#49 Embarrassed by my ...

Hi everyone. I don't even know what to call my inactivity? Is it laziness? Computer-ineptitude? I don't know but I am not one who reads blogs so how would I know what one is supposed to be like. But I apologize if this is no fun to read. Sorry. I hope everyone received a Christmas ecard from me. I tried to send them to everyone so if you didn't get one, please send me an email so I know what your email address is. I probably don't have your email address. I am in Australia now, arrived here December 16th. My return ticket to India is for February 15th, two months away. I arrived just in time for the holidays so my brother and sister-in-law have been keeping me busy with holiday activities. We went to a friend's house that has a standing tradition for years now of gathering on Christmas Eve. I went to their home 7 years ago, the last time I saw my brother. At that time it was a nice group, maybe 20 people, and there were lots of instruments and we sang and had a great time. This time it was only 6 of us and there were no instruments but we didn't leave until we all sang Silent Night. A nice touch. But time has changed things. We spent Christmas and Boxing Day (the very British holiday of the day AFTER Christmas) at my Sister-in-law's daughter's home. That was such a treat. She is married to a Constable (read Constable On Patrol) assigned to a rural posting in south West Australia. They have 2 boys, age 2 and 4 years old. On Christmas Day the Dad was busy building Lego Star Wars kits that the boys received as gifts from Santa. And the daughter is a professionally trained tourist industry cook so she made a meal and desserts to die for! It was a really nice visit. Then on December 27th, my two nephews, their wives and a total of 7 children met at a Sizzler for lunch. When we were done eating, we drove to a nearby park and exchanged gifts. The weather has been beautiful here, sunny and in the 90's. It's beautiful for me anyway that I like hot, but some people think it is too hot. I'm here with 5 cats and 1 dog and the remarkable wildlife of Australia. The 5 feline occupants of the house are Mitch, a black and white male cat who pretty much owns the place, Sooty an all black cat except for the white tips of his toes, Caspar an all white male, Tweedy Pie a male Siamese and Angel, a different Siamese, grey not brown and beige, and the only female and certainly no angel! My sister-in-law has written up a posting to find her a new home but hasn't gotten to putting it on a bulletin board yet. And then there is a BIG Golden Retriever named Christopher. He stays outside and only comes in to be fed. And the wildlife is birds! When we were visiting the daughter I watched a flock of Galahs, these pink and gray parrots. I couldn't get a photo of them but here is what they look like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galah On the map of their territory, I am in the red all the way to the South West, in fact visiting the daughter we were just north of the grey area. Then I saw another flock of birds, called "Twenty-eight" (Australian Ringnecks), a yellow headed parrot. Now you have to remember I used to live here in Australia so it shouldn't be new to me but after all these years it is still a thrill to see them again. And to hear the Kookaburras, not pretty birds but loud and noisy. I love them. And Marie has forgotten things. I walked to the shopping center and there was a sign for a bank I used to use, Westpac, and when I walked it I had to ask, Is this a bank? Yep, there it is; a counter with a teller. So what is the rest of this? It's a "News Agency". I felt like Alice in Wonderland. There is no equivalent in the US, kind of like the "Candy Stores" in New York were to the rest of the country. I don't even know if there are Candy Stores anymore in NY? But you bought newspapers there, penny candies, cards, cigarettes, sometimes coffee, etc. A News Agency sold the newspapers, cards, Lottery tickets, etc. But this was inside the "Bank"! I know lots of things are being incorporated into other places, like grocery stores that have bank branches, but it surprised me. But the biggest surprise is "Sticker Shock"!!! Things are really expensive here. There are some things that are around the same price but other things that I am shocked at. I needed to buy a card and there were no greeting cards for under AUD $4.99, this was a Hallmark Store. I was about to not buy one and when I said something there was a rack of cards for $1. Not pretty but it would do. You cannot find lunch for under AUS $8.00. That would be a grilled cheese sandwich with a cup of tea or coffee. No chips or french fries, either. A small bottle of water costs minimum $2.50 unless you buy a case. The cheapest avocado was $1.29. Their Dollar Store is a TWO Dollar Store. But it is still cheaper than the stores so I did a lot of shopping there. I went to the movies with my brother and sister-in-law and saw Quartet. It was good but even with a Senior Discount it was $8.00. A far cry from my $2.00 movie around the corner from my house. So I am slowly adjusting back to Australia and by time I do, I will be back in India and need to completely adjust again. I'm going to post some photos:

This is me in my newest Saree, it's a Kerala Saree, pure cotton with only a golden stripe around the bottom. And I can't find another photo that I want to share, sorry about that. Only one this time. I'll check back again soon. Promise. Love Marie

#48 Home Sweet Home in India

Hello Everyone I have been really derelict in keeping you posted on this. First of all HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Hope it was a good weekend for you and you had lots to be thankful for. This was the first Thanksgiving in a really long time that I did not celebrate my favorite holiday. In France, Australia, and Africa I would make a special meal and invite friends over to remember and give thanks for all our blessings. But this year I had no kitchen facilities so I had a Non-Holiday. There will be plenty more in the future so I am not concerned. I did go online and see photos of the Macys Parade so that made up for it. In the other places mentioned (France, Australia and Africa) I didn't have internet accessibility so I missed the parade. I have attached some photos of my room, without the kitchen facilities. Photo #1, I have a basic room with 2 beds, 1 single and 1 double bed, a table which I am working at right now that has an outlet over it - the one and only in the room - where I plug in my computer. Photo #2, my balcony where I can hang my clothes to dry and there is a sink in front of the door to the bathroom. Photo #3 is my little wardrobe in the corner of the room, prevents me from accumulating a lot of "stuff". And then the view from the balcony - Photo #4 is the School of Dentistry, 3 buildings in a row right under me. Photo #5 is the School of Pharmacy and the School of Business which is off in the distance. I am sure it is walking distance but I have not gone there yet. Photo # 6 is The Bathroom. Cold shower or get hot water down the hall and have a bucket bath, which I do. And then photos # 6 & 7 are a couple of views from the balcony, to give you a feel for the palm trees and undeveloped land. This is definitely tropical with warm temperatures, even at night. Tomorrow I have to leave at 7:00 a.m. to visit a village where we are going to meet with the elderly and find out what they would like for services. I have a feeling it is going to be difficult because the culture is to not tell the truth, but to say what they think the other person wants to hear. Can be exasperating sometimes. By this time I would be going crazy with all the Christmas music everywhere and the advertisements to Sell, Sell Sell! I wouldn't even know it was Christmas Season here so I have to remind myself that it is. What a difference. I will try to write more often. Take care everyone and enjoy the Holiday Season. Love Marie

