Author: Peg

The day got off to an unsettling start when a crown popped off. Maybe it can just be glued back in. But, I doubt it. I know, Carlton, wreckage of the future. Grateful that it didn’t happen in Europe. 

Since I was going to Father’s Day Brunch here at the Asylum, I figured that exercise was called for. So, Off to the small farm market about 2.5 miles away. I normally walk to the market and bus it back home. 

I walked by the wind turbine blade that was installed at the corner while I was gone. I can not see it from my window in summer. But, I think I will be able to see it in winter when the leaves are off the trees. It is a rather silly waste of tax money. IMHO. 

Back from the market, I decided that my one of my newest orchids needed repotting ASAP. since I had the kitchen all messed up I decided to repot the other new one. It didn’t really need emergency repotting, but it was growing in moss and I use bark. 

And then off to brunch. Where I overdosed on chocolate. We had a table of seven. Good wine, good chocolate, good company. 

And tomorrow I will try to get in to see my dentist and I will check my brokerage account and see how much damage has occurred.

Some days, technology just wins. And the human just loses. Today is my day to lose. Most annoying – I am absolutely and completely unable to connect my android phone to my Mac. It has always been a bit tricky to get the connection but today it was impossible. After trying every possible thing I decided to just download the damn photos to the Mac. Bad news is that I seem to be limited to 500 images at a time. This is a totally first-world problem. 

And, my mouse seems to have died. Well, that one was easy to fix. New mouse is on the way. 

Finished my laundry. Other than that, I had a leisure day. 

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed today.  Not even close. 

All I seem to have done is mess up the apartment which was immaculate when I got back home 26 hours ago. 

Tomorrow is another day.

After a fine plane ride, plus 3 buses and one metro, I made it back to the asylum just in time for dinner. 

While on the plane I did my after action report. 

1. I still love traveling. When I was younger I was limited by money and responsibilities. Now I am limited by energy and time. I know all too well that each trip might be the last one. Until the last great adventure that is death.
2. Business class is better. But, I knew that already.
3. It’s  not over packing to take a duplicate set of charging gear. On this trip one of European plug adapters crapped out. It takes 3 things to charge the gear: adapter, charger, cable. Any one of them can be replaced, but it will not always be easy. 
4. Once  again I over packed. 3 underdrawers, 1 shirt, 1 pair socks are returning home unworn. And, I really didn’t need the dress. For Europe, the skirt was fine. Japan or Middle East, the dress would have been better because it is longer.
   Travel pants and striped jacket still outstanding travel togs. They will be in the wash tomorrow. Along with all the other clothes that have been washed with shampoo in the shower along with me.
5.  Maybe it’s time to replace the back pack with wheels. But. There are a lot of stairs. Even today. From the gate, it was 3 flights down and the walk up the stairs onto the plane. There were lots of stairs on this trip. So . Putting off wheels until I get old.
6. Things that I lost: A pin from my jacket. My formerly favorite travel scarf.
7. Things I would have done differently. I would not have gotten sick, starting in Paris and getting better by the end of the barge trip. Spent one less day in Strasbourg and one more day in Dijon.
8. The cane is not a just in case item. 
9. The Allbirds were better than sandals for walking around at my age. Consider leaving the sandals at home next trip. Unless going to a beach! 
10. What’s next? Lose 10 pounds. Nothing like carrying a backpack filled with all you possessions around Europe to illustrate how much effort it takes. So, let the diet begin. 
11. The next trip. Well. Kona is booked Halloween to Xmas Day. But, Halloween is a long time away. 

 It was a great trip. 

Dump everything on the bed. Toss any junk that has found it’s way into the pack. Get out the bus pass, us money, and global entry card.  Then everything has to fit.  There is no alternative. 

Plenty of time before the train leaves to find the GraffitiHaus. There is a lot of street work going on in the neighborhood .  Somehow, I don’t imagine that neighbors are too thrilled with the paint job.  

This trip and half of Monday’s was on my 9 euros and ride all over Germany for a month pass. Seems like I should stay longer and get more good out of my 9Euros.  

I can see air planes from bed. That’s cool. Having a last good meal before returning to the Asylum and endless kale, collards, quinoa and suspect previously frozen fish.. 

