India, Take One.

Many of you know that I turned 40 this year.  I am not sure how this happened since I was just 18, but it did. In order to properly celebrate turning 40, my friend Beth (whose b-day is in January) and I decided to take a trip. We couldn't decide where to go for the longest time. We settled on India and Beth did all of the research (thank goodness!). I, on the other hand, spent countless hours sweating, literally, about getting my visa. No longer can you get your visa at the airport in India. You must get it from the Indian Embassy in your home country. OK, doesn't seem like a big deal until you are an American living in Georgia and the closest Indian Embassy is in Armenia.

I finally found a travel agent who could arrange for me to get my visa. I went to him in October and he told me it was too soon and I should return mid November. I showed up on his doorstep on November 15th and he was surprised to see me. I forked over way too much money and hesitantly handed him my passport. Not a copy of my passport, but my actual passport. Since I had done my fair share of emailing with the American and Indian Embassies, I could attest to the fact that this was a tricky adventure. So I asked him how he would manage to get my visa. His response was, "I shouldn't tell you because it is not really legal." I laughed because I thought for sure he was kidding. Since he didn't offer any further explanation, I am not so sure how much of a joke it really was.

After many phone calls, unexpected forms to fill out, and additional money deliveries, I received my visa and passport late in the afternoon on Friday December 17th. I was leaving that Sunday and the travel agency was closed on Saturday. I was so frustrated that I was determined to tell this man what I thought of his services. I waited until I had the goods in hand and positioned myself for an easy exit and then proceeded to tell him how his lackadaisical attitude and business dealings almost caused me to have a bleeding ulcer.  He shrugged his shoulders as if he could care less. Then it dawned on me.  He didn't care.  AAAAHHHHHHH!   UGGGGHHHHHHHH! OK, I am harboring a few remnants of anger from this situation, but I am really trying to let it go. Can't you tell?

Lesson:  Never go to a country that requires a visa. Unless you can get it at the airport.

On to happier topics- the actual trip!
I have been struggling with how to organize my post for India. There is so much to say... so many pictures I want to share. Since I finally realized that I have poetic license to organize this any way I see fit, I decided to break up my posts into three sections: Buildings, People, and Noteworthy Events. Hopefully, I can come up with better titles than this, but if not, then at least there will be no question as to what you will be reading about.

Stay tuned....

Off to Prague We Go!

The last thing I remember about Prague was getting off the bus and staying at some random man's apartment for a day or two.  We ate amazing crepes from a street vendor and walked the Charles Bridge at night.  Wait, that was 20 years ago.  I am no longer touring with my friend Michele, lugging our backpacks around Europe, and engaging in activities that I can't share with most people....


I will focus on the present.  At least in this blog post.

This visit involved a large bearded man and two small children...and sadly, no crepes.  We did, however, take the bus from Vienna to Prague.  Once in this amazingly beautiful city, we took a tour, walked the Christmas markets, and took a funicular up to Petrin Hill.

By far, my favorite activity was to walk around the cobblestone streets, people watch, and peek into the shops.

Gargoyles such as these warded off evil spirits around Prague's Castle.  If you ask me, they look evil themselves!

I love when buildings use light to accentuate their beauty.

Charles Bridge--even 20 years later this is still my favorite part of Prague.  Artists gather along this walking bridge to sell their artwork, jewelery, and other crafts.

                              

                A water wheel alongside the Charles Bridge

A view of Prague from Charles Bridge

Old Town Square

It is amazing how the same city can seem so vastly different a month after college graduation and then again when you are, cough, um, ugh, a bit older. Two totally different experiences. And the best part is...I wouldn't trade either one of them.

Beach or Bust

Part of the reason I have not finished posting about my excursions over winter break was because we have been furiously planning our spring break trip!

We just booked our flights and we will be going to Istanbul, Cairo, and Sharm el Sheikh. I was so excited until I started hearing the news. Think we can get a refund on our flights?

