Italy, Germany, Scotland, England oh my!
It is delightful to have your own sun room for everyone should have their own sanctuary where they can confess their feelings and reflect on their life. My hotel in Inverness had two oak doors leading to a enchanting room surrounded by glass and had a small couch for you to lie down and just write. The window outlooked the gardens and forest and that is when I began writing my sixteen page diary on how I felt about my time in Italy.
As for Germany, well it is not everyday you can unwind on a boat sailing through the river Rhine and see a train pulling thirty huge army tanks along the way. I really loved how Germany has perserved the past and you can see how early dwellers settled along the river and the castles they built to protect their territority. I also liked how my mother and I were able to stroll through quaint villages and immerse ourselves into the culture.
It is also quite lovely that Jan decided to teach my mother the fine arts of wine. He tried to teacher her how to taste every delicious aspect, but unfortuantely my mother almost spat the wine out in her attempts. He also took great pains in explaining the nation's history and social background of the German people. It was nice that someone could spend time with my mother while I spent quality time with Iris and Vera.
It was so funny when Iris was showing us around town and would stop every few steps to ask my mother and I if we recognized where we were. We would shrug and say no for I think we were too much in a haze. I was (and still do) think in Italian and have to translate my thoughts into English so that others may understand me. I had a horrid time trying to go from Italian to English to German and so therefore decided to let my brain completely shut down, which may explain my ignorance in not knowing where I was...but my mother and I could figure it out soon enough.
I truly enjoyed my time with Vera. It may have been slightly brief, but well cherished. We met in Boppard and sat down for a lovely lunch and then went to the train station where we tried to purchase tickets to return to Mainz. The card almost ate my mother's credit card and we deseperately tried to take it out all the while looking at the train on the tracks saying Mainz. We thought it would leave any minuite so we were able to whip out the card and then we ran to the train. Well it seemed our attempts were futile for we sat there for an hour and half waiting for people to remove a tree that had fallen down in a storm and blocked the tracks.
We finally arrived in Mainz and yet again my mother and I were not too clear on how to get from point a to b, but with Vera's help it all made sense. Vera and I were able to sit down at a fountain and discuss our lives. It reminded me of the times when we sat in our bedrooms or couch in Australia and could talk endlessly about what we were experiencing. It truly was worth it for me. We all went out for a scrumptious dinner with wine, spirits, great food and great company. We ended it the best way..with Gelato! Iris showed us some great places for Gelato, but it was nice that we could walk the dogs and enjoy the walk.
Scotland was like the gates of heaven opening up and welcoming me with a warm embrace. Tears streamed down my face as I realized that I was completely awake in a dream. Everything I had dreamt about for the past 25 years, all the pictures surrounding my room when I was a kid, and all the times I would mentally leave Canada and find solitutide and peace in Scotland were all there right before my eyes. I was so completely moved by the experience in the highlands and Isle of Skye.
I was so mesemerized by its beauty and would often stare out the window for hours searching my soul for answers to questions left unresolved on this trip. I discovered some intriguing things about my life. I was able unwind with a great novel by Bernard Cornwell called The Last Kingdom.
I met with Ellen in England and it has been a true pleasure having her with me. She is a great partner to have around and we have done things here that I have not experience before such as the London Eye and watching her bungy jump in front of Westminister Abbey! I shall reveal more at a later time, but first I shall write about what I did discover.
As for Germany, well it is not everyday you can unwind on a boat sailing through the river Rhine and see a train pulling thirty huge army tanks along the way. I really loved how Germany has perserved the past and you can see how early dwellers settled along the river and the castles they built to protect their territority. I also liked how my mother and I were able to stroll through quaint villages and immerse ourselves into the culture.
It is also quite lovely that Jan decided to teach my mother the fine arts of wine. He tried to teacher her how to taste every delicious aspect, but unfortuantely my mother almost spat the wine out in her attempts. He also took great pains in explaining the nation's history and social background of the German people. It was nice that someone could spend time with my mother while I spent quality time with Iris and Vera.
It was so funny when Iris was showing us around town and would stop every few steps to ask my mother and I if we recognized where we were. We would shrug and say no for I think we were too much in a haze. I was (and still do) think in Italian and have to translate my thoughts into English so that others may understand me. I had a horrid time trying to go from Italian to English to German and so therefore decided to let my brain completely shut down, which may explain my ignorance in not knowing where I was...but my mother and I could figure it out soon enough.
I truly enjoyed my time with Vera. It may have been slightly brief, but well cherished. We met in Boppard and sat down for a lovely lunch and then went to the train station where we tried to purchase tickets to return to Mainz. The card almost ate my mother's credit card and we deseperately tried to take it out all the while looking at the train on the tracks saying Mainz. We thought it would leave any minuite so we were able to whip out the card and then we ran to the train. Well it seemed our attempts were futile for we sat there for an hour and half waiting for people to remove a tree that had fallen down in a storm and blocked the tracks.
We finally arrived in Mainz and yet again my mother and I were not too clear on how to get from point a to b, but with Vera's help it all made sense. Vera and I were able to sit down at a fountain and discuss our lives. It reminded me of the times when we sat in our bedrooms or couch in Australia and could talk endlessly about what we were experiencing. It truly was worth it for me. We all went out for a scrumptious dinner with wine, spirits, great food and great company. We ended it the best way..with Gelato! Iris showed us some great places for Gelato, but it was nice that we could walk the dogs and enjoy the walk.
Scotland was like the gates of heaven opening up and welcoming me with a warm embrace. Tears streamed down my face as I realized that I was completely awake in a dream. Everything I had dreamt about for the past 25 years, all the pictures surrounding my room when I was a kid, and all the times I would mentally leave Canada and find solitutide and peace in Scotland were all there right before my eyes. I was so completely moved by the experience in the highlands and Isle of Skye.
I was so mesemerized by its beauty and would often stare out the window for hours searching my soul for answers to questions left unresolved on this trip. I discovered some intriguing things about my life. I was able unwind with a great novel by Bernard Cornwell called The Last Kingdom.
I met with Ellen in England and it has been a true pleasure having her with me. She is a great partner to have around and we have done things here that I have not experience before such as the London Eye and watching her bungy jump in front of Westminister Abbey! I shall reveal more at a later time, but first I shall write about what I did discover.
posted by Ophelia Pace at 1:25 PM
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