#47 Happy Diwali

Hi Everyone It wasn't a holiday from work but Diwali is happening right now with lots of fireworks. I looked it up on the internet and this is what they say about the holiday: Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome. Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. So it's like a combination of Christmas and 4th of July. Lots of noise outside, and remember I'm 14 floors up! Since this is the first time I've been here for Diwali I don't know if it is going to be like this all night - Where's my earplugs? - or if it will calm down soon. And maybe it wasn't a holiday today but no one will come to work tomorrow after all of this. It was very pretty seeing the lights all over the place. BTW, I did take those photos from my window to post and for some reason my computer is not reading the disk I used for the photos. I'll check it out as it is a new disk I bought when I was in Turkey so I can't guarantee that is was a good disk. That's all I'm going to say for now. I wanted to share what was going on here. Happy Diwali. Love Marie

#46 The Angels are bowling

Hi Everyone When I was small and it used to thunder I remember being told the Angels are bowling. Boy are they bowling right now! There is an unbelieveable storm going on, lightning and thunder. I have never been afraid of that, and I'm not afraid of my computer getting affected either because the Medical Center generates its own electricity and they have a power surge protector for the whole campus. I've been told it's because of all the very expensive medical equipment they have. Now that last crack of lightning made me jump! Really loud. I do think I'll give this a rest and finish it a little later. Bye.... Hi again. That was quit a storm and today I was told it was the beginning of the second monsoon. I'm way down at the tip of India and the Monsoons start here around May, then they slowly move up north in the country during the American summer months, and then they stop. They really don't stop, they go down the country again and they arrive back in the south here. I am so unfamiliar with this that I didn't recognize that the temperature dropped by the next morning. I thought it was still warm so what does a few degrees do? Time is pasing and I am not making progress on a lot of things. I still haven't taken the photos I promised but I have the weekend with no plans whatsoever so I can pull out the suitcase and get my camera. I tried to put up the mosquito net on my window and totally failed at that. I want to get the netting up because with the mosquitos I am using an electric device that uses an insecticide chemical. Not really what I want to be breathing every night. I am still fighting the cough and we've tried so many things that I'm not sure what it is that is causing it. The general consensus (among the Westerners) is that I'm not adjusting to the climate or have an allergy to something that is here. I've had the antibiotics, Singulair as if I have asthma, I have one more pill of steroids for my lungs, I've used a medicine (kind of like Vicks but it's a self dissolving tablet) I dropped into steaming hot water and inhaled it under a towel, and I'm still on cough syrup and rubbing something like Vicks on my chest at night. Only 5 weeks left here before I get a break from India ... yes, I got my ticket for Australia today. I leave December 15th and I return on February 15th. It will be summer time in Australia so it will be a nice break and my brother and I haven't seen each other since Christmastime 2005. Seven years flew by! He's in a new home since the last time I saw him and his children and grandchildren have grown. I am looking forward to the trip. I am trying to prepare for the return from Australia in terms of what I will be doing at the hospital. India moves a little slow and if I don't start on that now, even with me starting on this now..., I'm not sure I will know what I'm doing when I return. Makes it very interesting. I'm going to end now, it's getting late and I do have the weekend that I hope to catch up with you all. Be happy. Love Marie

#45 The beginning of my work

Hi Everyone Today is Saturday and I think 5 days a week is enough for me. The work week here at the hospital is 6 days and my boss and Eileen said they will be there today if I want to stop by and say hi. I probably will but I don't want to get into that on a regular basis. Last night we had a potluck at my boss's new apartment. I mentioned that he only arrived here a month ago. It's a lovely apartment on the 11th floor of a building a rickshaw ride away from here. That's how he gets to and from work everyday. An auto rickshaw is a three wheeled vehicle with the equivalent of a motorcycle engine, a little compartment behind the driver that can fit up to 6 or 7 passengers when they want to crowd together. I definitely have to take a photo to show you what I am talking about. However, when I take one, or my boss takes it in the morning, you take it like a taxi with only your party or yourself. For the potluck I don't have cooking facilities so I depended on the others and they did a great job because they know where to go shopping. It's the first salad I have had since Spain that vegetables that are not cooked need to be soaked and washed in a disinfectant like Iodine or Chlorine. It was nice eating something that had to be well chewed, not cooked to death and turns into a slop of different colors, a green curry, or a brown curry or red. Also as I already mentioned, Cochin has money and the apartment was comparable to a Western apartment with a normal bath with a shower and toilet paper, a kitchen with double sink, stove, refrigerator, etc. Very nice. The only Indian addition that is a good thing is the sink in the dining room so you can wash your hands before and after eating. I carry around a hand sanitizer because when I go to eat I have to pay for it, and you don't want to touch your food after handling money without first washing your hands. The Hospital is very good with Filtered Drinking water fountains all over the place. I carry a bottle with me ALWAYS with this drinking water and I keep it filled. There is one on my floor at the guest house. There is also a water heater on my floor for bathing that I didn't find out about until over a week later. I just turn on the heater, wait a little and then go back with my bucket and fill it up with the hot water and take it to my room. I do not like cold baths and would go a day without a bath than take a cold one. Back to work, yesterday I created a GANTT chart for the job I am working on. Something I learned in Uni but I am not sure if I ever did one for Humana. The first Committee Meeting will be held next week and Dr Patel (he has now told me I can call him Arun) asked if I would make up a timeline of how we could meet the expectations of this project. Eight weeks we have to get it completed. I will be leaving before that but I can help virtually for the concluding report. I am pleased to hear that Arun wants me to accompany some of the interviewers questioning the seniors and other people we need to gather data from. Of course I won't understand what they are saying, but the interviewers will need to be able to interpret the answers to me and I can monitor that the questions and answers are being collected properly. Have I told you what this project is all about? Kerala is a big state and the hospital serves the whole state. Someone noticed older adults waiting to be seen at this department and that department. It was questioned why they are there? Why not have satellite centers in the state where they can check in on a regular basis instead of making the trip all the way to Cochin? So we are going to collect data if it is economically viable, and if it would work to make this available to keep the older adults healthy in their own home. I am smiling from ear to ear that I am in the right place at the right time. It also looks like a long term project so if it is determined to be so, we will look into a different visa for me when I return. I have to tell you I feel so blessed and know it is by the prayers and good wishes of all of you. Thank you. I'll keep in touch. Love Marie

