back to not-normal

 Coffee, cat, newspaper, fireplace, emails, daily writing, walking and errands galore. Still a bit of jet lag, but that is nothing compared to worrying about my country and democracy and this dangerous idiot Trump. Tomorrow is May 1st and there a protest at the Federal Building. I go.

the playoffs ~ full steam ahead

 Well, the Dubs are 3-1 in this seven game series with the Rockets. Very exciting games and lots of drama so I haven't been watching other TV. Except the news, of course, and congrats to Canada for electing the anti-Trump candidate. Hooray. My jet lag garners no sympathy but I am improving and trying NOT to nap during the day. Oh, the Giants are also playing very, very well. Many welcome home gifts!

another poem, please

 

A demand for honesty about where we humans stand in the world we’ve made lives at the core of the simplest poem by Jane Hirshfield. That is, nothing is ever simple. But her way of expressing this remains captivating in its clarity. This one is from her 2020 collection Ledger.

A Ream of Paper  I have a ream of paper, a cartridge of ink, almonds, coffee, a wool scarf for warmth. Whatever handcuffs the soul, I have brought here. Whatever distances the heart, I have brought here. A deer rises onto her haunches to reach for an apple, though many fallen apples are on the ground.

April is POETRY MONTH

 Remember when I worked at Borders and was able to merchandise the poetry section everyday in April? I loved that so much. A new poem daily for the endcap. Of course this year I was busy packing and unpacking, fretting and learning and making new friends in "now what town is this?" on the River Danube. And we remember that the best way to understand poetry is to read it aloud at some point.

Margaret Atwood’s recent Paper Boat: New and Selected Poems 1961-2023 treats us to some delightful previously uncollected poems, such as this portrait of a domestic surface and what lies beneath.

The Interior Decorator  I practise the outworn Victorian art Of hooking wool roses to cover The piano legs; limbs rather; but under These ornate surfaces, the hard Naked wood is still there. I am industrious and clever With my hands: I execute in paint Landscapes on doorpanels and screens. Down my arranged vistas, furniture And pillows flourish in plump scenery And on my table stands a miniature Lemon tree in a small china garden. It is prudent to thus restrain one’s eden Indoors. I never eat my bitter lemons And everything remains in its own spot Except the devil, who is under the piano With a fringed purple tablecloth over Him. I hear him sucking lemon rinds. I cannot make him blend with my decor Even with roses: his tail sticks out behind.

our final full travel day

 I need to write about this and I already know that words will fail me. About an hour outside of Prague is the Terezin Memorial, a fortress/jail where Jews were housed before being sent to Auschwitz or Dachau. It was so quietly powerful that this tourist just wanted to go into one of the jail cells and cry. The good news is that high school kids in Czechia visit Terezin as part of their school curriculum. Keep the memory green. This horror could happen again. Did we feel great fear recently when migrants were sent to El Salvador without due process? Well, we sure as hell should have. Trump admires Hitler. No secret there.

east is east/west is west

 ...but getting home is the BEST. Annabelle and I snuggled all last night and she forgave me for leaving her for so long. Thanks again to the Blogmaid for picking me up at the airport and to Heidi and Jen with 2 dogs for providing me with food and flowers. I will have a down day with lots of naps and I get back to you with another travel blog tomorrow. The washing machine will get a work out for sure.

a dog, a car and David in Praha

 I know you are eager to see these photos so I will post them now. We stopped at both synagogues with King David yesterday afternoon. Re money ~ we are all at that "who cares?" stage, tired of trying to figure out Crowns, Euros, blah blah. Going to the ATM today.

all Prague ~ a great day

 We walked, we toured we oohed and ahhhhed. Prague is so beautiful and interesting with a HUGE palace from 300 BC or like that. Travelers understand. We stopped to talk to EVERY dog and then bring out our phones to show strangers our animals waiting for us at home. This city seems prosperous but our guides tell us differently. Not exactly pro-immigrant, sigh. So after a bus tour we had lunch and walked more in Old Town and then took an old car ride home. Pictures when I get organized in SF. Promise. When we asked David the driver "did we pay too much?" his response was "yes, but that's OK." I dreaded last night at a tourist trap group dinner, but it could have been worse. Oh, yes we did walk across the famous Charles Bridge which was built either before or after the Palace and is filled with history that I memorized thoroughly, but will be forced to tell you later. Home tomorrow. That sounds so good to me. I think I will blog twice this morning so you can meet David and a cute dog.

downsized!

