The Trip's End

Today they left. ...all three of the killer aunts.   Joyce and Mom back to Texas and Tita to Florida.  

After I dropped them at the airport I looked at t the empty rental car.   It was quiet,  sad and empty without them.

Funny how relevant to life that is.  I know that my life would be quiet, sad and empty without these three remarkable women in it.

I learned so much this trip. I learned about memories of their parents and hopes for their children.  They told me  about songs they wanted for memorial services and instruments they played in band.  About first crushes, childhood holidays and each other.

They are as different as the day is long.   Yet there are some abiding truths that bind them .....they love each other, they love their children,  they love God and they love life.

I feel compelled to be sure these things hold fast after they are gone. .... even after I am gone.   Speaking to my cousins,  it is up to us to be sure their legacy of love and family is not lost.  I have fallen short on this in the past.   I don't intend to fall short again.

These three saw Northern Europe.   I was luckier.   I saw the hearts of these three.

Jolly Old England, Yall

Up early and well rested, we were ready to take London by storm.   Okay,  maybe not take it, but we were certainly ready to get as much of it as we could in one day.

Because time was short,  we made the decision to do the tour bus.   Not normally how we like to travel,  we felt like we could see the most with a little organization in our day.  That proved to be a great decision.

We had a nice breakfast to start the day and it was a good thing,  we didn't even slow down for lunch!

Our morning started with a walking tour to see the changing of the guards.  We actually got to see the old guard dismissed at St. James palace,  followed the band to the barracks,  then saw the new guard leave for Buckingham and followed them there.   It was a great, almost 'behind the scenes' tour,  but spanned more than a mile at a fairly brisk pace.   I had told the guide that a couple of us mught lag behind at times,  but she kept an eye on all the killer aunts for me.   At one point she told me she couldn't find the "red one", referring to Tita and her red coat.   Not to worry, she had lagged behind to get an up lose look at the handsome young guards. .... go figure.

We all made it to the palace with the group and enjoyed watching the crowds as much as looking at the palace.   There were all sorts of people.... everywhere.

After the walking tour we boarded a bus for a 2.5 hour overview of London.   The guide portion was not live, but instead taped and played through head phones.  I think the other passengers on the bus got more than their money's worth,  as they got the three sisters comedy show as well.   Tita's headphone didn't work so she had to share with mom. ... one ear bud for each of them.  They had a hard time remembering they were attached to one another,  and spent a lot of time  jerking each other around by the ears.  Across the aisle Joyce was oblivious  to the "attached at the ears" sisters,  but provided her own entertainment for the crowd.   She had many questions and comments about the tour, and forgetting that she had ear phones in, she asked them all really loudly.   Often couldn't hear the answer,  resulting in  a loud,  "huh?".  There were smiles and giggles all around us.  Have I mentioned I really love these women? 

We saw Piccadilly Circus,  Trafalgar Square, St. Pauls church,  Westminster Abbey, Parliament,  Big Ben,  the London Eye,  Tower Bridge and countless other historic spots in the course of that 2.5 hours.   Afterwards, we walked through London tower,  took a boat ride down the Thames and capped off the day with a walk from Parliament to Trafalgar so we could get better photos. 

I was so proud of Aunt Joyce,  who really didn't feel up to doing all that walking.  She held her own quite well, even climbing the stairs at the tower to see the wall carvings of those held prisoner there. 

We ended the day with a well deserved dinner at a local pub.  What a great last day together.

Some Chuckles, a Chunnel and a King Who Chops Off Heads

Well day 9 started out like most other days. .. giggles turned into laughter,  this time at Tita ' expense.   You see, our room in Agnetz was, hmmm, unique.  It had a double bed and a set of bunk beds.  This didn't seem problematic at first. Since I got up least often in the night to use the bathroom, I was the obvious choice for the top bunk.   

Soon we discovered these bunks were definitely made for kids,  and despite my demeanor,  my stature is certainly not that of a child.  Simply put, I was too big for the top bunk.   Tita was the next choice. .. so tentatively she climbed up.   Yep.   She fit and it was safe. We could sleep soundly. 

