Going to Europe is a symbolic trip for me; I’m funding it with a child support settlement I received a year ago.   It’s poetic and perfect.  I have been experiencing lots of struggles and fear of what will happen as I try to reinvent myself as an empty Nester and find a career that will pay the bills and be something that will give some meaning to my day to day existence.    It is hard to describe the feelings I have about this trip, I am 49 years old and I feel as if I’ve waited my whole life to see Europe.  When I was a young child (8-9) I had rheumatic fever and was made to stay in bed for a year and a half.  My entertainment was watching movies on our black and white TV.  These movies always seemed to take place in exotic foreign countries.  When I was in my teens I read lovely and innocent romance novels which also took place all over Europe.  They gave me the impression that life would never be complete until I had seen these wonderful places.  I grew up longing to be transported there.  Then I got caught up in the life plan.  Got married, had five children and suddenly my life was full and never a dull moment.  I spent the next twenty five years raising children and going through the ups and downs of married life.  And then life went on without me it seemed.  Slowly but surely I was not needed by my children as they left for College and jobs and marriage and now I have grandchildren to my delight.  And yet something is missing in my life.  So when my daughters French club decided to go to Europe and Monica (20) asked me if I wanted to go, I was thrilled to have something exciting to look forward to.  We spent the next year planning the trip.  Finally its May and at 49 years old I am sitting in an airplane at the Salt Lake City airport experiencing two hours of delays to Chicago.    The trip from my apartment in the avenues of Salt Lake City, Utah to Chicago O’Hare airport took seven hours.  After arriving we had a two-hour lay over and another two-hour delay in Chicago.  We have finally boarded the plane to London for the last seven hour leg of our journey. As we move down the runway a sense of anticipation erupts within me as we are finally on our way to our European adventure.

We have eight people in our little group.  All female; three are teachers, which includes me and the rest are college students and members of the French club.  Jacqueline (Jackie) is our guide, and will meet us in London, she is picking her daughter up in Denmark.  She has just completed a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  That will bring our total to nine.   Jackie is Monica’s French teacher.  It is great to be with Monica on this trip and to have a chance to experience Europe for the first time together.  Our goal on this last leg of this journey to London is to sleep and try to get our bodies onto their time zone schedule.  We have been instructed to drink a lot of water, it will help keep us hydrated which will help with the jet lag.  This is good advice and it also provide entertainment as we each take our turns to the restroom which seemed like every 30 minutes all night long and yet we dutifully drank an 8 oz bottle each time we returned to our seats.   Let me just say, as I try to stand up and stretch in the plane and fail ending up straddling a seat arm between the seats. What a night! There is really no way to be comfortable on a plane in coach.  The arms between seats do not go all the way up out of the way so in order to lie down even if you have three empty seats you have a couple of the arms digging into your side or whatever.  No one really got any sleep and now breakfast is being served.   The good thing is that it is almost over and then the day begins in London, that makes it all worth it.

The plane landed with a few bumps and weird noises and then taxied for what seemed a long time and then after leaving the plane and the flight from hell our journey through the maze of stairs and trails to our baggage and then customs.   It was while we were in customs that one of the girls has discovered she left her wallet on the plane, she had trouble getting help to retrieve it.  No one seems to be concerned.  They must have this happen all the time. all she could do was fill out a report so if it shows up they can send it to her.  She is so upset, she will have to call home for more cash to be wired.  I was a little irritated that not one attendant was willing to go back onto the plane to see if they could find it.   A few minutes later we were officially in London.  Jackie was waiting for us even though we arrived two hours late.    I want to describe Jackie, she stands about five feet tall or should I say short, has golden hair and hugs you the first time she sees you as if you were a long lost friend.  She is totally charming with her French accent and her command of the situation. She brings a sense of peace with her  as she tried to calm the students as they explained about the wallet.  Her calm finally won out  and Yes, I am happy to follow her through Europe.

Once we got everything sorted out we took a tour bus from the airport to the hotel.  The day is a little over cast with lovely London fog that we all have heard about,  it looked as if it had rained earlier.  The city was charming to see.  The houses were so quaint just as I had imagined they would be.  There were lots of trees and green lush bushes and beautiful flowers.  as we moved closer to the city it was the architecture that really helped me to know we were in London there were lots of flats (apartments) side by side and narrow streets just like in the movies.  We passed stately homes too that I would die to get a look inside, but not today.   We were so tired when we got to our hotel all we wanted to do was go to bed.  Jackie was the only one that knew they would not let us check in until later in the day.  Our rooms were not yet vacant and cleaned.  We checked our luggage and in an exhausted dazed march set off to see London.  Jackie was determined to keep us moving until evening so we would be on the right time for sleep.   Our hotel was directly across the street from Hyde Park and the Tube (London’s underground transportation) was only a block away.   We took the Tube to the middle of London and came up in the Piccadilly Circus area.  I was a bit surprised.   It seemed just like any other square.  I guess you would have to be there during the circus to get the full impact.  It was still a thrill to be standing there. Because I was in a jet lag funk I had trouble grasping that I was really in London, it all seemed surreal.   We managed to make our way on foot to Trafalgar Square.  That is when I somehow came to life and realized that I was indeed in London and it was magnificent.   A setting right out of a storybook, statues and pigeons everywhere it was fitting that it was over cast, I was in London after all.   Jackie kept reminding us how important it was for us to stay awake all day and sleep when it was bedtime in London to fight off jet lag, so we wondered on.   We strolled slowly to Buckingham Palace along a beautiful street with a park on one side and everywhere we looked there were the cutest little cars much smaller than anything we can find in America and of course they were driving on the wrong side of the street.  We passed traditional red telephone booths and very nice people who would nod and smile.

Buckingham Palace was beautiful and as luck would have it right as we approached the gate horse drawn royal carriages came from the side of the castle and headed in the direction of Parliament.  Jackie said this was a rare site since the Royal Family almost always takes cars unless it was required by tradition for the event.  I got some great pictures and it felt like I was watching Cinderella going to the ball, even though I could not see who was inside.  The gates to the palace were decorated with beautiful gold leafing and the guards were as impressive as I had heard. However, I can’t imagine what would make someone do that for a living.  I could never stand so still and look like a statue for such long periods of time.  Even the people who hold the signs for roadwork at home have it better and I never understood that job either.  They must make good money.  It was all very impressive.  We continued walking.   We walked through a lush park and saw swans everywhere we turned.  It was breathtaking.  I became a camera-a-hollic I could not stop taking images.  I was going through film so fast, I knew I had to slow down.  We wondered on until we reached Big Ben.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it was even in my numb state to look up and see the clock that I had heard so often mentioned and now here it was in all its majesty.  Westminster Abby was next I was amazed at how ornate and beautiful it was.  I loved the Gothic architecture.  I was overwhelmed by the thought of the age of the buildings we were seeing.  I had never before been in the presence of such a wealth of history spanning through the ages.  We kept walking and absorbing the feel of London until 6:30 p.m. London time.  Then we checked into our rooms.

