We're back! Obviously, I didn't blog a word during the whole trip (except during our layover in Chicago on day one). And won't write too much, right now, since I've got some catching up to do around the homestead, first. But we made it home, using all of the methods of transportation in the title (I know it's corny, but I couldn't resist). A few quick impressions:
Great time with our kids!
Wonderful visit with the Vajnas!
We love trains!
Cheese!
Charming villages nestled in green valleys!
Steep red-tiled roofs on white houses
Bavarians paint pictures on every single blank wall!
More cheese!
Amazing bread!
Beer!
Mind-boggling sausage variety!
Old (!) churches, castles
Walking through enchanting forests!
Flower boxes
Cobblestones, narrow streets
Who knew there were so many different toilet-flushing mechanisms?
Gigantic Oktoberfest beer tent!
Rachel's red dirndl, Dylan's green Bavarian-guy hat
And more cheese!
Deep river gorge hike
HUGE slugs!
Clouds, light rain
Excellent soups!
Outdoor cafes, markets
Biggest fun zone in the cosmos!
Different (and cozy) sort of bedding
More cheese and bread
Lots of laughing
I could go on and on, of course. I'll expand on some things, later. At the beginning of the trip, we
avoided any significant jet lag by just staying up until bedtime the first day in Germany. I don't sleep on planes (Tom's out before lift-off), but the excitement of being in a new place and reconnecting with the kids carried us through the extra fourteen hours, or so. Next day, no problem (though I'm pretty sure I couldn't have responsibly operated heavy machinery, say). On the way home, we were less rested, having stayed up late helping Dylan and Rachel reorganize for the next stages in their journeys. I got an hour or two. Then, it was up at 5:30 in Weinheim, to be driven (by the Amazing Vajnas) to the train and bus (us and kids, respectively). We traveled with the sun, arriving in San Francisco around 5:30pm, same day (one near-glitch--we almost missed our connection in Dallas, needing to clear immigration and customs in a too-short lay over. The gate was closed, but they saw us wandering around and reopened). So, having been awake for, oh, 21 hours, or so, we DID have to operate heavy machinery and drive home another 3 hours-worth. I was thrashed and had caught a nasty cold, but Tom thought he could manage. And he did--for two hours. After that, it was touch-and-go. About 45 minutes from home, I took over and, clenching my teeth, blinking a lot and shaking my head to stay conscious, we made it home a bit before 10pm. Alive. A good night's sleep, and we're good, today. But no driving for us.Rachel and Dylan should both be at their destinations, by now. Rachel begins her ceramics study in Tuscany today; Dylan, his orientation with Greenforce in Tanzania. We'll see them, next, at Christmas. In the meantime, communication, especially with Dylan, will probably be sporadic. But we're so grateful for the amazing two weeks we just spent with them. Such fabulous human beings! Tomorrow, we'll get back to work, but I'll fill out a bit of trip-detail in the next entry or two. We're glad to be home, and looking forward to a beautiful autumn up here. It's already a crispy 38, at night, warming up to mid-sixties, today. Perfect.
--Sandy
