Juneau, the Capital of Alaska

My day in Juneau is over. There is another hour but I'm back at the ship for the night. Well if you can call it night when the sun doesn't set until after 10PM, probably closer to 11PM here. A nice day in Juneau. First I took a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier, rather boring actually, but such a beautiful day it was nice to be out and take a little walk. The drive was nice, the bus drivers are delightful, quite an experience. That one told us about the state capital being one of only 5 in the country that don't have a dome. The post office is on the 3rd floor and then they found out it is against the law to have it above the 2nd floor so they renumbered the floors and now when you walk in it is the basement rather than the first floor, hence making the 3rd floor now the 2nd. He said Alaska just does whatever they want...hmmmm sounds like someone I know! Then after that mini adventure I went on a big yellow school bus to a salmon bake. I've been before and enjoyed the beautiful setting and delicious salmon. The most delightful lady drove that bus, she was my favorite person of the day. She was a school bus driver, quit and became a realtor in Georgia, lost her business, kids left and she decdied travel was her dream so she found a website with jobs around the country so she has been and done many things. This year she finally made it to Alaska so she brought her man friend with her from her last job. She said she is the only bus driver and they told her if she was single the odds here are good, 7 to 1, but the goods are quite odd, so she brought her friend. Well said! Cute lady and living her life to the fullest! So after the salmon bake I'm back on the ship and think I will pass on Libby Riddles presentation, I've seen it before. It was excellent but once was enough. So an early night tonight but tomorrow morning early I will be in Skagway and heading to the Yukon, following the gold trail...hope the weather is another beautiful day! Sweet dreams from Alaska!

Thar' She Blows!

Yes, to wake up to the sound of the ships naturalist saying "humpbacks ahead" is quite a thrill! Third time is the charm, two previous cruises and no whale sightings so this was going to be the time. However it wasn't that easy and the whales sighted from the ship over 200 yards ahead. And they didn't surface again. Far in the distance I sighted a fluke sticking out of the water, a thrill! I left my cabin twice and walked to the front of the ship twice, once on deck 7 and once on the top deck, no whales. Oh well,a fluke would do I guessed and went for breakfast. Came back to my cabin and was just gazing out at the gorgeous snow covered mountains on the beautiful day and happened to look down and ther was a whales back right next to the ship. He was so close that the naturalist probably didn't even see him! I grabbed my camera and am not sure I even got a picture before he was under the water and gone. Wow! What a thrill. Not another person was on their balcony anymore, guess he just came to say hello to me. As the ship moved ahead I could see the beautiful spouting behind the ship. What a beautiful way to be welcomed to Alaska!

Now I can only wonder what other wonders await in this rugged, beautiful landscape.

Life's Drama

Yes, life has been one drama after another since I returned from my European trip. First there was the dermatologist appointment where I had 14 precancer places frozen or cut off my face. I was a mass of bandaids. Then there was the info that the tooth I broke off in Bruges would need a $1500 crown and then...the information that I was being laid off due to lack of funding. That was the most traumatic of all! I love my job and the people I work with and the school and the kids. What a loss that was and I tried to hold on to the belief that better was to come. But as I face my hardest birthay yet, I was unsure what would be in store for me. And then I wrecked my car, an accident with a big cement pole in a parking garage that left my car front hanging off, light and all. The body shop bolted things together until I could get it in to be fixed. The verdict I came to was to get out of town. Travel is my solace and my escape from reality and it was just about time for that escape the universe was telling me.

