Our last exciting thing to do in Paris was to go to the Cabaret. You all know what a Cabaret is, don't you. Well, don't take your kids is all I have to say. We went to a grand ole' place built by the man himself, the creator of the Eiffel tower - Mr. Eiffel. It's the only other thing that he built. It was all metal and lights - just like the tower. We were pretty crammed in but that didn't stop anybody from seeing anything - or rather, everything. Okay, you're wondering about Gerhard aren't you all. As a matter of fact he was caught several times just studying how the stage and the building were put together until he had to be reminded that there were naked women up on stage with no clothes on. The sets, lights, costumes and dancing were just great and that's also true for the women. They were beautiful AND they all had great voices. Ha ha! among oher things...
We subwayed ourselves out of the city to the train station and then took the four hour train ride to Lahr. You'll never guess who we had been surrounded by at our end of the train car - middle school KIDS. AAAAHHHHH!
We are here in Lahr and are quite happy to be on our own again after spending time with so many people on the bus. Walking around Lahr, one of my old home towns, is like walking into the past and getting a second chance to see things all over again. When the Canadians left, Lahr was left in quite a quandry in that there were all these housing units with no renters and there were 10 000 less people in the town who were not putting their money into the economy. As I had mentioned earlier, at that time, the European nations were starting to allow many others countries to move in. The people of Lahr are not happy with the change of the Russians, Turkish and Africans immigrants. They have been putting a drain onto the system because they do not want to work or contribute. So many people have said to us just today that they wish the Canadians were back. We answered by saying that we did too.
Lahr has changed so much but it is still so beautiful. It smells of fresh lawn and flowers and has the beautiful sound of birds constantly in the air. The traffic is quite slow and minimal - even though the city boasts a whole new network of new highways and roundabouts. The core downtown area has been changed totally over into a no-driving zone and has been enlarged to include many more streets which are now permitted to have lane-cafes and restaurants. It knows what it has to do to bring in the tourists and it's on the right track.
We arrived yesterday and after stowing our luggage into our house-size room, we walked the 2.4 kms to the inner city and G had french fries with Lahr special Pommes Frites Powder all over them. We were so tired that we took the bus back - a newly created bus system and a new set of city buses.
Today we got up and walked to the next town, 20 min, and rented two bikes. We spent the day riding around Lahr and adjoining towns. We toured quite carefully the old Kaserne, or shopping and gathering compound for us Canadians when we lived here. It was then walled-in and topped with barbed wire. The buildings looked like old barracks and it was were the kids had school, where we shopped and lunched and where we met for public gatherings. It was our second home away from home and had become very important to the many Cdn families to gather and meet each other and to seem normal in a land that didn't speak English or have the same cultures.
When we left 17 years ago, the base and the airfield had fallen into ruin and had laid vacant for so long that the city kids had turned the compound into a grafitti place and dangerous playground. Finally, today we saw the bulldozers in there taking down the barracks readying the land for new growth. Just two of the old buildings were renovated and are quite beautiful. All the rest were too old to bother with. The kids gathering place which was their drop in, has been totally renovated and is very beautiful.
I took Gerhard around the entire city and he is quite impressed with the place. He now knows why the kids and I talk about it with such love and longing. The people who talked to us today, did so with tears in their eyes about how wonderful their time with the Canadians had been.
Tomorrow, we pick up our rental car - a smart car. Don't laugh - it's all that was left and yes, G does fit into it. We will take it to Germany's largest amusement park - EuropaPark. It's very close to here and the kids and I used to go quite often. I only hope that the school kids are too busy with their work to go too.
We are back to sunny and hot weather.
G is so impressed with being back in Germany again because here in this part of the world, he says, at least they cook their meat. How quickly he forgets that in Dusseldorf they tried to feed him raw pork burgers. I must remind him at his age about everything - at least he hasn't forgotten who I am yet.
Love to all, J and G
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Southern France
Wed. night after arriving in Cannes, we took the bus to Nice for the evening to walk on the beach and to head to a local inner city restaurant for a 4-course meal. We put our hands into the Mediterranean Sea and then walked along the streets of Nice. It's a very posh place but very much smaller than we had imagined. Thursday - Who told it to rain? Rain? That wasn't rain, that was the heavens opening up and giving us a bath. G and I went for a walk down the main street of Cannes - you know, the big one where all the stars going walking up the red carpet during the Cannes Film Festival. Well, don't get all excited before you know that it's a really small town, the beach area is quite small with mostly only hotel ownership and the hotels and shops along the beach could never deal with the likes of us "NORMAL" folk. As if telling us to get the heck off their rich property, it poured so hard that we both had soaked boots. We made if back to our hotel room, finally, and slept for 2 hours just to make up for the weather. Then, I held the room's hairdryer to the inside of our boots, especially mine, as that is the only footwear that I have with me. G wore his sandals today. The rest of the day we played cards, watched tv, wrote postcards, and just hung out with the rain puddling in around our wet clothes that were hanging out of our hotel room window. The rest of those who chose it, had gone on an extra excursion to a mountain town and then to Monaco. We didn't want to spend the money because we don't feel the pressure to see as much as the others cause we are here for so much longer.
Friday morning we took off for Lyon - aaahhh, but here's the clincher - who put the French Alps right in my way from Cannes to Lyon. Who said it was important to go the exact route that Napoleon took on his way to Paris. Was he nuts? Just cause he was afraid to run into any big places with a lot of people. Well, let me tell you that there wasn't a lot of people, there wasn't a lot of anything in the French Alps. Just mountains - oh yeah, and CLIFFS. Okay, first before we headed up, we visited a unique perfume factory and learned how things are made in the smelly part of France. We visited the town of Grasse which has one of only three perfume schools in France.
Then,,,,,,then.... we headed up - straight up. So up, as a matter of fact, that we ran right into a pile of snow and a left over glacier. We had wet roads for only a small portion of our drive and I kept wishing that loads of traffic would help slow our bus down but the driver, who was very good, seemed to think that he needed to drive beyond my limits. Let me tell you that I wasn't the only one who had had enough.
Tomorrow we head for Paris again. In the evening G and I are going to the Cabaret show and then will spend all day Sunday taking it easy walking around the city. We head for Lahr on the Monday train.
Toodles to all,
Aurevoir J and G
Friday morning we took off for Lyon - aaahhh, but here's the clincher - who put the French Alps right in my way from Cannes to Lyon. Who said it was important to go the exact route that Napoleon took on his way to Paris. Was he nuts? Just cause he was afraid to run into any big places with a lot of people. Well, let me tell you that there wasn't a lot of people, there wasn't a lot of anything in the French Alps. Just mountains - oh yeah, and CLIFFS. Okay, first before we headed up, we visited a unique perfume factory and learned how things are made in the smelly part of France. We visited the town of Grasse which has one of only three perfume schools in France.
Then,,,,,,then.... we headed up - straight up. So up, as a matter of fact, that we ran right into a pile of snow and a left over glacier. We had wet roads for only a small portion of our drive and I kept wishing that loads of traffic would help slow our bus down but the driver, who was very good, seemed to think that he needed to drive beyond my limits. Let me tell you that I wasn't the only one who had had enough.
Tomorrow we head for Paris again. In the evening G and I are going to the Cabaret show and then will spend all day Sunday taking it easy walking around the city. We head for Lahr on the Monday train.
Toodles to all,
Aurevoir J and G
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
On our way to the French Riviera
But first we have to stop at a few new places. First we stopped at a medieval walled-in town with little streets and shops to walk through. G went to the washroom outside of the town while we were waiting to go in and he walked right passed me, assuming that I was looking at him, and then we were separated. How? Don't ask me but I stood outside of the men's washroom waiting for him until I thought he had a problem and walked right into the men's room to find it empty. I found him about 35 minutes later.
We next went to Nimes which is a city with buildings dating back 2000 years. An old bull fighting arena still stands. This is now pretty close to Spain and only in this area is there allowed to be bull fighting in France. By the way, blue jeans originated from Nimes. It is because originally, a french man used to use blue denim to create sails for the ships, you know - denim "de nimes" "from Nimes" Very clever. The blue colour comes from the blue die which is the colour of Genoa which also means jeans. Such a story. G and I lunched on a step in the shade next to a 2000 year-old Roman temple.
Next we stopped for the night in Avignon. You know, Sur la pont, d'Avignon, on l'y danse, on l'y danse, sur la pont, d'Avignon, on l'y danse da da da. We walked around inside that walled city as well. We are heading out for supper in 10 minutes but not before we have a little aperitif of tonic water and cognac.
Tomorrow we head for the French Riviera and the beach. We have supper somewhere on the beach tomorrow and the next day G and I have the whole day to ourselves near the resort. Toodles, and we'll be sure to have some rose, an area speciality, for you all.
J and G
We next went to Nimes which is a city with buildings dating back 2000 years. An old bull fighting arena still stands. This is now pretty close to Spain and only in this area is there allowed to be bull fighting in France. By the way, blue jeans originated from Nimes. It is because originally, a french man used to use blue denim to create sails for the ships, you know - denim "de nimes" "from Nimes" Very clever. The blue colour comes from the blue die which is the colour of Genoa which also means jeans. Such a story. G and I lunched on a step in the shade next to a 2000 year-old Roman temple.
Next we stopped for the night in Avignon. You know, Sur la pont, d'Avignon, on l'y danse, on l'y danse, sur la pont, d'Avignon, on l'y danse da da da. We walked around inside that walled city as well. We are heading out for supper in 10 minutes but not before we have a little aperitif of tonic water and cognac.
Tomorrow we head for the French Riviera and the beach. We have supper somewhere on the beach tomorrow and the next day G and I have the whole day to ourselves near the resort. Toodles, and we'll be sure to have some rose, an area speciality, for you all.
J and G
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter Sunday and Monday in France
Quite a calm place, this France, on these two holidays. Literally, no one was out and around so that we had nearly every city that we ventured into quite to ourselves. Our tour director said that not very many people in France go to church any longer. Strange when there are so many huge cathedrals.
We visited a city called La Rochelle which is a port city noted for its involvement in the movie "U Boat." We walked the beach and along a special artist's display for Easter. It was the very first harbour where Germany would bring their submarines into the harbour for safety. The big tour for Sunday was our 2-hour visit to the Cognac region and town and the visit to the Hennessey refinery. We learned so much here and we got to view over 150 year-old stored barrels of their finest. We were lucky enough to have a huge taste testing session - all of which G and I enjoyed, however, we now know that cognac is, for us, to be taken with ginger ale. The country of France has been developing techniques to improve the sales of cognac because as the older population fades out, the newer people haven't been stepping up to fill in the gap of sales. People just don't like it. So, they've decided to create cocktails.
Easter Monday, after our tour around Bordeaux, we headed towards Sarlat, a medieval town - oldest buildings in France, and stopped for lunch. G and I walked the tiny streets and found a small restaurant because this area is known for its cuisine. So..... we tested ourselves on true Fois Gras. Shall I tell you how these French people create this delicacy? Well, it comes from ducks and their livers. But, and this is a big but, in order for their livers to get huge and full of fat enough to create a good fois gras, the ducks must be force fed continually to force their livers to grow. In order to force feed them, they shove a tube down their throats by jamming their heads into kind of cow bars, only for ducks, and then pour down the tube lots of things like corn and seeds. Terrible isn't it - let's boycott. Okay, okay, it was delicious but never again. We could just be duck killers.
On to Rocomadour, a town in the middle of nowhere and at the top of the world where it is said the servant man to the Virgin Mary is buried. They say that many miracles have befallen this place and iall of its houses are built into the side of the cliffs.
We are working our way around France and still have 7 days left. Off to drink some cognac. Kind of like force feeding our livers isn't it?
We visited a city called La Rochelle which is a port city noted for its involvement in the movie "U Boat." We walked the beach and along a special artist's display for Easter. It was the very first harbour where Germany would bring their submarines into the harbour for safety. The big tour for Sunday was our 2-hour visit to the Cognac region and town and the visit to the Hennessey refinery. We learned so much here and we got to view over 150 year-old stored barrels of their finest. We were lucky enough to have a huge taste testing session - all of which G and I enjoyed, however, we now know that cognac is, for us, to be taken with ginger ale. The country of France has been developing techniques to improve the sales of cognac because as the older population fades out, the newer people haven't been stepping up to fill in the gap of sales. People just don't like it. So, they've decided to create cocktails.
Easter Monday, after our tour around Bordeaux, we headed towards Sarlat, a medieval town - oldest buildings in France, and stopped for lunch. G and I walked the tiny streets and found a small restaurant because this area is known for its cuisine. So..... we tested ourselves on true Fois Gras. Shall I tell you how these French people create this delicacy? Well, it comes from ducks and their livers. But, and this is a big but, in order for their livers to get huge and full of fat enough to create a good fois gras, the ducks must be force fed continually to force their livers to grow. In order to force feed them, they shove a tube down their throats by jamming their heads into kind of cow bars, only for ducks, and then pour down the tube lots of things like corn and seeds. Terrible isn't it - let's boycott. Okay, okay, it was delicious but never again. We could just be duck killers.
On to Rocomadour, a town in the middle of nowhere and at the top of the world where it is said the servant man to the Virgin Mary is buried. They say that many miracles have befallen this place and iall of its houses are built into the side of the cliffs.
We are working our way around France and still have 7 days left. Off to drink some cognac. Kind of like force feeding our livers isn't it?
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Joan of Arc, William the Conquerer
Normandy is an amazing place. In a very quaint city we stopped to see the burn site of Joan of Arc. In it's place is just a plaque with flowers all around and beside it is an amazing church built in the shape of her helmet.
In Bayeux we stopped to visit the incredible 70 meter long tapestry created by Bishop Odo who was William's brother. It is a wonder how it makes one want to learn about history, which I have an unbelievably hard time with. So, after walking the 70 meters and listening to the tapes, AND, having Gerhard create a story for me and all the other people on the bus, I have a good grasp of the story line.
All along the Loire valley live people whose houses are entrenched into the mountain sides and have little holes in the sandstone for windows. The area is known for its wine and IT'S VERY GOOD. Tomorrow we will be tasting cognac. Then on to the Bordeaux for more wine - aawwhh darn!!
We were given these new listening devices to use while with our tour director and it is so funny to watch Gerhard try to put one of these things into his ear. The entire bus now knows about it because I couldn't stop laughing at how the listening pod of the ear piece only reaches the cartlidge piece of his ear. Poor fella, it's so hard being huge. People on the bus are now aware of how large he is and are watching him for the next thing as we've already gone through his having his big feet protruding down the aisle as his knees don't quite fit into our seats.
We are managing quite fine. Not to worry - we still believe we are Canadians, and, we are very proud of it.
Will continue when next we meet up with a computer.
j and g
In Bayeux we stopped to visit the incredible 70 meter long tapestry created by Bishop Odo who was William's brother. It is a wonder how it makes one want to learn about history, which I have an unbelievably hard time with. So, after walking the 70 meters and listening to the tapes, AND, having Gerhard create a story for me and all the other people on the bus, I have a good grasp of the story line.
