Rick Steves answered my travel question! Personally!

So, you all know Rick Steves is my travel guru, right?

In 1986, as I set out on my very first ever European trip, I was on a tight budget, and my travel guides were Let's Go and Europe Through the Back Door (I also bought Mona Winks, which had many of his guides to European Museums.)  I went for 8 nights, 4 in Paris, 4 in London.   And I started traveling the Rick Steves way.

While I slavishly buy his travel guides, I mostly follow his philosophy.   I've been fortunate to have jobs which afforded me enough frequent flyer miles that I have been able to go to Europe quite a few times since, and I've expanded the philosophy to some back doors I've found myself in other places, and in Europe.  I bet Rick has never been to Solofra, Italy, though he may have been to Merida, Mexico.    He also taught me to talk to people, to interact with the folks around me, and not be led into the touristy restaurant when I can go to the neighborhood restaurant, and have a lot more interaction.

For almost 35 years, following Rick's philosophy has served me well, and when I get old enough that I want someone else to plan my travel and make all the arrangements, his tours will be at the top of my list.   We even own an amazing 6 pieces of Rick Steves' luggage, including some original back door bags (which are too large for carryons now, and we have to check.  But they still sit nicely on our backs!)

Periodically Rick records episodes of his radio shows, usually in several-day blocks, and you can contact them with a question, then they call you to put you on the air.   I had a question, I sent it in, and lo and behold, Rick's organization called me this evening!

At first it was dicey; the phone disconnected and I thought all was lost.  But the second time the call went through, and I got to talk to Steves, tell him about my Sabbatical, ask my question (I'm not going to tell you all what the question was, nor what he suggested; but I will post a link when the program is aired, and you can hear it.)   Not surprisingly he was very supportive of 15 weeks, of plans to visit not only Europe, but Israel and Palestine (which also keeps me under the Schengen limit) and we talked a little about my plans for Germany, and my planned service.

It was a thrill, but it reminded me of something I love about Steves, which has nurtured my love of travel since that first 1986 trip:  I always feel supported by Rick.   Yes, it's a company and an author and he's not with me, and probably won't remember who I am too long (though he did ask me to call back after the Sabbatical) but his books, his shows, his site, even the FB groups related to him, all really support what I want to do, and encourage me to go out a little further on the edge each time I travel.   For me, that is mostly Europe, largely because I have a brother living there, but sometimes is elsewhere.    Because Rick Steves's puts all his energy into teaching us how travel can be affordable, doable, safe and fun, I am free to travel, to experience, and to get to know the world.    Isn't that great?

And yes, I'll no doubt update my itinerary based on his advice.

Finishing up my bookings

The last couple of weeks I've been slowly but surely finalizing my itinerary and making my final bookings.   It helped that my husband and I settled on a plan, we booked a timeshare for a week in the Dolomites, and hope our friends Angelo and Letizia will join us there (in any case we will also visit them for a weekend in Milano).   Then we will be off for England, where I'll explore the history of the English separatists in Scrooby and attend my godchild Aryk's graduation from the University of Keele.  Mark will hang out with friends in London, and I'll spend a couple of nights there, most likely, visiting Wesley chapel and friends in the area.

I also was able, with a commitment to be in England from July 20-25, to finalize plans for Switzerland and Leiden in the Netherlands, and I booked a night in Oban, Scotland the night before I travel to Iona for a retreat.

I also booked Blue Star Ferries to Patmos, paying extra for a bunk, since I'm pretty old (64 😊) and decided I didn't want to try sleeping in an airline-style seat.  

I still have a couple of nights I'm not sure about: the night in Keele when I attend the graduation (that date won't be announced until April) and 2 nights returning to Hamburg from Scotland (which might include a visit with a friend, or might involve overnight trains. )  

So next are museum and rail bookings:   Mostly I have identified my routes and train schedules, but since booking trains means paying for them, I am delaying until later.  Museum tickets appear to be mostly available 3 months out, and there are only a couple that I need: The Vatican Museums and DaVinci's last supper are the major ones I care about.  

But basically I'm done.  I have a place to sleep every night but 4, one of those will resolve in April, and the others will be sleeping on my transportation.  

Next, planning my reading!!

Pain and Joy!

So last Thursday I had a doctor's appointment.   Since this is the last time I'll see my primary care doctor before I travel, I had some questions to ask her, mostly about prescriptions, sleeping on the many overnight transports I'll be doing, and my big toe.

I have a goofy big toenail on my right foot.   Not a huge bother most of the time, but with more walking, and with a new pair of dress shoes, it's been bothering me rather a lot.   So I decided to ask about it. She looked at it and her verdict was that I had an ingrown toenail.  A strongish one since the nail curves under and such, but she thought I should see a podiatrist, and she referred me.

The podiatrist had a cancellation that very afternoon, so at 2 PM I was in his offices.  One look at my foot and he confirmed the ingrown toenail.  Said he would recommend having a little procedure to take a slice of it off, cauterize the wound so that the toenail won't grow back.  Minor procedure, few minutes, I'd be great for my hiking.   So I said sure, lets do it!

It was so painful!   Not the procedure itself, but the injections of the novocaine, or whatever they use, were incredibly painful, enough that I actually screamed. (I don't usually respond to pain this badly, but I guess my feet are very sensitive.   I also bled a lot, which they told me is good; it means I still have excellent circulation in my feet.  Gee, thanks.)

Then, in the middle of the night the pain medication wore off and I was in such pain.   So much that I could not muffle my whimpers.  So much that I spent time wondering what I would be like if I had to endure pain for an extended time.  I got up, sat down, searched on the internet.    It was not supposed to hurt like this.   I wondered if the bandage was too tight.  I took it off.  It was really tight and the pain was largely relieved almost instantly (although I also began to bleed again.)   So I was really fine, but for a half hour or so I was in agony.

This morning I took my newly cut up toe for a 4.5 mile walk.  I've not been walking regularly this winter; I just can't get it going when the temps are below about 45 degrees, but today was nice and balmy, in the low 50s, and there was no rain in the morning.   The air was clean, the animals were wandering around doing what animals do, and my legs were so glad to get that exercise!    I just loved it.   I listened to the radio and some podcasts, and I just enjoyed myself.    It will all be OK, and in three and a half months time I will be sauntering along the road to the sea of Galilee.   I was feeling thankful for even the pain of the procedure that will make my walk even better.   Which is easier to do when you're no longer feeling the pain.