As the sisters started to stir early the next morning,  Tita decided it was time to come down. Easier said than done.   I woke to giggles and groans and saw Aunt Joyce standing under Tita,  trying to give her a boost,  as evidently Tita was stuck mid dismount.   When I offered my early morning advice. .." just jump", the giggles broke into laughter at the visual of Tita leaping off the top bunk right onto Mom, who was supervising while still in bed. 

With the use of the ladder,  the wall and Aunt Joyce's head,  Tita finally got down.  Bunk beds  should come with instructions and an age limit. 

After breakfast, we headed for the chunnel, the train tunnel that runs under the English channel.   The French countryside here was beautiful and again we had perfect weather.  Since we found it was easy to take our car over on the chunnel,  we had opted to do that instead of leaving the car in France as we originally planned.   At the chunnel entrance we made fast friends with the customs officers and got ready to board .  This train carries only vehicles and shortens the trip to the UK to 35 minutes!   

We disembarked to a sort of familiar language but a very foreign way of driving.  Though I had driven in the UK before,  this time I would be driving a left side driver vehicle,  adding a little twist to it.   There was only a brief period of panicked looks from the passengers before they settled in and relaxed. 

Wasting no time,  we went straight to Hampton Gardens, 16th century castle and home to Henry VII.  Well we went almost straight there.  We made a quick stop for fish and chips first!

Though mom and I had been before, every season is different at the castle.  We enjoyed it just as much as Joyce and Tita.   If course the telling if the story of Henry and his wives turned into a 16th century "who's on first" routine.   I am confident they know Henry was a king. ...... anything else I wouldn't bet on.

We have a really long day planned for tomorrow so we decided to forego any evening activities. .... Not even a pub tonight... And hit the hay!

Apologies for the lack of photos today.... Am posting from my phone and had some trouble uploading.  Hopefully all the technical issues will be resolved by next post.

By the way.... the car is still running just fine!

Goodbye Alps, Hello Trouble?

Well,  the trip had been without disaster this far... but never fear, I would do my best to change that today.

The day started off typically. ... up early and on the road to see as much as we could possibly see in one day.  We left France just long enough to venture into Switzerland, going through the beautiful and historic city of Geneva.

Post Geneva , we left the Alps and drove into the pretty rolling hills of north east France.  Our first gas stop in France would prove to be a game changer..... almost.  We were at about a quarter of a tank of fuel and when i tried to fill up, the  car was not cooperating.   Aunt Joyce, at my urging,  came to my rescue, ..... her rat tail comb was just the tool I needed.   We filled up and  were off.

Almost immediately, the car was running differently.   It was sputtering and coughing a bit,  but still moving quickly down the road.  About noon and still a couple of hours out of Paris, we stopped for lunch.   The sisters went on to eat but I,  in need of a power nap,  stayed in the car, asking them to bring me something to go.  They came back after a bit.... and we were ready to hit the road again.   We were ready... our BMW was not.  It simply would not start.

Well after  30 minutes or so we decided it was something we couldn't fix and I started trying to call the rental company.   After an hour on the phone and LOTS of miscomunication, they finally understood that we were in the middle of rural France and needed help!  About that time, Tita came running in to where I was on the phone.  She had gotten it started! Amazing!!!  Thank you God and Tita!

It was running. ... badly. ... but running nonetheless.   Thinking I had gotten some bad fuel, the sisters all agreed I should top off the tank at the nearby gas station.   As I was trying to pull the green diesel handle from the pump, I realized something.   In France. .. diesel  handles are blue, gasoline handles are green.   OMG....I'd filled the tank on the diesel engine with gas!!  In my defense...... we are in a foreign country,  with a language I don't really speak.  How could I be expected to know that diesel in French was. .... Well. ...Le diesel??????

When mom handed me the slip of paper from the glove box that said they were not responsible for damage done by improper fueling, my heart sank.   Had I really just " bought" us a broken down BMW?

Well... it was running. ... right?   How much worse could it get? So. .. after topping off the tank with the RIGHT fuel,  we started sputtering our way towards Paris.   After thirty miles or so it seemed to be running much better.  Our minds relieved,  we decided to 'relieve' the rest of us... and stopped for a potty break.