All along the Loire valley live people whose houses are entrenched into the mountain sides and have little holes in the sandstone for windows. The area is known for its wine and IT'S VERY GOOD. Tomorrow we will be tasting cognac. Then on to the Bordeaux for more wine - aawwhh darn!!
We were given these new listening devices to use while with our tour director and it is so funny to watch Gerhard try to put one of these things into his ear. The entire bus now knows about it because I couldn't stop laughing at how the listening pod of the ear piece only reaches the cartlidge piece of his ear. Poor fella, it's so hard being huge. People on the bus are now aware of how large he is and are watching him for the next thing as we've already gone through his having his big feet protruding down the aisle as his knees don't quite fit into our seats.
We are managing quite fine. Not to worry - we still believe we are Canadians, and, we are very proud of it.
Will continue when next we meet up with a computer.
j and g
Some Corrections
Okay, I've read some of the blog that I did in a hurry and I found a couple of errors that I need to fix. Remember, don't repeat anything that I write because one doesn't know how much of my brain in working at any moment.
The Strasbourg story when there were riots. It wasn't because the mobs wanted to join the NATO, it was because they were pacifists and didn't want to belong to anything. They wanted France to remain isolated from the rest of the world and not take part in the wars of Afghanistan etc. Imagine, pacifists causing trouble. The mobs in Strasbourg caused an enormous amount of destruction including burning down an Ibis Accor huge hotel and several homes right in the middle of town. They wanted to get over the bridge into Germany to meet with Obama to tell him just what they thought about his wanting to take part in the world's business. There was so much hatred among the people; all of them wore face covers to not be seen and around 10 000 police tried to keep the town safe from their stupidity. Sound like someplace in our country?
The Strasbourg story when there were riots. It wasn't because the mobs wanted to join the NATO, it was because they were pacifists and didn't want to belong to anything. They wanted France to remain isolated from the rest of the world and not take part in the wars of Afghanistan etc. Imagine, pacifists causing trouble. The mobs in Strasbourg caused an enormous amount of destruction including burning down an Ibis Accor huge hotel and several homes right in the middle of town. They wanted to get over the bridge into Germany to meet with Obama to tell him just what they thought about his wanting to take part in the world's business. There was so much hatred among the people; all of them wore face covers to not be seen and around 10 000 police tried to keep the town safe from their stupidity. Sound like someplace in our country?
In Tours, France
Welcome to France - the rest of it I mean.
Okay, we've done Paris and have yet another day to do a couple of things which include a Cabaret Show. But now we have spent two wonder-filled days in Normandy. We visited such lovely towns as Rouen, Ammeranches, the beaches of D-Day - Gold and Omaha - not Juno sadly as this was the Canadian beach but there are only 4 of us of the tour and finally yesterday, we stopped for an overnight on the island of Mont St. Michel where a huge abbey stands reaching to the sky and only 49 people live there in a little village that lies at the bottom of the abbey.
We have had rainy weather for these past few days but on the day when we went to the American grave site at Omaha Beach, it was pure sunshine - it just sort of poked itself through for that time. The Americans have done a wonderful job preserving and presenting the space dedicated to the fallen soldiers during D-Day missions. Even the Jewish soldiers have a Star of David instead of a cross. It was very sobbering and totally moving. We walked and walked among their graves and did the respectful thing of at least reading their names. I picked some wild daisies and put them up against one soldiers star. The entire piece of land was given to the states by the French government. It stands to give all of its visitors a reminder of that time. It is, thankfully, a very popular stopping point for the world.
G and I stood on the British landing beach and looked out at the ocean of deep gray and couldn't even imagine how hard it would have been to struggle over the landing gear and then run the sand to land, only to be torn down by bullets.
A chance in a lifetime.
Yesterday, we stopped in several small towns, having a look at northern french lifestyles. We stopped in one city and went into the cathedral only to end up in the middle of Good Friday's service which was totally sung during the 14 stations of the cross. Beautiful again.
We are now in Tours for two nights. G and I will shortly take the train- a 5 minute trip - into the city center to walk for a bit. Some of the others have taken a bus trip to two castles which we didn't want to do. So the day is ours.
We are feeling somewhat mellow after all this stuff. Who would have known that our trip would have done this to us.
Love to all, J and G
Okay, we've done Paris and have yet another day to do a couple of things which include a Cabaret Show. But now we have spent two wonder-filled days in Normandy. We visited such lovely towns as Rouen, Ammeranches, the beaches of D-Day - Gold and Omaha - not Juno sadly as this was the Canadian beach but there are only 4 of us of the tour and finally yesterday, we stopped for an overnight on the island of Mont St. Michel where a huge abbey stands reaching to the sky and only 49 people live there in a little village that lies at the bottom of the abbey.
We have had rainy weather for these past few days but on the day when we went to the American grave site at Omaha Beach, it was pure sunshine - it just sort of poked itself through for that time. The Americans have done a wonderful job preserving and presenting the space dedicated to the fallen soldiers during D-Day missions. Even the Jewish soldiers have a Star of David instead of a cross. It was very sobbering and totally moving. We walked and walked among their graves and did the respectful thing of at least reading their names. I picked some wild daisies and put them up against one soldiers star. The entire piece of land was given to the states by the French government. It stands to give all of its visitors a reminder of that time. It is, thankfully, a very popular stopping point for the world.
G and I stood on the British landing beach and looked out at the ocean of deep gray and couldn't even imagine how hard it would have been to struggle over the landing gear and then run the sand to land, only to be torn down by bullets.
A chance in a lifetime.
Yesterday, we stopped in several small towns, having a look at northern french lifestyles. We stopped in one city and went into the cathedral only to end up in the middle of Good Friday's service which was totally sung during the 14 stations of the cross. Beautiful again.
We are now in Tours for two nights. G and I will shortly take the train- a 5 minute trip - into the city center to walk for a bit. Some of the others have taken a bus trip to two castles which we didn't want to do. So the day is ours.
We are feeling somewhat mellow after all this stuff. Who would have known that our trip would have done this to us.
Love to all, J and G
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
LAST Day in Paris
Guess what? You will never believe how cheap it is to eat at McD's for breakfast. Egg macmuffin, yogurt and berries, real espresso or cap, three, count 'em 3, special croissants and even freshly squeezed orange juice - all for only 4 euros. We ate there twice. Need to, eating out is outrageous here. All other times we groceried it and bought cereal, milk, fruit etc to stay healthy. Twice we ate at French restaurants and I had to save G from eating steak tartar. He sees the word steak and he goes nuts. Of course, we have been to quite a lot street-side cafes to sip wine and beer. It's the thing to do and somebody has to help the French economy.
We've been here for 6 days and have nearly covered the entire city center core area and three of the four compass points on the outside of the city as well. We've left off three city neighbourhoods to do on our two day return in two weeks. Some of the things we've done are: the chateau Versailles, the Louvre, Picasso's museum, both the Notre Dame and the Sacre Coeur, the huge shopping centre called La Fayette, the Opera House, the Vosges, the Bastille, the Arc de Triomphe, the Grand Arch, the Centre Pompanou, the Hotel De Ville, oh jeez, I can't keep going.
We actually ended up visiting the two churches at a time when a service was going on so we went to church - even communion, we listened to the sisters of Sacre Coeur carry the service through singing. What an awesome feeling to be in that church when a time-honoured tradition was being carried out. Our favourite areas are the Montmartre and Pigalle - a bit off the wall, I will agree - and our own area of Poissoniere was also very interesting.
We subbed in the metro throughout our whole stay. We did pay 28 euros each for a 5-day pass but we ended up using it way more than that after all was done. We walked approx 8 to 10 kms a day. I mean, we really did walk our butts all over Paris. We have seen riots, rights for health care gatherings, people being sniffed for drugs by huge shephard dogs, teenagers hauled over by the cops for bag checks and, yes, a multitude of vagrants and panhandlers. So sadly, we were watchers of one old man as he got himself up off the hot vent area from the exhaust of the subway, where he had spent the night. He toddled over to the puddle in the curb to take his shoes off and wash his feet. Later that day, we saw him drinking from a bottle of wine and eating garbage.
There are so many people in this city and still not enough housing to deal with them. The immigrant problem is more apparent now than 20 years ago but Europe knew back then that it was going to happen. They just haven't bothered to deal with it. Our hotel room was cleaned by a lady from Africa and she was so delighted when we would leave her french notes with money every day. It is such a statement when one can say that it is cheaper to live in a one-room dirty hotel than to live in an apartment.
We have been going straight out for so long that it was just today that we decided that we couldn't take any more waiting in lines to see something else. It happened after we had just left our pretend good hotel to move to our hotel that is chosen by our bus tour beginning point. This hotel is a 3 star but after the one we just left, which takes top marks for the dirtiest and sleeziest place that we've ever stayed in, this one feels like a 10 star. We even have a tub - not to mention a toilet. And, after you take a bath or shower, you ARE clean. Again, I did say it was cheap didn't I.
Well, we head out tomorrow for Caen and Normandy and to the beaches of Normandy. It's going to be cold - do you guys in Winnipeg hear me - cold, at least, oh I don't know, maybe 12. We really have had beautiful weather this past week - about 23 each day. I am feeling sorry for you guys though with the horrible winter that you have experienced. Hope it's over soon. We see that you are expecting 9 this coming week. See, we do try to keep abreast of all of your lives.
We've been told that we may not have good email connections in the next week, so if you don't hear from me, you must remember that I'll be in the wine Bordeaux region and sipping probably a bit too much.
Cheers,
Love J and G
XO
We've been here for 6 days and have nearly covered the entire city center core area and three of the four compass points on the outside of the city as well. We've left off three city neighbourhoods to do on our two day return in two weeks. Some of the things we've done are: the chateau Versailles, the Louvre, Picasso's museum, both the Notre Dame and the Sacre Coeur, the huge shopping centre called La Fayette, the Opera House, the Vosges, the Bastille, the Arc de Triomphe, the Grand Arch, the Centre Pompanou, the Hotel De Ville, oh jeez, I can't keep going.
We actually ended up visiting the two churches at a time when a service was going on so we went to church - even communion, we listened to the sisters of Sacre Coeur carry the service through singing. What an awesome feeling to be in that church when a time-honoured tradition was being carried out. Our favourite areas are the Montmartre and Pigalle - a bit off the wall, I will agree - and our own area of Poissoniere was also very interesting.
We subbed in the metro throughout our whole stay. We did pay 28 euros each for a 5-day pass but we ended up using it way more than that after all was done. We walked approx 8 to 10 kms a day. I mean, we really did walk our butts all over Paris. We have seen riots, rights for health care gatherings, people being sniffed for drugs by huge shephard dogs, teenagers hauled over by the cops for bag checks and, yes, a multitude of vagrants and panhandlers. So sadly, we were watchers of one old man as he got himself up off the hot vent area from the exhaust of the subway, where he had spent the night. He toddled over to the puddle in the curb to take his shoes off and wash his feet. Later that day, we saw him drinking from a bottle of wine and eating garbage.
There are so many people in this city and still not enough housing to deal with them. The immigrant problem is more apparent now than 20 years ago but Europe knew back then that it was going to happen. They just haven't bothered to deal with it. Our hotel room was cleaned by a lady from Africa and she was so delighted when we would leave her french notes with money every day. It is such a statement when one can say that it is cheaper to live in a one-room dirty hotel than to live in an apartment.
We have been going straight out for so long that it was just today that we decided that we couldn't take any more waiting in lines to see something else. It happened after we had just left our pretend good hotel to move to our hotel that is chosen by our bus tour beginning point. This hotel is a 3 star but after the one we just left, which takes top marks for the dirtiest and sleeziest place that we've ever stayed in, this one feels like a 10 star. We even have a tub - not to mention a toilet. And, after you take a bath or shower, you ARE clean. Again, I did say it was cheap didn't I.
Well, we head out tomorrow for Caen and Normandy and to the beaches of Normandy. It's going to be cold - do you guys in Winnipeg hear me - cold, at least, oh I don't know, maybe 12. We really have had beautiful weather this past week - about 23 each day. I am feeling sorry for you guys though with the horrible winter that you have experienced. Hope it's over soon. We see that you are expecting 9 this coming week. See, we do try to keep abreast of all of your lives.
We've been told that we may not have good email connections in the next week, so if you don't hear from me, you must remember that I'll be in the wine Bordeaux region and sipping probably a bit too much.
Cheers,
Love J and G
XO
Friday, April 3, 2009
Paris
We are now working from a french keyboard so it is finger watching and slow.
We took our TGV from Stuttgart to Paris. At 320 km per hour, Gerhard successfully went to the washroom, pissed into a hole 5cm big. Unfortunately, the speed sucked him out through the hole, onto the track and now I am on my own. Nothing but drama here in France. As we passed Strasbourg, a small city near the German border where we used to live in Lahr, 10 000 police were gathered to control the mobs trying to get into Germany for the NATO gathering in Baden. It is there where they want to confront Obama to help settle many issues. France is not part of the NATO group and the people want to be. We were acompanied by three police officers and one undercover cop on our entire 4 hour trip to Paris. Our train got slowed down but not stopped. Many people have been hurt as we watch it every day on TV. Also, as we get off the train in the east train stn, we are surrounded by policemen carrying submachine guns.
Our walk to our hotel was fine, close enough to be just a little exercise. Our hotel is another story altogether. We are again in the, what should we call it, the seedy area which we don,t mind but trying to sleep is, again, another story.
Our life continues to be interesting. Here in Paris, it is crazier than Gerhard with speed. Yesterday we sauntered along the Champs Elysees, the Concorde ring area and up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. You must be totally on your toes here. We were approached by a man who was picking up a gold wedding band from the ground and then asked us if it was ours. He tried to give it to us telling us that he was from Yugoslavia and that he had no use for it. He said that he was giving it to us in friendship and that it didn,t fit him anyway. We refused of course, after all, what would two millionnaire travellers from Canada need gold for? We told him to take it and sell it. He then pushed it into our hands and asked for 5 euros to help him buy his papers for the country. We pushed it back and turned away from him. What a scam.
We slept on the grounds near the Eiffel Tower and ate ice cream as we watched the 5 000 or so people line up to climb the stairs up to the top. I,ve done it once, in the winter when no one was there, but Ill be jiggered if I would do it again especially with a two hour wait for a ticket and 2 000 people on my tail. Later in the day we took a bus back to our hotel from the Eiffel Tower and nearly had an accident. We came so quickly to a stop that an older lady was thrown to the floor across my lap and then hit her knees onto the stairs as she went down. The bus was stopped, cleared out, and again we were on the street waiting for another bus. We did meet some nice people as we waited though. G again met another lady who spoke German. So he stood and spoke to her as I stood and spoke to an older French man.