The rooms were small with one double and two twin beds the bathroom was very small with barely enough room for one to turn around.  The bathtub was skinny and had high sides, but turned out to be very comfortable, as did the beds.  Our toilet had a hard time flushing and you really had to work with it to get it to flush.  I mention this because when you have four women in a room you have a lot of flushing and we all felt captive in the bathroom until it actually flushed. We were told it had something to do with old plumbing and water pressure.  Monica and I were assigned to share a room with two girls named Kathy and Melissa for the trip. We all freshened up and met the others for dinner in the Hotel and by 8:30 we were in bed and slept like babies.  I was so refreshed when I awoke I could hardly wait for our day to begin.     After a traditional English breakfast with fruit, cereal, an assortment of baked goods all delicious.  Some of the food made it into our back packs for later snacks.  Then we were off to check out Harrods the department store for the rich and famous, where they made us check our back packs in before we were allowed to enter.  I guess we look suspicious.  Actually when I saw the displays and how close  some isles were I was glad they took them.   We scattered, everyone went their own way with instructions to meet at the food court in one hour.  I am not much of a shopper and yet I love to look at high end stores, I find them fascinating.  So I know what I am talking about when I say I have never been in such a spectacular store in my life and I thought the New York stores were fabulous.  The food court at Harrods is, in my estimation, where all the world chiefs must get their ideas for design and presentation.  Everywhere you looked your eyes saw beauty and the smells that filled the air were luring you in all directions. My senses were stimulated to the point of over saturation. Good thing for me I was not hungry because everything is very pricey. The displays in Harrods were like walking through some movie sets.  No wonder the rich and famous shop here.  I made one small purchase just so I would have a Harrods receipt and then it was time to move on.  However,  I left Harrods vowing I would return and next time have enough money to really  shop.  We had to be careful because the London money exchange has been disappointing, the US dollar is worth less than the English pound and you can spend a lot and think it is not much because they mostly use coins for currency and it feels like change to us, but it can add up to some serious money.

We took the Tube for a short trip and came up again in Trafalgar Square.  The National Art Museum stood to the North of the square (I think) we were turned loose to take a tour with instructions to meet in an hour and a half at a church, which stood to the east of the square.  Monica and I rented tape recorders of the museum and took a tape-guided tour.  All we had to do was push the number that was displayed next to the art and the tape gave information about the artists as well as the art.  I have never enjoyed an art museum so much in my life.  I learned so much and stood before great works of art that I had only seen in books.  I saw Monet, Van Dyke, Renoir and many artists I had not heard of, but liked their work very much.  I bought two posters one Renoir and one by Catena Detail, one of the few women artists of the period.  She loved to paint women in hats and since I love to wear hats it seemed appropriate.   As I finished the tour and walked out of the museum onto the steps which lead to Trafalgar square the sun was shinning and its warmth enveloped me as did the feeling that I was having an experience which would forever change me.  I just stood and basked in the moment until Monica let me know it was time to meet the others at the church.   We walked up and down lovely streets and through markets where we stopped to browse and talk to the people who seemed to like our accents, what a kick.  I loved listening to the chatter and watching the action take place.  I felt like I was part of it.  Every opportunity I had I talked to people and learned information and made connections.  I enjoyed this because it made it more real, otherwise it would be like walking through a movie set.   Our next stop was the Tower of London it sits on the Thames River.  We saw Traitor’s gate and the Bloody Tower where the “little princes” were murdered on orders from Richard III and where two of Henry VIII’s wives lost their lives.  A beautiful London bridge stood close to the Tower of London and so we took the opportunity to walk over it.  I can’t get over the feeling that I have gone back in time as I walk into these amazing buildings.  It’s hard for my mind to grasp how old they are.  There were artists painting along the river, some using water colors and some using colored pencils.  I bought a couple of small pieces to frame later.  I like buying art that I whiteness being done it just feels good to pay the compliment to the artist.

We returned to our hotel to dress for dinner and a play “Les Miserables”.  We ate authentic English fish and chips at “The Rock and Sole Place” a traditional side walk cafe.  We sat under hanging lamps and with the ambiance only an English street and English people can offer.   It was humid and a bit muggy yet none of us cared.  I did have one awkward moment when the fake diamond necklace I was wearing began to bleed green all over my neck.  We had been told to bring costume jewelry for security reasons.  This way if it got lost no one cared.  We did all get a good laugh and I cleaned my neck and we were off  to the theater.   The building its self was so old that it was easy to picture Henry the VIII being there. Because I was with a student group who had not learned the value of good seats we were in the nose bleed section, which meant that you walked up stairs that had room for only one at a time and it spiraled up, up, up until finally opening up to a balcony.  Looking down at the stage that  look like a 12×16 box in the far distance and the actors look like ants.  We had a couple of pair of opera glasses with us so all was well.  I had seen Le Miserables in New York and again in Salt Lake so I had no problem sitting back and enjoying the music as well as the ambiance.   It was a beautiful place to be and again it was as if you were holding hands with travelers from the past as you rested your arm on the seat.  I loved every minute.  After the play we emerged out onto the sidewalk  next to the street and the dark sky of evening had completely changed the city, it was as if the world had changed.  There were the oddest dressed people walking around us. Apparently the theater district brings out a rougher crowd at night and although we found most of them comical looking, it was a real shocker. These must be the people of the night you hear so much about.  No worse than any large city, but with a very English flavor. Still we were more than ready to go back to the hotel.    It has been a great day, I am tired, but happy.

