotel in Paris.

I dropped off my luggage and headed out and wandered...and wandered.  I walked much further than I'd planned and eventually found the restaurant that my driver had recommended.  It was dark out by then, and I just trusted someone there could direct me back to my hotel.  It was warm and inviting and a wonderful place to relax after another long day.  

I was disappointed to find out that I couldn't have the fondue, that is only for two people.  The owner assured me that the specialty they offered, bread covered with a wine cheese sauce was even better.  Grudgingly I ordered that and it was divine!  Very filling and extremely unhealthy, but so French, or Alp-sy or something...Fitting for the cold rainy night.  I asked directions to my hotel, which was much closer than I'd thought, packed up my camera well, and headed out for the wet walk back.  Exhausted, and thrilled to be in a nice quiet room, I fell asleep quite early.  I still wasn't on the right time.  I woke up most of the night and didn't mind looking out as the rain turned to snow, coating everything in glistening white.

The room was so hot I finally opened up my balcony door, and from my bed I could watch the snow fall all night.  Finally I fell asleep quite well in the cold and knew that I would wake up to a winter wonderland, and indeed I did!

The sky was blue, the magnificent mountains white.  All of that with snow covered trees, made for views of the French alps I had expected.  The mountains around that valley are massive, and I continue to hold the opinion that the Alps are the most beautiful place I've seen in the world!  

A full day there, time to get started.  I headed out to walk to the Aguille d'Midi cable car, very famous and spectacular.  The new man at the hotel gave me directions and said it was a 7 minute walk...well after 30 minutes, uphill, on a main mountain road where construction was forcing me to actually walk in the road, I turned around.  I got to a realtor business and kindly asked them to call a taxi.  The cost was exorbitant, but that was the only choice at that point.  I arrived at the cable car and the line wasn't too long.  There were two choices, to go to the first stop, or all the way to the top which I estimated at close to 12,000 feet.  I decided that the first stop would be enough for me, and I don't regret that decision at all.  It was magnificent from where I stopped, my photos are breathtaking!  Apparently Chamonix is known for extreme sports and I would say, for me, that cable car ride was indeed an extreme sport!  Brave me wandered and then talked to a girl there alone.  She was from Australia and was going to paraglide down, a 20-40 minute experience depending on weather.  Extreme indeed...perhaps on my next trip!  :-)

I walked back to the hotel, asked directions and got a much better route and enjoyed the leisurely stroll through town to my hotel.  The town was bustling, even though it is between seasons, summer is over, ski season has not yet begun.  I had also researched other places to see in the alps.  The train to switzerland is closed for repairs, so I decided to venture out of town...felt brave again, and took the train to Argentierre and then a bus to Vannocine.  Perhaps my spelling is not correct, but both villages were quiet, nothing to do and little to see.  By this time, in the late afternoon, it was dark and cloudy, and I was a bit nervous in the bus on the icy mountain roads.  I got off in the second town with a 40 minute wait until the return bus.  I'd imagined wandering and photographing.  Well, the station where is been dropped off was far from anything and I took a few photos and then sat on a wet bench for most of the time waiting for the return bus.  Not a great plan, but I had seen more of the French alps.  And i was not alone, a darling little cat was following me and meowing.  I'd petted him a couple of times and decided not to go on the main road because he might get hit by a car.  So I sat on the bench, he hopped up and snuggled into my lap purring.  And there I was, in a very deserted location in the French Alps, cold and dark outside,  with a kitty snuggled up on my lap.  I guess there are worse ways to spend a half hour!  

Shortly before the bus was due to arrive some young men came up, with one of those beautiful white golden retrievers I want to take home someday.  The cat left...and the journey to return to chamonix began shortly.  The morning had been the highlight, but the afternoon was at least a different experience.  I chatted with a nice young man whose father as a ski instructor in another town, he said he had had enough skiing for the rest of his life, give him beaches and swimming and sailing!  Lovely young man, on his way to Chamonix to party with friend's, he told me like 'Saturday Night Fever'.  Cute.

I returned hungry so walked around town and decided on a place at had been packed at lunch.  I had a tarfeletta, well probably the spelling isn't right, another cheesy casserole dish, this one with potatoes and bacon.  The bacon here is not like our bacon, it is more similar to what is known as Canadian bacon to us.  Absolutely delicious.