When we returned to our hotel, we changed rooms because our heat wouldn,t shut off and the man couldn,t understand why we Canadians would want to sleep in a cool room. It was so hot that the edges of our paper was curling. I did say that it was a cheaper hotel didn,t I? It gave us memories of years ago when we stayed in London and our room had the hotel¨'s heating system in our closet. We called that room the B52 room. We call this room the sauna box. Ahhhh, life in Paris.
What to say about Paris === amazing, wonderful, living a dream==hope we survive it.
We took our TGV from Stuttgart to Paris. At 320 km per hour, Gerhard successfully went to the washroom, pissed into a hole 5cm big. Unfortunately, the speed sucked him out through the hole, onto the track and now I am on my own. Nothing but drama here in France. As we passed Strasbourg, a small city near the German border where we used to live in Lahr, 10 000 police were gathered to control the mobs trying to get into Germany for the NATO gathering in Baden. It is there where they want to confront Obama to help settle many issues. France is not part of the NATO group and the people want to be. We were acompanied by three police officers and one undercover cop on our entire 4 hour trip to Paris. Our train got slowed down but not stopped. Many people have been hurt as we watch it every day on TV. Also, as we get off the train in the east train stn, we are surrounded by policemen carrying submachine guns.
Our walk to our hotel was fine, close enough to be just a little exercise. Our hotel is another story altogether. We are again in the, what should we call it, the seedy area which we don,t mind but trying to sleep is, again, another story.
Our life continues to be interesting. Here in Paris, it is crazier than Gerhard with speed. Yesterday we sauntered along the Champs Elysees, the Concorde ring area and up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. You must be totally on your toes here. We were approached by a man who was picking up a gold wedding band from the ground and then asked us if it was ours. He tried to give it to us telling us that he was from Yugoslavia and that he had no use for it. He said that he was giving it to us in friendship and that it didn,t fit him anyway. We refused of course, after all, what would two millionnaire travellers from Canada need gold for? We told him to take it and sell it. He then pushed it into our hands and asked for 5 euros to help him buy his papers for the country. We pushed it back and turned away from him. What a scam.
We slept on the grounds near the Eiffel Tower and ate ice cream as we watched the 5 000 or so people line up to climb the stairs up to the top. I,ve done it once, in the winter when no one was there, but Ill be jiggered if I would do it again especially with a two hour wait for a ticket and 2 000 people on my tail. Later in the day we took a bus back to our hotel from the Eiffel Tower and nearly had an accident. We came so quickly to a stop that an older lady was thrown to the floor across my lap and then hit her knees onto the stairs as she went down. The bus was stopped, cleared out, and again we were on the street waiting for another bus. We did meet some nice people as we waited though. G again met another lady who spoke German. So he stood and spoke to her as I stood and spoke to an older French man.
When we returned to our hotel, we changed rooms because our heat wouldn,t shut off and the man couldn,t understand why we Canadians would want to sleep in a cool room. It was so hot that the edges of our paper was curling. I did say that it was a cheaper hotel didn,t I? It gave us memories of years ago when we stayed in London and our room had the hotel¨'s heating system in our closet. We called that room the B52 room. We call this room the sauna box. Ahhhh, life in Paris.
What to say about Paris === amazing, wonderful, living a dream==hope we survive it.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Stuttgart and Esslingen
We have been to all of these places in the last week. What a round of travelling. Karlsruhe was the least exciting of them all but somehow Gerhard managed to, again, get us into yet another red light district. Drats on those 'mother hold onto your children' signs. This time, however, the road was filled with older ladies looking quite tired and each of them had a dog in the room with them. They didn't seem to be too interested in anything in the streets - least of all, us two. The road had a 6 inch-thick, iron gate to close in on the area. Seedy looking area I'll tell you. It didn't take us too long to get out of there.
In Karlsruhe, Gerhard also lost one of his crowns and so we had to find a dentist here and have it recemented. I'll let him tell you all sometime about his trip to the office. Now, he is trying to tell me that he is Agent 007.. Yeah, right.
We also took the train one day and went to Heidelberg and had a lovely time walking around that beautiful university town and drinking their wine. We visited the castle and just enjoyed the place.
We arrived in Stuttgart yesterday and immediately went out to find a place to eat. So imagine, we are in Germany and walk straight into a French restaurant to have a special meal, served to us by a frenchman, surrounded by only french people and eating a french crepe filled with turkey. It was great. After leaving here, guess where we found ourselves again? Yes, you are correct. In Stuttgart's red light district. How do we do this? We definitely have to stop getting ourselves lost. Not a collection of interesting girls??? selling themselves in Stuttgart either. Where are all the pretty ones from Amsterdam?
Imagine, last night we stayed out until 8:30. We feel all grown up. Today we set out to explore the city again and then jumped onto another train to go to Esslingen - one of the oldest towns in Germany. We have been having a great time here and are now looking for a place to have some wine. But first we found this internet place and thought that we should check in.
We head out tomorrow for Paris and are staying in a little dive place for next to no money. We will log on again when we find a suitable place.
toodles loved ones.
In Karlsruhe, Gerhard also lost one of his crowns and so we had to find a dentist here and have it recemented. I'll let him tell you all sometime about his trip to the office. Now, he is trying to tell me that he is Agent 007.. Yeah, right.
We also took the train one day and went to Heidelberg and had a lovely time walking around that beautiful university town and drinking their wine. We visited the castle and just enjoyed the place.
We arrived in Stuttgart yesterday and immediately went out to find a place to eat. So imagine, we are in Germany and walk straight into a French restaurant to have a special meal, served to us by a frenchman, surrounded by only french people and eating a french crepe filled with turkey. It was great. After leaving here, guess where we found ourselves again? Yes, you are correct. In Stuttgart's red light district. How do we do this? We definitely have to stop getting ourselves lost. Not a collection of interesting girls??? selling themselves in Stuttgart either. Where are all the pretty ones from Amsterdam?
Imagine, last night we stayed out until 8:30. We feel all grown up. Today we set out to explore the city again and then jumped onto another train to go to Esslingen - one of the oldest towns in Germany. We have been having a great time here and are now looking for a place to have some wine. But first we found this internet place and thought that we should check in.
We head out tomorrow for Paris and are staying in a little dive place for next to no money. We will log on again when we find a suitable place.
toodles loved ones.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Here in Almersbach
We arrived from our flight from Palma de Mallorca Sunday evening in Stuttgart. We took the train to Bachnang and then a taxi to Lili and Dieter's house and arrived there at 12:30 in the morning. They opened a bottle of bubbly and we stayed up until 2:30 celebrating. It was nice to arrive in some loving arms after our long trip south.
These people are lovely. They, as all of our other relatives have done here in Europe, have treated us as their own children and have accepted us into their lives as if we have only been gone for a few days. Gerhard has had a wonderful time talking, you all know how much he loves to do that. His german language is spectacular now and he and his relatives have come to know each other well through sharing. A time like this will never come again for several of these people by the time we are able to ever get back here. The world moves quickly and claims all of us and several of these loved ones are older and suffer from the world's illnesses. We share and love each other well with all of this kept in mind.
We leave already tomorrow to take the train to Karlsruhe for a few days, then Stuttgart for two days and then off by train to Paris for 6 days on our own before our 14-day bus trip starts for France.
We are well, no sicknesses as of yet, and are feeling quite alive. We miss you all and hope that the winter is treating you as well as it is treating us.
Love J and G xoxo
These people are lovely. They, as all of our other relatives have done here in Europe, have treated us as their own children and have accepted us into their lives as if we have only been gone for a few days. Gerhard has had a wonderful time talking, you all know how much he loves to do that. His german language is spectacular now and he and his relatives have come to know each other well through sharing. A time like this will never come again for several of these people by the time we are able to ever get back here. The world moves quickly and claims all of us and several of these loved ones are older and suffer from the world's illnesses. We share and love each other well with all of this kept in mind.
We leave already tomorrow to take the train to Karlsruhe for a few days, then Stuttgart for two days and then off by train to Paris for 6 days on our own before our 14-day bus trip starts for France.
We are well, no sicknesses as of yet, and are feeling quite alive. We miss you all and hope that the winter is treating you as well as it is treating us.
Love J and G xoxo
Impressions of Africa and Morocco
First of all, we've been told that pretty much what we've seen in Morocco, the rest of Africa is similar. Except for the happy made-up tourist places, but we know that those are not real.
Anyway, here goes!!!
The first thing that comes to mind is: 'What have we done to ourselves?' We will forever hold in our memories the visions of all things horrible in this country. Yes, there are some beautiful things, people, buildings, weather and new and exciting things to do, but, all of this is numbed next to the abject poverty and state of living. Poverty that 60% or more of people didn't ask for nor can get out of no matter how hard and tirelessly they work.
Hidden behind mud walls and beside the mud huts, concrete broken down buildings covered with rocks and tin for roofs with no windows stand beautiful mosques filled with gold and marble. Why aren't these places hidden behind high walls to hide them from sight? Because we were high up in a tour bus, we could see the deplorable situations behind the walls.
Animals, too, are treated with as little respect as the poor. Donkeys bear weight not fit for 4 and have their legs tied together so that can't escape. Horses stand for hours waiting for a chance to walk or trot. Too, we saw that their front feet were tied together.
The pathetic manner of these poor people draws at your soul as you are forced to refuse their goods because it becomes overwhelming and dangerous to accept them. They are desperate to sell you something they wouldn't have or need. The amount of personal space is assaulted with every step. If a motorcycle, car, donkey, or bike is not in your way, these sellers are constantly on your feet.
Being rude doesn't work, you must harden your soul and push on. Trying to ignore their existance. How sad is this for caring people such as we try to be. How sad is this land. How sad are we to have to behave in this way to fellow human beings. And the worst yet and the hardest to live with is 'How pathetic is it to be glad that we are no where near as desperate as they are and relieved that we can escape the madness.
We leave this place with heavy hearts not able to take any more. We leave with many questions of how can a place like this exist.
Did we have a special time of our lives here? Yes. We have learned so much with which we will carry for the rest of our lives. Would we ever return to this land? No.
Anyway, here goes!!!
The first thing that comes to mind is: 'What have we done to ourselves?' We will forever hold in our memories the visions of all things horrible in this country. Yes, there are some beautiful things, people, buildings, weather and new and exciting things to do, but, all of this is numbed next to the abject poverty and state of living. Poverty that 60% or more of people didn't ask for nor can get out of no matter how hard and tirelessly they work.
Hidden behind mud walls and beside the mud huts, concrete broken down buildings covered with rocks and tin for roofs with no windows stand beautiful mosques filled with gold and marble. Why aren't these places hidden behind high walls to hide them from sight? Because we were high up in a tour bus, we could see the deplorable situations behind the walls.
Animals, too, are treated with as little respect as the poor. Donkeys bear weight not fit for 4 and have their legs tied together so that can't escape. Horses stand for hours waiting for a chance to walk or trot. Too, we saw that their front feet were tied together.
The pathetic manner of these poor people draws at your soul as you are forced to refuse their goods because it becomes overwhelming and dangerous to accept them. They are desperate to sell you something they wouldn't have or need. The amount of personal space is assaulted with every step. If a motorcycle, car, donkey, or bike is not in your way, these sellers are constantly on your feet.
Being rude doesn't work, you must harden your soul and push on. Trying to ignore their existance. How sad is this for caring people such as we try to be. How sad is this land. How sad are we to have to behave in this way to fellow human beings. And the worst yet and the hardest to live with is 'How pathetic is it to be glad that we are no where near as desperate as they are and relieved that we can escape the madness.
We leave this place with heavy hearts not able to take any more. We leave with many questions of how can a place like this exist.
Did we have a special time of our lives here? Yes. We have learned so much with which we will carry for the rest of our lives. Would we ever return to this land? No.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Our Impressions of Africa
Sorry, can't do it right now. We are far too emotional over this country to put it onto this page and have it make sense. We will need some time.
Left Morocco Today
To ensure that you don't get the days out of order, you will need to go back a few postings and read what's been up with us since day one of Africa.
Our tour guide did tell us that driving through Morocco was a lesson in contrasts. The farm land and agricultural growth is pretty green right now because it's winter and warm but not too hot to grow. In the summer and 45 degree heat, everything dies. Marrakech turned out to be another city of rich get rich and poor get poorer. We stayed in a beautiful hotel, a 5-star for Africa, which had a nice pool for G to swim in and a swing beside it for me to watch him from. We toured the center city market place, again with a guide, and visited a herbalist and spice shop. We walked through a crazy stream of shops and allies where we were jostled by more donkeys, bikes, motorcycles, cars and yet again, more poor people trying to sell their meager wares. The area is really called a "sook" and is unbelievabley crowded. We were set off on our own for a bit and Gerhard really wanted something to snack on. We headed towards this wonderfully looking nut food stand tents and bartered over some walnuts. We started to eat them and were really enjoying them because they come from the country and were cracked and ready. After I had ordered some almonds and started to also eat them, Gerhard had found some worms and bugs in the walnuts. Needless to say, both bags hit the trash.
We continued to walk around and ventured upon some snake charmers, monkey tamers, story tellers, musicians and all sorts of other entertainers trying to make a living by getting you to watch and partake in their area. We headed back to the hotel to walk a bit and later in the evening, we and another sweet couple took a horse and buggy ride for an hour through the city streets. It was a nice way to end the visit to Marakech even though the buggy driver, a dear old man with no teeth, kept, in our ears, squeezing the horn at all his buddies along the way to show them that he had a fare and that he was so proud.
We also visited Casablanca - and you can save your breath on this one because it's not worth the trouble. Pretty dirty city with only the second largest mosque in the muslim world to boast about. Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, was also visited and in this city we visited a musoleum and the king's palace.
Today, we drove back to Tangier and waited quite some time to get through customs. We had to empty all of our luggage out of the bus so that we could get checked properly but, more importantly, our bus was to be inspected. Indeed, our bus driver and the police found some Moroccan men stowed away under the bus hanging on for dear life. We picked them up just outside of the docks. All was cleared but it did take us over an hour to get back underway.
We drove in yet again another mountain to Granada - a beautiful city in Spain. Mostly a vacation spot near the beach. We will go to see one of the most famous palaces tomorrow but right now I can't remember the name. Heading back to Madrid tomorrow.
Our tour guide did tell us that driving through Morocco was a lesson in contrasts. The farm land and agricultural growth is pretty green right now because it's winter and warm but not too hot to grow. In the summer and 45 degree heat, everything dies. Marrakech turned out to be another city of rich get rich and poor get poorer. We stayed in a beautiful hotel, a 5-star for Africa, which had a nice pool for G to swim in and a swing beside it for me to watch him from. We toured the center city market place, again with a guide, and visited a herbalist and spice shop. We walked through a crazy stream of shops and allies where we were jostled by more donkeys, bikes, motorcycles, cars and yet again, more poor people trying to sell their meager wares. The area is really called a "sook" and is unbelievabley crowded. We were set off on our own for a bit and Gerhard really wanted something to snack on. We headed towards this wonderfully looking nut food stand tents and bartered over some walnuts. We started to eat them and were really enjoying them because they come from the country and were cracked and ready. After I had ordered some almonds and started to also eat them, Gerhard had found some worms and bugs in the walnuts. Needless to say, both bags hit the trash.
