DAY 55
Friday June 24 2005
Some reflections:
I encourage anyone to do this Eastern Europe trip with Rick Steves Company. It is really worth it.
What I don't encourage is to do it with Kasha has a guide. She's good but not great. She will never make the greatest guides category. Although, I am spoiled, I have had some really great guides in the past.
For instance, when people approach her about complaints she totally stonewalls them, but she does it sweetly with the cutest of smiles. I have seen her do it to five different people and once to me.
Another thing, we bussed to Croatia today. It was a 7 hour bus ride of pure and utter boredom. God save me from a life like this! What made it worse was Kasha. For almost the full seven hours she lectured on the history of Europe, politics, and her favorite, landmines. My God, she should have stopped after three hours and let us rest our weary minds. I like it just as much as the next person, but for seven solid hours? There was no escaping it, the constant droning on of her voice, dear God save me from people like her. For several hours she read straight from a history text. She should become a pastor in her next life, it would be perfect for her, she can get on her little soap box and preach all the politics she wants to a captive audience. I have had tax classes that were shorter.
So go on the t0ur, by all means, just pick a different guide. Unless your a horny male, then she would be just perfect for you, all eye candy and sweetness. Have you ever met a woman that just wouldn't shut the hell up? Good God! What you poor males go through! There are several other problems, too, with her leadership. One annoying thing, for instance, is that what she says and what she does are two very different things, unlike Rick Steves, himself, but that's enough of that. Let's move on to the good stuff! :-) The saving grace of the bus ride was the wonderful picnic we had.
More Reflections:
The weather has been perfect. Absolutely the whole tour. Amazing sunny skies, just the right walking temperature.
I realized today that for once I am not a minority of any kind. We are staying in a hotel in Croatia right now and it is a big bus hotel. This means it is packed like a cruise ship with people. For once in my life I am surrounded on all sides by people that have the same travel bug I do. Man, what a pleasure. When I talk about my travels, like for instance to Norma, she and they can truly relate. Not only that, but she has the ability to put my thoughts and words into better focus, because we both feel the same way about travel. We both know what it is like for the other person. Wow! How nice is that? So, cool!
Croatia is a beautiful, but a recently wore torn country. I don't think I will ever cycle it simply because of all the unexploded landmines and the fact the major highway has no shoulder at all. To tour it is something else altogether, though.
The individual people of this tour group are totally awesome. We are meshing so well. This is all to the good as we are spending a better part of the month together. There are no grumps or obnoxious people on this tour. There is even one special person that has brought us all inspiration in one way or another. Was it the tour guide or assistant? No. It was a participant of the tour. She is in her seventies and as been able to keep up with all of us. I hope that when I am in my seventies I will have my full mind and the full use of my body! Enough to even walk ten miles a day or more! Wow! That woman is awesome! Go, Grandma, go!
Well that's all for today. I leave you with these pictures and something that Norma said to me at dinner "Enjoying the life that you are living, today!"
Good Night. :-)
At the park where we had our picnic.
Beauty in Croatia.
Joe.
Steve.
He jumped away right after this shot.
I am not sure about the color of water in these pictures.
See the little frog?
Charlie. He biked across America. We have had a lot to talk about.
At the park just cross the Croatia border. The only country on this trip that is not part of the E.U.
Me, I wish he would have zoomed up.
A bird's eye view of a nest.