Ready to head out again. ...you guessed it... it wouldn't start. Ready to throw in the towel, the sisters coached me through it. Aunt Joyce finally yelling "PULSE IT" fron the back.  Pulse it... Really? ???   But she was right. .. it started again!  I love these women!

By the time we got to Paris it was running better and even though we were later than planned and it was raining, Paris was magical.   I, though normally not a fan of Paris, found it especially wonderful. ..... maybe because several times during the day I had wondered if we would make it there at all.

Despite the rain, we saw everything on our agenda except Notre Dame.   The hunchback will have to wait until next time.  The sisters even got in their obligatory sis pic.

As the sun went down and lights came up, the city became even more magical.   After a quick game of Arc d Triumphe demolition derby, we said goodbye to the city of lights and drove to Agnetz France where we were spending the night.

Whew!

Alps, Oops and Yummm

After a good night's sleep we  decided to forego less interesting tollways and head out for the small villages of the Italian Alps.   Now,  many of you have wondered just how we have managed to find our way on all of these off the beaten path roads.  With today's gps technology, we've never been without explicit directions.

At least it entertained us!

So our trusty gps led us up... and up....and up a winding narrow Alpine Road.   We went up until we were in the clouds and then above the clouds.  We took our time, not only because the roads were a bit scary but also because the sights were so breath taking.

We found Torino,  home of the Olympics in 2006.  We were shocked at what a small little town this was and obviously, when the Olympics packed up and left, so did the crowds.


At one point  at the tip top of one of the mountains, the road ended. ...It  was closed ahead.   This would not be an issue most places,  just take the detour..... but on the top of a mountain, the only way back down is the way you came and u turns on single lane roads with no guard rails are a little precarious.

Though the road closing made us  re-route onto a highway for a while, we did get to go through Milan on the new route, so all was not lost.   Plus, the lack of great scenery gave the sisters a chance to share with me some treasured memories from their childhood.

Finally able to get back onto our Alpine route,  we stopped at Albertsville for the night and stayed in a ski chalet that normally slept 8.  We could spread out and there was a wonderful deep tub so we were all four happy as could be.

When we stopped,  Tita said she was craving a burger.  We all giggled a little that she was in the French Alps and wanted a burger.... but she got the last laugh.  The little Cafe across from the chalet had the best burger  and fries any of us had ever had!

Wonder what we will discover tomorrow.

Hitler, Hams and Herr Hindend

Thanks to our new friends Peta and Ronnie we were off to an early start to see some "off the itinerary" sites. They had suggested we be sure to check out Bertschengarten,  home of a salt mine that has been in operation since the 1500s and the Eagle's Nest,  Hitler's villa that was his pride and joy.

This trip required us to backtrack into Germany but since the US bombing and destruction of the Eagle's Nest was a particularly proud moment in US history we decided it was worth it.

Unfortunately both sites were closed for the winter but the area was interesting and we found a shall shop with a knowledgeable clerk. She directed us to some books and dvd's about the importance of this part of WWII history.   Even with the detour we felt like it was worth it.

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After leaving the shop we found ourselves smack dab on top of the highest alp in the area.  So what do the sisters from Texas do when  the find themselves atop an alp?

I love these women!

After yodeling their way back out of Germany and into Austria,  we were headed to the village of Innsbruck.   The site of the Olympics several decades ago, this is a great place.   It is exactly what you would expect of an Alpine ski village.   It had a touch of everything. ... Olympic sites,  castles,  cute stores,  and to keep everything in working order. .. the duo we like to call Herr Smiley and Herr Hindend....

This photo was taken on our 3rd trip around the block.  This first he was bent over and exposing his entire back side. ... But we were all laughing to hard to get the photo.  The second he was facing the wing way and finally on the this we got the shot!   Just goes to show 'redneck' knows no boundaries.

Leaving Innsbruck we traveled into the Italian Alps.  There was a marked difference in the areas even though the topography was the same.  Gone were the cute little villages of Bavaria and Austria. .. replaced by century old utilitarian bulldogs and LOTS of vineyards. Grape vines grew everywhere there was a spare bit of land.