I decided on Tuesday I needed a trip and started looking at cruises. Found out that since I am a travel agent there are some great deals out there so the first plan was to fly to London and cruise to Iceland. Then a friend said, "Really, with the erupting volcano?" Duh Mitzi, I thought! No need for more drama in my life so even though it would have been a fabulous trip and I know people who were also taking it, I decided that the stress, or worry about the potential stress would be too much at this point in life. So what about heading the opposite direction? That would be Alaska and it sounded like just the thing for me...drifting amongst the beauty of the Alaskan mountains. So on Wednesday I quickly booked a cruise that left on Sunday, or so I thought...I booked myself on the wrong ship, on the wrong day. I wondered why everyone on the blog was writing about the Saturday departure and woke up at 2AM on Thursday morning and thought maybe all those people weren't wrong and I was...and yes, I was on the wrong ship! So United airlines was great about changing my flight so I would be leaving early Saturday morning in time to be on the ship as it sailed away. I informed work that I would be finishing up on Friday rather than on Tuesday and frantically prepared for the trip.

Friday was my final day of my wonderful job but when I woke up that morning I had a feeling of peace, was it the upcoming cruise or something else? I realized that I would have my job, I just belong at this school and I couldn't imagine how or when but knew it was right. At lunch the principal saw me and asked me to walk with her and she nonchalantly said they had figured out how to put a salary together to keep me but I would be working part of the time in Northglenn for the new school and part of the time creating our integrated units for the corporation, a perfect job for me! Similar to what I've been doing, but no simple stuff, time to use my brain to create! I was shocked and wanted to cry at the good news! It is a long drive now but I will be with a lot of the nicest people and will still be spending time at the Aurora school so I will get to see my friends there too. Perfect!!

So now my mental health survival cruise had just turned into a celebration cruise, 24 hours after I booked it and less than 24 hours until I embarked on my journey! Yes, life does hold some wonderful surprises and when I get back I will begin work again!

This trip is so nice, sailing away on Princess is such a comfortable experience for me. There seems to be a lot of first time cruisers on this trip and I've chatted with some very nice people. Lots of stories to share but time is expensive and limited on this computer so some will have to wait.

My favorite is the conversation I had with the young man in the Princess Captain's Club office. They had me down as a new passenger, probably because of the last minute booking I made as a travel agent so I was meeting with him to clear things up. He is from Romania and no one was there so I asked him about Count Dracula and Transylvania and that was the start to the most interesting conversation. He is from Translyvania so knows all the legends about werewolfs and blood sucking vampires there. I love hearing these stories firsthand, a thrill of travel for me! So there was this real man who was Count Vladidraca, well something like that, and he didn't live in Transylvania, but in one of the other 3 kingdoms. He was bloodthirsty and said to have drank the blood of his enemies...a legend? Hearing the history and the stories he'd been told and knowing that garlic would repel all the evil from one who lived it was fascinating to me. Draka means devil in Romanian so Bram Stoker took the facts and legends and blended them and set it in Transylvania. He told me that the version done by Frank Ford Coppala was the most authentic story of it he has seen. Yep, guess that is on my list of movies to see now! I then of course had to ask him about the incredible stew I had at the Budapest Christmas market and then was told all kinds of stories about the stews he and his mother make, many with onions and paprika but with different flavors. It was a wonderful conversation and as people started waiting in line I left, but with the intent to go back and visit. He said he loved talking to me and sharing things about life in Transylvania, and what fun for me.

Yes the world is filled with interesting people and I intend to meet as many as possible, and all the while I will treasure this time to float and think and decompress from the last few months of pressure! Bram's fine, Meli is fine and now so is mom!

Sailing, sailing.....

Patience

Travel is so many things. It offers us so many opportunities, not the least of which is the opportunity to practice, or learn, patience.

When I left Denver Friday the flight was delayed, and then delayed again. I was on a time schedule because I hoped, and had planned, to arrive, pick up my rental car, and be at the cemetery before it closed. The delay made this look unlikely. The plane had arrived so I was curious why it was just sitting there. There is always something new to learn. The explanation was this: the crew is only allowed to work so many hours at a time which I knew. The plane arrived just late enough that if the crew had stayed on as planned they would have been 'illegally' working during our flight, being over the time limit so a whole new crew had to be called in. The crew arrived rather promptly I'd say and we were just over an hour late leaving.

