I’m thoroughly enjoying your updates from across the pond. :-) What a wild adventure you guys are on… love it!
Travel Stories… hmmm…
I could write about the time the authorities took me to a back room in Mexico to interrogate me. In the back of my mind I kept thinking, “Are they going to throw me into a jail cell?”
Or the wacky way I surprised a college roommate in Madrid? (Do they still have Limon Granizados? My favorite!)
Or my one visit to Mount Rushmore? After driving 200 miles out of the way and arriving after dark, I went to the restroom and when I came out the lights on Mt. Rushmore had been turned off. I never actually saw the presidents!
Or the time I got lost in Tokyo?
Or the most perfect travel day ever… Copenhagen, Denmark.
Or what it’s like at the top of the Eiffel Tower on the hottest day of the year and the elevator stops working?
Or maybe the time I made a renowned chocolatier in Amsterdam cry?
I’ve got stories. Pick one and maybe I’ll write more!
We’re loving our years at CSD. Kathryn’s a sophomore, can you believe it!?!
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY Birthday!!! … and “Hi” to Chad. :-)
A really big travel experience for me was playing ⚽️ in Brazil and Ecuador when I was in 7th grade. I made a US team as a goalkeeper to represent our country in a series of youth tournaments. This trip truly opened my eyes to a bigger 🌎. I still vividly remember so much about that trip (which says a lot)...the smells, tastes, the mountains, the passion for Futbol...all of it. What a gift to experience that at a young age.
Happy Birthday K Rock! Excited to keep exploring with you! Love you ❤️
Hola hermosa! Feliz cumpleaños! We are LOVING reading about your adventures together. You are both such an inspiration. Tim and I love traveling together too, we loved traveling with you and yours when our babies were babies, but traveling solo, as I know you know, is the most empowering and therapeutic thing I have ever done. Maybe because I never lived alone, maybe because I grew up super religious and married so young, maybe because I believed with my whole heart that we get what we give... for whatever reason, I never prioritized my own happiness. I was happy when my people were happy. I really was. Traveling solo opened my eyes to everything I wanted, from what I want for breakfast to how I spend my day to what side of the bed I prefer. For the record, almond croissants, hiking to a remote beach and swimming naked in the ocean, and the middle. May your adventures inspire others to live a bigger and better life than they ever dared dream. You have always inspired me. Your life is a gift to the world. We are all better knowing you. Thank you for living your dreams and making us all believe we can too!
I love reading everyone's travel stories! One of my favorite places is Chile, specifically the Atacama Desert. I think the reason I love it so much is because we totally winged it on that leg of our trip. We really had no concrete plans, just keeping on the bus to Santiago. Because of nights on buses spent pouring through the pages of the Lonely Planet Guide, each of us being, "Hey let's go there!"
we ended up watching penguins in the wild, enthralled by dolphins put on a show jumping and diving around our little boat (because of course, I speak dolphin!), then being dropped off in the middle of the Atacama Desert into a tiny town of adobe brick buildings to find a hotel to stay in. NO we didn't have reservations and the bus wasn't going back to Santiago until the next day. Total faith on our part. But we were rewarded with a desert that you could see for over 200 miles, and at night the moon would shine on the the crystals in the sand making them look like diamonds. And at night, oh at night, the stars were so close you ducked, sure one would graze your head.
Happy Birthday, dear Karin! Hope it was wonderful and blessed! Kinda crazy that you went halfway around the world for me to “catch up” with you after these many years! Thanks for sharing your adventures and perspective!💞
Happy Bday K-Rock! So glad you are on another adventure.
I am not sure which story to tell you so I will drop some tidbits of different places...we can always chat about them and your adventures when we get together again (thanksgiving week in Guatemala??)