Lift off is at 12:20. With a hell of a lot of luck I could be at the asylum by 6pm. I am hoping to make it back before 6pm on Friday.

Moderation just leads to long life, but I tried to take it easy today. The dreaded get back into the country Covid test is gone. But a long day of travel awaits on Wednesday. Tomorrow is just a train ride. The train goes right to the airport. My hotel is at the airport. So no worries. At least that’s the plan. 

This was wonderful. All manner of stalls selling just about everything. It could have been 1522. 

They are about ankle deep. Every street has one. Kids and dogs seem to love them. And lots of stores sell rubber ducks. Of course they are a hazard. But, life’s a hazard. 

Freiburg is a university town. I was out on caffeine quest when I noticed an orderly queue of students at on ice cream shop. No tourists. Just kids. 

ProTip. One small scoop chocolate, order double shot of espresso. Pour over ice cream. The college kids watched me do it. I wonder if they will try it. It’s very common in Italy. But apparently not so much in Germany.

I stopped in for either vespers or compline. The church and I both survived.

This is a totally delightful town. A good end to a fine trip.

 I knew that the town would be shuttered today. So, my plan was to go on an urban hike and seek out a stork.

AND

They are much prettier than I expected them to be.

Had a salad from Mickey Ds. Thank goodness it was open. And the salad was remarkably tasty. Urban hike is 7.5 miles. But I snagged a nap. Heading to Freiburg tomorrow. To Frankfurt airport on Wednesday. To IAD on Thursday. We will see how this plays out. 

Went for a little walkabout this morning before the hordes of tourists arrived.

Even found an interesting church. An empty interesting church. Église Saint-Pierre le Vieux (Old St. Peter’s Church) – the oldest church in Strasbourg, first documented in 1130; with several vestiges from an older church, dated circa the 4th-8th centuries. Well, that’s what the sign said. 

But, you know me. I am far more interested in wall art.

And swans.

That was about five easy miles. Picked up a salad for lunch. Returned to my room for a nap. Then I went out again, once again in quest of caffeine. 

I am expecting the town to be closed up tight tomorrow. So, there is a large park that I can get to. It’s supposed to have storks. And tomorrow. I need to make plans for Monday and Tuesday.  Thinking Freiburg? It’s so great to be able to buy European train tickets using an App. Thank you SNCF.

And. Thinking of visiting Germany this summer? This is awesome.
9 euros. 30 days

 

 

As of Sunday, no more Covid testing required to fly back to the US. About time. That removes a couple of hours of stress. 

Got to Strasbourg with no stress. Found the hotel fine.  And the hotel is fine. First thing I did was laundry. The barge wasn’t conducive to laundry. I really needed a a clean shirt and some clean underwear. 

This hotel isn’t air conditioned. Not a problem right now, but later in the season it might be a little toasty up here. There is a great little reading corner. The windows open, but no screens. 

just took a small walk around town. I am still pretty tired. There’s nothing that I absolutely want to do here, so, I am going to chill. And enjoy my reading corner. A walk and one cultural thing tomorrow. Then a longer walk on Sunday, when absolutely everything will be closed. or maybe a train ride. 

 

Found the sign along the canal. I know what all the words mean but haven’t a clue what the sign means. Is my phone going to melt tomorrow morning?

Speaking of tomorrow morning. Got a train ticket to Strasbourg at 10am. Gotta hotel too.

For now. I am tired. Too much food and booze. Lack of sleep too from coughing all night. 

Tomorrow is a whole new eating and drinking regimen. Lunch today was most likely the last meal of my life that includes a cheese course.

Time to get ready for the last dinner. After dinner packing. 

 It rained on and off most of the day. But it surely rained when we were finishing up our 6+ mile barge escape.

The other ladies biked. I walked as did the couple from Paris. The walkers got the wettest. 

Actually the walk looked a little bit like Kansas.

The professionals who operate the locks on this canal take a 2.5 hour lunch break. So from 12 until 1430, he has to secure the boat in the lock and run around and open and close the gates. In his copious spare time he was trying to learn how to splice a rope. 

It was a long day with a lot of damp/wet stuff to try to dry on a damp boat.

Lots going on tomorrow. Still no plans for what to do after getting kicked out of the barge at 9am on Friday,