We continued to walk around and ventured upon some snake charmers, monkey tamers, story tellers, musicians and all sorts of other entertainers trying to make a living by getting you to watch and partake in their area. We headed back to the hotel to walk a bit and later in the evening, we and another sweet couple took a horse and buggy ride for an hour through the city streets. It was a nice way to end the visit to Marakech even though the buggy driver, a dear old man with no teeth, kept, in our ears, squeezing the horn at all his buddies along the way to show them that he had a fare and that he was so proud.
We also visited Casablanca - and you can save your breath on this one because it's not worth the trouble. Pretty dirty city with only the second largest mosque in the muslim world to boast about. Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, was also visited and in this city we visited a musoleum and the king's palace.
Today, we drove back to Tangier and waited quite some time to get through customs. We had to empty all of our luggage out of the bus so that we could get checked properly but, more importantly, our bus was to be inspected. Indeed, our bus driver and the police found some Moroccan men stowed away under the bus hanging on for dear life. We picked them up just outside of the docks. All was cleared but it did take us over an hour to get back underway.
We drove in yet again another mountain to Granada - a beautiful city in Spain. Mostly a vacation spot near the beach. We will go to see one of the most famous palaces tomorrow but right now I can't remember the name. Heading back to Madrid tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Last Day in Fes and 1st day in Marrekesh
Two nights ago we went to a typical Moroccan dinner and entertainment evening. We had food that I would say was "unexplainable" - in other words, we didn't know what we were eating. Good though! We were walked back into the maze of streets into the medina again and into a small palace where we sat at tables about us to our shins with little poof chairs that leaned forward. People would take pictures of Gerhard because he was so squashed into his place that he couldn't move.
The entertainment was music by a male band - loosely speaking, 5 different belly dancers, a magican, male dancers and another set of singers and dancers. It was a very different experience - one that was really set up to satisfy the male portion of society - go figure. Gerhard wasn't really too excited about it because they kept coming into the audience to pick on him as he was right in the way and looking pretty conspicuous. On our way back to the hotel at 11:30 that evening, we ran across a lorry that was smoldering in flames on the road that we had to take so we had to turn the bus around and try to find another way to our hotel. All in a day's life here in Africa.
We left the next day to drive a very long way - yes, through the middle Atlas mountains - up, down, through, around and between them all. We drove for 11 hours with stops in between because we had to make it to the west coast to Marrakesh for our next stop. The drive ended up making several people ill on the bus because it was nothing but switchbacks and one-lane highways something akin to our little dirt pathways we would make for our dinky cars. Dust was everywhere. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you that my aim is pretty good. Found this out when we keep stopping for "comfort breaks" as they like to call them, and we women head off to the washrooms. Not bad I guess for a 51 year -old but it sure would be nice to rest while going. Good thing my knees are okay when squatting.
The land was quite different than we expected. Very lush forest and plenty of growth for agriculture. The government has several cooperatives delegated to the land to ensure food for their world. But...the towns and the villages, and even the cities, are filled with nothing but hovels. Mud huts, tin homes, concrete building with no doors and windows and people everywhere. It's so hard to describe the state of these people's lives and have you understand exactly what the country is all about.
Marrakesh is something else again. Yet again different from Fes and Tangier. It is filled with opulence and is the place of rich and important people's holidays. Our hotel is a 5-star with pool and spa treatment areas and bar with band etc . Bikes, motorbikes, donkeys and feet all mingle together in a mess of honking horns and shouts. We took a city tour in the morning today, a tour that was full of still more smells, sights and people than is possible for one to handle. I am so overly stimulated that I just need to sit for a bit in a quiet place. I'm pretty tired of telling people to go away.
We walked through the little alleyways and stopped into a herbalist and spice store and had an introduction to the African way of healing. We then were walked to the old city center where, again, many stalls were lined up selling goodness knows what. We watched snake charmers, story tellers, henna artists, and monkey tamers try to get us to stop and watch and take a picture so that we would have to pay. It's all very sly but legal and tricky. Every corner is filled with bartering and if you don't barter and watch your money, you will be taken for a pretty coin. G and I have a very special solution to this problem. We just haven't bought anything. It's junk anyway.
Oh yeah, we did buy walnuts but,,,, they were full of worms. So the almonds that I bought as well went the same way as the walnuts.
Tomorrow we head out to Casablanca for a short trip and for lunch and then head to the capitol Rabat. We stay overnight there and then head back to Spain to Granada. We have done quite a bit of driving this trip but it was necessary in order to get in and around the ancient roads of Africa. G and I knew that we would never have come here if not for a bus trip and, while we are glad to have come and be here and to have learned so much, we, or rather I, will be glad to arrive back onto the European Union land once again. It's far too depressing for me to spend such a long time here. One good thing for sure is that all Moroccan's speak French. It's their second language.
Off to wash the sand and dirt. J
The entertainment was music by a male band - loosely speaking, 5 different belly dancers, a magican, male dancers and another set of singers and dancers. It was a very different experience - one that was really set up to satisfy the male portion of society - go figure. Gerhard wasn't really too excited about it because they kept coming into the audience to pick on him as he was right in the way and looking pretty conspicuous. On our way back to the hotel at 11:30 that evening, we ran across a lorry that was smoldering in flames on the road that we had to take so we had to turn the bus around and try to find another way to our hotel. All in a day's life here in Africa.
We left the next day to drive a very long way - yes, through the middle Atlas mountains - up, down, through, around and between them all. We drove for 11 hours with stops in between because we had to make it to the west coast to Marrakesh for our next stop. The drive ended up making several people ill on the bus because it was nothing but switchbacks and one-lane highways something akin to our little dirt pathways we would make for our dinky cars. Dust was everywhere. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you that my aim is pretty good. Found this out when we keep stopping for "comfort breaks" as they like to call them, and we women head off to the washrooms. Not bad I guess for a 51 year -old but it sure would be nice to rest while going. Good thing my knees are okay when squatting.
The land was quite different than we expected. Very lush forest and plenty of growth for agriculture. The government has several cooperatives delegated to the land to ensure food for their world. But...the towns and the villages, and even the cities, are filled with nothing but hovels. Mud huts, tin homes, concrete building with no doors and windows and people everywhere. It's so hard to describe the state of these people's lives and have you understand exactly what the country is all about.
Marrakesh is something else again. Yet again different from Fes and Tangier. It is filled with opulence and is the place of rich and important people's holidays. Our hotel is a 5-star with pool and spa treatment areas and bar with band etc . Bikes, motorbikes, donkeys and feet all mingle together in a mess of honking horns and shouts. We took a city tour in the morning today, a tour that was full of still more smells, sights and people than is possible for one to handle. I am so overly stimulated that I just need to sit for a bit in a quiet place. I'm pretty tired of telling people to go away.
We walked through the little alleyways and stopped into a herbalist and spice store and had an introduction to the African way of healing. We then were walked to the old city center where, again, many stalls were lined up selling goodness knows what. We watched snake charmers, story tellers, henna artists, and monkey tamers try to get us to stop and watch and take a picture so that we would have to pay. It's all very sly but legal and tricky. Every corner is filled with bartering and if you don't barter and watch your money, you will be taken for a pretty coin. G and I have a very special solution to this problem. We just haven't bought anything. It's junk anyway.
Oh yeah, we did buy walnuts but,,,, they were full of worms. So the almonds that I bought as well went the same way as the walnuts.
Tomorrow we head out to Casablanca for a short trip and for lunch and then head to the capitol Rabat. We stay overnight there and then head back to Spain to Granada. We have done quite a bit of driving this trip but it was necessary in order to get in and around the ancient roads of Africa. G and I knew that we would never have come here if not for a bus trip and, while we are glad to have come and be here and to have learned so much, we, or rather I, will be glad to arrive back onto the European Union land once again. It's far too depressing for me to spend such a long time here. One good thing for sure is that all Moroccan's speak French. It's their second language.
Off to wash the sand and dirt. J
Monday, March 16, 2009
More on the city life
I'm back. I had to get help with the cord.
Our walk through the town was slow and meaningful. The walkways, not streets really, were cobbled, falling apart and extremely small. You could put your arms out and touch the sides of each building on either side. Along the sides were many small shops full of things that I've never seen before - for example, snails crawling around in baskets for you to buy, bark to chew on, open dried fruit just covered in flies and bugs, and a multitude of wares used by the people. Shop keepers were mostly men as the women were the ones who made or gathered the merchandise to give to the stores for sale.
The streets were dark because the sunshine couldn't make it in between the aisles as the buildings were too close together. The amount of people was astounding. Some were dressed in gowns but some were also wearing normal attire. Only the Arabs wear the gowns and hats or hoods. Following us everywhere and popping up out of the corners were the street dwellers and sellers who try to get you to buy for want of a better word - a second class item compared to the stuff in the stores. Most don't take no for an answer. I was lucky as I had Gerhard, who towers above them as you now know, and he seemed to ward off the would-be sellers around me. When I left his side or backtracked to see something, they were all over me.
In and around these small spaces were donkeys, truly burdened with too much stuff, trying to get around the crowds. This is why the screaming out of the words is important.
The smells are incredible, the amount of items for sale is unheard of and the feeling of hope for a sale from the merchants is more than one can stand. Several times throughout the walk, we were taken into special stores to learn about the craft. After this, of course, you were given a chance to buy the wares. G and I are pretty good at saying no to anything for sale but the women of this trip, mostly Americans and a few Aussies were buying up the whole city. In our carpet factory/home, for instance, one of the Aussies bought a 2000 dollar carpet. Ouch.
We went to a leather tanning outfit - small really but which gave many men a job, and watched as the men were standing and stomping in big vats full of die in order to give all the hand-polished leather a different colour. All day they stomp and walk in the liquid, not water by the way but a drying agent, with tiny shorts on. There are other men who place the leather to dry way up on top of the roofs of the buildings to be in the sun and yet others who take the wool from the sheep and do the same thing. I can't tell you how horrible it all smells - similar to feces, so that the owner gives the people pieces of mint leaves to help you breathe as you view the process. Our guide wouldn't even go in.
All around the area the homes and buildings are crumbling, the land is dry dessert-like and the heat brings up the smells until you just have to get within proximity to smell it. All in all. the people all around us seem to be perfectly happy and it was only us that thought something was amiss.
And we seem to walk around saying - these people don't know what they are missing but I think it's probably the other way around. We are too full of perfect lifestyles to even ponder being okay with living like this.
Pondering yet again about life in Canada.
J
Our walk through the town was slow and meaningful. The walkways, not streets really, were cobbled, falling apart and extremely small. You could put your arms out and touch the sides of each building on either side. Along the sides were many small shops full of things that I've never seen before - for example, snails crawling around in baskets for you to buy, bark to chew on, open dried fruit just covered in flies and bugs, and a multitude of wares used by the people. Shop keepers were mostly men as the women were the ones who made or gathered the merchandise to give to the stores for sale.
The streets were dark because the sunshine couldn't make it in between the aisles as the buildings were too close together. The amount of people was astounding. Some were dressed in gowns but some were also wearing normal attire. Only the Arabs wear the gowns and hats or hoods. Following us everywhere and popping up out of the corners were the street dwellers and sellers who try to get you to buy for want of a better word - a second class item compared to the stuff in the stores. Most don't take no for an answer. I was lucky as I had Gerhard, who towers above them as you now know, and he seemed to ward off the would-be sellers around me. When I left his side or backtracked to see something, they were all over me.
In and around these small spaces were donkeys, truly burdened with too much stuff, trying to get around the crowds. This is why the screaming out of the words is important.
The smells are incredible, the amount of items for sale is unheard of and the feeling of hope for a sale from the merchants is more than one can stand. Several times throughout the walk, we were taken into special stores to learn about the craft. After this, of course, you were given a chance to buy the wares. G and I are pretty good at saying no to anything for sale but the women of this trip, mostly Americans and a few Aussies were buying up the whole city. In our carpet factory/home, for instance, one of the Aussies bought a 2000 dollar carpet. Ouch.
We went to a leather tanning outfit - small really but which gave many men a job, and watched as the men were standing and stomping in big vats full of die in order to give all the hand-polished leather a different colour. All day they stomp and walk in the liquid, not water by the way but a drying agent, with tiny shorts on. There are other men who place the leather to dry way up on top of the roofs of the buildings to be in the sun and yet others who take the wool from the sheep and do the same thing. I can't tell you how horrible it all smells - similar to feces, so that the owner gives the people pieces of mint leaves to help you breathe as you view the process. Our guide wouldn't even go in.
All around the area the homes and buildings are crumbling, the land is dry dessert-like and the heat brings up the smells until you just have to get within proximity to smell it. All in all. the people all around us seem to be perfectly happy and it was only us that thought something was amiss.
And we seem to walk around saying - these people don't know what they are missing but I think it's probably the other way around. We are too full of perfect lifestyles to even ponder being okay with living like this.
Pondering yet again about life in Canada.
J
Life in Morocco - the city of Fes
Fes is titled the spiritual capital of Morocco. Lots of mosques, muslim and the palace. We ate typical Moroccan fair for last night's supper and this morning's breakfast. Tonight we head out again for a special restaurant in the old town and for some entertainment. We had our Medina (old town) tour by bus and on foot this morning until 1:30 pm. Such a thing in my life I will never see again.
First of all, coming across the country was a very sad statement for the poverty of this 3rd world country. People live in hovels, pull their water out of community wells and still ride and use donkeys for their plowing and hauling. We couldn't take our eyes off the destituteness of it all. It tugs at your heart. I felt like jumping off the bus and rescuing the children. Some mothers have up to 12 children and yet they work all day in the fields tending to crops. 60% of the people still live in the country growing food for the population. It was Sunday so we had a very good chance to see how the families spend their holy day. Lots still worked in and around their praying time.
We climbed mountain after mountain, yes, you heard me, yet more mountains - my favourite. However, after seeing the state of life for these people, a simple mountain could not bother me here.
The Medina or the center of the city where most business is carried out was our destination this morning. We had a lesson on a few Moroccan phrases to learn before we could go into the tangled, crowded area. Our guide, a Fes inhabitant, said that it took him 20 visits with a guide himself before he didn't get lost in the area. We were very carefully watched.
The phrases we had to lea;rn were: balack balack - listen for it to be yelled. If it is heard the third time, it's too late. A bloody big donkey is riding up your ass. Today i used it myself to move one of my group out of the way for a man with a cart.
The other word in Ls Shokron which means No Thankyou. This is needed in order to get the merchants off you as they try to sell their wares all over your body. Will continue my memories after I plug in.
Later
j
First of all, coming across the country was a very sad statement for the poverty of this 3rd world country. People live in hovels, pull their water out of community wells and still ride and use donkeys for their plowing and hauling. We couldn't take our eyes off the destituteness of it all. It tugs at your heart. I felt like jumping off the bus and rescuing the children. Some mothers have up to 12 children and yet they work all day in the fields tending to crops. 60% of the people still live in the country growing food for the population. It was Sunday so we had a very good chance to see how the families spend their holy day. Lots still worked in and around their praying time.