The next morning  Monica and I went for a leisurely walk through Hyde Park.  The park was quite impressive with its carefully manicured bushes and trees.  We were always delightfully surprised by how many people rode bikes everywhere.  It was especially noticeable in the park.    Because most people live in flats and have no yards people in London they seem to place a high value on these parks.  They have wonderful play areas for children with lots of ponds and small lakes with swans and canoeing.    FYI- It’s interesting to note that they have small daisy like flowers growing in their lawns instead of the dandy lions we have in the US.   On one side of the large park stands Kensington Palace, it has been a royal residence since the 17th century and is the official London residence where Princess Diana lived at the time of her death.  Since I admired the Princess very much I was excited to see it.  We walked around and were able to take pictures of her private garden because window like openings that had been cut through the huge bushes that surrounded it.  It was a beautiful way to end this London adventure.  We reluctantly turned back to meet the others to begin our journey to France.   We all met in the lobby with our luggage and then headed to the Eurostar Express Station where we boarded a train for Paris.  To say the trip was a Dramamine moment for me would be an understatement.  The fact that I get motion sick and am claustrophobic made this part of the journey a little stressful since most of it would be under the English canal.  Just the thought made me hyperventilate.  In spite of this once we resurfaced from the underground tunnel,I began to enjoy the countryside and the trip into Paris.  The trip took a total of three hours,  Amazing.  The country side leading to Paris was beautiful and picturesque and then we began to enter Paris it was late in the afternoon and soon we were on a bus from the station to our hotel.  It was so much fun to see all the words in French.  After we quickly settled into our rooms, which were again small and quaint, we headed out on foot to dinner.  We took the Moblis (Metro) underground transit and said pardon with a French accent as we moved around the French people. Jackie always encouraged us to use the language of the country.  Since the students were from her French class they were having a great time and I was surprised what I was able to pick up.  It was so fun to hear French being spoken all around us.  We managed to find the restaurant quite easily since Jackie spoke fluent French. (She was from Belgium)  The restaurant was owned and run by a French family.  The food was served in many courses and very slowly leaving plenty of time to enjoy the company of your companions.  It was wonderful.  After dinner we went for a walk up the Champs Elysees, the street that leads to the Arc de Triumph.   As we walked taking all the sites beginning to light up for the evening we passed the US Embassy.  We began to take pictures when to our surprise, it was surrounded by French military guards.  This alone would not have been a big deal, however they were carrying machine guns and were poised with their fingers on the trigger.  They were not exactly pointing at us but not pointing down either, it would only take a second to point at us.  It gave me a strange feeling.  It was obvious they didn’t want anyone to take their presence lightly.  They were also at all the underground stations entrances and monuments.  Investigating further we were told that this security was because just prior to our leaving for Europe there was apparently an accidental (?) bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, by NATO.  The Americans were being blamed so the embassy was being guarded in case of retaliation.  This was a very upsetting to run face to face with someone holding a machine gun pointing in your direction and realizing they would shoot if you gave them a reason.  Creepy, we moved on quickly. My excitement about being in Paris soon rekindled as we continued our walk.  In the 1997 new release of the movie “Sabrina” Sabrina says in a letter to her dad that in Paris you feel the glow of the pink lights and it makes the world look as if you are wearing rose colored glasses.  I was defiantly experiencing that feeling.   As we got closer to the Arc de Triumph I was overwhelmed with its size it looks so much smaller in movies and photos.  In truth we were like small pigeons in comparison.  The Arc de Triomphe stands in the center of the Place that Charles De Gaulle (originally named Place de l’Étoile), at the western end of the Champs-Elysees.  It honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the unknown Soldier from World War I.  Being there was sobering.   While we were there we ran into another group of US tourists who told us that the museums were going to be closed tomorrow at 6:00 pm because of a government workers strike and no one could say when they would open again.  Jackie said that this was quite common in Europe.  Someone was always striking over something.  So we will have to change our plans for tomorrow to maximize our opportunities. Paris is beautiful at night and I have fallen completely in love with it.  I can’t wait to see it by daylight and especially to see the Eiffel Tower.   We returned to our hotel and I had a hot bath and then fell into an exhausted deep sleep.  The end of another magic day!

The next day we awoke to the gentile knocking at the door around 8:a.m.  As I opened my eyes and stretched a cheerful looking lady in a maid uniform entered the room to serve us breakfast in bed.  The smell of freshly baked croissants filled the air.  They were filled with large dark chocolate pieces that melted in my mouth.  We also had fruit, bagels, yogurt, and other enjoyable treats.  We ate what we wanted and then again, tucked some into our back packs for later.   We were out the door by 9:a.m.  And off to catch the Moblis (Metro) and to visit to the L’Opera it has the largest stage in the world and was built over a lake.  This is the model for Phantom of the Opera.  The world’s greatest talents have been here both on the stage and in the audience.  Some that impressed me were; Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi, Roudolf Noureev. and so many others. Most lived in the 1800’s then there was Herbert Von Karajan who lived until 1978.   The building was so regal and I was properly impressed.  I wish I could have seen my first Opera there, but it was not to be.   Our next stop was to Fragonard at Grasse, a parfumeur.   We took a tour and saw how they make Perfume.  It was so interesting to see the process and how many millions of flower petals go into one bottle of real perfume.   It is no wonder that real perfume is so expensive.  We were able to smell all the wonderful fragrances and how they blend them.  They said that it takes a special talent to be able to work in perfume and be able to tell the different smells apart.  It is considered a great expertise and only a handful of people can do it. They are called “the nose” respectfully.   My daughter told me that I am one of them, because I have such a keen sense of smell or maybe she was making fun of my nose?   After they make the pure oils they sell them to labels like Channel.  These companies use them to make their products and slap their labels on them.  We were taken to the show room and were able to make a purchase strait from the factory before labels.  We cut out the middleman.  I bought five one ounce gold metal bottles of “E’TOILE DU SUD” which was my favorite blend of flowers.  I paid $10 per ounce.  The Frank has an exchange rate of 6 to 1, so I would have paid $60 per ounce in the US at an outlet, if there was such a thing there.  This supply should last me several years.  Wow!  I am in Paris and I just bought perfume.  Someone pinch me; I must be dreaming.  We continues our wanderings which ended in a park where we had lunch at a square with outside venders we ate crêpes rolled in sugar.  We walked along and shopped the venders.  I bought a beautiful porcelain doll for Ashley my granddaughter.  The park was lovely, I loved getting caught up in all the conversations going on.  They were speaking French and I had no clue what they were saying so I wasn’t really ease dropping.  I was  once again being magically transported into another culture and I loved every minute.  We sat at tables and took in the sites and relaxed while everyone shopped until they were ready to move on.  As for me I just loves acting like a native and just sipping on my drink.   We took a vote and decided that even though it would save time to take the underground, we wanted to experience Paris and so we walked to Norte Dame.  There are four bridges you can cross over to get to different sides  of the Majestic structure, It is surrounded by water.  The Gothic architecture is overwhelming.  The sun is hot and the warmth adds to the energy of this beautiful day.  Monica and I decided to walk over all of the four bridges  around the structure getting pictures from all sides.  I enjoy the people playing in the water and the apartment complexes that we pass.   I am trying to imagine living across a bridge from Norte Dame.  My mind can not comprehend it.  It is really an exciting, beautiful place, this city called Paris.  Europe is so rich in history and culture my senses feel like they are more alive than they have ever been before as I take in the smells, sounds and sights.  I am always feeling like I am on a high adrenaline rush and it is probably true.  I can not remember ever walking so much in one day and not caring. This is truly an amazing adventure.