Hmmm... Let's see....in Suez our "guards" of police left us on the highway...only for us to be stopped by two other police officers...who we had to bribe with $$ to let us go. In Kiev they turned the internet off at 11pm at our hotel even though the casino and strip club at the same hotel was open 24hrs a day. I got bored in Paris and rented a car and headed to Normandy...ended up spending the night above a cafe in Grandcamp-Maisy on the coast. I got to ride dual sports with the Carabineros de Chile who took me to part of the Andes mountains. I had more adventures on 2 wheels in Peru, Vietnam, UAE and Mexico. Vietnam is a place I want to get back to...the north is different from the south and Da Nang had great beaches. South Korea, live things in the soup was ..uhm...not expected. My short time in Warsaw & Krakow was interesting post Berlin wall. I had no luggage for a week while in Cyprus (luckily the equipment guy for the team gave me training gear to wear). Also in Cyrpus - super party tourist destination - if you are with a former premier league player, you get in all the bars and you don't pay anything for whatever you drink/eat. Beaches of Zanzibar are beautiful & isolated yet you can always find a game of footy somewhere- just like you can high up in the mountains of Costa Rica. A safari is in Tanzania is worth the money....bonus is if someone else's company pays for it! Toronto is a cool city and Vancouver is a must for Canada....plus they are just nice. If you want middle east with a spice of over the top riches, head to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Drive from city center going away and you will see where the city ends,,,,its amazing that all the buildings/construction just end and then its desert. Belfast Northern Ireland is a favorite of mine as I am into the history of "the troubles". It is astonishing that there is still a wall/fencing separating catholics/protestants. The cliffs of Ireland are better in person. The highlands of Scotland are cooler than the castles. You guys just hit one of my favorites-Spain! I was able to see Messi & Barcelona train up close and personal! So many games or footy stories- I will leave out!
Ok I just realized I am blabbing on....so I will cut it off. Get to Alaska. Best trip with the kids I have ever taken. Take a cross country trip hitting the dakotas, montana, wyoming & Idaho - the northern route. Camp under the stars...even if you are in an suv.
Travel travel travel. To me, it helps you understand the world better and opens your mind.
Happy Birthday, Karin! I had written a long... maybe too long... comment about our trip to Alaska that was a comedy of errors but I wasn't logged in and it was lost! So, maybe that was my sign that it was too long or not so funny! So, I will move to another favorite travel memory which was visiting Panama with my family when I was about 10 years old. My grandparents lived there so we mostly did day trips using their home as our base. However, the most memorable experience of this trip was when we rented a little beach house on the Atlantic side of Panama. Our parents slept inside but my brother, sister, and I slept outside on hammocks. I remember hearing the waves and looking up at the stars. I wanted to stay there forever...until the bats started flying around. During the trip, we travelled all around the country through the rainforest, into the cities, to the canal and visited the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean in one day! I still remember vividly even all these years later.
I am enjoying traveling with you through your blog! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!!! One of my favorite memories was our Spain adventures in 2012. When we couldn’t open our apartment door and our neighbor had to help us. Then a few days later when the same neighbor was having a party, his friends passed us beers through the window, and I spontaneously joined said party for a bit. Karin, you have always understood my type 7 enneagram heart (well before enneagram even existed). I am so happy and excited for you and Chad, and one day when I take my own kids to Madrid, I will be stopping at Mesón de Champiñones, to keep that magic going!
So … one of my great adventures occurred in Spain … and involved fùtbol. My parents and I had just dropped off your soccer savant husband in the UK ( RIP Queen ) to compete in a number of matches with an elite team of characters. The first stop … Mallorca … an island situated in the Mediterranean where our neighbors in NoVA would spend half the year. I was young … but tall … so after we got settled in I was allowed to rent a moped and explore the island … by myself. I had no phone … no map … did not speak the language … and had no experience driving a moped. But as you … I leaned into this amazing opportunity and took off. Cruised around Palma and the coast … found locals to be smiling and accommodating. After seeing a sign for snorkel rentals … I stopped and moved this exploration off land … to the water … and I love water and what lives under the surface. I was by myself … in this bay near a rocky coastline … it was rough water … and kind of murky … but found many fish and plant life … I got confident quickly and dove down better/under some rock formation and peaked my head into a cave and … whooooosh … a giant snapping sea turtle almost took off my nose! Completely stunned and returned to the surface and regrouped to catch my breath. I waded in that bay … just looking around … stunned at the beauty … and kind of nervous at what else might be under the surface that saw me as lunch. So … I returned to the beach … jumped back on the moped … and continued down the coast … I knew then how small I was compared to this vast ocean. Went back through the towns and saw this older woman … making some Pallella … in a sleeveless dress … she noticed me watching her … and raise her massive arm and waved … and I was shocked at seeing the dark armpit hair waving in the breeze. I did not know that was possible … the shock of that visual stayed with me as I climbed the sketchy road back to the top of mountain. So much much so I lost control of the moped and wrecked. But it was only flesh wound.