(a note...I am writing this on the train from Paris to Amsterdam and we just stopped in the middle of nowhere...apparently a train ahead of us broke down so we will be sitting here at least an hour waiting...not how I would like to spend the time, but how glad I am that my flight isn't leaving until tomorrow morning, I try not to plan close deadlines, this is the perfect example of why not!  We are almost to Brussels, oh I was wishing I'd had time to plan a quick visit to Bruges. Then we go to Rotterdam and finally Amsterdam.  I'd hoped to shop for cheese there but now the store I hoped to visit will be closed.  Oh well, next visit.  It is so interesting here, when announcements are made, English is the third language announcements are given in, so everyone was gasping before I knew what had happened.  I guess this could be worse, at least we are not on the broken train and not out in the cold dark weather.  And so we wait...)

Back to Chamonix...I slept for a few hours and then spent another night waking up often and not sleeping much.  At least I was able to watch the snow fall thanks to the light outside my balcony.  The weather was so nice when I was there, just as I'd predicted, sunny and beautiful in the day, new snow falling at night to wake up to.  

The next morning I was picked up by the transfer service for my ride back to Geneva.  I planned a lot of time, so arrived with over two hours before my train left.  The shuttle dropped me at the airport, time to get another of the delicious Swiss chocolate tarts I'd had on the way there.  The airport is in France and switzerland, an interesting thing.  Then I got the train to the city center.

 I had time to see a few sights, so thought about putting my luggage in storage but then had another idea.  I went outside and got a taxi.  The driver only spoke French and swiss, but successfully I managed to ask how much it would cost for a 30 minute tour of lake Geneva and the old town.  

I actually have fun with the challenge of communicating in other languages.  How to say 30 minutes?  Well I took French about 50 years ago so I remember how to count to ten, sort of...so I 'parle-d' what I thought was 10...10 et 10 et 10 and pointed to my watch and said minutes, got it...Trente minutes...now lac lemon (geneva) easy, I'd read that name and now old town, a bit harder...I showed my hand low and said young then to me and said old, he laughed and got it...40 euros and he put my luggage in his very nice car and we were off on the short tour...so glad I did it, it is a city, but with some nice buildings, old and charming.  40 minutes went quickly, chatting and laughing, and soon I was back at the station, ready to head to Paris on the 3 hour train ride.  Time for a stop at the toilette...a dollar to go in!  Then all was well as I walked to the platform the train was leaving from...until I got there and there were signs and arrows because of construction, signs that led out of the station, around the block, into another entrance, down long corridors and finally to the train just in time!  Always, always, head to trains quite early, surprises may be there that can't be anticipated!  

(my train is now moving, backward to Lille, where we will take a different route, still expected to be an hour late to our destinations...problem solved.)

The ride to paris...Cows, cows and more cows...sheep and even two donkeys...Meadows, rolling hills, mountains, rocks and dense trees, small country homes and stately homes, old and new...all of this makes up the countryside scenery on my journey from Paris to Geneve and back.  The pleasure of train travel in Europe, at least on this clear day.  Paris bound...

(current train stopped again...rain on the windows, no announcement as to what is happening now...uh oh, everything shut off...can't be a good thing...10 minutes passed and we are reversing directions again!  Now headed back to Brussels, to arrive an hour and 15 minutes late, fingers crossed the rest of the trip proceeds without delay!...wait...we are stopped again, perhaps I'm correct in assuming we don't know what is going on!...moving now, but to be honest I'm so confused, I'm not sure which direction we are headed, but no announcement so I will assume still towards Brussels...). More to follow...

Paris AGAIN?...Mais Oui!

Paris AGAIN...Mais Oui!

Sitting on the TGV at Gare de Lyon, I have to wonder what new adventures await me at the other side of this journey.  A short trip, but as always I am making the best of the opportunity.   

Using miles to upgrade my seats gets harder and harder to do.  Less and less opportunities are available each time I try to use the miles.  This time, giving a 6 week window for travel, the only flights I could get was a flight into Paris, and home from Amsterdam 5 days later.  Many people would have passed up the opportunity because of the short stay, but I knew it was worth getting here, whatever the limitations.   And here I am...or was, I guess I should say.  

The train is now moving and I am heading to a new 'big adventure'.  I was content to spend four days in Paris and then take the train to Amsterdam.  I reserved a night at the hotel in Giverny and was looking forward to more time at the beautiful gardens there.  I've seen them in spring and summer and now I would have the opportunity to see them in fall.  And I was looking forward to seeing my friend the French artist there and to giving him a print of the photo of him painting that I took last visit.  That photo won me first place in the competition at my photo club, subject- happiness.  

However, as I am apt to do, I changed my plans.  I had the framework to plan within, but that was my only limitation.  And so I decided to add a new destination to this trip.  As much as I love paris, I love new experiences, so the research began.  How many times I've planned something and then wondered what in the world I was thinking as the trip came closer.  This is no exception.