 

Here is the Prague Seven at Next Door restaurant last night:

Top from left ~ Betsy, Melinda, Mary Ann, Stephanie, Joey, Ginger.

Bottom photo we have Jim (with Betsy and Melinda again). We have our texting and bad jokes and complaints. Last night we discussed going from the controlled days on the boat to this new and looser way of life. Also ~ would we do this again if we knew then what we knew now? 

back on solid ground

 We packed up Sunday night and yesterday morning those of us who are continuing on to Prague hopped on a bus for a trip first to Regensburg in Germany (top 3 photos). The church bells went off with the news of the death of the Pope, such a good man. We had pizza (the universal food) for lunch and then finally arrived to the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Prague in time for quick walk. We are on the edge of Old Town and I'm already in love with this city which reminds me of Paris. Dinner last night at Next Door, some famous Czech chef. I will include those photos as I have a few moments this morning if/when breakfast arrives. Bus tour of the city this morning, then more sightseeing today. 

Passau on Easter Sunday

 Passau is a University town in Germany and thankfully no students yesterday. And I finally enjoyed an apple strudel and coffee at an outdoor cafe with Melinda. I miss those little treats in the group travel situation, but of course I am sooooooo adaptable. Joke. Very lucky with the weather on this trip. In a few hours some of us hop on a bus for an all-day trip to Prague and a hotel near Old Town. I included a photo of us lined up to meet our Passau tour leaders ~ I go with the gentle group to avoid as many stairs as I can. Traveling with a walking stick can be cumbersome, but necessary. Starting to look forward to coming home in a few days. Surprised?  Also, news. Sigh. MSNBC is on the tv in my room and I worry about my country and I salute Steve Kerr once again. And GO Warriors.

Saturday in Salzburg

 This was a gorgeous day in a delightful city that depends entirely on tourism and we were all out in force with our cameras and Euros yesterday. The bus trip was easy and informative and I am so, so happy that I got to see Mozart's birthplace (big yellow bottom building) and the inspirational location for Sound of Music. This morning we walk into Passau, meaning we are in Germany. Oh, the top photo is Moon Lake where we appreciated a Comfort Stop on our bus trip to Salzburg. Stunning, no? It is a privately owned lake which would appeal to Trump, right. Enough. No politics. Oh, Happy Easter!

Weiseenkirchen is in Austria

 Rain yesterday but we managed. The buses arrive promptly and we climb on at 9am. First we went to Durnstein, an adorable little tourist town and then to Melk Abbey which is huge and the tour took about 3 hours which is a lot for a woman of little faith. Today is sun and a long day to Linz and Salzburg. Tra la.

Vienna and famous horses

 

I have always wanted to see Vienna and yesterday was a terrific morning bus and walking tour and then in the afternoon a visit to the Lippizzaner white stallion stables in the heart of Vienna. Fascinating! The city was packed with tourists and, of course, history, and all the Mozart and Strauss music connections. I am up early after a pretty good sleep. I left home a week ago ~ amazing. Today some small town in Germany, I think. Oh, I am avoiding all churches, but St. Stephens (2nd to the bottom photo here) is huge and obviously important to Vienna. Onward!

Slovakia rocks

 The top photo shows us entering a giant lock on the Danube. Water management and all. A quiet morning and then a warm (78º) walk into Bratislava, a small bustling city with a ton of history. I vaguely remember the Velvet Revolution in 1999, that was here. I should have photos of the town squares and all the people eating ice cream, but alas, I do not. The tour guide was in a big hurry. Today is Vienna, a city I have always wanted to see. I am enjoying a quiet breakfast morning and just saw a big swan floating on the river. My river. Thanks to Terri for the good Warriors news and to the Blogmaid for another Giants win.

from Budapest to Bratislava (now what? where?)

We are zipping up the Danube this morning after another full day in Budapest. I FINALLY got on the bus tour and it was wonderful and we learned so much and I took notes and photos. Stunning old city filled with history. We were honored at the Chef's Table last night and then we all scurried upstairs and outside to see the lights of Budapest, including the Parliament Building, as we sailed (?) off and today is a walking tour, my first ever in Slovakia. Now, on a personal note, I just want to say that I did not start this trip in a 100% enthusiastic and positive manner. Thank you to the friends and family who encouraged me and they were right ~ once I settled in I am just so happy to be doing this. Traveling as an older person is not exactly easy, but hey, just do it. Happy for my walking stick and folding cane ~ and laptop and phone.