"No turn is a wrong turn"
To begin 2002, Happy New Year!
As I write this it’s snowing in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. A couple of weeks ago there were reports of
traffic backed up over 90 kM on two iced over German A-bahns. But looking at so many Bavarian and Swiss internet
webcams, the scenes looked so peaceful, quiet, and beckoning. Man-o-man am I ever ready to get back over to those
beautiful areas.
A couple of notes for you internet savvy travelers. Many people take their laptops on these trips…and if that’s
your bag, have fun lugging it around. If it’s just for internet connections back home, three suggestions: 1) Leave
your laptop home; 2) If you have AOL already, you’re half way there; and 3) If you don’t have AOL and even if you
don’t want it, go to your local computer store, pick up an AOL “free for 5 weeks” disc and subscribe just before
you leave, so you’ll have FREE AOL while you’re gone and then you can cancel it when you return.
Why all the fuss over AOL? Well first I’m the LAST to promote AOL….BUT when in Europe, you can find Cyber Cafes
all over the place. Many won’t let you use a Hotmail or your local e-mail address, but all will let you use AOL.
And if you like independent travel with no reservations, etc - e-mail is the best communication between you and
home, at your leisure, and without calling home at 3:00 AM Houston time and waking the kids to tell them you’re
OK…which they won’t even remember when they wake the next morning.
Cost of Cyber Café facilities? Average is about 5 DM (now about 2.30 Euros) for 15 to 30 minutes. I even
have my executive assistant use AOL to send messages from the office, and I respond likewise. Suzie and I just
don’t have a schedule, itinerary, or other means of communicating effectively other than e-mail. And its usage
and availability sure cuts the stress levels for us on our trip.
Part II. You’ll notice I don’t have pictures in this article. Well, I want you all to look at Ben’s newest offering,
“Your Favorite Photo.” WOW!!! So many beautiful pictures of Bavaria, Tirol, and Swiss Alps,
you’ll drool as you frantically call for your reservations on the next plane over!
Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned traveler, just looking at these pictures should excite you no end.
Now, the tag… the best way to travel for fun is to “always look at the sights through the eyes of an excited child.”
It’s hard for some seasoned travelers, and if you forget for a while, notice the next “first timer” you see while
traveling. Go over and talk to that person, hear the excitement in their voice, and watch their eyes scan the surrounding
scenes with sparkling excitement even as you talk.
Remember how exciting your first trip was? Every corner brought a new breathtaking scene. The majestic Alps…sure!
But are you remembering the first time you saw a farmer driving his cows up the road through the tiny berg and
to the next pasture? Driving through the back roads and coming upon the 700 year old building with narrow road
built right up next to the corner of the old building? And the local dress in small communities… not for parades
or “6 Flags” but as an everyday attire. How about the first Bier Stubbe …or the extraordinary opulence filling
the inside of almost all churches…and the castles…and palaces….and on and on.
Remember how hard you tried to speak the language on your first trip? One word became two words, which became four
words…? And as you smiled, the local people seemed to love you even though your German was terrible, but you were
trying?
This is the travel beauty we all want…and strive…to keep alive in each trip, as we return again and again.
Another fun part is all the eye-opening learning experiences we had as first timers. As we become seasoned travelers,
we sometimes attempt to “warn” newbies of such. I was quickly corrected by a great travel friend not to do so.
Then it hit me! That’s where the fun is. Those newbies “oops” occurrences bring great memories and even better
stories for years to come.
Today, so many of the zimmers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are converting their rooms from “down the hall”
baths and WC’s to “American style built in units.” It’s such a shame, and Suzie and I have to look even harder
to find Zimmers with “down the hall units” to keep the old-world sparkle in our travels.
As you plan for your new trip, take another look at Bens “Favorite Photos,” close your eyes, and dream what you
want to see. Dream with your special other…and together you might want to write down WHAT you want to see before
you write down WHERE you want to go. Planning is so much of the excitement. And remember, leave every 4th day free
as a “chill-out” day. Believe me you won’t be bored, but it will allow you to have some very memorable fun moments
that might otherwise have been “put off till later” that never comes.
We’ve also found a couple of good books and training courses to learn the German Language. Interested?? Let me
know.
Finally, as we depart our course, let’s remember the wonderful “exit” sign that still brings a giggle every time
we see it. Some things are just too much fun to outgrow……..