It seems like every time I see a movie, which takes place in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is easy to see from everywhere in Paris.  This is not true, Paris is huge and I have watched for the Eiffel Tower and have not yet seen it.  I know I am in Paris, but it will not be completely real until I have seen it.  And now we are on our way to see it we climbed onto a bus for ease in getting us there.  Although I was excited I was not prepared for the emotion I felt as the Eiffel Tower appeared in front of us.  My eyes filled with tears and the dream of being in Paris became a reality and my heart leaped with joy.  The dream had come true.   It was a very romantic moment for me as I again completely fell in love with Paris.  We spent a long time at the Eiffel Tower learning all about it and taking the journey to the top.  Then we left to explore other areas around it.   We took the metro to the student quarters, as you often find in the cities many talented young and not so young people perform with their instruments in the tunnels in the metro areas.  As we were exiting the metro; the most beautiful music resonated through the air.  Soon we could see a man playing an oboe; it was a rich and beautiful sound.  I listened for a while and Jackie struck up a conversation with him and we learned he was trying to be discovered.  He had a CD and everything.  His name was Leg Yogan, I bought a CD from him and he autographed it.  He was an exceptional musician.  We listened to him for a while longer and then went up put of the Metro.   Our dinner that evening was at a nice French restaurant.  We ate a dish called Couscous and chicken and then when we were ready for dessert.  Unfortunately, we were all surprised when we were served fruit cot-tail from a can.  We all looked at each other and held back the laughter. Jackie would not let us say anything to them.  We were expecting a French pastry.  We found out later that the French believe that American’s love fruit cot-tail, it was not the last time it was served to us and it became our little joke. “Behave or we will make you eat our fruit cit-tail”  After dinner  we walked along the Seine River and as it began to get dark we headed for a tour boat that promised to be a definite relief after walking our legs off all day.   The cruse took us down the Seine and back again.  All the beautiful structures were lighted as if it were a party.  I think Paris is always in party mode.   Paris is a city of bridges and we passed under about ten on our ride.  It is amazing how each one is different and a work of art.  Someday I will return and spend more time exploring the bridges and taking pictures.  Paris is a definite must see again.  Everything is so ornate here it is as if everyone was part of a royal family and expected their surroundings to be appropriate.  The people are very proud of their city and although I have heard people say it was a dirty city I thought it was clean and well kept, just old.  Many people were walking on the bridge as we passed underneath.  They would clap and yell greetings to us it was as if we were in a parade.  In fact all the people we met were friendly and were pleased we were trying to speak their language.   After the boat ride we walked towards the metro.  The night was warm and the smell of flowers and water was strong in the air along with all of the sounds that go with it.  I was caught up in it all and felt very care free.  It was only around nine o’clock, but when you have walked as long as we have it felt like midnight.  As we walked on we came across a large monument which had been erected for a sports event or something, but had now been covered with flowers and all kinds of things.  As we explored we discovered that it was for Princess Diana.  We were standing over the area of the tunnel where she had the fatal accident.  I had always liked the Princess and admired her courage; I wrote a note to her on a piece of paper and placed it with the others.  I was glad to have seen where she died.   We found the Metro, but somehow got turned around and became lost.  The metro was fairly empty and it was a strange feeling all we saw were police and a few people looking like they were riding because they had no where else to go.  It took us a while until we were able to make it back to our stop and to our Hotel.  I had a another lovely soak in the tub to relax my tired muscles. I felt so at peace that night as I retired and again fell into a deep and happy sleep.

After another breakfast in bed, around 7: a.m., we were off to catch the train to Versailles.  The train dropped us off in a village on the outside of the Chateau De Versailles.  It was of course very charming (this seems to be my favorite word to describe Europe)  It was full of tourist trap shops.  After a short distance we began to walk on cobblestones as the impressive front ground began to the castle.  The castle was built in stages.  In 1660, Louis XVI  married Marie-Antoinette of Hapsburg-Lorraine.  Each King and Queen that occupied the structure before them added to the structure and gardens until the French Revolution when Louis XVI and Marie- Antoinette were beheaded,  Prior to the Revolution Versailles covered an area of 7,800 acres which would make it the size of the present city of Paris.  It is now about 800 acres.  It is a park  now and you can take a bus around the grounds or walk.  We decided to start with the castle.  Several hours later we had seen all the bedrooms or as they call them apartments (a more fitting description) It is said that King Louis XVI would ride his horse from one side to the other because it was too far to walk.  (I think it was like a couple of miles from one end to the other)  I personally think that is still a good idea.  Although now the ground floor is not dirt it is ,marble.  If you took 100 football fields and placed them in the castle I am not sure they would fill it.   I liked the hall of mirrors I think it depicts the kind of egos the royalty had.  I can really see why the people rebelled,  they had to build all this and were poor and dying from hunger.  It is here at Versailles that the people were rioting as the King and Queen gave huge parties with enormous menus as the people starved.  This is where Marie-Antoinette said: “Let them eat cake”  she was referring to what was left over from one of their parties.  I guess it is enough to remember that the King and Queen were 15 and 14 years old respectively.  I am not sure they were prepared to rule a country.

My favorite part of the tour was the Petit Trianon and was given to Marie Antoinette by Louis XVI in these terms: “Since you love flowers I am offering you a bouquet, it is the Petit Trianon”.  It was a small Chateau built in 1761 and known for its flowers.  Marie Antoinette  had a hamlet built near by.  She was from a small village and hated living in the cold drafty castle so she would spend most of her time with friends in the hamlet.  This hamlet is enchanting.  There are no signs of anything modern.  It is like walking back in time.  I can see why she preferred this to the castle.  Newly married couples travel here to have their wedding pictures taken here and I can see why it is magic.  There is even a Lilly pond with swans.  The Temple of Love at the heart of the Queens gardens, is made entirely of white marble.  This place is so serene and picturesque.  This is what I like to picture the French country side to be like.  So Marie had he play area and King Louis XVI had his.  We went to a place on the property called the Grand Canal it was built by Louis and it was a true miniature sea with nine ships, a vessel brandishing 32 cannons, a Neapolitan feluccs, Gondolas, which were a gift of the Doge of Venice and a galley.  It was a Royal toy.  The King would play battle ships here with his friends.  Near by was the Bassin de Neptune, the God of the sea, reigning over the waters.  It was beautiful to see.  And I have to admit this could make me want to play battle ship and war games.

We got some snacks in the village and got back on the train for the return trip to Paris around 4:00  our feet were sore.  Cobblestones are murder on the feet even if they look good.  We returned to our hotel for a short nap to renew ourselves before dinner.  We ate at an upper scale Cafe.  The dinner was good but my favorite part was an accordion player who sang “LaVe On Rose”,  “I love Paris” and Kay sa ra sa ra”  I sang the last with him, he gave me a wink and a big flirt.  It was cute.  Dinner was served typical European fashion so by the time we were finished it was time to go back to the hotel and a good nights sleep it was past 11: p.m.

We took the Metro home and got a little lost.  It was quite an adventure until every where we turned there were police and soldiers.  We saw a young man jump the stall to get a free ride and police ran after him.  There were so many that you would have thought it was a drug bust.  It was amazing to watch.  It felt a little like late night TV.  Tuns out he was trying to get a way with a robbery.  Jackie finally ask a Policeman directions.  We were a little nervous in this almost empty station in a foreign country and not really knowing what the law is.  I guess it is natural to be a little nervous.  I know I was praying to get back to the hotel.  We arrived back around 1:00.  We were so tired.  I had a hot soak and went to bed.  I think soaking my legs and feet are all that are keeping them from getting sore.