We climbed mountain after mountain, yes, you heard me, yet more mountains - my favourite. However, after seeing the state of life for these people, a simple mountain could not bother me here.
The Medina or the center of the city where most business is carried out was our destination this morning. We had a lesson on a few Moroccan phrases to learn before we could go into the tangled, crowded area. Our guide, a Fes inhabitant, said that it took him 20 visits with a guide himself before he didn't get lost in the area. We were very carefully watched.
The phrases we had to lea;rn were: balack balack - listen for it to be yelled. If it is heard the third time, it's too late. A bloody big donkey is riding up your ass. Today i used it myself to move one of my group out of the way for a man with a cart.
The other word in Ls Shokron which means No Thankyou. This is needed in order to get the merchants off you as they try to sell their wares all over your body. Will continue my memories after I plug in.
Later
j
Morocco Style
Hello from Morocco. Good thing that this hotel has a computer because I need to get this down before it becomes just a memory and not a reality any longer.
We drove yesterday for many hours crossing the country from Tangier to Fes. Four people actually got sick in the back of the bus from the bumping and jostling on the small, broken up roads that we had to take. Morocco only has two main highways and we weren't on any of them.
This country is a place of contrasts. Tangier is said to be the armpit of the country yet that's the place where the ferry dis and embarks. I actually found that Tangier was a pretty little city but it is said that it can be uite a rough place to be because of the port and the beach areas. We seemed to get through the crossing and back on the bus with no problem but as we were driving towards Fes, just outside of Tangier, 5 boys of ages 10 to 12 started to run around the bus while we were at a stop light. Turns out two of those 5 jumped onto the back of the bus and hitched a ride with us. We were going over 100 km/hr and yet they were holding on for over 30 minutes until we finally stopped on the side of the road and shooed them off. Our Moroccan guide told us "Don't worry, this is normal." It seems that they hitch often trying to hide themselves on the buses that are about to cross over to Spain and enter illegally to escape their country. The rest of us were quite worried about their safety and yet the guide said, "If they fall off, it will be their own fault." All this and only 10 minutes on the road. He said that on our return is when we really have to watch for them because they will hide themselves in the luggage area or by hanging onto the undercarriage of the bus. I felt like I was back on one of my trips to the Eastern Block of Germany. It was pretty unnerving.
During the night, in our hotel room, we had a little visitor who left remnants of his meals in the bathroom. Parts of the ceiling asbestos were falling onto my face, bed and luggage as I slept, I had a tubby this morning that was tepid and I had let the hot water tap run full blast the whole time and... and this is the best part of all..... the toilet seat is not functioning so when I sat down, my bottom fell right into the bowl. Needless to say, I needed another tubby. Well, things are surely interesting here for what they call a 4-star hotel.
We drove yesterday for many hours crossing the country from Tangier to Fes. Four people actually got sick in the back of the bus from the bumping and jostling on the small, broken up roads that we had to take. Morocco only has two main highways and we weren't on any of them.
This country is a place of contrasts. Tangier is said to be the armpit of the country yet that's the place where the ferry dis and embarks. I actually found that Tangier was a pretty little city but it is said that it can be uite a rough place to be because of the port and the beach areas. We seemed to get through the crossing and back on the bus with no problem but as we were driving towards Fes, just outside of Tangier, 5 boys of ages 10 to 12 started to run around the bus while we were at a stop light. Turns out two of those 5 jumped onto the back of the bus and hitched a ride with us. We were going over 100 km/hr and yet they were holding on for over 30 minutes until we finally stopped on the side of the road and shooed them off. Our Moroccan guide told us "Don't worry, this is normal." It seems that they hitch often trying to hide themselves on the buses that are about to cross over to Spain and enter illegally to escape their country. The rest of us were quite worried about their safety and yet the guide said, "If they fall off, it will be their own fault." All this and only 10 minutes on the road. He said that on our return is when we really have to watch for them because they will hide themselves in the luggage area or by hanging onto the undercarriage of the bus. I felt like I was back on one of my trips to the Eastern Block of Germany. It was pretty unnerving.
During the night, in our hotel room, we had a little visitor who left remnants of his meals in the bathroom. Parts of the ceiling asbestos were falling onto my face, bed and luggage as I slept, I had a tubby this morning that was tepid and I had let the hot water tap run full blast the whole time and... and this is the best part of all..... the toilet seat is not functioning so when I sat down, my bottom fell right into the bowl. Needless to say, I needed another tubby. Well, things are surely interesting here for what they call a 4-star hotel.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Seville, Spain
Seville is one of the southern cities, 700 000 people, where the 1992 Expo was held. Just like Montreal, you can still visit the expo pavilions and such which were built on an island right in the middle of the river that runs past the city. The city was first lived in by the Moors or the Muslims. Today we walked, slowly I might add because it was 30 degrees, into the city center and toured around the old buildings and sites. There is still a Moorish tower dated to the 1100's which we walked up 40 flights to get to the top. There, was a 360 view of the city (and a bunch of breathless people). Attached to it is the huge catholic Cathedral built after the Muslim church was torn down when the city was taken over by the Spaniards. This church is the third largest Christian church in the world. I don't know what the other two are but I'm sure I'll find out. The church is astounding, opulent, and too large. It doesn't give one the feeling of a quiet presence that you feel in many other large cathedrals. But.... it does hold some of the remains of Christopher Columbus - one of the most revered people here in Spain.
Yesterday we arrived here around 5 and headed straight to our room for a siesta. After our nap, we ate and then took the bus to our flamenco dancing show. 11/2 hours later and we don't know why those ladies and gentlemen haven't got smashed kneecaps. They can move, I'll tell you that, and they put so much passion and feeling into what they are doing. You know belly dancers and big bellies?....well, it's the same for flamenco dancers and big butts. It doesn't, however, stop them from moving and the Spanish men just love it. We had a terrific time.
Another story about Gerhard: Well, today as it was 30 and yesterday when we arrived it was between 28 and 30, Gerhard decided that he should dress as he does at home. You know, plaid shorts, t-shirt, long hairy leg with sandals. Oh, don't forget the Tilley hat and the fact that he is about 12 inches taller than inhabitants here. Well, as you know, it is still winter for these folks here in Spain and they are still (and probably always are) dressed in their European slacks, white shirts, sweaters and heavy shoes. Some of the ladies still wear coats. I am also dressed in jeans, shirt and carrying my sweater for the shadowy streets. I have never seen so many Spaniards stare and snap their heads back at one person before. He might as well have been naked. He said that he could only have been more conspicuous if he was painted neon yellow. One good thing - I could always find him in the crowd.
j
Yesterday we arrived here around 5 and headed straight to our room for a siesta. After our nap, we ate and then took the bus to our flamenco dancing show. 11/2 hours later and we don't know why those ladies and gentlemen haven't got smashed kneecaps. They can move, I'll tell you that, and they put so much passion and feeling into what they are doing. You know belly dancers and big bellies?....well, it's the same for flamenco dancers and big butts. It doesn't, however, stop them from moving and the Spanish men just love it. We had a terrific time.
Another story about Gerhard: Well, today as it was 30 and yesterday when we arrived it was between 28 and 30, Gerhard decided that he should dress as he does at home. You know, plaid shorts, t-shirt, long hairy leg with sandals. Oh, don't forget the Tilley hat and the fact that he is about 12 inches taller than inhabitants here. Well, as you know, it is still winter for these folks here in Spain and they are still (and probably always are) dressed in their European slacks, white shirts, sweaters and heavy shoes. Some of the ladies still wear coats. I am also dressed in jeans, shirt and carrying my sweater for the shadowy streets. I have never seen so many Spaniards stare and snap their heads back at one person before. He might as well have been naked. He said that he could only have been more conspicuous if he was painted neon yellow. One good thing - I could always find him in the crowd.
j
Friday, March 13, 2009
Spain or Portugal?
We pick Portugal. It's way prettier - a bit more like Greece with all the pure white houses and red roofs. Both places are very mountainous - as a matter of fact, Spain in the second most mountainous in Europe after Switzerland. The people are friendlier in Portugal although both countries only grow shorter people. We also find them quite a bit more sophisticated in P probably because years back the government decided to spend a lot of money educating and creating a more world-sense public. Most speak English.
The number one employment area for both countries is the tourist trade. Without us, the countries would suffer. I say if they care about us that much, they should create more toilets somewhere.
Their way of life is odd for us. Some parts are very nice - like the way they take so much time to relax and enjoy the day and each other. But other parts, for example, the way they are used to having no privacy, the way they are used to living in filthy environments ( at a restaurant they just throw their napkins and junk all over the floor), the incredible amount of time they spent traveling amongst each other to get from one place to another. This is what it is like to live in a place where space is a premium and land is small plus, there's packed into this small land, more people than can be expected.
I guess what I'm saying is that Canada is great!!
We've met so many wonderful people in the last month and a bit. People from all places, people from all walks of life. Each and every one of them is making an impact on the stories of our lives and we are thoroughly enjoying that impact. Even though we didn't feel lucky to have taken this trip because we had planned for it for 5 years and saved and borrowed and gave up things for it and luck had nothing to do with it at all, we are beginning to feel incredibly lucky to have such a diverse and interesting world to be a part of.
We will be heading to Morocco in a couple of days and we know that this particular part of Africa is pretty strict and sometimes backwards so we may not get to a computer unless our hotel has one. As a woman, I must keep my shoulders and upper arms covered and, I must go and ask again, but one of my hands I must not touch anything with. One hand is filthy and the other is clean. Hmmmm! I could be in trouble. These days, with all the new stuff around me, I can't keep a thought in my head for more than a minute.
Love to everyone, J
The number one employment area for both countries is the tourist trade. Without us, the countries would suffer. I say if they care about us that much, they should create more toilets somewhere.
Their way of life is odd for us. Some parts are very nice - like the way they take so much time to relax and enjoy the day and each other. But other parts, for example, the way they are used to having no privacy, the way they are used to living in filthy environments ( at a restaurant they just throw their napkins and junk all over the floor), the incredible amount of time they spent traveling amongst each other to get from one place to another. This is what it is like to live in a place where space is a premium and land is small plus, there's packed into this small land, more people than can be expected.
I guess what I'm saying is that Canada is great!!
We've met so many wonderful people in the last month and a bit. People from all places, people from all walks of life. Each and every one of them is making an impact on the stories of our lives and we are thoroughly enjoying that impact. Even though we didn't feel lucky to have taken this trip because we had planned for it for 5 years and saved and borrowed and gave up things for it and luck had nothing to do with it at all, we are beginning to feel incredibly lucky to have such a diverse and interesting world to be a part of.
We will be heading to Morocco in a couple of days and we know that this particular part of Africa is pretty strict and sometimes backwards so we may not get to a computer unless our hotel has one. As a woman, I must keep my shoulders and upper arms covered and, I must go and ask again, but one of my hands I must not touch anything with. One hand is filthy and the other is clean. Hmmmm! I could be in trouble. These days, with all the new stuff around me, I can't keep a thought in my head for more than a minute.
Love to everyone, J
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Lisbon
We left the northern part of Portugal, which was full of lemon and orange laden trees, beautiful scenes of homes on the very hilly terrain and warm sunshine. Our first stop was a small town way high up in the mountains. It was the town of Fatima, where a huge area of the town in the 70's was set aside to dedicate to "Our Lady of Fatima" a young girl who lived there and was said to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary monthly on the 13th of the month starting in May for 6 months. The whole thing was built on a shepherd's field. The area was built to the size of around 1 square km. I can't even put into words the feeling of being there. The quiet awe of people as you stand and view the area in its silence was overpowering. People would actually get down on their knees and crawl and pray down the marbled approach. G and I lit many candles and spent 2 hours walking and breathing in the positive nature of the place.
Before this area we had a session of port tasting in one of the town's port cellars. This reminded us of our taste testing of scotch that we attended once in Scotland.
We arrived in Lisbon, a beautiful city, by supper. G and I went directly to the grocery store for cereal and milk. We rested for the rest of the evening and today we had a bus tour of the city for the morning. This afternoon, after our siesta of course, we headed out and took the subway to the center of the city where we had a regional big meal for lunch. We had a lamb dish and salad which we both shared.
Tomorrow morning we head to Seville and to a traditional flamenco dance show for the evening along with an included supper. Every second night on our trip we have an included supper so it's a night of our not eating cereal.
We are now back in our hotel, way ahead of everyone usually, and having another rest before the evening. It's different for us because we are here for a longer period of time than everyone else and don't feel like we have to fit in hoards of things before we head home. The rest of the folks are scrambling to go to all the extra excursions in order to see all that they can see. The problem with that is that it turns out to cost an extra 500 euros and they end up not seeing the city we are living and staying in, but rather the stuff outside of the cities that are touristy.
I need a nap. Love to everyone.
J
Before this area we had a session of port tasting in one of the town's port cellars. This reminded us of our taste testing of scotch that we attended once in Scotland.
We arrived in Lisbon, a beautiful city, by supper. G and I went directly to the grocery store for cereal and milk. We rested for the rest of the evening and today we had a bus tour of the city for the morning. This afternoon, after our siesta of course, we headed out and took the subway to the center of the city where we had a regional big meal for lunch. We had a lamb dish and salad which we both shared.
Tomorrow morning we head to Seville and to a traditional flamenco dance show for the evening along with an included supper. Every second night on our trip we have an included supper so it's a night of our not eating cereal.
We are now back in our hotel, way ahead of everyone usually, and having another rest before the evening. It's different for us because we are here for a longer period of time than everyone else and don't feel like we have to fit in hoards of things before we head home. The rest of the folks are scrambling to go to all the extra excursions in order to see all that they can see. The problem with that is that it turns out to cost an extra 500 euros and they end up not seeing the city we are living and staying in, but rather the stuff outside of the cities that are touristy.
I need a nap. Love to everyone.
J
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Logging in No problem
Hi Guys,
Glad to hear things are going well, love the stories J. I don't feel sorry for G, frostbite here :) I;m looking forward to my first bug bite. We'll be waiting for more travel tales.
Take care Trev Jo
Glad to hear things are going well, love the stories J. I don't feel sorry for G, frostbite here :) I;m looking forward to my first bug bite. We'll be waiting for more travel tales.
Take care Trev Jo
We continue to press on
Yes, even though it's very hot outside, we do continue to wear sandals. G got a sunburn on his feet today from sitting in the square while we ate lunch.
Yes, we have had to pack away our winter coats and carry them, whoa's us, in our backpacks.
Yes, we do get up each morning to someone making us breakfast. Such a chore.
Yes, we are letting someone else do the planning and driving for the next three weeks.
Drats, there's bugs out - wasps, little flying flies in our rooms each morning but....I guess we can stand it... and they do need to live somewhere.
