European snippets

Munich - My first "wow" moment was landing at the Munich airport to see the Alps to the west.

My flight arrived at 7:30 a.m., I checked into the airport hotel and headed into town on the train. After a 45-minute ride, I made a quick stop in the subway restroom which was quite unpleasant and almost made me sick. Rushing up the stairs for fresh air, I turned and, "oh...WOW!" I don't know what I expected to see but right in front of me was the Glockenspiel, a very large, dark gothic (or baroque, I've already forgotten my art history terms) structure lined with stone sculpture and red flowers. Ahhh...this is what I love about Europe, such beauty in the old architecture. But the element that drew crowds, with cameras aimed high, were the little figurines that spun, as if to dance, to the whimsical music.  Oddly enough, the Glockenspiel was one of the attractions I didn't really "need" to see but so glad to have stumbled upon it.

Nuremberg - Perhaps I've watched too many episodes of Rick Steves but I simply must use the words "quaint little village". I suppose the City is really not that little but the old town was so charming. After viewing the named "Beautiful Fountain" in the square, I ventured to the castle up the hill. So many wonderful photo opportunities and found another "wow" moment when, arriving at the top of the castle to view out over the city with red rooftops just as I'd seen in travel photos.

Prague - Having checked in, my experiences have not yet been written. While waiting for the group dinner, I take advantage of the complimentary internet service to write this little snippet.

At the restaurant, we'll start with a welcome drink called 'Becherovka', the national drink once used solely for stomach ailments, and supposedly "tastes like Christmas". For the meal, 'Halusky' will be served, a traditional dish of ham, potatoes and cabbage, followed by roast chicken, a pork kabob and potatoes. For dessert, a glass of champagne and pancakes filled with fruit, ice cream and whipped cream will round off the meal. And if unlimited beer and wine was not enough entertainment, there will also be live folk music played with traditional instruments and costume dancing.

UPDATE: I've returned from dinner. May I just say that was one of the most fun evenings I've had, maybe, ever! On the bus ride over, the Tour Direction mentioned "you must do everything they ask whether it is singing or dancing the funky chicken. (This was an "oh, crap" moment. I do not do group interactives well.) Tip: Beware of the woman with the wooden spoon.

A special occasion

By today's end, I will have received a haircut, pedicure, manicure, lip wax, new clothes and exercise. Wedding? No. Graduation? No. Regular maintenance? No. Vacation! Granted, some of these things I do try to keep up with on a regular basis but there's something special about feeling your best while vacation.

Preparation for another world

International travel excites me like nothing I've found. I feel fortunate to have had opportunity to see a few amazing places. Each destination is its own adventure. And yet, with this upcoming trip, I feel nervous and unprepared.

Somehow Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary seem so much scarier than some of the places I've visited. Perhaps it's because I will be traveling by myself. Well, that is until I meet up with the tour group in Munich. I've not joined a tour group before so am not sure of what to expect. I'm hoping I will meet some great people to share the adventure.

However, as I prepare, my mind is stuck on the numerous things that could go wrong with luggage and currency. And, of course, I've heard all the stories about scammers and pick-pockets. Hopefully, safety in numbers will hold true.

I'm excited, don't get me wrong. And I'm also so grateful. I know I will see some beautiful things and enjoy the moments as they come.

For now, I'm just anxious to get there so I can relax.

My Grandma died today

I'm obsessing over the headline as it isn't feeling creative, emotional or gripping enough. I guess I'll stick with simple and to-the-point.

This morning, I was on my way to visit my ailing Grandma when I received the call that she just passed away an hour earlier. I kicked myself for sleeping in and enjoying that morning cup of coffee. In addition to that, I knew the Hospice workers predicted she would most likely be gone by yesterday. And yet, yesterday, I could not bring myself to go visit. I helped the Alzheimer's Association prepare for the upcoming Memories in the Making event and I even went for a hike. On the way home from that hike, I kept saying to myself "you should go", "you should go", "you should go". But I didn't.

And so today, when I got the call, my car was already headed in that direction so I kept on going. It wasn't that I wanted to see her in that state but I felt I needed to even though I couldn't explain why.

Arriving at the care facility, I knew my Aunt and Uncle were already there. I took a deep breath and I entered her room. Even though I had seen her two weeks earlier, I barely recognized her. She was so frail, so thin. She reminded me of an Auschwitz survivor.

Hospice workers were there, they wanted to know if any other family members would want to see her before they took her. It sounded like a cruel joke but I knew it wasn't. I called my brothers to ask the question. Neither wanted to view her, and I can't blame them.

But I sat there, with my Aunt and Uncle for over three hours while my Grandma lay on the bed at my knees.

But I feel so guilty. She's lived here for four years and I've only visited a handful of times. I've volunteered my time for strangers the past four years, but I wish I would have woven in more time for my own family. I know she must have been so lonely.

The past few months she was in a steady decline. The impact from smoking cigarettes for 50 years caught up to her. She had COPD which made it difficult to breath and she lost circulation in one of her legs which brought on gangrene. As a result, she was on a solid morphine diet the last couple of months.

Now, her suffering is over. She lived a long 96 1/2 years. And while I was never very close to her, she was my family. I love her and I will most definitely miss her.