By the way I keep saying, “after our lovely breakfast in bed” each time I begin another day because it is such a novelty to wake up to a maid bringing you breakfast in bed. I just want to emphasize it.  Today we are going to the Monet museum of the Lilies.   This was the first day, since we have been in Paris, that the museums were open again. The line was so long that we decided against waiting since we were also going to the Louvre.  However, we walked around the grounds and took in a lot of wonderful sites there were many sculptures by Rodin, I have always thought that his statue “the Thinker” was my favorite and now I have other favorites.  Imagine walking around a park with Rodin statues everywhere.   We walked slowly in the warm sun between the Monet Museum and towards the Louver.  We had seen the Louvre last night on our boat tour it was all lit up and a massive structure.  It was built as a fortress by Philippe Auguste in about 1190 in Lupara (later to become the Louvre) many architects have been involved in the “Grand Louvre” project. Charles V was the last Royal to inhabit the Palace.  Owned now by the government it houses one of the world’s largest collections of Art.  While we walked we saw many French Mimes who were very entertaining.  Their costumes were great and they were very good.   Jackie was amazing, she got us in through a door reserved for groups with special passes so we did not wait in the enormous lines.  We separated with instructions to meet in three hours by a statue in front of the Louvre.  Following the map Monica and I headed to see the most important pieces, in our minds at least.  Three hours is not enough time to take it all in.  We saw the Mona Lisa, Winged victory of Samothrace, Venous De Milo, and Afradities among other treasures.  I am on sensory over load.  There is so much to do and see every where I turn I am experiencing history and beauty.  The Mona Lisa is a very small painting.  I was surprised; I expected it to be larger with the amount of attention it gets.  I loved the experience.   We gathered at the statue and began another journey to Momart, the artist colony.  This is the part of the city where Renoir and other great artists lived and painted it is at the highest part of Paris and we took a tram to the top.  If we had been industrious we could have walked the thousands of stairs instead.  We saved our energy for exploration and I was not disappointed.  The church, which stood on top, was, as we were beginning to be accustomed to, a beautifully ornate building. Surrounded by narrow streets going in all directions with a central square where we found many artists working and trying to get our interest.  All the art was for sale.  It was very crowded and I had already decided not to buy anything here so we walked and enjoyed the different styles and the ambiance of the area.   We sat at a sidewalk café and ate lunch and listened to violin music playing.  Services were just beginning in the church as we peaked in.  There were nuns in front taking their vows and an organ was playing.  I walked back outside and wondered around the grounds.  It was amazing how big Paris was all packed in close together yet sprawling for as far as the eye could see in all directions.  I was surprised by the vastness of the city; it was very much like New York only bigger and with out the skyscrapers.   We left our lovely perch and headed out to find our evening meal.  We ate at the same restaurant as our first night in town.  In fact they opened especially for us.  It was Sunday and they were usually closed.  The family was charming and the food delicious.  Before we left I presented them with a Book of Mormon written French.  It was a thank you gift for their kind hospitality.  They seemed very pleased.   We went back to the hotel and gathered our belongings and then  took a bus to the train station and prepared to sleep the night away on a train with couchettes stacked three high on each side with barley room to walk and no ability to sit up on the beds.  This looks to be an uncomfortable adventure, but in 12 hours we will awake in the New World, of Venice.

Excitement filled the air as we exited the train station and found that we were now in a world where you travel by boat.  As tired as we were from our train ride we rallied.  Surrounded by water the islands and Venice its self use water canals as the main mode of transportation. We loaded our luggage carefully and all ten of us onto a small boat.  Our hotel was located on Lido Island, part of the Italian Rivera.   As the morning mist burns off, the soft sunlight mirrors off the water to reveal a heavenly kingdom of majestic yet delicate architecture it was breathtaking.  We checked into the Regal Hotel and had a refreshing breakfast Italian style fruit, bread, cheese and juice.  Then we set of to see Venice.  Ferries connect the islands, these ferries are used in the same way buses or metros are used in other cities. They arrive every 5 to 10 minutes and take people to other islands to work or play.  I could not take pictures fast enough.  Everywhere I looked I saw enchantment.  I truly felt the spell fall over me as the warm waters of the Grand Canal carried us under the romantic Rialto bridge,  It is the oldest bridge across the canal  and was built in 1255.   We were ferried to our stop at San Marco public square.   Again, in addition to the beauty we were reveling in we also took advantage of the sidewalk venders.  As we walked along the water we watched many artists.  I was drawn to one who had a style unlike any of the others.  I watched him paint and when he finished a beautiful watercolor, I bought it from him.  It really captured the feel of Venice.   I bought several souvenirs for people at home and then began a quest for a purse.   Several years earlier Monica and I had been at a yard sale in Saint Paul, MN  and I purchased a purse from and elderly man who said it had belonged to his wife.  She had passed away and so her belongings were being sold.  He said they had purchased it on a trip to Italy and it had been her favorite.  I loved the purse and carried it everywhere. It was stolen from me a few years later and I vowed that I would replace it if I ever made it to Italy.  So the quest was on.  Monica and I went up and down streets and in and out of shops until the perfect purse was located.  Of course along the way we found other, must have surprises.   After such an exhausting search it only seemed fair that we made our way back to the square and lunch.  I had my first potato, pea and pepper sandwich on potato bread with the crust cut off.  We sat in the square in front of St. Mark’s Basilica, the home of the Golden Altarpiece, and ate our lunch while we watched the pigeons (thousands of them) and the small children playing in the fountain dedicated to Marco Polo.  The sun was warm and made it easy to slow down and relax and enjoy the sounds, smells and sights of this charming place.   Later we wondered over the other three bridges passing over the canals that were like streets.  Gondolas pass sleekly beneath us as a constant reminder that we are far from home and far from the world as we know it.  I knew it would be like this.   My spirit was again crying out to sit and be still so I took a table at a sidewalk café by the water and told the others to go on and I would oversee the packages while they made more purchases.  The time I spent there was very special to me.  I soaked in the warmth of the sun, the peace and the connection I was feeling.  I watched people and laughed at their eccentricities.  It is so impressive to hear so many languages being spoken and yet realize that language is really the only difference we are all so similar. I visited with those who spoke English and wanted to practice and laughed at how we each tried to understand.  My Italian was a little better that my French but barely recognizable.  The whole experience filled me with the spirit of friendship and love for my fellow human beings.  It was obvious that we are all Gods children.  I love being here enjoying a lazy day in May.  As it turned to evening  we had a short trip on the ferry back to Lido Island where a wonderful dinner awaited.  The Italians are interesting, the meals always began with Pasta then fruit, vegetables, cheese and your meat. Desserts were usually a pudding or custard or fabulous Italian Ice.  It was all very good and tasted better than any Italian food I have ever had in the states except for Mrs Papalardo’s cooking, but that’s a story for another time.   The one common thing that I am finding in Europe is that the food is very fresh and especially tomatoes are wonderful.  I can tell the difference in flavor between France and Italy, it’s the soil that makes the differences and yet the key is fresh from the garden.  The tomatoes are one thing I will never forget “Incredible”, I will never buy a store bought tomato again.  Nothing but home grown for me from now on.  I had forgotten they could taste this good.   We all turned in for a good night’s sleep and an early start tomorrow.  We opened the windows to let in fresh air and the sounds of the island lulled me to sleep.  After our lovely breakfast we were off to catch the ferries and the ride over to Venice again.  We spent time going through the many lovely churches.  We walked in Casanova’s footsteps.  So much history is coming to life for me here.  Some things I thought were just legend turned out to be true.   I walked the cobblestone paths and  bought a Pinocchio puppet for my grandson Taylor.  I had forgotten that Pinocchio was an Italian Story.   Monica and the other girls took a Gondola ride.  I decided not to because the water was a little rough and I don’t want motion sickness.  I continued to walk around weaving my way back to San Marco square.   Later in the day we took a tour of a glass factory to observe the manufacture of the world-renowned Venetian glass.  I have never seen such beautiful chandeliers.  They were very unusual and I will have to have one in a home someday.  As we travel the Grand Canal we can see the open windows of Stately Venetian palaces, with the sound of “O sol le me o!” being sung.  Occasionally we see a homemade flag hanging from a window in protest to the war in Kosovo and American’s go home.   Other than that there was no political or military presence easily detected in the city.  None of the windows have screens on them like we do in the U. S.  They have large wooden shutters that can be closed when the weather is bad. I learned that being surrounded by water has its curse and the curse here is misquotes and when it gets hot apparently the water stinks.  I learned this while touring a museum.  They had lovely red geraniums filling the window boxes. I had seen this often in the windows.  I complimented the woman watering them and she told me they were not so much for beauty, but to keep the misquotes out.  They have a special Italian bread of geranium that repels them.  I had never known that misquotes were repelled by geraniums.  It was too early in the season to deal with the smell of the canal and I am glad.

