Istanbul...I fell in love!

What an amazing place. When I was in high school I had a recurring dream that took place somewhere in the "east"...I was wondering if I would see the landmarks from my dream.

A merging of East and West and a bridge between two continents.

Tile from Topkapi Palace outside the circumcision room.

More to come...on Istanbul, Paris, life and love. : )

Berlin's first winter snow...a dusting of magic!

A golden pink glow from clouds so low with snow gently falling.  It was a magical moment punctuated with thunder and lightning that seemed contradictory to the peace and beauty.  And the snow softly fell.  The snow falling with gentle swirls like a snow globe.   Enveloping us in luminosity.  2:00 in the morning and mother nature has cast a spell on the city and magic is at play.  Everyone is safe and everything is possible.  The roof tops stretching into the glow as if to see how far the magic reaches.

Our snow globe existence, with gentle snow swirls in a golden rose orb, where life is perfect and everyone feels the magic.  Neighbors are more friendly and the rosy-cheeked children all bundled can't stop smiling while trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues. 

Berlin is magical at this time of year.  The Christkindlmarkts or Christmas Markets are beautiful and everyone is in good spirits.  Homes are decorated and everyone is buying boughs, wreaths and branches saving the tree for last.  The magic of the season has arrived!

The tragedy of death...

My stepfather died last Thursday of a massive coronary...I am not even sure how to even write about such a sad thing.  I just sent an email to Ben to tell him since he sent me an email and I started to cry...then my friend Samer called and asked if I had a cold since my voice sounded funny.  I started crying again and explained.  If I don't think about Jerry I am fine but it seems that if I try to tell someone on the phone or email or if someone offers me their condolences I start sobbing all over again.

Jerry's death was so unexpected, he was going to be here in Europe for 2 weeks at Christmas and we were all looking forward to seeing him.  Who would have thought that we would all be reunited in the States for his funeral?  It was the first time in 12 years that we were all together in one place.  We see each other with frequency but just not all at the same time.  It was really nice to be together but such a sad reason and of course there is the stress that comes with processing such a loss.  

There were two funerals, one in Iowa and one in Wisconsin where we grew up.  Both were really "nice" - as nice as funerals can be, but the one in Wisconsin was particularly beautiful.  It was held in the church where we were all confirmed, where Aimee and Rusty were married, and  where Allison and Gary were baptised.  There is comfort in the familiar surrounding, the familiar faces.  Grieving with friends and family is really a comfort.   It was so great that so many people came and it was so nice to hear all the stories of what a difference Jerry made in so many lives.  The things he did for people and what a presence he was...some things I wasn't even aware of.

Jerry was clearly a person who had an impact on many, it was really nice to hear their stories.  Also, it was nice to see the genuine grief of so many who will miss him.  Somehow their grief validated the impact of his life, validated a life well-lived.  He will be missed by so many including me.

Jerry's life really was a beautiful journey for him and for those blessed with being a part of it.  I have never known anyone who evolved in their lifetime like he did.  He leaves a big hole in our lives and our hearts that we will fill with the beautiful and funny memories of a life well-lived.

The good thing for me is that I have no regrets of anything said or unsaid.  Jerry's death is a reminder of the fragility of life, the balance that can be taken away at any minute and the appreciation I will continue to have of all the moments that make a beautiful life.

 

My FIRST dream in GERMAN!

So, they say that you are really absorbing the language when you start to think and dream in it...well I am happy to say that I have had my first dream in German! : )

I was hoping for a more exciting dream but in my dream I was reading and writing in German...doing German "Hausaufgabe" (homework) to be exact - not very exciting but progress nonetheless.

[I wonder how common it is to read and write in your dreams? I do this frequently and when I wake up I can remember what I read as if it were in a book next to me. Strange.]

Hopefully my dreams will get better! ; )

Meersburg

The air is crisp scented with the smell of burning wood, the night peaceful. The vineyard harvest is being unloaded in the center of town...in the small town of Meersburg the winery is nestled between the tourist shops, restaurants and homes. The lights around the lake (Bodensee also known as Lake Constance) twinkle. The moon creates diamonds from the 'see'.

So peaceful off season; the tourists become locals and if you visit the same place twice they remember you (and if it's a restaurant they remember what you like) and great you warmly with "Gruss Gott!" the greeting in most of Southern Germany.

I am here to learn German and have class from 8:30 until 5:30 but with a beautiful and historic location it is hard not to feel a bit like I am on holiday. I have been here now for 2 weeks and will be sad to leave. Meersburg is a small town and there is a sense of peace in knowing the town so well. To recognize locals and their daily rhythms and to also have been in one place long enough to create one for myself.

I have seen everthing, explored all the streets and shops and don't feel a 'need' to 'do' anything and am content to just 'BE'! ; )

Staying with 'Family Wodsak' is also such a pleasure. Their home is beautiful and stately,

Hamam?...or Human Car Wash??

I am in Meersburg am Bodensee (aka Lake Constance) taking intensive German classes for 2 weeks. [Check out http://www.meersburg.de] Intensive means from 8:30 - 5:30...4 hours of grammar to start the morning and another 4 hours of conversation and an hour for lunch. Anyone who has studied German (or any language for that matter!) will know that 4 hours of grammar alone is enough to give you a headache.

The truth is I am really lucky to be here and am thankful to have a chance to focus on learning German because after living in Germany for 3 months I am finding it quite difficult to really LIVE without knowing the language. I can get by, but I really want to create a life for myself in Deutschland ; ). So, here I am with 4 hours of grammar, and 4 hours of practicing...and the practice doesn't end when I leave the course...surprise! I leave the course and still get to speak GERMAN! ; ) Did I say how much I LOVE speaking GERMAN?

