Tag Archives: Europe

Woo Hoo…Planning a trip to Europe!

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I have brain pain right now!  The good kind!  I’m planning a six-week trip through 12 countries in Europe!  I’d like to visit Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Copenhagen, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungry, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.  The only one I’ve been to is Germany (I lived there for a couple of years back in the late 70′s).  I’m hoping to Couchsurf in some countries, stay in hostels or cheap hotels for others, and I’d love to meet some of my fellow bloggers (like I met Rory in Cape Town)!

I’m not set on these countries yet but if I purchase a Eurail pass they are the most convenient to visit.  I would get discounts on boat travel with the Eurail pass.  As many of you know, when planning a big trip like this–it’s so time-consuming.  To get the best deal, I’m flexible with my dates (hoping to leave in about a month) and with my beginning destination.  I’ve looked at flying into Oslo, Norway; Helsinki, Finland and Copenhagen, Denmark.  From Helsinki I’d like to take a fast ferry to Tallinn, Estonia (2 hrs.) and spend a day there.  Also from Helsinki there is an overnight ship through either Silja or Viking Cruise Lines to Stockholm, Sweden.  And…of course in Norway the Fjords are at the top of my list!!  Air travel is quite inexpensive between some of the European cities also.  Less than $100 to fly from Bergen, Norway to Berlin!

So…my itinerary could be fly into Helsinki..stay a couple of nights..take a day trip to Estonia..take the overnight cruise to Stockholm..stay 2 or 3 nights…take a train to Oslo, Norway..stay 2 nights..take the scenic train & fjord cruise to Myrdal..Flam..Gudvangen.. bus to Voss..train to Bergen.  Fly to Copenhagen..trains on to Berlin, Prague, etc.

Or…fly into Copenhagen…stay 2 or 3 nights..take the train to Stockholm..stay 2 or 3 nights..take overnight cruise to Helsinki..stay 2 nights and do day trip to Estonia..fly from Helsinki to Oslo where I start the itinerary listed above onto Bergen…then fly from Bergen to Berlin, then trains onward.

Or…fly into Bergen…reverse the fjord & train itinerary to Oslo..stay 2 nights..train to Stockholm..stay 2 or 3 nights…overnight cruise to Helsinki…stay 2 nights with day trip to Estonia…fly from Helsinki to Copenhagen…then trains onto Berlin, Prague, etc.

Whew!  I was allotting at least 30-35 days for all of the countries except for Turkey, where I would stay in Istanbul for 3 nights — then possibly see Cappadocia (where the fairy chimneys are) — and for sure the Mediterranean shore, called the Turquoise Coast, in the area of Fethiye.  I’d love to hike a few miles along the Lycian Way (500 km) which is located on the coast.

I would be traveling solo…and thinking I won’t plan everything this time…to let the universe do its magic!  So if anyone would like to meet up…let me know!!

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Bal Masque

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The evening that our cruise ship left Venice, there was a Masquerade Ball  aka Bal Masque.  It was fun to see all of the colorful and unusual masks!

Of course, Venice is famous for their masks…

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 ”The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are.  You trade in your reality for a role.  You trade in your sense for an act.  You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange put on a mask.  There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on an individual level.  It’s got to happen inside first.”  ~Jim Morrison

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Here are some lovely girls!!

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My mask was quite simple!

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Another cutie!!

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Don’t miss Rome tomorrow!!

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50 Things I Love

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1.  Hiking through the woods followed by a break

near Durango, Colorado

 2.  A beautiful sunset

Santa Fe, New Mexico

3.  Talking to a friend

4.  Pretty colors…the blue sky…green trees…colorful flowers

5.  Watching the snow fall while sitting in front of a fire

6.  The sound of church bells

7.  Having a great dream

8.  Cappuccino

9.  Planning a trip…almost as good as taking the trip

10.  Crying when you feel like it

11. The sound of crickets and tree frogs on a summer night

12.  Having a clean house

13.  Hot shower with yummy smelling soap

14.  The feel of the wind and sun on you while riding in a boat

15.  Finishing a project

16.  Getting the job you wanted

17.  A body massage

18.  Lotions and Potions

19.  The lazy warm feeling in the morning before getting out of bed

20.  Lying on the beach soaking up the sunny sun

21.  Reading a great book

22.  Wearing a soft sweater

23.  Stretching

24.  Petting a dog or cat and watching their eyes droop

25.  Listening to a great song while driving a convertible

26.  Taking a nap

27.  Feeling sexy

28. Laying down at night when you’re really tired

29. Sitting in a hot tub staring at the stars

30. Drinking a glass of good wine

31. Surprising someone with a gift or good deed

32. Visiting a beautiful European city or anywhere in the world…

Lisbon, Portugal

33. Laughing really hard and long

34. Wildly dancing for an hour or two

35. Feeling tipsy

36. Kissing passionately…

37. Watching a good movie

38. Cooking and savoring a delicious meal

39. People watching

40. Cuddling

41. The sound of the waves at the beach and…the smell

42. Taking a long sweaty jog

43. Playing with a child

44. Taking cool photographs

45. Winning

46. The smell of freshly baked bread

47. Flirting

48. Looking younger than you are

49. Being able to scratch where you itch

50. Believing in miracles and magic

 

As I was making the list…I realized everything on my list is simple, basic and doesn’t cost much money.  Except for the traveling part!  It made me feel good just thinking of these things!

The Twilight Zone

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I’d like to tell you a story about my adventures Wednesday evening.  I had plans to go out with a girlfriend and spend the night at her house, since she lives only 15 minutes from my work…versus a 50 minute drive from my house to work.  I’m on the phone with another girlfriend (so I was distracted) and I’ve only been to her house once before.  I received a text from my friend that she left the garage open, and to just come in.  I park on the street, gather all of my things, and

walk up to the garage.  I’m thinking…this is a little wierd…but I pull the single car garage door up–step in—and pull it back down.  I look to my right and there is a man standing there smoking a cigarette with a look on his face that spoke volumes–WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE.  I asked, “Is Cindy here?”  ”No, I don’t know a Cindy!”  “Is this 4466?”  He replies, “Yes”, still looking at me like I had three eyes!  My mind is racing, trying to make sense of this.  I then asked, “Is this _____ Street?”  With relief in his voice, he replies, “No, that’s around the bend.  The street changes names and you just need to go back around the corner.”  After meekly apologizing, I promptly swung his garage door back up, stepped out…walked back to my car…threw everything back in and drove away.  The story doesn’t end here.

Needless to say, I was a little flustered.  So, instead of looking for 4466, I’m thinking it’s 4406.  I find the house, gather all of my things and as I’m walking up to the house, I think, Screw the garage…I’m going in through the front door!  I open the door and to my dismay, there is a man standing on a step stool with his back to me, hammering something into the wall and there are two dogs racing towards the door, barking ferociously.  Is this the twilight zone?  I shut the door and am trying to decide if I should knock and explain what happened…as I notice his silhouette at the window peering out.  Turning around, I retrace my steps, throw everything into the back seat and drive off, wondering if he’s trying to get my license plate number.  Oh my god…what a trip!  The third time was a charm…I made it to her house!

 To change the subject…

Since everyone liked my last black and white photos, I have more—do you think they look better without color?

Venice - 2010

The ceiling of a museum in Paris

a doorway in Portugal

A restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky

Kings Island, Ohio

A Tree

Procter & Gamble Towers in Cincinnati, Ohio

 

Another odd thing, I now have 303 followers and 33 facebook friends for my blog and the numbers, 3, 33, etc. have meaning to me!  I know…hocus pocus!