The Best Bits

Every trip comes to an end and we are left with the memories, the third part of travel—Planning & anticipation, the actual journey, and then the remembering. As I think about our 2019 adventure, I remember thinking we should do it now, we won’t be younger next year and we probably won’t be in better health.  So with that in mind we began planning and then doing and now we are filled with memories. What were the best bits? The very best bits would have to be the people we met along the way.  The world is filled with kind and generous people, Blanche Du Bois had it right about getting along with the kindness of strangers. Some of those people that we remember along the way: Koichiro in Kyoto; Joe and Vicki (and all the guides) in Viet Nam; Cheru (and guides) Sue (our friend who joined us on this adventure), Rick, Elsa, Abi, Tamrat and Selamta in Ethiopia; Matthias in Germany; Steve, Lotta and family in Sweden; Stephen in Scotland; Fiona,Martin, Andrew and Stephanie in England; Joan, Colm, Ina, Ann in Ireland; and all of those who helped us find our way as we went along, and finally those we met in the bars and restaurants who made our journey more fun.

The best bit of advice I can give for a long and complicated trip—use professional help.  Many thanks to Debbie Isom at Travel Leaders in Bloomington who saved our booties and our money several times on this trip when things didn’t go according to plan. Also thanks to Lisa at Rick Steves who gave us great advice about European buses, trains and guides.

All of our hotels had great city center locations, so best bit for hotels, location, location, location.
Best hotel for relaxing and breakfast, the Sofitel in Hamburg (thanks to travel agent Debbie for this one).

Best breakfasts—again all of our hotels were spectacular but we loved Miramar in Frankfurt for the salmon, the huge variety must be the Sofitel in Hamburg, the Radisson Blu in Stockholm, and the Apex in Bath.

Another best bit would have to be Guinness in Ireland.  We have both come to really like it as it’s not carbonated. Best alcohol tour would have to be The Scotch Experience in Edinburgh (sorry, Jameson).

The best bit of drama was in Edinburgh on our tour of the highlands. A family of four had some troubled interpersonal relationships and ended up with one of the two pulling the hair of the other (both were in their twenties). The Barman threatened to call the police.  Of course they were American. Our guide handled them beautifully and tactfully.  The full account is on a previous blog.

There can’t be a best bit for scenery as everywhere we went was spectacular.

There can’t be a best bit for countries as each one is unique and wonderful in its own way. We found generous and kind people in every single one.

Best bit of an encounter would have to be in Viet Nam when Dennis met with a North Vietnamese veteran. It was very touching, so much so that the videos I took are pretty bad, with shots  under the table and of the floor. It was wonderful.

Another best encounter was in Lalibela when Cheru took us to his niece’s house and then to his own home and to the home of his sister.  Each visit was beautiful. There are so many best encounters that all

we can tell you is to go back and reread the list of people in the first paragraph.

The Gospel According to Dennis:
Meeting friends in Dublin on this, the final leg of our spring 2019 adventure was icing on the cake. We left Bloomington on January 23rd and are flying back to Chicago today, April 3rd. We started in Japan and our final stop was Dublin, Ireland.  Sandwiched between these destinations, were Viet Nam, Ethiopia, Germany, Sweden, Scotland, and England.  Honestly, it’s difficult for me to put it all together. But thanks to Cindy’s camera and blog (and I’m sure DVDs to follow) I can revisit them when my memory falters.

Each country was unique in its own way. The common thread that tied them altogether was the people we encountered. Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t a Disney film where everyone broke into song, the sun always shined (we didn’t bring those umbrellas for nothing), and butterflies and white doves didn’t swirl around in thought bubbles over our heads. Not everyone became our friend—especially the kid in the market in Dire Dawa who tried to pick my pocket. But when we needed help someone always answered the call. That is what I remember the most. I understand there are “bad” people in the world but from what I’ve found, the “good” people far outnumber the bad.

Thanks for joining us on our journey.  Until the next time, “may the force be with you!”  

Winding Down

Dublin has been an adventure. We oriented ourselves with a Hop-on Hop-off bus and figured out what we really wanted to see but need more time. Guess what that means?

We got caught up in the uprising of 1916 with the help of the Kilmainham Gaol and the General Post Office Witness History exhibition.

And then to Murray’s for an introduction to sports we never saw before.

Listened to music at Murray’s Bar and Grill, watched hurling and Gaelic football and soccer.

Best of all we got to have lunch at Madigan with Mary and Eu Gene where spent as much time laughing as we did eating.

Tonight, dinner at Joan’s with Ann and Ina.  Travel doesn’t  get any better than when you meet up with friends.

Joan is a supervising teacher of student teachers placed in Ireland by Indiana University. We are hoping to see her and Colm in Bloomington this summer.  We would like to have a chance to repay their hospitality though I could never replicate the gorgeous dinner. A beautiful way to end the trip.