Hello Karin and happy birthday! What a journey you two are on! Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us.
I remember taking our kids to Aruba years ago - it was their first time out of the country. We rented a 6-seater jeep to explore the wild side of the island - drove it all over the rocky “paths” (if you can call them that) of Arikok, early in the day to beat any tour groups.
We snorkeled in Conchi as wild waves crashed onto the rocks protecting our tiny pool, and saw every color of fish imaginable. We stood on the cliffs of Boca Prins for nearly an hour, just staring out at the beauty of the sea hurling itself into the black, jagged shore. My daughter asked, “How can water be SO blue, and yet absolutely crystal clear - at the same time?” One of the kids spotted a sea turtle, so we all gathered to look down in awe .. a sea turtle! Swimming in the wild! Breath-taking.
Not far from Boca Prins was a remote bar - a literal oasis in the desert - where you could stop for drinks and the best seafood you’ll ever put in your mouth. They had a “fish pedicure” pond, where - for a few bucks - you could let Garra nibble away at you. Aaron wanted to try it (despite my misgivings) and I can still remember the laughter - his first, as they tickled his feet, then all of ours as we laughed with him and at him till our faces hurt.
I was so grateful to be present in that moment, not missing any of it: the minty mojito with the sweet and spicy fish, the crashing of the waves and my family laughing together, the feel of the breeze kissing my hot skin, the aroma from the tiny grill filling the salt air, and the utter visual beauty surrounding us.
In honor of your birthday.. one of my most memorable travel stories was when my family was skiing in Switzerland. I was 5 years old and my brother was 8. We had taken a break for lunch and right when my dad was in line to pay, the train that we needed to take to the top of the mountain arrived. My mom quickly loaded up all our skis and told us to get on the train. As she turned around to get my dad, the train doors closed and it took off.
I will never forget looking out the window with tears rolling down my eyes watching my mom run along side of the train screaming something. My brother and I were stunned and didn't know what to do. Here we were on a train with 4 sets of skis on the outside of the train and a car full of people who didn't speak the same language.
After eating chocolate from a stranger and randomly picking a stop to get off and wait-we were finally rescued by our parents what seemed like forever. (probably 30 minutes).
My mom ended up giving us massive trophies when we were back in the US that I still have today.. The plaque says: Courage in Switzerland.
PS My oldest son just turned 50 as well! One of his celebrations was with his younger brother (who is Jason's age) was a trip over a long (6 days) weekend over the 1st of September which included a football (soccer) game in Antwerp and a 3 day beer festival in Brussels. I guess the travel bug is inherited.
Happy Birthday Karin! What a wonderful way to celebrate! My travel story:
In 1969, when I was 22 years old, I spent three months traveling around Europe, meeting up with my husband’s Navy ship when it was on operations in the Mediterranean. Most of the time I was on my own and traveled via Eurailpass. This was before cell phones so no texting or email. Communication with the ship was either through messages sent through the embassy or a naval attache office. There was no Euro, every country had their own currency. I used American Express Traveler’s checks which were recognized most places.
After my husband’s ship was cancelled out of our first meeting port (Naples), I stayed in Rome and after a bus tour of the city, decided to explore on my own. I caught the bus near the convent (where I was staying, thanks to Arthur Frommer’s "Europe on $5 A Day") to go to the train station. I enjoyed the ride through the beautiful residential areas of Rome, until the bus stopped and the bus-driver indicated it was the end of the line and time for everyone to get off the bus. Uh-oh. Slight panic set in. I had no clue where I was or how to get back to “downtown” Rome. I’d learned my Italian phrases, “per favore” (please) and “grazie” (thank you), but it didn’t look like that was going to be enough to get me out of trouble. I tried to say the word for train station, but all I could remember was “Hauptbahnhof”, which was German, not Italian.