I was so glad that I had only taken a carry on suitcase so there was no wait for luggage. Made it to the car rental center and got in the car and couldn't find the key for the car. Found something that was a remote but no key and then noticed a button that said start. Pushed it and it wouldn't start but eventually it did. My first experience with a push button starter. Finally I was on my way. After getting lost on the toll road I called my cousin for help and was soon headed back the right way. Patience! Luckily the hours must have changed and I arrived in time. It's been a few years since I'd visited so I'm glad it worked out. After that visit I went to see two of my cousins and we went for dinner at a wonderful barbecue place. I think it is hard to beat texas barbecue. After that yummy dinner we said goodbye and I was on my way to see another cousin who happened to be in Houston from San Antonio. Well I thought I would be on my way, but the car wouldn't start. It kept saying 'brake' on the dash, but I kept checking and te brake wasn't on. Patience! I went back up to the door and my cousins husband came out to help me. Evidently that brake message meant that I needed to have my foot on the brake to make the starter button work. Maakes sense now!

Had a nice time visiting with my cousin and then it was time to head out to find a hotel for the night. I was beyond exhausted and knew i would never make it to Galveston that night. Her husband was telling me about a nice hotel not too far away. Now I'm not sure you can even imagine how many hotels and motels there are in Houston. The one he was suggesting was a Marriott that wasn't too far away. As he described it, I realized he was sending me to the hotel where I had my huge wedding 33years ago. He hadn't been around then and had no idea! What were the chances of that recommendation? Another step into my past! Anyway I told him, id Been there and done that, keep thinking. I wanted to stay in a different direction, towards Galveston so we made that arrangement and the two of them were kind enough to lead me there, it was quite a drive but finally the long day was over!

After a good nights sleep I was leaving and asked a lady what conference was at the hotel and it was a doll conference. On the way out a door was open in a conference room and I peeked in and saw the most incredible dolls ever! I couldn't resist going in and had a personal tour of the handmade porcelain dolls that were incredible! People make the entire doll, porrceline faces, clothing, accessories and all. I have never been much of a doll person,but seeing these dolls created as dolls from around the world was truly fascinating! I'd never have imagined that people created such beauty that way. The faces and clothing were so amazing! There is so much to see and learn about in our world! May I never stop having these learning experiences! Well except for those patience learning ones...those are my challenge!

Time Travel

Imagine that in only 2 hours one can travel back 42 years! I tried it and what a trip! 42 years ago 7 high school friends graduated, said goodbye and headed different directions in life. On and off in the first few years they kept in touch but time and distance made the separation more permanent. Life continued...for 42 years.

A couple of the women decided that the 60th birthday year for the seven was a good time to reunite. Numerous emails begin circulating and in a relatively short time 7 friends had planned their reunion...in Galveston, Texas. Not far from Houston where they had shared their high school years. From Tennessee to Colorado and from Oklahoma to parts of Texas we all descended on Galveston Island, gifts, food and music in hand, for a trip back to our youth.

What could I expect after so many years? Some of us had become grandparents while others have no children, some married, some not. I arrived last, many other pieces to my first trip back to Houston in years had to be handled first. And walking into the condo was like walking back in time. Within minutes we were sharing stories, old and new, memories coming flooding back. Music, laughter and a beautiful setting took us back...and brought us forward. Stories happy,some sad, pictures of the past and present shared...7 friends together again!

Local friends brought so much food, combined with gifts, sweets - pralines from new Orleans, cheeses from Vermont, chocolates from Bruges, and more to make this weekend special. Hours spent reminiscing mingled with highlights of 42 years. Some of us have traveled the world, some of us have not. After a delicious lunch at the Mosquito Cafe we drove around and saw the rebuilding after hurricane Ike. Some beautiful new structures lined the streets next to destroyed homes never rebuilt. Old trees that had to be removed have been turned into sculptures in the yards. Stories of sadness of the devastation mixed in with our delightful memories. Life...