Browsing through possible train travel ideas, I discovered a town in the French alps, Chamonix.  At first it seemed impossible to reach in a limited time, but as things do when they were meant to be, it worked out perfectly and at this moment I am on a fast train to Geneva, only 3 hours to enter a whole new world.  After a short time to enjoy Switzerland, I have a shuttle ride scheduled to take me back into France, for a couple of days in the French Alps, in the village of Chamonix, where the Olympics were held long ago.  

I was in Switzerland years ago with Cesar, it was the best birthday I've ever celebrated.  A walk in the Alps, Swiss fondue, two birthday cakes in two countries on my actual birthday, and presents...yes a birthday I'll never forget. And the beauty, the magnificent beauty of the Alps.  So how could I not take advantage of seeing the Alps once again, another part, in another country.  Beauty awaits!

But did this change of plans mean I had to forego seeing the beauty of fall in Giverny?  It seemed so.  A disappointment, but you can't do everything...or can you?  Continuing creative planning, I figured out a way to fit in a trip to the gardens.  Now they aren't easy to get to, but a plan took shape which seemed possible...

On my arrival into CDG airport, I went through customs, took a shuttle to the other terminal where the RER train left from.  With some help from a nice man from New Zealand, I met on the shuttle, I was able to get to the ticket office where I purchased my ticket into Paris.  When I arrived at Gare du Nord, we parted ways, and I crossed the street to my hotel.  It was too early to check in so I grabbed some things from my suitcase...my camera, the matted print of the artist and my day bag, and rushed out to be on my way to Giverny.   Monets fall garden awaited, and although I'd had only an hour's sleep on the journey across the ocean, nothing was going to stop me from my visit.  It was the only time I could fit it in, so sleep or no sleep, I'd squeeze in a trip to Giverny so another thing would be ticked off my list, fall at the gardens.  I found the train to Gare St. Lazarre, got there, walked the two blocks to the other train station, purchased a ticket for the train to Vernon and was ready to go, by 9:45...the plan worked and I made it!

The train was late, but when it arrived the busses were waiting to take all the people the rest of the way to Giverny.  A few more minutes and we were riding up the familiar road to the parking lot.  I recalled my first trip there, just over 6 years ago, what anticipation I had experienced. I could barely contain myself that first time I anticipated the arrival to the gardens.  Now it was a comfortable feeling, I knew what to expect, no less exciting, just different.

As I walked to the gardens, I realized that I had never doubted I would see Chris, the artist, but perhaps I wouldn't.  And I was carting around the 11 x 14 print still.  The weather was cool, a pleasant happening for me, but sprinkling.  What if it rained?  I hadn't thought of that possibility, and then I realized it wouldn't rain, those things don't happen on my trips...and other than a few sprinkles a couple of times, I was right.  

Walking up the road, i saw there was an easel and some paintings where Chris painted, but no Chris.  As I got closer he walked out, he'd taken cover in the rain, but it had stopped.  He saw me and smiled, I'm not sure he really placed where he knew me from at first but I reminded him of our time in the gardens in springtime and then I handed him the large padded envelope that contained his picture.  He loved it!  He was so touched and thrilled.  How happy I was that I had gone to the trouble to prepare it and drag it halfway around the world!  I could tell it is something he will always treasure.  We chatted and got caught up on the last few months...he had had a show there.  Then the amazing thing came up, it was his last afternoon there!  He was leaving to go to Grenoble for a show and to visit his mother for a couple of weeks, one more day, even an hour later, and I would have missed seeing him!  Isn't it strange when things work out that way, that well?  He said he would wait for me after seeing the gardens before he left, so I headed in.  I'd given him some of my cards of the gardens to give the gardener.  

The gardens were beautiful...flowers taller than me!  Rich colors and looking up to see them, against a blue sky (the rain had gone away), I was struck by the wonders in the world, the synchronicity of life.  How had everything come together just perfectly for this day?  Yes, I'd worked and planned for it, but so much more than me made it happen!  The gardens were lovely, but not like spring, which remains my favorite time to visit.  I strolled for about an hour, it was enough really.  There were few people so it wasn't packed, making it a pleasant visit.  