Yes, the trees are green and now have leaves and...are obscuring our view of the landscape but we do need the shade to get out of the hot sun.
Yes, we are poor. Could someone send us a million dollars?
Yes, we have had to pack away our winter coats and carry them, whoa's us, in our backpacks.
Yes, we do get up each morning to someone making us breakfast. Such a chore.
Yes, we are letting someone else do the planning and driving for the next three weeks.
Drats, there's bugs out - wasps, little flying flies in our rooms each morning but....I guess we can stand it... and they do need to live somewhere.
Yes, the trees are green and now have leaves and...are obscuring our view of the landscape but we do need the shade to get out of the hot sun.
Yes, we are poor. Could someone send us a million dollars?
Sitting in Coimbra
We left Madrid this morning on our bus trip. We stopped into two cities on the way. Avila, is another in the list of medieval towns surrounded by a high wall. We visited the church where Saint Theresa lived and later, in Salamanca, we ,G and I, walked the old town and ate lunch in the sunshine of the large city square. One thing we have noticed a lot on our travels is that we are learning how to spot a place to go to the washroom. Today it was in the McDonalds.
We drove on to cross the border in Portugal. Quite different than Spain and a pleasure too. We pulled into a beautiful city called Coimbra and are about to go down for supper. Tomorrow morning, we head out for a tour and walk of the old city and then drive onto Fatima for the day. We will end our day in Lisbon where we stay for 2 nights.
It sure is nice to be here in the Best Western, who would have guessed, and to have free computer use.
We drove on to cross the border in Portugal. Quite different than Spain and a pleasure too. We pulled into a beautiful city called Coimbra and are about to go down for supper. Tomorrow morning, we head out for a tour and walk of the old city and then drive onto Fatima for the day. We will end our day in Lisbon where we stay for 2 nights.
It sure is nice to be here in the Best Western, who would have guessed, and to have free computer use.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
In Madrid
Well, we are here in Madrid. Our flight to Spain was delayed for 40 minutes and the flight was very hot, heh, it´s RyanAir - budget airlines, but we arrived safely. There was no arranged seating as usual for airlines, so when it came close to flight time, the people started to line up like cattle. The flight attendants weren´t very charitable about how the spanairds behaved with the flights so I won´t repeat it but it seemd to go along fine in the end. I managed to get G an exit seat so that he had leg room. We landed and found a shuttle bus shared with another woman for only 26 euro which was great but it´s so busy here, traffic and construction, that it took us 1 hour to get to our hotel.
Madrid is something else. Similar to Mexico we find. Very poor and very crowded and the city itself is extremely old. We spent two wonderful days taking the bus to the old part of town and walking, eating, picture taking and viewing. The next day we walked in the new part of town going to museums and enjoying the 18 degree weather. Today, 21 degrees outside, we are just going for a slow walk around to places that we´ve yet to see. Gerhard is wearing his sandals.
Thursday night after we settled into our hotel, we needed to eat so we walked down the busy street of our hotel. We were invited to enter a small restaurant to eat and we had what we call - breakfast. Too funny. They gave us toastados - toast, eggs and meat. We loved it. The two guys inside the restaurant were gems. We managed with broken language. We said we were from Canada after they´d asked. The one fella said, ¨´ ah, Toronto!! ¨ We said, ¨¨No, Winnipeg, Manitoba.¨ He looked at us and asked, ¨huh?¨ I guess we aren´t really well known we Manitobans.
We went back to that same restaurant the next morning for a real breakfast and lo and behold, the female waitress heard me say ¨nein¨to Gerhard and came right over to speak German to us. Life is very funny sometimes.
I forgot to tell you more on the ongoing story of Gerhard getting used to Europe. On the way back to the hotel after our first day here, Gerhard thought that we should stop into a bar along the way. He puts his hand onto two big black doors that have¨, in Spanish, ¨¨no trespassing¨¨ pasted onto the front. I tried to pull him away and tell him no, but you know that he has his own mind. Well, he opens the door, pulls apart the curtains and is faced with ten, not nine, but ten woman of the evening who, all at once, look up at him and say, ¨¨ola!!¨¨ Sheepishly, he backs out and we had no more beer that night.
So, the rest of the bus group arrive today and we meet tonight for supper. Tomorrow, we have a free day and tour around the city or Toledo and then we leave straight away on Tuesday morning. We are very excited that things have been working out well. This is the first time that the two of us have been thrown into a country where we don´t really understand the language. It´s pretty amazing how easily we are getting along with sign language and facial and finger movements.
Onward over the mountains we go.
Madrid is something else. Similar to Mexico we find. Very poor and very crowded and the city itself is extremely old. We spent two wonderful days taking the bus to the old part of town and walking, eating, picture taking and viewing. The next day we walked in the new part of town going to museums and enjoying the 18 degree weather. Today, 21 degrees outside, we are just going for a slow walk around to places that we´ve yet to see. Gerhard is wearing his sandals.
Thursday night after we settled into our hotel, we needed to eat so we walked down the busy street of our hotel. We were invited to enter a small restaurant to eat and we had what we call - breakfast. Too funny. They gave us toastados - toast, eggs and meat. We loved it. The two guys inside the restaurant were gems. We managed with broken language. We said we were from Canada after they´d asked. The one fella said, ¨´ ah, Toronto!! ¨ We said, ¨¨No, Winnipeg, Manitoba.¨ He looked at us and asked, ¨huh?¨ I guess we aren´t really well known we Manitobans.
We went back to that same restaurant the next morning for a real breakfast and lo and behold, the female waitress heard me say ¨nein¨to Gerhard and came right over to speak German to us. Life is very funny sometimes.
I forgot to tell you more on the ongoing story of Gerhard getting used to Europe. On the way back to the hotel after our first day here, Gerhard thought that we should stop into a bar along the way. He puts his hand onto two big black doors that have¨, in Spanish, ¨¨no trespassing¨¨ pasted onto the front. I tried to pull him away and tell him no, but you know that he has his own mind. Well, he opens the door, pulls apart the curtains and is faced with ten, not nine, but ten woman of the evening who, all at once, look up at him and say, ¨¨ola!!¨¨ Sheepishly, he backs out and we had no more beer that night.
So, the rest of the bus group arrive today and we meet tonight for supper. Tomorrow, we have a free day and tour around the city or Toledo and then we leave straight away on Tuesday morning. We are very excited that things have been working out well. This is the first time that the two of us have been thrown into a country where we don´t really understand the language. It´s pretty amazing how easily we are getting along with sign language and facial and finger movements.
Onward over the mountains we go.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Waiting for our Flight
Okay, you buggers!!!! We have snow. Actually, it's snow rain mix and is supposed to turn to all rain by afternoon. Our flight is 15:45 and seeing as we are at an old military airbase, the landing strips are all heated so the snow is not a problem. Just the day to get snow, when we are taking off for more southern weather. Actually, in the northern mountain areas of Spain and the Alps of Switz, it is snowing like a banshee.
Check out some of the pictures I was able to get onto the blog because we had a really relaxed day yesterday here at the hotel. I hope to get a few more on before we leave. Please note, that if there is no picture for an entry, it is because the picture for that spot has people in it and we have promised to not put anyone into the blog.
Hope your snow turns to rain as well.
j
Check out some of the pictures I was able to get onto the blog because we had a really relaxed day yesterday here at the hotel. I hope to get a few more on before we leave. Please note, that if there is no picture for an entry, it is because the picture for that spot has people in it and we have promised to not put anyone into the blog.
Hope your snow turns to rain as well.
j
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sitting in Frankfurt Hahn waiting for a flight
We left Rothenburg by train yesterday to arrive in Frankfurt to take a 1 3/4 bus ride up the mountains into Hahn. There, is an old military base purchased by the Ryan Air Flight company to use as their cheap flights' base for Europe. However, the only way up here is to take a bus or drive. We had a lovely bus ride, sunny day, G's first experience on the autobahn and then.......left our camera in the elastic seat part of our chairs. Panic -- not for the camera, but for the 1000 photos on the disk. So, G ran. literally, ran, first to the parked bus to see if it was ours, then to the ticket booth to have the lady phone the bus company. Turns out, that our bus, whose company also belongs to Ryan Air has its terminal here at the airport and was in the bus washing stall just minutes away in the small town of Hahn. G took a taxi to the station, got the camera, gave the driver a tip, got back into the taxi, came back to the hotel, gave the taxi driver a tip, walked over to the lady in the ticket booth and gave her a tip. Jeez, if this keeps up, we're going to be poor. But...we have our camera!!!!!
So, the adventure continues. We fly out of here tomorrow - good weather we hope. We have heard that in Spain most of the internet centers have been closed so we may have trouble getting onto the blog to fill you in unless our hotels have access. We shall see.
We are eating breakfast now, lovely spread. Same as usual - bread, rolls, meat, eggs, cheese, juice and coffee. It's nice to know that some things we can count on. We would never have found this place out except for the advice from James to take Ryan Air which is super cheap. It's 139 to fly to Spain. Air Berlin, however, coming back is over 600. Couldn't get a flight with Ryan Air back at all.
So, the adventure continues. We fly out of here tomorrow - good weather we hope. We have heard that in Spain most of the internet centers have been closed so we may have trouble getting onto the blog to fill you in unless our hotels have access. We shall see.
We are eating breakfast now, lovely spread. Same as usual - bread, rolls, meat, eggs, cheese, juice and coffee. It's nice to know that some things we can count on. We would never have found this place out except for the advice from James to take Ryan Air which is super cheap. It's 139 to fly to Spain. Air Berlin, however, coming back is over 600. Couldn't get a flight with Ryan Air back at all.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Old Town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Tomorrow we leave this very pretty place that feels like we have stepped out of the world into a painted book. The buildings are dated around 1100 onwards and the town in circled by a high wall and a deep moat. We have been staying in a inexpensive pension - we are the only ones there - and that feels very strange. Things are very quiet for us and we have been having a wonderful rest. We head back to the room for a rest each afternoon and pretend that we are actually Germans who take a "pause."
We took a nighttime walk with a local Nightwatchman who told of us of all the good and the bad of times back then. We also had an interesting 2 hour tour of the Criminal Museum where we saw all of the actual torture items used in the time of this town. Gerhard is threatening to use some of them on me if I don't stop bugging him- like the iron mask with the long pinnochio nose for liars.
We leave tomorrow by train for Frankfurt Hahn to catch the RyanAir flight out to Madrid on Thursday. Good news to us by our travel lady - all of our booked bus trips have come through. Tomorrow, however, we need to rearrange our bags as the cheaper flights of RyanAir are very strict about weight and baggage.
Off to Spain ------- and sorry about this-----the warmer weather.
Love J and G
Thursday, February 26, 2009
A side trip to Nurnburg
Nurnburg is also one of the large city stops on the tour of the Romantic Road. We took a train - an hour long trip one way- there this morning to spend the day amongst more castels, pubs, old buildings and cobblestone paths. We had a lovely day and topped it off eating at one of the eateries where we chose something from the menu that Gerhard, even with his great German, couldn't understand. Well it WAS the special of the day, so I had it. I still couldn't tell you what it was that I ate - or rather that I made Gerhard eat most of. I ate his meatball thingys in a red sauce that was so hot that he didn't really like.
It was rainy drizzley for most of the day but not snowy. We did pass some snow covered fields on our way while through the country but all the cities generally have rain. We trained it back by 5 and went for groceries. Now we are trying to get some computer stuff taken care of before we leave again for a place that may not have computers, tv's or phones as is the case in our present pension. Such is a great way to get away from Karneval.
Würzburg On The Romantic Road
We are now in a series of towns and cities that are part of the 355 km section of the Bavaria that are named 'The Romantic Road.' We have spent an incredible 4 days here and, believe me when I say, we needed the peace and quiet after Cologne.
We are in a pension which is much nicer and more endearing than a hotel. Marcus, our owner, is a sweetheart and he serves us with a smile and with a most gentle manner. He is as tall as Gerhard and looks pretty similar. We tease them when they stand together. We met two Amercian travellers here who are from the state of Washington. Lovely people - we gave them our card - hope to see them again.
The city of Würzburg dates way back to the 8th century with most things beginning to happen around the 11th century. A beautiful place that suffered some distruction during the war but has not lost its beauty. Quiet streets, quaint corners and pubs and castles all serve to remind us that our lives have started very late in the world. Here, things were rolling long before I was even thought of.
We move from here to Rothenburg tomorrow by train. Gerhard has no idea of what he is walking into but this town and the one tomorrow are my two favourite places to stay. It will be like a fairytale story. Small, quiet and walled in. No cars really, just walkways and places to smell the fresh air. This will be our last stop for a few days before we head off to Franfurt Hahn airport to catch our Ryan Air flight to Spain.
Cheers for now.
Tschussssssss
Days continue in Köln
Parades, parades and more parades. We went to three parades in total. Each one was approximately 5 hours long. Sundays' parade was for the children and included all children. Monday's parade was 6 km long and lasted, for us, from 10 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. We found an empty spot on the side of the old town route near the middle of the parade route itself and scurried into the bare piece of pavement. That was at 10. It turned out that we butted right into a spot between a group of people who,for years,have been setting up in that very same spot and we just move right in. In total, there was about 30 of them. They even had their own beer counter set up with barrels of beer which was being passed out to the club for free. Well anyway, the long and the short of it is that these people sort of adopted us. They made the parade more tolerable for 7 hours. All of which, by the way, we had to stand and couldn't go to the washroom. They fed us food, small bottles of snappes, provided the music and dancing so that we could stay warm.
Each float and group of people in the parade through out tons of candy. This really is like their Halloween only it last for 6 days long and everyone, I mean everyone, dresses up. At the first parade, because I wasn't dressed up. I was treated to a whole mess of tiny confetti which they ensured was pushed down my shirt and coat and all into my hair so that I was stuck to confetti for three days after. For the next parade, I had purchased a grand Karneval hat with which made me look a bit more in style for the festivities. Gerhard was sort of safe because he was planted behind me taking all the treats that I was catching. We had so much candy, that we left a bunch for the cleaning ladies from the hotel. We came out of it with some very good friends and a whole bunch of bruises in the forhead and head area. Heh, there were some huge chocolate bars flying our way.
We were stiff and sore after that time because you don't get to move a whole lot when jammed in between drunk people who keep hugging you. We ended up taking our normal two trains back to our hotel and falling into bed from exhaustion.
The parades are super great - full of politically incorrect messages and colourful floats. It was something that we were glad to have had the chance to do but, as my Aunt Dinie said, it will wear on you after awhile because it is becoming too crazy with too much emphasis on the alcohol and partying straight into the morning for 6 days. Two guys in our hotel, who stayed out until 5 each morning, came in for breakfast each day thinking that it was evening.
Good thing we are older - this only happens when our eyesight becomes weak.