# 44 Settling into India

Hi Everyone I really need to be more prepared when I get online like this. I don't want to waste my internet time yet I think of a hundred things I would like to do for you so I'll start making a list and have everything ready when I sign on. Such as: I would like to take photos of my room and the view from my 14th floor windows and post them so you can see. My room is very simple, clean for India standards, quite large (can sleep 3 people or more), has a private bathroom and a lockable cabinet with my own padlock. I have a desk I am using right now and a chair. A fan to cool me off when it's hot and a row of wall pegs so I can hang things, such as my bag of snacks. Bugs are a problem which can be handled in various ways: Mosquitos - I use a plug in called Good Knight that keeps them away using a chemical. With my cough and the suggestion that I may be allergic to something, I want to eliminate this so I bought a mosquito net and I will attach it to the window to prevent them from coming in. Right now I have no screen there. Ants - I don't know how they find things I don't and make it up 14 floors to invade what they find. Last night I came home to find a lot of tiny little ones, no bigger than that last comma I typed, on my bed. They seemed to like something that was on the plastic bag I had some papers in and had quickly dropped the bag on my bed as I was leaving, along with my backpack. I don't see what they were after but when I found them I hung my backpack and the plastic bag from my clothes line and slept in the extra bed. They're gone now. Otherwise I just have to be conscious of not having any food or food garbage like banana peels left around. Glad I wasn't a total pig before because you have to keep things absolutely clean. I am still the new kid on the block and have a really big learning curve to climb. I haven't been to the shopping center yet which I hear is big and there is another one being built which will be the biggest one in India. Cochin was well known for good workers that were willing to relocate. Some were Muslim and they left in droves to work in the Middle East. Well the aging process has taken place and they are now retiring and coming home - with lots of money. And I know you can guess who is building these shopping centers, Arab corporations. They are just following the money. I have to go see them which means a ricksaw drive and I have to make a list of the things I need to make it worthwhile for the trip. For the mosquito net I need tape to attach it to the wall next to the window. I need window cleaner because the window really is flithy and needs to be cleaned first. I asked the cleaning ladies to do it this morning and she thought she did it (I had to say Thank you, good job) but she didn't use any cleaner, just water, and it did nothing. I don't want to buy anything I don't need right now since I will be leaving in 6 weeks and will have to find someplace I can store stuff for 2 months while I'm gone...or give it away and start again when I come back. Here's some observations that I find funny: Did you ever wonder what happened to Lifebuoy Soap? It's in India. I use it everyday now. I am having a heck of a time getting/keeping my feet clean. They get dirt stuck along the sides of the nails, the skin seems to absorb dirt. I need to lather my whole body with soap, than it's a bucket bath so you use a cup to scoop up water to pour over the body. When I'm done I use a towel to rub and dry to help get the old skin cells /dirt off my body. I've been told by someone that I should try washing my body with Salt - rubbing salt all over as a first wash and then after, wash the way I am washing. There's another item I need to put on my list to buy, salt. I must be tired and it's not even lunch time because I can't think of all the things that keep popping up and I think, I have to tell everyone about that. It's all new to me so I am seeing it as you would, but give it time and soon I won't even see things with this perspective. It will be "old hat". I just remembered another one I thought I would share. The American woman in my office, Eileen, brought candy to work for Halloween. Little coffee sweets with a wrapper on it. We were told that the desks in our office were on loan and would need to be replaced. So I show up as the workers are taking the door off the frame because the desk doesn't fit through the doorway. After they finish removing the one desk (we have two, the one I share with my boss, and the one Eileen has) Eileen offers sweets to the workers. They all take one or two and leave. I walk outside our office and all the wrappers are scattered on the floor. It's their culture to just remove and drop on floor, whether it is on the street or in an office. There's a post script to this, they find out that they took the wrong desk and had to return it and take the other one. But this time they don't want to take the door off. So they turn the desk on its side and drag it through the doorway. Yep, totally messed up the end of the desk but who cares. And Eileen gave more sweets, and more wrappers were on the floor. You have to be able to laugh! I'm going to end now. I'll write more again soon. Love Marie

#43 I think I'm set to go

Hello everyone I am now online with my computer. Feels wonderful. It's what they call a "stick", one of the biggest companies in India Tata makes it. Just put it into my USB port and I'm online. There are a few developments that happened over the weekend or today. One is that my visa does require me to leave in 90 days so I am going to go visit my brother in Australia. Please send me good energy that I find plane seats because it will be around December 16 that I need to leave which is getting into the holiday season. Then I will visit him and his family for around 2 months and come back to India, but I'm not sure how long that will be for because it will be heading into the really hot season here. I do want to come back because just today we think we have found the reason I have been directed to come here. There is a Dr. Patel who arrived around a month ago from the UK and he is trying to set up a Senior Wellness Program using outreach satellites of the hospital in areas a distance away so the seniors don't have to travel all the way to the hospital. Travel is difficult for everyone normally, I can't imagine how it must be for an older person with disabilities. His expertise is in Public Health and he studied Kaiser Permanente in the US as the model he would like to use. Humana who I used to work for is a competitor of Kaiser so this is right up my alley. I think it would be terrific if we could get something like this going in India. After Dr. Patel and I met, he took me to the Chief Administrator of the hospital to introduce me and things are rolling now. I am going to be sharing the desk and office with Dr. Patel. In his office is another American woman, Eileen, who is working on another project. We went to lunch and I met another Westerner who is here on a Fullbright Scholarship but the project she is working on slipped by me. I am sure I will be meeting and talking with her again soon. An email has been sent to IT to get me set up with wifi and the computer system of the Hospital so I can use the Hospital's internet for work. Dr. Patel and Eileen took me to lunch in a canteen for doctors and staff on the top floor of the hospital and it was the best food I've had since I arrived. It was a restaurant that they serve you on dishes, not metal plates, and there were even napkins. I'm considered staff and can use this restaurant. You can see I didn't learn my Camino lesson that food is for nourishment, not entertainment. It's my only vice - I love good food. I haven't mentioned that I have been battling a cough. Started in Kolkata, stuck with me in the north of India, I went to the clinic at one place and they gave me cough syrup but it didn't get rid of it. When I got here I went to a meeting with the Social Workers of the hospital and I went into a coughing fit that I had to leave the room. The next day I went to see a doctor. He gave me cough syrup and Singular, a medication for asthma. I finished them and still coughed. He wanted to make sure everything was ok so I had a chest x-ray done and blood work and all came back ok so then he gave me antibiotics, cough syrup and Singular. I have finished all but the cough syrup and I still have a residual cough. People tell me that we're in the tropics and this is why some people don't do well in India. Allergies to the mold, dust, plants, etc. It didn't affect me in the past - first time 22 years ago, and then 12 years ago. BTW, when I saw the Dr. he weighed me and I was 110 lbs. (50 Kilos)so I guess I did lose a little weight on the Camino. It's getting late so I am going to end now. Tomorrow the School of Nursing is celebrating their 10th Anniversary. I will be attending the festivities. Good night and thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. Love Marie