Riots in Cairo

la para copt Inglisurad?

Everywhere I go people ask me if I am an English teacher. When I first moved here, I tried to explain I was a teacher, but not one of the many teachers they recruited for this special program...but that got too confusing. So depending on the day, I either say yes or no.

Pretty cool article--make sure to click on the links within the article too!

Still Fighting Russia, This Time With Words

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

OK, I know The Sound of Music does not take place in Vienna...but it is still Austria!

We spent about a week with my aunt, cousin, and my cousin's son. My brother came for a few days after Christmas also. There was so much to do and to see! Here are a few highlights.

We visited Schonbrunn Palace, one of Austria's most important cultural monuments. It was stunning, especially as a backdrop to the magnificent Christmas tree and Christmas market!

While in the palace, we were able to dress as royalty. I think these pictures speak for themselves. My children should each be referred to as "Your Majesty" from now on.

This is a formal declaration of some sort.

There were many Christmas markets (which were outside....brrrr!) where vendors set up shop and sold various items. They sold a lot of mulled wine (probably because of the freezing temperatures). They gave you an actual mug that you could either keep for a small fee or return when you finished your warm drink.

This is my Tante Biggi toasting with Emet.

Everywhere you look the buildings are amazing. They look old, but strong. They have character.

This is the Vienna Opera House. My grandfather played violin in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, so he played here on many occasions.

Emet, my Tante Biggi, my cousin Karin, AL and Karin's son, N, who is also five. My boys and N proved during this trip that Spider-man and dinosaurs are part of a universal language.

They had the most amazing 8 story aquarium! These jellyfish were mesmerizing.

On New Year's Eve, which they call Silvester, we went down to the city square. I imagine it was a little like going to Times Square in NYC for NYE. It was packed with people and decorations. My favorite part was that an entire area of the square was dedicated to people waltzing! I am not sure if you can tell from this picture, but they are all dancing.

We went to a few bars that night and even in the techno disco (that had a laser light show, I might add), when the clock struck 12, everyone began to waltz! This is when it became clearly evident that I did not grow up in Austria. Mom, you must bow your head in shame. I can't waltz.

A Thing of the Past?

Anyone who knew me when AL were small, can probably recall the number of ear infections they both had. I lost count once they reached the double digits. As a result, both boys had tubes put in their ears and Emet and I thought it was a miracle....no more ear infections!!!!

The down side of tubes is that kids can't get their ears wet (washing hair was a JOY!)...so no swimming. AL refused to wear ear plugs and honestly we were not willing to risk having any issues with the tubes.

L's tubes fell out last summer (well, actually one got impacted and grew into the side of his ear and he had to have it surgically removed, but that's just semantics), so he has been swimming for a while now. They have swimming once a week at school and he loves it.

A has been going to the preschool class during the hour and half swimming lesson because he was not allowed to swim.

THIS IS ALL IN THE PAST NOW! Aidan lost his last tube while we were in Austria. We took him to the Dr. on Saturday to make sure all was sealed up inside his ear. The Dr. gave Aidan the green light to go swimming. If I could have bottled A's excitement, I probably could have motivated a 1,000 people to climb Mt. Everest.

A came home and wrote a letter to the preschool teacher since he won't be going to her class anymore.

It says, "Thanks for having me"- The large person with the hat is A and the much smaller one is a preschool student! A is throwing a snowball at the little kid.

L being the always protective older brother (by 25 minutes) is very worried about A's success in swimming. He said he would be the one to teach him how to swim (please recall that L only started swimming very recently). So L wrote a letter to the swimming teacher.

It says, "Aidan will go to swimming today. Aidan never learned how to swim, but he didn't just sit there. He went in the pool."

Wonder how the swimming teacher will respond...she doesn't speak a word of English!

PS-blog posts about our three week excursion will be posted in the next day or so. Thanks for being so patient (Michelle).