On my way out I saw the lady who is the caretaker of the home. She had been quite harsh with me because apparently I'd had the wrong ticket when I was in the gardens in the spring.  I had brought a card I'd made with what I thought was a love,y picture I took of apple blossoms in front of her part of the house, and as I was leaving, there she was by the exit.  She doesn't speak English, but I said excuse me and handed her the card and said it was for her.  She was aghast and kept questioning the gift..."pour moi"?  Oui, I replied, pour toi.  In very broken English she pointed to the windows of the part of the house she lives in and said she lives there.  I added with her cat.  She was obviously touched with the gift, many merci's and I think a smile at one point.  I left feeling happy that I'd seen her, she was obviously touched by the gift.  I smiled...

After a short goodbye to my artist friend I wandered back to the bus that would be the start of my journey back to Paris and finally to sleep.  Mission accomplished, I'd see the gardens in fall and delivered gifts from across the ocean.

Passions

Passions

Everyone needs a passion.  Life without one just isn't full.  Many people's passion is their children.  How lucky for those children.  Sometimes it will be family or work.  Mine was teaching, what a wonderful way to touch lives and the future.  I don't understand the passion for professional sports, but I don't need to, our passions are personal, as I feel our spiritual beliefs are.  And so my passion for travel is not up for judgement.  It is who I have become.  An  adventurer I never knew existed has introduced herself to me.  I like her.  She makes my life interesting.

If you are reading my blog you probably know me.  Perhaps not.  I was raised with an excessive amount of fear, my mother's way to keep us safe.  It worked. 

My fears no longer control me, but as I have said before, they continue as my constant companion.  It's okay, familiar...and comfortable.  As long as I don't give into them, it's okay they remain.

Life has been busy with a lot of stress...and as my busy time winded down, the anger over grand attempts to take advantage of me has slipped away and sadness and loneliness has crept in.  I was going day to day, nothing to look forward to, a loneliness that was overwhelming.  

When teaching, my life had purpose.  Now, feeling like a has-been, that satisfaction and fulfillment is history...or is it?  I decided to reach out and explore an organization I heard of that provides after school activities for homeless children.   Perfect!

I'd found a place I think I fit, and have an opportunity to touch lives once again.  In the midst of doing some shopping for them I was approached by a lovely Croatian lady and given the opportunity to tutor her daughter in math...a wonderful opportunity that came as a result of taking that first step back into the world of education.

Passions...sometimes they change, sometime they don't...travel has become my 'other' passion, one which I pursue with creative devotion.  I want to see it all, well at least all that I enjoy.  And I have not been disappointed, much.  

The world, fascinating people and delicious foods await.  And once again I've embarked on my pursuit of passion, leaving Colorado behind...

Skipping Ahead...

Life has been busy, as life sometimes is...

And although I hope to go back and fill in the details of my wonderful trip, for now I'm skipping ahead to present time...

Since my last blog entry...

I've had an incredible trip behind the scenes at a zoo in Minnesota, it would be hard to imagine my thrill at having a sea lion perform to my 'commands', feed a giraffe-one who sucked my hand into his mouth with the lettuce I was feeding him AND watching polar bear enrichment activites as they follow the same behaviors dogs too...fabulous experience!

And then there was new York, and my birthday trip up to Woodstock to see my cousin in 'Fiddler on the Roof'.  And another trip to see another cousin in a play in Dallas along with a visit with aunts and uncles and cousins.  And now...

European Adventure - Day 3

European adventure - day 3

Jet lag still effecting my sleep, was up most of the night, partly the jet lag and partly the excitement of seeing the tulips once again.  Was up early and went to the breakfast, very disappointing, but it did come with the room, so my expectations weren't high, good thing.  Some meats and cheeses and breads.  After breakfast I was able to take a nap before heading to the gardens.  The taxi arrived on time and I was at the gardens before the gates opened.  

I'd been spending a lot of time with several different people learning more about my camera, I wanted the best photos possible this trip, and it was time to learn more.  Couldn't wait to use my new knowledge!  I walked into the gardens and my heart just dropped.  The flower beds that had been so colorful the year before, we're still green, no tulips.  I talked to a lady in the cheese shop and she guaranteed that there were some tulips blooming further into the gardens.  The hyacinths were lovely, and filled the air with their delightful scents, but they aren't tulips.  There were more types of daffodils than I ever could have imagined, but the weren't tulips. Further into the gardens there were many tulip buds and some were open, but not many.  I wandered, sadly, photographing what I could, and being thankful that I'd seen the gardens the year before in full bloom.  It was an overcast day, and cold and windy.  I went to the windmill and it was a barren scene in the cold, last year there were crowds of people milling about everywhere, and that is where I met the two young, kind people.  There were people waiting for the whisper boats to take them on the canals through the tulip fields.  This year, just a handful of people about.