#42 Kochi (or Cochin) India

Hello Everyone I've made it to AIMS Medical Science Institute. Today is a holiday, Durga Puja. No work today but I can't say I have been doing any work, so far. I've been meeting lots of people and they are all saying they would like to have me help them - English classes, gerontology lectures, review of different grant applications and policies that they don't have elderly included on, such as emergency evacuations. I finally got a name badge with my photo on it. It's funny that some things they are so Hi-Tech, like everyone signs in using their finger print on a sensor pad. Then they are so antiquated that they keep ledger books for all their information, with a computer sitting right there on the desk. This computer is getting old for me so I'm going to close for now and as soon as I can use my computer on the internet, I'll let you know. Meanwhile know that I am doing fine. Love you all. Marie

#41 Ranchi, India

Hello everyone I am finishing my week here in Ranchi, India. It was very nice except for the fact that I have had a cough all this time. I actually went to the free clinic here and got some cough syrup and the doctor thought I needed vitamins. It's going away just in time for me to make my next trip. Tomorrow I get on the train for a 51 hour trip to Ernakulum, India. It's near Cochin, where the hospital is that I will be volunteering at. While I was here I did a little bit of travel with a Columbian woman who is married to an Indian for 37 years. She could pass for an Indian, speaks Hindi. We went to Purulla and Lakanpur, about 4 hours away by train and cost Rupees 20, less than US .50 cents. That's why I am going by train for the 51 hour trip. It would cost almost $200 if I was to fly. I have more time than money right now so I will learn to enjoy slowing down. I'll post when I get to Cochin and find out what I will be doing as a volunteer. Thank you for checking on me and sending me good thoughts. Love Marie

#40 Dakshineswar, India

Hi all my friends, Try looking this location up on your maps! I really am in rural India and if you saw where I am typing this you would laugh. From the outside you wouldn't think there is even electricity here but there are 7 computers going - with around 10 people huddled around them. All are young people and most are playing games and I see one Facebook going. I will be here until Saturday and then I go to Ranchi, India. I take an overnight train there so it should be fun. I have heard from the Hospital/University where I will be volunteering in Cochin, India and they have a Gerontology Department. They are looking forward to my arriving around October 15th. It will be a 28 hour train ride from Ranchi to Cochin but I still have to get my ticket for that. When I get there I should have no problem with access to a computer. So in the meantime, know I am well and having the adventure of a lifetime. Keep sending me good thoughts. Love, Marie

#39 In Kolkata, India

Hello Everyone I am at the home of my friends in Kolkata, safe and sound. However the computer that I can use is old and the internet connection very slow and I have to ask for the computer to be switched on when I want to use it. So while I am staying here, I won't be doing much on the computer, I am sorry to report. Know that I am thinking of you and please don't hesitate emailing me, I am responding to individual emails. Thanks and I will be in touch. Love Marie

#38 Perhaps the stupidest thing I have ever done!

Hi Everyone I'm in Doha, Qatar. I arrived here at 6:00 this morning and had 13 hours to take in Doha. I started my adventure by taking a taxi to the town. I got out at a spot where I thought I could continure walking and found that the town is not easy to walk around. I finally found a place to buy water in the 104 degrees at 8:00 a.m. and the store owner told me where I could get breakfast. I had breakfast and then went to the Bazaar or Souk that was conveniently located next door to the restaurant. I walked around there for a little while and realized when I was done that "I was done". All I wanted to do was go back to the airport and flake out until my flight at 7:45 p.m. So I caught another taxi and went back to the airport. I managed to sleep a little and my nose started running so much that I was going through toilet paper like crazy. I took an antihistamine and around 3:45 found that I only had one left and I definitely needed another one before arriving in Kolkata. So I left the airport and walked until I found a pharmacy. Actually as soon as I left the airport terminal I felt much better that it is the air conditioning in the terminal that may be causing my nose to run. Outside it was hot and there is a lot of dust and I think it could be allergies affecting me. When I came back from the pharmacy I went to get something to eat at the snack bar in the airport, managed to spend all my Qatar money by buying a candy bar, and headed for the gate. I looked at the time and realized it was time to board except that it was an hour later than I thought and the flight had left. Like I said, it may be the stupidest thing I ever did. I was so upset with myself. Some of the Qatar Airline people have been very nice and others were totally useless. Bottom line - I am now confirmed to the airport. They took my passport. The next flight out to Kolkata is the same flight as today just 24 hours later. So I am stuck here. Lucky I have a change of clothing with me that my suitcase will be in Kolkata by tomorrow morning - or at least I hope so. I think I should check with the airline. I'm sitting on the floor with 9 others, 1/2 Chinese (the Chinese man was so nice that the electricity plug is different than what I have and he let me use his socket), some Africans, some Arabs and two women all the way to my left that look European. We're all gathered around the electricity outlets charging our batteries. When I found I missed my plane the first thing I knew I needed to do was call my people in India who were coming to pick me up at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. That was an ordeal because I needed to buy a phone card which they sold at the coffee shop - US $9.00. Lucky I bring US money with me. Then I couldn't get the pay phones to work. There are a lot of phones that are having problems but I found one that I could call on. So I caught my friend before they went to bed, and he knows not to pick me up at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. I sent them an email (it's father and son who are coming to pick me up) and I hope it won't be an inconvenience for the son that he works. Sunday was his day off but Monday he works. Anyway, that's my escapade. We shall see what happens tomorrow. The plane I missed had my vegetarian meal on it, too. By time I arrive in Kolkata, it will be two nights I didn't sleep in a bed, and over 48 hours of travel time since I left Istanbul. Thanks for hanging in there for me, everyone. Now I can rest in India for a while, no traveling for a little while. Love Marie