Each float and group of people in the parade through out tons of candy. This really is like their Halloween only it last for 6 days long and everyone, I mean everyone, dresses up. At the first parade, because I wasn't dressed up. I was treated to a whole mess of tiny confetti which they ensured was pushed down my shirt and coat and all into my hair so that I was stuck to confetti for three days after. For the next parade, I had purchased a grand Karneval hat with which made me look a bit more in style for the festivities. Gerhard was sort of safe because he was planted behind me taking all the treats that I was catching. We had so much candy, that we left a bunch for the cleaning ladies from the hotel. We came out of it with some very good friends and a whole bunch of bruises in the forhead and head area. Heh, there were some huge chocolate bars flying our way.
We were stiff and sore after that time because you don't get to move a whole lot when jammed in between drunk people who keep hugging you. We ended up taking our normal two trains back to our hotel and falling into bed from exhaustion.
The parades are super great - full of politically incorrect messages and colourful floats. It was something that we were glad to have had the chance to do but, as my Aunt Dinie said, it will wear on you after awhile because it is becoming too crazy with too much emphasis on the alcohol and partying straight into the morning for 6 days. Two guys in our hotel, who stayed out until 5 each morning, came in for breakfast each day thinking that it was evening.
Good thing we are older - this only happens when our eyesight becomes weak.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Visit with family
Saturday G and I took the train an hour away to visit with family members in Hagen. These were first and second cousins of Gerhards and, as always, it is amazing to finally meet new family members and see how much alike they look to members of your own family.
They live in, what we would call, a smaller city of 200 000. It is in a mountainous area similiar to living in Halifax. I found the similarities striking. As we travelled in the train, we could see land differences with every 5 kms. Hagen is a clean, beautiful little place even though we visited it in winter when trees are bare and grey and the weather never wants to bring out the sun.
Gerhard's dad had a brother named Wilhem and he had two sons - Willi and Armin. We met Willi and his wife Ursula, their children Heike and Sylvie with her husband Axel and daughter Lara. Also, there was Armin with his wife Waltraut. Heike met us at the train station as we must have looked like children on their first day of school. We had been described and we were assuming someone would recognize us. Sure enough, Heike was right there on the platform and she is amazing.
She drove us first to her house where we got to know each other. She has a beautiful apartment a bit bigger than our home. We spent some time together to get to know each other and then her parents, G's cousin, came, followed by the rest. We all walked to a local restaurant and had a lovely meal. After our meal, we then drove into the country and up a mountain to have coffee and treats at Willi's house. They live at the top of a one-lane roadway where it is necessary to pull into a driveway every now and then in order for anyone to be able to get up or down the mountain. At the top is a beautiful view.
Willi bought the house when it was a shack and spent a very long time tearing it apart and fixing it up (does this sound familiar?) It is now a grand place in a perfect spot with an amazing view over the world. We spent more important time sharing stories and lives. It was punctuated with the shouts of glee and girlishness of Lara the 4 year old. Gerhard had a wonderful time getting to know parts of his family.
For any of you who speak another language, are learning or have learned another language, you know how difficult it is to keep up with a new way of thinking and talking. Gerhard has done his parents and his family proud in his abilities to speak with his new-found family members and to carry on throughout Europe getting himself understood and learning a new dialect. He was even great understanding Dutch.
All in all, his second meeting with middle Germany relatives, was a blast and wonderful for him.
They live in, what we would call, a smaller city of 200 000. It is in a mountainous area similiar to living in Halifax. I found the similarities striking. As we travelled in the train, we could see land differences with every 5 kms. Hagen is a clean, beautiful little place even though we visited it in winter when trees are bare and grey and the weather never wants to bring out the sun.
Gerhard's dad had a brother named Wilhem and he had two sons - Willi and Armin. We met Willi and his wife Ursula, their children Heike and Sylvie with her husband Axel and daughter Lara. Also, there was Armin with his wife Waltraut. Heike met us at the train station as we must have looked like children on their first day of school. We had been described and we were assuming someone would recognize us. Sure enough, Heike was right there on the platform and she is amazing.
She drove us first to her house where we got to know each other. She has a beautiful apartment a bit bigger than our home. We spent some time together to get to know each other and then her parents, G's cousin, came, followed by the rest. We all walked to a local restaurant and had a lovely meal. After our meal, we then drove into the country and up a mountain to have coffee and treats at Willi's house. They live at the top of a one-lane roadway where it is necessary to pull into a driveway every now and then in order for anyone to be able to get up or down the mountain. At the top is a beautiful view.
Willi bought the house when it was a shack and spent a very long time tearing it apart and fixing it up (does this sound familiar?) It is now a grand place in a perfect spot with an amazing view over the world. We spent more important time sharing stories and lives. It was punctuated with the shouts of glee and girlishness of Lara the 4 year old. Gerhard had a wonderful time getting to know parts of his family.
For any of you who speak another language, are learning or have learned another language, you know how difficult it is to keep up with a new way of thinking and talking. Gerhard has done his parents and his family proud in his abilities to speak with his new-found family members and to carry on throughout Europe getting himself understood and learning a new dialect. He was even great understanding Dutch.
All in all, his second meeting with middle Germany relatives, was a blast and wonderful for him.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
In Cologne (koln)
I am sitting in the lobby waiting for G to come down for breakfast. The weather is as usual - cloudy, grey, rainy but warm. Sound like Britain Rachael? We have had the same weather since our arrival in Europe but then again, this is what Jan,, Feb., and March are like here. No surprises there.
Cologne is a crazy place at this time of year. We arrived by "sardine fish" train on Thursday morning around 10. Walking into the Dusseldorf train stn was an experience this day because it was full of young people already three sheets to the wind and ready to party. So, our trip to Koln was noisy and packed. I sat on my backpack the whole way. G was somewhere else on the train.
When we arrived into Cologne, it was to 10 000 people mulling about in the train stn and surroundings. All dressed in costumes (Halloween type) more lavish than any we've seen in Canada. G and I immediately S-bahn ed it out of there as our packs where just in the way for such a crowd. We finally found our hotel, dumped our stuff and went right back to the city party crowd to celebrate the beginning day of Karneval.
We got off the S bahn in the old city area and began to walk the cobble-stone streets with our mouths open. All around us were young adults, costumed, carrying open beer bottles, wine bottles, even full alcohol bottles from which they were drinking. All were drunk and loud and having a great time. The politztei were all over the place but so were many broken bottles under our feet. There were so many people that the garbage cans couldn't keep up so the bottles ended up on the street for us to step on and kick. I will never again forget the sound of tinkling glass under foot as we walked. Any tinkling glass will always bring me back to Cologne.
We walked and found a young group of sweet people - quite into the sauce, and partied with them for a bit as we drank beer and gluwein. It was an amazing experience to be a part of a breathing alcohol bubble. We later found the first of the 4-day parades. We watched with glee and caught several hand loads of candy - most of which we gave to the little kids around us - that was after I filled my coat pockets. We walked and aee some more and when we looked at our watch and were shocked that it was only 5 o'clock, we knew that it was time for us to leave. We were exhausted - getting old I guess.
It's inevitable. We could only imagine how much fun our own kids would have had being here.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Düsseldorf in the winter
Well, no snow, but lots of rain. We still go walking every day though - yesterday for 5 hours. We walked to the city tower and went up 178 meters for a revolving restaurant stay-awhile to watch the city go past us. We had an original beer brewed here in the city. We again walked through the 1 square km old town area and had a bit of a bite to eat at the, supposedly, best place to taste a bit of original Düsseldorf food. Well, if that's the best, then we're in trouble. We had raw pork meat on our plate, did we eat it?, $§%" NO!, but we did eat everything else. G does remember his mother making this raw pork stuff when he was younger, but in the now smarter years, people in North America don't generally eat it. I suppose, we could still find it in the more venturous places but I won't be looking.
Things are starting to heat up for the Karneval times coming this week. Yesterday we toured a museum just for the history of Karneval (Fasching) in Germany. It was very interesting, especially for Gerhard who hasn't experienced it yet. We will be heading out tomorrow for Köln for the actual greatest party place for Karneval and also to visit with his cousin Heidi. Today, however, we are headed out by S Bahn for the castle about 1 half hour outside of the city.
Later you folks,
J and G
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Rainy in Düsseldorf
Yesterday we had our last day in Berlin and we spent it taking city buses around the whole city to be a regular city liver and also visited the outside of the local parliament building called the Reichstag. It was a 1-hour wait outside in a long line in the chilly weather so we decided to keep walking, bussing around the city. We ended our day with a train ride to Potsdam, a city pretty near to Berlin, and had a wonderful walk down the old city streets set up as a market square.
We just arrived here in Düsseldorf after a 4 hour train trip which went 250 km an hour. Fast is not fast until you try to go to the washroom at 250 kms (says Gerhard). We had a short walk to our hotel which is next to the bahnhof (rail stn) and tomorrow we are looking forward to walking the famous 1 mile road here in the old city. Right now we are going for a swim in the spa area of the hotel. We have good German beer for after our swim to eat with our cereal.
More later,
J and G
We just arrived here in Düsseldorf after a 4 hour train trip which went 250 km an hour. Fast is not fast until you try to go to the washroom at 250 kms (says Gerhard). We had a short walk to our hotel which is next to the bahnhof (rail stn) and tomorrow we are looking forward to walking the famous 1 mile road here in the old city. Right now we are going for a swim in the spa area of the hotel. We have good German beer for after our swim to eat with our cereal.
More later,
J and G
Friday, February 13, 2009
G's relatives in Schwerin
Irma and Horst are special. It was as wonderful for Gerhard to meet them as it was for me to meet my family. ( We are feeling most blessed for being able to have the chance to get to know our families. ) They have one daughter, who is an accomplished concert violinist, but she was too busy in a concert be given daily at the opera house. She is also first in charge conductor of the entire orchestra when the main conductor is away. Her son and husband were also travelling away for the weekend at another musical event.
Irma and Horst live in a small apartment in the Northern part of the city not too far away from where our Gasthaus was. They made sure that we went over to their house every day so that we could share in memories of the past and in stories of family members. They fed us well and were above all, like guardian angels to us. They worried about us and cuddled us. Gerhard and they had lots of things to share as they had the language in comman, it sure did tax my abilities as I tried to keep abreast of what was being said.
Horst is an amazing record keeper of the family history so he was very glad to get Gerhard's historical side of things for his books. We had a very tearful parting on the evening of our visit as they dropped us off at our hotel.
One could say that, so far, Gerhard and I have won more love and blessings in the world than we could ever imagine.
We are to visit G's next cousin, Heike, just outside of Köln. More amazement is in store I'm sure.
As I write this about family members, I'd like to wish peace to my sister, Betty Anne, and my brother-in-law who are, at this moment, dealing with the impending passing-on of Bob's mother. We hope that you two can find the time to say goodbye with a light heart and then somehow find the way back to everyday.
Love to all.
J and G
On my favourite street : Kurfersterdam
I am in a 24-hour internet cafe whilst G is back at the hotel doing some report writing for his old division. He has a report due to the superintendent by the 16th. So, I decided that it would be a good time to walk on down to my favourite street, the livliest and most travelled street in West Berlin - Kurfersterdam Strasse. It's a blast. Yesterday, as we walked the street on our way to our bus tour, we took several pictures of all the very expensive alfa romeros, austin minis, jags, and a bunch of other car names I can't remember. This makes sense because all along the strip are very well-to-do stores that we would never see as a walk-in place right off the street. Gotta love the busyness of it all. Well, we do that's for sure. It does sound as if we are in a constant 'ready, set, go' mode and indeed sometimes we love how we are seeing so many things in such a short time, but remember, we are very careful to get to bed each night in good time and to eat very well so that we don't get sick or overtired.
It's amazing how I can watch Gerhard view his parent's homeland with fresh eyes. He is seeing and experiencing it for the first time and it is made all the more better by being here in the off-season when there are at least fewer people around to deal with and a better chance for us to stay on top of our accomodations in each new city.
We are headed next to Dusseldorf for 4 days and then to Koln (Cologne) for the next week during Fasching or carnaval. Shortly after that is our trip to Spain etc. and today our notification of our trip to France came through as a go. Yahoo!!! Wait a minute - that's a website, Hooray!!!!!
Love to all in the ice and snow. None here as of yet even tho' the stations say so.
The Blue Man Group
Wow!!! If you ever get a chance to see these three men perform, GO. They are three creative fellows who perform a crazy 2-hour-filled paint, drums, paper and acting session that only you can believe from seeing it. We sat down at 6 and felt as if the time flew by in 10 minutes. There is no talking, only three men with blue paint all over their heads and hands. They are dressed in black and are up against a black back-stage so that you really are focussed on their heads and eyes. They make music with sticks hitting onto drums and pipes plus they put paint onto the drum tops so that it flies everywhere. The people in the first four rows of the performance had to wear blue-bag ponchos so that all the paint and the spitting and throwing of other things doesn't dirty them up. Note; don't take the first four rows, the bags didn't really help a lot.
In the last 15 minutes of the show, paper, lots of it about as wide as 2 sheets of toilet paper, fell out of the ceiling at the back and continued to fall. The paper was continually thrown towards the front of the audience and each of us had to help it along. Good thing that we were in a seating pattern where the seats went downhill from the back to the front. You'd think paper would roll downhill - not so. Our arms were so tired from pulling from over our heads to the front of ourselves where we had to again throw it onto someone else's head. A poor lady beside G, who was terribly worried about her hairdo, gave up worrying after about 3 minutes when she realized that it wasn't going to stop any time soon. Too funny!!!!
We walked away with an amazing feeling. For two reasons. One, was that these American guys, who are usually in the states performing, are actually in Berlin while we are here and we got to see them. And, two, that the whole perfomance fills you with an incredible sense of childish 'who cares' attitude.
Search them out, and go see them if you can.
G and J
In the last 15 minutes of the show, paper, lots of it about as wide as 2 sheets of toilet paper, fell out of the ceiling at the back and continued to fall. The paper was continually thrown towards the front of the audience and each of us had to help it along. Good thing that we were in a seating pattern where the seats went downhill from the back to the front. You'd think paper would roll downhill - not so. Our arms were so tired from pulling from over our heads to the front of ourselves where we had to again throw it onto someone else's head. A poor lady beside G, who was terribly worried about her hairdo, gave up worrying after about 3 minutes when she realized that it wasn't going to stop any time soon. Too funny!!!!
We walked away with an amazing feeling. For two reasons. One, was that these American guys, who are usually in the states performing, are actually in Berlin while we are here and we got to see them. And, two, that the whole perfomance fills you with an incredible sense of childish 'who cares' attitude.
Search them out, and go see them if you can.
G and J
Here in Berlin (pronounced Bearleen)
Well, first of all, I'd like to burst your bubbles just in case you guys think that we do have snow. Nope!!! When they say snow for Germany, it just means the mountains. We have a beautiful day here today, about 6 and sunny. Since we've been here, cloudy, windy but acceptable. That's why we bought the new coats. Very nice to walk in the weather. Oh yes, we've had flurries, if that's what you want to call them - but they fall like bubbles, just a tease as to what it could be like if we were somewhere else in the world.