For a bit of relaxation I decided to take advantage of the beautiful spas that they have here in the area.

This is how they advertised the massage I selected:
Massages / Hamam

The Greeks, Indians, Persians and Chinese have used massage for centuries for healing or simply for well being.  Treat yourself to one of the various professional massages offered by the Meersburg Spa. From the traditional back and full-body massage to the Oriental foam massage in our Hamam, we will relax you from head to toe.

HAMAM - Ceremony - Enter the world of the Arabian Nights and leave it totally relaxed, refreshed and reborn.

The Oriental HAMAM is a ceremonial method of cleaning the body through a foam massage, during which you lie on a warm stone and are showered gently with warm water. You will receive a soft face peeling with special silk gloves and a full-body massage with pure, biological plant oils. You will instantly experience deep relaxation and feel your stress, tension and worry subside.

Along with a picture of a man with about 8 inches of foamy bubbles covering his body as he is being massaged...that looked pretty amazing.

Clemens approached as I waited at the Spa Bar and introduced himself as my masseur. We entered the Hamam and he asked me to take off my towel and lie face down on a large heated ceramic "bed".  (The spas here are pretty much clothing free, as are the massages, this is not for the prudish.)  Next to the bed was a ceramic fountain. Clemens asked me if I had ever had a Hamam, I said this was my first.  He asked if I would like him to explain what was going to happen, I told him that I liked surprises and we should just start.  He asked me to take 2 deep breaths and relax...not a problem.

The massage began by him taking bowls (I peaked!) of water at the perfect temperature and slowly pouring them over my body from about 2 feet from above. The warmth and the sensation was quite nice and very relaxing. He continued until he had slowly poured water over my whole body. Off to a nice start...I began to relax. Ahhhh! ; ) Suddenly he was taking buckets of water and throwing them at me as if I was a fire and he was trying to put me out...his life seemed to depend on it. Interesting...I felt very wet....

Next he start at my toes and worked his way up as we scrubbed my whole body with a very rough loofah glove...okay, not exactly relaxing but I am sure it is good for circulation or something! Again with the onslaught of warm water. Fine...the payoff came next - the foamy bubbles, thick and luxurious...very nice. He seemed to have a bag of foam that he put all over my body. The sensation was amazing, I could seemingly feel each bubble as it burst on the surface of my skin. The bubbles started sliding across my body...also a nice sensation...then came his hands as he massaged me with firm strokes. Ahhh! ; ) When he gets to my shoulders he senses the tension and really digs deep to loosen the muscles. He works very hard at it and it almost seems like he is either trying to pull my shoulder out of its socket or to put it back in while he jumps up and down...I wasn't quite sure if he thought I was possessed and he was trying to exorcise me or exactly what he was trying to accomplish. Not very pleasant. : (

He finished and asked me to turn over onto my back. Completely naked he began the ritual by slowly pouring the warm water all over my body paying particular attention to my breasts. He then poured warm water for several minutes across my forehead and into my hair...this felt so nice. For some reason my front did not need to be loofahed and he skipped right to the foam which was fine with me! The foam is thick and luxurious scented with Sandalwood, he applies the foam with something that is soft and silky. The bubbles burst and slide across my body; it feels as if there are hands all over me. Very relaxing...mmmmm. Then he begins to trail his fingers across the foam, he accidently touches my nipple and the foamy fantasy begins...before my foamy fantasy gets very far he is pelting me with bowls of freezing cold water (the equivalent of a cold shower??) and I wonder if I should have after all asked him to explain what the Hamam entailed. He asks me to open my eyes, sit up, then stand up with my back facing him. The torrents of cold water continue with fury and force. He finally stops, puts his hand on my shoulder, looks me in the eyes as he smiles and asks if I enjoyed the Hamam. I am not sure what so say and wonder if this is really what it was supposed to be like or if he is maybe still in training.

I thank him (I am not sure why) and he escorts me to a "quiet" room where he asks me to relax while he goes to get me some herbal tea to warm me up.

So, I ask myself, was that really a massage or a human car wash?

...finally pictures from Praha... ; )

Praha, as the locals call it, was beautiful....  

This is a medieval astronomical clock on the wall of the Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square.  It consists of 3 parts - the astronomical dial representing the position of the sun and moon in the sky with the astronomical details, "The Walk of the Apostles" upon the hour the Apostles come out and other sculptures move drawing quite a crowd! and lastly a calendar dial with medallions which represent the months.  A beautiful and ingenious creation!

As mentioned, this clock is quite a draw as on the hour it chimes and the doors open, the Apostles come out, the statues move - a skeleton rings a bell - you get the picture ; ).  Tourists begin to gather around the clock about 20-30 minutes before the chiming begins.  The crowd had gathered.  Beth and I had claimed our position in front for a perfect view.  We watched as a man walked and stood directly in front of the clock.  He was on his cell phone, he continued his call as he stood in front of the clock looking at the tourists.  He didn't seem to care that he was in the way, that he would be in every picture that anyone would take - he seemed rather clueless.  It is interesting how oblivious some can be.

My favorite part of Prague was the castle grounds contained within were many impressive buildings including the castle, church, Golden Lane, etc.  It is so easy to imagine life as it must have been so long ago.  It was interesting to see where Franz Kafka lived (22 Golden Lane - but only for one year), to see the history of so many lives come alive so vividly.  As I comtemplated the history of many it brought to mind my history which always leads to the future...I am looking forward to many adventures.

I love the gargoyles; they seem poised to leap upon the passersby!