Luckily for most people I talked to, it was their first visit and they found it lovely, they had nothing to compare it to.  And it was lovely, just not with tulips. My friend, Jenny, went a week later and the hyacinths were gone, replaced by blooming tulips.  I'm glad she saw it in all its splendor, many arriving that late in the season, don't.

After wandering for a couple of hours, perhaps a bit longer, and taking a couple thousand photos, I headed back to the hotel.  Last year I took a nap and went back to the gardens, this year I'd seen all there was to see and decided not to return for the afternoon.  

Last year I'd read about the Pilgrim Museum in Leiden and my Scottish friend Jon had told me about the very nice antiquities museum too.  So I got directions and off I headed on the local bus.  Three days and three buses so far.  What an adventure, me and the Dutch people headed to Leiden.  I arrived at the main bus station and no one knew of the museum or even the address where it was located.  Finally two people told me where to take the bus that was close to that address.  The Portuguese lady was a visiting professor there and the most helpful.  Seems like I find kind Portuguese people everywhere.  I got off the bus and started my wandering and asking directions.  Leiden is a lovely little town, charming canals and  cafes.  Finally I walked into a bakery and asked where the museum was, I knew I was close.  A young lady in the bakery said she had just seen it a few days before and could take me there.  So we headed out and less than a block away she stopped in front of an old door, and said that was it.  I wasn't too sure about it and then the door opened and a young lady, perhaps college age, said that she heard us talking and I was at the right place, it was indeed the pilgrim museum.  Hmmm...so in I went.  I entered a small dark room,and after taking the admission donation, she told me the 'curator' would be back shortly, he was doing a tour of the house next door.  Then she proceeded to tell me that no pilgrim had ever been there!  I was expecting to go back to school with stories of where the pilgrims met in Leiden, but no.  She said that the large portrait over the mantle was one pilgrim who might, at sometime, perhaps have walked past the place we were.  Hmmm...

The room was small and had period pieces in it.  Things that were part of pilgrim life.  A tiny closet door opened to a bathroom, a toilet, similar to an outhouse indoors.  Soon the curator returned and was told I was a school teacher so he said he would show me which books were correct and which weren't.  He pulled out a couple of books by scholastic and said they were accurate.  He showed a couple of older national geographic books and explained why they were inaccurate.  And then he sat down and just looked at me.  I was waiting for a tour of the building next door, or something, but finally I realized I was done.  Strange feeling.  So as we sat and just looked at each other I said maybe I would head to the antiquities museum and he kindly offered to show me the way and took me to the corner and pointed the directions.  

So off I went, not terribly impressed with the pilgrim museum, but decided I was glad I finally found it, and at least I'd been in one of the oldest 'houses' in Leiden.  I walked quite a ways and asked directions along the way, so many helpful people there.  I arrived at the museum 10 minutes before closing and wasn't allowed in, but at least I saw what was in the lobby and browsed the gift store.  

I was leaving and asked directions to the closest bus stop and one of the young men working there said I should just walk to the main bus station, it was a lovely walk.  After some thought I decided the weather was nice, there was plenty of daylight left, so why not?  I felt so brave and like such a good traveler, and off I went.  Wandering on streets so far from home, so far from anything familiar, is truly exciting for me.  I savor the 'safe' risk, and take it all in as I wander.  After passing several restaurants advertising pancakes, I finally decided to choose one for a different pancake experience.  As I was reading a menu a hostess asked if she could help me, I said I was just seeing if there were any pancakes I would like,  she seemed quite put out with me as she replied that they had over 100 kinds so surely I could find one I liked.  Actually the problem wasn't finding one I liked, it was trying to decide which I wants out of all of the choices.  I sat down and had a delicious one, similar to the one the night before.  Loved watching the local people around me enjoying their pannenkoek, I felt much more the traveler than the tourist.  After enjoying dinner I continued on my journey through Leiden to the main bus station and after a short wait, I was headed back to Lisse.  

I was glad that was my last night to spend in that hotel.  I had dinner there, it came with the room and even though the reviews were not good for the restaurant, my dinner was delicious.  I went quite late since I'd had my pancake 'appetizer' and my hours were still a mess from the jet lag.  I made very sure that the front desk knew I needed a wake up call the next morning...wasn't too confident about it, but my alarm clock was broken, so I had to depend on them.

I had a taxi driver, the very nice man from a nearby town who I'd had last year, coming to pick me up at 8:30 the next morning to drive me into Amsterdam to catch the train to Brussels and on to Bruges.  I was going quite early, decided I'd feel better being near the station and I could put my luggage in a locker and wander there for an hour or two.  This was a splurge, but I knew I would be in good hands and looked forward to seeing him again.  And since my ticket was on a high speed train, I'd had to make a reservation for a reserved train and time, so I didn't want to miss it.  