Always we return to San Marco square for lunch.  This time we were treated to a lovely concert.  It was like chamber music although there was a grand piano .  All the musicians were dressed in tuxedos with a tent over them for shade and I suspect to protect them from the pigeons.  What a treat to have a leisurely lunch lovely classical music.  I was hoping we would get a chance to see an opera singer perform, no such luck today.  We returned a little early to Lido.  Monica and I wanted to explore the island and so off we went.  There were smart looking shops and vegetable markets.  We headed to the beach and passed interesting villas with unique architecture.  We saw children playing in elaborate yards and some of the smallest cars we had ever seen were on the island.  Most of the beach was private and had elegant grass hut style shacks for patrons to change in and for shade.  Large umbrellas were everywhere with sidewalks and tropical vegetation groomed and nurtured for a lavish look.  The sand was white and so soft that I felt as if I was walking on soft carpet.   The Adriatic Sea was crystal clear and a beautiful green blue color.  While we were there we saw how they kept the beach so clean and soft.  A large machine would move around like a huge riding lawnmower sucking in sand, filtering it and then returning it to the beach.  They were meticulous in keeping out any garbage and unwanted materials.  Unbelievable what wealth can buy.  We stayed until dinner and then we brought the other girls back after dinner to see it and to find seashells.  The surf is more like that of a lake it was quiet and calming the sunset was beautiful.  We sat on the soft beach and soaked it all in and then found our way back to the hotel.  Walking back it was dark enough that  we were able to see into the villas through illuminated windows, they were intriguing.  People on bikes would pass and greet us with smiles and waves. I couldn’t help feeling like I could be very much at home here.  Of course I would have to learn Italian. Tomorrow we go to Milan.

After we packed up our belongings and transported them down stairs to the lobby we had a delicious breakfast and visited with our waiter Marco.  He is a very gregarious fellow and seemed to genuinely enjoy visiting with us.  He had been very helpful during our stay and we all decided he was the one to receive the Italian Book of Mormon.  As usual I was nominated to present it to him.  I had Jackie help me with an inscription written in Italian and gave it to him.  He was pleased with our gift.

We took the ferrie to the train station and then headed to Milan.  I sat by the window and reveled in the magnificent countryside.  We passed large rambling villas and vineyards and small farms it was all very beautiful.   Milan is an industrial city.  It reminded me very much of Pittsburgh. It is the center for Opera and cultural events as well as a major fashion design center.  Although it is hard to imagine as you walk down the narrow streets full of cars and smog from the factories or whatever.  We checked into our rooms at the Hotel Piccadilly (strange name for Italy) we had dinner and wondered around for a while.  It’s too late to see it tonight, we will see it tomorrow.  However, I should point out that this hotel has an elevator or as they say in Europe a lift.  This is important because we have not had one since London and all our rooms have been on the third floor or higher and we have to carry our own luggage most of the time.  I will never bring this big suitcase to Europe again.  I would rather wash things out or be dirty.    I was not that impressed with Milan.  Then just when I was feeling like it was such a let down after Lido I was standing in front of a magnificent church.  The architecture was unbelievable.  It was larger than five Salt Lake Temples and it looked as if the pillars were each hand carved with such detail similar to lace.  I took pictures of the top.  Workers, ladders and equipment covered the bottom.  After a tour we continued to wonder around.  There was a great mall said to be the largest in the country and designed in a way to give you the feeling you were outside and yet you were not.  Old people sat on benches and there were lots of metropolitan shops.  This was the place everyone came to shop.  It was like the New York of Italy.  I could not quit thinking about history every place you look there was something I saw a statue of Leonardo Divinchi looking right at me.  Things like that keep happening here to remind me that history really happened.   It is a great feeling.   Milan is my least favorite place so far and I like it.  I would not go out of my way to return to it, but it is a nice comparison to the rest of Italy.  We went to a grocery store and I could not help realize how spoiled we are in America.

We got on the train in the evening and were assigned to our sleeper cars.  They were very small with three narrow bunks on each side.  I got the bottom bunk on the right.  A small window was in the center and there was not room to even move around.  You could not sit up on the bunks because there was no room.  The beds were comfortable though.   If you wanted to sit up you would have to go to a dining car and sit.  We traveled all night then changed trains and after a seven hour ride through the Italian and Austrian countryside we arrived in Munich.  We checked into our rooms and walked around the village area where the shops are located.  This is what I have been waiting for; shopping in Germany.  I am a Christmas junkie and Germany is where I want to buy Christmas things.  I could feel my adrenaline start to rush and we were all set for an evening of shopping it was around 7:30.  We went over to the clock tower and checked the times that it would go off and realized we had missed that for today so we turned our focus to shopping.  Unfortunately the shops did not cooperate they all closed by 8:00.  We were a little sad yet we did not stay that way for long.  The local youth became our entertainment.  They began brake dancing in the square.  I laughed so hard at their antics.  They loved our interest, I am sure they especially liked the young girls watching.  I had not seen brake dancing since the eighties in the U.S.  We all enjoyed the evening.  We got up early so we could catch another train for Dachau, one of the concentration camps used in the war where Jews and others who would not comply with Hitler’s rules were sent.  We had a choice of going to Nymphanburg (the castle that the Disney Land Castle is patterned after) or the concentration camp.  Everyone wanted to visit the camp.  It kind of surprised me.  I think deep down we all want to see for ourselves that this horrible thing really happened.   Dachau was surprisingly a very peaceful place.  I was not sure what I would feel it’s hard to imagine the horrors that happened there.  As we walked through the crematorium I was glad to note that this one had been built, but never used.  No one knows why it just had not.  Seeing the living conditions and hearing the stories and watching the films were all so real and it is hard to realize the cruelty man can have against man.  I took only a couple of pictures.  I felt that I was walking on sacred ground and did not want to show irreverence.   I found a beautiful flowering bush in the middle of the area that now housed an order of nuns who have taken a vow of silence and took a picture of it.  I also took a picture of a monument.  There was a very old man from the village talking to a group of people explaining that he was a young boy when this happened and the town’s people had no idea what was going on.  He seemed so sad.  When we walked outside the walls that surrounded the camp we saw the lovely  vines and flowers all around.  A chill went up my spine when I looked at the sign that hung over the entrance gate it read “In work there is freedom” this was the lie that Hitler told the world.  The people were just there to work until the war was over.  It was for their protection.   Jackie, who was born and raised in Belgium, as a young child  she saw all to well the horrors.  Many of her family members were dragged off to concentration camps because they fought against Hitler. After the war the poverty was so awful that her mother took her and left her at an orphanage because she could not provide food for her.  Jackie was very emotional as she shared her story with me.  It was clear that she has carried many scars from this war with her all of her life.  This is not a place I will ever forget, nor should I.  The more I see of the world the more I know I have to see and the more I have to learn.