#37 Instanbul

Hi again, 5 days later. Sorry about that. I've been busy, flying from Kusadasi to Kayseri, and then from Kayseri to Istanbul, arriving around 1:00 a.m. in the morning to start another tour at 8:00 a.m. It has been hectic. No wonder I am sitting in my "pajamas" at 2:00 p.m. in my room. Today is a rest day. I still have not seen the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul which is supposed to be not missed. Take a look at it: http://www.grandbazaaristanbul.org/The_Grand_Bazaar.html 5,000 shops, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily I wasn't going to go but on my Bosporus Cruise yesterday I met a New Yorker who said she didn't buy anything there, but really enjoyed the people watching. It is so big she warned me to take note where I enter so I know where to come out. She said she came out by mistake almost a quarter of a mile from where she entered. I am also trying to arrange for my final flight to India. I had to go to Turkish Airlines and request a vegetarian meal - yes, some airlines actually serve you meals on the flights. And I still have to get in touch with Qatar Airlines and do the same for them. I am also trying to find how to see Doha, the city I fly into in Qatar? I hope I can find a tour or a tour guide that won't cost me an arm and a leg. I have been in touch with the Lithuranian pilgrim I walked with on the Camino and she made a very nice presentation on Google with her photos. I hope to do that as soon as I am settled down for a while. My mouse died on me (that's the computer mouse) and I'm not sure if it is the mouse or the connection. I will have to check my mouse on someone else's computer to see if it works. Without a mouse, I find it very difficult to do things. This thumb pad thing is not easy and I never know when I am supposed to click and which button to click. I am still enjoying myself and meeting lots of people. I met some Indians (a younger couple who live in Dubai and have a young son, and a couple my age who lives outside Mumbai), a South African woman a little older than me, and lots of Americans, Canadians and Australians. I also met a young couple and cousin, the man and his male cousin were from Saudia Arabia and the woman was from Morocco. We sat at the same table for lunch and it turned out to be a most fascinating lunch. They got married last year in Morocco and she had lots of photos of the wedding on her cell phone. She had SIX different dresses for the wedding. One was more beautiful than the other, and the colors! White, yellow, blue, purple, red and green. One of the photos had the groom in his traditional costume and I think he was a sheik prince, with the red and white checkered headdress. His father also has two wives. She has a MBA from a university in France but now she is a stay at home wife, not working. But no children yet. We really enjoyed meeting each other. The only faux pas I made was I asked if she dresses differently in Saudia Arabia than what she was dressed in on the tour we were on. She had very modern clothes on with arms and legs bare. She talked to her husband in their language after I asked it so I apologized to her later if I shouldn't have asked that. She said no, it was ok and gave me her email and phone numbers if I ever come to Saudia Arabia or Morocco to contact her. There was also a woman on the same tour completely covered up with the black veil. From her eyes and hands, I think she was young but her husband was in his 50's. I tried to speak to her and she answered "I don't speak English" which was funny because she spoke Engligh to answer me. I mean if someone spoke to me in Arabic or Spanish, I answer I don't speak Spanish or Arabic, not in their language. Makes me think she really did speak English but it is easier not to speak around her husband. On the street I intentionally speak to the ladies with their faces covered. There were three of them together and I was lost again - Turkey has been rough for me - I thought they were young and I asked where I could find a pharmacy. One of them answered me very clearly in English. I liked doing that so they know they are not invisible, I see a person there. I smile at them and thank them for their help. I would love to try wearing a burka sometime just to see what it like? I have heard that some women think it is very freeing, not to be on display to others. And others who have done it (journalists, women who have had to escape the area) say that it was claustiphobic and annoying. I'd like to see for myself but I don't know if I ever will get the chance. Photos will follow of the amazing places I have seen. Love Marie p.s. I also found out that burka is with the eyes covered, a niqab is where the eyes can be seen. So to be correct, the woman on our tour wore a niqab. I stand corrected.

#36 Catching up with you

Hi Everyone I'm still at that very nice hotel in Kusadasi and it's early morning, plenty of time before breakfast. I leave today going to Cappadocia which I believe is a "cave" hotel so I'm taking advantage of this internet. If what we are experiencing in our lives is a dream, I am sure getting a kick out of my imagination. Yesterday I went to Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Hierapolis was a ruin of a Roman town, a rather badly ruined town. I've seen much better before in Jordan and I think I knew more than our guide about Roman towns. But Pamukkale was the strangest place! Basically it has water with lots of minerals so people have come there for centuries to bath in the thermal pools for health reasons. You must take your shoes off to even walk out to the pools so there is a security man blowing his whistle constantly to get people to take their shoes off or stay in the designated areas. Then this is a Muslim country and you have the woman covered from head to toe mixing with Russians, French, Italians, etc. who are practically naked. I thought it was very bizarre. But it was a nice 3 hour drive out to the ruins on a day with beautiful weather, in a Mercedes bus with excellent air conditioning. I'll attach some photos. Notice how crowded it is and how they built this beautiful resort in it's shadow to take advantage of the water. I sat a little ways from the woman and her two children and just stuck my feet in the running water. I hadn't soaked my feet since the Camino and it felt good, plus later on the nail of my little toe, the one I had so much trouble with when I was walking, very simply fell off. No drama. It's already growing a new nail underneath, no worries.

This wonderful internet connection will not let me view my blog so I am not able to see what I did this morning. I hope it is ok and when I am able to check it, if I uploaded the wrong photos I will edit this posting. If you have any questions, please email me and ask. Have a great day. Love Marie

#35 I'm in Kusadasi, Turkey

Hi Everyone, It's been a long day. I was picked up at my hotel in Greece at 7:00 this morning by car, taken to the ferry for a 4 hour trip to Athens port. Then a bus to the airport and my first flight from Athens to Istanbul. Then through customs, got my visa, and caught my second flight to Izmir, Turkey. I found out why I didn't recognize the town because it was known as Smyrna in biblical times. That name I recognize. This time I was met at the airport by a driver holding a sign with the name Marie Frances, and we confirmed that it was me and I was the right person he was taking to the right place. An hour drive and I'm in Kusadasi, Turkey. I haven't met anyone yet from my tour group, nor the tour guide, but the hotel is really nice, the best I have had since I left the states. I have to pay for the internet connection but at least I have it in my room and I will be here for two nights. So it was car - ferry - bus - plane - plane - car today for a total of almost 12 hours. I've got to get some rest that the tour starts at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow with breakfast at 7:00. I look forward to meeting my group. Hope some of them are fun to be around. I'll post tomorrow and let you know what I'm up to here in Turkey. Love, Marie

#34 Last night in Greece

Hi Everyone I'm in Mykonos, Greece for the night. I arrived this morning coming from Paros and the boat trip was awful. The water was very choppy with lots of wind. I was ok but everyone around me except two people behind me on the boat got sick. I would not recommend the jet boat ferries in Greece. Tomorrow I take another ferry back to Athens for my flight to Istanbul. It will not be the jet boat but a much larger boat so I am hoping it will be ok. I have to leave tomorrow morning very early to make my flight. I am so tired that I know I have to go to bed early tonight. With that I will say goodnight. I don't know when I will have access to the Internet in Turkey. I arrive in Istanbul at 3:15 p.m. and my flight out to Izmir is at 5:00. I'll check in next chance I get and bring you up to date on where I am and what I am doing. Turkey is kind of like a Mystery Tour to me. I truly don't know where we are going and what we are doing. At least this way I have no expectations. I'll post something whenever I am able, but it may be a few days. Love, Marie