And so I settled down for a nice nap, I didn't sleep long that night and spent hours awake reading.  I went to breakfast at 6:30 AM, and then made sure everything was packed and went back to sleep, AFTER calling the reception desk to be sure they had my wake up call for 8 AM scheduled.  No problem I was told...

Looking Back - Day Two

Home...Looking Back

I finished the former entry at home, time passes so quickly that it got away from me.  But I have to share the trip details, so I will keep writing...And perhaps you will keep reading...

So, after an afternoon and night in London, it was time to head to Amsterdam.  It was actually easier and cheaper to fly there than it would have been to take the Eurostar, so I was booked on a British airways flight.  It was the first time I've left from the new BA terminal at heathrow.  Beautiful terminal.  There were several choices for lunch, I didn't choose the restaurant that belongs to a famous Scottish chef, but the one I choose did have delicious fish and chips, so good choice to enjoy that before leaving england.  I would not be returning, my flight home was from Brussels, using miles to upgrade results in creative planning.  

Before having lunch I saw a very unusual sight, a young man had his hair and body died to look like a leopard!  Truly!  Hair bleached and body a light tan color and black spots all over...from his face and hair, down his arms.  It was so peculiar, I just had to talk to him.  I decided it wouldn't be polite to ask about the unusual look, so I discussed the restaurant menu with him instead, he seemed like a nice young man/leopard.  Ahh, travel and the experiences it brings into our worlds!

After enjoying my fish and chips I headed to the plane.  I ended up sitting to a fascinating man.  Unfortunately the flight is short, just over an hour I believe it was.  Well, the Dutch man and I started talking and he was delightful, and I have to admit it, very nice eye candy too.  He was returning to holland from Venezuela where he had been for two months with his girlfriend.  What a story he had.  I told him that Colorado was following holland since we had legalized marijuana.  What a conversation that was.  He told me there were so many problems with that and I shared that I was not at all for that even though I do consider myself a rather liberal person.  He said that for many years it wasn't politically correct to discuss the down side of the legalized pot industry but now people are coming out with the negatives and the country is having to face and deal with the problems.  Very interesting, and not so encouraging as to the direction we are headed.  

Then we got to the subject of travel and he explained that he had gone to school until he was 25 getting advanced degrees.  He said his brothers started working younger and made fun of him for being in school for so long.  He had a job making big deals for very big companies and at 37 he retired with enough money to live the rest of his life leisurely, traveling when he so desires.  Now that is a man I wish I could have talked to much longer.  I was flattered when he said he wished I'd been next to him on the flight over the ocean because I was so interesting to talk to.  Quite the conversation and I do wish we would have had longer and I'd have gotten his contact info, I think my future would be different with more advice from him, but that was not to be.  I did use a bit of his technique with my job when i got back and the two new schools were actively agreeing to pay me anything to accomplish what i offered, but the restrictions and visions and greediness of schools and the people who run them, put a stop to my success.  I didnt find out enough to be able to get past the reality of schools.  

This gentleman explained that he is a voracious reader and when he travels he ships books ahead.  He likes the hard copies, not the electronic books.  He said if he is reading an interesting book, he will very often fly to wherever it takes place to experience the setting in person!  Oh my!  Such interesting people in the world!  And travel is the way to meet many!  Later I wondered if his story was true, and I do believe it was, he looked the relaxed young retired man.

With some help, I found my way out of the airport to the correct bus stop for the bus to Lisse, Netherlands, where the famous keukenhof gardens are.  I was going to be there on the exact day I was there last year, and last year the tulips were in full bloom.  Now as the bus headed to Lisse, I was disappointed to see fields and fields that were brown and green, fields that were a palette of color the same time the year before.  A late winter prevented the tulips from blooming at that point.  There were some fields of hyacinths, huge pastel expanses of blooms, but that wasn't why I as there.  