The bus driver didn’t speak English. Or German. When that didn’t work, I started making sounds of a train engine with my arms going in circles like train wheels and a question mark in my voice. After a minute the bus driver looked like he understood me – and went “Woo-Woo!” with a question in his voice, while pulling an imaginary train whistle. We both agreed, and he pointed across the street at the bus stop. I was on the right bus but had taken it in the wrong direction. (On later adventures I would think the problem through rather than panic.) I was beginning to learn that I could communicate in many ways, especially if I kept my sense of humor and used my head.
Happy Birthday, Karin. I am very much enjoying your travel journal. As far as travel goes, I consider myself to be a home body. The only place that I had a desire to see was Disneyland. However I seem to be a "follow the crowd" type of person also, so when friends or family suggest a destination, I can't help myself--count me in. A few of the places I have been are Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Germany, Poland, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada and most of the USA. I guess I would still be strolling around the Magic Kingdom if it weren't for my friends.
Hola and happy 50, Karin! I just checked to see where you are on your blog and here is your birthday wish! I remember see ing Picasso’s ‘La Guernica’ at El Prado with YOU, friend. Researching today, it is now at another museum but can be seen here
Perhaps near you? I am reminded of many road trips with you where we would swerve the car to ramble down a skinny rural road to arrive at destinations such as ‘The World’s Biggest Frying Pan.’ (Rose Hill, SC, USA. And it is no wonder now that you are venturing around the globe discovering such marvels in winding cobble streets, among mountainous passes, by rivers and fjords. Much love and baila, baila, baila!
Happy Birthday, Karin!
I’m thoroughly enjoying your updates from across the pond. :-) What a wild adventure you guys are on… love it!
Travel Stories… hmmm…
I could write about the time the authorities took me to a back room in Mexico to interrogate me. In the back of my mind I kept thinking, “Are they going to throw me into a jail cell?”
Or the wacky way I surprised a college roommate in Madrid? (Do they still have Limon Granizados? My favorite!)
Or my one visit to Mount Rushmore? After driving 200 miles out of the way and arriving after dark, I went to the restroom and when I came out the lights on Mt. Rushmore had been turned off. I never actually saw the presidents!
Or the time I got lost in Tokyo?
Or the most perfect travel day ever… Copenhagen, Denmark.
Or what it’s like at the top of the Eiffel Tower on the hottest day of the year and the elevator stops working?
Or maybe the time I made a renowned chocolatier in Amsterdam cry?
I’ve got stories. Pick one and maybe I’ll write more!
We’re loving our years at CSD. Kathryn’s a sophomore, can you believe it!?!
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY Birthday!!! … and “Hi” to Chad. :-)
L
A really big travel experience for me was playing ⚽️ in Brazil and Ecuador when I was in 7th grade. I made a US team as a goalkeeper to represent our country in a series of youth tournaments. This trip truly opened my eyes to a bigger 🌎. I still vividly remember so much about that trip (which says a lot)...the smells, tastes, the mountains, the passion for Futbol...all of it. What a gift to experience that at a young age.
Happy Birthday K Rock! Excited to keep exploring with you! Love you ❤️
Hola hermosa! Feliz cumpleaños! We are LOVING reading about your adventures together. You are both such an inspiration. Tim and I love traveling together too, we loved traveling with you and yours when our babies were babies, but traveling solo, as I know you know, is the most empowering and therapeutic thing I have ever done. Maybe because I never lived alone, maybe because I grew up super religious and married so young, maybe because I believed with my whole heart that we get what we give... for whatever reason, I never prioritized my own happiness. I was happy when my people were happy. I really was. Traveling solo opened my eyes to everything I wanted, from what I want for breakfast to how I spend my day to what side of the bed I prefer. For the record, almond croissants, hiking to a remote beach and swimming naked in the ocean, and the middle. May your adventures inspire others to live a bigger and better life than they ever dared dream. You have always inspired me. Your life is a gift to the world. We are all better knowing you. Thank you for living your dreams and making us all believe we can too!