#33 Now I'm In Greece

Hello everyone It has been fun, folks! I arrived in Greece on Tuesday night and on the way here by way of Frankfurt, Germany, I asked if the time changed. No, I was told. The time is the same in all of Europe. So I wake up Wednesday morning, ready to start my tour to Delphi and Meteora and the woman at the Hostel I stayed at said, You're late! No, I pull out my phone and show her the time, it's only 7:40 and I don't have to be at the meeting place until 8:00, except that it is already 9:40. Oops, I missed my trip. So after I calmed down, and the wonderful staff at the hostel made a few phone calls for me, I go to the tour office and book my tours for the rest of my stay in Greece. I saw Athens on Wednesday. Met a very nice French woman at the Acropolis who was traveling by herself and we shared a taxi to see one place, then met for dinner that night at a great restaurant with live Greek music. It was a perfect day. Next day I did my tour to Delphi and Meteora and a picture is worth a thousand words so I will attach a photo. Got back last night and went to a free concert at the Acropolis Museum with two women from my hostel. It was a Full Moon and Athens was hopping with four free concerts we could have gone to. It was wall to wall people. This morning I left at 6:00 a.m. for the ferry to Paros Island, one of the many Greek Islands. I still have not met the owner/managers of the hotel I am staying at that they went to a wedding here. There are many weddings today, I've been told. Lucky that the hotel was close to where the boat came in that I was told I was going to be picked up (look for your name on a sign, yeah right!) but no one showed up. After the camino I am in good shape so I walked to the hotel pulling my suitcase. The cleaning woman called the owner when I arrived, told them about me and she showed me to a room. She doesn't speak any English so it's been fun. I've walked around in town today and it's exactly what I expected of a Greek Island. Blue water, lots of beaches, perfect weather, white houses, lots of open air cafes. I'm sitting in one now that they are the only places that have wifi. None at my hotel. Tomorrow I will get up early and will take a bus ride to the other side of the island to see the other village here and the rest of the island. I'm in Parikia on the island of Paros, and the other village is Naoussa. Then I go to Mykonos on Monday for one day before flying to Istanbul. I thought I lost everything I typed so far so I am going to close and attach my photos. The photos are of the Pantheon from the roof of my hostel at night with the full moon. And of this one high point in Athens (this is where I shared the taxi with the French woman). And then on to Meteora with the monasteries built high in the mountains back in the 1300s. And they are still occupied. Don't you just love them! I certainly did. Any questions, please ask. I am not doing a good job of explaining things. I'll keep posting. Marie

#32 Another Observation - Flamenco

Hi Everyone I want to share what I have learned about Flamenco, you have to remember you are hearing this from a woman who loves dance. I wanted to see flamenco while I was in Spain that I only saw it once in person before I came here. I saw it three times while I was in Spain. The first time I went to a club in Seville and it was good, but even the locals said it wasn't the best. The best flamenco in Seville was at clubs that had shows that cost a lot of money. I met someone who told me the best flamenco they saw in Spain was in the gypsy quarter in Granada so I made it a priority to go there when I was in Granada. It was excellent and I saw the difference between the show in Seville and the one in Granada. Then I went to the Ballet Flamenco de Madrid's presentation of Carmen. I saw Carmen over 40 years ago at the Lincoln Center in NYC as an Opera. I went with a friend who was as uncouth as I and we left during the third act. We had enough of screaming French, which they thought was singing. But oh, when I saw Carmen this time. Flamenco was supposed to have come from the gypsies and the gypsies were supposed to have come from India. So the hand gestures look very Indian with the rotation of the wrists. But here's what Wikipedia has to say: Flamenco is a genre of Spanish music, song and dance from Andalusia, in southern Spain, that includes cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance) and palmas (handclaps). First mentioned in literature in 1774, the genre grew out of Andalusian and Romani (another name for Gypsy) music and dance styles. In recent years flamenco has become popular all over the world and is taught in many countries: in Japan there are more academies than there are in Spain. (I like this fact! Just like Hula, the Japanese love dance, too.) On November 16, 2010 UNESCO declared flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. I found this online if you would like to see Flamenco and then some of the things I tell you about you can actual see. Almost 2 million people have watched this video. Copy and paste this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqxJMCQxb_Q First there is the ATTITUDE. I made that caps because it is an attitude. Notice the woman as she gets up to dance. And then it is not just the dancing that is making the clicks, like we are used to with tap dancing. The noise is also the other dancers and singers clapping their hands and the musicians also tap their instruments or tables to add to the clap sound. Other aspects to flamenco are the musicians, and the singers - you have to have one like this YouTube that sounds like he is pouring his heart out in a song. It can be a woman or a man that sings, I've seen both. And the dancer can be man or woman also. But they have to have THE ATTITUDE like they are angry or suffering. The dancers are also very suggestive. They rub their own bodies, and pull on their clothing, both women and men show skin with the woman lifting her dress and the man undoing his shirt, women also spread their legs, notice how this dancer was sitting when the video first starts with her legs apart, you should have seen the dancers in Carmen. If you ever get the chance to see Flamenco, don't miss it. It will just pull you in with the emotion and sensuality of it. Enjoy the YouTube I listed here. I've also added some more photos from Granada. They love the color red; notice the man has red shoes. And I saw castanets used only once and that was in Carmen for one dance. I think it must be like the implements we use in hula; not something used often. Also, the Spanish say "Ole" at the end when they watch Flamenco, like they do for bullfights. If it is a way of saying Well Done, I wonder are they saying Ole for the bull or the bullfighter? Love, Marie The photos are of two different female gypsy dancers who both wanted to show some skin, and the other two are of the male gypsy dancer who had his mojo going.