We returned to Munich early in the afternoon.  We decided to separate so we could all do what we wanted to.  Monica and I decided to go with the group going to Schloss Castle.  We made a new friend his name was Clint.  He was from Monterey California.  In the military there I believe.  Anyway he spoke German and decided to join us for the day.  His German came in very handy when I wanted to order lunch and there were thirty different Bratwurst entries.  I always thought you ordered Bratwurst and sour Croat and that was that.   On the way to the castle we met another man while we were on the bus.  He overheard us talking and spoke up.  His name was Tim and although he was German he had worked at Disney World in Florida and spoke very good English.  He now worked for British air lines.  He knew where the castle was and so he offered to join our little tour.  We were delighted.  The castle was lovely and although it could not compare to the size of Versailles it was refreshing.  The grounds were surrounded by a lovely forest and  groomed gardens.  We actually saw a deer as we walked through the forest on one side.   I think I would like to live in a castle if the inside was as appealing as the outer gardens.  With modern convinces and comforts though.   It was obvious that Tim was very proud of his city and insisted that we visit a local beer garden so we could have the full experience.  We had to be back to meet our group soon, but he assured us it was very close.  We decided it would be fun and began to walk.  Tim and I took the lead and walked a little ahead of the others.  I ask him to tell me anything about the country or people he thought would be interesting.  He talked about the Berlin wall coming down.  He said it was hard for those who were living in the East because they were being given extra tax’s to pay for all the clean up and to up grade the factories in the west.  He complained of how they had not taken care of the west and littered the country and were using sewing machines in factories that were from the 30’s.  The people are poor and proud and difficult to work with.  Many easterners do not understand why it is their job to pick up the bill for it all.  It was interesting to me that the Easterners seemed to forget how oppressed the westerners were and how hard it would be to keep things up under those conditions.  He was young and I think his generation did not see what happened all they see is the tax hardship now.  It is easy to see that if we are not careful and preserve history and teach it to future generations compassion can be bread right out of our future and they may not believe the horror stories are true.  my mind went back to the concentration camp.   As we walked he also pointed out that there is no beer drinking age limit in Germany.  He wanted to know why in the US people have to be 21 to drink and yet they have free access to guns and can kill at young ages.  I had no answer for him.  I don’t get it either.  (The Columbine Colorado High School massacre was everywhere in the papers while we were in Europe.)   As we walked by the Chinese Embassy Tim smiled and pointed it out and said, “That’s one the American bombers have missed so far.”  He was referring to a Chinese embassy which the US blew up by mistake in the Kosovo conflict.  It was a little embarrassing to see the US through his eyes.  But we both laughed.   I asked him why all the shops close so early.  He explained that it’s a law and until the law is changed the shops are not allowed to stay open.  They are not allowed to make their own hours.  The government views it as a way intervene and make sure that people are not taken advantage of making them work too many hours.  The Government has not grasped the job sharing idea of the west yet, he said.  Tim thought this was very backward thinking since he had worked in the US and job sharing work very well.  I guess if there are enough youth working at Disney World they may someday vote to change the law.  Hmm, Interesting thought.   By the time  we had walked ten very long blocks I remembered that to a European a short walk is different than to an American.  And we do not walk as fast as they do.  Jackie had already shown us that.  We could never keep up with her.   So once we arrived we looked around and as politely as we could we explained our dilemma.  We were going to be late to get back to meet the rest of our group.  Tim was nice about it, he walked us back to the bus and we said goodbye to our new friend. I said again how beautiful the weather has been and I hoped it would continue.  He said,  with a smile:”When angels travel, everything works out.”  What a lovely thing to say.  After a short hug,  we were on our way.   It was not long and we were back in the square in time to see the clock tower’s four tiered moving musical parts.  It was amazing to watch the carved people move around the clock as the hour chimed and a song was playing.  The break dancers were in the square again and it was full of tourists.  The kids were apparently on a field trip.  Jackie says that when you live in Europe your schools take you on field trips to the different countries to see first hand the history there.  We saw many buses of children even in the elementary age.  What an education they were getting.  I thought how lucky they were.  In Utah you were lucky to go see a museum of church history or this is the place monument, nice, but not really any comparison.  I wonder if those children appreciate it?  Probably not, I really do feel most of cultural and historical things are wasted on the young.  Or maybe it is just because ever since we got here I have been kicking myself wishing I had paid better attention when we studied European History.  And yet if you don’t expose them when they are young they probably will get so busy with life that they will not take the time when they are older.  Finally, we went shopping and I had a blast I bought Kinder eggs (chocolate eggs with an incredible toy inside) I bought Christmas decorations, a doll for my niece Jenny and a box of chocolates for Wendy, my daughter in law.  I also bought a hat for me, which I call my Sabrina hat.   On our last day I gave the German Book of Mormon to a lady named Manuela.  She was kind and helped us a lot.  All three are given out now.  All I have left is a 1950 edition in English I will give it out in Lucerne our last leg of the trip.

We were up and in the Lobby by 6:30 a.m., ate a nice breakfast then took the bus to the train station.   Then it happened, A experience that I will never forget. We had only been on the train for a short time when it came to a stop and a large German solider carrying a machine gun and a German shepherd guard dog appeared.  It was as if we were in a war movie and about to be discovered as spies.  We were asked to show our passports.  We had not been asked to see our passports during this whole trip since we left the airport in London.  They no longer require this as you go to and from the countries, but they reserve the right to do it.  Too weird for me, it turned out that they were on drug duty and were looking for drugs.  Thank heavens we were a group of non-users.  It really scared me.  I was relieved when he left.  I will be glad to get to Switzerland.  I have enjoyed my stay in Germany, but it is much different than I expected.  The language is more abrupt and some of the people seem curt and stern.  (Not all of them but some and enough to give me that feeling)  The little old ladies in the shops could not have been nicer.  And it is obvious I have watched too many old spy war movies.

Four hours on a train and then a transfer and 45 minutes later we arrived in Lucerne, Switzerland.   We have gotten so good at moving around our luggage, we are getting a lot of attention from men who are surprised that we are little, but feisty.  It is amazing how quickly we can move around 30 pieces of heavy luggage.   Lucerne is a beautiful little village with a lake and river running through it.  The spring has been warm and the water is very high.  If it does not stop soon it will flood the village.  On our way to the hotel I saw large swans, a castle on a hill.  I can’t wait to explore tomorrow.  After a good dinner Monica and I went to bed.  We were tired; it was only 8:30.  