Oh, I forgot to mention that to make this trip happen I had to lower my class of hotels along the way.  I do love luxury, but those days are gone for now and this trip was one of economy, 1,2 and 3 star hotels were the norm now.  It did take some adjusting on my part, but I did it.  And so this was my first lower hotel, and it was a far shot from the lovely one I stayed at there last year.  But the entire stay, including meals, 2 nights, and a ticket to the gardens was less than one night at the other hotel, this is the time for deals for me.  So with lower expectations I walked the block to the hotel from where the bus let me off.  Good thing my expectations were low, that is what was waiting for me.  The girl who checked me in was nice enough, but very overworked, she just couldn't seem to keep up with everything going on.  That hotel definitely needs to hire more people!  My room was only 3 doors down from the reception area.  I went in and got settled and then asked for a taxi to take me to the wonderful Dutch pancake restaurant I'd found on my last trip.  I couldn't wait to enjoy a dinner and dessert pancake again!  The taxi driver gave me his card to call his company when I was finished so I could get a taxi back.  I sat outside although it was a bit cold, and enjoyed the occasional person walking by or bike rider go past as I enjoyed a delicious bacon, cheese and veggie pancake.  Delicious!

It was quite cold by the time I finished so I moved inside to have my dessert.  My bananas foster pancake, with sliced bananas, liquor, ice cream, powdered sugar and whipped cream was divine!  I hated to finish it!  I think the belgian waffles might be replaced as the # 1 food in Europe for me!  As I was finishing the nice waitress called the taxi company and they said they would be there in 20 minutes.  Well after over 30 minutes she called again and they said a few minutes.  After another half hour another call resulted in being told they would be there in 10 minutes.  The taxi NEVER showed up!  That was a big problem because they were the only company in town and it was dark and the town empty and I was stranded.   Luckily for me, the kind owners felt badly for me and after they cleaned up, got ready for the next day, did the books, there I still sat so they offered me a ride to my hotel.  Thank goodness!  It was actually a delight to chat with them and when I got to my hotel I was livid with the company they use.  I was told there were no options there.  

I went to my room, set my alarm so I would be up for breakfast and at the gardens as they opened...and my little pink travel alarm clock I've had with me around the world was broken! The time stopped and there was nothing I could do.  And so, with a bit of sadness over losing my trustworthy little alarm clock, I called the front desk and asked for a wake up call.  Sweet dreams...and the end of day 2!

Looking back...

Heading home...looking back

What a two weeks it's been!  Seems like two months really, I'm exhausted, but content, I did almost everything I'd wanted to do and so much more!  The spontaneity I was able to enjoy added so much to the trip I'd planned.  There was a trade off, the time I would have spent writing was instead spent making plans as I went along.  It worked.  Thank goodness this wasn't the busiest time in Europe, so it was possible to get last minute reservations as I went along.  I do love that I took advantage of the time and extended my stay.  It wasn't a long time, but enough to see and experience a bit more along the way.

And now I am sitting on the plane home, for the final leg of my journey, the big adventure is over.  What mixed feelings I have, a bit of sadness that the adventure is over, but a pride of my accomplishments.  Traveling alone is no easy feat for me, but it works.  I've lived alone enough to be used to the freedom it allows me.  Commitments along the way get more difficult each trip. I know me well enough to know I have no idea when I will need to sleep, when my feet will wear out and I'll need to stop, when I won't feel well and need to spend some down time, etc.  Alone  means I don't inconvenience anyone, don't disappoint anyone, and don't push myself to follow anyone else's agenda.  

If you know me, you know how much I enjoy the free spirited way to live, and especially travel.  I do need to plan ahead, I need to know I have a place to lay my head at the end of the day.  I have learned I can solve problems that arise along the way, and if I can't I know I can find someone who will help me.  I like changing my mind, being open to experiences along the way.  I don't mind doing things that just might not make sense to others, if someone wants to judge me, they can.  No one has walked in my shoes, lived my life or been in my head.  My decisions make sense to me, right or wrong, they are my own.

Sharing this 'bit of me' might help make sense of the really not so 'crazy' things I do.  They make sense to me, and that is what matters when you journey through life alone.  At any time I would trade this freedom for a wonderful, loving relationship, but if that is not to be, you wont find me sitting home waiting for it.  And every now and then I cross paths with other like minded, usually, but not always, solo travelers, and it is always fun to share our adventures.

So now looking back, I'm hoping I remember the highlights, and there have been many!  What a trip!  I know my entries were sketchy, a little time here and there, and with no chronological basis.  Random happenings...now random no more...

My trip started a bit earlier than planned.  I was doing something I never do, making the entire trip in a day.  Because the overseas flight left at 10pm from DC, I decided to break my own rule and leave that same day from Denver.  I planned a 4 hour layover, which I felt would be sufficient, and better than spending the entire day in DC waiting for such a late flight.  Well, as my departure date got closer, the sequester started causing so many problems with cancelled and delayed flights.  So I decided the stress of wondering if I would make the connection was not worth it, and found if I called 24 hours before my flight and there was availability for the same ticket price, I could pay $75 to reserve a standby seat sooner.  At the right time I called and even though there hadn't been availability earlier, there was at that moment for me to depart at 6PM that night, so with just a couple hours notice, I was headed to the airport a day early, and had already reserved my room at the Marriott in hopes it would work out.  It did and I was able to relax, knowing all worked out.  The only problem was that the flight to London was an hour late due to the sequester, something easier to deal with, no more connections.