#31 Observations on my trip

Hi everyone Now I'm going to share some things I have seen and usually they are funny to me. First there are the toilets, a very essential need. I will preface this that I have seen worse, much worse in other countries, but I just don't understand why they do what they do here?! While I was still on the Camino I figured out a Star Rating that I used with some of the women I walked with. * One star was there was a Toilet Seat. For some reason some places have just the white enamel or stainless steel "throne" with no toilet seat. Are they afraid someone will steal the toilet seat or as someone suggested, maybe the toilet seats were already stolen?!!! I don't think so. *Two stars is when there was a toilet seat and toilet paper. I don't go anywhere without some toilet paper stashed in my pocket that usually there is no toilet paper. * Three stars is a toilet seat, toilet paper, and soap for washing your hands. I learned very quickly that the a US Department of Health would have gone crazy that there's never soap to wash your hands after going to the toilet. Remember the employees use the same toilets. That concept of cleanliness hasn't sunk into the minds of the Spaniards. * Four stars is toilet seat, toilet paper, soap for washing your hands, and some way of drying your hands, either paper towels or air dryer. * Five stars is all of the above plus some esthetic luxury like flowers, lounge area, machines to buy things (toothbrush was a big one). I know I count the 5 star toilets I've seen on one hand. So I come to the toilets and bathrooms I have had in my hotels. I have had a "throne" in the corner of my room with no walls or door to it. I thought of it as my prison cell, but it was a "private toilet", I didn't have to share it with anyone else. Right now in the room I am in, the WC is very literally a WC! The shower is probably not big enough for most people to even fit, next to it is this door that when you open it, there's the toilet but if you closed the door it would probably hit your knees. It's clean, though. Since a photo is worth a thousand words, I think I need to attach a photo. I hope it makes you laugh, or at least smile!

Enough about toilets, I'll pick another topic and write about that later. I'm starting to get hungry and it is breakfast time. Love, Marie

#30 Back in Madrid

Toledo was a great town to visit and it was a good three days. I stayed at a Hostel that turned out to not be my favorite, but when I told the manager that I wanted to check out, he got so upset I accepted his offer and stayed. Spanish men are very emotional, I need not say anymore. But I won't recommend the place to anyone and I showed a young German student (Sophia), my roommate, where the better hostel was so she doesn't book anyone at the one we were staying in. Sophia will be there in Toledo for 5 months and will be having people visit. She would have checked out too except she already paid for 10 days while she is looking for an apartment to rent. The two highlights of the Toledo trip were going to all the tourist sites, six places for 8 Euros if you buy a bracelet which I did. One place, the Jesuit Church I went twice because it had towers with a spectacular view. Also went to the Santa Cruz Museum that was for free and was one of the best museums I have ever visited. And the second highlight was the German girl Sophia is also a vegetarian so we went out to dinner and found a place that offered us several vegetarian entrées and she and I shared different choices. After the Camino and I still haven't learned that food is for nutrition, not an entertainment. I'll attach some photos now. And finally I have my travel arrangement made. August 28th I leave Madrid and go to Athens, Greece. September 4th I leave Athens and go to Istanbul, Turkey. September 14th I leave Istanbul and go to Kolkata, India, but it will take two days for me to arrive, on 9/16 at 3:00 a.m. I am traveling by the seat of my pants, no idea what I will be doing so far except for my first night in Greece, I have a reservation for a hostel. I also met a Turkish woman this morning in Toledo who lives in Istanbul and has given me her email address and phone number. I will be contacting her before I book my first hostel to make sure it is in a good location, although she seems to think it is as safe in Turkey as it is here in Spain. I asked her if I was dressed appropriately for Turkey and she said yes, of course not for the Mosque, but I had on shorts and a sleeveless blouse and I thought it was not acceptable for Turkey. Glad it is.

I've included a cute graffiti drawing I saw. They are definitely BIG on the Man of La Mancha here in Toledo. That's a photo I took of the city from the Parador Hotel on the other side of the river. Then Marie taken by a Japanese lady as I left the Parador Hotel. We were waiting for the bus together. And my favorite church, besides the Cathedral of Santiago, it's the Jesuit Church in Toledo that opens it's towers to tourists. I went back to it twice. That's Marie taking a photo of "QuasiMarie", not Quasimoto in Notre Dame, up in the bell tower. I have a few more days here in Madrid without anything to do, really, so I will probably catch up with adventures I've had or insights I've made. I've got my private room again at the same hotel I had before Toledo so I have access to the internet and lots of privacy. Talk to you all soon. Love, Marie

#29 Carmen last night

Good Morning everyone I'm taking the train to Toledo this morning but I had to tell you what a thrill it was seeing the Ballet Flamenco de Madrid last night at the Teatro Nuevo Apolo - that's right, the Apollo Theater. The fact that I was able to buy a ticket just hours before the performance was amazing. The theater itself was worth seeing, this very old, regal building, I've attached a photo of the stage. Sorry I was not able to take any photos of the performance. The director was an older woman and she was part of the performance and could she dance! She certainly still has all the moves. Even as I was sitting there, I couldn't believe that I was watching this performance for less than $20.00. It was only 15 Euros. If I was able to get a ticket for something like that in the US it would have cost $90-100. The other photo you will have to turn your head or hold your computer sideways. Good exercise for your neck. I just had to take a photo of the outside billboard. I'll keep in touch but remember I'm in Toledo for the next three days. Love, Marie

#28 My last days in Spain

Hi again, I'm staying in a hostel in a single room which is very nice. I can turn on the computer whenever I want and type away so I thought I better bring you all up-to-date. I just bought a ticket for tonight to see Carmen, performed by the Ballet Flamenco de Madrid. I am really excited. It's at 8:30 and it is right down the street from my hostel so at 10:30 I can just walk home, no problem. And there won't be a problem with the language, I know the story and I'm just going for the dancing anyway. I'll let you know how it is. This will be the third time I'm seeing Flamenco since I arrived in Spain. I booked my flight out of Athens this afternoon. So now I am flying out of Madrid to Athens on 8/28, Tuesday, and then on to Istanbul on September 4th, giving myself exactly one week to enjoy Greece. I am going to book my flight to India for around the middle of September, giving myself at least 21 days advance purchase as it costs more if it's less than 21 days. $75 penalty to be exact - Ouch! I bought a train ticket this afternoon for Toledo and have already booked a hostel for 3 days there. It should be nice. I am going to share the room with 3 other women (girls?) but I return to Madrid, this same hostel(and a private room)for my last two days in Spain. I am going to just take my backpack with me when I go to Toledo and leave my suitcase here to make it easy on myself. This morning on my way to the train station I stumbled on the "little India" area of Madrid. Restaurant after restaurant of Indian food so I am going to have a really good vegetarian dinner tonight before the show. I'm going to sign off now so I can pack and be ready for my trip tomorrow. I am still amazed at the ability I have to do what I want, when I want, with no responsibility. I also amaze myself at how I determine what to spend my money on! I will pinch pennies on some things, and then throw money away on other things. When I went to Barcelona I left my backpack with lots of things I didn't need for a week in a locked storage box at the bus station that cost 3.50 Euros a day. By time I got back that cost $35.00. But it was worth not having to carry all that stuff with me to Barcelona and back. The suitcase I am leaving here at the hostel is only going to cost me 2 Euros a day, a lot less for a much bigger piece of luggage. The problem is there are stairs sometimes and even with the wheels on my suitcase, it is heavy and difficult for me getting it up and down stairs. I want you to know I think of you all a lot. What a wonderful life I have lead to have made friends with all of you (and some of you are just stuck with me as a relative!). Love, Marie