I love reading everyone's travel stories! One of my favorite places is Chile, specifically the Atacama Desert. I think the reason I love it so much is because we totally winged it on that leg of our trip. We really had no concrete plans, just keeping on the bus to Santiago. Because of nights on buses spent pouring through the pages of the Lonely Planet Guide, each of us being, "Hey let's go there!"
we ended up watching penguins in the wild, enthralled by dolphins put on a show jumping and diving around our little boat (because of course, I speak dolphin!), then being dropped off in the middle of the Atacama Desert into a tiny town of adobe brick buildings to find a hotel to stay in. NO we didn't have reservations and the bus wasn't going back to Santiago until the next day. Total faith on our part. But we were rewarded with a desert that you could see for over 200 miles, and at night the moon would shine on the the crystals in the sand making them look like diamonds. And at night, oh at night, the stars were so close you ducked, sure one would graze your head.
Happy Birthday, dear Karin! Hope it was wonderful and blessed! Kinda crazy that you went halfway around the world for me to “catch up” with you after these many years! Thanks for sharing your adventures and perspective!💞
Happy Bday K-Rock! So glad you are on another adventure.
I am not sure which story to tell you so I will drop some tidbits of different places...we can always chat about them and your adventures when we get together again (thanksgiving week in Guatemala??)
Hmmm... Let's see....in Suez our "guards" of police left us on the highway...only for us to be stopped by two other police officers...who we had to bribe with $$ to let us go. In Kiev they turned the internet off at 11pm at our hotel even though the casino and strip club at the same hotel was open 24hrs a day. I got bored in Paris and rented a car and headed to Normandy...ended up spending the night above a cafe in Grandcamp-Maisy on the coast. I got to ride dual sports with the Carabineros de Chile who took me to part of the Andes mountains. I had more adventures on 2 wheels in Peru, Vietnam, UAE and Mexico. Vietnam is a place I want to get back to...the north is different from the south and Da Nang had great beaches. South Korea, live things in the soup was ..uhm...not expected. My short time in Warsaw & Krakow was interesting post Berlin wall. I had no luggage for a week while in Cyprus (luckily the equipment guy for the team gave me training gear to wear). Also in Cyrpus - super party tourist destination - if you are with a former premier league player, you get in all the bars and you don't pay anything for whatever you drink/eat. Beaches of Zanzibar are beautiful & isolated yet you can always find a game of footy somewhere- just like you can high up in the mountains of Costa Rica. A safari is in Tanzania is worth the money....bonus is if someone else's company pays for it! Toronto is a cool city and Vancouver is a must for Canada....plus they are just nice. If you want middle east with a spice of over the top riches, head to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Drive from city center going away and you will see where the city ends,,,,its amazing that all the buildings/construction just end and then its desert. Belfast Northern Ireland is a favorite of mine as I am into the history of "the troubles". It is astonishing that there is still a wall/fencing separating catholics/protestants. The cliffs of Ireland are better in person. The highlands of Scotland are cooler than the castles. You guys just hit one of my favorites-Spain! I was able to see Messi & Barcelona train up close and personal! So many games or footy stories- I will leave out!
Ok I just realized I am blabbing on....so I will cut it off. Get to Alaska. Best trip with the kids I have ever taken. Take a cross country trip hitting the dakotas, montana, wyoming & Idaho - the northern route. Camp under the stars...even if you are in an suv.
Travel travel travel. To me, it helps you understand the world better and opens your mind.
Happy Birthday, Karin! I had written a long... maybe too long... comment about our trip to Alaska that was a comedy of errors but I wasn't logged in and it was lost! So, maybe that was my sign that it was too long or not so funny! So, I will move to another favorite travel memory which was visiting Panama with my family when I was about 10 years old. My grandparents lived there so we mostly did day trips using their home as our base. However, the most memorable experience of this trip was when we rented a little beach house on the Atlantic side of Panama. Our parents slept inside but my brother, sister, and I slept outside on hammocks. I remember hearing the waves and looking up at the stars. I wanted to stay there forever...until the bats started flying around. During the trip, we travelled all around the country through the rainforest, into the cities, to the canal and visited the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean in one day! I still remember vividly even all these years later.