Now for Berlin. One can't imagine, especially if you are Gerhard, that we just hopped a train and poof, we are in a huge, lively city of 3.5 million. It's so large that the locals plus the tourists, together, don't make the city feel small.
We have done much since our arrival here on Tuesday. It is a fast-paced, alive city whose motto is 'a rolling stone gathers no moss.' They believe that 'change and growth' are important. This is a non-sleeping city where it is said that 'If you grow tired of Berlin, then you are tired of life.' It appears to be true.
We've walked for hours, taken many subways, trams, trains and a city tour bus and yet there is still so much more to see. We did spend 2 hours going through the 'Story of Berlin' so that we could get a really good understanding of how Berlin came into being. It was very moving, especially the guided tour through the chemical warfare bunker of which there are 20 throughout the city and are prepared to hold 2500 people each for only two weeks. Does this sound unreasonable to you that out of 3.5 million people, only approx 50 000 people could be saved? It was the gov'ts attempt in the 70's to conquer the growing fear of a world chemical war. The bunkers were created out of 20 underground parking areas which were complete with food, hanging beds, air quality control and toilet facilities. There was so much wrong with them that it would have been impossible to keep anyone alive.
Yesterday we took the jump on, jump off tour bus to the entire route of East and West Berlin. I remember the last time that I was here, in 1988, that I had waited 2 hours on my tour bus trying to get back out of East Berlin - yet, yesterday G and I just walked everywhere freely. We visited the protected and guarded part of the Wall which is left there for all to remember the stupidity of the gov't and walked along it to read a museum load of info set out for all to learn. We walked the route of 'Check Point Charlie' and stopped in East Berlin for lunch. After our trip to the Brandenburg Gate , (a critical border crossing where many people had been murdered trying to cross the 'No Man's Land' between the two parts of Berlin), G and I stepped into a special place set aside to remember the uselessness of it all. The building was called 'The Silent Room' where outside traffic and noise was impossible to hear. It was very humbling. The room was bare and white with only a piece of art hanging on the wall which held a light into the center of a dark tapestry. In the center was a bar spot, similar to the no-man's land.
Even on my first trip here, one could feel the difference between the two lands. On one side, plenty; on the other, just enough. Throughout both sides of the city, renovations and constructions are plentiful. After the US, France, Britain and the USSR had declared war on Berlin trying to stop Hitler, both parts of this city were in ruins. The west side had begun fixing and building right away, but the east side didn't. Now, still after 1989 and the fall of the wall, that part of the city is still trying to recapture it's beauty.
Much of the night life and excitement lies in the East side now. It is a growing concern but you can still see how different it is in the way the buildings are different, the way he subway entrances are smaller and in the way parts of the city have been kept in a shabby existence.
Just a note to ponder: Gerhard's cousin, Irma and Horst, with their daughter, lived in East Berlin during the entire closed-gate status. They had one of those special little cars that one was allowed to own and, as they say, lived a good life - even though they weren't allowed to exit to the west. You've got to give them a thumbs-up for surviving and thriving.
Above all else, we are very happy that they did.
Monday, February 9, 2009
In Schwerin - place of G's first family visit
Here in Schwerin we are staying in a small pension gasthaus where we intend to stay for 4 nights. We called immediately to his cousin's house, Irma and Horst. On Saturday, Horst picked us up in his car and drove us to their house where we visited and told stories back and forth for 7 hours. It was all in German of course, so I really had to work very hard in order to understand and be part of the experience. Things went well. Irma and Horst are gracious hosts and very cute. They are in their 70's and fed us with traditional meals the whole time we were here in this small but beautiful city.
Sunday, we again visited for the day and, later, we all went out to visit the huge castle in the city center, about 800 years old ( normal for this part of the world). It is beautiful from the outside but on the inside, it is still old and falling apart. They have been working on renovations for many years but in such a small city, it takes forever. We went for a walk in the evening and it was our first snowfall of our trip. Really, snowfall here is just a few sprinkles. Eat your hearts out!!!!!!
On Monday, G and I walked around the city and visited the old Lutheran church (about 800 years old as well), and then walked to the bahnhof for our next train tickets to Berlin. We walked the city center, Marktplatz, and had drinks and such before we headed off again for our last visit to Irma's house.
G's first time into Germany was an eventful one for him. He is getting used to the oddness (only to us of course) of the way of life here. He is under a lucky cloud right now to have found three of his cousins to visit and to be getting lots of information about his family. He is also always amazed at how old this part of the world is and how friendly and helpful everyone has been to us travelers. He is astounded at how fast the trains are getting us everywhere, however, it is almost making him dizzy and sick as he suffers from quick movements. So, he closes his eyes at times and things return to normal.
Things here are as I remember them ; because I have always loved being in Germany, I have a very strong feeling as I walk through the streets and visit with the people. After spending time with G and his family, my German is coming along quite well. I can understand most anything and need G's help rarely.
Moving along to Berlin!!!!!
J and G
Sunday, we again visited for the day and, later, we all went out to visit the huge castle in the city center, about 800 years old ( normal for this part of the world). It is beautiful from the outside but on the inside, it is still old and falling apart. They have been working on renovations for many years but in such a small city, it takes forever. We went for a walk in the evening and it was our first snowfall of our trip. Really, snowfall here is just a few sprinkles. Eat your hearts out!!!!!!
On Monday, G and I walked around the city and visited the old Lutheran church (about 800 years old as well), and then walked to the bahnhof for our next train tickets to Berlin. We walked the city center, Marktplatz, and had drinks and such before we headed off again for our last visit to Irma's house.
G's first time into Germany was an eventful one for him. He is getting used to the oddness (only to us of course) of the way of life here. He is under a lucky cloud right now to have found three of his cousins to visit and to be getting lots of information about his family. He is also always amazed at how old this part of the world is and how friendly and helpful everyone has been to us travelers. He is astounded at how fast the trains are getting us everywhere, however, it is almost making him dizzy and sick as he suffers from quick movements. So, he closes his eyes at times and things return to normal.
Things here are as I remember them ; because I have always loved being in Germany, I have a very strong feeling as I walk through the streets and visit with the people. After spending time with G and his family, my German is coming along quite well. I can understand most anything and need G's help rarely.
Moving along to Berlin!!!!!
J and G
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Almelo was stupendous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are here in Schwerin, Germany, sitting in a cafe shop using the internet. I have one hour for one euro. Hold onto your hats because a whole bunch of letters are in different places.
Our time with my family in Almelo was more than great and more than could be expected. It is such a beautiful town, more than beautiful, and the hotel that we stayed in was all-inclusive so that it made our visit so easy to deal with. We didn't need to concern ourselves with food, activities to do such as swimming, bowling, dancing to great music, playing in a fair-type atmosphere or even worrying about alcohol. All was there and all was free. I would recommend this hotel to anyone, even if they do have to fly across the world to get to it.
The staff were so helpful to us as we landed there with no idea of where to find my family or how to go about looking in the different places in an unknown land. Immediately, the girls behind the desks contacted other people within the hotel and town to obtain lists of people to call and places to go to in order to find files and names of my family. After unpacking and resting for a bit, we set about calling around 30 people in our efforts to become detectives. The very first call that I made was to my uncle Mannes (or Mans, as he is known.) In broken German, Dutch and French, I made it clear who I was and that we wanted to visit. He was more than happy to have us over and the next day we were there for tea.
The next group of numbers I gave to Gerhard so that he could try out his German on the town - which a lot of people seem to understand. Eventually we found a lady who once upon a time lived next door to my Aunt Dinie (Dinie and Wim speak very good english ). This was a good thing because all the info that I had received from my brother Ray was incorrect due to changed addresses and phone numbers. This lady, named Sennie, had her husband drive his car over to my aunt's house in order to obtain her phone number. Such lovely people. Our trip throughout all of Holland was totally like this - people who were ready to help you no matter what. Eventually, again, we obtained her number and we called to be invited to her house for the evening.
I was so overjoyed at having contacted my relatives that I was so emotional. It didn't take much to get me exhausted after that. We visited yet another aunt, Aunt Truss, the next day as well. Included in our sluthing was a trip to the city hall where two men took us into the basement, where we humans from the ordinary public are not allowed to go, and showed us the actual documents from the history of my family. They even gave me copies. We pretended on our way out that we didn't actually have anything and we thanked profusely the wonderful gentlemen that so wanted to fulfill our dreams.
We were having such a wonderful time that we decided to stay an extra night and so we had a chance to go out for dinner with Dinie and Wim to a Chinese restaurant. It was wonderful as well.
I can't tell you how amazing it was to sit across from the siblings of my mother and watch as they have the same facial features and little nuances as she had. They all look very much alike. It was a life-changing experience to finally look upon some of the people that my mother had talked about as I grew up. Living in another language and visiting with family some of whom spoke little english can be very stressful, but we loved how we were filled with love after each visit and how just to hug them and be with them for a short time filled us with so much understanding and information. It was very sad for us to leave and to go so far away after only just getting there but we knew that it would be like that. Gerhard's family awaits!
Even tho' only one of my relatives over there will get this, it is universally sent out to them all. Thank you so much for opening your hearts to us and for making us feel so welcome. You have no idea how special you all are and how wonderful it has been for me to finally find that other part of myself that I knew was out there somewhere.
Love JoAnne und Gerhard
xoxox
Our time with my family in Almelo was more than great and more than could be expected. It is such a beautiful town, more than beautiful, and the hotel that we stayed in was all-inclusive so that it made our visit so easy to deal with. We didn't need to concern ourselves with food, activities to do such as swimming, bowling, dancing to great music, playing in a fair-type atmosphere or even worrying about alcohol. All was there and all was free. I would recommend this hotel to anyone, even if they do have to fly across the world to get to it.
The staff were so helpful to us as we landed there with no idea of where to find my family or how to go about looking in the different places in an unknown land. Immediately, the girls behind the desks contacted other people within the hotel and town to obtain lists of people to call and places to go to in order to find files and names of my family. After unpacking and resting for a bit, we set about calling around 30 people in our efforts to become detectives. The very first call that I made was to my uncle Mannes (or Mans, as he is known.) In broken German, Dutch and French, I made it clear who I was and that we wanted to visit. He was more than happy to have us over and the next day we were there for tea.
The next group of numbers I gave to Gerhard so that he could try out his German on the town - which a lot of people seem to understand. Eventually we found a lady who once upon a time lived next door to my Aunt Dinie (Dinie and Wim speak very good english ). This was a good thing because all the info that I had received from my brother Ray was incorrect due to changed addresses and phone numbers. This lady, named Sennie, had her husband drive his car over to my aunt's house in order to obtain her phone number. Such lovely people. Our trip throughout all of Holland was totally like this - people who were ready to help you no matter what. Eventually, again, we obtained her number and we called to be invited to her house for the evening.
I was so overjoyed at having contacted my relatives that I was so emotional. It didn't take much to get me exhausted after that. We visited yet another aunt, Aunt Truss, the next day as well. Included in our sluthing was a trip to the city hall where two men took us into the basement, where we humans from the ordinary public are not allowed to go, and showed us the actual documents from the history of my family. They even gave me copies. We pretended on our way out that we didn't actually have anything and we thanked profusely the wonderful gentlemen that so wanted to fulfill our dreams.
We were having such a wonderful time that we decided to stay an extra night and so we had a chance to go out for dinner with Dinie and Wim to a Chinese restaurant. It was wonderful as well.
I can't tell you how amazing it was to sit across from the siblings of my mother and watch as they have the same facial features and little nuances as she had. They all look very much alike. It was a life-changing experience to finally look upon some of the people that my mother had talked about as I grew up. Living in another language and visiting with family some of whom spoke little english can be very stressful, but we loved how we were filled with love after each visit and how just to hug them and be with them for a short time filled us with so much understanding and information. It was very sad for us to leave and to go so far away after only just getting there but we knew that it would be like that. Gerhard's family awaits!
Even tho' only one of my relatives over there will get this, it is universally sent out to them all. Thank you so much for opening your hearts to us and for making us feel so welcome. You have no idea how special you all are and how wonderful it has been for me to finally find that other part of myself that I knew was out there somewhere.
Love JoAnne und Gerhard
xoxox
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Amsterdam - Truly a place to be!!!
Tomorrow, three wonderful days of Amsterdam come to a close. Amsterdam is a very progressive way of life. It is built upon millions of pilings but even more interesting than that is that it thrives on cozy cafes, great art, good living and the true spirit of "'live and let live."" There are about 800 000 people and just about as many bikes. You could get squashed easily if you don't watch where you walk. A tram, a bus, a bike or scooter will flatten you. It is as unique as it is astounding. It's a place to come if you really want to feel short - even G feels short here or at least he finally feels like he's among his own now. It wouldn't matter, though, what you looked like or how you were dressed here because everyone is permitted to just be as they wish. There isn't a shortage of people spending money. Economic crisis here? Nope. Even the locals are out eating, drinking and buying.
We leave by train to head to my mother's home town of Almelo which is the eastern part of Holland close to the German border. That is probably why is was so heavily occupied during the war. We will be treating ourselves to a few days in an all-inclusive resort so that it will give us time to search out my family which I've been having a great deal of trouble with.
Here in Amsterdam over the last two days, we've been busy visiting many different sorts of places. Yesterday, we spent some time in The Anne Frank House and were very moved. We were permitted to venture up into the back of the jam factory and into the attic behind the actual bookcase that hid two families. It was a very quiet and somber experience.
Next, we visited Chinatown because they are celebrating Chinese New Year here and so we went for Dim Sum down their main street.
This just so happens to be right beside The Red Light District. Naturally, we had to visit there as well. Quite an eye opener I'll tell you. Only 5% of the women originate from Holland and all are part of a union which is carefully monitored and secured. Several of the women make up to and beyond 500€ per day. (close to 800-1000 dollars) It is truly a red area because all along the small cobblestone walkways are little latern lights with red bulbs in them. As you walk along the path and view what is for sale, you nod to the woman behind the door and she opens the door to let you in and then draws the curtain. Strangely enough, the area is bustling and busy and picture signs are everywhere that warn parents to hold onto their children's hands.
Today we had a very leisurely morning and headed out to walk the 2 kms to the Van Gogh Museum - a dream of mine as he, as well as Monet, is my favourite artist. There is an incredible collection of his works held in a very modern building. Gerhard opted for the hand-held audio of the exhibition because he didn't know very much about Van Gogh. So now, after two hours of walking his life, listening to his history and looking at his paintings, Gehard has a better understanding of why some of his work is the way it is.
We also visited the actual Rembrandt House. Rembrandt is one of G's favourite painters so it was a pleasure to visit the actual 4 floors of his life.
Today, we did quite a bit of walking - about 7 hours worth. Seems we are getting our backpacking legs now. The first day that we picked up our backpacks and hoisted them onto our backs and then walked 2 kms was a very difficult day. It was the first day in Brussels. Now, it is as if they have always been plastered to our backs. I guess sitting on our butts for most of the driving trip throughout North America didn't do much for our physical fittness.
Until later,
Love J and G
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