Wandering the strand was a great way to spend the afternoon in thankfully, a not too hot day. Before we knew it, it was time to head out for our birthday dinner. Gaidos, a famous seafood restaurant, is turning 100 this year and that is where we went to celebrate. Several of us had memories of eating there with our families long, long ago. We would drive all the way to Galveston on a Sunday for dinner. Not a pleasant memory,but with the comfort of an old memory. I was dressed in a sticky, fancy 'sunday dress' for the long ride to Galveston only to be followed by sitting quietly for a meal that took hours. We shared stories and enjoyed our celebration and the delicious food. I had the famous bisque, stuffed shrimp in bacon with a molasses sauce on brown rice. A friend and I shared a real baked potato, loaded, the way we eat them in Texas. The meal was over, but not the surprises. One friend had emailed a collage of our old pictures to a well known bakery and had a famous lemonade cake made with that as the decoration. This was quite possibly the best cake ive ever had!

A couple more hours and then the birthday day was over. Waking up on Sunday was bittersweet. Such a wonderful reunion was coming to an end, but what a celebration it was! With many hugs and promises to keep in touch, 7 friends left the past and returned to real life...a bit more connected, a bit more comfortable with our age and our past.

Thank you my friends for so many gifts to carry forward!

Ahhh....

Home, sweet home! After a 24 hour day, I arrived home last night, happy to have had a great vacation, and even happier to be home safe and sound! I haven't done the complete flight in one day in a couple of years and now I know why not, it is just too hard on me. Hopefully I will always have the time to break up the journey with a night's stay in the middle again. Makes a world of difference for me.

One of the first things I noticed is that when I sign on to write on my blog from home, the words are back in English now. Be sure when you go abroad you know the location of the words you need because they just might show up in an unknown language, such as Flemish. I do see how total immersion works though, even I was beginning to pick up some Flemish/Dutch words! Not that I was saying them correctly of course, but I was familiar with them. The two I almost got right were, "Goya morgan" with a few different sounds in there, meaning good morning. I also practiced the Flemish word for Bruges, Brugge, a lot. It is almost like burger but with a lot of rolling r's after the B. See, a language learner I'm not!

My withdrawal from frites and waffles has begun! Withdrawal from the chocolates...not so much since I brought those back with me, but that day will come too!

My hotel at the airport was a Sheraton and the reviews aren't all great online so I wasn't expecting much but a bed before the trip home. The room had a horrible smell in it, like a backed up sewer, or worse. I complained and was told the hotel was sold out so there weren't any rooms, I went back and insisted it was terrible and was told that housekeeping would check it out and then was told that they did and sprayed some spray and it was fine. Again I walked in and gagged. I thought about it for a while and decided that I was paying too much for that kind of odor and inconvenience and went down to demand someone come up and smell it themselves and if there were no other rooms available they could find me one somewhere else. Well that time I got a darling young girl from Portugal. She said they were indeed full, but I shouldn't have to deal with that so she offered me a room across the hall. I told her I wanted to be sure it didn't smell before I moved everything so she took me up and when I opened the door to my room she gagged and looked like she might just throw up and said something needed to be done! Yep, I'd say! The one across the hall was fine so I moved everything which was a pain, but worth it. I'd already started repacking for the flight home. Leave it to a sweet Portuguese person to make things better for me! Later I went to the airport to look around and pick up a big bottle of water for the night. I shopped around a little, but there wasn't a bit of room left in the suitcase so no buying was possible. Well I did purchase a couple of cat magazines that came with a box of kitty picture cards and everything was in French so I got one for each of our French classes. It was a tight squeeze, but I got them in. When I got back to the room and walked towards my room you could smell very strong scented spray! Pretty funny, but I bet it didn't get rid of the real problem, which I don't even want to imagine was going on. At least it wasn't my room anymore! Unfortunately the room was so hot that I had trouble sleeping but was so tired I didn't want to mess with calling down and having some technician come up and work with it so I discovered that a wet cloth helps keep me cool. Good info I'm sure.