It is beautiful  and serene here.  The only complaint I have is that every fifteen minutes the bells in the church across the courtyard which is right underneath our room window rang all night long chiming the time for the village and then at 7:30 am they rang for 15 minutes to let people know it was time to go to church.  Then they rang at 8: am to say church was starting and then they rang again for fifteen minutes at the end of church.  It is Sunday and we have been assured this is not an every day occurrence.   Once the sun came up, around 5:30 am we were up anyway.  We were anxious to get going and see the town.  We ate breakfast and then we were off.  I could see the Swiss Alps in the distance and thought to myself, “This is no big deal we have mountains like this in Utah.”  Jackie started us off with a walking tour of the city.  We went to a lovely place where a lion was carved out of the side of the mountain.  This was done to commemorate the French Revolution.  Jackie reminded us that Switzerland had not always had boundaries as they are today and at one time parts belonged to France.  It is so interesting to see so much history come together.  I am gaining such a clearer picture of it all.   We hiked to the top of a hill to a monastery and meandered along a cobble stone path.  It was very peaceful.  I kept trying to picture what it must be like to live here as I watched the residents in their yards and as they passed by.  Monica has decided to be a nanny for a year here in this city and I want to really get a feel of it.   We found a chocolate shop and bought a ton of chocolate.  I have never had such good chocolate in my life.  Europe does it right.  It melts in your mouth, no wax and they don’t add so much sugar.  I love it.   The village has a covered bridge and it is hand-carved with Swiss stories inside and out.  We walked all over the bridges and got some great pictures.  We are going at a much slower pace these days.  You can tell we are in our on our last leg of the trip.   After dinner Monica and I walked to the lake and had a nice talk.  It was beautiful.  The sound of the water and fragrance of the beautiful flowers enveloped my soul.  I love this place too.  There is so much beauty in the world.   I am glad Monica is going to return to Switzerland for a year to work.  She will enjoy it. 

Today we are going to visit a village at the bottom of the Swiss Alps.  First we went shopping and I got the boys all Swiss Army knives.  We also toured a museum dedicated to Picasso and it contained many of his older sketches.  I liked it because it was a picture story of his life and it helped me understand where he was coming from and I now have a new appreciation for his art.  Still not my favorite but at least I get it now.  We met Jackie and the others at the train station and began our journey to the village of Engle burg.  The trip took us deep into the mountains.  The train was old and plugged along pulling us up through the most beautiful pine trees and other trees and shrubs I did not recognize.   We arrived at the village and some of us decided to take the tram to the top of the Alps and others just wanted to explore the village.  Monica and I took the tram.  It was a beautiful spring day.  The sun was warm and some of the trees in the village were in bloom.  On our way to the tram we passed people working in their gardens it was all so picturesque. The mountains were lovely green and in full wild flower bloom.  However, I still had not changed my feelings about our Utah Mountains and how they compared.  No big deal here.   I first realized I was in for a life changing experience as we began our journey and quickly passed up any height that a Utah mountain would reach.   Looking down we passed over lovely meadows and cute cottages just like in the movies.  Then the most enchanting sound began.  At first, it was faint and we had to really listen to hear it and then it was all around us.  As we looked down we saw the source of the bells.  They were cowbells.  A heard of cows were grazing right beneath us.  I realized at that moment, we were not in the Utah Mountains.  We continued to climb higher and higher.  We changed trams and continued up.  I was very quiet as I took in the vast mountain ranges the size I had NEVER seen before.  And still we climbed.   When we arrived at the top I could not believe my eyes.  There are no words for me to describe what I saw.  I was humbled, I felt the Lord’s hand in this creation and recognized how small I seemed to all this.  I couldn’t believe that people ski these mountains.  I could look down and see ski trails that looked as if they went straight down the side of a cliff. The slopes had just closed for the season the day before.   I paused for a minute and thought about all the world leaders and royalty etc who had been here.  It was a moment where our paths crossed.  There are some moments that change our lives this was another of those moments for me.  It reminded me how important it is to experience life and see the beautiful things God has created.  You are only able to imagine and dream within the boundaries of your understanding.  I could have never imagined the vastness of these majestic mountains had I not seen them.  I will never forget the feeling I have.    We returned to the village in silence it was as if no one wanted to break the spell and we were all caught up in our thoughts and impressions of the wonders we had just experienced.   Once we got back to the village we did some shopping.  I found a chess set I liked and purchased it.  It began to rain and we walked quickly to see a beautiful monastery however, by the time we were there it began to pour.  We tried to wait it out and eventually ran to get back to the others and catch our train.   We returned to Lucerne in plenty of time to dress for dinner.  Not just any dinner we went to an authentic Swiss dinner complete with entertainment. It was delightful.  I took lots of pictures.  This is our last day.  My European adventure is coming to a close.  It is hard.  It is like saying good bye to an old friend.  I am leaving the English version of the Book of Mormon with the cleaning lady at the hotel.  She has been so nice.

We gain a day as we return since we lost a day when we came.  It is 10:30 am.  I am sitting in an airport in Zurich headed for Frankfort.  We took a bus from Lucerne to Zurich this morning.  The countries are all so close.  After a 30 minute delay we are boarded and on our way to Frankfort.  The Swiss make very comfortable planes.  I wish we could just stay on this all the way home.  They served us a Kaiser Bun and cheese sandwich.  Can you believe getting food on a forty-five minute flight?   After a short layover in Frankfort we are in the air and on our way back to America.  It will take ten hours to Chicago.  I have reclined and began listening to music.  My mind wonders back to the places I have been the sites, sounds and smells of Europe.   The memories are etched in my mind forever.  I have such a strong desire to learn to speak Italian.  I would like to learn French too.  I would like to return to Italy next year and see Rome and Reggio Emilio along with Tuscany and other places.  If I could speak the language I could learn so much more.  I also want to make sure my grandchildren experience this rich cultural experience.  My children are at the stage that they will either travel or not.  It is their choice.   I want to instill in my grandchildren the same thing I tried to pass on to my children; the love and respect I have for people of all cultures.   This love has always been part of me and it will be forever.  Just like music is in my soul, so is the love for the marvelous differences in cultures and people.   I found the part of myself that has been waiting in Europe for me to discover.  At forty-nine I am beginning to realize the benefits of the things I have done in my life and I am becoming the woman I want to be.  Each stage of my life has added to the next.  I thank God I have never given up in those times when life seemed too hard.  I know the Lord is molding me and refining me with life’s experiences.   I will trust Christ to lead me through the next part of my life what ever it may be.  The memories of this European adventure will lift my spirits; I am sure, on many hard days in the future.  Something I did not expect to learn is that there is nothing in Europe and more beautiful or satisfying than in the America.  Its just different.  I know I will always look at my surroundings differently because of my European adventure.  I can’t wait to see the rest of the world.

One can be optimistic and still struggle with being happy.  An optimist is someone who sees that life is full of hard things and challenges and yet feels that there is always something to learn from these hard times and set out to find the lesson.   Yes, they are often happy because of the way they look at life but they embrace the experience of the good, bad and ugly and feel each accompanying feeling as a right of passage to the learning experience.  Often an optimistic out look is something one is born with- although it can be learned.  However, Happiness is a choice and no matter what your nature you must accept the responsibility for your own happiness.  Yes you can even learn how to be happy in the middle of despair.  It is not easy and it takes focus and work to uncover what really makes you happy and then build it into your life.    More to come…………