I am enjoying traveling with you through your blog! Happy Birthday!
Love,
Amy
Happy Birthday!!! One of my favorite memories was our Spain adventures in 2012. When we couldn’t open our apartment door and our neighbor had to help us. Then a few days later when the same neighbor was having a party, his friends passed us beers through the window, and I spontaneously joined said party for a bit. Karin, you have always understood my type 7 enneagram heart (well before enneagram even existed). I am so happy and excited for you and Chad, and one day when I take my own kids to Madrid, I will be stopping at Mesón de Champiñones, to keep that magic going!
So … one of my great adventures occurred in Spain … and involved fùtbol. My parents and I had just dropped off your soccer savant husband in the UK ( RIP Queen ) to compete in a number of matches with an elite team of characters. The first stop … Mallorca … an island situated in the Mediterranean where our neighbors in NoVA would spend half the year. I was young … but tall … so after we got settled in I was allowed to rent a moped and explore the island … by myself. I had no phone … no map … did not speak the language … and had no experience driving a moped. But as you … I leaned into this amazing opportunity and took off. Cruised around Palma and the coast … found locals to be smiling and accommodating. After seeing a sign for snorkel rentals … I stopped and moved this exploration off land … to the water … and I love water and what lives under the surface. I was by myself … in this bay near a rocky coastline … it was rough water … and kind of murky … but found many fish and plant life … I got confident quickly and dove down better/under some rock formation and peaked my head into a cave and … whooooosh … a giant snapping sea turtle almost took off my nose! Completely stunned and returned to the surface and regrouped to catch my breath. I waded in that bay … just looking around … stunned at the beauty … and kind of nervous at what else might be under the surface that saw me as lunch. So … I returned to the beach … jumped back on the moped … and continued down the coast … I knew then how small I was compared to this vast ocean. Went back through the towns and saw this older woman … making some Pallella … in a sleeveless dress … she noticed me watching her … and raise her massive arm and waved … and I was shocked at seeing the dark armpit hair waving in the breeze. I did not know that was possible … the shock of that visual stayed with me as I climbed the sketchy road back to the top of mountain. So much much so I lost control of the moped and wrecked. But it was only flesh wound.
Hello Karin and happy birthday! What a journey you two are on! Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us.
I remember taking our kids to Aruba years ago - it was their first time out of the country. We rented a 6-seater jeep to explore the wild side of the island - drove it all over the rocky “paths” (if you can call them that) of Arikok, early in the day to beat any tour groups.
We snorkeled in Conchi as wild waves crashed onto the rocks protecting our tiny pool, and saw every color of fish imaginable. We stood on the cliffs of Boca Prins for nearly an hour, just staring out at the beauty of the sea hurling itself into the black, jagged shore. My daughter asked, “How can water be SO blue, and yet absolutely crystal clear - at the same time?” One of the kids spotted a sea turtle, so we all gathered to look down in awe .. a sea turtle! Swimming in the wild! Breath-taking.
Not far from Boca Prins was a remote bar - a literal oasis in the desert - where you could stop for drinks and the best seafood you’ll ever put in your mouth. They had a “fish pedicure” pond, where - for a few bucks - you could let Garra nibble away at you. Aaron wanted to try it (despite my misgivings) and I can still remember the laughter - his first, as they tickled his feet, then all of ours as we laughed with him and at him till our faces hurt.
I was so grateful to be present in that moment, not missing any of it: the minty mojito with the sweet and spicy fish, the crashing of the waves and my family laughing together, the feel of the breeze kissing my hot skin, the aroma from the tiny grill filling the salt air, and the utter visual beauty surrounding us.
A priceless memory.
Hi Karin,
"Alles Gute zum Geburtstag und viele liebe Grüße"
as we would say here in Germany, which means something like best wishes to your birthday and all the best for you!
What an experience an adventure! Norway, a country I' d always have loved to travel to.
And Madrid, la capital de españa!
In August we were in Barcelona, so we might have an idea what you see and feel in Madrid. (no resident of Barvelona would agree to that :) )
We look forward to your visit to us here in Germany. Will be interesting to read your blog when you´re here in Germany.