I was up early and crossed the street to the airport. The plane was a bit late leaving but made up the time in the air so that was no problem. The flight was lovely, I was on a plane where the business class seats have been converted to make into beds and you have your own tv so that is a very nice way to travel for that many hours. I watched movies again and read and slept so that part of the journey was nice. After that it was not so nice.

But I arrived home safely and after flames coming out of my hair dryer I had a good night's sleep and although still exhausted, I did pick up my kids and we are all home together!

One more trip complete and what wonderful 'last trip memories' I have now!

OUT OF BRUGES

What could happen when you only have a couple of hours left in your dream destination. I was quite sure there would be nothing of interest to write about...however some may think that I really don't need anything of interest to write about, I just write...however...

I went down to breakfast at the hotel and the waitress came up to me and said, "You have been to Bruges many times, haven't you?" I looked at her blankly and said I had never been at that hotel before and she said, "No but I used to work..." And I was able to fill in that last word before she did..."at Lily's" and yes, that was right! Imagine, there I am at a hotel a fair distance away from there and a person recognizes me at a hotel breakfast. Trite but true, small world! So that is the story of the day, imagine my surprise at being recognized around Belgium!

The train ride was nice, a lovely young lady helped me with the platform information and helped me with my baggage. The interesting thing is that people here seem to love the opportunity to talk to native English speaking people to practice their English. Ilsa was sweet, she is studying to be a religion teacher for high school level students. She was telling me about an incident where a student told her he was gay in class. I was impressed with how she handled it and that led to a quite interesting discussion about the life of gay people in Europe and especially in her Catholic school. She craves travel but is with a man who does not like to leave home and she had many questions about travel. She is going to Ecuador with her 70 year old grandmother in a couple of weeks and her dream is to roll the dice and go to that platform and then roll them again to see what stop to get off at. Yes, we did exchange emails and I do think I will hear from her, interested in her roll of the dice trip to come.

I got off the train at Central station rather than change trains and platforms. I wandered and was asking a quite unhelpful man some questions and finally left there and then a girl came up an asked if she could help me. She helped me decide what to do. I was quite close to the famous Grand Place and she thought I should put my luggage in the locker and go see it. So we figured out how to work the lockers with a lot of laughing, even though she read French and Flemish she couldn't figure it out either. Finally we did and she thanked me for letting her help be because she was excited to get to use her English. She said she looks for every opportunity to talk to English speaking people to practice. She has taught herself and she did a great job. Meeting her was delightful and now I'm an expert at the lockers at the Central Bruxxels Train Station!

I wandered out with only my small camera, just couldn't unpack to get to the large one. Oh my goodness, the Grand Place was magnificent!! What a sight. I did miss seeing the statue of the little boy peeing that saved the city, or something like that. But the square was gorgeous. One of the foods I'd been told to try was mashed potatoes and veggies and meat. It wasn't served in Bruges but the pub owner had given me the name of a restaurnat in the Grand Place that served it. I saw the place and went in and had a very interesting lunch, it was delicious!

I passed a store of men's ties and thought it would make a great card so I went in to ask if I could take pictures. The salesgirl was sitting on a chair doubled up in pain and said I could but she couldn't help me because she was in so much pain from her period that she couldn't move. What information to share with a stranger. I told her about reiki and she said she would try it and from the minute I touched her back she said she could feel the heat going through to her abdomen and in about 5 minutes a customer walked in and she was up waiting on him and seemed fine and thanked and thanked me. How interesting that she was so open to that from a stranger and it helped so much.

After all these adventures I went out to see how much a taxi to the airport would cost. 40 euros seemed cheap for the convenience so the driver went back into the terminal with me and got my luggage and took it to the taxi. I asked about NATO so he took me by there. It was really cool to see the whole compound, from the outsdie of course. I saw other important buildings, the EU parliament, and smbsassador's homes.

And now I am at the Sheraton where I will spend a quiet afternoon reading before my big trip home tomorrow. I am going to do it all in a day which I havne't done for a long time. So soon, I will be home and this short little jaunt across the ocean will be over.

Thanks for enjoying it with me!