I SIGNED IN TO MY NEW MSN TODAY, OCTOBER 3RD. It's so messy looking now. So many overwhelming stuffs all at the same time, copying other websites. It used to be so neat and unique and different. Even though I customized my page, still I don't like it. Masyadong magulo! Just like in changes I just have to adjust with it. Yikes!
Recyclable We Page
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So glad (:-) you world travelers are back from your Aegean Odyssey! The websites are so empty and dead without you guys.
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Published 10/10/05 ALT MSN Group
Web Page: Welcome back!
I FINALLY HAD THE TIME TO LOOK AT YOUR "MY BIG FAT GREEK PHOTOS". OPA 2 U 2.
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WELCOME BACK HOME TO US ALT WORLD
ReplyDeleteTRAVELERS!
We just arrived from a fabulous trip of Central/Eastern
Europe: Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Czech Republic.
It was a mixed bag of historical and religious experiences as most of the
countries we visited belong to the Roman Catholic faith.
It was a 7-hr flying time from Chicago to Frankfurt, the
financial capital of Germany. As the Goddess of Convenience, it was sort
of hard for me. The American Airlines 767 had very small TV screen, only
the size of my laptop, and I was seated 15 feet away at the middle
aisle. I did not enjoy watching the movie. Thinking about it it's
probably hard for the passengers seating in front to have a big screen. I
could be wrong but I did not see any screens on each side of the
aisle.
Our lovely Tour Director Judit of Hungary and Tour
Driver Franco of Napoli met us at the Frankfurt Airport. The evening of
our arrival we met our fellow tourists, including Attorney Rudy and wife Nora
from Forbes Park, Philippines. It turned out Attorney Rudy was the brother
of Frieda from Long Grove, Illinois, a friend of ALT VP Vicky. Small world
sometimes.
Part I
It was an early start for the excited group of travelers
the following day, mostly from Australia, New Zealand, UK and US. It's 360 miles
to the front city of Berlin with short stop at Weimar, the "Athens of
Germany." Before our evening Berliner Dinner, we had our pictures
taken at Brandenburg Gate, Hotel Adlon where my favorite singer Michael Jackson
hanged his cute baby out of the hotel window (I trusted him to hang on tight!),
the American Embassy being constructed for more than 3 years now and
at Checkpoint Charlie. Of course we did not miss the infamous Berlin Wall.
The afternoon of the next day, we drove to historic Potsdam where Churchill,
Stalin and Truman had their World War II meeting. One of the highlights
was walking to San Soui (No Worries) Palace and its beautiful garden.
Imagine it like the Hanging Garden of Babylon.
From Berlin we drove east to Poznan, enjoying the Polish
countryside in the fall on the way to Warsaw (369 miles). The following
morning, we had a just perfect group picture at the statue of Chopin, Poland's
famous composer (Fleur Elise). Southbound to Krakow, we arrived a few
hours before noon at Jasna Gora Monastery near Czestochowa to see the Black
Madonna painted by St. John the Evangelist himself. The monastery
withstood the constant attacks by Swedish forces during the 17th century
and since then the Black Madonna became the country's national symbol. In
the afternoon, our tour bus made a stop at Auschwitz I and II concentration
camps. While inside Building 10 looking at the prisoner's beds and 11,
every one was silent while looking at rooms full of eyeglasses, hair, kids
shoes, men's and women's shoes, baby's clothes, luggage, and other
chilling reminder of the Holocaust. It's indee
WELCOME BACK HOME TO US ALT
ReplyDeleteWORLD TRAVELERS!
Part II; Central/Eastern Europe
Tour
Jo raggalt! Good morning! We enjoyed the sightseeing views
of both sides of the twin cities of Buda (hilly side) and Pest (flat
side). ALT PRO Mila, Attorney Rudy and Nora took a one-hour cruise of the
romantic Danube the night before enjoying the brightly illuminated Buda Castle,
the House of Parliament, Gellert Hill, under the Chain Bridge and around
Margaret Island while gently sipping wine. Charming Nora was full of
praise how beautiful Budapest at night with lights and all. For our last
night of Hungarian gypsy rhapsody, we participated in the evening's folklore
program and dancing after eating a fine and sumptuous local specialties,
aperitif and dinner. I love goulash soup, the best!