#27 continued with more photos, I hope

These are of Barcelona, Monserrat and the Barcelona Ashram. Barcelona is very old, also very unique. Monserrat is incredible, way up in the mountains, getting there was a treat. The ashram has 17,000 olive trees with a view of Monserrat. My photos are of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, construction for over 100 years and counting, won't be done until maybe 2030. The same designer Gaudi did the building and this dude died in 1926. He was definitely ahead of his time. And then during my night tour I captured the homeless in front of Lacoste; they had an upper class designer store front to sleep in. And here's some street scenes of Barcelona. Very pretty, I know the fountain in Las Vegas at Bellagio and this fountain was impressive. One photo of the inside of the Basilica. And check out how they carved the flowers in the marble so it looks like it is separate from the background. But it's all one piece. Love, Marie

# 27 I'm back in Madrid

Hello again. Sorry but I fell off the planet for a few days. I was staying at the Spanish Ashram of the Indian Group I know and it was an excellent experience. Like the Camino, it was very disciplined, wake up at 6:00 a.m. for prayer, breakfast at 8:30, volunteer work on the Olive Grove Farm until lunch, then lunch at 1:30, rest until 3:30, then a second session of volunteer work until prayer and meditation at 6:30 or 7:00. Dinner was at 8:30. The days went flying by. Now I just got back here from Barcelona. I was there since Friday, 8/10. I enjoyed it - a walking tour (very good), a night bus tour (not worth the money I paid), got taken by making an "online reservation" for Sagrada Familia (it turned out to not be a reservation with the actual cathedral using the headset for the tour but through a travel agency and it cost 29 Euros instead of 17 and I had a live tour guide with a thick Spanish accent giving us the tour) but I did love seeing the basilica, and I also went to Monserrat - spectacular. It was the logistics that pushed me over the edge. I bought a return ticket Madrid to Barcelona by bus with an "open return". When I went to set my return date, they would not do it by telephone nor could I do it online. So I had to make it in person. Yesterday - Sunday - I checked online and it looked like there were 13 seats left spread over 3 bus trips, 1/2 hour apart - 11:00. 11:30 and 11:59 p.m. But when I get there they tell me there are no seats available until 5:00 p.m. today. I found out that my passport with the Indian visa was ready for pickup at the Indian Embassy and I needed to get back to Madrid. So I decide to take a taxi from the Bus Station to the Train Station (the driver wanted 5 Euros more than it should have been) and after I get there I find the Information Booth is closed, I cannot buy a ticket until the morning...AND they close the station so I get kicked out on the street. I decide I'll just play "street person" for a night and go to a bench and sit there next to a woman also with two small suitcases. I am so blessed that this woman became like a sister to me. She is Slovenian, works for the European Union in Alicante and was on her way back home from a vacation in Slovenia. We talked all night and had a great time. One of those suitcases was her dog, that's why she was stuck in Barcelona. She tried to find a hotel for the night and the only one who had a room was 120 Euros and she decided it was not worth in for 6 hours. She has been living in Alicante for 3 years now and spoke Spanish. This morning the saga continued with the 6:00 a.m. train sold out, the 7:00 a.m. had 3 seats and I could not buy the stupid ticket with my credit card and I tried all my cards. Meanwhile the seats are disappearing and when it got down to only one left, my "sister" offered to buy mine with her card and I paid her cash. Thank God, I got the last seat and I made it to Madrid this morning. The funny thing is there were several vacant seats on the train. It's Spain. They are just messed up! I know there were seats on those buses but their systems don't work. My "sister" agreed, that she has 6 years left to work here in Spain and she said she has learned not to fight with the taxi driver who cheats her, or get angry when there is so much noise she can't sleep. She says you have to accept it. So now I have to wait until August 27th when I fly from Madrid to Athens, Greece. I got that ticket already. I have to book a flight out of Greece or I think I may have a problem when I arrive there, it will be over 90 days since I arrived in Europe but if I can show I just want to see Greece for a few days, I should have no problem. Let me attach a few photos and I'll keep you posted on my next flight plans when I make them. Love, Marie

#26 Barcelona

Hello everyone, if there is anyone reading this? I arrived in Barcelona around 5 p.m. My reservation at the hostel got messed up by the Hostel and they had to move me to another hostel of theirs, so right now I'm in a room with 2 young girls (18 yrs old), 1 Canadian and 1 British. They will be here for a week so at least I won't be getting different roommates everyday like I was in Madrid. There have been a lot of robberies here in Barcelona - mostly pickpockets and grab & runs - so I have to be very diligent watching my stuff. Barcelona is another big city with a metro. I took the Metro from the bus station to the hostel and then the hostel gave me money to pay for a taxi from the first Hostel to the new one they sent me to. Nice of them to do that for me. I met a very nice girl at the first hostel and we made arrangements to meet for a walking tour tomorrow morning. She is Australian and is going to stay in Seville for a few months to learn Spanish. She just came from Croatia and loved it and is willing to give me info on what I should do if I go there to visit, which I think I want to do. It's still monsoons in India so I know I need to delay going there so if I go to Croatia and Turkey, I think the timing will work out just fine. I'll write again tomorrow and tell you how the sightseeing goes here. Love, Marie

#25 In Madrid

Hello Everyone I've been in Madrid for a few days now and really thought I had entered a post so I was surprised to see the last one was Granada. Madrid is a busy city. My hostel is ok, excellent location but I've stayed at better places. It is also very hot. You have to like "night life" to enjoy Madrid and I'm not big at partying at night. I've gone to Segovia, did a walking tour one day, went to one museum and saw works by Picasso and Dali. It is just so hot and I'm not really into modern art. So tomorrow I leave for Barcelona. I have to return to Madrid around August 22nd because I have to pick up my passport from the Indian Embassy. I could kick myself that I didn't get my Indian Visa when I was home in the US. Now it is taking twice the time, costing almost twice the money, and I have to walk around in Spain without a passport for two weeks. Not the smartest thing I have ever done so learn from my mistake. I guess I was concentrating so much on the Camino, that I forgot the rest of my trip. I am also going to have to get a visa for Australia and I am giving it some good thought on when and where I should do that? So this is me in Segovia

And this is what some people think was the inspiration to Walt Disney for his castle. I don't think so.

And this last one is the Roman Aqueduct in Segovia. I'll try to be more up-to-date for you. Here I come Barcelona. Love, Marie