Enjoy your stay in Spain and viva la vida, geniesse das Leben!
Best wishes to Chad. I am curious to see his tatoo!
Ferdi
In honor of your birthday.. one of my most memorable travel stories was when my family was skiing in Switzerland. I was 5 years old and my brother was 8. We had taken a break for lunch and right when my dad was in line to pay, the train that we needed to take to the top of the mountain arrived. My mom quickly loaded up all our skis and told us to get on the train. As she turned around to get my dad, the train doors closed and it took off.
I will never forget looking out the window with tears rolling down my eyes watching my mom run along side of the train screaming something. My brother and I were stunned and didn't know what to do. Here we were on a train with 4 sets of skis on the outside of the train and a car full of people who didn't speak the same language.
After eating chocolate from a stranger and randomly picking a stop to get off and wait-we were finally rescued by our parents what seemed like forever. (probably 30 minutes).
My mom ended up giving us massive trophies when we were back in the US that I still have today.. The plaque says: Courage in Switzerland.
Happy Birthday Karin!
PS My oldest son just turned 50 as well! One of his celebrations was with his younger brother (who is Jason's age) was a trip over a long (6 days) weekend over the 1st of September which included a football (soccer) game in Antwerp and a 3 day beer festival in Brussels. I guess the travel bug is inherited.
Happy Birthday Karin! What a wonderful way to celebrate! My travel story:
In 1969, when I was 22 years old, I spent three months traveling around Europe, meeting up with my husband’s Navy ship when it was on operations in the Mediterranean. Most of the time I was on my own and traveled via Eurailpass. This was before cell phones so no texting or email. Communication with the ship was either through messages sent through the embassy or a naval attache office. There was no Euro, every country had their own currency. I used American Express Traveler’s checks which were recognized most places.
After my husband’s ship was cancelled out of our first meeting port (Naples), I stayed in Rome and after a bus tour of the city, decided to explore on my own. I caught the bus near the convent (where I was staying, thanks to Arthur Frommer’s "Europe on $5 A Day") to go to the train station. I enjoyed the ride through the beautiful residential areas of Rome, until the bus stopped and the bus-driver indicated it was the end of the line and time for everyone to get off the bus. Uh-oh. Slight panic set in. I had no clue where I was or how to get back to “downtown” Rome. I’d learned my Italian phrases, “per favore” (please) and “grazie” (thank you), but it didn’t look like that was going to be enough to get me out of trouble. I tried to say the word for train station, but all I could remember was “Hauptbahnhof”, which was German, not Italian.
The bus driver didn’t speak English. Or German. When that didn’t work, I started making sounds of a train engine with my arms going in circles like train wheels and a question mark in my voice. After a minute the bus driver looked like he understood me – and went “Woo-Woo!” with a question in his voice, while pulling an imaginary train whistle. We both agreed, and he pointed across the street at the bus stop. I was on the right bus but had taken it in the wrong direction. (On later adventures I would think the problem through rather than panic.) I was beginning to learn that I could communicate in many ways, especially if I kept my sense of humor and used my head.
Happy Birthday, Karin. I am very much enjoying your travel journal. As far as travel goes, I consider myself to be a home body. The only place that I had a desire to see was Disneyland. However I seem to be a "follow the crowd" type of person also, so when friends or family suggest a destination, I can't help myself--count me in. A few of the places I have been are Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Germany, Poland, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada and most of the USA. I guess I would still be strolling around the Magic Kingdom if it weren't for my friends.
Hola and happy 50, Karin! I just checked to see where you are on your blog and here is your birthday wish! I remember see ing Picasso’s ‘La Guernica’ at El Prado with YOU, friend. Researching today, it is now at another museum but can be seen here
https://www.museoreinasofia.es/en/collection/artwork/guernica
Perhaps near you? I am reminded of many road trips with you where we would swerve the car to ramble down a skinny rural road to arrive at destinations such as ‘The World’s Biggest Frying Pan.’ (Rose Hill, SC, USA. And it is no wonder now that you are venturing around the globe discovering such marvels in winding cobble streets, among mountainous passes, by rivers and fjords. Much love and baila, baila, baila!