Viszla't, Budapest! (Goodbye) After our Tulip Inn Hotel
breakfast of the usual favorite - boiled or scrambled egg, bacon, sausage,
cereals, fruits, and coffee - we headed for the Austrian border by way of
Gyor. We arrived before noon in the heart of Vienna. Stopping at our
meeting point Schwedenplatz, we (Susan, Gerry, Mila, and Me) strolled
to look for a place to eat. We found a Turkish restaurant and ordered
myself a chicken kebab and rice, Mila had gyros and Susan and Gerry shared
salads. Attorney Rudy and Nora attended the noon Mass (30-45 min.) at
St. Stephen's Cathedral. Along the way they happened to meet by chance
the Philippine Ambassador to Austria, Ms. Lakanlali. In the evening, they
all went to the famous Kursalon Waltz Show except me as I've seen it in my
previous visit. They had a wonderful time listening to the orchestra and
operetta singers, watching the lovely dancers in their beautiful gowns
dancing to the Blue Danube Waltz They thought it was funny being told by
the conductor "Go home!" after playing the Raditsky
March. We went our separate ways the next morning
to go walking in the park, seeing what's inside the Hofburg Museum, State Opera,
Parliament, City Hall and souvenir shopping. I had a good find I think
bargaining for a beautiful figurine and clock of Gustav Klimt "The
Kiss." As you know the dollar is falling - when we were
in Frankfurt the exchange was 1.67 euro for a dollar. It went down a
little bit to 1.47 along the way. I decided to go to Mass at St. Stephen's even
though I didn't understand German and begged forgiveness for missing Sunday
Masses while on tour. Passing by the popular Aida bakery I bought myself
the yummy Schlager cake.
Czech mate! We crossed the Czech border by afternoon
into Moravia then through the rich farmlands of Bohemia to Prague. Prague
is just like the picture postcard - you know you're in Prague just by the red or
maroon rooftops of buildings. In my opinion we did a lot of walking in
Prague Mila and I were a
WELCOME BACK HOME TO US ALT WORLD
ReplyDeleteTRAVELERS!
Part III: Central/Eastern Europe Tour
We said ciao, baby, to Franco, our Italian driver, and
Judit, our lovely Hungarian Tour Director at Frankfurt Airport around 11
am. We made our way through the not so busy airport, checked in, and
bought ourselves lunch. I had chickenburger and Coke. I never had
chickenburger before but it was very good. I don't think there's
chickenburger in fast food restaurants like McDonald's, do
you? Chicken nuggets, yes, but not chickenburger.
Just my luck. We boarded American Airlines and
again, minor inconvenience for yours truly, the GoC (Goddess of Convenience) -
no in-flight movie due electrical problem, the pilot said, for the whole 9-hour
flight. Nagtitipid siguro. Giggles. It's good I had 2 magazines in my
bag. I had read that Sri Chinmoy, promoter of peace and spiritual
leader, died of heart attack at 76 at his New York City home October
11. ALT PRO Mila and I while walking in downtown Stockholm four years ago
saw his plaque on peace. The spiritual leader gave lectures, wrote books
on peace and had meetings with Mandela and Pope Paul VI.
We landed at Chicago O'Hare with no problem, a little bit
past the arrival time. Down the escalator on our way to US custom, wagging
his tail in friendly welcome was a cute lovable doggie clothed and labeled
"PROTECTING AMERICAN AGRICULTURE" from foot and mouth disease. With
his sensitive nose, 2 apples and 1 boiled egg were confiscated by his handler
from my fellow passengers. Each time he got a treat for a pretty good
job. I was third to the last in line and oh-oh, the cute doggie paused at
my carry-on bag. I opened it - I had a box of yummy Raffaello white
chocolate wrapped in coconut flakes, gesalzen erdnusse, gesalzen pistazien,
apple strudle cake and candies I bought at the Frankfurt Airport to used up all
my euros. I must say the dog had a terrific sense of smell. I had
fruits (apples, plums, and oranges) and boiled eggs in my hand carry and ate
them at the bus when I get hungry during my trip to different European
cities. Probably leftover odor. With few questions asked and nothing
to confiscate, the handler finally left with the dog looking at me with accusing
eyes saying, "I'm right, I'm right!." (Giggles - I felt so sorry for the
wonderful dog.) But not before the handler writing "AK9 R" on my document
and you bet, I was marked for life - all my luggage and bags had to be
re-screened before exiting Very inconvenient for the GoC, indeed.
But you know, at least this time I was not assigned by some morons to the
VISITOR section even though I'm a US CITIZEN. I notice that custom agents
including fellow passengers show more respect with people coming from
Europe (White folks) than from Asia especially China. I had a rotten
experience at Chicago O'Hare's US Custom coming from my China tour last
year. It took me almost an hour to get out because I was following a
Chinese visitor and she was being asked a lot of questions. I had to wait
and wait and wait.
<font face
It looks like you
ReplyDeletehad a good time! Traveling is educational as well as lots of fun and
shopping! I went to an Alaskan cruise last August for a week. A family reunion
for 31 from our East coast, West Coast and Midwest family. It was great. See you
next email!
Ruby
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SRI CHINMOY STOCKHOLM PEACE PLAQUE
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:54 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Welcome back!
hi Buds,
It was nice of you to share your recent
travel.Good for you,Make the
best while you are still
kickin...g.Regards.
Lina