We stopped for the night in the small town of Trento Italy. While not really quaint or beautiful we did find something incredible about this spot. ... The food!   I did a little research and we set out to a little restaurant called Orso Grigio.  We, of course, were the only Americans there. ... the only English speaking guests as a matter of fact.   While we shied away from the filet of foal,  we ate incredible handmade pastas,  veal and fresh perch. .... drank some great wine and topped it off with desserts to die for.   Fabio, the owner, had quite the crush on Tita,  and while he couldn't speak English he made it clear with his gift of after dinner drinks and a bottle of the wine that she loved to take home with her.  We started to get a picture of the two of them,  but then thought better of it.  In this case,  the memory of the charming Italian restauranteur named Fabio is much more attractive without the photo!

 We feel sure that this time. .. we must really have had the best meal of the trip.
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The Alps, The Family Trapp and Family...Trapped!!!!

Off to another good start on day five of our family adventure. ...  we left Munich headed for what is touted as one of the most beautiful drives in the world, The German Alpine Road.

One might think that by now four women in a small car, together constantly, would start to get on one another's nerves. ... hence the family trapped comment.  Well in all honesty....someone is, in fact,  becoming more and more irritating everyday with her dumb jokes, bad singing and endless stories.....But the Killer Aunts are being very patient with me.

So off we head, in the direction of Neuschwanstein Castle... the most famous castle in Germany. The trip there was easily our best day of driving yet.  We drove through THE MOST amazingly picturesque villages you could ever imagine.   Each one looked to be straight out of a story book and the countryside in between the villages was alternately the evil forest and Jack's little farm pre-beanstalk. We took four hours to make what normally should have been an hour drive because we kept stopping and exploring.

An interesting part of each little village was a prominantly placed Maypole.  They we all at least 30 feet tall and we spent the entire day wondering what the heck they were ... Thank goodness fot the Internet.  This entire region is obviously supported by the lumber and wood industry. ... but even with the variety of trees available, it was amazing how tall and straight these Maypoles were.

As we approached the first castle we could see it peeping out of the clouds l. I can't describe and the photos don't show just how incredible it looked.  It was just as magical as we got close. It was truly a fairy tale castle.   

After a busy morning of village hopping and castle  chasing we decided it was time to reward ourselves with some good Bavarian food and thought an authentic biergarten was the perfect spot to do so.   We were right.   Cold local beer with sausages,  cheeses,  and bread definitely hit the spot.  Our best find at the local joint however were out two new friends Peta and Ronnie.  They told us lore of the area, some places to be sure to see and some funny stories about growing up German.  They even attempted to teach us some German. When Ronnie was telling me that felin danka meant thank you very much,  Aunt Joyce, hearing only part of the conversion jumped right in.  "Hi Felin, I'm Joyce".  He looked confused. .... And we laughed.   Tomorrow we are gong to work on listening to all of a conversation before jumping in. 

Leaving the biergarten we headed to Salzburg.  At a round-about we heard several cars honking and people shouting.  Since I was in my lane this time and going the correct direction, I assumed some other bad driver was on the road.  The honking and yelling continued... weird. .... And we could hear it remarkably well.... weirder.  But still, I seemed to be breaking few if any traffic laws.  I looked in my rearview mirror and discovered why the commotion and why we could hear it so well..... our hatchback was open!  I pulled over,  Tita and I jumped out to survey the damage.  While trying to determine what was missing, two heroes showed up....one driving and honking, trying to catch and alert us, the other running down the road carrying our dropped suitcase.   Morals of the story. .. Bavarians are exceedingly nice and I am not yet proficient at operating our vehicle.

An hour later we had arrived at our place to stay... incredibly the real, authentic, actual von Trapp home.   What a great experience.  It was simple and elegant. We had the entire downstairs to ourselves.  We had a great time exploring,  especially Aunt Joyce who explored herself right into the room of the only other guests at the villa.  Once again we were amused. .... Them.... Not so much.  We turned in for the night and read more about the actual facts of the von Trapp family's lives.  The only negative.... if we had to say there was one, was when we discovered that they had not fled Austria on foot over the mountains, but instead left by train.  The aunts just might be happy because now I will not try to drag them on a hike over the escape route tomorrow.