I have developed some travel patterns, and one is that I rarely ever book the advance payment rooms, too much can change, and the up to $20 that you save isn't worth it if plans change, which mine tend to do. I do purchase the nonflexible fares on trains though, they usually save a great deal of money and aren't so expensive that it upsets me to miss one or two along the way.  My own reasoning, others wouldn't agree I'm sure.  

I arrived in London, late, but no problem, no connections to make.  It was a quiet flight, no one chatting, which is more the norm than the exception.  I just loved the trip last year with my fun seat mate Dana, who made me laugh a lot.  We are still in touch and I always let him know how much I appreciated the trip with him.  He's now living in Hawaii, so who knows, maybe one day we will meet again.  But I regress, back to my arrival in London, oh, how i love to hear the British accents when I emerge from the plane.  Customs was a bit of a wait, but nothing out of the ordinary.  I retrieved my little suitcase and walked out pulling my two small suitcases, purple purse attached.  I always take a taxi to the hotel.  There is a bus that costs about 1/2 the price, but the 9 GBP isn't much for the ease of that luxury!  No hauling my own suitcases inside, or making other stops.  And as perhaps I've mentioned before, getting into one of the british taxis makes me feel like I've walked onto a movie set.  Before I knew it I was walking into my familiar renaissance hotel!

I don't have any love of the hotel, as I believe I've mentioned, but the concierge staff treat me like a VVIP and that warm welcome and care means a lot, especially so far from home.  The greeting was as wonderful as ever and I started up to the room and the handle on one of my little suitcases broke, it wouldn't go down!  First problem, and not a small one.  I couldn't travel around with that, so my afternoon turned into one of shopping for a suitcase instead of a nap and visit with a friend.  I was given directions to uxbridge, a town I went to by bus, so I would have some choices.   Before I knew it, i was on a city bus to Uxbridge, the first of many bus trips this time.  I believe it took longer than 20 minutes, but I was enjoying the experience of a local bus.  Many stops later I reached the destination and climbed off and started the luggage search. As I was walking i saw a little cafe offering belgium waffles, directly from belgium.  Well, why not?  So i stopped in and ordered a white chocolate caramel waffle.  Not the waffles i love from the street vendors in belgium, but something dipped in melted white chocolate and drizzled with caramel just has to be good.  So after that snack, much needed since I'd not eaten since breakfast on the plane, I started shopping.  No success, nothing I liked, so what was there to do?  Well, on my way to the bus stop I saw a pub that advertised the Best Fishh and Chips in England.  So I tried them, I have to say that I've decided that anywhere that advertises themselves that they have the best of something, just keep walking!  in every case the place is far from the best...lesson learned!

The trip back on the bus was much more interesting, it was time for the schools to be out.  At each stop, for several stops, school children of all ages climbed on.  Mostly teenagers, chatting animatedly with friends.  There were moms with their elementary aged children and babes in their arms.  Every child was wearing a uniform, something I wasn't used to.  I talked with some of the middle schoolers who were adorable.. They said they loved my accent, funny.  They explained that all schools require uniforms, public and private.  They had so many questions about America that it was fun to chat with them.  They were kind, respectful, and appreciative of all my information.  When they got off they kept looking back at me and waving.  I would guess that they shared the story of meeting the American lady on the bus too.

Arriving back at the hotel, no suitcase in hand, was disappointing.  I ended up buying a great purple one at their gift shop, which I later returned because it wasn't big enough.  While packing it I saw that the spring of the handle kept the metal peg from retracting, so I realized that if it was taped it would work.  So in the middle of the night after a nap, I went down to my wonderful concierge guys and the kid on duty got out the duct tape and taped the peg in.  Voila!  With care the handle would go down as long as no one pulled on it too hard.  I could then sleep and know I would be okay on my forward journey.  

In London I'd tried to call a friend but my cell phone wouldn't work.  The company I've used changed their global sim cards and apparently the new one doesn't work with my old phone.  I emailed back and forth and none of the solutions they gave me worked, so finally I resigned myself to the fact thT the only way I could communicate was by Internet or my Colorado phone with the roaming costs.  Two things broken, but the holiday continues...